A/N: I'm extremely sorry for being so late in updating. I've been busy lately. No more excuses. Please read the whole thing if you so wish. I'll try to update faster next time! Till then Adios! Sayonara! Bye!
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Miroku’s POV
I have a job now and...Six months. Yeah, that’s the time I’ve got to pay up all my father’s debts.
I was stunned when I first came to know that my old man had been taking money from the company for his personal use. The amount had piled up to a huge number. Now it was on me to clear his debts or else I’d have to give up living in this house of mine. All that I ever possessed and knew of as my own would be taken away from me. Everything would go under the hammer.
But I’m not so naïve that I’ll let them take these away from me; and thanks to Inuyasha I know exactly how I have to fight for what is, or rather was my own.
The job at the record company didn’t pay much. I needed to get another job and maybe do both one after the other. That was the only thing left for me to do.
And so here I was...the Wacdonalds. The meaty shop owner had taken me aboard the first day I visited his shop. I can remain grateful to him forever for that.
My body was aching after a whole day of struggling to keep up with the class and taking down notes from Sango, I must say she has been rather kind to me, and another hectic job at the record company.
My job at Wacdonalds was simple. I was a waiter and had to serve food.
Combining the two jobs and after some subtractions, for my personal expenditures, from the total amount I earned, I would have a decent amount by the end of every month which I’d save for the payback at the end of 6 months.
But would my body cope?
“Oi, Miroku, you’re too slow! Look the customers are all getting restless. Don’t come whining to me if the boss fires you!”
It was Mr. Shizukawa, the manager of this shop. He was a fine gentleman. He’d show his affection by paying you a bit more than usual or make your life hell by forcing you to work overtime.
Life of hard-work isn’t easy; I came to know that now.
“Move your butt, baka!”
It was one of the customers, I had the least clue who. I looked about and finally got Shizukawa’s signal. He pointed towards the window by the door and I didn’t have to ask for more.
Life won’t be easy for me anymore, there’s only one way where my life can go and that’s downhill. Which means hardships will be frequent and more in magnitude.
But I’ll live nevertheless and fight along till the very end.
*****
Sango’s POV
“Sango, please check on that table, the customer came in a long time ago but he hasn’t ordered anything yet.”
“Okay, Ms. Noriko.”
This is just another grueling day of my life. There’s been no end to these ever since I’d decided to stand on my own. But I’ve been living through this from the past 1 year and hopefully I’ll live through this as long as my little brother can’t see the daylight.
Kohaku is blind through no fault of his. I can’t say it was my fault either. But partially it was my fault but the majority of the blame can go to my father.
I went to the table. A man probably in his late 20s sat on the chair with his hands on the table, fingers tapping on the glass to an unheard tune. He looked up at me, grinning.
“Wow!” he made a pass at my dress.
I was sure of it and knowingly or unknowingly he got me pissed.
“Excuse me,” I tried to avoid entering in any kind of conversation with him, “would you like to order something?”
“Mm, pretty, can you get me those meat balls?”
I couldn’t believe he’d say that at my face, looking at my chest. My tempers flared. For a moment I forgot where I was and how I should behave.
I slapped him right across his face. It pained him a great deal. I could assume so from his mutterings.
“Miss Taijiya!” it was Noriko. I realized where I was; and also that I won’t be here for long.
“He- It’s okay, you don’t have to say it. I’m leaving.”
It’s better to walk away with your self-pride than without it.
I went to the changing room and got myself changed into casual clothes and walked out of the place which had given me money and hope to cope with life.
I didn’t know what I’d do after that. But something or the other had to be done. I couldn’t have stayed on the streets.
It wasn’t time yet to pay my apartment rents and that gave me solace. At least, there’s a roof under which I can put my brother and myself in. But there wasn’t much of a guarantee when it came to time.
As long as my brother is fine and has a hope for the future, I’ll manage.
Somehow or the other I will.
*****
Miroku's POV
The street lights are glowing dimmer, some are already out. And without a moon in the sky, or stars, it was probably the darkest night in a long time.
“Who would be there in this dead of the night?” I thought to myself as I walked past the dark buildings, gloomy, one might say.
Some mews and barks could be heard in the alleys, but no other noise.
I sighed. “I guess only dogs and cats are there to give me company huh?”
There was a flash of thunder followed by a rumbling noise. This was a sudden change. The day was pretty clear and sun pretty much held the sway. But the night, I think, won’t be the same...Much like my life. It was different before...and now it’s something else.
Don’t know if anyone else’s life changed the way mine did.
*****
“Get away from him, you bitch! Hell, if I don’t break his neck today!”
“Have you lost control of yourself?! Don’t you see who I am? Don’t you see who he is? Do you only see that whore of yours and that damned bottle which you keep holding with that damned hand of yours? Can’t you just leave us alone!?”
“I care for you too much to leave you two alone.”
“Damn you...”
“Only after I’m done with him”
The blurred images of a man, tall and slim, holding a bottle of alcohol in his strong fist, gripping it tightly to almost the limit of its tenacity, flashed in her mind.
She had been walking all evening. The knowledge of her destination eluded her. Almost detached from her surroundings she walked, but surprisingly enough she didn’t get hit by any of the cars which she came past while crossing the road.
The bottle which the hand held came crashing down on a boy, when it was meant for someone else. The boy landed with a thud, unconscious, bleeding. The girl beside him shielded him from someone – a man. He was getting closer to strike again. She sprang up, thrashed him, pushed him away, so that he fell down, and then dragged the young boy out of the colorless room, red blood trailing their path.
Everything seemed like a never ending nightmare. Relentlessly it rained down bitter memories on her. She didn’t even realize the rain that had started in drops first and then turned to a downpour.
She was soaking wet. She needed a refuge...but she didn’t feel it. Sometimes it’s too hard to keep track of the present. Especially when you have a past which you’d gladly lose track of.
But, she just couldn’t manage to do that.
The invisible hand that worked up so many bitter memories seemed to have a firm grip on her; by the second she was being dragged to the colorless room from which she had fled once.
“Sango?”
She snapped out of her nightmare. A familiar figure stood beside her – a boy – his hand on her shoulder. But she couldn’t see his face clearly, it was too blurry.
Realizing she’d been crying all along, she quickly wiped her eyes. Now she could clearly see who the figure was.
“Miroku?” a questioning look on her face.
“I saw you walking in the rain...shouldn’t you be at home by now? Speaking of which, isn’t this the opposite direction from your home?”
“I...I think I lost track...”
He frowned, perhaps because he was thinking. “You can come at my place, if you don’t mind. My house is only some steps away. Don’t worry I promise I won’t cause any harm.”
“I think I’ll have to give in...But no perverted-” she sneezed, “God, I didn’t want this now!”
“There’s some medicine at my place, you can have them. Now c’mon, let me take you there.” he seized her by the arm and almost dragged her to his house; she went with him without any protests.
*****
He slowly opened the door, slow enough to cause no sound. He could see her figure by the window, staring blankly at the ceaseless downpour outside, occasional lightning lighting up her face.
He stayed at the door, she didn’t notice his presence. He couldn’t think of what to do. Should he go in and ask her what was bothering her? It sure seemed something serious. Would she accept his curiosity? She accepted him as her friend and therefore he had some right to know what bothered her. But wouldn’t it be unfriendly to violate her personal space? She might think he’s taking advantage of her because she is staying at his house.
He gently closed the door and walked away.
“I better not speak with her about what bothers her... It might hurt her more if I bring up the issue – whatever it is – in front of her again. I’m not sure what to do. I can’t hurt her more while trying to ease her pain...She has to fight it herself, at least for now...Please forgive me if I’m wrong, Sango...I’m just too unsure...” hanging his head low, as if hiding from the shadows cast on the walls, he walked away, thoughts wandering in and out of his mind, pulling him towards her once and pushing him away the other.
He walked down the stairs and walking past the dining space he reached Mushin’s room; saying nothing, he opened the door and shut it silently as he entered; only the sound of a sigh came from inside.
*****
“It’s better that he didn’t come here. I would've broken down completely if he had. I know he cares for me...he wouldn’t have taken me in otherwise. He has far too much to worry about. Far too many things are weighing on him. I can’t weigh him down further...I can’t get him worried about me...”
Without her notice tears fell down her cheeks. She cursed, angrily wiped off the tears and lied down on the bed. The day was so much tiring for her that she didn’t even notice when she fell asleep.
The rain grew harder as the night grew darker. The insiders didn’t have to worry about that, they had other things to worry about.
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A/N: Baka means idiot/stupid or similar terms.
Now bye before the author goes crazy! Ku ku ku... see!!! the evil laughter!! GAWD!! Bye folks!!
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
Chapter 8: Loss
The much dreaded day of life has arrived. Standing outside the class, I took two deep breaths before entering. A few students were there scattered all around the room. I found my seat empty. Calming my nerves, I walked up to the empty desk by the window and sat down on the desk to its right.
So he hasn’t come even today?
It has been a week since Miroku last showed up in school. I didn’t have his number and neither did I know where his house was so I didn’t have a single idea as to what happened to him. Sure I knew who his friends were but I couldn’t muster the courage to ask them about him. Perhaps I was shy to?
I was worried about him, although he had shown no sign of illness the last time we had met. I distinctly remembered the ‘date’ we had. It was my first ‘date’ and I was pretty tensed but it was quite odd and somewhat funny. Yes, when you consider that he was the customer at the place I worked at, and me his waitress!
Finding no one to talk to in class, I gazed out of the window. The cool, gentle breeze hit my face and fanned a few loose strands of my hair. It continued for some time until a black object came in front of me and blocked my vision. As I looked up at the figure that came between me and the window, I realized that it was Miroku.
“Had great holidays?” I smiled at him.
He said nothing, simply smiled back at me.
There wasn’t anything usual about his smile. He could make anyone believe that his smile was genuine but not me. I had faked a lot of smiles to tell which smile was a fake and which wasn’t. But I didn’t question him.
He took his seat and surprisingly without making any passes at my hair, or clothes or how beautiful I was, which he usually does, he simply looked out of the window. I didn’t quite understand what he was doing or if he was planning anything or not, I simply looked away from him. For I didn’t want to get caught gawking at a lecher by other students.
Before long, Ms. Brookes came in and after keeping her belongings on the desk, she took her seat. She was currently at the top of my hate list.
I was tensed and had been gulping all the time. I looked at Miroku from the corner of my eye to see if he were doing the same, but to my surprise he wasn’t. He had a calm composure.
Something’s wrong with this guy. Definitely!
I didn’t question him though. I was beyond tensed to do anything but hear my own heartbeat and steal occasional glances at Miroku, since he was my only friend in this school. I tried to calm my nerves and get ready for the inevitable and long awaited call from Ms. Brookes. And I didn’t have to wait longer.
“Sango, the principal needs to see you. Could you please go and pay him a visit?” She said politely; too polite for my liking. Then she adjusted her glasses and fixed her eyes on Miroku and added: “You too have to meet him.”
Without any response whatsoever, Miroku left his seat and walked out of the room and I, knowing arguing would be futile, did likewise.
In the corridor I caught up with him.
“Are you alright?” I asked, walking abreast of him and carefully studying his face. “You’re not ill, are you?”
“Sango, I’m absolutely fine. Nothing has happened to me.” He replied, smiling.
“Are you sure that’s the truth? You don’t seem to be fine at all.” I insisted.
“I can tell the same thing to you as well, Sango.”
“Uhh, Umm, I...”
“It’s okay.”
I let it drop at that.
Soon we reached the principal’s room and Miroku opened the door for me. Without a word I entered with Miroku in tow.
The principal, Mr. Onigumo, was sitting in his revolving chair, resting his hands on the table, joining his palms and entangling his fingers with each other. We stood in front of him with our heads hanging low customarily.
“Miss Taijiya and Mr. Houshi, I’m sorry but I have to call your parents.” He looked at us mischievously with a faint smile adorning his lips. “Here take a look at this.”
He slid the papers to our side of the table. I took up mine and Miroku his.
I got more than I had expected, 20 out of 100. Miroku’s I didn’t know but I was pretty sure that he didn’t get 30.
“Miroku, this is the ‘what-number-of-time’ your father will be visiting me?” Onigumo looked as if he’d burst into laughter.
I looked at Miroku. He had a serious look. Joined brows, clenched jaws and straight chin defined his grave face.
“He won’t be coming anymore.” He said.
“Because you’re promising to get more next time?” his smile disappeared and made way for a frown.
“He won’t be coming, not because I’m promising to improve, but because he isn’t alive anymore.” Miroku paused. A long silence ensued.
Onigumo was gaping for words. It seemed as if he were stumped. As for me, I was too shocked to speak or even make the slightest of movements.
It was Miroku who broke the silence.
“He died of severe head injuries. You can come with me to the hospital if you don’t believe me.”
Onigumo had no words for him. He looked at him for some more time and then finally he spoke. “Try to improve next time, boy.”
“I will.” He responded.
Knowing his loss reminded me of my own mother’s death. I fought back my tears and awaited the principal’s attention on me.
“You joined the school only recently, so you’re excused. But don’t fail next time.” I didn’t half expect him to say that exactly but I knew something soft would be coming my way. “Both of you can go now.”
Miroku was the first one to leave and I after him.
We reached the class room without talking to each other and even in class I couldn’t bring myself to talk to him, neither look at him, for fear of crying.
Time flew by and soon it was lunch time. Everyone was heading out to their respective special places for having their lunch. Only Miroku and I were inside the room sitting at our respective desks. After some moments of silence, Miroku finally spoke.
“You didn’t bring any lunch, Sango?” he asked, finally turning towards me.
“I have but...I...umm...I-I” I was so nervous that words didn’t form in my mouth.
“Sango, I haven’t brought my lunch, would you mind sharing yours with me?” his tone was completely innocent. He wasn’t being a lecher for once. Knowing about the tragedy in his family, I didn’t think of any other alternative to honesty from his request.
“Sure, Miroku.” I accepted his request. “You want to eat here or outside?”
“If you don’t mind then, I’d like to go to the roof...” he shyly replied. I blushed but nodded in agreement nevertheless.
Once at the roof, Miroku seated himself on one of the stairs that led to the top of the water tank.
I sat down beside him and looked anywhere but him.
“Wow! Sango, you cook quite well.” He complemented my cooking while having some dumplings and rice balls.
“Thank you.” I mumbled.
I wonder how his mother might be feeling...
“How’s your brother, Sango?” He asked.
“Oh, Uhh, he’s fine...yeah, absolutely fine!” I smiled at him.
“Glad to know.”
A few moments passed in silence. He wasn’t eating anymore. He was trying to say something and I could clearly see his hesitation. I helped him out of it.
“You want to say something?” I asked, finally making eye contact, sending shivers down my spine at the sight of those violet eyes speaking of nothing but pain.
“Sango, I’m done with lunch. It was great. Thank you for the delicious food. Now, I think you should eat some.”
“You’re welcome Miroku, but I kinda don’t feel like eating.”
“You’ve to look after your brother and go to work...you better eat something.”
“I-I...Okay, I’ll eat.” I didn’t want to upset him by arguing with him so I gave in.
“That’s better.” He put his arm around my shoulder and gave me a gentle squeeze. His arms lingered around for a while before suddenly going away. “I’m sorry...”
“It’s okay.”
I began to eat without feeling awkward. Surprisingly enough, his touch didn’t bother me, maybe because he wasn’t being lecherous.
I feel comfortable when I’m with you, Miroku.
*****
Miroku’s POV
I have wept enough. I won’t weep anymore. He told me all that so directly maybe because he thought I was mentally strong enough to deal with it. If he thought that and trusted me then there’s no way I’ll misplace his trust.
I just reminded myself of my resolve I had made before leaving for school in the morning.
My phone in my jeans’ pocket rang and it reminded me where I was. I was in my bedroom, on my bed, lying down, waiting to fall asleep, but the phone call had to be taken. Bringing out the phone from my pocket, I checked the number. Sighing, I took the call and mouthed off a lazy hello.
“Houshi, you alright? Did you eat or should I go there and thrust something down your throat? Inuyasha was as rough in his accent as ever.
“I’m alright Inuyasha. And yes I’ve eaten and no, you don’t need to do all that.”
“Who cooked for you? Where did you eat?”
The guy might be rough at words but he really cared for me. We are friends no doubt but the bond we shared was more brotherly than anything else.
“I ate at school today. Sango brought some nice dumplings and rice balls.” What will you know of dumplings? What will you know about their taste? You only know ramen and nothing else!
“Keh, whatever, just make sure you don’t fall sick and die.”
“Trust me I won’t.”
“Sesshomaru said he’ll meet you right after he returns from his trip to the east.”
I sighed, “Okay...”
“Call me if you need anything, okay?”
“I will, Inu.”
“Bouzo!” he hung up.
I hadn’t put the cell phone back in my pocket when I heard a knock at the door. I sprang up from the bed and went downstairs and before the fourth knock was at place, I opened the door.
There was an unusually tall man clad in black coat and trousers, having a hat on his head, hiding most of his features, standing at the door.
“You’re Miroku if I’m not wrong?” he asked.
“Yeah, and you might be...?”
“I’m Kyokotsu, an office colleague of your father. I was told to express sorrow for your late father and deliver this letter. It’s coming directly from the director, Mr. Bankotsu.”
“And...?” I questioningly looked at him and awaited more news from him.
“That’s all. There’s nothing else. You just have to go through that letter. There’s something important mentioned there is all I know.”
“Okay...”
“Goodnight.” He bowed and walked away.
I closed the door and carefully tore open the envelope and brought out the paper. I read the letter not once but twice, and even then I wasn’t satisfied.
“Something isn’t right here...” I went upstairs and read it again. But still it bothered me.
Although I left the letter and got into my bed to get some sleep, I couldn’t quite manage to fall asleep easily. The things I read in the letter were enough to rob anyone of their sleep and I wasn't any exception.
So he hasn’t come even today?
It has been a week since Miroku last showed up in school. I didn’t have his number and neither did I know where his house was so I didn’t have a single idea as to what happened to him. Sure I knew who his friends were but I couldn’t muster the courage to ask them about him. Perhaps I was shy to?
I was worried about him, although he had shown no sign of illness the last time we had met. I distinctly remembered the ‘date’ we had. It was my first ‘date’ and I was pretty tensed but it was quite odd and somewhat funny. Yes, when you consider that he was the customer at the place I worked at, and me his waitress!
Finding no one to talk to in class, I gazed out of the window. The cool, gentle breeze hit my face and fanned a few loose strands of my hair. It continued for some time until a black object came in front of me and blocked my vision. As I looked up at the figure that came between me and the window, I realized that it was Miroku.
“Had great holidays?” I smiled at him.
He said nothing, simply smiled back at me.
There wasn’t anything usual about his smile. He could make anyone believe that his smile was genuine but not me. I had faked a lot of smiles to tell which smile was a fake and which wasn’t. But I didn’t question him.
He took his seat and surprisingly without making any passes at my hair, or clothes or how beautiful I was, which he usually does, he simply looked out of the window. I didn’t quite understand what he was doing or if he was planning anything or not, I simply looked away from him. For I didn’t want to get caught gawking at a lecher by other students.
Before long, Ms. Brookes came in and after keeping her belongings on the desk, she took her seat. She was currently at the top of my hate list.
I was tensed and had been gulping all the time. I looked at Miroku from the corner of my eye to see if he were doing the same, but to my surprise he wasn’t. He had a calm composure.
Something’s wrong with this guy. Definitely!
I didn’t question him though. I was beyond tensed to do anything but hear my own heartbeat and steal occasional glances at Miroku, since he was my only friend in this school. I tried to calm my nerves and get ready for the inevitable and long awaited call from Ms. Brookes. And I didn’t have to wait longer.
“Sango, the principal needs to see you. Could you please go and pay him a visit?” She said politely; too polite for my liking. Then she adjusted her glasses and fixed her eyes on Miroku and added: “You too have to meet him.”
Without any response whatsoever, Miroku left his seat and walked out of the room and I, knowing arguing would be futile, did likewise.
In the corridor I caught up with him.
“Are you alright?” I asked, walking abreast of him and carefully studying his face. “You’re not ill, are you?”
“Sango, I’m absolutely fine. Nothing has happened to me.” He replied, smiling.
“Are you sure that’s the truth? You don’t seem to be fine at all.” I insisted.
“I can tell the same thing to you as well, Sango.”
“Uhh, Umm, I...”
“It’s okay.”
I let it drop at that.
Soon we reached the principal’s room and Miroku opened the door for me. Without a word I entered with Miroku in tow.
The principal, Mr. Onigumo, was sitting in his revolving chair, resting his hands on the table, joining his palms and entangling his fingers with each other. We stood in front of him with our heads hanging low customarily.
“Miss Taijiya and Mr. Houshi, I’m sorry but I have to call your parents.” He looked at us mischievously with a faint smile adorning his lips. “Here take a look at this.”
He slid the papers to our side of the table. I took up mine and Miroku his.
I got more than I had expected, 20 out of 100. Miroku’s I didn’t know but I was pretty sure that he didn’t get 30.
“Miroku, this is the ‘what-number-of-time’ your father will be visiting me?” Onigumo looked as if he’d burst into laughter.
I looked at Miroku. He had a serious look. Joined brows, clenched jaws and straight chin defined his grave face.
“He won’t be coming anymore.” He said.
“Because you’re promising to get more next time?” his smile disappeared and made way for a frown.
“He won’t be coming, not because I’m promising to improve, but because he isn’t alive anymore.” Miroku paused. A long silence ensued.
Onigumo was gaping for words. It seemed as if he were stumped. As for me, I was too shocked to speak or even make the slightest of movements.
It was Miroku who broke the silence.
“He died of severe head injuries. You can come with me to the hospital if you don’t believe me.”
Onigumo had no words for him. He looked at him for some more time and then finally he spoke. “Try to improve next time, boy.”
“I will.” He responded.
Knowing his loss reminded me of my own mother’s death. I fought back my tears and awaited the principal’s attention on me.
“You joined the school only recently, so you’re excused. But don’t fail next time.” I didn’t half expect him to say that exactly but I knew something soft would be coming my way. “Both of you can go now.”
Miroku was the first one to leave and I after him.
We reached the class room without talking to each other and even in class I couldn’t bring myself to talk to him, neither look at him, for fear of crying.
Time flew by and soon it was lunch time. Everyone was heading out to their respective special places for having their lunch. Only Miroku and I were inside the room sitting at our respective desks. After some moments of silence, Miroku finally spoke.
“You didn’t bring any lunch, Sango?” he asked, finally turning towards me.
“I have but...I...umm...I-I” I was so nervous that words didn’t form in my mouth.
“Sango, I haven’t brought my lunch, would you mind sharing yours with me?” his tone was completely innocent. He wasn’t being a lecher for once. Knowing about the tragedy in his family, I didn’t think of any other alternative to honesty from his request.
“Sure, Miroku.” I accepted his request. “You want to eat here or outside?”
“If you don’t mind then, I’d like to go to the roof...” he shyly replied. I blushed but nodded in agreement nevertheless.
Once at the roof, Miroku seated himself on one of the stairs that led to the top of the water tank.
I sat down beside him and looked anywhere but him.
“Wow! Sango, you cook quite well.” He complemented my cooking while having some dumplings and rice balls.
“Thank you.” I mumbled.
I wonder how his mother might be feeling...
“How’s your brother, Sango?” He asked.
“Oh, Uhh, he’s fine...yeah, absolutely fine!” I smiled at him.
“Glad to know.”
A few moments passed in silence. He wasn’t eating anymore. He was trying to say something and I could clearly see his hesitation. I helped him out of it.
“You want to say something?” I asked, finally making eye contact, sending shivers down my spine at the sight of those violet eyes speaking of nothing but pain.
“Sango, I’m done with lunch. It was great. Thank you for the delicious food. Now, I think you should eat some.”
“You’re welcome Miroku, but I kinda don’t feel like eating.”
“You’ve to look after your brother and go to work...you better eat something.”
“I-I...Okay, I’ll eat.” I didn’t want to upset him by arguing with him so I gave in.
“That’s better.” He put his arm around my shoulder and gave me a gentle squeeze. His arms lingered around for a while before suddenly going away. “I’m sorry...”
“It’s okay.”
I began to eat without feeling awkward. Surprisingly enough, his touch didn’t bother me, maybe because he wasn’t being lecherous.
I feel comfortable when I’m with you, Miroku.
*****
Miroku’s POV
I have wept enough. I won’t weep anymore. He told me all that so directly maybe because he thought I was mentally strong enough to deal with it. If he thought that and trusted me then there’s no way I’ll misplace his trust.
I just reminded myself of my resolve I had made before leaving for school in the morning.
My phone in my jeans’ pocket rang and it reminded me where I was. I was in my bedroom, on my bed, lying down, waiting to fall asleep, but the phone call had to be taken. Bringing out the phone from my pocket, I checked the number. Sighing, I took the call and mouthed off a lazy hello.
“Houshi, you alright? Did you eat or should I go there and thrust something down your throat? Inuyasha was as rough in his accent as ever.
“I’m alright Inuyasha. And yes I’ve eaten and no, you don’t need to do all that.”
“Who cooked for you? Where did you eat?”
The guy might be rough at words but he really cared for me. We are friends no doubt but the bond we shared was more brotherly than anything else.
“I ate at school today. Sango brought some nice dumplings and rice balls.” What will you know of dumplings? What will you know about their taste? You only know ramen and nothing else!
“Keh, whatever, just make sure you don’t fall sick and die.”
“Trust me I won’t.”
“Sesshomaru said he’ll meet you right after he returns from his trip to the east.”
I sighed, “Okay...”
“Call me if you need anything, okay?”
“I will, Inu.”
“Bouzo!” he hung up.
I hadn’t put the cell phone back in my pocket when I heard a knock at the door. I sprang up from the bed and went downstairs and before the fourth knock was at place, I opened the door.
There was an unusually tall man clad in black coat and trousers, having a hat on his head, hiding most of his features, standing at the door.
“You’re Miroku if I’m not wrong?” he asked.
“Yeah, and you might be...?”
“I’m Kyokotsu, an office colleague of your father. I was told to express sorrow for your late father and deliver this letter. It’s coming directly from the director, Mr. Bankotsu.”
“And...?” I questioningly looked at him and awaited more news from him.
“That’s all. There’s nothing else. You just have to go through that letter. There’s something important mentioned there is all I know.”
“Okay...”
“Goodnight.” He bowed and walked away.
I closed the door and carefully tore open the envelope and brought out the paper. I read the letter not once but twice, and even then I wasn’t satisfied.
“Something isn’t right here...” I went upstairs and read it again. But still it bothered me.
Although I left the letter and got into my bed to get some sleep, I couldn’t quite manage to fall asleep easily. The things I read in the letter were enough to rob anyone of their sleep and I wasn't any exception.
Friday, July 9, 2010
Chapter 7: All Alone
I was never the one to cry so I didn’t shed a tear. Battling my emotions, I opened the glass door of the hospital and ran to where the lady with computers and telephones was sitting.
“Excuse me, ma’am, can you tell me which room Mushin Houshi is kept in?” I asked, breathing heavily from all that running I had done to reach the hospital from my house.
“Wait just a minute, I’m telling.” She took off her eyes from me and put them on the computer screen. The blue and green reflections played on her glasses and after one minute or so she replied, “Room 101, 3rd floor.”
“Thank you,” I mumbled as I dashed towards the elevator.
Pressing the blue button, I opened the elevator door and entered. Some more pressing of keys and I was all the way up to the third floor.
The room right opposite to the elevator was numbered 90 and the one to its right was 91. Not waiting for any other direction specific clues, I walked with quick strides towards the farthest point of the corridor.
Without paying any heed to whoever might be inside, I pushed open the door. There were three people other than my father. From appearance, one seemed to be the doctor and the other two nurses. The man in apron walked up to me.
“You’re the doctor?” I asked gruffly.
“I am...and you might be...?”
“Miroku Houshi,” I replied, and after a few more moments I added: “He’s my father...”
“Thank God you came. Now listen carefully. This is about your father’s condition.” He took some papers from the nurse and after giving a look through, he began, “He sustained grave injuries in his skull and neck. Limbs are okay, only minor bruises but...”
“But what, Doctor?” I interrupted.
“There’s a clot inside his skull, it must be removed before it gets any worse.”
“You mean operation?”
“Yes.” He nodded in the affirmative. “We don’t have much time. He’ll regain consciousness in awhile and we have to make him unconscious again and then start the operation.”
“Doctor, prepare for the operation without delay. I’ll bring whatever amount of money that might be needed.”
“Good.” He turned to a nurse and whispered something to her to which she nodded in reply.
I wasn’t out of the room yet. I was standing in the centre of the room and from there I could see how pale my father had become. Anyone from a farther place could’ve mistaken him for dead.
There might have been a knock at the door for the doctor and the nurses went towards it. I wasn’t bothered about that.
Slowly I walked up to my father. The man was literally wound in thin pipes. A channel was dug into the veins of his right wrist and that was connected to a saline bottle. He had some pipes around his mouth as well. I didn’t know the use of that though. In a word his condition was miserable and seeing his state, I couldn’t fight back the tears anymore.
“Are you crying, Miroku?”
“Huh? You’re awake?” I moved closer to the pale man. He spoke so softly that I could barely hear. He was so weak that he couldn’t even talk properly, leave alone the slightest of movements.
“Listen carefully to what I’m saying...”
“Yeah tell.” I moved more close to his face and leaned forward to hear what he was saying.
“Don’t cry for me. I’m not your real father.”
That one line was a bolt from the blue for me. I could hear my own heartbeats and feel cold sweats trickling down my temples. A strange throbbing of my temples began shortly.
Who is my father then? I’ve known all along the he is my only family... So was it all false? Untrue...Fake? Who am I then? What am I to him? It was all too much and too sudden for me to bear.
I fell back on the chair that was kept beside the bed.
“That was too much of a shock for ye? Well, that’s the harsh truth. You have to face it, whether you like it or not.”
Someone please tell me he’s drunk! Tell me this is one of his usual drugged ramblings! Please!
“This isn’t any rambling, boy. I’m speaking the truth and I’m not drunk.” He said as if reading my thoughts. “Listen, your parents died a long time ago and left you in my custody. I was a friend of your father. When your mother died right after your birth, your father couldn’t bear it.” he gasped for air and then continued, “He left the city and went north to some monastery. News arrived a few years later that he died during a blizzard but there was no sign of his body. Till date his remains are unfound...”
He paused for a moment or said something but those went over my head which was finding it too tough to absorb what he was saying.
“It’s true that I raised you, but as I ain’t your real father, you mustn’t cry.”
“Shut up!” I snapped. “Just shut up already!”
He didn’t look panicked, sad or angry at all. He was rather calm, quiet and sober.
“I don’t know if you’re drunk or not. Yeah, even if you say you aren’t drunk, I don’t trust you. I don’t know if you’re making this up or simply rambling. I don’t care if you’re my biological father or not but let me tell you one thing very clearly: you’re the only family I have and I’m not gonna give up on you! I’m gonna spend all your money on you if that’s what it takes to get you up and running again!”
I gasped for breath after yelling at him at one go.
“I’m leaving.” I finally caught breath and managed to mumble those words.
I hadn’t even walked two steps when his words brought me to a standstill.
“I haven’t got much time left. I know it. Don’t spend money on an old geezer like me. You might need the money for future.”
I felt like beating him up for that and I’d have done that if the doctor hadn’t bumped into the room at that instant.
“Take care of him...” I turned towards the patient and turning back again I added: “take care of my father, doctor.”
“Don’t worry about that.” the doctor kept his warm hand on my shoulder in a reassuring touch and after feeling it for a second, I walked out of the room without any response.
*****
Sango’s POV
Sleep won’t get me so instead of a back-aching experience in the couch I decided to stand in the balcony.
My apartment might be rundown with most of the insides needing serious repairs but the balcony was anything but. Sure it was a part of it but somehow it didn’t feel like it was. It provided one of the finest views of the city around me. I could see the Higurashi Shrine, my school, my workplace, the hospital, the bank, the park and even the small lake inside the park from there.
I didn’t know for how long I stood there, but it sure was long, for the wind was becoming colder with every passing moment.
“I wonder what he’s doing right now...” subconsciously my mind drifted towards Miroku again.
I’m thinking about him again!? I became fully conscious but that didn’t stop me from slipping back to my subconscious state again.
There was something about Miroku that attracted me. Sure he was handsome, understanding, and had all those qualities that a girl might look for in a boy but I knew there was more to him than met the naked eye. Somehow I felt an odd connection with him, somehow being with him just felt right. And I won’t deny that I like him, not in front of my own self at least.
Are you alone like me, Miroku? Are you? I hung my head low and putting the entire weight of my upper body on my hands which were kept on the railing, I looked at the dark streets below.
“Sango, don’t do that, dear. It’s not safe.”
“Don’t worry, father. Nothing will happen to me.”
Nothing indeed had happened to me that night. Nothing happened to me in the many nights that followed. Months passed, years passed and I was a teenager.
“Sango look after the house okay? I’m going to bring your mother back from the hospital. You might have a brother, little one.”
“I will look after the house father but please don’t call me little one!”
“Ok, ok, I won’t!”
That was the last time I saw my dad in his ‘human’ state. The calm, caring, cheerful and loving man whom my mother and I respected and loved so much changed as he re-entered the house that night.
“Where’s mother?” I had asked.
“She’s dead.” He had replied coldly.
My entire being was brought to a standstill.
Two drops of tears had trickled down my cheeks then and...Two drops again at present rolled down my cheeks and fell to the streets below.
I won’t cry again. The resolve I had made after seeing my newborn baby brother in the hospital was broken finally. The mental barriers which I had erected in all those years had threatened to fall apart for many a times in the recent past. But I had held them together firmly. But when the memories flash back into my mind all my barriers seem to fall apart.
Amends can be made though. And I just did that. I knew they would be temporary but as long as I didn’t show my emotions to anyone, as long as I didn’t show my weakness to anyone, I’d do just fine. I could afford to show my weakness to myself. For I knew inwardly I was fragile.
Wiping away the dry tear marks, I glanced at the road below. No one was there. Who will be there in this dead of the night? I asked myself. And finding the negative answer, I decided to get back to my room and get some sleep.
When I looked down at my wrist for the wrist watch to show the time, my eyes fell upon a figure running in the streets from the direction of the bank to the hospital.
Who could it be? I mentally asked myself.
“What’s my concern anyway?” I shrugged and yawning I left the balcony.
After closing the door and pulling the curtain over it, I checked Kohaku. He was sleeping peacefully.
“Time to sleep I guess...” I thought out loud and walking lazily over to the couch I languidly sank in.
I fell asleep almost instantly...
...To a dreamless sleep, perhaps?
*****
Miroku’s POV
I ran up to the receptionist as I had done the previous time I entered through the glass door.
“My father’s here and he has to be operated upon. I’ve brought the money...where do I deposit it?” I said, with interruptions from heavy breathing at times.
“Your father is Mushin Houshi, right?” she asked not moving her eyes from the computer screen.
“Yeah,” joining my brows in annoyance I replied.
“Deposit the money right here,” she pointed at her desk and then turned towards the computer screen again and began typing in something.
After a minute or so she gave me a slip and phoned someone.
“You can meet you father now. After some minutes his operation will begin.”
I mouthed off a weak thank you and left for the room where my father was kept in.
The room has the usual four occupants – the patient, one doctor and two nurses. Paying no attention to the others in the room I walked over to the patient and seated myself on the chair beside his bed.
I sat there for some moments in silence before he finally began to speak.
“You’ve brought money then?” he weakly asked.
“Yeah...”
“Wanna save this old fellow that badly, Miroku?”
“Yeah I do...”
“Am I that dear to you?”
His idiotic talks were getting to my nerves and so, losing my temper I raised my voice a little. “Listen you old geezer, you’re my father and I love you a lot. I can’t stand seeing you die such a miserable death.”
He allowed himself a feeble smile. With his half closed eyes he examined the room and finally turning towards me he began to say, “These people...” he broke off but began shortly, “Banks...Banks...”
He broke off and fell silent completely.
The doctor was quite near to me and he noticed it. Before I could even call for him he came over and began examining him.
“Get the stretcher; take him to the operation room! We’ve gotta do the operation right now.”
I stood there silently in shock and awe and watched them take away the unconscious Mushin.
I reached the operation room almost at the same time the group of nurses and doctors entered it.
I wasn’t allowed to enter, but I was allowed a seat in one of the chairs in front of the room.
I sank into one of them without any protests and waited for the operation to end.
God, please let him live!
The door opened after some agonizingly long time and the doctor came out having a mask around his mouth, hiding his expressions.
I didn’t look up yet but when I felt his warm hand on my shoulder, I looked up with expectation.
“I’m sorry...I couldn’t save him.” He removed the mask and showed his stoic face.
My prayers had fallen to deaf ears, my expectations dashed to pieces, grinded to dust and swept away by the wind, and my own self was left without a family that I could once call my own.
I was finally all alone...
“Excuse me, ma’am, can you tell me which room Mushin Houshi is kept in?” I asked, breathing heavily from all that running I had done to reach the hospital from my house.
“Wait just a minute, I’m telling.” She took off her eyes from me and put them on the computer screen. The blue and green reflections played on her glasses and after one minute or so she replied, “Room 101, 3rd floor.”
“Thank you,” I mumbled as I dashed towards the elevator.
Pressing the blue button, I opened the elevator door and entered. Some more pressing of keys and I was all the way up to the third floor.
The room right opposite to the elevator was numbered 90 and the one to its right was 91. Not waiting for any other direction specific clues, I walked with quick strides towards the farthest point of the corridor.
Without paying any heed to whoever might be inside, I pushed open the door. There were three people other than my father. From appearance, one seemed to be the doctor and the other two nurses. The man in apron walked up to me.
“You’re the doctor?” I asked gruffly.
“I am...and you might be...?”
“Miroku Houshi,” I replied, and after a few more moments I added: “He’s my father...”
“Thank God you came. Now listen carefully. This is about your father’s condition.” He took some papers from the nurse and after giving a look through, he began, “He sustained grave injuries in his skull and neck. Limbs are okay, only minor bruises but...”
“But what, Doctor?” I interrupted.
“There’s a clot inside his skull, it must be removed before it gets any worse.”
“You mean operation?”
“Yes.” He nodded in the affirmative. “We don’t have much time. He’ll regain consciousness in awhile and we have to make him unconscious again and then start the operation.”
“Doctor, prepare for the operation without delay. I’ll bring whatever amount of money that might be needed.”
“Good.” He turned to a nurse and whispered something to her to which she nodded in reply.
I wasn’t out of the room yet. I was standing in the centre of the room and from there I could see how pale my father had become. Anyone from a farther place could’ve mistaken him for dead.
There might have been a knock at the door for the doctor and the nurses went towards it. I wasn’t bothered about that.
Slowly I walked up to my father. The man was literally wound in thin pipes. A channel was dug into the veins of his right wrist and that was connected to a saline bottle. He had some pipes around his mouth as well. I didn’t know the use of that though. In a word his condition was miserable and seeing his state, I couldn’t fight back the tears anymore.
“Are you crying, Miroku?”
“Huh? You’re awake?” I moved closer to the pale man. He spoke so softly that I could barely hear. He was so weak that he couldn’t even talk properly, leave alone the slightest of movements.
“Listen carefully to what I’m saying...”
“Yeah tell.” I moved more close to his face and leaned forward to hear what he was saying.
“Don’t cry for me. I’m not your real father.”
That one line was a bolt from the blue for me. I could hear my own heartbeats and feel cold sweats trickling down my temples. A strange throbbing of my temples began shortly.
Who is my father then? I’ve known all along the he is my only family... So was it all false? Untrue...Fake? Who am I then? What am I to him? It was all too much and too sudden for me to bear.
I fell back on the chair that was kept beside the bed.
“That was too much of a shock for ye? Well, that’s the harsh truth. You have to face it, whether you like it or not.”
Someone please tell me he’s drunk! Tell me this is one of his usual drugged ramblings! Please!
“This isn’t any rambling, boy. I’m speaking the truth and I’m not drunk.” He said as if reading my thoughts. “Listen, your parents died a long time ago and left you in my custody. I was a friend of your father. When your mother died right after your birth, your father couldn’t bear it.” he gasped for air and then continued, “He left the city and went north to some monastery. News arrived a few years later that he died during a blizzard but there was no sign of his body. Till date his remains are unfound...”
He paused for a moment or said something but those went over my head which was finding it too tough to absorb what he was saying.
“It’s true that I raised you, but as I ain’t your real father, you mustn’t cry.”
“Shut up!” I snapped. “Just shut up already!”
He didn’t look panicked, sad or angry at all. He was rather calm, quiet and sober.
“I don’t know if you’re drunk or not. Yeah, even if you say you aren’t drunk, I don’t trust you. I don’t know if you’re making this up or simply rambling. I don’t care if you’re my biological father or not but let me tell you one thing very clearly: you’re the only family I have and I’m not gonna give up on you! I’m gonna spend all your money on you if that’s what it takes to get you up and running again!”
I gasped for breath after yelling at him at one go.
“I’m leaving.” I finally caught breath and managed to mumble those words.
I hadn’t even walked two steps when his words brought me to a standstill.
“I haven’t got much time left. I know it. Don’t spend money on an old geezer like me. You might need the money for future.”
I felt like beating him up for that and I’d have done that if the doctor hadn’t bumped into the room at that instant.
“Take care of him...” I turned towards the patient and turning back again I added: “take care of my father, doctor.”
“Don’t worry about that.” the doctor kept his warm hand on my shoulder in a reassuring touch and after feeling it for a second, I walked out of the room without any response.
*****
Sango’s POV
Sleep won’t get me so instead of a back-aching experience in the couch I decided to stand in the balcony.
My apartment might be rundown with most of the insides needing serious repairs but the balcony was anything but. Sure it was a part of it but somehow it didn’t feel like it was. It provided one of the finest views of the city around me. I could see the Higurashi Shrine, my school, my workplace, the hospital, the bank, the park and even the small lake inside the park from there.
I didn’t know for how long I stood there, but it sure was long, for the wind was becoming colder with every passing moment.
“I wonder what he’s doing right now...” subconsciously my mind drifted towards Miroku again.
I’m thinking about him again!? I became fully conscious but that didn’t stop me from slipping back to my subconscious state again.
There was something about Miroku that attracted me. Sure he was handsome, understanding, and had all those qualities that a girl might look for in a boy but I knew there was more to him than met the naked eye. Somehow I felt an odd connection with him, somehow being with him just felt right. And I won’t deny that I like him, not in front of my own self at least.
Are you alone like me, Miroku? Are you? I hung my head low and putting the entire weight of my upper body on my hands which were kept on the railing, I looked at the dark streets below.
“Sango, don’t do that, dear. It’s not safe.”
“Don’t worry, father. Nothing will happen to me.”
Nothing indeed had happened to me that night. Nothing happened to me in the many nights that followed. Months passed, years passed and I was a teenager.
“Sango look after the house okay? I’m going to bring your mother back from the hospital. You might have a brother, little one.”
“I will look after the house father but please don’t call me little one!”
“Ok, ok, I won’t!”
That was the last time I saw my dad in his ‘human’ state. The calm, caring, cheerful and loving man whom my mother and I respected and loved so much changed as he re-entered the house that night.
“Where’s mother?” I had asked.
“She’s dead.” He had replied coldly.
My entire being was brought to a standstill.
Two drops of tears had trickled down my cheeks then and...Two drops again at present rolled down my cheeks and fell to the streets below.
I won’t cry again. The resolve I had made after seeing my newborn baby brother in the hospital was broken finally. The mental barriers which I had erected in all those years had threatened to fall apart for many a times in the recent past. But I had held them together firmly. But when the memories flash back into my mind all my barriers seem to fall apart.
Amends can be made though. And I just did that. I knew they would be temporary but as long as I didn’t show my emotions to anyone, as long as I didn’t show my weakness to anyone, I’d do just fine. I could afford to show my weakness to myself. For I knew inwardly I was fragile.
Wiping away the dry tear marks, I glanced at the road below. No one was there. Who will be there in this dead of the night? I asked myself. And finding the negative answer, I decided to get back to my room and get some sleep.
When I looked down at my wrist for the wrist watch to show the time, my eyes fell upon a figure running in the streets from the direction of the bank to the hospital.
Who could it be? I mentally asked myself.
“What’s my concern anyway?” I shrugged and yawning I left the balcony.
After closing the door and pulling the curtain over it, I checked Kohaku. He was sleeping peacefully.
“Time to sleep I guess...” I thought out loud and walking lazily over to the couch I languidly sank in.
I fell asleep almost instantly...
...To a dreamless sleep, perhaps?
*****
Miroku’s POV
I ran up to the receptionist as I had done the previous time I entered through the glass door.
“My father’s here and he has to be operated upon. I’ve brought the money...where do I deposit it?” I said, with interruptions from heavy breathing at times.
“Your father is Mushin Houshi, right?” she asked not moving her eyes from the computer screen.
“Yeah,” joining my brows in annoyance I replied.
“Deposit the money right here,” she pointed at her desk and then turned towards the computer screen again and began typing in something.
After a minute or so she gave me a slip and phoned someone.
“You can meet you father now. After some minutes his operation will begin.”
I mouthed off a weak thank you and left for the room where my father was kept in.
The room has the usual four occupants – the patient, one doctor and two nurses. Paying no attention to the others in the room I walked over to the patient and seated myself on the chair beside his bed.
I sat there for some moments in silence before he finally began to speak.
“You’ve brought money then?” he weakly asked.
“Yeah...”
“Wanna save this old fellow that badly, Miroku?”
“Yeah I do...”
“Am I that dear to you?”
His idiotic talks were getting to my nerves and so, losing my temper I raised my voice a little. “Listen you old geezer, you’re my father and I love you a lot. I can’t stand seeing you die such a miserable death.”
He allowed himself a feeble smile. With his half closed eyes he examined the room and finally turning towards me he began to say, “These people...” he broke off but began shortly, “Banks...Banks...”
He broke off and fell silent completely.
The doctor was quite near to me and he noticed it. Before I could even call for him he came over and began examining him.
“Get the stretcher; take him to the operation room! We’ve gotta do the operation right now.”
I stood there silently in shock and awe and watched them take away the unconscious Mushin.
I reached the operation room almost at the same time the group of nurses and doctors entered it.
I wasn’t allowed to enter, but I was allowed a seat in one of the chairs in front of the room.
I sank into one of them without any protests and waited for the operation to end.
God, please let him live!
The door opened after some agonizingly long time and the doctor came out having a mask around his mouth, hiding his expressions.
I didn’t look up yet but when I felt his warm hand on my shoulder, I looked up with expectation.
“I’m sorry...I couldn’t save him.” He removed the mask and showed his stoic face.
My prayers had fallen to deaf ears, my expectations dashed to pieces, grinded to dust and swept away by the wind, and my own self was left without a family that I could once call my own.
I was finally all alone...
Friday, July 2, 2010
Chapter 6: A Day of Days
Miroku’s POV
The bell rang signaling the end of class. Ms. Brookes rose up from her chair and glaring at some of the students began her parting speech.
“I hope the test was good for you all.” She glared at some of us, particularly me. I gulped when she pushed her glasses along her nose bridge while glancing at me. “Best of luck for the results. And those of you who know, are not securing enough marks better tell your parents to be ready for their visit. The results will be out next Monday. Throughout this week you won’t be having classes. I’ve to see your wonderful answers and for that I’ve taken leave.”
She picked up her books and hugging them close to her chest, she began to walk out of the class. But before she could leave the class, the girl sitting on the desk to my right stood up.
“Umm, Ms. Brookes, I, Uh, came here just on Friday and haven’t even attended a single class so...I was thinking if this--”
“Sango, if you couldn’t come here before, it’s your fault. Not mine. If you fail, your parents will be called. There will be no sanctions for a pretty girl. I can pardon Miroku if he manages to get even 30. But I highly doubt he can get that.” Cutting her off, she said at one go.
Exactly! I hung my head in shame, shame for being written off like that in front of my princess.
“But--”
Sango tried again but she couldn’t complete as Ms. Brooks gave her one of her trademark glares and said, “Do you want your parents called today?”
“If I had parents I would have called them myself.” She muttered under her breath. “Fine,” she said and sat down.
She was an orphan?! She must be lonelier than even I am. I, at least, have Mushin with me but she doesn’t have a single parent. I wonder if that brother of hers is any good at talking. The last time we met, he didn’t even look at me. A frown appeared at my face as a result of that thought. I didn’t let anyone notice though. My head was hanging low with shame for anyone to notice my expressions.
Ms. Brookes walked away without saying a word more and the others started packing their bags and one by one left the room.
I was, as usual a bit lethargic in packing my bags. It wasn’t that I had many books to put inside my bag but it was laziness mixed with the thoughts about Sango being an orphan that lessened my speed.
I could see she was still cursing the blighted devil woman from her mutters and clenching fists. Ms. Brookes had always got the better of me. Making me work hard, calling in my old man more than once a day and also giving me titanic amounts of homework but to be frank I was never angry so much like I was when she spoke like that to Sango. She should have understood her. Somehow these teachers just don’t understand.
“Damn!” I banged my clenched fist against the wooden desk, making someone stare at me.
Only two of us were there in the room and so I was pretty sure it was Sango.
“Miroku?” She looked at me with a puzzled expression on her face.
“Sorry for that one. I just lost my cool that’s all.” I plastered a false smile on my face and looked at her.
“Lost your cool at what?” She asked, giving me a wide eyed, puzzled look.
“She should have understood you. If not that, she could’ve at least given it a thought.” I replied, slinging my bag onto my right shoulder. “You are, after all, a new student.”
“Some people just don’t try hard enough you know.” Wearing her bag, she said. “Never mind that. I lost my cool as well.” She smiled at me.
“Sango, I heard what you said at that time.” I said, changing my smiling face to a more serious one.
“If you’ve heard me telling I don’t have my parents, then you heard it right. I don’t have any parents.” There was disgust clear in her voice when she pronounced the last word.
“You mean you and your brother live alone in this city?” I asked, surprised.
“Yeah.” She replied in as-a-matter-of-fact way. “I have an apartment and a job, enough to secure food and shelter for the two of us. So I don’t have any problems as such.”
By this time we were walking through the corridor. Sango seemed a lot more friendlier than what she was a day back. I thought she would be hyper and clobber me or slap me when I’d approach her but it wasn’t at all like that.
We talked about the exam and the other usual stuffs. I told her that I won’t even manage thirty which was my escape route and she said she wasn’t even expecting ten. We sure had reason to laugh!
It felt nice talking to her, laughing with her and walking by her side. We became friends almost instantly. At least I thought it that way. I didn’t have the slightest of ideas as to what she thought of me but I didn’t want to know that at that moment. Being with her seemed enough.
“So Sango, which way are you going?” I asked as we went out of the school gates.
“I’ll go to the Higurashi shrine now. And from there to KFC.” She replied.
“I’ve to go past these places to reach my home.” I said. “So mind if I walk with you?” I gave her a perverted grin.
“Only if you keep your hands to yourself.” She slapped away my hands which were approaching her shoulders.
“Oh, sure.” I said, still smiling.
*****
Sango’s POV
“Thanks for accompanying me, Miroku.” I smiled at the guy. He deserved it.
“It was my pleasure, dear Sango.” He smiled back.
Dear Sango? When was the last time anyone called me that? I remembered my father calling me that when he was sane. After losing his sanity he lost his love for his daughter as well. From ‘dear Sango’ to ‘damned bitch’ such is the power of alcohol.
“By the way, Sango, you told you were going to KFC, what if I go along with you? I was just planning to have some food. So if you don’t mind may I...?” I could see his hesitation so without letting him complete I agreed. I didn’t know why, but I really wanted him to come along. That made me blush and I think he noticed it.
“Just give me a sec okay? I’ll just check up on my brother and return.” I wanted to get away as fast as I could. I didn’t want him to know I was blushing.
“Okay. I’ll be waiting here.” he said.
I could see his wide smile but didn’t have the courage to see his deep blue eyes. Who could tell what his mischievous eyes could perceive from my face?
Was there really anything worth noticing? I asked myself while walking, no running back to the building centrally located in the Higurashi shrine. I’m really gonna pay this time. Out of all people I had to fall for this pervert?
“No, of course not!” I mentally chided myself. I won’t fall for Miroku!
*****
After two knocks on the door, Kagome opened the door. She was her usual cheerful self. And in her short indigo skirt and light pink full sleeved shirt she was looking gorgeous. Her raven hair was being fanned by the wind that blew from the Goshinboku tree towards the door, giving her a more stunning appearance.
“Hey, Sango, how’re you? I missed you so much!” she flung herself in my arms.
“I’m alright.” I answered. “How’re you and how’s Kohaku doing?”
“Oh he’s absolutely fine! He’s playing with Souta and Shippo. Why don’t you come in and see for yourself?”
“I’ll come at night to take him home. I’ve to go now. I’m getting late.”
“It’s okay, Sango. I can understand.”
I didn’t call Kagome my best friend for nothing. Sure she can be annoying with her questions at times but that’s that about it. She can be as caring as a mother. And in the past when we were small she showed that side of her often. And I loved her cheerfulness. Sometimes I envied her for that but more often than not her contagious cheerfulness affected me and made me laugh and smile along with her.
“Who is that guy?” those words brought back my mind from past to present.
I turned around to look at the direction she was pointing at, and immediately pink color appeared on my cheeks.
“He, um, uh... He’s Miroku!” stammering I answered.
“Your boyfriend?” she asked, her eyes filled with curiosity and happiness.
“No, no, no, not at all!” I could feel my cheeks going red and ears going hot.
The next thing I knew was Kagome calling Miroku by his name. I was embarrassed so much so that I couldn’t turn to face him when he came to us.
“Oh, lovely lady! I think I’ve seen you before. You’re Kagome, right?” he asked.
Thank god he didn’t look at me! I heaved a sigh of relief.
Miroku and Kagome chatted for some time. Miroku admired her beauty and didn’t forget to make flattering comments about that. He also asked if she was single or not. Kagome had answered in the positive. And apart from his flirtatious comments he didn’t show much affection for her. I didn’t want him to either.
“We better go now, Kagome.” I said. “Say bye to Kohaku and the rest for me.”
Waving at her, Miroku and I began to walk away.
“Why are you so tensed, Sango?” he asked while we walked past the old Goshinboku tree.
“I’m not tensed.” I protested.
“You are tensed, dear one.” He gave his usual lecherous grin.
Just then I felt a warm hand on my bum. I knew it was Miroku and without any warning I struck him at his head.
“Aw, that hurt!” He shrieked in pain and I suppressed a giggle.
This guy sure knows how to make me smile. I don’t like that touch of his but somehow feel happy while beating him like that.
“I told you to mind your hands, didn’t I?” I glared at him.
“What can I do if my hands act on their own?” he protested like a baby.
Oh Miroku! At this rate I’ll get fired from this job. You’re making me late on my very first day of work.
*****
Miroku’s POV
Apart from the exam everything went fine today. No, it was actually one of the best days of my life. I could steal a date without even asking her properly to go out with me. How lucky I am!
My mobile started to ring and forced me out of my thoughts.
“Yeah Inu, what’s the matter?” I asked Inuyasha over the phone.
“That damned Kikyo left me for Naraku!” he barked at me over phone.
“Calm down. She wasn’t your type to begin with. Leave her be. And to speak of girlfriend, I think I found one for you.”
“It was you who had found me Kikyo and now she’s fucking ditched me! I ain’t falling for any wench again.” He spat.
“Okay, okay as you say, Inu.”
“I just called you up to ask about your exams...”
I told him how my test went and how my entire day went. He was bored throughout but when I told him about Kagome his interest grew. It was quite apparent from the change of his tone.
After five-ten minutes Inuyasha finally hung up and I got a chance to plunge in my soft, comfy bed.
Some night I’m gonna have! A smirk appeared on my face and I could feel it from the change in position of my lips.
To ruin it all, the phone began to ring again and this time it was the house phone not the mobile. I went downstairs listlessly and picked up the phone and mouthed off a weak hello.
“You’re Miroku Houshi, son of Mushin Houshi?” a man from the other side spoke.
“Yeah,” I replied lazily.
“Your father has been hospitalized. He was severely injured in a car crash. It appears he was drunk.”
“What?!” I was dumb founded, shocked. The receiver slipped out of the hand without me having to do a thing about it.
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A/N: Pardon the author for the lame chapter and the lame chapter's name. Bear with him because he was and is having a writer's block. :(
The bell rang signaling the end of class. Ms. Brookes rose up from her chair and glaring at some of the students began her parting speech.
“I hope the test was good for you all.” She glared at some of us, particularly me. I gulped when she pushed her glasses along her nose bridge while glancing at me. “Best of luck for the results. And those of you who know, are not securing enough marks better tell your parents to be ready for their visit. The results will be out next Monday. Throughout this week you won’t be having classes. I’ve to see your wonderful answers and for that I’ve taken leave.”
She picked up her books and hugging them close to her chest, she began to walk out of the class. But before she could leave the class, the girl sitting on the desk to my right stood up.
“Umm, Ms. Brookes, I, Uh, came here just on Friday and haven’t even attended a single class so...I was thinking if this--”
“Sango, if you couldn’t come here before, it’s your fault. Not mine. If you fail, your parents will be called. There will be no sanctions for a pretty girl. I can pardon Miroku if he manages to get even 30. But I highly doubt he can get that.” Cutting her off, she said at one go.
Exactly! I hung my head in shame, shame for being written off like that in front of my princess.
“But--”
Sango tried again but she couldn’t complete as Ms. Brooks gave her one of her trademark glares and said, “Do you want your parents called today?”
“If I had parents I would have called them myself.” She muttered under her breath. “Fine,” she said and sat down.
She was an orphan?! She must be lonelier than even I am. I, at least, have Mushin with me but she doesn’t have a single parent. I wonder if that brother of hers is any good at talking. The last time we met, he didn’t even look at me. A frown appeared at my face as a result of that thought. I didn’t let anyone notice though. My head was hanging low with shame for anyone to notice my expressions.
Ms. Brookes walked away without saying a word more and the others started packing their bags and one by one left the room.
I was, as usual a bit lethargic in packing my bags. It wasn’t that I had many books to put inside my bag but it was laziness mixed with the thoughts about Sango being an orphan that lessened my speed.
I could see she was still cursing the blighted devil woman from her mutters and clenching fists. Ms. Brookes had always got the better of me. Making me work hard, calling in my old man more than once a day and also giving me titanic amounts of homework but to be frank I was never angry so much like I was when she spoke like that to Sango. She should have understood her. Somehow these teachers just don’t understand.
“Damn!” I banged my clenched fist against the wooden desk, making someone stare at me.
Only two of us were there in the room and so I was pretty sure it was Sango.
“Miroku?” She looked at me with a puzzled expression on her face.
“Sorry for that one. I just lost my cool that’s all.” I plastered a false smile on my face and looked at her.
“Lost your cool at what?” She asked, giving me a wide eyed, puzzled look.
“She should have understood you. If not that, she could’ve at least given it a thought.” I replied, slinging my bag onto my right shoulder. “You are, after all, a new student.”
“Some people just don’t try hard enough you know.” Wearing her bag, she said. “Never mind that. I lost my cool as well.” She smiled at me.
“Sango, I heard what you said at that time.” I said, changing my smiling face to a more serious one.
“If you’ve heard me telling I don’t have my parents, then you heard it right. I don’t have any parents.” There was disgust clear in her voice when she pronounced the last word.
“You mean you and your brother live alone in this city?” I asked, surprised.
“Yeah.” She replied in as-a-matter-of-fact way. “I have an apartment and a job, enough to secure food and shelter for the two of us. So I don’t have any problems as such.”
By this time we were walking through the corridor. Sango seemed a lot more friendlier than what she was a day back. I thought she would be hyper and clobber me or slap me when I’d approach her but it wasn’t at all like that.
We talked about the exam and the other usual stuffs. I told her that I won’t even manage thirty which was my escape route and she said she wasn’t even expecting ten. We sure had reason to laugh!
It felt nice talking to her, laughing with her and walking by her side. We became friends almost instantly. At least I thought it that way. I didn’t have the slightest of ideas as to what she thought of me but I didn’t want to know that at that moment. Being with her seemed enough.
“So Sango, which way are you going?” I asked as we went out of the school gates.
“I’ll go to the Higurashi shrine now. And from there to KFC.” She replied.
“I’ve to go past these places to reach my home.” I said. “So mind if I walk with you?” I gave her a perverted grin.
“Only if you keep your hands to yourself.” She slapped away my hands which were approaching her shoulders.
“Oh, sure.” I said, still smiling.
*****
Sango’s POV
“Thanks for accompanying me, Miroku.” I smiled at the guy. He deserved it.
“It was my pleasure, dear Sango.” He smiled back.
Dear Sango? When was the last time anyone called me that? I remembered my father calling me that when he was sane. After losing his sanity he lost his love for his daughter as well. From ‘dear Sango’ to ‘damned bitch’ such is the power of alcohol.
“By the way, Sango, you told you were going to KFC, what if I go along with you? I was just planning to have some food. So if you don’t mind may I...?” I could see his hesitation so without letting him complete I agreed. I didn’t know why, but I really wanted him to come along. That made me blush and I think he noticed it.
“Just give me a sec okay? I’ll just check up on my brother and return.” I wanted to get away as fast as I could. I didn’t want him to know I was blushing.
“Okay. I’ll be waiting here.” he said.
I could see his wide smile but didn’t have the courage to see his deep blue eyes. Who could tell what his mischievous eyes could perceive from my face?
Was there really anything worth noticing? I asked myself while walking, no running back to the building centrally located in the Higurashi shrine. I’m really gonna pay this time. Out of all people I had to fall for this pervert?
“No, of course not!” I mentally chided myself. I won’t fall for Miroku!
*****
After two knocks on the door, Kagome opened the door. She was her usual cheerful self. And in her short indigo skirt and light pink full sleeved shirt she was looking gorgeous. Her raven hair was being fanned by the wind that blew from the Goshinboku tree towards the door, giving her a more stunning appearance.
“Hey, Sango, how’re you? I missed you so much!” she flung herself in my arms.
“I’m alright.” I answered. “How’re you and how’s Kohaku doing?”
“Oh he’s absolutely fine! He’s playing with Souta and Shippo. Why don’t you come in and see for yourself?”
“I’ll come at night to take him home. I’ve to go now. I’m getting late.”
“It’s okay, Sango. I can understand.”
I didn’t call Kagome my best friend for nothing. Sure she can be annoying with her questions at times but that’s that about it. She can be as caring as a mother. And in the past when we were small she showed that side of her often. And I loved her cheerfulness. Sometimes I envied her for that but more often than not her contagious cheerfulness affected me and made me laugh and smile along with her.
“Who is that guy?” those words brought back my mind from past to present.
I turned around to look at the direction she was pointing at, and immediately pink color appeared on my cheeks.
“He, um, uh... He’s Miroku!” stammering I answered.
“Your boyfriend?” she asked, her eyes filled with curiosity and happiness.
“No, no, no, not at all!” I could feel my cheeks going red and ears going hot.
The next thing I knew was Kagome calling Miroku by his name. I was embarrassed so much so that I couldn’t turn to face him when he came to us.
“Oh, lovely lady! I think I’ve seen you before. You’re Kagome, right?” he asked.
Thank god he didn’t look at me! I heaved a sigh of relief.
Miroku and Kagome chatted for some time. Miroku admired her beauty and didn’t forget to make flattering comments about that. He also asked if she was single or not. Kagome had answered in the positive. And apart from his flirtatious comments he didn’t show much affection for her. I didn’t want him to either.
“We better go now, Kagome.” I said. “Say bye to Kohaku and the rest for me.”
Waving at her, Miroku and I began to walk away.
“Why are you so tensed, Sango?” he asked while we walked past the old Goshinboku tree.
“I’m not tensed.” I protested.
“You are tensed, dear one.” He gave his usual lecherous grin.
Just then I felt a warm hand on my bum. I knew it was Miroku and without any warning I struck him at his head.
“Aw, that hurt!” He shrieked in pain and I suppressed a giggle.
This guy sure knows how to make me smile. I don’t like that touch of his but somehow feel happy while beating him like that.
“I told you to mind your hands, didn’t I?” I glared at him.
“What can I do if my hands act on their own?” he protested like a baby.
Oh Miroku! At this rate I’ll get fired from this job. You’re making me late on my very first day of work.
*****
Miroku’s POV
Apart from the exam everything went fine today. No, it was actually one of the best days of my life. I could steal a date without even asking her properly to go out with me. How lucky I am!
My mobile started to ring and forced me out of my thoughts.
“Yeah Inu, what’s the matter?” I asked Inuyasha over the phone.
“That damned Kikyo left me for Naraku!” he barked at me over phone.
“Calm down. She wasn’t your type to begin with. Leave her be. And to speak of girlfriend, I think I found one for you.”
“It was you who had found me Kikyo and now she’s fucking ditched me! I ain’t falling for any wench again.” He spat.
“Okay, okay as you say, Inu.”
“I just called you up to ask about your exams...”
I told him how my test went and how my entire day went. He was bored throughout but when I told him about Kagome his interest grew. It was quite apparent from the change of his tone.
After five-ten minutes Inuyasha finally hung up and I got a chance to plunge in my soft, comfy bed.
Some night I’m gonna have! A smirk appeared on my face and I could feel it from the change in position of my lips.
To ruin it all, the phone began to ring again and this time it was the house phone not the mobile. I went downstairs listlessly and picked up the phone and mouthed off a weak hello.
“You’re Miroku Houshi, son of Mushin Houshi?” a man from the other side spoke.
“Yeah,” I replied lazily.
“Your father has been hospitalized. He was severely injured in a car crash. It appears he was drunk.”
“What?!” I was dumb founded, shocked. The receiver slipped out of the hand without me having to do a thing about it.
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A/N: Pardon the author for the lame chapter and the lame chapter's name. Bear with him because he was and is having a writer's block. :(
Saturday, June 26, 2010
Chapter 5: House and Home
She picked herself up and stormed off. I sprang up and took her trail. She wasn’t fast enough to walk away from me so easily much of the credit could go to the boy she was taking with her. He seemed to be helpless without her firm grip on his wrist. He even stumbled once or twice and had to be held still by Sango.
“Hey, wait up!” I called her from behind, my legs breaking into a jog. Soon I was right in front of her. No, I didn’t block her path or something. I just went ahead of her and turned back to give her a smile.
“C’mon, I said I’m sorry, didn’t I?” I put my hands into my pockets and again put up a smiling face.
She didn’t seem to like my gesture a bit. The frown on her face bore testimony to that.
“Get lost!” she growled.
I just couldn’t do as she had wished me to.
“I’m not leaving unless you accept my apology.” I gave her one of innocent smiles again.
I noticed her frown disappear for a while but it was soon back again. It was an artificial scowl that she wore. I’m positive, I mentally backed my own assumption.
“Why are you sorry?” She asked angrily, still growling like a fierce tigress.
Tigress or whatever, she was my War Goddess, only that. I smiled as a result of that thought.
“You slapped me back then so that must mean I did something to your dislike and for that I am terribly sorry, Sango.”
It felt nice while pronouncing the syllables of her name. I noticed a change in her face. For a moment it seemed as if she smiled or tried hard but failed to hide one.
“Something to my dislike?” Her eyes widened and eye brows raised and the next moment she was yelling at me. “You had your filthy hands at my bum! I. Did not. Like. That. A. Bit.”
My dear Sango, you look so cute when you are angry. The smile on my face seemed permanent at that moment. It took some pain to keep that up though. My cheeks were still burning from that painful hand contact of hers.
I was lost for a moment until her last words snapped me out of my reverie.
“I won’t tolerate the same thing next time!” She warned me but something about her warning was not quite right...it didn’t look like a warning at all. It seemed to be some sort of advice, more of a friendly one than anything else.
“So you’re sure that we’re meeting again?” I teased her, the smile and wink ever present in my face.
That caught her off guard.
“Umm, uhh, it’s nothing like that,” a tinge of pink slowly formed on her cheeks. “I’m certain we won’t be meeting again...” The words didn’t sound too direct. Not to my ears at least.
“Oh yes we will meet again, Sango.” I said, grinning. “You and I go to the same school if I’m not wrong.”
She tried to say something but seeing her fumbling for words, I took over.
“I saw you at the corridor in the 2nd floor the other day. You were staring out of the window.” I began, smiling like I did before. “What were you doing there by the way?”
She looked stunned for a while but soon regained her composure and answered my questions. “Obviously, I was having a look at the cherry blossom tree.”
“But it’s not yet time for that, Sango.”
“I know it isn’t but what’s the harm in staring when you have no better work to do?”
“No harm at all.”
“So if your investigation is over then I’d like to leave.”
“Oh sure, of course, I don’t want you two to be kept waiting when you might have nicer things to do. I’m sorry for holding you back this long.” I looked at the guy, he tried to say something but without paying any heed I turned to my subject of interest: Sango.
I jumped out of her way at the instant my eyes fell on her face. I swear it was scarier than even Ms. Brookes’. (Ms. Brookes was worse than devil himself!)
“He’s my brother, Kohaku, idiot.” She pulled his arm and dragged him all the way to the turning of the road, where she turned right and walked away, disappearing from my line of sight.
At least she doesn’t have a boy friend. I sighed in relief.
“Hey, Houshi, what happened? Why did she run off like that?” Koga inquired as he, Inuyasha and Sesshomaru came running towards me.
“Feh, he must’ve tried to rape her.” Inuyasha said with a shrug.
Their words didn’t affect me a bit. My life sucked and was boring only because I didn’t know what to do. But now I do know what I have to do. Sango, I have to make her mine.
My friends were asking too many questions and were getting annoyed when I wasn’t answering them. I was too busy figuring out what to do the next time I’d meet her...next time...school.
School! I snapped out of my sweet little dream as the sudden realization of school and in turn the exam that was due on Monday dawned upon me.
“Guys, I’m very sorry,” I bowed, lowering my head to almost my knees. “But I have to go home now.”
I hated these. But you ought to be polite and show respect to Sesshomaru. His presence demanded respect. Almost like a demon lord did!
“Houshi, it’s fine. We understand you have exams. You can go.” Sesshomaru gave a gentle pat on my shoulder.
Did the sun rise in the west, or north, or south? East was obviously the correct answer and that’s why it didn’t come to my mind then.
*****
The house – my home – was shrouded by darkness when I reached the front gate. Opening the gate, I entered the garden, no sign of life anywhere. The door leading to the inside of the building opened a while later. I opened it myself.
First thing that I did was to switch the lights on. Once that was done I headed straight for the phone to check if any messages were left or not. No one generally calls but still I checked. It was my hunch that someone would have called.
It turned out to be the truth. Someone did call and it was none other than my dear father, Mushin Houshi.
His message:
Miroku, I won’t be returning home for a few days. I’ve got plenty of office work to do. I’m sure you won’t die. I haven’t foreseen that yet. So don’t worry about it. There is money in the locker. If you need some then get them from there. There’s some beer in the fridge if you want to drink, you can. And Internet’s there for your mirth, so enjoy!
“The old geezer has nothing better to say?” I muttered under my breath and cursing I went to the bath room to have my bath.
After bathing, meditating, fantasizing and cursing, I finally sat down to study but the effect of alcohol still lingered and I dozed off. Too tired to do anything but sleep and I didn’t stop myself.
Tomorrow’s Sunday, enough to study for my exam the day after.
*****
Sango’s POV
Damn that guy! Who does he think himself to be!? Shivering with cold, I cursed and tried to keep myself warm by mentally picturing his face. Although I wanted resentful, hateful feelings to arise at his sight, somehow it didn’t. I turned the knob to stop the cold water from pelting on my bare body and stepped out of the shower. I grabbed a towel and drying my body with it I stood in front of the mirror. Then getting hold of another towel, I wrapped it around my wet hair to soak it dry.
As I brought the towel-wrapped hair on my right shoulder, my finger touched the old, dried up but not completely disappeared gash near my right shoulder. For a while my mind drifted back, breaking my own resolve, it showed me my past forcing me to see things which I didn’t need to...want to.
What I usually saw was a man in his forties, grey-black hair, tall and broad built frame, rough beard on the chin, jaw line and cheeks and blood shot eyes, holding a bottle of alcohol in one hand and a belt in the other and hurling constant abuses.
Then I’d see myself, in my knees, pleading, crying, trembling, and begging in front of him. I could also see my brother Kohaku, lying almost unconscious beside me, half-naked. His back turned upwards, showing red patches all over. I would soon suffer the same fate, only respite that I had was not to get my upper body bared. My father had only that much decency.
“Are you done yet, big sister?”
I was brought back to reality at the call of my little brother.
“Yes Kohaku.” I replied and wrapped the towel around my body and then opened the bath room door.
Kohaku was to have his bath. I quickly realized that he couldn’t do so on his own.
“Go on,” I said. “I’ll help you.”
I wrapped my towel tighter than it was previously and reached for Kohaku’s shirt.
“Big sister...”
I knew what that meant. The little boy was too shy to open his clothes in front of his sister. Even though it was she who had taken care of him since the day he was born.
“I’m your sister, Kohaku. You don’t have to be so shy in front of me.” I unbuttoned his shirt and let it slide along his slim hands and fall on the wet bath room floor.
He did protest but I turned a deaf ear and a blind eye to his timid protests.
After that there wasn’t much of a fuss. I gently rinsed his back with water and soap and had his hair shampooed. After everything was done, I dried him and got him dressed.
“Off you go, little one. It’s late, you must sleep now.” I ran my fingers along his hair.
“Big sister,” He began. “Although I can’t see anything, I know...I know that you don’t sleep in the bed. You sleep on the couch” He blankly stared at his feet. “So I was thinking if I slept in that couch tonight and you on the bed...”
“That’s ridiculous, Kohaku.” I dismissed the idea. “You have to meet Souta tomorrow you know. So you better sleep well tonight and Souta says Shippo will also be there with him. So kido better get sleeping.”
“But...”
“No Kohaku.”
I stopped the discussion and pulled him by his arm to his bed and helped him get up. The poor boy looked very much down and depressed and showed signs of protests through soft mutters but all ceased and he drifted off to a deep, peaceful slumber when I began caressing his forehead with my palm.
Seeing him soundly asleep, I traced back to the door and softly muttered good night and then gently closed the door as I left the room.
It was about time I got dressed in proper clothes and not just a towel. I went towards the dresser and began fumbling for my shorts and a tank top when I found them I quickly undressed and slid into them.
The dresser was giving up and it won’t be long before the entire thing broke down.
This wretched place is no good for us. I thought and then suddenly something from within me shot back. Was your previous place better than this?
I shuddered at the thought of yells, alcohol influenced rambles, beatings, abuses – all that were associated with my previous house – not home.
All I wanted was a family but God wasn’t that grateful to grant me one.
Random thoughts fleeted in and out of my mind. Not once did Miroku’s name come to my mind. Did I want it to? If so, then why?
But I didn’t want to think about it much. Didn’t have the energy to, so I decided it would be best for me to sleep.
Decision made and finalized and I slumped into a dreamless sleep.
“Hey, wait up!” I called her from behind, my legs breaking into a jog. Soon I was right in front of her. No, I didn’t block her path or something. I just went ahead of her and turned back to give her a smile.
“C’mon, I said I’m sorry, didn’t I?” I put my hands into my pockets and again put up a smiling face.
She didn’t seem to like my gesture a bit. The frown on her face bore testimony to that.
“Get lost!” she growled.
I just couldn’t do as she had wished me to.
“I’m not leaving unless you accept my apology.” I gave her one of innocent smiles again.
I noticed her frown disappear for a while but it was soon back again. It was an artificial scowl that she wore. I’m positive, I mentally backed my own assumption.
“Why are you sorry?” She asked angrily, still growling like a fierce tigress.
Tigress or whatever, she was my War Goddess, only that. I smiled as a result of that thought.
“You slapped me back then so that must mean I did something to your dislike and for that I am terribly sorry, Sango.”
It felt nice while pronouncing the syllables of her name. I noticed a change in her face. For a moment it seemed as if she smiled or tried hard but failed to hide one.
“Something to my dislike?” Her eyes widened and eye brows raised and the next moment she was yelling at me. “You had your filthy hands at my bum! I. Did not. Like. That. A. Bit.”
My dear Sango, you look so cute when you are angry. The smile on my face seemed permanent at that moment. It took some pain to keep that up though. My cheeks were still burning from that painful hand contact of hers.
I was lost for a moment until her last words snapped me out of my reverie.
“I won’t tolerate the same thing next time!” She warned me but something about her warning was not quite right...it didn’t look like a warning at all. It seemed to be some sort of advice, more of a friendly one than anything else.
“So you’re sure that we’re meeting again?” I teased her, the smile and wink ever present in my face.
That caught her off guard.
“Umm, uhh, it’s nothing like that,” a tinge of pink slowly formed on her cheeks. “I’m certain we won’t be meeting again...” The words didn’t sound too direct. Not to my ears at least.
“Oh yes we will meet again, Sango.” I said, grinning. “You and I go to the same school if I’m not wrong.”
She tried to say something but seeing her fumbling for words, I took over.
“I saw you at the corridor in the 2nd floor the other day. You were staring out of the window.” I began, smiling like I did before. “What were you doing there by the way?”
She looked stunned for a while but soon regained her composure and answered my questions. “Obviously, I was having a look at the cherry blossom tree.”
“But it’s not yet time for that, Sango.”
“I know it isn’t but what’s the harm in staring when you have no better work to do?”
“No harm at all.”
“So if your investigation is over then I’d like to leave.”
“Oh sure, of course, I don’t want you two to be kept waiting when you might have nicer things to do. I’m sorry for holding you back this long.” I looked at the guy, he tried to say something but without paying any heed I turned to my subject of interest: Sango.
I jumped out of her way at the instant my eyes fell on her face. I swear it was scarier than even Ms. Brookes’. (Ms. Brookes was worse than devil himself!)
“He’s my brother, Kohaku, idiot.” She pulled his arm and dragged him all the way to the turning of the road, where she turned right and walked away, disappearing from my line of sight.
At least she doesn’t have a boy friend. I sighed in relief.
“Hey, Houshi, what happened? Why did she run off like that?” Koga inquired as he, Inuyasha and Sesshomaru came running towards me.
“Feh, he must’ve tried to rape her.” Inuyasha said with a shrug.
Their words didn’t affect me a bit. My life sucked and was boring only because I didn’t know what to do. But now I do know what I have to do. Sango, I have to make her mine.
My friends were asking too many questions and were getting annoyed when I wasn’t answering them. I was too busy figuring out what to do the next time I’d meet her...next time...school.
School! I snapped out of my sweet little dream as the sudden realization of school and in turn the exam that was due on Monday dawned upon me.
“Guys, I’m very sorry,” I bowed, lowering my head to almost my knees. “But I have to go home now.”
I hated these. But you ought to be polite and show respect to Sesshomaru. His presence demanded respect. Almost like a demon lord did!
“Houshi, it’s fine. We understand you have exams. You can go.” Sesshomaru gave a gentle pat on my shoulder.
Did the sun rise in the west, or north, or south? East was obviously the correct answer and that’s why it didn’t come to my mind then.
*****
The house – my home – was shrouded by darkness when I reached the front gate. Opening the gate, I entered the garden, no sign of life anywhere. The door leading to the inside of the building opened a while later. I opened it myself.
First thing that I did was to switch the lights on. Once that was done I headed straight for the phone to check if any messages were left or not. No one generally calls but still I checked. It was my hunch that someone would have called.
It turned out to be the truth. Someone did call and it was none other than my dear father, Mushin Houshi.
His message:
Miroku, I won’t be returning home for a few days. I’ve got plenty of office work to do. I’m sure you won’t die. I haven’t foreseen that yet. So don’t worry about it. There is money in the locker. If you need some then get them from there. There’s some beer in the fridge if you want to drink, you can. And Internet’s there for your mirth, so enjoy!
“The old geezer has nothing better to say?” I muttered under my breath and cursing I went to the bath room to have my bath.
After bathing, meditating, fantasizing and cursing, I finally sat down to study but the effect of alcohol still lingered and I dozed off. Too tired to do anything but sleep and I didn’t stop myself.
Tomorrow’s Sunday, enough to study for my exam the day after.
*****
Sango’s POV
Damn that guy! Who does he think himself to be!? Shivering with cold, I cursed and tried to keep myself warm by mentally picturing his face. Although I wanted resentful, hateful feelings to arise at his sight, somehow it didn’t. I turned the knob to stop the cold water from pelting on my bare body and stepped out of the shower. I grabbed a towel and drying my body with it I stood in front of the mirror. Then getting hold of another towel, I wrapped it around my wet hair to soak it dry.
As I brought the towel-wrapped hair on my right shoulder, my finger touched the old, dried up but not completely disappeared gash near my right shoulder. For a while my mind drifted back, breaking my own resolve, it showed me my past forcing me to see things which I didn’t need to...want to.
What I usually saw was a man in his forties, grey-black hair, tall and broad built frame, rough beard on the chin, jaw line and cheeks and blood shot eyes, holding a bottle of alcohol in one hand and a belt in the other and hurling constant abuses.
Then I’d see myself, in my knees, pleading, crying, trembling, and begging in front of him. I could also see my brother Kohaku, lying almost unconscious beside me, half-naked. His back turned upwards, showing red patches all over. I would soon suffer the same fate, only respite that I had was not to get my upper body bared. My father had only that much decency.
“Are you done yet, big sister?”
I was brought back to reality at the call of my little brother.
“Yes Kohaku.” I replied and wrapped the towel around my body and then opened the bath room door.
Kohaku was to have his bath. I quickly realized that he couldn’t do so on his own.
“Go on,” I said. “I’ll help you.”
I wrapped my towel tighter than it was previously and reached for Kohaku’s shirt.
“Big sister...”
I knew what that meant. The little boy was too shy to open his clothes in front of his sister. Even though it was she who had taken care of him since the day he was born.
“I’m your sister, Kohaku. You don’t have to be so shy in front of me.” I unbuttoned his shirt and let it slide along his slim hands and fall on the wet bath room floor.
He did protest but I turned a deaf ear and a blind eye to his timid protests.
After that there wasn’t much of a fuss. I gently rinsed his back with water and soap and had his hair shampooed. After everything was done, I dried him and got him dressed.
“Off you go, little one. It’s late, you must sleep now.” I ran my fingers along his hair.
“Big sister,” He began. “Although I can’t see anything, I know...I know that you don’t sleep in the bed. You sleep on the couch” He blankly stared at his feet. “So I was thinking if I slept in that couch tonight and you on the bed...”
“That’s ridiculous, Kohaku.” I dismissed the idea. “You have to meet Souta tomorrow you know. So you better sleep well tonight and Souta says Shippo will also be there with him. So kido better get sleeping.”
“But...”
“No Kohaku.”
I stopped the discussion and pulled him by his arm to his bed and helped him get up. The poor boy looked very much down and depressed and showed signs of protests through soft mutters but all ceased and he drifted off to a deep, peaceful slumber when I began caressing his forehead with my palm.
Seeing him soundly asleep, I traced back to the door and softly muttered good night and then gently closed the door as I left the room.
It was about time I got dressed in proper clothes and not just a towel. I went towards the dresser and began fumbling for my shorts and a tank top when I found them I quickly undressed and slid into them.
The dresser was giving up and it won’t be long before the entire thing broke down.
This wretched place is no good for us. I thought and then suddenly something from within me shot back. Was your previous place better than this?
I shuddered at the thought of yells, alcohol influenced rambles, beatings, abuses – all that were associated with my previous house – not home.
All I wanted was a family but God wasn’t that grateful to grant me one.
Random thoughts fleeted in and out of my mind. Not once did Miroku’s name come to my mind. Did I want it to? If so, then why?
But I didn’t want to think about it much. Didn’t have the energy to, so I decided it would be best for me to sleep.
Decision made and finalized and I slumped into a dreamless sleep.
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
Chapter 4: The First Touch
It was her. I gazed at her for minutes which I didn’t count. But counting would have distracted me from something so admirable such as her. She was inside a building, no wind blowing, no fanning of hair and no loose strands to tuck over the ear. Yet the view was one of the most fascinating, if not THE most fascinating view I could ever manage to get.
Am a pervert after all, and being one, my eyes just won’t stop at the places they’re supposed to. An extra inch more visibility over her knees, below her beige skirt was one of the things which I wanted. But it wasn’t to be so. Neither was a peek into the V of her pink top was possible. Or it could’ve been but wasn’t so. My dear friends were obliging enough to snap me out of an exciting moment, which I might have thought to be exciting. Wasn’t it actually?
Damn the pervert in me! I cursed myself. Want her to be your girlfriend and yet, undress her in public, gross. I mentally reprimanded myself.
My friends at least helped me out of it. I hoped they’d get me out of my guilty feeling as well.
“What’re ye sweating out for?” Koga shrewdly asked.
“Nothing, nothing at all,” I gave him the false grin, wiping off the brine beads formed on my forehead. Dare I tell it to them, my days are bad already, don’t want them to be worse. “Why do you ask?” I structured the easiest question in my mind and placed it to him.
“Houshi, tell us one thing,” Sesshomaru placed his cola glass on the table rather roughly. “What were you gawking at?”
“Me and gawking?” I’d best not tell him anything about that. “I never gawked at any girl, not at the moment at least.”
“Did we even mention girl?” Inuyasha shot at me.
“No, you didn’t,” I replied. “But you often do. So, I canceled out the proposition beforehand.”
“That wasn’t an answer, but it doesn’t matter. We brought you here for the sole purpose of gawking,” He sipped from the glass again. “You can carry on.”
I’d better.
I resumed my work. This time more conscious over the other’s glancing at me. I knew Sesshomaru was having something at the back of his mind. But didn’t know what exactly he was planning.
I trained my eyes on the entire space in front of me wanting, craving, and dying for the sight of a figure draped in pink and beige.
To my ill luck, I didn’t find that figure.
I resumed eating, completed as the others did and then left the place along with the others.
“Where to go now?” Koga asked.
“Home,” I replied.
Man, I need to study, so please let me leave.
But it wasn’t to be so. It was hard to expect sympathy from Sesshomaru.
“We’re heading for a movie now. Then the arcade. Then home at night.” He glanced at me. “10 pm.”
I could only smile.
I'm a jerk! The thing called soul or whatever pinched me from inside.
*****
Entire day wasted. The most needed Saturday gone never to return again, for good.
For bad rather. My head was reeling from the alcohol which by Sesshomaru’s grace I had to drink. Worse, I was rambling like some drunken man. It wasn’t that they weren’t doing the same but I wasn’t used to alcohol as they were, and that made me feel a little out of place. They weren’t ranting words like, grope, and other unmentionables like I was. They were laughing at me, making me the butt of all jokes.
“Did ye all get me drunk just coz I didn’t tell ye about that chick I ogled at?” I blurted out.
It was alcohol which was speaking now. I wasn’t talking. No, not even for once.
“Oh, so it was ogling, not gawking?” Inuyasha grinned. I could see Sesshomaru and Koga chuckling.
“Yeah so what?”
“As long as she’s in your bed, it won’t matter. But please, Houshi, not at a public place.” The three broke into fits of laughter.
Will they never stop this? I’m sick of all these.
I turned away from them in disgust. Turned away for the better I should add. Coz SHE was there. I could see her angelic features again.
“So that’s your woman?” Inuyasha wore a smirk on his face. The others wickedly grinned.
“You can say that, though I don’t know her name yet. I will no doubt. Very soon.”
I didn’t know that harmless piece of overconfidence would give Sesshomaru some bait.
“Why don’t you claim her now?” Sesshomaru asked. I could see him hiding the wicked grin.
“Not now. I’ll later,” I replied. “When I’m in the mood to.” I added.
“But it seems she’s already occupied with another boy.” Inuyasha flung the piece of info at me.
I immediately turned towards her and saw a boy holding her hand.
What the fuck!? I shrugged off the influence of alcohol in me. I’m gonna sever the head of the bastard whoever he was.
She was on the other side of the road, waiting for the signal to change, I on the opposite side; I didn’t wait for her to cross over. I walked straight into the road. A few cars whizzed past me. No big deal. I told myself.
Upon reaching the other side I saw the girl getting surrounded by some goons.
Yeah they’ll at least teach that god-forsaken idiot with her some lesson. I thought and eagerly hoped for the boy to get beaten up.
The thugs surrounded her, mouthing all sorts of words that are characteristic to them. I thought of getting rid of them once they got rid of my SUPPOSED rival.
I waited for something to happen, my friends cheering me from the other side, waving their hands at me but nothing as such happened to my delight at least, except that one of the thugs, supposedly the head, got kicked at the chin, by the girl of all people.
I was left dumbfounded. My jaws dropped to my knees in surprise...no awe would be the better word.
The next thing I saw was the other goons tending to their boss and the girl I am interested in, walking away from the scene, towards me. I was so awestruck by the entire scene that I forgot to move away.
She was grumbling alright. And in doing so she didn’t notice me and bumped right into me, throwing me down on the ground, and falling on top of me.
Man, did I love it! That was the first touch I received from a girl.
The boy whoever he was seemed like a blind man to me for he didn’t say a thing seeing her lying on top of me. Not that I would’ve liked it if he had, it was odd nevertheless. He didn’t even look at both of us.
“Umm, excuse me...could you please--”
I couldn’t finish as suddenly a hard (I must mention, iron like) palm struck me on the cheek. My pale skin gave a scarlet glow at that place. Her beautiful hand which I wanted to hold so dearly, gave its imprint on my cheek.
The pain was for real but the experience surreal.
“The name’s Miroku.” I said.
Not the best of times to introduce.
“I’m sorry...” I later added
“Sango Taijiya.” She pulled herself up from me and walked off without any further word.
-------------------------------------------------------------
A/N: I wanted this to be better but it didn’t turn out to be so. :(
Anyway, if you’re reading this, please give comments. I’m no established writer. So not perfect. Not now anyway. So any help in editing or whatever will always be welcome. By the way, I forgot to mention that this will be a fanfic having character POVs. Am mentioning it now so don't complain in the future!
A/N2: Do not take me to be a pervert! The character is like that. Not the author.
Am a pervert after all, and being one, my eyes just won’t stop at the places they’re supposed to. An extra inch more visibility over her knees, below her beige skirt was one of the things which I wanted. But it wasn’t to be so. Neither was a peek into the V of her pink top was possible. Or it could’ve been but wasn’t so. My dear friends were obliging enough to snap me out of an exciting moment, which I might have thought to be exciting. Wasn’t it actually?
Damn the pervert in me! I cursed myself. Want her to be your girlfriend and yet, undress her in public, gross. I mentally reprimanded myself.
My friends at least helped me out of it. I hoped they’d get me out of my guilty feeling as well.
“What’re ye sweating out for?” Koga shrewdly asked.
“Nothing, nothing at all,” I gave him the false grin, wiping off the brine beads formed on my forehead. Dare I tell it to them, my days are bad already, don’t want them to be worse. “Why do you ask?” I structured the easiest question in my mind and placed it to him.
“Houshi, tell us one thing,” Sesshomaru placed his cola glass on the table rather roughly. “What were you gawking at?”
“Me and gawking?” I’d best not tell him anything about that. “I never gawked at any girl, not at the moment at least.”
“Did we even mention girl?” Inuyasha shot at me.
“No, you didn’t,” I replied. “But you often do. So, I canceled out the proposition beforehand.”
“That wasn’t an answer, but it doesn’t matter. We brought you here for the sole purpose of gawking,” He sipped from the glass again. “You can carry on.”
I’d better.
I resumed my work. This time more conscious over the other’s glancing at me. I knew Sesshomaru was having something at the back of his mind. But didn’t know what exactly he was planning.
I trained my eyes on the entire space in front of me wanting, craving, and dying for the sight of a figure draped in pink and beige.
To my ill luck, I didn’t find that figure.
I resumed eating, completed as the others did and then left the place along with the others.
“Where to go now?” Koga asked.
“Home,” I replied.
Man, I need to study, so please let me leave.
But it wasn’t to be so. It was hard to expect sympathy from Sesshomaru.
“We’re heading for a movie now. Then the arcade. Then home at night.” He glanced at me. “10 pm.”
I could only smile.
I'm a jerk! The thing called soul or whatever pinched me from inside.
*****
Entire day wasted. The most needed Saturday gone never to return again, for good.
For bad rather. My head was reeling from the alcohol which by Sesshomaru’s grace I had to drink. Worse, I was rambling like some drunken man. It wasn’t that they weren’t doing the same but I wasn’t used to alcohol as they were, and that made me feel a little out of place. They weren’t ranting words like, grope, and other unmentionables like I was. They were laughing at me, making me the butt of all jokes.
“Did ye all get me drunk just coz I didn’t tell ye about that chick I ogled at?” I blurted out.
It was alcohol which was speaking now. I wasn’t talking. No, not even for once.
“Oh, so it was ogling, not gawking?” Inuyasha grinned. I could see Sesshomaru and Koga chuckling.
“Yeah so what?”
“As long as she’s in your bed, it won’t matter. But please, Houshi, not at a public place.” The three broke into fits of laughter.
Will they never stop this? I’m sick of all these.
I turned away from them in disgust. Turned away for the better I should add. Coz SHE was there. I could see her angelic features again.
“So that’s your woman?” Inuyasha wore a smirk on his face. The others wickedly grinned.
“You can say that, though I don’t know her name yet. I will no doubt. Very soon.”
I didn’t know that harmless piece of overconfidence would give Sesshomaru some bait.
“Why don’t you claim her now?” Sesshomaru asked. I could see him hiding the wicked grin.
“Not now. I’ll later,” I replied. “When I’m in the mood to.” I added.
“But it seems she’s already occupied with another boy.” Inuyasha flung the piece of info at me.
I immediately turned towards her and saw a boy holding her hand.
What the fuck!? I shrugged off the influence of alcohol in me. I’m gonna sever the head of the bastard whoever he was.
She was on the other side of the road, waiting for the signal to change, I on the opposite side; I didn’t wait for her to cross over. I walked straight into the road. A few cars whizzed past me. No big deal. I told myself.
Upon reaching the other side I saw the girl getting surrounded by some goons.
Yeah they’ll at least teach that god-forsaken idiot with her some lesson. I thought and eagerly hoped for the boy to get beaten up.
The thugs surrounded her, mouthing all sorts of words that are characteristic to them. I thought of getting rid of them once they got rid of my SUPPOSED rival.
I waited for something to happen, my friends cheering me from the other side, waving their hands at me but nothing as such happened to my delight at least, except that one of the thugs, supposedly the head, got kicked at the chin, by the girl of all people.
I was left dumbfounded. My jaws dropped to my knees in surprise...no awe would be the better word.
The next thing I saw was the other goons tending to their boss and the girl I am interested in, walking away from the scene, towards me. I was so awestruck by the entire scene that I forgot to move away.
She was grumbling alright. And in doing so she didn’t notice me and bumped right into me, throwing me down on the ground, and falling on top of me.
Man, did I love it! That was the first touch I received from a girl.
The boy whoever he was seemed like a blind man to me for he didn’t say a thing seeing her lying on top of me. Not that I would’ve liked it if he had, it was odd nevertheless. He didn’t even look at both of us.
“Umm, excuse me...could you please--”
I couldn’t finish as suddenly a hard (I must mention, iron like) palm struck me on the cheek. My pale skin gave a scarlet glow at that place. Her beautiful hand which I wanted to hold so dearly, gave its imprint on my cheek.
The pain was for real but the experience surreal.
“The name’s Miroku.” I said.
Not the best of times to introduce.
“I’m sorry...” I later added
“Sango Taijiya.” She pulled herself up from me and walked off without any further word.
-------------------------------------------------------------
A/N: I wanted this to be better but it didn’t turn out to be so. :(
Anyway, if you’re reading this, please give comments. I’m no established writer. So not perfect. Not now anyway. So any help in editing or whatever will always be welcome. By the way, I forgot to mention that this will be a fanfic having character POVs. Am mentioning it now so don't complain in the future!
A/N2: Do not take me to be a pervert! The character is like that. Not the author.
Sunday, June 13, 2010
Chapter 3: That Girl Again
“Yeah sure. But only after I’m done with you.” he winked.
Just fuck off will ya? I so wanted to yell at him.
“What do you want with me?” I asked instead.
“Nothing much. It’s just that...umm...let’s go out and have fun! Inu and Koga will also come along.” He smirked.
Pre-planned way of torturing a friend. I sighed.
“Where to go?” I asked listlessly.
“Let’s go to KFC. I heard some hot chicks are gonna be there. So you be rest assured that you’ll be occupied.” He grinned.
A good suggestion for a perv like me? Hell no! I have fallen for such tricks before. There are no women in places Sesshy takes me. He never takes me to places where he promises. Wherever he takes today, be it good or bad, one thing’s for certain that my entire day will get ruined. There’s no way in hell that I can go today.
“Opposing Sesshy?” I thought to myself.
Not too bright an idea, especially when dad’s around.
“You think a lot man! C’mon it’s just a day dammit!”
“Yeah Yeah whatever. Let’s go already.” I said.
Damn, I don’t want to! But if I refuse he’s gonna tell the whole darn thing about the previous test to dad. I’m in a fix!
“Get your dress on at least. Are you gonna go like this in front of girls? Man, you’re such an embarrassment!”
My house, my dress, my body, what the fuck is with him? What’s his damn problem even if I go nude? Those words are too manly for me at the moment.
“I’ll get changed in a moment. Wait up.” I had to settle for less manly words.
*****
“What’s up Inu? All ready? Yeah...we’ll be there in a few minutes...see ya.” I heard Sesshy speak over his phone.
In a few minutes? Jesus, there’s no KFC branch in two kilometers from our house! What does he mean by few minutes?!
“Bye bro!” he removed the cell from his ears and kept it back in his chest pocket.
“Where exactly are we going?” I asked him boldly, not fearing any consequences.
“To hell!” he laughed.
“What the-”
Fuck? Yeah, I was going to say that but couldn’t. My dear dad showed up in time and cut me off.
“Mir, I’m not gonna return home today. You can lock the door from inside when you return.”
“Okay.” I said.
Fuck you old geezer! I cursed in my mind.
He couldn’t read my mind so I needn’t have any fear. He left the house and after a while the growl of engine could be heard outside. And after a few moments everything became quiet.
“Hey Mir, how about Inu, Koga and me come over at your place tonight? Your dad won’t be here. So we can stay with you for the night.”
“No Sessh, I’ve got an exam on Monday. I gotta study. I’m going with you in the morning so I have to make up for it at night.”
I refused Sesshy! Oh god! What’s gonna happen to me?!
“It’s fine bro. I understand.”
“Am I dreaming or something?” I pinched my arm. It hurt me. “It’s for real!” My jaws dropped.
“What’s with that stupid expression man? Let’s go. We’re getting late.” He ordered.
Always the boss!
*****
It was KFC after all. It was my knowledge of current affairs that was at fault. Am always living in my fantasies!
“Have to start living in the real world from now on.” I thought to myself.
“Look, Houshi’s dreaming again.” Inuyasha pointed towards me.
“Feh! That boy is always like this.” Koga shrugged.
“Hey Mir, look at those chicks over there. They might boost your hormones a bit. You look very much in need of them.” Sesshomaru sipped from his glass of cola.
As usual. Nothing new in these. Sesshy, Inu and Koga are always like this. I think they’ve been like this since the beginning of time.
“You said some time thingy?” Sesshomaru enquired.
What!? Was I thinking out loud!?
“Muh. Why would I say that?” I concentrated on my own glass of cola.
“Must’ve been something else then.” Sesshomaru looked away from me.
Phew! What a relief!
We finished our colas. We got some fried chicken ordered. In some moments the food arrived and we began to eat.
The guys chatted with each other all the while. I on the other hand, gazed at my food and some women who happened to pass by having some skimpy clothes on.
Wow! A girl gang! I shoved down the food using the extra power that looking at those girls generated within me.
“Hey, Inu, isn’t that Kikyo?” I heard Koga saying that to Inuyasha.
I looked at them and then looked at the direction Koga pointed at.
She is Kikyo! What?! Who’s that other guy?
“Kikyo’s two timing Inuyasha?!” I was shocked.
After all that lovey-dovey thingy in school I get to see this! Man, where’s the world come to?
“That guy is Naraku, isn’t he?” Sesshomaru sarcastically asked Inuyasha.
We don’t need your sarcasm now! I wanted to say that but before I could open my filled up mouth, Inuyasha opened his.
“I’ll kill that bastard!” Inuyasha growled.
“Calm down bro. Let’s see first what relationship those two have. It might not be what you think, you know.” Sesshomaru calmed down his brother for the moment.
Kikyo and Naraku escaped my view and I turned away from their direction to my food. But immediately like a reflex action I turned back.
It’s that girl! I’m dead certain it’s her!
Just fuck off will ya? I so wanted to yell at him.
“What do you want with me?” I asked instead.
“Nothing much. It’s just that...umm...let’s go out and have fun! Inu and Koga will also come along.” He smirked.
Pre-planned way of torturing a friend. I sighed.
“Where to go?” I asked listlessly.
“Let’s go to KFC. I heard some hot chicks are gonna be there. So you be rest assured that you’ll be occupied.” He grinned.
A good suggestion for a perv like me? Hell no! I have fallen for such tricks before. There are no women in places Sesshy takes me. He never takes me to places where he promises. Wherever he takes today, be it good or bad, one thing’s for certain that my entire day will get ruined. There’s no way in hell that I can go today.
“Opposing Sesshy?” I thought to myself.
Not too bright an idea, especially when dad’s around.
“You think a lot man! C’mon it’s just a day dammit!”
“Yeah Yeah whatever. Let’s go already.” I said.
Damn, I don’t want to! But if I refuse he’s gonna tell the whole darn thing about the previous test to dad. I’m in a fix!
“Get your dress on at least. Are you gonna go like this in front of girls? Man, you’re such an embarrassment!”
My house, my dress, my body, what the fuck is with him? What’s his damn problem even if I go nude? Those words are too manly for me at the moment.
“I’ll get changed in a moment. Wait up.” I had to settle for less manly words.
*****
“What’s up Inu? All ready? Yeah...we’ll be there in a few minutes...see ya.” I heard Sesshy speak over his phone.
In a few minutes? Jesus, there’s no KFC branch in two kilometers from our house! What does he mean by few minutes?!
“Bye bro!” he removed the cell from his ears and kept it back in his chest pocket.
“Where exactly are we going?” I asked him boldly, not fearing any consequences.
“To hell!” he laughed.
“What the-”
Fuck? Yeah, I was going to say that but couldn’t. My dear dad showed up in time and cut me off.
“Mir, I’m not gonna return home today. You can lock the door from inside when you return.”
“Okay.” I said.
Fuck you old geezer! I cursed in my mind.
He couldn’t read my mind so I needn’t have any fear. He left the house and after a while the growl of engine could be heard outside. And after a few moments everything became quiet.
“Hey Mir, how about Inu, Koga and me come over at your place tonight? Your dad won’t be here. So we can stay with you for the night.”
“No Sessh, I’ve got an exam on Monday. I gotta study. I’m going with you in the morning so I have to make up for it at night.”
I refused Sesshy! Oh god! What’s gonna happen to me?!
“It’s fine bro. I understand.”
“Am I dreaming or something?” I pinched my arm. It hurt me. “It’s for real!” My jaws dropped.
“What’s with that stupid expression man? Let’s go. We’re getting late.” He ordered.
Always the boss!
*****
It was KFC after all. It was my knowledge of current affairs that was at fault. Am always living in my fantasies!
“Have to start living in the real world from now on.” I thought to myself.
“Look, Houshi’s dreaming again.” Inuyasha pointed towards me.
“Feh! That boy is always like this.” Koga shrugged.
“Hey Mir, look at those chicks over there. They might boost your hormones a bit. You look very much in need of them.” Sesshomaru sipped from his glass of cola.
As usual. Nothing new in these. Sesshy, Inu and Koga are always like this. I think they’ve been like this since the beginning of time.
“You said some time thingy?” Sesshomaru enquired.
What!? Was I thinking out loud!?
“Muh. Why would I say that?” I concentrated on my own glass of cola.
“Must’ve been something else then.” Sesshomaru looked away from me.
Phew! What a relief!
We finished our colas. We got some fried chicken ordered. In some moments the food arrived and we began to eat.
The guys chatted with each other all the while. I on the other hand, gazed at my food and some women who happened to pass by having some skimpy clothes on.
Wow! A girl gang! I shoved down the food using the extra power that looking at those girls generated within me.
“Hey, Inu, isn’t that Kikyo?” I heard Koga saying that to Inuyasha.
I looked at them and then looked at the direction Koga pointed at.
She is Kikyo! What?! Who’s that other guy?
“Kikyo’s two timing Inuyasha?!” I was shocked.
After all that lovey-dovey thingy in school I get to see this! Man, where’s the world come to?
“That guy is Naraku, isn’t he?” Sesshomaru sarcastically asked Inuyasha.
We don’t need your sarcasm now! I wanted to say that but before I could open my filled up mouth, Inuyasha opened his.
“I’ll kill that bastard!” Inuyasha growled.
“Calm down bro. Let’s see first what relationship those two have. It might not be what you think, you know.” Sesshomaru calmed down his brother for the moment.
Kikyo and Naraku escaped my view and I turned away from their direction to my food. But immediately like a reflex action I turned back.
It’s that girl! I’m dead certain it’s her!
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