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.