Disclaimer: No, no, no, no and no. Don't own anything. AN: Sorry everyone about the delayed update. I promised myself I wouldn't make you guys wait another month, but writer's block got to me first. But you won't have to wait long for the next chapter, I've already got a very evil idea forming in my head. This story is sadly going to roll to an end soon, but it's not quite finished yet. I estimate two more chapters...but I guess we'll have to see. ^_^ The Red Card Chapter 17 - Why Are You Sorry? *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~         His scattered vision was one hell of a mess, so Inuyasha chose to keep his eyes closed for the while being. His deeply pulsing head was throbbing like hell, and if he had a choice, he would've rather somebody hammered nails into his head.         "Inuyasha? Are you okay?" The light voice said worriedly by his side, and he felt a hand placed on his rapidly rising chest.         He ignored her and rolled over with a groan, facing away from whomever that was. After all, he had a sudden urge to punch someone in the face, and choosing to do so on some girl wouldn't be the smartest thing to do. "I'm fine, just leave me alone."         The small hand on his chest stilled, and Inuyasha could swear he heard the faintest hint of a sniffle. "Oh no...don't start crying on me now! My head feels like shit enough as it is..."         "I'm not crying, Inuyasha!" Kagome shouted in frustration, pounding his chest frantically to accent her point. "What's wrong with you right now? I'm just asking you're okay!"         "I'm lying on a bathroom floor somewhere. Does it LOOK like I'm okay?" He snapped suddenly and flipped back around prepared to give this girl a piece of his mind, when he stopped halfway.         She was leaning over him with wide eyes, staring into his own with interest. What in the world was she doing? Just the thought of it made his head think, which resulted in more pain. 'Wait a minute...the last time she did this she threw my head against a wall.'         "Inuyasha..." She whispered quietly, swooping down closer as each sound escaped those red lips of hers. He brought his hands in front of his face worriedly to prevent any more attacks from her. If his head smashed against another wall, there was no doubt he would probably die from the overwhelming pain.         Kagome reached for both his arms blocking his sweaty face, and roughly pulled them beside his head. It wasn't hard at all, seeing he was as weak as a kitten right then.         Now this was beyond what poor Inuyasha could handle. Kagome leaning down willingly to kiss him? His knuckles cracked nervously and he shut his eyes while mumbling, "Is this a dream...?"         Now why was he so terrified? He'd kissed her that one time on that boat during that game thing...but this time it was different. He was sick. And Kagome was oddly being the dominant one here.         So there Inuyasha laid, hoping his breath was alright before Kagome drew her face some mere millimetres from his own. And as hard as Inuyasha tried, he couldn't hold back the heat he felt emerging from his cheeks. As for his heart...it felt like it was about to pound itself right out of his body.         Now imagine his reaction when Kagome brought her forehead to his for a few seconds, and pulled away with a disappointed frown on her face. "Now wonder you're so cranky, you're burning like a stove!" She looked over his face carefully. "And your face is burning up too! Look, your cheeks are so red!"         "Wha-?" Did he feel like an idiot. But luckily he was sick, or Kagome would've definitely figured out that embarrassing display of affection.         "What did you do to get this sick?" She questioned dangerously whilst bringing her hands to her hips. "Stand in the snow naked?"         Leave it to Kagome to suggest something like that. "Nah...I didn't sleep for two days."         "Are you insane?!" She shouted at him as she brought her reassuring hand to his forehead. "You have a fever, Inuyasha! And we're locked in! What are we going to do?"         He rubbed his temple wearily and sighed, "Go try the door again..."         Kagome nodded and reached out to grip the doorknob. He was right. It was bolted shut. "What the hell? How does that happen when we didn't even lock it?" Not expecting an answer from Inuyasha, she started pounding with all her might on the door while screaming, "Anyone? HELP! We're locked in here and someone is very sick!"         It was impossible for anyone to hear them. In this mansion, in the middle of nowhere, she was stuck in a bathroom with whom else but Inuyasha. Just her luck. "What'll we do? The window is way too small to squeeze through...not to mention we're pretty high up."         Inuyasha suddenly winced from his place on the floor.         "Inuyasha? Are you alright?" She asked immediately and dropped down again next to him. "Do you need anything?"         She was amazingly surprised at herself for asking that. Let alone just hours ago she would've just walked right away from him, let alone offer to assist him.         His face tightened as he bit his lip, a droplet of blood dripping out as he did so. He mumbled, "Can I...borrow your lap?"         Her face was burning red from the surprise, and she was confused. She gritted out as she stared at the tiled flooring, "What?"         He sighed in frustration and repeated it again, as if he were speaking to a particularly moronic child. "Can I borrow your lap?"         Her face blushed a thousand colours while she thought this over. 'Borrow my lap? What the hell? I don't know...but this floor doesn't look too comfortable to lie on...oh whatever.' Sighing, she nodded grimly and scooted closer, until she was close enough to lift his head onto her lap.         "There, is that better?" She asked kindly for once, and innocently brushed his hair gently, discovering the soft, smooth strands slid through her fingers like silk. It made her a little jealous actually.         He didn't reply, but just hummed something that Kagome assumed was a "yes".         "So I guess hanyous aren't as strong as they appear to be, huh?" She said jokingly, but of course he didn't respond.         This youkai thing was a little difficult for her to accept and believe...she didn't know what to think of it. Youkai were from fairytales she read as a child, and a figment of her imagination. As far as she was concerned, they weren't supposed to be in this room using her lap as a pillow.         But then again, if he really were what he said he was...she wouldn't mind it, would she? After all, Inuyasha was always just Inuyasha. But maybe he was just talking crazy talk because of his headache, either way; she'd have to think this through some more.         So they remained there unmoving, with Inuyasha asleep on her thighs while she tried to ponder this whole situation, while at the same time trying to ignore the numbness in her legs.         She stared at his face intently, watching each crease on his face move as he breathed in and out with relaxing motions. 'He's adorable when he's asleep...I can't believe this is the same jerk I hate from school.'         When his eyes fluttered open suddenly it scared her a bit, but his emotionless face just stayed there as he continued to watch her. "Kagome...?"         "Yeah?"         "Did I ever tell you...that you're really pretty?" he grumbled vaguely, his sleepy eyes getting the better of him as his eyelids snapped shut again.         What did he just say? That she was...pretty? That was it...Inuyasha was either so out of it that he couldn't separate a square from a circle, or he was a different person. The person she knew would never, EVER say something as cheesy as that to her face, but even so she could easily feel her cheeks burning red. "No...you haven't."         He smiled a weak smile and whispered, "Well, I'm saying it now." And with that, his breathing slowed down to a resting pace until she confirmed he had fallen asleep.         Inuyasha was such so much cuter when he was sick. *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~         "Bartender, bring me and my lady friend here another drink." Miroku instructed with a smile, slamming once again another large bill onto the counter of the bar. "And keep the change."         The man nodded and wiped a glass. "Right away, sir."         "Wow...you're so rich!" Sango exclaimed on the bar stool next to him, gushing like a lovesick puppy. She was drunk, and living high on it. She couldn't contain alcohol well, that was for sure. Not to mention alcoholic beverages were never something she blew her earnings on, but every now and then she had the occasional sip of wine at family outings.         "Exactly, my dear. So anything your sweet little heart desires, I'll buy it for you." He patted his own back mentally. Flash his generosity and enormous bank account and within seconds they'd all be willing to marry him.         And Sango was a woman he wanted right then.         "Anything?" She burped a tiny burp, and giggled like a schoolgirl. "'Cuse me."         "Anything, and everything." He assured the drunk woman again, giving her a light pat on the back. A few more drinks and she would be his.         "Um..." She grabbed the glass the bartender had just dropped down and took care of it in one gulp. "What about...a big, big, big, big, BIG house?!" She was just rambling now and practically singing at the same time.         A big house? That was even a little pricey for his bank account. If he were Inuyasha, however, it would be like for normal people buying a girl a dozen roses and a stuffed animal. Damn Inuyasha. "Hmmm...Sango, dear. What about another drink instead?"         Sure, he felt a little guilty about messing with the woman's mind, and causing her to be so drunk, but Miroku was one with very little morals.         "Another...*hic*...drink? Okay!" She replied happily, clapping her hands together. She suddenly banged on the counter angrily, "No...make that two!"         "Coming right up." The bartender was all smiles that night; after all, he was getting tips bigger than his weekly earnings.         When Sango started shaking her chair happily until she was unable to keep her balance, Miroku had to grab her to steady her. "Sango, don't you think you've had enough?"         She swatted his hands off angrily and reached for the new set of drinks before gulping them down like no one's business. "*Hic* Hey cutie!" She was referring to the bartender now, who was watching with mild interest. "Bring me and my friend here another one each."         "Don't!" Miroku stared at the man intently. "Don't you dare bring us any more drinks!"         "Don't listen to...Miroku." She had to pause for a while to remember his name. She whipped out her purse from beside her and started scrambling through the change. "Just bring me my drink, I'll pay for it myself!"         'Oh shit...she's lost it.' Miroku snatched the purse from her hands and hid it behind his back. "Sango, no more. You're way too drunk. You'll have a killer hangover tomorrow."         "Don't tell me what doo doo!" She grunted unclearly, making a fist and slamming it down. "Bring me that drink!"         That was the last time he brought Sango to a bar.         "Alright, Sango. Let's go." He slipped a hand in the crook of her knee, despite her feeble attempt to whack him on the head, and another under her back. Miroku lifted her up and walked away, muttering a quick thanks to the bartender before he left.         "I don't want to go...I..." She started a coughing fit suddenly, hanging onto Miroku's shirt. "I...I have to throw up!"         "Please, Sango. Not on my suit." He quickly assured her, stroking her hair with each word. "I'll get you to a bathroom, I promise."         Impatiently, Miroku glanced around for a washroom, and finally settled on asking a server for directions. He'd do anything for a fine looking woman, but walking around in a puke suit for the rest of the night was not on his list of priorities.         "Hey you!" He shouted in a rush, no longer caring just how rude he probably sounded. "Server, yoo hoo!"         The moustached man turned around in annoyance, his eyes on Sango who was lying in the man's arms. "Yes...may I help you?"         "I need to get this girl to a toilet or she'll throw up on me!" He yelled urgently, and almost passed out when the server made the 'tip-me' notion with his hands. 'Shit...I used up all my cash at the bar...'         "Wait. I got it." He fisted through Sango's purse, still trying to hold her afloat while doing so. But he only found some small change. Couldn't Sango have brought more money, damnit?         Hesitantly, he dropped all of her change into the server's hands, smiling innocently. "Here you go. Now tell me where it is before she pukes on me!"         The server's moustache twirled upwards as his mouth curled into a huge grin. It didn't help at all settle Miroku's stomach. *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~         "Inuyasha...can you get off me now? My legs are asleep and I want to shake it off." Kagome's legs were really beginning to bother her, how long had he been using her legs as a pillow now? Twenty minutes? An hour?         "Don't wanna...school..." He grumbled with frustration, squirming in his sleep.         Kagome giggled at his antics before attempting to push him off herself. He was a lot heavier than he appeared to be all the time, so she wrapped her short arms around him and tried to flip him off of her.         But her martial arts attempt did not work well as well as she'd hoped, and Inuyasha ended up being pulled up to sprawl across her body.         His weight was like a huge boulder lying atop of her, and she couldn't move. She was heavily crushed on the hard floor underneath Inuyasha. 'Wonderful...of all the things I do tonight, I end up like this with Inuyasha. But at least we're alone...if anyone saw this I'd die.'         Kagome would never admit it, but she was rather enjoying this. Not because he was lying on top of her, oh no, but it was because she felt all fuzzy inside. And for the first time in a long, long time, she felt safe and protected.         "Inuyasha." She felt his forehead again, and felt relieved that it was cooling a little. "Can you get off me please? I can't really breathe..."         His eyes opened for a second, and then shut, and then flickered in confusion. "Ka-Kagome? Wha-?"         Just then the doorknob started shaking, as if someone was twisting it madly from the outside. The person obviously got impatient because he then screamed, "I'm coming in!"         He had burst through the door like a psycho after ramming it with his side. It was Miroku, holding Sango in his arms. Her best friend looked deathly ill, and Miroku looked like he was about to be sick himself.         "Miroku? And Sango? What're you - "         Miroku glanced over at the couple on the floor before smiling a perverted smile. "Inuyasha! You sly dog, you!"         Inuyasha groaned and slowly started dragging himself off of Kagome. "Shut up, perv. We didn't do anything."         "Sure you didn't..." Miroku smirked again evilly before lowering Sango down to kneel over the toilet. She didn't bother holding back as everything just cleansed out of her system in one regurgitation session.         "Miroku! What the hell did you do to Sango? She was with you for like an hour or something!" Kagome yelled, grabbing a fistful of Miroku's clothing after she had stood up.         "She just had a little too much too drink, that's all."         "You tried to get her DRUNK? You are the lowest, most despicable man I have ever met!" Kagome's eyes glowed with anger. "Taking advantage of her like that..."         "You make me sound like the bad guy!" He protested with his hands in the air, "I was the one that tried to make her stop drinking!"         "But you brought her there in the first place! You should've known Sango can't drink more than a glass of wine!"         "And I'm supposed to know that how?"         Kagome made a gagging sound with the back of her throat. "Ugh. Miroku, you're such a pig."         "Anyways, Inuyasha." Miroku ignored her and turned to face his friend with a smile. "Congrats, man! Didn't know you had it in you."         Inuyasha stumbled to stand up straight before giving Miroku a sturdy punch in the shoulder. It was meant for his face, but he missed because he was too unsteady.         Everyone's actions were halted with the sound of Sango's loud coughing fit. "Guys, let's go back to the party. I'm hungry." *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~         Once back in the main area, Inuyasha was still a little dizzy so he steadied himself using Kagome. "Listen, Kagome."         "Hm?" She wasn't really listening. Her eyes were focused on Hojo, who was standing near a tree and she was certain he could see the two of them all too well. Kagome couldn't help but feel a tang of guiltiness. After all, Hojo was so nice to her and here she was ditching him.         Inuyasha grumbled faintly in her ear, "I'm sorry about what I did in the...you know."         "In the bathroom?" She asked and he nodded grimly. "You didn't do anything. It's alright."         "About the snapping at you part. When you tried to help me...I always make you angry. Sorry." He sounded like he was forced to say all this, but it was an attempt nonetheless.         "I'll get over it." She joked and flashed him a wide smile.         Inuyasha watched her with a distinct seriousness as he tried to say something. He gulped, "Kagome, I - "         His seriousness what cut off by a loud screech of the speakers. Everyone had to cover their ears to prevent their eardrums from possibly shattering. "LADIES AND GENTLEMEN. Miss Kagura will now be speaking."         They all turned to face the stage, and were shocked to see Kagura standing at the speaker's counter, looking more gorgeous than ever. Kagome had to slightly hold back another bite of the jealousy bug.         "Everyone, I would like to thank you all for coming to my 18th birthday party this evening. I sincerely hope you are all enjoying yourselves." A wave of cheers rang throughout the crowd and she smiled. "In addition I have a very important announcement to make tonight. I...have decided to move back to France. Permanently."         The crowd silenced from the sudden announcement. Her father yelled from the audience, "Kagura, what in the world are you saying?"         "Father, mother." She turned to face them. "Thank you for all these years of love and support. But I am a grown woman now, and I want to make my own choices."         "Honey." Her mother looked nervous. "But you are to take over for our company."         "That's my point, mom. I don't want to be tied to something I don't want to do for the rest of my life. I want to go there to live my own life, free of restraints." She pulled out a knife from behind her suddenly, scaring everyone around her. Her other hand she used to grab her long strands of beautiful hair. "This long hair, I'm sick and tired of it! It's always the same!"         She lifted the knife to her ear and started slicing off locks and locks of her hair, one section at a time. The hair so lovely every girl there definitely secretly envied it. So why she was doing this was beyond everyone.         When she finally finished cutting her hair in peace, nobody could believe the mass pile of hair by her feet. And there she stood tall, her face looking as graceful as always, but her hair had transformed her appearance completely.         Kagome thought the new look looked downright splendid. It made her look extremely mature and model-like.         "Thank you for your attention, everyone. Please enjoy the rest of this party." And with that, the new shorthaired model stepped down from the stage, every pair of eyes following her every move.         Kagome still could not believe her ears. Kagura was...leaving for France? But...she couldn't! She was the only girl here that was kind to her, and she was her role model. She couldn't just leave...         "Kagura's leaving?" Inuyasha asked surprised. "Sess is gonna be disappointed."         Miroku nodded. "True. Even I'll be sad to see Kagura go."         "No...Kagura can't go...she just can't..."         "Kagome, what are you saying? Of course she can." Inuyasha stared at her oddly. "It's not like you can stop her."         What the hell was Inuyasha saying? He was all of a sudden acting like an asshole again. That sweet Inuyasha sure didn't last as long as she'd secretly hoped. "You wouldn't understand." She snapped and stormed off, heading in the direction of the stage. She just had to find out more about this. Having Kagura leave was like having...like having Sango leave her.         She spotted Kagura a while later, surrounded by people she didn't recognise. The expression on her face clearly stated she was being flustered to no end. "Kagura!"         Kagura glanced up from the massive crowd until her eyes locked onto hers. "Kagome? Excuse me." She pushed everyone aside and trudged through the crowd until she was standing before Kagome with a grin. "Hey. That crowd was so bloody annoying. Kagome, are you alright?"         "Kagura, I'm begging of you right now...please don't return to France." She could feel her eyes watering a little, but forced herself to swallow the lump in her throat because she didn't want to seem like a baby. "We'd all miss you too much, especially Sesshoumaru. Please, please reconsider...for me."         "Kagome...I..." Her head lowered sadly and she wrapped her long arms around Kagome. "I'm sorry, Kagome. But I've decided this for a long time now, and that's what I've decided to do...I'm sorry about leaving you...you know you were always like a little sister to me."         "So that's it?" Kagome dug her head into her shoulder to disguise the annoying tears leaking from her eyes. "Just like that you're going to leave us? What about Sesshoumaru?"         "I'm sorry, Kagome." She whispered regretfully. "And as for Sesshoumaru, I haven't seen him all evening. Have you?"         "...Now that I think about it, I haven't. He must have come, though. He wouldn't miss this." She paused. "So you're not going to change your mind?"         "Nope. But don't be saddened, Kagome. After all, you'll be going to college in a few months. You can meet new people and get out of Wakashu, right? Hasn't that been your dream?" She giggled.         She was right...time had passed crucially fast for her...and just when she was starting to enjoy school a little bit more too... 'Wait! What the hell am I saying? I've been waiting for this ever since the beginning of last year. I should be ecstatic...but for some reason I can't say I am...' "Yea...it has."         "Please be happy for me, Kagome." She released the hug hesitantly and patted her shoulder before heading back towards her parents.         "I will..."         Sighing, she was wiping off her wet cheeks with her hand when she spotted him far away. Sitting under a tree alone.         Sesshoumaru.         She quickly snuck through the crowd to reach him. His face looked a little more distressed than usual. "Sesshoumaru. What are you doing here?"         "Nothing." He replied, not bothering to look at her. He really had to improve on his conversational skills.         "Did you hear about Kagura?"         He paused and turned to face her. "How could I have not? Good for her."         "You don't really mean that, do you?" She pressed annoyingly, not knowing why she was suggesting this. "I mean, won't you miss her a lot? I know it's none of my business, but you guys were the closest out of any of us...so - "         He scowled under his breath. "You're right. It's none of your business."         She shut up instantly. "I'm sorry..." He was obviously hurting a lot more than anyone right then. So she decided to leave him alone, but not before she added, "I - I think if you love someone enough, you wouldn't let something like this get in your way. I know that sounds really stupid and cheesy, but that's just what I think. But then again, who cares what I think?"         Kagome smiled knowingly before leaving a speechless Sesshoumaru there.         Tonight had been one depressing experience after the other. First she's locked in a room with Inuyasha, then Miroku tried to take advantage of Sango, then Kagura announces that she's going to leave them forever, and now Sesshoumaru snaps at her. This evening had been pretty shitty.         "Inuyasha?" She poked his shoulder lightly. "I'm tired, I'm going to go home now."         "Done talking to Sesshoumaru?" He asked sarcastically, looking extremely peeved.         "Oh for the love of, Inuyasha, I was just talking to him about Kagura! Why are you so jealous?"         His face burnt in anger, why was this girl so damn frustrating all the time? Always sucking up to Sesshoumaru. "I'm not fucking jealous! Who the hell would be jealous of YOU anyways?"         She had to bite her lip to hold back from hitting him. He had to be the most childish, annoying..."You, for one."         He was about to say something offensive back, but crossed his arms over his chest instead, huffing. "Keh. See if I fucking care what you do then."         "Good. Because I'm going home!" She yelled in frustration, flipping around and walking away. "Stupid Inuyasha..."         Great...now how in the world was she going to get home? Sango was obviously no longer the designated driver...and Inuyasha was way out of the question. Her house was only around eight blocks from here...she could walk. She needed some time to clear her head anyways. *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~         'Inuyasha is so freaking annoying! After I was nice enough to use my legs as his pillow he still gets all angry at me. Stupid sonofa...'         Then Kagome heard it. She heard a tiny sniffle not too far away from where she was. 'What is that sound? It's too dark out here...I can't see anything. I wish there were people here...now I'm scared.'         Her brain kept tugging at her, nagging at her to get out of there as soon as possible. But she wasn't about to leave someone out here in the dark, especially when it was in distress. "Hello? Where are you?"         Another sniffle, and once it started crying Kagome identified it as a little kid. Now she was sure she wasn't going to run away. "Hello, little kid? I'm here to help you! Where are you?"         "I-I'm here...help me...I'm lost." It cried silently, and thanks to the quietness of the neighbourhood, Kagome managed to follow the sound more towards her left. "I'm here...help me."         That weak voice was like something directly out of a horror flick. Kagome was stiffly terrified, but she stood strong and continued to follow that voice to a forest of trees. NOW it was getting freaky. "Kid? I'm here to help you! Are you lost?"         The cries continued to get louder now, and she was standing perfectly still. That meant the child was advancing towards her at a pretty quick pace. When the child stepped out of the shadows, Kagome saw him.         That orange hair, that pitch of voice, and here she thought he had just been her imagination.         "Shippou?! What are you doing here?" She ran up to him, a little relieved that she was no longer alone. "Are you lost? Tell me what happened!"         He carried on crying, refusing to make eye contact with her. "Kagome...I - I'm so sorry...I'm so..."         "Don't be silly, Shippou. Sorry for what?"         Just then, four dark figures emerged from the forest surroundings and started advancing towards her. "Wha-?"         Before Kagome could even attempt to force another sound past her lips, somebody had already pressed a pressure point in her neck, sending her unconscious body crashing down onto the cold grass. *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ AN: Not quite finished yet. ^_^ *~Sorena~*

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