With Love

Chapter Thirteen: The Gift


“Oh, I just love Valentine’s Day.” Botan sniffed the roses in her hand and giggled. She already knew who they were from before looking at the card. The roses had come with a large teddy bear and the real gift on it’s neck. She’d just been hoping for flowers or candy. At lunch they called out all the names of those that had packages delivered and that it could be picked up. The man really knew how to make a girl feel special. He might feel guilty about not spending much time with her except on the weekends. She understood that he had a business to run and she was just a highschool student after all. She was lucky someone like him was interested.


“Is that a diamond necklace?” Sango fingered the jewelry, it was beautiful. A twinge of envy encased her heart but she was glad for her friend. “I guess he really likes you. Must be nice.” She released the gift and picked up her pen. Kagome had also gone to fetch what had been delivered for her. She hadn’t been shocked when her name hadn’t been called. A yawn escaped her as Kagome came in the lunch room wearing a huge fucking grin. Oh yay, more flowers and another teddy bear. What the fuck, she was the one that needed something to sleep with, they had boyfriends. “Hiei?”


“Yes, but I looked for him to thank him and he’s nowhere to be found.” Kagome put the bear on the table. She frowned seeing Sango’s empty space. Hiei had told her last night on the phone that Kurama had picked something up for her friend. She was told not to say anything so she hadn’t. So why hadn’t Sango’s name been called over the speaker. “It’ll go nice with the other.”


“Hey Sango.” Inuyasha smiled as he approached the table. His eyes flickered over the gifts left for Kagome. Regret filled him but he tried not to let it show. “I was wondering if you could burn something for me real quick. I know lunch is almost over but it’s important. Kouga burnt some notes on a disk but only made one damn copy, we both need it. Think you could do it for me real quick?”


“Sure, I’ve got nothing else to do but the laptop is in the parking lot. Hope you don’t mind walking out there with me.” She stuffed the notebook back in her bag and tried not to look upset. Her friends were happy, she could be happy for them. Kagome finally found someone that made her smile instead of frown. Botan was actually taking an interest in someone besides Koenma. “Let me hit my locker first to put a few things away.”


“She’s upset,” Kagome placed a hand on the table watching them walk away. Now she felt like a heel. As soon as she’d seen what she’d gotten she’d ran to go find Hiei. Hadn’t found him but it was all she’d thought about. She’d wanted to tell Sango last night about it but she’d promised. “You know me and her were going through all her albums last night. She made mention of Kurama finding her first one that had been left at my house.”


“Ugh, you mean the pictures where I got my hair cut like a dyke?” Botan remembered that album. As a matter of fact she’d been the one to stash it in the dresser. Those were some horrid pictures of herself. “Were you two taking a trip down memory lane? Couldn’t have been pleasant. Ew what had I been thinking back then? Did you see any interesting? I should ask her to look at all those again. Just not those in particular.”


“Keh, yeah you did look funny but that’s not what I noticed. Besides a picture of me ogling Hiei. Which I can’t believe she took, I noticed something else. Ever realize that she does have a good many pictures of Kurama. I mean most of them have other people in them but he’s still in them. I notice a lot of the ones with Jin that don’t have Sango herself has Kurama in them. I know they were good friends and still are but it looks fishy to me.”


“No way, if she’d been crushing we would have known. He just happened to be around Jin a lot. Nothing fishy there. She was happy with Jin until he became an asshole. Coincidence probably, we know her we would have been able to tell.” Botan unsnapped the necklace and examined it. The gift was exquisite, so why spend so much money on her? It made her wonder how serious he was wanting to become. The most they did was talk on the phone.


“I’m not buying it and I’m not buying that she’s not upset about something. I got the feeling it is centered around him. I know they haven’t slept together yet. I don’t think they’ve even kissed. When could they have? She’s always with us or alone. Unless he sneaks into her bedroom at that which I know isn’t going to happen. I want to ask her but I don’t want to pry.” Kagome decided to put the gifts in her locker until after school. Then she’d find Hiei and ask him about what had happened to Sango’s.


Sango put her bag down next to the wheel and opened her car door. “Let me just pop my trunk and then...” Her voice stopped seeing the roses laying in her seat. It stunned her to see them. Her fingers reached out to the card. Please, don’t let it be from him. She felt like she’d been kicked in the chest. His name was scribbled on the card, just his name. Why? Confusion was the first emotion then anger. She’d came to school hoping for this gesture. She knew his background and knew he never bought gifts for the ones he went with. It was all about the sex.


She’d waited with abated breath as the names were called out only to be disappointed. Why hide them in her car? A tear slid down her cheek, she knew why. He didn’t want anyone to know. What Hiei and Naraku had done was a show of affection. This was nothing but a hidden apology because he’d done something wrong. Yusuke or Hiei had probably ridden his ass until he apologized over the behavior. She didn’t want this. Her hand grabbed the bouquet then noticed the small box. More rage filled her, she turned to Inuyasha. He caught the box as it hit his chest. “Whatever it is trash it or give it to another girl.”


“Sango?” He fumbled trying to get a hold of the box. She was already walking away with the roses in her hand. “Dammit,” he leaned in the car and tossed the box in the glove box. He was curious who’d sent them but left it there. He got out and ran after Sango. The girl was stalking down the row and stopped at a car. “Wait isn’t this Kurama’s car?”


“Damn right it is.” She stopped with her hand on the door and paused. Her first thought had been to return to sender in the same manner. She wouldn’t have him giving her shit in secret. Like he was ashamed that he was doing it. She’d rather he go back to hating on her. “I was going to redeliver them but I think I got a better idea.”

“What the hell are you doing man?” Yusuke walked up to the fox and placed his textbook on the ground. “Damn man I’m still tired. Where the fuck is Hiei or is he off with Kagome somewhere?” He yawned and looked under the hood. “What the fuck are you doing? Checking your oil?”


“No, car won’t start. I am trying to figure out why.” He was also trying to figure out how to make amends with Sango. Her car had been gone by the time he’d gotten out of class. What had she thought of the gifts? He hadn’t known what to get her besides the roses fearing anything else would be too much since she wouldn’t even talk to him. At the last moment he’d decided to leave the gift he’d gotten her for Christmas with a small note inside. Would she read it or toss it aside? He’d know soon enough if she continued to pretend he didn’t exist.


“Okay, I thought you were going to get Sango something. I didn’t hear her name being called out. Did you decide not to or just wuss out?” Yusuke leaned against the car and drew a cigarette out. He had debated sending something to Kagome but wasn’t sure how she’d react or Hiei. “Never seen you with car trouble before, losing your touch?”


“No and no, I didn’t deliver it to the school. I brought it myself. I wasn’t sure if she’d take it if it went to the office. I put them in her car that way I knew she’d find them and receive it. Not sure what the fuck is wrong though. It sounds like it’s stalling for some reason but I’ve checked everything.” Kurama took the cigarette from Yusuke and looked around the lot. Hiei was walking towards them and Kagome’s car had just pulled out of the lot. He’d been hoping to find Sango waiting for him but he should have known it wouldn’t be that easy. It was possible he wouldn’t be able to make up for what he’d done. What confused him was that he wanted to. He was already starting to miss her. It was a problem he’d never had to deal with before.


Hiei hoped the fox could see his glare because he was pissed. He just had to listen to Kagome complain about his cousin. Why hadn’t the man kept his word? So much for him wanting to make it up to the girl. The fool needed to do something and quick because he was becoming unbearable to live with. If the damn girl meant that much to him then he shouldn’t have dropped to his knees in front of the wrong pussy. He told Kagome he’d find out what happened and tell her later. He was going to choke the fox if he didn’t have a good explanation.


He tried to calm as he got near enough to hear them talking. Great the man was having car trouble meant he’d ride home with Yusuke. He wasn’t hanging around this dump any longer than necessary. Something crunched under his boot and he looked down, glass? No a rose petal, a rock was under it. He scoffed at it and glanced up. His breath caught and an immense surge of laughter erupted from his chest. Both men stopped to stare at him like he’d lost his head. It wasn’t often he smiled or laughed but he couldn’t stop the bellows ripping from him. “You’re problem isn’t your engine, it’s your way of dealing with women.”


“What the fuck are you laughing about man?” Yusuke walked around the car to where Hiei was holding onto his sides. What the fuck could make the stoic man laugh? He followed the man’s finger and smiled. He tried not to laugh as Kurama joined them. There was no mistaking the red rose petals. “There’s your gift Kurama, oh damn that’s some funny shit.” He burst out laughing as the fox swore and kicked the car. It didn’t even begin to bulge the roses making a home in the man’s muffler pipe.

Botan sighed as the arms tightened around her waist. A shiver went down her spine as he placed a chaste kiss on her neck. She was happy he’d made time for her. She’d called ahead of time to see if he had some time. The place had a few people in it but no one was paying them much attention. He’d been sitting in a chair near the bar and he’d taken her into his lap. It was hard to believe that an older guy was going out of his way to call her. Not to mention the gifts he’d sent her twice, made up for the time he didn’t have.


“You smell good,” Naraku ran his lips over her ear. His hold tightened as she shivered at the slight touch. His chin brushed across the necklace he’d bought. It touched him that she was wearing it. He shouldn’t have bought it. She was young she’d have been happy with just flowers. The first gift had been the only one he wanted to send. Even if he won the bet now he’d be coming out in the negative. The first gift had cost over that. So why had he bought the second?


“Hm, thank you.” She sighed feeling the hand roaming up her ribs. They’d only kissed a few times but his touch still affected her. She turned to face him and was shocked to see the intense look in his eyes. A hand cupped her chin, lifting her face up. The first contact was brief until she wrapped her hand around his neck. She moaned feeling his tongue brush across her mouth. It was assertive and demanding forcing her to open. It was enough and like before he brought the world crashing around her. Her knees buckled as he started to explore the inner recesses.


Naraku heard the tiny moan as her breath rushed over his tongue. She started meeting him halfway. He was already straining against his jeans. Had been aching since she allowed herself to be planted on his lap. He cupped her head to keep her from breaking away. He took the time to taste her lower lip then the top. His breath caught when she swept inside his own to explore, taking over.


Botan jumped when the seat jarred beneath them. Naraku swore as they turned to see Kurama standing there with an unreadable expression. “Oh hi,” She blushed but Naraku tensed behind her. “What brings you here?” She was sure she saw amusement pass in the green eyes. What was so funny? She turned again to look at Naraku. She squirmed in his lap seeing the crimson eyes narrowing in anger. Were they mad at each other for some reason?


“Hi, I came looking for Yusuke.” Kurama narrowed his eyes at the two. He was tempted to tell the girl so Naraku couldn’t use her. The man had to know he’d already won and Kurama would admit to it. He had no desire to win anymore. He didn’t want Botan. Yet she was a big girl so he wouldn’t interfere. Was Naraku worried he’d do just that out of spite? What did it matter, the girl was just another piece? He didn’t care what the man did, he had his own problems. One was getting Sango to forgive him. Hell first he had to get her to talk to him. He was hoping to ask Yusuke to talk to the girl for him.


“Sorry you’ve missed him Kurama.” Naraku smiled as the man was about to turn around and leave. He’d seen the silent threat in the man’s eyes. “Don’t you want to know where to find him? He’s at the park, with the one girl. What was her name? Oh yeah, Sango.”


Next Chapter: Sango offers help and Kagome gets a look at Hiei's bedroom.... Please read and review.