Three Musketeers

"All for one and one for all."

-Alexander Dumas, The Three Musketeers

Chapter Three: Aftermath

I don't know how he found out it was me who told the restaurant where to find him, but he was not happy. Good thing Sango's beatings in my younger days had toughened me up enough that no bones were broken.

As it is, I'm sitting on my porch feeling sorry for myself, ice pack to swollen eye, when Kagome shows up. It's not to apologize. Nor does she notice my injured state.

"You shouldn't have done that, you know."

"It was his dinner, he could pay for it. And since the two of you left so dramatically, there was no way they could get the money."

"They called the police, reported a disturbance. He spent the night in jail, for skipping out on the bill. He hates you."

"He's jealous of our nonexistent relationship."

"That's a load of crap."

"What can I say, he's an idiot. And to be paranoid, I'd like to say that it's only people who are cheating on their s.o. that claim theirs is cheating on them."

"I'm not listening to this."

"Then go away and leave me to my misery. Your boyfriend packs a mean punch."

"Oh my God."

And now she notices the ice pack, the dirty clothes, the bloody lip. Have we fallen so far, that she no longer notices my state of health at once? Where's my best friend Kagome, and who is this stranger who has replaced her? Can I get her back?

But again, he interrupts our quasi-apology session, and things remain unpatched, and she drifts further away.

Is it just because we're growing older that the three musketeers are down to two, or is someone actively trying to break us apart?

A foolish question. He hates Sango and I. Kagome is his and his alone. Kagome probably thinks that's romantic. Too bad she can't see that all he's trying to do is to get her to sleep with him. And Sango and I can say nothing to her in fear of further destroying our once strong friendship.