By: Reall-Goodchild

Promise 2: Promise to Wait and Find

The bar was smokey, darkly lit, and smelt stongly of piss, but it was quiet, excluding the sound of taps pouring drink and grunt of thanks to the bartender. It wasn't the type of place Kouga Ookami, a wealthy businessman from the city, would normally be found but tonight, it would do. For tonight he was content to wollow in self pity over the loss of love. No matter how long it had been since his precious Kagome had turned from him to be with another, it stung as if it had been just yesterday. He'd seen her today, walking down the road with her husband that poor excuse for a man, Inuyasha, her stomach round, as she was near due with his child.

It disgusted him.

He had offered her everything. Love, riches, everything she could ever want and more. And still it had not been enough for her. And nearly three years later, he still resented her for it. He wanted to hate her, he did, but it was impossible for him to hate the one he'd loved. The only one he'd ever loved, and probably ever would.

The bartender placed another bottle of Heineken in front of him. He looked up at the man, with his round face and sympathetic eyes. Kouga didn't want the man's pity, but he nodded his head in thanks for the drink. He raised the bottle to his lips, and with a sigh took a long drink.

The door burst open, a rowdy group of young women and men came in, belting out a tune in perfect harmony. Choking at the sudden burst of sound, Kouga glanced over at them. He gave them a look of distaste. They looked like a bunch of homeless bums. All of them were sporting tattered jeans and some with a jacket to match. One of them, a man with a dark complexion and a bulky build, wore a black toupee on his bald head. Another woman was dress in nothing more than her jeans and what appeared to be a black bra, her tall hooker like boots were worn over her jeans up to her kneecaps.

The song they sang as they gathered around one of the several round tables in the joint was light hearted, full of hope and spoke often of love. No one in the bar seemed disturbed by it, a few of the old men, whom Kouga assumed were regulars, turned and watched them with interest, tapping a foot to the beat. Kouga wouldn't deny, the song was simply magnificent and beautifully sung, so much that he could almost hear the music that would go with it. It was a shame he wasn't in the mood light hearted songs of love.

He resented them all at the moment, just as he resented Kagome. Neither of them would leave him to his business, allowing him to live his life in the way he'd prefer to. No, the song had now been clearly imprinted into his mind, so that even after the group had stopped singing it, it played on in his mind, much like the memories of Kagome that surfaced from time to time.

The group burst into cheers of self appreciation, along with some applause from those sitting randomly over the room. Kouga's hope that the merriment would end with the song were dashed as the group began to chat enthusiastically. Kouga sighed, his peace and quiet was gone. And soon, he thought, he would be too. What was the point in staying in the dump if he couldn't even pity himself properly?

A woman, around his age by the look of her, came to stand next to him. "Three Heinekens, two Smirnoff Twists, one with lemons, and two cola's, if it's not too much trouble Micheal," The soft voice, as sweet and smooth as a rich chocolate bar, drew Kouga's attention to his left. She wore torn jeans, as the rest of the group, with a blood red tank top and worn out sneakers. Her hair was a fiery red and wavy, pulled up into two high ponytails.

The woman, feeling eyes upon her, turned her head to look at him. His own piercing blue eyes met the most captivating emerald eyes he'd ever seen in his life. They merely stared at one another for several seconds, before she spoke. "May I help you with something?" She asked, a smile curving lips.

"Uh, no, no. I was staring," He admitted, "I'm sorry, it was rude of me."

She laughed. A beautiful laugh, he thought, sweet as the music she had been singing not ten minutes before. "It's quite alright." She said, her smile showing off perfectly aligned and pearly white teeth he wouldn't expect any in that group to have. "I don't mind being looked at by an attractive man every once and a while. Does wonders for the ego." The corners of Kouga's lips twitched upwards, causing the woman's smile to widen. "There, that's much more suiting that that scowl you were wearing. After all," her voiced raised to the entire bar to hear as she scooped up the order of drinks with skill. "Tonight is a night of celebration! Jason and Ming are expecting a baby!"

The group cheered, grabbing they're drinks they raised they're glasses in a toast. Everyone in the establishment raised their glasses as well.

Everyone, that is, except Kouga, who felt a bitter prang in his heart as he was sorely reminded that Kagome was married and expecting a child. As the excited chatter filled the room yet again, Kouga chugged down the rest of his drink. Slapping down his bottle, along with the proper amount of payment and a generous tip, he stood. He swiftly exited the now far too happy atmosphere of the bar.

Shoving his hands into his pockets, he started towards the subway. He wondered to himself what part of New York City he was in. He had randomly picked a stop to get off at after seeing Kagome. The bar had been a lucky find.

"Wait up!" He heard a shout from behind him. Turning around, he was faced with the young woman from the bar.

"Can I help you?" Kouga asked blandly. It was snobbish of him, he was well aware of that, but he had no interest in conversing with a woman who was wearing clothes in such a state and who appeared to be a regular in some filthy pub in a dodgy part of New York City.

The woman walked up to him and gave him a curious look. "Are you ok?"

She asked, and Kouga was surprised to hear the concern laced in her melodic voice. "You seem upset, and you left rather quickly back there."

Kouga gave her a stern scowl, trying to be intimidating and unwelcoming.

"I've had a bad day. Not that it's any of you business." He stated, looking coolly uninterested.

He hated himself for finding her attractive, this ragged redhead. He felt guilty, as if he were betraying Kagome. But there was something about her. She was confident, obviously didn't care that he looked polished and sharp in his suit while she was in tattered clothing. She most certainly wasn't shy or modest. She had this wild and exotic aura that had his blood buzzing.

She nodded and gave him a sympathetic smile. "Do you want to talk about it then?" She asked. "I'm a great listener, better than any bartender."

Kouga glared at her. "No, I do not want to talk about it, especially to some stranger I've exchanged no more than 10 words to." He stated firmly, his temper getting the better of him. "And I don't want your damn sympathy either, so stop looking at me like that."

A fire ignited in her eyes. "Look, I didn't mean to offend you or upset you in any way." She yelled. "I simply thought-"

"You thought wrong," Kouga said. His voice calm and cool, though his mind was reeling, something about her eyes, the passion and fire in them now, had his blood pulsing with excitement.

"Well, sorry." She rolled her eyes. "Geez, you try to do something nice for your fellow human and you get no respect. Well, to hell with you! You with you stiff suit and a stick stuck up your-"

"Can I kiss you?" He asked. It was on impulse. Out of his mouth before he could stop himself. He wanted to know if he could feel anything the way he had when he was with Kagome. He just needed to know. And this woman, whose name he didn't even know yet, had his blood set ablaze.

"I... you... What?" She gave him a look of pure shock. Obviously she had not been expecting a reaction such as that. "Can you what?" His request simply could not be processed by her brain.

"Can I kiss you?" He repeated, stepping closer to her, so that they were nose to nose, though he stood a good foot taller than her.

"You," She started slowly. "Want to kiss me?"

"Yes." He affirmed with a nod.

"Why?"

The question was simple enough, but he had no idea how to answer it.

"I'm not quite sure myself," he admitted. He raised his hands to cup the sides of her face. "Call it impulse."

Feeling suddenly drawn to him, the woman raised her head to his and lowered her lashed as they're lips neared. "Well, who am I to deny impulse."

She managed to say before they're lips met.

The kiss was passionate, desperate and rough. He was looking for something, she thought. She didn't know what, but she could feel it. A jolt ran through them both, sparks set off. No, Kouga thought. Not sparks. Wildfires.

He pulled away, looking down at her. Her eyes and licked her lips, savoring the kiss. "I'm Ayame, by the way." She said casually, a smile inching its way onto her lips.

"It's been a pleasure, Ayame." He said with a nod. Dropping his hands to his sides, he turned to leave again.

"Did you find it?" Ayame called out from behind him.

Kouga looked back at her with a questioning look. "Find what?"

She shrugged, stuffing her hands into her pockets. "Whatever it was you were looking for in that kiss."

Kouga was about to question her, but her knowing look told him that it would be pointless. So he nodded. "Yes," He said, looking off towards the high rises of the city. "Yes, I did."

"Well, I'm glad I could help you." She said with a smile. She turned and began to walk back to the bar entrance. "If ever you need to find anything,"

She called over her shoulder. "I'd be happy to help you, if it means I get another kiss." Kouga smirked as she laughed. "Same time, same place, every night, if you need to find me."

"I'll be sure to come find you then." He said, watching her as she reached the door and looked back at him.

"Are you just saying that?" She asked, a teasing smile playing on her lips, "Or is that a promise?"

Kouga looked at her, baffled. He gave a light laugh. "It's a promise."

He said with a genuine smile, his first in a long time.

"Then I'll be waiting." Ayame stated with a nod. "And that is my promise to you." She started to enter the bar but stopped with a laugh and pulled back to look at him again. "You know, you never did tell me your name."

Kouga blinked at her, shocked at his own rudeness, "Kouga," He said.

"Kouga Ookami."

She flashed him a heart stopping smile. "Goodnight then, Kouga Ookami."

"Goodnight, Ayame." He said. She went back into her bar and he turned and started for the subway. He'd be back, he thought. Oh yes, he'd most certainly return for her.