I do, but they don't!
A/N: My first Kagome x Inuyasha fanfiction with an extra dose of Sango x Miroku. How will love prevail? Just watch and see! I don't own Inuyasha (now that is new! ) PG-13 level with a few curse words and one minor, suggestive scene(s) in this and later chapters too. Reviews will be greatly appreciated since I'm new at writing about these two couples.
Summary: Wry and widowed, Inuyasha moves back to Tokyo, Japan with his seven year-old son, Yemeni and back to a place memories were long forgotten—or were they? Kagome just divorced and trying to forget her complex marriage that had resulted in her cheerful daughter Shari, moves back to Tokyo to live with her parents. Fate has it that these two high school sweethearts meet again just when their hearts have been broken, and mended with ice, to reveal the love they thought long lost and forgotten to heal their broken hearts. But even The Fates couldn't predict the turmoil they have to face coming from a seven year old son and a six year old daughter! Two kids who refuse to let anything, or anyone for that matter, come in and erase their parent's memory no matter the cost, they'd duke it out—or team up! How will love prevail when everything—including two upset kids, a devastated ex-husband, and a hidden secret—is against them?
Chapter One:
Ring. Ring.
"Knock it off, Miroku!" Sango elbowed her husband, who pouted playfully in the darkness. "Hello?" she said after the second ring.
"Sango?"
Sango sat up and smiled. "Kagome?" she asked cautiously, glancing at the clock that read two in the morning. "Hey, what's up? Is it—?"
"—No, I'm ok, my daughter's ok and Hojo is all the way in Belgium, China." Kagome assures her. "It's just…I…the thing is—"
"Don't! He may have been Mr. Perfect the first few years but he was better off marrying his job and that supermodel. From what you said and what I saw, he lives, breaths, eats, thinks his job where as you know who has sex on the brain 24/7." She glared at her husband who was snaking his hands beneath the sheets towards her bottom. "We're what? Twenty-four and married for seven years and he's still in the hormonal stage." She pretended to sound annoyed but failed miserably. She gasped when her husband reached over her shoulder and flicked on the lamp. "What are you doing?" she pulled the phone from her ears and said in a hushed tone, "Why did you turn on the—"
"—the better to see you with, my dear..." Miroku chuckled.
Kagome blushed hearing Sango's husband's low and husky voice on the other side of the phone. I wish…Kagome started. Don't you dare! Wishing is over, over ok? It's time for reality, you're not seventeen anymore! "You're not seventeen anymore…" she said underneath her breath.
A few seconds later Kagome heard Sango let out a low moan and felt total isolation and lonesomeness that had been so carefully hidden rush through her. It had been an entire three years since she and her husband had divorced. Three years of pain and hardship as she tried to make ends meet, be both mother and father for their daughter and still hang onto what little pride and sanity she had left at the end of the day. True, she and her ex-husband remained distant friends up till now but deep down she was jealous of the woman who replaced her in her ex's life. It wasn't that she didn't want him to be happy, everyone deserved happiness, but she wanted that feeling back. But not from her ex-husband, but from…from…
"Yumm…oohhh…" a distant and low feminine moan came from Sango's side of the line.
"Sango…uhm….you still there?" Boy did it this feel awkward or what?
"Uh, Sango can't come to the phone right now." Miroku replied. He sounded a bit winded. "She's kind of…busy at the moment."
"Oh. I see." Kagome blushed darkly.
"I hope not." Miroku chuckled.
"Oh." He hadn't lost that perverted humor of his still. "Oh! Um, well. When you get the chance, can you tell her that we can talk at work?"
"Yep." Miroku said. "Goodnight, Kagome."
"Goodnight." Kagome heard the faint click sound before she hung up. She yawned and stretched until her strawberry-colored nightshirt rose up to her thighs. She glanced quickly at the clock, she had six hours of sleep before she had to get Shari to school and then get herself to work. Kagome flopped onto her bed and sighed with relief when her head hit the soft pillow. "Bed…" She closed her eyes.
"Shit, shit, shit!" Kagome muttered underneath her breath. Great, just great! She made a sharp turn at Lour Street and nearly ran over some grocery boy. "What the—" she hit the brakes and barely stopped in time. There was a line of traffic up ahead and it didn't seem to be going anywhere anytime soon! She glanced at her watch. She had exactly two minutes. "Ah, damn." She whipped out her cell phone and dialed a well memorized phone number. "Sango? Hey, can you do me a big favor?"
"It's gonna cost 'ya." Sango sang. "No but really. What's the favor?"
"Stall my next client for me."
"Ok—WHAT? Are you crazy—?"
"Please, San. I really need this promotion to catch up on that bill for last month."
"I don't know…" Sango sighed. "Ok. Ok. I'll try, but no guarantees."
"Ok, thanks. I owe you—"
"—Big time! This guy's a major shark and—Kagome?" Sango looked at her cell phone and saw it said 'call ended at 00:00:30.' Sango made a face and stomped her foot. "Of all the—"
Kagome slammed her car door and hurried out of the grocery store's parking lot. She averted her gaze away from the still angered grocery boy and began to do a light jog towards the way to work. "I'm going to kill that bus driver and that overturned trunk!" she began to pant heavily. Her daughter was late and now it seemed she'd be late too. "I really, really am overdue for a vacation." She saw several people gawk at her as she ran by. Kagome didn't even want to think how she looked running down the sidewalk in her suit let alone how her hair was probably all over and her makeup smeared.
Almost there! She saw the building. One last turn and she'd be at the entrance with, Kagome checked her watch, thirty seconds to spare for appearances.
She rounded the corner—
"UFH!"
Kagome felt herself falling backwards but found she was held up just a few inches from falling any further. Her eyes grew wider than before to the point that it nearly dominated her entire face, that and the killer blush that was spreading from her head to her very toes. No way! It couldn't be. No…
He pulled her up until she was standing on her own feet. He hadn't released her yet in fact, he held her a bit too close for comfort. He was practically hugging her now wearing that irresistible scent of his too. Kagome found herself leaning in closer…just like old times.
"—unexpected wedding between Inuyasha, soon-to-be CEO of Heike inc. and shrine keeper, Kikyo, May 13th…"
Inuyasha…Kikyo…KIKYO!
Oh good Lord! Kagome wrenched free from his hold and stared at him. The same silver locks of hair, the same shade of golden-colored eyes, the same Inuyasha, but with a business suit.
We're not together anymore. He chose wrong…so wrong… We can't do this. Kagome felt something wet land upon her hand that had now covered her mouth and would prevent her wails that begged to be freed. She whorled around, ran for the doors and never looked back. Only when she made it to the elevator, alone, did she wept silently in a corner hoping no one was waiting to catch this ride.
It's my turn to run…my turn…it's mine…Kagome thought. Memories…memories…the last time she'd saw him, May 13th, 1998.
"—Kikyo." Inuyasha explained.
Kikyo, Kikyo, Kikyo! If I hear the "k" word again, I swear—Kagome thought to herself. She forced herself to unclench her fist and drop them to her side. Kagome nodded. She didn't trust herself to speak. But from looking at his questioning golden eyes, she said. "I understand."
Something about those two words had infuriated the young man. "I understand." He repeated her words but with a curt tone added on.
Kagome nodded.
Inuyasha blinked. "Why do you have to be so damn understanding? Most women would have skinned me alive by now." Inuyasha grunted. "It's not normal. How can you just—it doesn't make. You're so confusing."
Kagome smiled and touched his arm. Softly and sincerely she said. "I understand, Yasha. I trust you. I know you'll do the right thing in the end…you always do. You're confused with who you want. I can wait forever for you. When you decide, I'll be here waiting for you."
"Waiting for me?" he snapped suddenly. "How can you be so sure it will be you?"
That comment had stabbed a knife into her heart, but she hadn't reply. She had simply stared ahead, her hands clasped together and her expression completely impassive. He had left that day without a goodbye or their traditional kiss of departure. The knife had made a quick and clean cut when she'd heard of his elopement of Kikyo just a few hours later. Never in her life had she felt such heartache, such lonesomeness, such hate—for Kikyo—, and betrayal.
Am I destined to be the loner forever, to enter disastrous relationships one after the other? Kagome thought sadly. She had finished her appointment faster than she'd expected and had avoided Sango, knowing she'd have easily read Kagome like a book. She didn't want Sango to know, at least not yet. She was the only one, other than her mother, that knew she still had…feelings for Inuyasha. Sango, Kagome knew would most likely scale the walls to locate Inuyasha and demand to know why and how he could break Kagome's heart. She was such a good friend. Inuyasha—Kagome paled. She was moping again. Moping had gotten her to make the second biggest mistake in her entire life!
"Moping around won't get you over it. It's been what? Two year now? Get over it—get over him. I can help you feel so much better. Give us a chance…please?" Hojo had pleaded a month before their marriage had taken place.
Kagome fiddled with her pencil, each thought she grew closer and closer to breaking the thing. Give us a chance, huh. Well, I did and look what happened? Kagome thought. Her pencil snapped in half. Looking at the now useless tool, Kagome sighed. "If you put your entire heart into it, the more you lose, the less you put in the more you win. It's always the same."
"Really? You'll have to explain that one to me."
Kagome gasped.
Inuyasha…
Oh dear—what is he doing here? Remain calm, Kagome. No emotions. Ok? Ok. Good. Let's do it. Kagome thought.
Kagome cleared her throat. "Erm…it's quite a simple observation."
"…Really?" Inuyasha leaned closer. "Explain."
He still uses the same cologne…yum. No, no, no! Why are you doing this to me? Didn't marrying that woman do enough damage? Why come back now? I hate you for this. Kagome wanted to shout but reframed from doing so.
Hate…no, she didn't hate him. The emotion couldn't overcome her feelings for him. Feelings that should have been long gone now…but weren't. Damn.
"I have a…a meeting coming up soon. Tardiness won't be accepted so—"she rose and he sat her back down firmly yet gently with one hand.
"Sit." He said simply and for the briefest of moments it seemed they both remembered their adventures in feudal Japan. It seemed so long ago, like a distant memory…someone else's memory.
Kagome looked away from his curious gaze. Why does he make me feel so…so warm inside. It's not…I can't…for Kami sakes, he's married! "I really think I should get going…" she said softly.
Inuyasha remained silent for a moment. "You really have changed."
"How so…?" Kagome glanced at her computer screen, determined not to pay him much heed.
He took a while, possibly choosing his words wisely. "You use to be so annoying at times."
She could tell he was teasing by his tone. "People change, we grow up." Kagome shrugged.
He tapped his chin once. "And feistier..."
"And I'm not now?"
Inuyasha chuckled. "Honestly, I can't tell… but I do know you're awfully dull now." Inuyasha shrugged. "Boring is more like it. Where's the challenge, old age getting to you?"
Why you—Kagome clenched her fist beneath the table. He was baiting her. Oh but he was good, at all sorts of this. Oh my—if you don't stop thinking like that you'll get your heart broken…AGAIN! Kagome blush increased even with this mental scolding going on.
"Dull? I like dull." she gestured to her outfit. "Dull is good and oh so fashionable. I like gray. It's my favorite color too. See?" She said sarcastically. Actually my favorite color is pink, do you still remember that? Do you still care? Kagome wanted so badly to ask these questions but again, she reframed. I'm getting good at that, aren't I? She thought wryly.
"Kagome!" Sango called.
Kagome panicked, Sango. If she found—Kagome blinked. Where did Inuyasha gone? He was just, she knew he had, but he was gone now. Oh that bum!
Sango, dressed in a pale green outfit and her hair in a simple French twist, beamed and stood beside Kagome. "Hey there, you missed lunch." She pulled out a brown bag from behind her back and grinned. "But lucky for you, I got an extra."
"Thanks, San." Kagome said and was grateful for the meal more than Sango would ever know. She was starved! It seemed her stomach had been filled with butterflies and air, the type you got when you were around your crush, but now with reality back, so was her appetite.
Sango sniffed the air around her. "Hum…cologne…" she grinned teasingly at her best friend. "So…who is he?"
"Huh? He who?" Kagome asked innocently and took a big bite out of the sandwich.
Sango pouted. "He who? You know who! You're dating someone."
"No way! For goodness sakes, Sango, it could have been the boss or—"
"You're not the type of girl to "do the boss" but Yakima, well…but that's another story. I know colognes. You can't work in a perfume shop for five years without picking up a few things. The guys here wear those I-think-I'm-professionally-qualified-and-hot-too-but-I'm-only-suffocating-those-around-me colognes while this one is so…so…" Sango sniffed again.
Sango licked her lips. "Tempting…" she nodded. "Very."
"You're married." She nudged the woman playfully.
"I know." Sango got that dreamy look on her face.
"Oh, that reminds me..." Kagome smiled and tried hard not to giggle. "You're buttoned wrong."
Sango blinked, blushed and then turned around to re-button her shirt. Fumbling as she spoke, "I erm…well…"
"You don't have to explain. You two have a very, very healthy sex life."
Sango's blushing increased drastically. "Oh be quiet." She grumbled.
Kagome only smiled. She heard the distant talking in the background and knew that talk time was now to be replaced by another three hours of nonstop work.
Oh joy. Kagome rolled her eyes.
Kagome glanced at the clock across the room. "5:00 pm." She murmured.
"5:00 pm. Time to leave—finally!" Sango grinned. She logged off her computer, grabbed her briefcase, brushed past two fellow co-workers and headed over to Kagome's room.
"Knock, knock." Sango sang and opened the door. Kagome was just getting up from her desk when Sango arrived. "Hey there, buddy."
Kagome grinned. "Hey. Just give me a second while I get my coat."
When they arrived in the parking lot, Sango looked around. Kagome always parked right beside her, but today…
"Where's your car?"
Kagome shrugged. "Mac's grocery store…"
"What?" Sango blinked.
"It's a long story."
"Oh. Hop in then. I'll give you a lift." Sango suggested and Kagome accepted. "On the way, you can explain how it got there in the first place."
Once at home, Kagome glanced at the calendar. Saturday, she'd be the coordinator for some school play at Shari's, with some other mom's help, and create a decent play. No sleep in for her.
"Shari, dinner's ready." Kagome called. She removed the red apron and sighed with relief. She'd thought her overwhelming emotions at work would have affected her cooking but her casseroles came out just right.
Shari practically bounced right into the room and carried Mr. Bear, a brown bear her father had brought her when she'd gotten sick a few months back, with her. Her black hair was pulled back into two ponytails, similar to what Kagome had worn at her own age. She wore a simple blue dress that cut off just a bit below the knees and a pair of white socks on her feet.
Kagome grabbed two plates and began to serve their dinner while her daughter found and sat in a seat. "You'll never guess what happened mommy." Sheri said glancing curiously at her dinner plate.
Kagome swallowed down some of her grape juice. "What."
"Hum…" Sheri poked the food with her fork.
Once.
Then Twice.
"Sheri."
"Huh?" she looked up. "Oh. But you didn't guess. Anyways, this kid named "Yemeni" got in so much trouble today. It was so funny. He was all "I'll pull your hair if you don't stop asking me questions" and I was like "Go on a try." And he was like "go away" and I said, "I just want to touch them." And he was said—"
"—touch what?" Kagome asked.
Kagome glanced up, the doorbell. No one usually comes around this time of day. Was it "Girl's Night Out" with Sango and the other girls? No, it wasn't Friday yet. Then was someone hurt or—! Kagome got up.
"Stay and eat up." She paused. "And don't try feeding it to Muffin either. She almost got a tummy ache last time." She glanced at the slightly eager puppy and her mischievous daughter before heading for the door. "Yeah?" she opened the door and felt like if the wind was just knocked out of her.
"It's time to get to work." Inuyasha smiled.