Hi everyone!

It's my first time writing here on fanfiction, so don't be too harsh please! I'd love for any constructive criticism to come. J

I am still in the process of editing and re-editing this. I find things that I'm not in love with, and I get annoyed with imperfections so I'll be updating constantly. That said, my other option is to hold out on you and not post until I think it's perfect, which might take a while.

I'm really interested on hearing what you think so far about this story – if it draws you in, if it's too obvious what will happen, and so on and so forth.

Please please PLEASE review. Thank you.

Disc: I don't own the fuzzy eared idiot Inuyasha.. but his brother…. ;)

It was the best of times.

Kagome Higurashi ran nimble fingers through her black locks, surveying her appearance in the mirror. Her unruly bangs had been teased and subdued, giving them a sleeker appearance rather than the messy look she usually settled for; her hair was placed in an immaculate bun - so professional, and so unlike Kagome, Sango had teased minutes earlier. Her hands glided over her slender build, smoothing out the crimson silk (I love to see you in my color, he would growl) dress she wore.

These fingers glided over a worn trinket box, and gently inspected the different jewels – fiery opals (grandpa could never remember my favorite color), oceanic pearls (mama... mama wanted me to be a little lady), even an emerald here or there (a present from the best little brother), when a voice stopped her from behind.

"Today's the day, huh?"

She smiled, eyes locked on the glittering gems, not even bothering to turn.

Sango, her best friend of 10 years (and the best roommate ever, in Sango's opinion), leaned against the doorframe – her warm brown eyes taking in the disaster zone, hand on hip and a dark eyebrow raised.

"Sango, don't even start – you know too. I just know he's going to ask! He's taking me to dinner, and not to a regular restaurant either. It's at the Shikon. The Shikon! I… I don't even know what jewelry to wear, but damn it, he finally is going to ask!"

Sango sighed and couldn't help but let a grin rise to her lips, as Kagome turned towards her with a beaming expression.

Ecstatic is more accurate, Sango thought.

Her sister was getting engaged tonight; not a real sister, of course, but Sango had long learned blood didn't make someone family – loyalty did. Kagome stuck by her through the thick and the thin, and it warmed her heart to see her sister, one most deserving of happiness, finally attain it. She was getting married. And yet…

She allowed a small frown to grace her lips, trapped in her thoughts as Kagome ran around the room, chattering about her hopes for the night. It troubled her that Inuyasha didn't speak a word of the supposed engagement to anyone.

'He didn't even show me the damn ring!' she fumed. Sighing and shaking her head, clearing her mind of all bad thoughts, she crossed the threshold and stood before Kagome, looking her up and down as Kagome stopped in front of her mirror and began to apply her makeup.

It wasn't hard for Sango to see how much effort had gone into Kagome's outfit (read: how much effort had gone into stealing Sango's dress). The red dress was modest enough – it showed off Kagome's slim shoulders and creamy skin, a perfect unmarred ivory. The sweetheart neckline was enough to draw attention to the gentle swells below, but not enough to be daring, demanding, relentless. The dress grazed the girl's body, skimming over the curves of her waist, and emphasized the length of her long, long, long legs, as it stopped just above her knees. She just hoped that Kagome didn't break her neck tonight with her 5" heels, much like the ones she wore in the hospital.

Hey! They make an impression! She would say.

"Sango! Nude lips right? Not too trashy?" The subject in question startled Sango out of her thoughts, her eyes darting to the figure in the mirror to answer. She nodded to Kagome, who opened her lip gloss and began to apply. Her eyes flicked back to Sango and she slowed, eventually recapping the tube with a quiet click.

"You've been quiet since you came in.. everything alright? You know I don't mean to take over the conversation. Miroku and you are okay, right?" Long lashes framed her azure eyes, and Sango thought it was almost like gazing into pools of water, ones that expressed the woman's every emotion. In them, where happiness once radiated, concern was present, along with a hint of playfulness.

Sango allowed herself a smirk. "Oh, excuse me! I didn't know I was allowed to have a moment today. I thought everything was supposed to be about you, and the jolly dog demon, and the fuzzy eared babies that you'll pop out in no time at all, and all the fuc-"she had to stop, partially from laughter and partially from the pillow that smacked into her face.

Kagome had to stop herself from throwing a shoe in Sango's direction – she needed all of the patience in the world for tonight. But a pillow.. a pillow would work. She couldn't help the giggles that escaped afterwards, though.

"How do you think he'll ask?"

"I'm not really sure," Kagome admitted. "I'm hoping for something nice, at least? He always was the type of person to go above and beyond but I'm not sure if I want that too much. You know me. I'm not all for the extra shit."

A nod from Sango.

"A-freakin'-men. Miroku sometimes goes overboard, but… not as much as your hanyou. I wonder what he has in mind. I mean, the Shikon? I feel like you get enough attention as it is at Fukai, but he knows you hate it. So why the Shikon?"

Sango trailed off as she saw her best friend bite her bottom lip, a crease forming in the middle of her brow.

"Just don't listen to me." Sango murmured. "Don't let me put doubts in your head. He'll ask you, and you'll say yes, and you'll be the happiest person ever. Ever. I know it."

Kagome looked at her best friend once again.

"Yeah?"

A nod.

"Now about those earrings…"

He sat across from her in the restaurant, looking as handsome as ever, his golden eyes trained on her azure ones. So clear… so beautiful… just not what he wanted nor needed.

He thought he was doing her a favor.

How many women were wined and dined before they were broken up with?

It didn't seem like she appreciated his efforts, however.

"Damn it Kagome," he sighed. She looked breathtaking. His fingers once ached to touch the smoothness of her skin; now, she was simply pretty to look at. A doll, pleasing to the eye.

Once pleasing to his eyes, and more.

"So let me get this straight," she managed, a tremor in her voice. "You can't be with me because we – " she swallowed thickly, "we haven't made love?"

"Fucked", he corrected.

"Dog demons don't see love the same way you do. We mate. We've been through this. And you've denied me countless times."

"I… " wasn't ready.

"As it stands now, I'm a laughingstock. I couldn't take you as my own because you wouldn't let me. We've been dating for what, 3 years now?"

She could feel a sliver of a crack begin in her already tender heart.

Four, it whispered. Four years.

"Three years, and I already should have had you. It only makes sense."

Her heart beat fast – beat so fast and so hard it was a sheer miracle, she was sure, that he couldn't see it. Couldn't feel it.

"But all those times, we.."

"Were times. They were times. And now I have had to make new ones," he rubbed his chin, and looked away, as if looking at her was painful. As if speaking to her was painful.

"I.." she began.

"I met someone."

A small breath escaped her lungs, along with all understanding. She could feel the energy of her body disappear with that breath, could hear the ticking of time and the universe moving around them. She could feel everything in that moment, because it was out of her control.

Yet another sliver.

"We want to be together Kagome. It's been three months. Look I know it's hard, but you haven't given me any indication that you want this. That you want me. And I can't keep waiting for you.

"Waiting?" The whisper, full of emotion, caused Inuyasha to wince. His eyes rested on her, or rather the shell of someone that used to be there. Her eyes were dull – dim, as if someone had shut off all light inside. No more sparks. No more life. No more love. She met his concerned (no, no, no more) amber eyes with her own.

"My virginity was what you were waiting for?"

He sighed again.

"I don't know how much more I can explain this to you, Kagome."

"I think I deserve it." She spoke softly, flicking her eyes down once more. Sango's dress. She lovingly touched the silk, before curling her hand into a fist. She had to understand. Was there something else? Was she not pretty enough? Was she not smart enough?

"Kikyo and I fucked. I… marked her. She is mine. She didn't hesitate. She wanted it. Fuck, she wanted me. I couldn't wait anymore, and I can't wait around for something that won't happen. You're not-"

She closed her eyes.

Her heart braced for impact.

"You're not worth waiting for anymore."

Wow! Kind of harsh right?

+10 points to any reader who can tell me what the first line is from!

Please review and let me know what you think! I'd love to hear it!