One dress. Just one dress was all that Kagome had needed. Yet– somehow– her friends had roped her into not only buying a new dress, but also coordinating shoes, jewelry, and a matching purse for a complete ensemble. What was supposed to be a quick hour-long trip to the mall had effortlessly become an all-day affair– a phenomenon that seemed to occur frequently when her group of gal pals were involved.
"What about this?" Kagome asked, holding up a peach-colored cardigan with brass buttons that ran up the front.
Yuka, the shortest of the trio of women surrounding Kagome, stuck out her tongue and made a face of disgust.
"Are you going on a date or a to a job interview?" she admonished; when she shook her head, her short, brunette hair bounced. "That's too conservative."
"Really? I think it's cute." Kagome inspected the sweater closer. "Plus, I don't really like exposing my bare shoulders. And that dress we decided on exposes… well, more than just my shoulders."
After hours of deliberation, Kagome had settled on a tight burgundy number that hugged her barely-there curves, with ruching at the waist and a plunging neckline; it was far more revealing than Kagome was comfortable with, but still covered more than some of the other dresses her friends had picked out for her to try on. Kagome had also selected and purchased a pair of strappy black heels, a glittery gold clutch purse, and a tiny pink rhinestone pendant on a gold vermeil chain with matching stud earrings.
At her own insistence, however, they were still shopping for something with which Kagome could cover up.
"You always did like dressing like a frumpy grandma," Yuka teased. With a scowl, Kagome placed the sweater back on the rack.
"What about a sexy shawl?" Eri, the dark-haired girl beside Yuka, suggested.
"I don't know why you guys think I need to dress so sexy for tonight," Kagome groaned; she covered her face with her hands to hide her flushed cheeks. "We're just going out for dinner."
"Yes, but you did say that he said that he has something important to ask you," Ayumi said. She was the most soft-spoken of Kagome's friends, and Kagome appreciated the curly-haired woman's calm and thoughtful demeanor more often than not.
"And it's going to be at the restaurant where you two had your first date," Yuka chimed in.
Eri clasped her hands together excitedly. "Do you think he's going to propose?"
Kagome choked. "After only six months? No way. We haven't even… you know… done it yet."
She felt her face flush even redder; she couldn't believe that she was even bringing it up, but it was true; although she and her boyfriend Koga had been going steady for almost six months already, they had yet to have sex.
Yuka only shrugged. "Lots of people save themselves for marriage. Maybe Koga just can't wait anymore."
"Oh, is that why you guys haven't had sex yet? Because you're waiting for marriage?" Ayumi blinked innocently.
Kagome felt her eye twitch. "I'm not s-saving myself for marriage."
"Ohh, so he's the one who's saving himself." Eri nodded her head as though she understood.
Flustered, Kagome waved her hands in front of herself. "Nobody is waiting for marriage! It just… hasn't happened yet."
"Well, have you even told him that you love him?" Yuka inquired with an eyebrow raised. When Kagome sheepishly shook her head, her friend sighed.
"There's your problem. Do you love Koga?"
Kagome tensed. "I care for him. A lot. I'm just not sure… I mean, he says it so effortlessly. I want to be absolutely sure before I say it back."
Her trio of friends nodded in unison; they understood.
As though it sensed her desperation for a change in the topic of conversation, Kagome's stomach erupted in a series of rumbles; she didn't realize how famished she was until now.
"I'm starving," she groaned out loud. "Is it time for lunch yet?"
"I could eat, too," Eri agreed. The other two followed suit, and within moments they made their way towards the front of the department store and out into the mall concourse.
They settled on their usual spot since high school: a fast food joint in the mall's food court that served the usual American fare of burgers and fries. Kagome, not wanting to overdo it before her dinner date with Koga, only ordered a small fry and a soda to tide her over.
"What's that?" Yuka piped up suddenly between sips of her drink, the straw making a noisy slurping sound. "Must be new."
Kagome followed her friend's gaze to see an arcade game of sorts nestled in the corner of the empty food court that had never been there before.
"Is it a vending machine?" Ayumi asked.
Kagome peered closer; a sign reading KANNA'S MIRROR flashed across the top in silver.
"I think it's one of those fortune teller things. Like in that old movie where the guy gets turned into an older version of himself."
Yuka gasped and jumped to her feet, her chair tipping backwards and hitting the floor with a metallic clang.
"We should ask it about you and Koga!"
"I don't really think that's how it works– ack!"
Before Kagome could finish her protest, Yuka was dragging her by the arm to the machine. Eri and Ayumi followed closely behind. The animatronic fortune teller, which looked like a pale, white-haired little girl, watched them approach with beady black eyes from inside the glass and metal box that housed it. It was holding a mirror, and Kagome's nervous reflection warped as it stared back at her.
"It's sort of creepy," Kagome said.
"'Kanna?' What kind of name is that?" Ayumi asked curiously as she read the sign.
Eri visibly shivered. "It means 'God of Nothingness.' This thing gives me the heebie jeebies."
"Oh come on, guys, it's just a silly toy," Yuka scoffed.
Kagome raised an eyebrow. "Then why are we even bothering with it?"
Searching around in her purse, Yuka produced a single silver coin, holding it up with a grin. "For funsies."
Without another word, she pressed the coin into Kagome's palm and shoved her forward to stand in front of the machine. Sighing, she dropped the coin into the slot, listening as it bounced inside the register with a clink. Moments passed. Kagome waited. The machine remained still and silent.
"I think it's broken," Eri mused.
"Maybe it's voice activated," Yuka suggested. "Try asking about Koga."
Swallowing thickly, Kagome struggled to phrase what she wanted to ask. Should she ask if Koga was planning on proposing? Should she ask if she should marry Koga? What exactly did she want to find out?
Stupid, she thought. It's not like it matters. The machine isn't sentient.
"Is– am I– are Koga and I meant to be?" she spit out at last in haste.
The fortune teller didn't move. Kagome half-expected it to light up or play music or something, but instead there was only a single click as a narrow strip of paper popped out the from the fortune slot on the front. Reaching down, Kagome pulled the paper free to read it. Curious, her friends crowded around her.
"Well, what does it say?" Yuka demanded impatiently.
Your soulmate will appear at midnight.
"My soulmate will appear at midnight?" Kagome questioned aloud. She hadn't misread; it was printed in plain black-and-white letters.
Ayumi gasped. "Oh my."
"That's too relevant to be a coincidence," Eri said. "It must be talking about Koga."
Yuka shrieked and pumped a fist in the air in victory. "My girl Kagome's gonna get hitched!"
A group of passersby jumped in fright at Yuka's sudden outburst; Kagome shot them an apologetic look.
"Keep it down!" she scolded. "It's not real."
"Real enough for me," Yuka laughed with a smug smile. "Koga's your soulmate. I knew it."
Kagome frowned at the piece of paper in her hand. Was Koga her soulmate? She wasn't sure. Either way, she didn't feel the least bit giddy or excited about the prospect.
It's just a stupid fortune, she reminded herself. It's not real.
She tucked the scrap of paper into her pocket and forgot about it.
–
Koga picked up Kagome at her apartment around a quarter to seven, greeting her at the door to her apartment building with a kiss on the cheek. When he growled appreciatively at the sight of her, Kagome blushed, her fingers fiddling self-consciously with the pink jewel around her neck. Although she had found the perfect black shawl in her closet with which her cover her shoulders, she had also dabbed on a touch of mascara and lip gloss and curled her long, black tresses with a curling iron before pinning them in a half-up style, leaving her feeling more out of her comfort zone than usual. It wasn't that Kagome didn't like to dress up or be glamorous for an evening out– she just preferred not to.
"You look ravishing," Koga said. His hands roamed to her arms and the shawl slipped from her shoulders, resting sultrily around her elbows. He was dressed handsomely as well, in a silver three-piece suit with a black satin button-up shirt and dark red tie; around his left wrist, he wore a gold chain-link watch.
Kagome cursed to herself; they matched.
"Shouldn't we get going?" she suggested anxiously. "Any more time spent here admiring my outfit and we'll miss our reservation."
Koga smirked. "I'm not worried about it."
Despite the nonchalance of his words, he offered his arm to his lady and lead her to the waiting car, securing her in the passenger seat before climbing in to drive.
The drive to the hibachi restaurant was brief and uneventful, as Koga and Kagome made small talk about their respective days, and upon entering the dimly-lit building they were immediately escorted by the wait staff to a table near the back; the very same table, Kagome noted, that they had been seated at for their first ever date. Her stomach lurched.
A passing waitress offered them a pair of menus and promised to be back to take their food orders. Another server, without being prompted, came forth to fill their wine glasses, setting the bottle down before bowing and leaving the couple in peace. It gave Kagome the sinking feeling that Koga had planned all of this ahead of time.
He really is going to propose, she thought with fear.
Eager to calm her jittery nerves, Kagome took a healthy sip of her wine, resisting the urge to gag as the deep purple liquid burned a bittersweet trail down her throat.
"I still can't believe that a girl as wonderful and beautiful as you ever agreed to a date with a scoundrel of a wolf demon like me," Koga started dreamily, his blue eyes focused intently on Kagome. "And now, here we are, months later and still going strong."
Not wanting to be rude, Kagome set down the menu that she had been perusing on the table and nodded to show that she was listening. Her eyes darted around the room, wishing for another server to appear to interrupt them.
"We've been together for about six months now," he continued. "Actually, tonight at midnight will be exactly our six-month anniversary."
It was their anniversary? Kagome hadn't even realized.
"You know that I love you, Kagome. And I want to be with you– all of the time. So, it only seems logical that we take the next step. That's why I wanted to ask you…"
"Oh god," Kagome sputtered before she could stop herself, burying her face in her hands. She squeezed her eyes shut, willing Koga to propose anything but marriage. She wasn't sure how she would react if he asked her.
"Will you… move in with me?"
Kagome's brown eyes snapped open. She peeked at him from between her fingers.
"M-move… in with you?"
She said the words slowly, as though she had misheard him. Koga chuckled nervously.
"I mean, yeah. I know you don't like to spend the night at my place because none of your things are there, but if you moved in then everything would be there…"
A buzzing sound filled Kagome's ears as relief washed over her body; he wasn't proposing. He wasn't going to ask her to marry him.
But Koga was her boyfriend. Why was she so relieved that he didn't want to marry her? Was it because Kagome didn't want to marry him?
"... and then you wouldn't need to pay for your apartment anymore. I own my house straight up, so you could live with me rent-free. It makes more sense financially. Kagome?"
She turned her attention back to Koga, blinking rapidly to clear her mind. "Sorry, I just… but what about your roommate?"
Koga shrugged, his black ponytail falling over his shoulder. "I'd kick him out. I'd rather live with you than that mangy mutt any day."
He smiled at her for reassurance, baring his fangs.
"I don't know, Koga. It seems too soon to move in," Kagome answered finally. "I don't want to move too fast. Besides, I like my little apartment. It's taken me years to decorate it the way I want it."
Koga's smile slipped from his face, his pointy ears drooping at hearing her rejection. It hurt Kagome to know that she had upset him. Reaching across the table, she took Koga's hand in her own in a gesture of comfort.
"We still have plenty of time. If this– if we are truly meant to be, then it'll happen. In the meantime, let's just enjoy what we have right now. Okay?"
Sighing in defeat, Koga managed a small smile for the gorgeous, kindly young woman seated across from him. "You're right. I can't say that I'm happy about it, but you're right. We can take as much time as you need. I don't want to rush you."
He gave her hand a squeeze and Kagome smiled back at him, feeling even more relieved than she had expected that she would; she hoped that Koga wouldn't notice.
–
After dinner and a few more glasses of wine, Koga and Kagome left the restaurant and headed to Koga's house for a nightcap. Ever the gentleman, Koga escorted his dark-haired beauty through the front door and into the foyer, taking her shawl and clutch for her to hang them in the coat closet. Koga then gave his girlfriend a peck on the forehead before disappearing to the other side of the house to prepare their drinks; a whiskey on the rocks for himself, and a hot chamomile tea for Kagome.
As soon as he was out of sight, Kagome bent down and slipped a finger into the strap of her slingback pumps, first one and then the other, to pull them off, letting out a satisfied breath when she was finally free of the painful foot traps. Her bare feet sunk into the plush fibers of the entryway rug and she gave her toes a squeeze, allowing them to stretch until she began walking again.
Koga's house was old, but charming, consisting of two stories with three bedrooms and one-and-a-half bathrooms. He had purchased it shortly after landing his first job out of college, and had explained to Kagome that he was waiting until his savings built back up before starting any updates or renovations. That also explained why he had– against his better judgment– gone ahead and gotten a roommate to help with the bills not long after moving in.
Kagome could hear the white noise of the television set coming from the other room, and entered the darkened living room to see Koga's roommate sprawled out on the sofa with his feet propped up on the armrest, lying along the length of the couch so that his silvery hair was hanging over the edge. He was shirtless, dressed in only a pair of red flannel pajama pants, and had a bowl of potato chips balanced on his abs. His dog-like ears twitched upon hearing Kagome's footsteps approach; his amber irises flicked to her briefly, acknowledging her presence, then returned to his show.
"Oh, it's you," he gruffed between a mouthful of chips. More of them seemed to fall to the floor than made it to his mouth. "I thought I smelled Koga's bitch."
"Yes, it's me," Kagome huffed with indignity. "My name is Kagome. Koga's girlfriend. Don't act like you don't know by now."
He only shrugged; Kagome rolled her eyes. As hotheaded and aggressively-masculine as Koga could get sometimes, his roommate was a thousand times worse.
"Inuyasha!" Koga barked as he stormed into the room, flicking on the lights; his roommate cringed at the sudden brightness. "What have I told you about eating on the couch?"
"Chill out, Koga, I'll clean up when I'm finished."
"You always say that, but you never do. I'm always the one who ends up cleaning after you!"
Inuyasha groaned. "Maybe I don't clean it up right away, but I'll clean it up eventually. We don't all go by your schedule."
"You don't go by anyone's schedule, you slob. The last time you made instant ramen you left your garbage on the coffee table for four days!"
"Jeez, don't snap at me just because you're frustrated that your girlfriend won't put out."
Koga clenched his teeth; Kagome could see his balled fists vibrate at his sides with barely-restrained fury. "I never said that."
"You didn't have to." Inuyasha smirked and popped another chip into his mouth, biting down with an audible crunch. "I can smell your heat from a mile away. You want to mount her, but she's keeping you in the doghouse. No wonder you've been so pissy."
Kagome felt her face heat to an unfathomable temperature; how dare he speak about her that way.
"Fuck you, man," Koga snapped. He jabbed a claw-tipped finger in Inuyasha's direction. "If I didn't need a roommate, I'd kick you out faster than you could say, 'Sit, boy!'"
Kagome felt the sting of guilt in her heart; if she had agreed to living with Koga, he'd have been able to kick Inuyasha out right then and there. Every time she came over she witnessed some sort of spat between the two men. There was even the time that she and Koga had been cuddling on the couch watching a movie that had somehow ended in him and Inuyasha throwing furniture at each other. It made her wonder if there was ever a moment where they got along or lived side-by-side in peace.
It's not your fault that Inuyasha is such a selfish, inconsiderate person, she reminded herself. Or that Koga is too controlling and hardheaded for his own good.
"Well you do need a roommate, so that's too bad for you, huh?" Inuyasha sneered with finality, reaching for the TV remote. He turned up the volume to indicate that the conversation was finished.
Fuming, Koga turned to Kagome, and grasped her face in his hands; caught off guard, it took Kagome a moment to comprehend that his lips were suddenly pressed to hers, kissing her. It was a heated kiss that made Kagome dizzy, and she had to hold on to Koga to stay standing upright. Out of the corner of her eye, she could see Inuyasha scowling at them. It was an expression of disdain, but there was something else in his look– was it jealousy?
When Koga broke the kiss with a quiet smack, he took Kagome by the hand. "Come on, babe, your tea is ready."
He led her to the kitchen without another word to Inuyasha.
"You know, you don't need to do that," Kagome started as Koga handed her a mug of steaming tea.
"Do what?" Koga asked, the question coming out harsher than he intended.
"Claim me in front of Inuyasha," she said quietly. Goosebumps appeared on her flesh, despite the warmth of the kitchen, and she rubbed her arm with her free hand in an attempt to make them go away. "That kiss… in front of him… I'd rather not be used as a pawn in your little rivalry. And it's not like Inuyasha would ever try to make a move on me, anyway."
Koga allowed his tense shoulders to relax. "Yeah, well, better safe than sorry."
And then: "It's just my instinct, you know."
Kagome nodded in understanding. "I don't know how you deal with him."
"Just gotta remind him who's the alpha male around here." Koga polished off his glass of whiskey in one gulp. "I hope I didn't make you uncomfortable."
"It's alright." Kagome took a sip of her own drink, but her throat was too tight– her body still on edge from the confrontation with Inuyasha– for her to swallow properly. As though he sensed her heightened state, warm fingers wrapped around her wrist, easing the mug out of her hands and setting it aside before Koga's hard body pushed her back against the counter.
"Kagome…"
She dared to peer up at Koga from beneath her thick, black lashes, feeling her stomach coil at seeing his lusty eyes gazing down at her.
"You look so… in this dress… I want to rip it off of you." He pressed his hips forward until they were flush with her front. "I want to claim you tonight. I want to make you my woman."
She had previously pondered what an intimate evening with Koga would be like, but every time she thought about it, she came up with some excuse as to why she shouldn't go through with the act.
Kagome turned her focus downward to stare at her feet. "I'm not ready, Koga. I'm sorry."
"If you're worried about your first time, don't be. I'll make it good for you. I promise."
"It's not that, it's just…" Kagome trailed off, struggling to say the words. I'm not sure if I'm in love with you.
"... I need more time."
Koga nuzzled his nose against her own.
"Are you sure that I can't convince you to spend the night?" he pleaded with a rise of his eyebrows. "Or move in with me?"
Kagome shook her head. "Not tonight. It's nearly midnight, already. I really should be getting home."
Koga sighed and released her wrist, stepping away from her; he didn't even try to hide the disappointment in his voice. "I'll call you a cab."
Kagome mumbled her thanks as Koga left the room. Minutes later, Inuyasha entered; she braced herself, waiting for some snarky comment or evil remark but he said nothing. Kagome figured that she should try to level with him while they had the opportunity.
"Hey, Inuyasha," she began. "I know that we don't know each other that well, and I'm not sure if I've done something to offend you or make you hate me, but I'm sorry if I have."
Inuyasha snorted, keeping his back turned to her as he rummaged in the cabinets. After a moment he found what he had been searching for and pulled out a large bottle of whiskey, swishing the amber liquid around in the glass.
"Hey, I'm talking to you," Kagome continued with impatience, tapping her foot on the tile floor. How rude of him; the least he could do would be to answer her or give her some sort of acknowledgement.
"Well, I'm not talking to you, so you can shut your trap," he responded, still facing away from her.
Kagome was taken aback by his harshness. "You're always so crass. What have I ever done to you? Or what has Koga ever done, for that matter? There shouldn't be any reason why we can't all get along. We could all be friends."
Inuyasha spun around to face her. "Listen, I don't got time to be fucking around with your womanly nonsense, so take your friendship and shove it. Have you ever stopped to consider that maybe you're really not that great? Not everyone has to like you, Kagome, and quite frankly, I find you annoying as all hell. Every time you open your mouth to say anything my dick shrivels up."
Despite herself, Kagome felt the tears that sprung to her eyes at Inuyasha's cruel words, and she blinked them back before he could notice how he had affected her; the last thing she wanted was for the dog to make fun of her for crying on top of everything else. She wanted to clap back, but she bit her lip and turned her head aside instead; she didn't have any fight left in her.
She heard the telltale padding of Inuyasha's footfalls leaving the kitchen and going up the stairs to his bedroom, followed by the reverberation of his door closing behind him.
Kagome hadn't the slightest clue as to what Inuyasha's problem with her was, and she no longer had any desire to find out; the less time she had to spend in the same room as the half-demon, the better.
–
Inuyasha felt the arrow of guilt that stabbed his heart at seeing Kagome's face crumple, wincing at his own harsh words before they had even finished leaving his mouth. He half expected her to lay into him and rip him a new one– hell, he more than deserved to have her tear him down until he was crushed like an ant beneath her shoe– but she only blinked back her tears and turned her face aside, remaining silent.
Despite their similarities in appearance, Kagome really was nothing like his ex at all, and it served to make Inuyasha feel all the more guilty for holding a grudge against her for something that was completely out of her control; sure, she looked remarkably like the bitch who had broken his heart into a million pieces, but it wasn't her fault and there was nothing that she could do to change it. So why did he hold it against her?
Because he was a goddamned coward. And a fool.
Not feeling up to doing any more damage for the evening, Inuyasha turned and swiftly exited the kitchen, making his way to his bedroom without another word.
She had apologized for having wronged him, but truth be told she hadn't wronged him at all; it was Inuyasha who had his unwarranted hang ups about Kagome and Koga. He knew that if anyone should apologize, it should be him– but it'd be a cold day in Hell when Inuyasha admitted his wrongdoings.
Instead, the silver-haired half-demon popped the cap off of the bottle of bourbon and took a swig, relishing in the burn of the cheap booze as it slid down his gusset.
At least it would help him forget Kagome's face, if only for a little while. Tomorrow would be a new day.
–
A/N: Based on a story prompt/premise from keichanz on tumblr! Next chapter coming soon (hopefully).