I do not own Inuyasha, but I do own this story.
AUTHOR'S NOTE: I have returned after years apart from this place and have grown as a writer. This story was started back when I was in high school. I have taken the entire story down and will be re-writing much. I hope you like the improvements! Feel free to comment or send me messages.
Behind Closed Eyes.
Chapter One: The Last Straw!
She sat on their couch, staring blankly at the television playing silently and flashing light against the room. Sniffle. Another tissue in the trashcan, face sore from repeated wiping. Pull yourself together Kagome! She patronizes herself, knowing that she was too distraught to stop the tears. He had done it again and she hated that he thought so little of her competence and intelligence that he continued to lie so terribly. He had called earlier stating he would be late because of a department head meeting with his brother and father, the owner of said business. She knew, however, that if it was in deed the meeting he spoke of, she would have been there as well. She out ranked him. He could have come up with a better excuse!
She pulled the blanket off of the back of the couch to wrap it around her shoulders, an imaginary chill sweeping her body. Onyx hair fell into her face, blocking the little bit of light from the television. Remote in hand, she pushed the menu button, 0300. Deciding it was time to try at sleep again, she lifted herself from the couch. Dropping the blanket in a heap behind her and switching the box off, she made her way to the bedroom. Knowing what the coming hours would bring, she shut and locked the door behind her. Blocking her little bit of peace from the world that she knew was going to come crashing down in the morning.
The room was dark but she repetition of traversing the room brought her easily to the bed. She slid under the heavy down comforter, the silk of her gown and cotton of the sheet rubbing together quietly. All this time and dedication, wasted on him I should have known better. She really had fooled herself into thinking he would see only Kagome and leave Her behind like he had promised. So many empty promises, so much time spent pretending. He was never happy with me.
Tomorrow she would look at this situation in a new light, all of the darkness of the past 2 years would be washed away with the rising sun. She would make the change she needed to make to be healthy. Work came early and she would need to be rested for presentation with her boss. Even with her mind made up she wept, but sleep still came following a tear soaked pillow. Her sleep was so deep that she did not wake at the banging on the bedroom door or the slamming of other doors down the hall.
She awoke to the sweet sound of bird songs coming from her alarm clock, ugh 0600. Unconsciously reaching for the other side of the bed, she found herself disappointed to touch cold sheets before last night came rushing back into memory. With a deep breath, she rose from bed and walked to the bathroom. Morning hygiene routine complete she went to the closet to grab a black skirt suit with a blue shirt to go under her jacket. Jewelry or no? She pondered before deciding on a dainty black studded necklace that accentuated her neckline. Deep breath. She left the room, head held high and walking with purpose, locking the door behind her and tucking the key into her suit jacket pocket.
The smell coming from behind a closed door told Kagome which room he had tumbled into when he return to the house. Ignoring the sensation to knock, she proceeded to the kitchen. When she entered, sitting at the bar nook to one side of the room was an all too familiar face, smiling brightly at her. She returned the smile as he extended a coffee cup, still steaming, as a form of morning greet.
"Thank you Miroku, I am so very glad you have a key! I appreciate this," She sighed into her cup, letting the warmth wash over her.
"Good morning to you too, Kagome," His smile never faded, "Where is Inuyasha this morning?"
She felt her demeanor fumble, "He is still asleep I imagine, he was out very late with a business meeting." She emphasized the lie he told her to search for a reaction in Miroku.
A muffled grunt breezed down the stairs and into the kitchen, interrupting their conversation. Kagome glanced away, towards the sound and lost the opportunity to read Miroku's facial expressions. Oh well, I know the truth even without his acknowledgement. A thud brought an audible sigh from her. Inuyasha was awake and trying to get into the bedroom. She felt no remorse about locking him out, knowing he had extra clothes in the spare bedroom.
"Here he comes, grumpy after a night of drinking," She smiled sweetly at Miroku who gave her a half smile, "I have to go to the office." She turned towards the back door and bay windows, opening the curtains as much as possible.
"Kagome, are you feeling well?" The uncertainty and worry painted his words vividly in her mind, all blues and violets.
Another thud, this time louder, brought both of them to look at the smaller entrance to the kitchen through the hallway. Inuyasha was making his way down stairs, obviously very hung over. He would not make this morning easy after finding the bedroom door locked not once but twice! She was not in the mood to receive a moody talking to about his discomfort.
"KAGOME!" His voiced bellowed through the house.
She had run out of time, the confrontation was going to happen whether she liked it or not. His smell reached them before he turned the corner. Alcohol, the cheap stuff, and flora musky perfume. His clothes were rumpled, his silver hair ruffled and puffed up so badly they hid his silky dog like ears.
"Good morning Inuyasha," She smiled, refilling her coffee cup and nursing it to her liking, "How did you sleep?"
"GODDAMNIT WOMAN!" Obviously fuming and without patience this morning, "WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH YOU?!"
Kagome had taken a drink of her coffee and cleared her throat before answering, choosing her words tactfully, "Inuyasha, last night was the first and last time I will ever lock you out of the room. For that, I am sorry. My emotions seem to get the best of me. I hope you have an amazing day. I will be a little late getting home tonight, I have a few meetings to attend and plan on having dinner with Sango afterwards. I am sorry, again, that I cannot provide you with a home cooked meal tonight, you will have to fend for yourself."
She dared a glance at Miroku, who sat with confusion. Glancing back to Inuyasha, his face had changed from angry to sad. He understood that she knew. Moving about the kitchen, she retrieved a thermos from the cupboard and nursed a large coffee to go. She scooped up her purse and with coffee in hand, she waved kindly before making her way out of the kitchen and through the house.
The whole way to the front door, she admired her lovely home with sadness that this would soon no long with hers. She had made up her mind in the shower that she was leave everything that was without sentimental value or of necessity. Material things could be replaced and she would not lash out and take everything from Inuyasha even though he would not spare the same thoughts for her.
"Kagome!" His bare feet padded behind her, their quickness an obvious run, "Stop Kagome, I feel like you misunderstand."
She whipped around, her composure slipping, "Misunderstand? MISUNDERSTAND? What could you POSSIBLY mean? You rolled into the house, drunk, way after midnight, and expect me to what? Greet you with open arms? Kiss you because that is all you want from me? How long were you planning on riding on my success? Forever?" Tear had begun to form in the corners of her eyes.
"I am not using you, I have my own success to live on. I am here because I love you," His ears were flat against his head, guilt plastered across his face.
"No, you have success because your father owns the company. Without him, you would be nothing." a wicked grin creeped across her face, "Love me? You don't love me. Engaged for two years. TWO WHOLE YEARS. Dating forever, high school sweet hearts even. All this time I dedicated to you was a lie. You have never been with me. You have always been with her and that is going to change. Today."
She turned on her heels and finished her walk to the door, not glancing back even partially. She was strong and any emotions playing on her face were for herself, not for him. She no longer had anything that he would receive; not her happiness, not her sadness, and definitely not her love. No man deserved the unconditional love her had so easily handed to him that soon became unrequited.
With the click of the lock sliding home, she bounced down the front steps and made her way to the cars parked along the side of the house. The only vehicle leaving this house with her move was her black Dodge Viper. She had worked hard over the years to buy her dream luxury car and she was not going to leave it behind.
Pulling out on the neighborhood road, she pulled her cellphone out and called her best friend. It took two rings and a drink of coffee before the phone was answered with a polite greeting.
"Good morning Sango," Kagome smiled into the phone, forcing as much happiness into her words as she could muster, "I need a little bit of help today if you are not too busy with clients." She took another drink of coffee.
"Kagome! I was not expecting to hear from you until tomorrow for our lunch date!" Sango's warm sweet voice helped to calm Kagome's nerves. "I can drop anything today if you need help immediately!"
"No, no, no." Kagome sighed, her friend was always in a frenzy to help someone in need. "I can explain more at lunch tomorrow but I need some help looking for an apartment. I am leaving Inuyasha and just need somewhere that I can easily manage and can call home for a short while until I figure out exactly what I am doing."
"Oh, no! He was with her again, wasn't he?" her voice began to climb to higher pitches revealing her anger, "I will make sure she pays for this!"
"Sango, there is no need. I want them to be happy together since they cannot seem to leave each other alone." The tears were coming back, "I am upset, but no reason to let the world crash down-hiccup-around me. I just cannot take this any longer." Her tears began to fall, salty globules rolling down to the side of her mouth where her sadness had grown a taste.
"We will see how you feel after everything is said and done." Sango seethed with anger, "so one apartment as soon as possible. I will send the movers to help tonight. Will you be getting home at your normal time?"
Kagome muffled out an 'uh-huh' while trying to calm herself down. She needed to be composed to walk into work. They said their good-byes and hung up the phones. She pulled into the parking garage under the building twenty minutes later, trying to pull herself completely together. Turning the key into the off position and forgetting her now empty thermos, she exited the car noticing there were less cars here than normal. I guess it is early.
Walking into the elevator, she pressed her floor button and watched the doors closed. I really am a wreck she thought as tears began forming again at the thought of the many shared rides in the elevator hand in hand. She bit her cheek, holding back to emotional pain that threatened to overcome her. The elevator doors opened to bring the sound of sobs to Kagome. She traveled down the hallway with a quickened pace to find her secretary resting her face in her hands and sobbing. Kagome quickly embraced the other woman, making silent comforting sounds.
Quietly coaxing her out of her chair, Kagome led the woman into her office and to her couch. She turned after setting the woman down and shut the office door. With an internal head shake, knowing the cause of the other woman's woes, she turned on the coffee pot. Grabbing the box of tissues, she went to sit back down on the couch.
"Now, tell me what is wrong Kagura," Kagome used her most motherly voice and smiled lightly.
"Ses-sho-ma-ru!" Could be made out between sobs and hiccups.
"Tell me everything, honey."