Headwind

Sometimes you wonder if you've missed the train, even though your ticket says otherwise. A story about love, life, disappointment, and possibility. Told in drabbles and bits. AU. Kag/Kouga, Kag/Inu, and a sprinkling of Mir/San. T for now.

A/N: Sorry I have been absent for so long. School does that, as does attempting to re-structure a story, which I'm currently doing with Novus Lux. I haven't written anything creative in ages, but I felt the pull after reading some other fics, watching friends interact with each other, and a few overheard conversations while I studied in coffee shops. I hope that maybe I'll be able to update this a little more often, since they'll be short pieces, and what there is of a plot isn't terribly complicated. Also, I wrote these first few bits as a study break from finals, so it's not terribly polished. This is probably going to be bitter-sweet, since that's how life often is. Hope you enjoy it though.

December 2nd, Late Evening, The Monk's Vice Pub & Bar

Kagome stared at the bottom of her empty glass, studying the way the last drops of amber liquid clung to the curved bottom. She never came to bars alone. She'd been hoping her favorite bar tender would be there, but so far, Sango had failed to materialize, and the flirtatious owner had served her drink instead. She liked him well enough, but he wasn't the one she wanted to talk to tonight.

"Can I get you another, Kaggie?"

She looked up, and Miroku winked. "You know only Sango's allowed to call me that," she grumbled. "But yeah, sure. Another."

He gave her a winning smile and whisked to the other end of the bar to find the scotch.

Someone settled onto the stool next to hers. Her scowl at having her space somewhat invaded disappeared into a look of surprise. The intruder cracked a subtly fanged smile, and one furry white ear atop his head flicked as if in greeting.

"Hey," he said. His voice held a pleasant amount of gravel.

Kagome opened her mouth to respond, when Miroku popped up behind the bar again, scotch in hand.

"Here you go, Kaggie," he grinned, setting the drink in front of her and turning toward the newcomer. "What can I get for you, sir?"

"Got any Blue Moon on tap?" he asked.

"Sure do." And he bobbed off again.

"So," the stranger started, "Kaggie, is it?"

Kagome rolled her eyes. Miroku just had to go on using that accursed nick-name. "Kagome, actually. Call me 'Kaggie' again and the beer you just ordered will decorate that pretty red shirt of yours. You are?"

"Keh, grumpy I see."

"Interesting name, considering you look more like a demon than a dwarf."

He snorted. Grumpy but witty. He could deal with that. "I'm Inuyasha."

Miroku chose that moment to appear with the beer. He looked between the two sitting on the other side of the bar and decided to make himself scarce while still remaining in ear-shot. He was pretty sure Sango would want to know about this when she got back.

Inuyasha picked the orange off the side of the glass and dropped it in before taking a swig.

Kagome sipped her scotch, deciding to try to ignore the guy.

"So what's eatin' you?" He asked, puncturing her attempt at pointed silence.

She sighed, realizing that she probably wasn't going to be able to get out of having a conversation unless she got up and moved. Too much effort, as far as she was concerned. And Sango probably wasn't going to be there any time soon to come rescue her.

"My boyfriend wants me to go to Russia with him." There, the truth. Might as well. She needed to get this off her chest anyway, and she'd probably never see this guy again.

"What's so bad about that?" He asked, slightly disappointed by the mention of a significant other.

"It's cold."

"That's it? Tch, that's a pretty lame reason for not wanting to spend a week or two somewhere."

"He wants me to move there with him. His family lives there, and he has a job offer."

"Oh." Inuyasha shifted uncomfortably. "Are you gonna go?"

"I don't know."