Disclaimer: I own nothing InuYasha. I also don't own the song, which was made by the Dixie Chicks.

Author Note: This is just a short multi-chapter storey that will only take a few days, a week at most probably, to make.

Travelin' Soldier

Chapter One

"Jane told me we should be a little backed up today because a lot of boys are going to be heading off to the military." I warned Kagome what our boss had declared as I polished off some more tables, a couple minutes before opening.

"I could go for a nice, strong, muscular army man." Kagome sighed with a dreamy look in her eye as she propped her elbow on the counter, resting her chin in the palm of her hand. Kagome was a dreamer, and my best friend. She had chocolate eyes and blackened hair.

We were both decked out in our usual uniforms: a white tennis skirt, tennis shoes, and a white V-neck button down collared short sleeve shirt. It was almost sickening how angelic the outfits made us appear. But, it worked for me so I threw my hair up into a high ponytail with a white ribbon tied into a bow. Kagome and Sango, our other friend, always teased me saying I looked like I walked straight out of Grease.

"Quit daydreaming Kagome. Do you know how hard it would be to deal with a soldier? You'd never know if he was alive or dead, never know when he got hurt, or what he was doing." Sango pointed out. Her father had been in the military and died there alongside of my dad, as Kagome and I knew. We fell silent with her words.

"So how's Bankotsu?" Kagome decided to switch the conversation up, since she had a hard time ever keeping her mouth shut. Sango walked over to the door to unlock it and flip the sign to signal that we were, indeed, open.

"What about him? We're not going together or anything. In all honesty, I believe he's a bit creepy." I pointed out as I dropped the washcloth into the sink. Bankotsu had been trying to get with me but I wasn't going for it. There was something about him I didn't like.

Five minutes after the doors had opened people began flooding into the café. We were taking orders left and right from men who donned crisp green suits and hats. However, as soon as they walked inside the caps came off. That was just the kind of boys the army brought around: respectful and proper, gentlemen-like.

Once everything started to settle down a single man walked through the door, promptly removing his cap. He had his head slightly down, a body gesture that clarified he was shy, and his gorgeous blue eyes darted around the café. When he spotted an empty table he made his way over. I smiled as I grabbed a menu and made my way towards him.

"Hello, my name is Ayame and I will be your waitress for today. May I interest you in something to drink?" I asked in a sweet voice.

He glanced up at me quickly, afraid to make eye contact, which only insured that he was shy. "Yes ma'am, may I have an orange juice please?"

"Of course." I nodded and walked away to get the desired drink. I was over by the soda machines, which was right next to the refrigerator we held our milks, water, and juices in only to be met with Kagome who sent me a sly smile.

"So that boy's pretty cute." She winked.

I could feel myself blush as I poured the drink. "He's just a costumer Kagome, don't get yourself all worked up. It's not like he's my future husband or anything."

"You never know." She pointed out and I rolled my eyes as I walked back to the table and gave the man he's orange juice.

"So, have you decided what you'd like to order yet?" I questioned.

His amazing blue eyes looked straight into my green ones and I thought I was going to be dizzy. It was obvious he was trying to be confident, and succeeded. I was pretty sure my heart stopped beating in my chest, or maybe it was beating too fast for me to feel it.

"Could I have the two eggs over easy, with some white bread, hash browns, and beacon please?" his eyes didn't leave mine. I nodded and grabbed the menu he was holding out to me. I felt like I was trembling. How could a boy, no matter how good looking, result me to a pile of mush (which is what I felt like).

Kagome continued to give me that smile and even dared to hum the 'here comes the bride' beat as I placed in the order. I ignored her and rushed to see if my other tables needed anything. They were all quite content, with a few rowdy boys who dared to flirt, but none of them had the impact that the shy stranger had on me.

Most of the boys were finished by the time Koga was beginning to get his meal. It hadn't taken long but the others had come in earlier than him. Our locals apparently decided to stay away for the day, knowing they'd be waiting for seats while the soldiers would eat. I checked in with him to see if he needed any refills or anything but he was mostly good.

He paid his bill and I brought back his change, which he told me to keep for a tip. I thanked him warmly and then he finally spoke in that sexy voice, addressing me and not the food for once. "Would you mind sitting down for a while and talking to me, I'm feeling a little low."

I eyed him for a minute then looked around the café. "I'm off in an hour and I know where we can go."

"But will we be back here in time to catch my bus?" he asked.

"We'll be able to make it." I assured.

"But why worry? Don't worry Ayame, Sango and I will gladly cover for you." Kagome suggested and Sango, from only a table away flashed me a smile and nodded as she collected dishes.

"I couldn't ask you guys to do that for me." I frowned.

"Don't worry Ayame, we don't care. You've covered for us more than enough times, I think we can handle it just this once." Sango laughed.

I bit my lip and hesitated slightly before agreeing and taking off my apron. I looked down at my army stranger, whose name badge read Ookami. "Ready?"

-0-0-0-0-

"So, Koga, what made you talk to me other than the fact that I was your waitress?" I asked as we both got out of my car and walked over to the pier. I found out that he was going into the army, to follow in his father's footsteps and do something good for this country. I couldn't hold my shock when he mentioned that, just two days ago, he had turned eighteen.

"Well besides the fact that you're insanely beautiful," he spoke and made me blush as we sat down at the edge of the wooden boards, "I have something to ask you. I mean, I betcha got a boyfriend but I don't care. I got no one to send a letter to… would you mind if I sent one back here to you?"

His words struck me like a thousand bricks. He had nobody to write to? I smiled and put my smaller hand on his larger and rough one. "I don't have a boyfriend and I'd love if you wrote letters back here to me. I promise to respond to every one. How about we go for a swim before you leave?"

"I don't have anything to wear swimming and if I wear my boxers then they'll be wet and I won't be able to wear them when I put my suit back on." He pointed out.

"I'll be right back." I smiled and got up. He spun around to watch me as I walked to my car, to get my swimsuit, then into a store just a little off from the pier and came out holding boxers. I motioned him over, which he quietly obeyed.

"I didn't notice this shop, now I feel like an idiot." Koga smiled and put his head down. I smiled and giggled lightly.

"Well, don't." I gave him a light push and handed him the pack of boxers and we both went into separate bathrooms to change. It was kind of stupid the shop didn't sell swimsuits but this was California so maybe they expected everybody to already have some on them. Which, everybody but an army man, did.

I came out with my mini emerald colored string bikini and found Koga already standing there in his boxers. I couldn't help but admire his incredible physique. Broad shoulders, lean waist, washboard abs, hardened oblique muscles, large biceps, firm butt (not that I was looking when he turned for us to walk back to the pier).

"Are you afraid?" I asked as we got to the end of the pier.

"What's there to be afraid of? Fear only holds you back, doesn't it? If I feared everything most people did I probably wouldn't be boarding a bus for the army." He pointed out. "Are you afraid, Ayame?"

"Daddy always said that fear was something to stop us from living. He told me fear would get you killed. He loved that quote. You know the one about 'the brave may not live forever, but the cautious do not live at all'. When you're five years old you just listen, don't really understand. At least, not until you get older." I smiled.

"Smart man, what's he do?" Koga asked.

"Actually, he died… in war. He got promoted to Ranger and he did better than most but he still died in the end. I always thought he was invincible… the day I heard those shots it felt like they were aimed right at my heart. I cried, once, but none more than that. He wouldn't want me to cry." I explained. "Besides, we weren't close. You can't be close to a man you see once in a blue moon."

"I'm sorry." He said quietly.

"Don't be. Don't be sorry about anything, don't regret anything, don't fear anything. Just jump." I ordered and he looked at me, studied me, for a moment before wrapping an arm around my waist and pulling me close as he launched off the edge.

It was those few seconds where you feel like you're flying that I lived for, before the ocean swept your flight away. We broke apart in mid air but resurfaced and came back together immediately. I smiled and wiped wet hair and water from my face as he did the same.

He flashed me a gorgeous smile. "It feels like you're flying, doesn't it? When you jump off with that long drop? It's that moment of being airborne that I love. So, what time do you have to be there for your bus?"

"That was the early bus, I'll take the one tomorrow and it'll be no harm done. The only thing about that bus is, instead of leaving a little later towards the afternoon, I have to leave at five in the morning."

-0-0-0-0-

"Would you ever fly with me Ayame?" he asked as we lay on the hood of my convertible red mustang and gazed at the stars that sparkled above. At his question I turned my head to rest on the side and look at him, to find him looking at me.

I smiled and rolled my thin body on top of his. "I would fly anywhere with you, at anytime."

I kissed him and we let emotion take way.