Disclaimer: Inuyasha belongs to Rumiko Takahashi, Shogakukan, VizMedia.

Chapter 1

Summary: Now in the midst of adulthood and recently married, Kagome Higurashi is more than shocked when she sees her ex-boyfriend from high school, her first true love who still has a special place in her heart but has also broken it. Despite her reservations, she agrees to a seemingly meaningless reunion when their conversation brings back memories she doesn't want to remember, choices she can't make, and heartache she can't handle.

A/N: After a two year hiatus and a lot of time spent reflecting… I've decided that this story needs to undergo major revisions. If you're a new reader, welcome! If you're an old friend who's come back, don't worry, we haven't changed too much, but hopefully we've improved.

Taking a short glance at the thin silver watch on her slim wrist, Kagome Higurashi's honey brown eyes widened in disbelief at how late it was. Looking out of the window of her office, she sighed when she finally noticed that the sun was about to meet the horizon, casting an orange glow over the city. Kagome pressed the intercom button on her phone, immediately being met with a reply from her secretary.

"Yes, Mrs. Higurashi?"

"First of all, I thought I told you not to call me that. It's just Kagome, Chiro," Kagome chided gently. Mock anger coloring her tone, she instructed, "Now, as your boss, I demand that you go home right this instant and be with your husband and kids."

"I could say the same to you, ma'am… er… Kagome."

Chuckling into the intercom, Kagome smiled and dismissed her. "See you tomorrow, Chiro. But before you leave, could you please e-mail the Hideyoshi file to me? I think I'll try and get some work done on it at home."

"Of course. I'll see you tomorrow morning then, ma'am."

Kagome released the intercom button of the phone and rubbed her face lightly. She groaned as she stood up out of her leather chair. Stretching her arms over her head, she strode to the glass wall of her office, overlooking the Tokyo skyline. Placing her hands on her hips, she pouted at the massive crowds of people walking below her. With another deep sigh, Kagome turned back and leaned over her desk, shutting off the computer and placing numerous documents and folders within her briefcase before she slipped on her charcoal-colored pea coat, locking her office door behind her as she left. Kagome waved amiably and nodded to the several other associates on her floor and their assistants as she made her way to the elevator before she exited the marble lobby, the sound of her high heels hitting the floor lost in the clamoring sounds of endless others leaving the building at the same time.

Kagome stood just outside of the building, by the sidewalk corner, where there was a lane for taxis with the purpose of loading or unloading passengers. While she waited for a taxi, she pulled out her cell phone and unconsciously tightened her pea coat around her, trying to protect herself from the frigid autumn air. She looked around her suspiciously, trying to shake off the feeling that someone was watching her. Just as a taxi pulled up, she climbed in while dialing her phone.

After several rings, she heard a click on the other line when a deep, masculine voice answered the line. "Hello?"

Smiling to herself, Kagome greeted happily, "Hey, I'm on my home from work right now. What do you want for dinner?" At her husband's hesitation, she frowned and deadpanned, "You're working late at the station, aren't you?"

"I'm sorry, Kagome, but we've just opened up a lead on this cold case file." Kagome could hear how contrite her husband was on the phone but couldn't help her disappointment. It was the third night in a row that he had come home late. "Kagome?"

"Kouga… the only reason you're coming home late is because of work, right?"

"Kagome, you don't trust me?"

"No, no. I do…." Kagome bit down on her full bottom lip and when she looked up, she saw that they were turning the corner onto the street where she and Kouga lived. "I'm sorry. I don't mean to act like a crazy, suspicious, wife that nags her husband all the time, but—"

"Kagome, don't worry about it. I don't think you're a naggy wife."

"Oh? So you think that I'm crazy and overly suspicious?" Kagome quipped. She handed the driver his fare and exited the car, standing on the driveway of the grand mansion they had received from Kagome's father as a wedding gift. Kagome grunted as one of her heels sunk into the gravel of the driveway and broke off her conversation. "Because I don't think tha— shit!"

Kouga's worried voice echoed over the speaker. "Kagome? What happened?"

"Nothing, it's nothing. My heel just sunk into the gravel." She shook her foot loose and walked up the curved pathway leading to the three steps that led her to their mahogany front door with intricate glass panels.

While she tried to convince Kouga she was fine, Kagome hesitated inserting the key into the keyhole. She looked around her again and ignored the silent alarms going off in her head, determined to persuade her that she was being watched.

Kouga didn't seem to believe her and she heard him sigh over the line. "Look, I'll try to get done with this as soon as I can… Uhh… it should be another couple of hours." In a softer voice, he continued, "I really am sorry, Kagome. I'll make it up to you tonight." As an afterthought, "As many times as you want," he added huskily.

Despite being married, Kagome couldn't help the blush that crept up her cheeks and she laughed breathlessly. "Kouga!" she reprimanded scandalously. Her blush deepened from a pale pink to a rosy red when he chuckled back.

Kagome whipped her head around her for the third time that evening when she swore she heard something akin to an animal growling. "Listen, you just get to work so that you get home to me sooner."

"Good idea. I love you."

"Me, too."

The line clicked and Kagome put her phone away. She finally managed to unlock the door and pushed it open, setting her briefcase down in the foyer near the stairs before turning around and closing the door, a breeze passing by and chilling her.

Kagome placed a kettle full of water onto the electric stove and let it boil while she searched the mahogany cupboards, pulling out a coffee mug along with a can of her favorite roast. When the kettle whistled, she poured the scalding hot water into the mug slowly and when she moved to put the kettle back down onto the stove, she suddenly whirled around, her arm swinging around.

While she swung the hot kettle, she yelled, "Who the hell are you and why are you following me?"

Kagome gasped when a strong, warm hand with long, clawed fingers encircled her thin wrist and the kettle stopped its journey, just inches away from the hanyou's stoic face.

"Inu….yasha?" she gasped.

Her fingers slackened around the kettle's handle and the weight was too much for such little resistance, allowing gravity to pull the kettle down towards the tiled floor until Inuyasha's other hand reached out and caught it, without him taking his tawny eyes off of hers.

"Hey, Kagome," he murmured.

With a grunt, she fought to release her wrist from his hand and he immediately, if not reluctantly, let go. Kagome cradled her wrist in her other hand, staring incredulously at him with wide eyes. Quickly, her honey eyes narrowed at him in total, complete resentment. Anger fueling her, she marched towards his frame and pushed at his chest with the palms of both of her hands. A cry of frustration escaped her mouth when he didn't budge and she punched her fists against the hard musculature of his chest.

"You can't be here," she yelled. "You need to go!" Averting her eyes from his mesmerizing gaze, she leaned against him, unsure of whether she was trying to move him or whether she needed his support to stand. "Inuyasha, you can't be here," she huffed again.

"Kagome, I just wanted to talk," he tried. He moved slowly to show her he was just returning the kettle to the stovetop and not trying to touch her.

Looking back up at him with hurt eyes, she repeated, "You can't..."

Inuyasha nodded understandingly and exhaled forcefully. "I wanted to talk," he said simply.

Backing away, Kagome leaned on the counter and crossed her arms stubbornly. "Of course," she deadpanned. "You're the one who's been following me, aren't you? I thought I was just being paranoid. You asshole…" She shook her head and rubbed one of her temples.

Inuyasha nodded and turned away so that Kagome could see him hanging his head while he ran a hand through his thick silver mane. Turning back to her, Kagome could see that Inuyasha's face was worn and tired and she felt pity for him.

"How the hell did you even get in here anyway?"

Kagome felt shivers travel down her spine when their eyes met again. Inuyasha explained, "You left the door open when you came in to put your briefcase down… You should really lock your door as soon as you enter the house."

"Spare me," she spit back. Kagome realized that he was the cold breeze that she felt as she closed the front door. Chewing the inside of her cheek, she relented and surrendered to the side of her that was constantly sympathetic, slightly hating herself at the same time. "You want some coffee?"

At his nod, she tiptoed and reached for another cup from the tall cupboard. Kagome had already grabbed the outermost cup that rested on the ledge of the shelf.

"Damn it," she grumbled. "Only Kouga can reach the…" she trailed off uncertainly at her realization of how tense Inuyasha became at the mention of her husband's name.

He gently moved Kagome out of the way and took the cup, resting it on the counter in front of her. She cleared her throat and continued pouring water and coffee, silence lingering between them. Kagome turned back to glance at Inuyasha, who was currently staring at the grains of wood on the kitchen island.

Kagome watched him warily and shook her head. She could feel a migraine starting up. Kagome blew lightly on the hot liquid in her mug before taking a sip, relishing in the warm, calming sensation it gave her. She started leaving the kitchen and nodded at Inuyasha, gesturing for him to follow her. She led Inuyasha to the formal dining room, where she and Kouga usually drank coffee with visitors and entertained friends.

While she sat down at one end of the dining table, Inuyasha took the seat at her right side. Kagome sucked her teeth uncomfortably in the awkward silence, her fingers hugging the warm ceramic mug in front of her. She noticed Inuyasha staring at her hands heatedly before he reached for his coffee.

"You should really blow on it a little before you—"

"Ahh, fuck." Inuyasha muttered, bringing the cup away from his face, contorted in slight pain. "Damn, that's hot."

"I tried telling you," Kagome scolded. "So why are you here, Inuyasha? I haven't seen you in what? Let's see… was it second year of university when you left out of the blue after cheating on me? So I guess that makes five blessed years that I haven't seen your face," she concluded acerbically.

"Kagome, I never meant to—" Inuyasha began.

"Inuyasha, just... don't!" Kagome grit out, her knuckles blanching white as her fingers clutched the mug. "Just… tell me… tell me why you're here. Why the sudden appearance? The elusive, mysterious Inuyasha Takado." Taking a sip, Kagome commented offhandedly, "Last I heard, you were moving to the States."

Inuyasha nodded. "I lived there for the past couple of years, but I decided to move back." His golden eyes roved over her and Kagome felt strange having him look at her like that, as if he could see through her. She remembered the look vividly from their past.

Shaking her head, she glared at Inuyasha suspiciously. "You still haven't answered that question." Leaning towards him, she hissed, her tone acidic, "It's kind of an important one, don't you think, Takado?"

"You look good, Kagome." Taking another sip of his coffee, he continued roving her frame with his eyes.

"Inuyasha, what are you doing?" Kagome asked helplessly. "I don't understand…what do you want from me?"

"Your company."

"Oh?" Kagome raised an eyebrow skeptically. "What kind of 'company', exactly? You do know that I'm married, right?"

Wincing, Inuyasha clarified, "Friendship." Inuyasha sighed heavily and he rolled his eyes when the look of suspicion didn't leave Kagome's facial expression. "Really."

"I don't believe you. You're an arrogant son of a bitch for coming by. I moved on and I'm married, Inuyasha. I don't know what kind of shit you think you can pull with me, but I'm not going to go along with it."

Inuyasha leaned back in the chair and let out a low whistle. "Kagome, that was a long time ago. And I know that you're happy now. I would never do anything to jeopardize that for you… I care too much about you." When Kagome snorted, Inuyasha narrowed his eyes.

"Suppose I go along with this. Suppose I believe that. What good would that do either of us Inuyasha? I don't know about you, but I only see this as a way to cause more trouble and heartache for me."

"Kagome," Inuyasha bit out, "all I really want is just for us to be friends."

"Not buying it."

"And why the fuck not? Kagome, this is sincere."

"Friends?"

"Friends."

"Fine. We'll see how this works out."

Inuyasha grinned back at her and Kagome brought the mug to her lips again when Inuyasha suddenly blurted out, "So is he better than me in bed?"

Kagome coughed, resisting the urge to spit out the scalding hot liquid at his face, though the idea was more than appealing. He laughed raucously and handed her a napkin from the pile in the center of the table, helping her wipe her chin.

"Inuyasha!" She slapped his shoulder but chuckled in spite of herself, suddenly remembering why it was so easy to fall for the man. It was always so carefree, so honest around him. Fighting a frown, she smirked and shrugged. "I'll never tell."

Inuyasha scowled, his lips pouting while his cheeks slightly colored in anger. "Hmph," was all he said.

The minutes passed by in silence and Kagome turned her attention to the two rings on her left ring finger, twirling the elaborate one with the diamond on it. Looking up, she saw that Inuyasha's eyes were locked onto her finger and the rings and immediately stopped. He looked up and their eyes met.

"So, how are you doing, Kagome? Really?"

Kagome shrugged sheepishly, never having felt more awkward. "I'm happy... It's been a while, Inuyasha… Five years is a lot to catch up on."

"Then maybe we should meet up for coffee more often to catch up."

Smiling wryly, she avoided the invitation. "Maybe… we'll see how we survive this session first." Her thin fingers traced the rim of the now empty mug absentmindedly, shaking her head in disbelief. "Inuyasha, I—"

"Kagome," Inuyasha cut her off, "can we please at least give this a shot?" His gold eyes pleaded with her. When she opened her mouth to respond. he immediately changed the subject. "So… what could have happened in five years that would have you curse more than me in a conversation?"

Raising her dark eyebrows at the mood swings that seemed to coincide with his subject changes, Kagome cryptically replied, "I grew up real quick. Had to."

Inuyasha visibly winced at the obvious jab at his past mistakes and tried changing the subject again. "Kagome—"

Kagome slammed her hands on the table and Inuyasha uncharacteristically jumped in surprise. Had what he had done in a stupid drunken stupor really affected her this much to cause this much change?

Kagome huffed, "Inuyasha, no! Playing nice like this is ridiculous. You're going to let me get this out because I've been keeping it bottled up for the past five years and you have no idea how much pain you caused me. You broke my heart. I loved you, Inuyasha. Really, I did. I can't believe that you ever felt the same way because what you did to me was—"

Tears spilled up and over Kagome's cheeks and Inuyasha reached out a hand to wipe them away, the rough, callused pad of his thumb smoothing over the soft, tender skin. His mouth set in a thin line, he pulled his hand away, whispering, "I'm sorry."

Kagome stared at him incredulously. Disbelief written all over her face, she took in a shaky breath. She looked away, more saltwater accumulating in her almond shaped eyes. Kagome may not have realized it until now but deep down inside, she realized all that she really wanted was a real, heartfelt apology from him. Sniffling, she stood up and Inuyasha stood up hastily, hoping she wasn't going to kick him out, though he couldn't blame her. Instead, he stood frozen when she threw herself into his arms and after only a moment's hesitation, he wrapped his arms around her petite frame, rubbing her back comfortingly. Finding herself leaning into the touch, Kagome jerked away from him, shaking her head frantically.

Kagome whimpered softly and turned back to Inuyasha morosely. "Inuyasha, maybe you should just go home now."

"No." Inuyasha's voice was adamant and he moved towards her, ignoring her protests, stepping close to her so that he towered over her, his chest mere millimeters from the tip of Kagome's nose. Lowering his head, Inuyasha whispered, "Kagome…"

Kagome hurried away from him, to the other side of the room with the large dining table situated in between them. "Inuyasha, you said that you only wanted to be friends but I think that that's impossible for the two of us."

"You're not trying hard enough," Inuyasha reasoned.

Scoffing, Kagome placed her palm on her chest, complete indignation and righteousness etched onto her face. "I'm not trying hard enough. This is just like you Inuyasha!" she hissed. "This entire time, you've been following me, snuck into my house, and practically demanded that we have this conversation. I welcomed you into my home and tried to keep the peace, but you have no respect for my boundaries! Boundaries you're pushing the limits of!"

Kagome turned away, unable to meet his intense gaze. "I think it's time you go…" she murmured.

Crossing the room in long, powerful strides, Inuyasha held a clawed finger under the smooth, soft skin underneath her chin, lifting her face up towards him. Kagome stiffened under his touch and under his gaze and Inuyasha sighed somberly. His eyebrows knit together and he lowered his hand, moving away from her without breaking his intense gaze.

"Fine."

He made to move back towards the front hall of the gorgeous mansion, but Kagome held his hand, keeping him where he stood. Noticing the look in his eyes as he stared deep into her own, Kagome realized that she couldn't just turn him out, though she wasn't so sure that she would be able to forgive him. At least not yet.

"Kagome?"

Gesturing back to the kitchen, she tried, "Why don't you at least keep me company while I cook dinner? If you want, you could stay—"

"No, it's alright."

"Come on, you owe me," she halfheartedly joked. But Kagome could see him flinch. A deep part in her heart found some kind of sick pleasure at that. "Inuyasha, really. Why don't you stay with me? We'll catch up for real. I'm sorry for my outburst... all of them. This... this is a lot to take in. But I promise to try and keep calm from now on. If you really meant what you said and just want to try and be my friend again."

Despite wanting to leave right now, there was a deeper, more primal instinct within Inuyasha's being that urged him to stay. And so, he followed her into the kitchen where she began cooking. He sat down on one of the tall stools surrounding the kitchen island, watching her as she prepped. Inuyasha sighed and leaned his cheek onto his hand, propped up on the table by his elbow.

"You always were impatient, whenever I cooked. As I recall, you didn't even like my cooking that much. You preferred the salty, unhealthy, preservative-filled foods," Kagome mused, a hint of disapproval coloring her tone.

Inuyasha smirked. "Well it seems that you've learned how to cook more intricate dishes than just omelets," Inuyasha teased. He let a deep, rumbling chuckle echo in the kitchen when Kagome turned around and made a face at him, sticking her tongue out.

"I've had more practice… your apartment never had any real food, too. But I guess being a wife allows for some new perspective when it comes to cooking… Something simple tonight." Her voice drifted off and Inuyasha couldn't be sure if she was talking to him or herself.

Glancing at her watch, she continued, "Kouga will be home soon. It's best that I just have some sort of dinner on the table."

Kagome placed the bowl of udon noodles and vegetables on the table before she put the pot and pan in the sink, running water over them to let them soak.

"So, you asked what I've been up to in the past five years?" She turned around and leaned on the island, wiping her hands on a small hand towel. With a heavy sigh and slight smile playing on her lips, she rolled her eyes playfully. "Well, you know that I was pre-law during university… then I got into law school, passed all my exams—with flying colors, I might add— passed the bar, then I landed this job at a firm where I very happily make good money." Kagome smiled cheekily.

"Good for you. You always worked hard, you deserve all of this success," he commented sincerely. Inuyasha bit down hard on his lip and asked, "So when did you meet up with Kouga? We hadn't seen him since high school and we drifted apart after graduation… how'd you see him again?"

"Sango. She was having a small get together about, I don't know, four years ago? Anyways, it was a bunch of our old gang from high school and there he was. It was a few months after we had separated and you went off to America. He's a cop, you know. Well, I suppose inspector is the correct title. I'm the law to his order," she chuckled. "We dated for two years and got married two years ago." Her honey eyes watched his golden ones carefully, gauging his reaction.

Smoothly, Inuyasha smiled back pleasantly. "I'm glad to see you happy, Kagome." He really was glad to see her happy. It just pained him to know that it was without him in her life. Inuyasha ignored the sting and pressed, "You are happy, aren't you?"

Nodding, Kagome affirmed, "Very."

"I've missed out on a lot, haven't I?" Inuyasha shook his head. "Speaking of Sango, how is she? And that horny son of a bitch she's in love with? Did Miroku finally get the balls to ask her out?" Inuyasha smiled fondly at their two mutual friends, a rarity that Kagome raised her eyebrows at.

"Yeah, they've been dating for about a year now. They're happy, as well." Kagome commented offhandedly. "How about the mysterious Inuyasha Takado? What mischief did you get into in the States?"

She turned to reach for plates from the cabinet above the kitchen counter, grunting slightly until a larger hand appeared in front of her, pulling down a pile. Kagome smiled at him in thanks, taking three and putting them in the dining room. "Come on, tell me!" she called back.

"Oi, are you expecting someone? What's with the third plate?" Inuyasha put the rest of the pile of china back in the cabinet, slightly shaking his head in confusion.

Walking back, Kagome rolled her eyes at him, huffing tersely, "I presume you're going to be staying for dinner, aren't you? You and Kouga can catch up and… I don't know, do all sorts of stupid, macho, masculine things like yell at our television?"

"There's no interesting game on tonight, Kagome."

"It's not like I would know, would I? You know I was never into sports." Kagome placed her hands on her hips, raising her eyebrows at him. Her eyes softened and she slightly tilted her head to the side in exasperation. "Please. Stay."

Shaking his head, Inuyasha declined politely. Rubbing the back of his neck sheepishly, he reasoned, "Nah, I'm sure that you and Kouga would want some time alone." As he spoke, red began to color his cheeks in anger and embarrassment when he realized he revealed that he overheard Kagome and Kouga's plans for that night.

Kagome scoffed. "I should've known. You and your goddamn super hearing. You know, Inuyasha, one of these days you really are going to hear something you're not supposed to and deeply, deeply regret it and get yourself into bad shit."

"I think I already have," Inuyasha grumbled. Every fiber of his being shuddered with disgust at the thought, forbid the mental image, of Kouga and Kagome sleeping with each other. "Well it's not like a fucking light switch I can turn on and off, is it? Can you stop hearing at will? Because I'd love to know how you pull that off."

Gritting her teeth together, a strangled shriek escaped Kagome and she threw her hands in the air. "You're so infuriating! I can't even fathom how we were able to stay together for so long."

Chuckling dryly, Inuyasha retorted, "I think it's because we were fighting that we got along so well together. Everything we thought about each other was out in the open when we argued…"

"Not everything."

Inuyasha grimaced again. She wasn't going to let this go. "Kouga's a couple of miles away… I better leave." He turned to head towards the front door until he heard Kagome's breath hitch in her voice, as if she wanted to say something but was hesitant about it. Inuyasha looked over his shoulder back at her and met her eyes, asking, "Yeah?"

Kagome blushed slightly, feeling the heat creep upwards and looked away pointedly. "Oh, uh, well… uhm…" Taking a deep breath and closing her eyes, she continued, "If your offer is sincere…"

"My 'offer'?"

"Yes. Your offer to be friends… Or did it have a sixty minute expiration date? Because then…" she playfully glanced down at her watch. "As of eighteen minutes ago, I ran out of time," she mock pouted.

Staring dumbfounded at her, he raised his eyebrows in surprise and smirked back. "Well since you know the person who gave you the offer so well, I'm sure that the deadline can be extended."

"I'm touched," Kagome chuckled. "So… we'll meet up soon? You haven't told me about your adventures in America yet." Waving her arms around her in order to gesture at her grand house, she shrugged. "You know where I live. Just knock on the front door next time, if you don't mind."

Admiring her effort of civility, Inuyasha assured her, "No more following you around or sneaking in. And I'd like to meet up soon."

"How about we have a little tradition of conversation over coffee?" Kagome offered. "I'm free every Wednesday evening, once I get off from work."

"Then I guess I'll see you every Wednesday. Is that small café still standing? You know, the shithole a couple of blocks away from the high school?"

A crease appeared in between Kagome's eyebrows. "Oh, that horrible place? No!" She giggled and continued, "No, no, uh… it finally closed about three years ago and now a very classy café stands in its place."

"Oh yeah. I heard about that. Maybe because I own it." Inuyasha mentioned offhandedly.

"Oh?"

Kagome rolled her eyes when Inuyasha smirked back at her with a mysterious air as he replied, "Yeah, but that's a story for next week."

Edited May 2019