Disclaimer: I do NOT own Inuyasha or any of the characters. I do NOT make any money from this or any other story.
This is the first novel length story I have ever tried writing, and actually only my second FanFiction. I promise that I will continue to work on it and update as often as I can, but unfortunately real life does have the driver's seat.
Chapter 2
Inuyasha saw the liquid go splattering across the windshield and the dashboard, and could hear her coughing over the phone. He just kept asking if she was ok.
He saw her taking the nearest exit ramp and followed her as she pulled into a gas station still coughing on the coke. He parked right behind her and ran to the car, pulling her door open in a hurry, still trying to figure out if she was ok and what had happened.
Kagome saw the concerned look on his face, but just held up her hand to make him stop talking as she caught her breath. It took her a few moments but she finally managed to stop and calm down some, but now all she could do was gape at him. There was no way this was happening.
Inuyasha had finally had enough waiting, "Damn it Kags, Are you ok? What was that all about?" As he finished asking he handed her a paper towel to help clean up.
Kagome took the paper towel and first wiped her self clean and then started to clean the window and dashboard off as she answered, "Inuyasha, that's my company, I mean the one I work for." For some reason she couldn't look at him. This was just too weird.
All he could do was stare, how could it be, did Miroku know? "What do you mean it is the same company?" he finally managed to ask. While he waited for an answer he took another paper towel and helped her clean.
She didn't answer right away, she couldn't, she was still trying to process all of it. It was just too much, and way too coincidental, or was it fate? She waited until she had finished cleaning and thrown away the paper towels, then she leaned against the front of the car and looked him in the eyes. "I work for the safety division of a company called SNT Corporation. After 7 years of not seeing you, I meet you at a random gas station, you are interviewing for a position at the same company that I am working for, in the same town that I live in and your best friend is dating my best friend. Please tell me I'm not the only one who finds this extremely weird." She was ranting, maybe mostly to herself, but she was trying to stay calm, this was just so much.
Inuyasha looked at her for the longest time, and she could swear that his ears drooped, when he turned back to his car and said, almost in a sad way, "I'm sorry Kagome, how about I find my own way to Jackson, and I'll just get a hotel when I get there. You should not have to deal with so much."
Kagome watched for a split second before she pushed herself off the car, gently grabbed his arm saying, "Hey Inu, I didn't mean it like that. I'm glad I saw you and I still want you to stay with me, it's just strange, that all of this is happening at once. Don't you think?"
Inuyasha turned back to her and looked at her for a few minutes, maybe trying to determine if she meant what she said. Finally she saw him relax, before he shrugged and said, "Maybe it is, but I learned a long time ago not to question what happens in life."
They looked at each other for a few minutes before Kagome finally said, "come on lets get going, we only have about 2 hours left, and I'm ready to get home."
They each returned to their own cars and got back on the interstate. Kagome turned her music up and her phone down, she just needed time to think before she reached her apartment. And apparently Inuyasha either needed time to think too, or knew that Kagome did because he didn't try to call her while they drove. In what seemed like no time Kagome realized that they were pulling into Jackson and she started taking the exits and turns that would take her home. Every now and then she would look into her rear view mirror to make sure that Inuyasha was still behind her, and when she looked up the last time he was close enough that she could see a happy smile on his face. For some reason seeing his smile was enough to calm her down. What ever was going on just didn't seem to matter as much anymore when she looked at him. It was still crazy but she wasn't going to let it bother her, not, she decided, when she had been given this chance. She took the last turn and pulled into the apartment complex driving all the way to the back. As she came around the corner and turned into the parking lot she could see Sota, Sango, and Miroku sitting on Sota's porch and hear their music, it was obvious that they were having a good time. She saw Sango jump out of her seat and rush to the car as she put it into park. She saw Inuyasha pull into the spot next to her and chanced a look at Miroku. He looked surprised to see them pulling in together, "maybe he didn't know I was living in town", she thought as she got out of the car.
She barely managed to close her door before Sango was on top of her pulling her into a bone crushing hug. She laughed, "Sango, it's good to see you too but I've got to breath babe"
Sango just laughed and let her go, but before Kagome could say anything else, make any introductions, or even slap Miroku for old times sakes, her cell phone began to ring. Taking a quick look at the caller Id she said, "Damn it's my work; I've got to take this it's my boss." She answered her phone and stepped away from the group, though not far, she really didn't care if they heard what was said but she didn't want her boss to hear them. She turned to look at them. Sota was introducing Sango to Inuyasha, but she could tell that Inuyasha was listening to her. She suppressed a giggle and she watched his ears swivel towards her.
"Hello Kaede," She said. "Yeah I just pulled into my apartment complex." She smiled at Inuyasha and gave him a little wink before answering her boss's questions.
"It was good but what can I do for you, I really need to unload my car and get unpacked." She continued to watch her friends while she listened to her boss.
"Why do they want me to be there for the interview, it doesn't really have anything to do with me? Plus I'm still supposed to be on vacation. Tomorrow is Friday. I'm not scheduled to come back into work until Monday morning." She saw Inuyasha's ears stand up straighter and saw him half glance her directions. She knew he was interested in the conversation.
"So they want me to talk to this guy, what was his name again, Mr. Takanaka, do you know his first name?" When Kaede obviously said no she went on.
"So we will just call him Mr. Takanaka then. They want me to talk to him because one he is my age, two he went to boarding school, and three I'm a Supervisor. So they want my opinion of him. Do you know what school he went too?" She really had to fight from laughing now. It was just so funny. They wanted her to interview her ex boy friend for a job.
"No reason, I was just wondering if I knew him. I knew a lot of people from my brother schools that were my age. Ok I'll see you first thing tomorrow morning, dressed and really to interrogate, I mean interview this guy. Bye Kaede."
No sooner had she hung up the phone than she was double over laughing. Sango, Sota, and Miroku looked at her like she was crazy, while Inuyasha just stood there chuckling and shaking his head. It took her about 5 minutes to calm down enough to go over and give her brother a hug and then face Miroku and Sango. Sango looked a little worried about introducing her new boyfriend to her best friend after Kagome's little display but didn't have to worry for long because Miroku just pulled Kagome into a huge hug saying, "Kags it's been too long, how the hell are you and what the fuck are you doing with this loser?" Looking at Inuyasha as he spoke.
Kagome just laughed, gave Miroku a kiss on the check and stepped back towards Inuyasha. Sango and Sota watch in amazement as Inuyasha step forward and hugged Miroku and Kagome answered, "Inu and I ran into each other at a gas station a few hours ago and talked over lunch. He told me that he was coming and I offered to show him the way and give him a place to stay after his best friend ditched him for a girl. Seriously Miroku you haven't changed in 7 years have you?"
Sango couldn't keep quite any longer as she finally burst out, "Kags what is this all about, you all know each other? And what was with that phone call?"
"Sango, Inuyasha and Miroku grew up together and were roommates while they were in High School. Since I was dating Inu, Miroku and I became friends." Kagome answered the first question but choose to ignore the second, she didn't want to tell them just yet.
Sango looked between the three and finally rounded on her boyfriend, "Why the hell didn't you tell me all this time that you knew Kagome and why didn't you try and grope her, you always grope any woman you come across."
Inuyasha and Kagome just started laughing while Miroku shook his head, "I am so misunderstood." He said, and then continued, "I learned years ago never to grope Kags, she slaps harder than you do." Kagome noticed that he did not answer the first question, but chose not to mention it right now; she would just ask Miroku about it later.
This time it was Sango and Inuyasha that started laughing, while Sota just smiled and said, "Yeah that's my sister alright." After they all managed to calm down, Sota continued, a little stiffly, "Inuyasha it's a surprise to see you again. Sango, Miroku, and I were talking about getting some dinner. Do you and Kags want to join us?"
Inuyasha didn't answer instead he looked at Kagome. He was really hoping that she didn't want to. He would like to spend time with everyone, but not tonight, tonight he wanted to talk to Kagome. He wasn't disappointed.
Kagome shook her head and said, "Not tonight guys, tonight I just want to get unpacked, take a shower and get some take out. Plus Inu and I want to catch up. However, how about tomorrow or the next night we all plan to go out?"
They all nodded that they understood and said their goodbye. Sango gave Kagome an extra hug and whispered, "Are you planning something?" in her ear. Kagome just stared at her and smiled. Sango looked at her for another minute before she got into Miroku's car and they drove off. Kagome then turn to Inuyasha with a smile and grabbed her bags and led the way to her apartment. Inuyasha followed with his own bags with out saying anything.
Once she managed to dig her keys out and unlock her door, she kicked it open and stepped inside. She was a little nervous about him seeing her place, now that it came down to it. He had always grown up with money and very comfortable, even if he didn't flaunt it like the rest of the idiots they had gone to school with, and she was living in a very small one bedroom. She went into her bedroom to put her bags down and came back out to see that he had set his in a corner and he was inspecting her movie collection. He turned to look at her, smiled and trying to break the silence said, "Nice Collection Kags, its better then I remembered."
"Actually it was about twice that size about a year ago, but the place I was renting while out of town on a job got broken into and they stole everything. I've had to replace a lot." She said with a shrug. She could hear him growl but didn't pay attention to it, because about that time a small demon cat, with two tails and green eyes, came running out from under the futon and up to her. She bent down and picked her up, "Hey Chara' how did you make out with only Sota taking care of you?"
Chara' was purring happily until Inuyasha walked up to see her. She turned and growled at him, though not as loudly as she usually would. "Chara' be nice. Sorry Inu she really has problem with other people some times. It's nothing personal. She absolutely hates Sota."
Inuyasha just laughed and stuck his hand out to let Chara' smell of him. He was patient and eventually Chara' jumped from Kagome's arms to Inuyasha's. "Hey there little one." he said "are you protective of our Kagome?"
Kagome was so stunned that she missed his choice of words. "She's never taken to anyone that fast." She said. Then she just shrugged it off and moved to the kitchen. She checked to make sure that Chara' still had food and water before walking back out to find Inuyasha squatting on the floor still playing with the cat. She watched the two for a moment with a smile on her face, before shaking her head and walking towards her bathroom.
"Inuyasha" she said and when he looked up at her she continued, "I'm going to take a quick shower and then change. If you want you can take one after me or simply change. Once I'm done we can think about dinner ok?"
"That's fine; take your time I'm in no hurry. Mind if I put on some music?" he asked.
"That's fine my iPod is on the table or there are CDs if you are in the mood for one thing. I'll be back in a little while." Kagome said then turned and headed into the bathroom. She took her time standing under the steaming hot shower. It felt good after such a long week and a very long day. As she did she couldn't help but think about Inuyasha. He was here in her apartment and might be staying in the town for good. She couldn't help it, but the very thought of having him in her life, in any way again, made her smile. It also made her more excited than anything had in years and a little nervous. There were so many unresolved issues between them. She just shook her head and turned off the shower. They would resolve them in time, she was sure.
She stepped out of the shower and wrapped a towel around her. Then she began to towel drive her hair off. Once she was done with that she looked for her robe, to put on. When she couldn't find it, she realized that she must have left it in her bedroom. "Oh well" she shrugged, "he's probably not paying any attention and it's not like it's far away. I'll just go quickly", she thought. She stepped out of the bathroom and directly into her room shutting the door as she went. When she turned around she stopped dead in her tracks.
"Oh…" She said before all words left her. Inuyasha was bent over her bed going though his suit case looking for something to change into. He was wearing nothing but his tight boxer briefs and didn't realize that she was watching him. Kagome couldn't help it. He was even more gorgeous then she remembered. His silver hair was hanging loosely. His shoulders were broader than she remembered and his butt was firmer. She saw his ears swivel in her direction and slowly saw him turn around. His chest was rising and falling slowly and his briefs were sitting so low on him that she could almost see the top of his groin. His legs were as tight as ever, and as her eyes raked over his body she couldn't help but stop on his groin. He was only half erect but still large. She could feel herself growing wet at the mere sight of him and knew if she didn't stop soon he would smell it. She tore her eyes away and looked into his face, and what she saw confused her. There were so many emotions in his eyes that she couldn't tell what they all were, but it was then, looking into his eyes again, those eyes that could always pierce her very heart and soul, that she realized she still loved him. After all this time, after all these years she still loved him. It didn't matter if they had only been together for a few hours since they last saw each other, she knew it, as she had always known it. He hadn't said anything, but was still staring at her, and as he stared she became very afraid.
Kagome just turned ready to run, she didn't know where, but out of that room; but before she could take more than one step she felt her arm being taking by Inuyasha and felt herself being spun around. She gasped and looked at him, "Inu…" but she never finished her sentence because his mouth descended on hers. Slowly and with more passion then she could ever remember feeling they kissed. It was full of hunger, of passion, of unresolved emotions, but most of all of desperation. She couldn't tell who the desperation was coming from, but at this moment she didn't care. All she cared about was that the kiss never ended. She reached up and wound her arms around the back of his head, forgetting, or not caring about her towel. She felt it fall to the ground but that didn't bother her. Right now she needed this more than anything else, she need him more than she ever needed anyone. What was it about this Hanyou that could capture her soul? The longer they kissed the more the last seven years just seemed to fly away. Time seemed to stop as they explored each other's mouths. Their tongues danced as the kiss grew more heated, more needy, but no less passionate. Finally after what could have been ages they slowly broke apart, each gasping to catch their breaths.
Kagome slowly regained her senses and realized two things, one was she was now naked, pressed firmly against Inuyasha and the other was that he was extremely hard and was pressing firmly against her. The very thought was enough to make her even more turned on than she already was. She couldn't help herself as she rubbed against him, noticing that only the thin piece of cloth separated them. She knew she probably shouldn't but she couldn't stop herself, as she continued to rub against him, she brought his head down for another kiss, this one more desperate than the first. She could feel him walking them backwards and then sitting down on the edge of the bed and she settled in his lap. She continued to slowly, painfully slow, grind against his erection loving the way it felt even though his briefs. Gods she had never been this turned on in her life. She released his mouth and moaned as she felt him start to kiss his way down her jaw, neck and then chest. She moaned again even lauder, as his tip caught her opening before the cloth stopped it and it moved back out.
Inuyasha was having a hard time controlling himself. He had been stunned when he turned around and saw her standing before him, wrapped only in a towel with water clinging to her body; he had never seen anyone so beautiful. He wanted to go to her, take her in his arms and kiss her, but he was fighting the impulse to act, it was not the right time. However, when he saw her turn and start to leave, he did the only thing he could think of at the time, but now he knew that he needed to stop this. Before they got too carried away they needed to talk and he needed to tell her why he was here. He forced him self to move his hand from their current position on her ass to her hips, tenderly forcing her to stop her movements. She looked at him with hurt and confusion in her eyes, and he cringed, but refused to let her move. Instead he pulled her to him in another kiss, before letting go and resting his head on hers. Slowly he lifted them into a standing position and looked at her questioning gaze. "I'm sorry, it's just…" he stopped for a moment searching for the right words, "God you are so beautiful. Please don't think that I don't want this, cause I do, I REALLY do, it's just that I think we should talk before anything happens. There are some things that I need to explain before we go any further. There are things we need to clear up, things that have been unsaid between us for seven years. Please?" He was begging her to understand, hoping that she wouldn't hate him for this.
At first Kagome had been angry, well angry because she was embarrassed, but now she realized that he was just thinking about her. She knew by the look on his face that he would explain why he left the first time, and that he wanted her to hear him out before she made any choices. She could see his relief when she smiled at him and said "Why don't you go take a shower and clean up. I'm going to get dressed and see about dinner, and then we can talk." To try and make sure he understood that she was not upset she gave him a hug and a quick kiss on the lips, before pushing him to the door. Inuyasha just nodded his head and went to take a very cold shower.
Kagome waited until she heard the bathroom door shut and the shower cut on before she collapsed on her bed. "What am I doing?" she asked herself, "Am I crazy? We've been down this road before. The last time him and I were together and got this close he left. I haven't seen him for 7 years and yet I still love him... Why is it that when I'm with him I can not control myself?" She had to get a grip; she really didn't need to go down this road again, even if she was still in love with him. She sat on the bed for a few more minutes, trying to compose herself, and then got up, got dressed and went to fix some drinks and see to dinner.
When Inuyasha had finished his shower and changed cloths he walked back into the living room to find Kagome standing in the kitchen with her back to him, humming along to the music, and slightly swaying her hips. He watched her for a moment, transfixed by her beauty. She had on a pair of her old Karate pants and a tank top, but he still found her beautiful. He couldn't help the smile that came to his face, as he walked over to her, he remember the first time he had seen her in those pants. He had been watching one of her training sessions and thought she was the sexiest thing he had ever seen. He wrapped his arms around her waist and whispered in her ear, "I remember the first time I saw you training in these pants; I can't believe you still have them. Do you still train?"
Kagome gasped as she felt arms wrap around her waist and his voice in her ear. She knew who it was, but it made her unbelievably happy to have him hold her this way, especially after what happened in the bedroom. She leaned back against him for a few moments before she turned in his arms and smiled at him, and said, "Sort of" when he continued to look at her she said, "I had to quite right after I got my 2nd Degree Black Belt. I didn't want to but I just couldn't afford it after that. The Master of my school still allows me to come in when I want to work out and he still works with me occasionally, but I'm not able to advance in rank. Sango, Sota, and Hitome train with me at times and even Koga and Ayame have come before. " She paused a moment and then said, "I made you a drink. What would you like for dinner?"
Inuyasha held her closely for a few minutes, while breathing in her scent. It always did seem to calm him. He finally looked at her and said, "Is there a good place to get Ramen around here?"
Kagome couldn't help herself. She laughed so hard she had tears in here eyes. All the while Inuyasha just smirked at her. He knew she would enjoy that, but he really did want ramen. When she had finally composed herself she reached into a cabinet and pulled out a menu for a good Japanese restaurant and told Inuyasha to order her some Soba. After Inuyasha had called in the order he went and sat on the futon and watch Kagome. She was digging through a closet looking for extra blankets and pillows for him to use. Neither of them were anywhere near ready to go to sleep but she just figured she had time to kill and she wasn't ready to talk to him yet. She was a little afraid to hear what he had to say.
Inuyasha sat quietly, with Chara' on his lap, gathering his thoughts. He new he had to tell her the truth, but it would be difficult and he didn't know how she would take it. It had been 7 years, but if what happened earlier was any indication then he could seriously hope. A knock at the door announced the arrival of their food and he called to Kagome, saying he would get it. When he returned with the food he set it down on the table in front of the futon and waited for Kagome to join him. She came into the room a moment later with her arms full of sheets and pillows and placed them on one end of the futon. She then went back into the kitchen and grabbed some chopsticks before coming back out. When she came back she stopped in front of Inuyasha and looked at him for a minute.
"Sorry", she began "I don't have any chairs for my table yet. It means that we will have to eat here. I hope you don't mind"
Inuyasha smiled at her and shook his head, "it's ok Kags just come sit down with me and eat. I'm starving."
Kagome smiled at Inuyasha and handed him a pair of chopsticks before picking up her own meal and sitting in a chair next to the futon. Inuyasha was a little disappointed at first that she hadn't set next to him, but he eventually mentally shrugged and began to eat his ramen. While they ate they talked about their parents and brothers. They told each other a little about what had happed to them since they had seen each other last and about what they had been doing since they graduated. Inuyasha was truly upset when Kagome told him of her mother's death, but she just told him it was years ago and her and Sota were both alright. Each noticed that the other never mentioned anything about dating or relationships, but neither asked. They both just figured they would find out in time. Once the dinner was over Kagome picked up the trash and went to throw it away, but asked over her shoulder as she went, "Inu, do you want some coffee or tea?"
Inuyasha thought for a moment then answered, "tea please. Do you want some help?" She just shook her head no, so he sat there as he listened to Kagome in the kitchen making the tea. Chara' had come to curl up on his lap and he sat there idly stroking her as he thought about what he was going to say to Kagome. He wasn't sure how he was going to explain himself. This was going to be a really long night. He was staring off into space, silently patting Chara' when Kagome returned. She just stopped and looked at him for a few minutes. She could tell he had something on his mind, and she knew that she would be finding out soon. She walked over to him and sat his tea down on the table. He looked up and saw her smiling, and then watched her walk over and sit down in the chair. He watched her tuck her legs under her and not even take advantage of the foot rest. She just sat there watching him, sipping her tea, waiting for him to being. He could tell she was nervous, but he tried not to dwell on it. He reached for his tea and took a sip, trying to buy time. The only time Kagome moved was to take another sip of tea or to raise her arms as Chara' left her place on Inuyasha's lap to join her. She smiled as the cat curled up in her lap purring. Something about the sound smoothed her.
Inuyasha took his time but he finally gathered enough courage to ask a question, "Kagome, while we were talking you never mentioned a boyfriend or any relationships. Why?" He really wasn't sure he wanted to hear her answer but he knew that he had to.
Kagome studied him for a few minutes and then shrugged, "Simple really, there's not much to tell. I've been on a few dates over the years, but never really got into a relationship with any of them."
"Why?" came his simple question.
Kagome never took her eyes off of his. She was studying his response to her answers, but again she shrugged, "They never measured up." She never said who they failed to measure up to, or why, but some how he knew she was talking about him. That gave him a little more courage to continue.
"Did you sleep with any of them?" He finally asked his voice softer than normal. He forced himself to hold her gaze and not look down. He saw surprise on her face at the question but it quickly changed to one of sadness.
This time she sighed and shook her head, "I haven't been with anyone since that night with you." She stopped for a minute and then decided she might as well explain her self. "When you ended it I was distraught. I couldn't understand why. At first I thought it was because we had been interrupted and never got the chance to finish what we had started, but I'm not sure I ever really believed that, in the end I just decided that you must have found someone better or decided you never really loved me. After that I promised myself I would not have sex with anyone until I was in love again, and knew without a doubt that he loved me too, and I never have. I couldn't give that much of myself again, without knowing I wouldn't get hurt in the end."
Inuyasha couldn't help but stare at her with amazement. Here was this beautiful woman and she had not only admitted that no one she had ever tried to date could measure up to him but that she had loved him enough to wait to have sex again. "Kagome", he began "there is something you need to hear, but please let me finish completely before you respond." He waited as she studied him and then finally nodded her head in silent agreement.
