Riinnnggg. Riinnnnggg. Riinnnnggg. After the third ring, Kagome realized she was holding her breath and exhaled. What's wrong with me? I'm acting like an idiot. Its just Inuyasha…the same guy I've known since junior high. The phone rang once more.
With a sigh of resignation, Kagome was about to close her flip phone when she heard him.
"Hello?"
She could feel her pulse increase a notch. Could hear her heart throbbing in her ears. Remarkably, the sound of her beating heart drowned out the thunder, and now lightning outside… and well…her mind went completely blank. His voice sounded so husky…so deep…so-
"Hello? Is somebody there?" She detected a bit of irritation in his voice this time. If she didn't say something he was going to hang up.
Pulling herself together, she responded. "Um…hi-hey…I mean-." She took another breath. "Hello Inuyasha."
"Kagome? Is that you?"
"Yes. Yes its me" A moment of silence. In her mind, suddenly the night was completely calm. Kagome was caught in the middle of a storm, but the only thing she was aware of was the sound of Inuyasha's breath on the other end of the line.
Breaking the silence Inuyasha spoke. "Great to hear from you…so...what's up?"
"You wouldn't believe what has happened." She laughed nervously. "I'm sitting here in my car at the parking lot at work. My car won't start. I was hoping you had some jumper cables and could help me out." She rushed the words out. "If its not too much trouble, of course."
He chuckled lightly. "Let me guess. Your still driving that piece of shit car, huh?"
"I see you're still as sweet as I remember." She chided, feeling a little annoyed. She actually welcomed that feeling. Irritation she could handle. That other emotion she was feeling was another story.
"Chill out Kay. You know I'm just joking with ya. Well sorta" More chuckles.
"Look. Listen closely. Can…you…help…me? Did you get that or do you need me to repeat?"
"Nice to know you still got a sense of humor," he stated, unphased by her attempt to patronize him. "Ok seriously. We need to get you out of this storm. I don't like the idea of you being stranded like this."
She felt strangely touched by his concern. After all this time, he could still affect her so easily.
"However, I got some good news and bad news. Which one you want to hear first?"
Kagome rolled her eyes. "The way my night's going I might as well hear the bad first."
"Ok. The bad news is that my jumper cable is in Miroku's Car and he's in Texas for some conference on natural medicine. I hear it's the in thing." he said dryly. "The good news, is that my Mustang is up and running fine. I'll be there in ten minutes. You can come to my place to ride out the storm. Cool?"
What choice did she have at the moment? "Yeah, sounds good." She hesitated. "Inuyasha?"
"Yes?"
"T-Thank you" she whispered.
"No problem." A pause. "I remember some time ago, telling you that I'd always be there when you need me."
She rememberd. There were a lot of times I needed you Inuyasha…and you weren't there, she thought, but instead said nothing.
"Bye," he said, breaking the uncomfortable silence.
"Bye." She hanged up and held back the tears those memories stirred up within her.