Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha or any of the character's that belong to Rumiko Takahashi. I do not make a profit from writing this story, I write for mine, and my reader's entertainment. I also do not own any song(s) used in this chapter. The artists of said song(s) have complete ownership and I do not make a profile by using them. Thank You.
P.S.- Besides the Term Bank, which will always be at the end of the chapter, whenever in the story I wish to comment or make something clear I will put a star(s) by it and you can check the bottom of the chapter to see what I have to say.
A Review a Day Keeps My Sanity at Bay (it's a good thing)
Chapter Two:
Used Like a Marionette but My Strings Are Cut
Kagome dressed quickly in a simple pair of skinny jeans, boots and white tank top. Grabbing her jean jacket and backpack, she dashed out the apartment early that morning. She was on a mission and she wasn't going to waste the time she had called in work for on extra sleep or moping around.
She hadn't spoken to him in almost five days. Usually, this would not be a reason to worry but she had spent the night at his apartment yesterday, told him she would be waiting, and still Inuyasha did not come home that night. A heavy sigh released itself from Kagome's parted lips as she tried to think of something that she had done to upset Inuyasha. Even Kikyo had gone and made herself scarce around the small apartment.
Kagome had really begun to panic after last night. She had called and instead of reaching him or his voicemail, Inuyasha's phone had given the message that it was no longer in service. She decided to call in for her morning shift at the day care, opting to go in for the evening/closing shift instead. The ookami princess was more than happy to make the shift switch with her today. Pregnant, Ayame wished to start making the changes in her life to minimize stress. The mornings were easily the quietest part of the day because most of their kids went to school, and those who didn't came in asleep and didn't wake up 'til half way through the shift.
Kagome ran all the way to the bakery two blocks down and managed to get there a few minutes before they opened. By the time she left, she had fresh hot sweets hidden in her backpack. She would need them for the person she wished to visit today. If today was like every other day, this person would be moody and unwilling to talk anything but trash unless she had some sort of incentive.
A while later, climbing the stairs up the urban apartment building, Kagome grinned as she drew closer to the apartment she sought. By the time she reached the third floor, she could hear shouts of a well formed fight. Her target lived on the fifth floor.
"Sugar pie, I assure you that – "
"Don't you even start with all that! I knew it was you! You're the only one who likes perverted crap like this! You're just mad I found it before you could watch!" A woman yelled from above. Kagome took the last set of stairs slowly, listening to what the couple was fighting about this time.
"But my dear, why oh why would I watch something as revolting as these two women when I have the love of my life in my arms every day? You are the one I wish to do such things to, not them."
"Really, then who recorded this? Kirara?!"
Kagome paused at the door with the spare key in hand, not sure whether it was safe to step into the battle field. Unlocking the door much slower than necessary, she opened it and stepped in. Unknowingly, she had just stepped right into the line of fire. Kagome didn't have time to get her other foot through the door before a glass bowl tried to lodge itself into her temple.
"Your fault," Sango yelled at Miroku before he could defend himself. They rushed to her body, Miroku picking Kagome up and setting her on the couch while Sango ran to get an ice pack.
"Kagome, are you ok?" Sango asked as she tried to lean over to check her quickly darkening temple but her baby bump kept getting in the way. "I swear, I didn't mean to hit you chickadee." Sango cooed softly and smiled as her nails dug themselves into Miroku's thigh. Kagome started to come back from the land of stars her sister tried to accidently send her to. Grinned weakly, she sat up and ignored the blurry haze and black spots in her vision. She noticed then that Kirara, Sango's neko youkai companion and former partner, sitting where her head had been and staring up at her. Kagome scratched the fur ball behind her ears.
Now knowing his young sister-in-law was ok, Miroku quickly tried to take himself out of the picture and cleaned the shattered mess left from the killer candy bowl. But his wish was left unfulfilled. As soon as he had everything cleaned up, Sango caught him.
"Don't think this fight isn't over, Mr. Namigito." Sango called over to him as she continued to press the melting icepack to Kagome's temple. It was then that Kagome noticed the TV's displayed contents and really got an eyeful.
"Why is there a Red Channel* movie on and why am I looking at two lady's lady-parts and oh good speckles someone turn it off!" Kagome yelled and covered her eyes.
"Yes Miroku, why is such a disgusting image on my TV?" Sango looked over to her husband, who froze while he tried to drink from his water bottle. Really, even without realizing it, the Higurashi women always stuck together.
"Uh Kagome," Miroku cleared his throat and quickly thought of a subject change. "How is your temple, it looks so bad! Sango how could you do such a thing!"
"I didn't do it intentionally!" Sango set her focus on Kagome's temple, on the verge of tears. Miroku took the sudden shift of attention as his means of escape to the couple's bedroom. True, he hated making his wife cry but now was not the time to be sensitive to her crocodile tears. Neither of the women noticed the man missing or the TV shutting off.
"It's ok Sango, don't cry. You seem to be forgetting that this was not the first, and far from the worst, of all the injuries I have obtained since being born thanks to you. Remember the 'earth quake' when I was five and I fell off the roof?" Laughter echoed between them as they both fell back in time. Sango had been climbing the roof to try to get the best seat for the fireworks that were about to start and Kagome tried to follow. Sango, not wanting to share the best seat, threw a tennis ball at her forehead causing the child to fall from the roof to the tree to the tent to the ground. When questioned later by their mom, Sango had told her that there had been an earth quake and she had barely made it herself trying to save Kagome.
"Is that so?" Their mother asked as she came to sit next to Kagome's unconscious body on the couch. She pushed her bangs to the side and continued, "So this earth quake wouldn't happen to be named Wilson?" There, branded into Kagome's forehead like a tattoo, was the name Wilson Champion backwards from Sango's tennis ball. The same tennis ball she was holding.
"That was so funny, I was sure I had gotten away with it!" Sango laughed and rubbed her baby bump as she turned the TV off and got comfortable on the sofa beside Kagome. "So, what did I do to deserve this special visit from my favorite sister?"
"I'm your only sister," Kagome grumbled as she got to her feet.
"I still say that Souta was meant to be a girl. There was supposed to be a rift of girls against Kohaku! We had all the girly stuff ready for little Sophie but then mom comes home with a Souta!" Sango played the disgusted sister but they both knew that she would kill for both their brothers. True, they had all been expecting a little girl but Souta was loved no different. Besides, it was funny to dress him up like a girl for the first few months of his life until their parents could exchange and buy boy clothes. "Anyway, don't change the subject. What did you need babe?"
"Can't a girl just miss her sister?" Kagome asked as she went and picked up the forgotten backpack by the front door. Coming back to sit down again, she brought out the bag of sweets "Look what I brought you?"
"Oh you are my favorite sweetest greatest sister!" Sango attacked the bag without hesitation and was munching a fresh backed blueberry muffin before Kagome could say 'you're welcome.'
"So, what happened with the jackass?" Sango said after she finished her second muffin.
"What jackass?"
"Inuyasha, who else! Don't play dumb with me, chickadee. Now spill." Sighing, Kagome spilled it all, leaving no detail unheard from her sister. She was glad to release all that had troubled her mind.
"Chickadee, you know how I felt about the hanyou when you guys were still just friends, and I didn't hesitate to tell you how I felt when you asked him out. I understand you love him baby but I think it's time you re-evaluate your relationship with him." Sang thought for a moment before continuing. "Maybe I can call in a favor from my old S.W.A.T buddies. They could tail him and come back with some info in less than a week." Kagome groaned.
Sango's old S.W.A.T buddies were all lunatics, literally. Squad seven had been known as the band of seven, even though they had nine members, before they even became an official team on S.W.A.T. They enjoyed pain and the suffering of others to an unusual extent. Two of which, Suikotsu and Renkotsu, were switched to the integration unit because the crazed way they played with your mind seemed to be the perfect thing for getting suspects to spill all they know. They would always go above and beyond to get the job done. For this reason, the S.W.A.T commander only called them in dire situations. Ever since Sango had joined them, they had started to rub off on her as well as Kirara and still kept dinner dates with the group twice a month.
She loved her sister, and liked her old squad, but to ask any favor from them would only end Inuyasha in a body bag.
"Oh Sango, please don't get them involved in this, it's not that serious!" Kagome pleaded and she laid her head down on her sister's shoulder.
"Don't you 'Oh Sango' me! I'm just looking out for you. I don –"
"No Sango! I mean it, don't call them. I'm asking you for advice, not a shot gun!" Kagome had raised her voice but quickly quieted back down. "I love him Sango; I don't want to lose him. I just want to know what I can do to fix whatever is wrong with us."
Sango leaned back against the plush couch, running her fingers through the midnight blue hair of her sister. She loved her sister so much but she also knew how it felt to have your first love. You never want to let go and you never forget that person. But the older woman knew where this road was leading and only hoped that Kagome was more mature than she was when the same happened to her.
"I don't know what to tell you Kagome. Mainly because you don't know what the problem is, just the aftermath. Find out what's bothering him first, and then try to fix it. But I have been watching you Kagome, and as much as you don't want to admit it, you are not happy. Not when you're with Inuyasha anyway. You are clinging so hard to this boy when there is a man that makes you smile more than you even notice." Sango patted her baby sister's cheek. "But what do I know? I'm just an old pregnant woman."
Kagome sighed, trying to understand what her sister's cryptic message, "You're not old."
"I'm twenty-eight! That's old!" Sango got, with Kagome's assistance, and made her way to the kitchen.
"Yes and I'm twenty-two and Kohaku is twenty and still living at home with Mama!" Kagome yelled in response, trying to keep the mood light.
"You can't blame him for that! True he needs to move back out but after he got all his stuff stolen, moving back in with Mama was his best option. Besides, he's moving out this summer anyway." Sango got the phone and held up a small paper menu. "Would you like to stay for lunch? We're having some food delivered."
"Thank you Sango but I can't." Kagome smiled, kissed Sango's cheek and belly before collecting her bag and heading for the door. "I have to get to work but I'll see you and Roku tomorrow for family dinner, ok?" Sango nodded and walked her sister to the door. She slipped the younger woman some bus fare and watched her leave. Both women were unaware of the third person that listened to the whole conversation.
Miroku knew Inuyasha was ignoring Kagome purposefully, but he never expected her to react like this. And he never thought Kagome actually loved him. Young people these days say and use the word so loosely that you can never really tell what was real and what just another passing phrase was. Miroku honestly believed that, though Kagome would be hurt by Inuyasha's betrayal, she would be able to brush it off with some positive reinforcement. Now knowing all the cards in the deck, he wasn't so sure that was the case. They needed a plan. He needed to make a phone call.
~!~
"There you are!" Ayame yelled as she rushed to Kagome's side. The ookami went to hug her, but the nasty bruise pulsating on her right temple stopped the woman short. "What the hell happened to you? Were you mugged or something? I thought you were going to see your sister?"
Ayame didn't allow Kagome to explain. She picked the ningen up and rushed her to the back kitchen. "Spill," she ordered as she gathered two of the teething ice rings and placed it on Kagome's face. The cold plastic against her burning flesh was a welcomed contrast but made the splitting head ache almost unbearable. Kagome willingly told her co-worker all that had happened and made her second mistake of the day. Once the whole story was out, Ayame burst into laughter. Her loud obnoxious amusement caught Jinenji's attention. Once there, he proceeded to then question Kagome about her face. Ayame filled him in and the situation came full circle. Ayame rolled in laughter on the floor, but this time the uma hanyou joined her.
"Whatever, you guys laugh it up. I'll be finishing this month's bills if you need me," Kagome excused herself, trying to make it to the back office to rest her head.
Holding a slumbering Rin to his side, Sesshoumaru stepped into the day care and inhaled deeply. Under all the generic cleaning products, musk, and flowery air fresheners, he detected the faint scent of lavender and citrus. Kagome was here, but not to greet them as usual. Sesshoumaru scented the air again, searching for her. Following his highly sensitive nose, he was lead to a small office in the very back of the establishment. He passed the ookami and uma employees' laughing in tears as he made his way to said office and took a moment to watch their insanity. He knew working all day with kids could drive people nuts but he seriously started to question the mental stability of Kagome's co-workers as he continued to watch. They gave no indication to knowing of his presence.
Shaking his head, he continued down the slowly darkening hall, passed a single bathroom, and to a heavy oak door that read 'Management' across the top. He could hear even breathing just pass it but no other movement.
"Kagome," Sesshoumaru knocked firmly, hoping to wake her. Rin began to coo and rub her nose against his neck. She was still tired and he needed to set her down, but not before he knew Kagome was ok and would watch her. Not getting an answer, Sesshoumaru opened the door slowly. There with her head flat against the messy desk, Kagome lay asleep. Her arms were folded against her stomach under her shirt and what looked like a green ice ring under her face.
'Strange,' Sesshoumaru thought as he pried Rin's chubby fingers from his neck and set her down on the bench in the far corner. After first placing his jacket over her and making sure she would not fall off, Sesshoumaru turned to face the still sleeping miko.
"Kagome," Sesshoumaru called softly as he moved her silky hair behind her ear. He got no response. The usually cold inu lord gently tried to shake her awake.
Kagome still refused to awaken and Sesshoumaru was losing patience. Taking her arms, careful not to prick her with his talons, Sesshoumaru lifted her to sit up. As soon as she was up, he saw the patterned bruise that marred her right side. Before he could stop himself, Sesshoumaru's eyes began to bleed red and a growl tore from his lips.
That woke Kagome up.
"Sesshoumaru?" Kagome groggily wiped the sleep from her eyes and was suddenly yanked by her arm from the room. Before she realized it, she and Sesshoumaru were standing in the single person bathroom. He picked her up with ease and set her on the small stand meant to change diapers, grabbing her chin with unintended roughness. Sesshoumaru examined the bruise from all angles and another growl bubbled in his throat.
"Who did this to you?" He commanded as he started the sink's cold water. "Was it that hanyou? Speak now!" He ordered again, his voice becoming rough and almost unable to understand. His youki made its way to the surface and clashed with her reiki. Out of instinct, Kagome tried to calm him down by touching his shoulder but it only caused her reiki to accidentally shoot into his body.
"Stand down!" He growled bearing his fangs to her. He took hold of her hands with one of his and held tight. Grasping her chin, he pulled it close to his face then grabbed a cool wet cloth and began to dab it on her bruised face. She was surprised by his sudden outburst and rage, but not frightened. She understood that he was just worried about her safety; he was her friend after all.
Although it read less to her, it spoke volumes to the two youkai who suddenly stopped laughing and became quiet from the kitchen.
Soft growling rumbled from his chest, a sound used to sooth disturbed or fussy pups she knew. Kagome could have taken offense at him treating her as an infant, but she couldn't help but be lulled by the vibration.
"Now answer me, what happened to your face?" Sesshoumaru asked after a few minutes, his usual rich baritone voice returned. Kagome looked to his eyes, only to have them locked on her bruise.
"It wasn't Inuyasha. I was hit by a candy dish." She took his silence as a sign to continue. "I stepped into the line of fire of one of my sister's hormone induced rampages. She threw it at Miroku but hit me instead. It's not so bad; it's just a flesh wound. More like a beauty mark now. It'll be gone in a few days," Kagome laughed and stopped his hand from going to the sink again. "Sesshoumaru, thank you but I'm really fine."
He nodded and gently lifted her from the changing table by her waist and set her on her feet. Kagome couldn't fight the blush that dusted her cheeks when his hands didn't remove themselves from her person after her feet met the ground.
It was an unexpected moment between the two, both looking into the other's eyes and something silent passed. Kagome felt her heart beat harder against her ribs and allowed her gaze to travel down the Daiyoukai's features. He was handsome, any woman would agree, and that fact never escaped Kagome. She did, in private, fancy the Daiyoukai but kept her fantasy just that; a fantasy. It would be foolish of her to ever try to pursue something other than friendship with this man and she knew it. Kagome, although entranced by the hypnotic beautiful honey glowing eyes, had to remember that this man was not hers. Besides, she reminded herself, she loved Inuyasha.
Sesshoumaru though saw the emotions play across her cerulean eyes like vivid images. He knew what he saw was not a passing thought of attraction, she felt more for him than friendship and lust. He just knew it. But she didn't.
"Sesshoumaru," she broke the strung out silence. He nodded. "Have you seen Inuyasha lately?"
Effectively ruining the small moment they had, Sesshoumaru dropped his inappropriate hands from her hips and opened the bathroom door. Once she was out as well, he closed it back, ignoring the two sets of eyes watching them from the crevice of the kitchen door.
Kagome continued her questioning, "Has anything happened lately with him? He's been ignoring me and I'm getting worried that he might be in some kind of trouble. Maybe he's mad to me or something?"
Sesshoumaru winced. He knew exactly what kind of trouble his brother was in and even though it was hurting Kagome now for him to ignore her, it would help her in the long run. Still, he had to put up his mask again, and lie like he had done countless time before. He hated it, but this was for her good.
"No, he is in no kind of trouble," he answered monotone. "As far as I know, he and father have been spending time at a new site for his new restaurant. They wish to build a chain of them around Japan." It technically wasn't a lie for Inuyasha did wish to start a chain of his ramen shops. Father just wouldn't give him the money to do so.
"Hn," she mumbled, sounding more like Sesshoumau than she realized. They quietly entered the office space again, Sesshoumaru picking up Rin and her belongings while Kagome cleaned the melted teething ring from the desk. It left slight water mark to accompany several others but Kagome just slid the 'protective' mat down more.
As they walked back to the nap room, Sesshoumaru watched Kagome silently. Her eyes grew wider, taking on a faraway look. Her skin had lost some of its color and her usual smile was lost in the frown that stained her pouty lips.
"Do not waste your time worrying about my half-brother, everything will work out soon enough." he told her as he set Rin down in one of the small fold out bed. Kagome put away her backpack and they met back at the doorway. She went to ask another question but Sesshoumaru's phone spoke first. He tried not to sigh as he answered but his assistant's crackled voice began to babble and plead.
"What is it you want Jaken?" he asked more than a little annoyed.
"Oh my lord!" the kappa squawked, "This lowly worthless creature detests disturbing your time with little Rin-sama but it is urgent. Conflict has broken out amongst the colonels at the east point. My Lord, if the battle is not stopped now, it'll be on the five o'clock news! Channel 11 is scheduled to interview Colonel Mito at three! Sir, I –" Sesshoumaru shut off the phone with a snap, startling Kagome out of her thoughts. He nodded an apology before putting his suit jacket back on. Frustration written on his face, he led Kagome swiftly to the front before heading to the door to leave.
"Lord Sesshoumaru, wait!" Kagome called out as she ran to keep up with him. "Rin will be at my mother's tonight. I have… things to attend to tonight." Sesshoumaru didn't have time to argue. He knew full well who that thing was. He wanted to tell her not to go, to stay with his daughter… with him. He could have scolded her for calling him 'Lord' again, maybe even grab her into a reassure hold to wipe that crease from her brow that came whenever she became desperate with worry.
It wasn't his place. It was his brother's.
So instead, he nodded once again and ran away from her, away from the distressed look, before he spoke out of turn. He needed a distraction, and beating the shit out of his colonels would help let off some of the steam that pushed his restraint.
Flinching at the squeal of the tires, Kagome quickly made her way back into the building and headed to the play room.
"Kagome," an orange fluffy ball head butted her to the floor. Grinning, she plucked the small kitsune off her belly and pinched his cheeks. "Kagome, stop it! I'm a powerful youkai not your plushy doll!" the little fox griped as he pushed her hands from his face and helped her up.
"Yes, of course, whatever you say darling. How are you today Shippo?" Kagome asked, taking the little boy's hand and walking with him to the playground. As she watched Shippo run around the playground, Kagome lost herself to her thought and what she preparing for tonight.
~!~
"Hey Inuyasha," Kagome greeted her boyfriend with a hug and kiss he didn't return. She had asked him to come and pick her up after getting Rin dropped off to her mother's by Miroku. He whispered a hello and took her by the hand, leading her in the direction of her apartment. "No Inuyasha," she tugged on his arm, pulling him towards his motorcycle parked across the lot. "Let's go to your place tonight. I have a gift for you."
"No Kagome, I think you should –" Kagome cut him off with a quick kiss, then another.
"No Inuyasha, please, just take me to your place." She begged him, smiling and kissing him again before getting on the bike. Inuyasha simply sighed and gave in to her wishes, getting on the bike and both slipped on their protective gear. Miroku had conference called him, Sesshoumaru, and Kouga this after soon, trying to help him formulate a plan on how to break up with Kagome but looking into her pleading eyes, Inuyasha couldn't do it. He just wanted her happy.
The trip to his building downtown was dragged out by uncomfortable silence. It further continued when they arrived at the parking garage to his apartment housing. After few minutes of silence, she looked up at his blank expression.
"A penny for your thoughts," She asked. He ignored her.
"What happened to your face?" He asked, not even bothering to look in her direction. His tone didn't display any concern or anger. Kagome hesitated to answer.
"Sango attacked Miroku and hit me. It's already going away," she whispered. Inuyasha didn't reply.
Again, silence engulfed them as they took the elevator up to the 16th floor. Inuyasha beat her to his door and hesitated to unlock it. "Go in and take a shower, I'll get the guest room ready for you." Inuyasha mumbled as he unlocked the door and led her through the familiar setting. He didn't turn on a light, or the TV, making the chilled room more unwelcoming.
"Why? I never used it before?" Kagome followed the familiar hall to his bedroom but was pulled back.
"Well, you will tonight." Inuyasha pushed her towards the bathroom and handed her a clean towel.
"No I won't," Kagome whispered and started the shower. The hot water collided with her skin and she was reminded of her mission. She needed to fix things with Inuyasha, or risk whatever bad seed that stuck between them growing into a full tree. She was ready to take this step, Kagome reassured herself. Sex wasn't a big deal. Sure, it hurt the first time, but that was all women. She loved Inuyasha so there was no reason to wait.
Then why was regret already pouring through her senses…
Sometime later, she emerged from the steam clouded door with only a towel to cover her curves. "Inuyasha?" Kagome called out, looking around for him. A moment later, she found him by the window of the living room, admiring the night sky. His usual red sleeping bottoms exchanged for a white pair with the shirt to match missing.
"Inuyasha," she whispered as she slipped behind him and rested her cheek against his shoulder blade. He didn't look at her; not even a glance in her path.
"Go put some clothes on," he ordered more than said. Kagome refused to move. He waited for her to obey him, but she didn't. Inuyasha tried his best not to notice the darkening of her eyes or the way she soft tan skin pressed against his back. Even through the towel, he could feel the AC's effect on the tips of her breasts. His mind screamed to ignore what his body yearned for. He desperately held back the urge to turn and shred the damn cloth that hid away her body from him but knew it to be wrong.
He had to remain neutral and unyielding. If he could get through tonight, tomorrow he would break things off with her. Inuyasha already had already revised the plan for tonight but… He loved her. Kagome was his best friend and the sweetest person he knew. He had already hurt her so many other times on accident whether he lost control of his demonic blood or said what he knew would hurt most to make her leave him alone. He had pierced her with so much unhappiness that he might as well have taken each one of his claws and dug them into her heart one by one.
He didn't want to do it anymore, but he had one more left.
"Inuyasha," Kagome called to him. He made the mistake of losing his concentration and looked back at her. Before he could stop her, their lips were mashed together. Inuyasha grabbed her hands before they met the towel. He sensed her desperation and couldn't help but take pity on her.
"Kagome, don't. You know you aren't ready – "
"Yes I am Inuyasha… Please." He looked into those baby blue eyes and remembered when he first saw them, how they seemed to glow in the afternoon sun. All their happy memories would cease to mean anything to her after this, he knew it. She would remember everything about their relationship through the years and feel anguish.
He had to give her one last memory, one she couldn't be able to hate him for.
"I love you Inuyasha," Kagome whispered against his lips. He didn't reply. Instead he picked her up like the bride she should have been, placed her on his bed, and closed the door.
~!~
Inuyasha sat at the end of the bed, watching Kagome's even breathing raise the bed sheet rhythmically. Her took her virginity a little over an hour ago and she had been sleeping peacefully ever since. Inuyasha glanced at the digital numbers on the clock resting on the bedside time.
2:50 AM glowed eerily.
He should be there beside her, holding her tightly against his chest. But while she moaned his name, he could see no one but Kikyo. Every fiber of his being screamed to lock up and stop but for Kagome, he pushed through. He gave her an experience that she could remember happily from their time together.
Throwing away the bloody condom, he willed his mind to come to rest when the phone rang. Inuyasha looked at the glowing cellular device and thought for a moment about picking it up. No, he silently promised himself and Kagome this night to be theirs and theirs alone, without interruption. Whoever it was would have to wait.
Climbing into bed, he settled himself next to the slumbering black haired beauty and made the move to drape his arm around her when something caught his attention.
The ding of the elevator from down the hall made his ears twitch uncomfortable. A very familiar scent filled his nostrils as fear shook his spine. Keys jingled as Inuyasha leapt from the bed and to the laundry hamper to retrieve his sleeping bottoms. The front door opened as Inuyasha came to the bedroom door.
"Hey Inuyasha," Kikyo greeted as she came in. "I just tried to call you, why didn't you pick up?" She came over quickly to kiss his lips.
"Sorry, I didn't notice," he lied, leading her from the bedroom. "How was the thing tonight?"
"The reception you mean," she giggled, tossing him her violin case and heading for the kitchen. "It was okay, a lot of people. Sorry for coming over so late by the way. I figured, since I'm over on this side of town anyway, I could crash here tonight."
"You can't!" He yelled too quickly and too loud. Kikyo stopped, forgetting about the drink she was going to get.
She eyed him funnily before shaking her head, "why not?" Inuyasha tried not to look at her but out the window, but couldn't seem to find an answer that his tongue would give her.
"Inuyasha," she became very serious, "what are you not telling me? You always want me to stay over. Why the sudden change?"
"Nothing," he whispered, again too quickly. He felt it then, the outreach of her holy energy as she sensed the entirety of the apartment. Half a moment later, she was knew exactly why he didn't want her here.
"Why the fuck is she in our bedroom!" Kikyo demanded more than asked.
Kagome woke up groggy and sore, a few moments before. She felt the bed space next to her for Inuyasha only to find it empty. Slowly sitting up, she covered her body with the satin sheets and tried to get an understanding of her surroundings. It was then she heard them.
Inuyasha and someone were in the living room, talking loudly. She knew it was a woman but she couldn't help her mind to understand what was going on. Standing, Kagome tried not to wobble as she made her way to the door, and felt the touch of someone's holy energy against her own. The woman in the other woman yelled and Kagome must have made a mistake in what she heard.
Coming to the door though, her heart began to hammer as Kikyo came into view. Inuyasha stood in between the two women as Kikyo continued to yell.
"Answer me Inuyasha, tell me why that child is in our room, and naked!" Kikyo shoved Inuyasha's hands away from her person, eyeing her young roommate hatefully. She knew that Inuyasha was supposed to be with her today, but in all the time they had been sneaking behind the girl's back, he had sworn that the two had never been intimate.
Now Kagome was in their home, with only a sheet to cover her stripped flesh. Kikyo didn't want to understand, she prayed that she was misreading this situation but as silence continued through the living area, she knew her prayers were not to be answered the way she wished. This whole time was she the other woman, or was Kagome? Or were they both playing the fool for his inu hanyou.
"Inuyasha," Kagome whispered as she tried to piece together the event unfolding. He didn't turn to face her. Instead, he took Kikyo's face between his hands and made her look at him while he whispered something she couldn't overhear. With an angry nod, she headed into the guest room and closed the door.
"Kagome, get dressed." It was cold, and spiteful, as if she was the one in the wrong here. Like Kagome had been the one to intrude. She did as told, fighting back tears. Everything seemed to look dull and became colorless as she entered back into the living room to find Inuyasha waiting for her on the couch.
"What's going on," she begged as she took the seat beside him. Inuyasha could hear Kagome's heart rate picking up as she fidgeted nervously. He didn't answer her; instead he refused her the eye contact she desperately needed to calm her down.
"Kagome, I along with Miroku, Kouga, and Sesshoumaru have been lying to you for the last year," Inuyasha started, hoping that by adding the other names of his accomplices, it would lessen the rage she would feel against him. It was cowardly to do so, but he used it anyway. "I'm going to be as honest with you as I can and I hope you'll let me explain before you do anything." Kagome nodded he head numbly, already starting to piece together what he was going to say. "Truth is, I met Kikyo about a year before we started dating. We were having a rough time and you had asked me out. I wanted to do right by you, so I left her. Me and you started dating, but I would constantly think about her.
"After a year of us going out, you moved in with Kikyo and ever since that day, we have been seeing each other behind your back. I love her Kagome and I have asked her to be my mate."
Kagome's heart froze. How could she be so blind? She thought back to the day she had 'introduced' Inuyasha to Kikyo for the first time as her new roommate.
*!~!~!*
"I just have one more box to bring in, then I'll cook you lunch. Deal?" Kagome laughed as Inuyasha griped and grumbled. She had asked him to help her move to her new apartment and he complied on the notion that if he helped, she'd cook.
Being hanyou, everything was easily moveable but all the stairs but trips from the first apartment to the new one irritated him to no end. "Yea I know wench, now move your ass out the way so I can get through." Inuyasha barked out. He had just gotten the last box and had made it to the living room when a familiar scent made his nose twitch.
"Oh, what good timing! Inuyasha, turn around I want you to meet my new roommate!" Kagome called from behind him, her pale arms wrapping around his mid-section. His heart raced and stomach tightened. He knew that scent anywhere, the warm vanilla and honey enveloped him like a blanket. He dreamed of that scent every night, wondering where it had been hiding from him. Tension in every muscle ready to snap, Inuyasha slowly turned and met the eyes of his former girlfriend, Kikyo. Her painfully beautiful melted chocolate eyes turned hard and distant as she met his gaze. She went to say something, but their brief moment was cut off by the person they both forgot to be in the room.
"Kikyo, I'd like you to meet my boyfriend Inuyasha. Inuyasha this is Kikyo. I hope you won't mind Kikyo but Inuyasha and I spend a lot of time together so he might spend the night sometimes. If that's going to be a problem, I'm sure we can work out a compromise." Kagome's sugary voice practically sang as she clung to Inuyasha's forearm.
Never in his life had he wanted to lay harm to Kagome. He had done so many times unintentionally but right now… he could almost see his claws wrapped around her neck as Kagome's face flushed. The lack of oxygen tinting her lip pale blue and Inuyasha would sit there and watch. He would grin as her life drained by his hands. She shouldn't be there and she shouldn't be interrupting him with his…. His…. He couldn't come up with a word for what Kikyo was to him.
"Inuyasha?" Kagome's hand waved before his eyes, concern evident in her stance. "Where did you go? I've been calling your name for a minute now…" Kagome continued to prattle on as Inuyasha fought the urges of just a few moments ago again. "Ok Inuyasha? I'll start on that lunch I owe you."
Once Kagome was out of sight and hearing range, Inuyasha took action. Gathering Kikyo's small frame in his arms, he tried to kiss the panic away that laced itself into her scent. A sudden jolt rang through his body and in the next moment he was on the floor.
Kikyo's reiki sparked in the palm of her hand, ready to attack him again. Her dark eyes pricked with unshed tears. How could he do this to her? He said he left because they weren't meant to be and every moment after he walked from her home had been agony trying to get over him. But now it was clear that he had left her for some child. And to think she told him 'I love you'.
"Does this girl," Kikyo whispered hoarsely, "mean more to you, than me?" A single tear slipped down Kikyo's rosy cheek. Inuyasha's heart began to crack, the room's sudden quietness only disturbed by the slight sizzling coming from the kitchen. "Why would you think this was ok?" Twin rivers rolled down Kikyo's face and created one more dent in Inuyasha's heart.
"She is nothing." Inuyasha tried to come closer to her. "She has been a friend to me for so long now and I can't stand to hurt her. Please trust me, that it is you I want, never her." Inuyasha whispered. He closed the distance between them and sealed his promise.
"Who wants grilled cheese?" Kagome yelled out, in the back ground as the secret couple embraced as long as they could.
*!~!~!*
"All this time…"
"Kagome..." Inuyasha started to gather her shaking form in his arms but she flinched at his touch. Kagome stood, unshed tears pooling in the corners of her eyes, and tried to regain her mind before it broke down. Her jeans felt too tight, boots too heavy, shirt too rough; everything was wrong. Every moment, every breath she took, every memory was wrong, it was all lies and her mind wanted to self-destruct.
"Look," Inuyasha said, his mind growing weary as he ran his fingers through his hair. "I love you just… not the way you want me to. I…" He lost his composer and cursed "I'll take you home."
"No," she half yelled half sobbed. He tried to come up behind her, to give her some comfort but she dodged him, grabbing her keys from the counter.
"Don't worry about Kikyo," Inuyasha whispered as they headed for the door, "She'll move out of the apartment tomorrow... Kagome, I know I hurt you. I hurt you so bad but I want to at least keep our friendship alive…. I may be asking too much of you but, Kikyo and I are having a big celebration next Saturday. It'll be huge, all formal. The media will be there along with everyone else and it would honor me greatly to have you at least show up."
"Inuyasha…" Kagome spoke after a moment of thought.
"Yes Kagome?"
"I wish you and Kikyo the best of luck. I wish you long lives, and happiness and plenty of kids." Her voice bubbled as fresh tears ran freely to her neck and dried on her shirt. "I wish it could be me but I am happy that you have found someone to love and that she loves you back."
Not being able to resist, Inuyasha scooped Kagome into his arms and let the wave of her tears slide down his chest. He couldn't fight back the twist of his gut or the dry heave in his throat. He refused the tears in his eyes but they disobeyed and fell in the ebony locks under his chin. Allowing herself one last deep breath of his scent, Kagome pulled away. She declined him eye contact and words. Gathering her bag, she walked out the door.
Before she took another step from the apartment, a familiar arm hung over her shoulder from behind. "Someday, you will be loved," Inuyasha whispered ever so softly into her hear. There was a moment, the moment everything that just happened really sunk in. Then, without another word of sound, he disappeared, the soft click of the lock behind her.
~!~
Hidden in a daze, Kagome walked. Miles or feet, minutes or hours, she didn't know either. She just walked until she was in front of The Lil' Steps Daycare. This was her safe haven and feeling the comfort she needed, she let herself truly cry. Clutching her heart, her sobs rang out into the night and approaching dawn. The noise repelling any mugger or thug that dared to come close. The heart retching sounds echoed along the empty streets and probably around Japan.
Still sobbing, Kagome lifted her cell phone with shaking hands and called her sister. "Hello?" Miroku's voice yawned two rings later. Her weeping grew louder as she tried to speak. "Kagome, are you alright? Hello? Kagome!" Miroku went into panic and Sango's frantic voice was heard in the background.
"What's wrong? What happened to her?" Her sister yelled.
"I don't know… She won't stop crying! Kagome, please, answer me! Where are you?" Sango and Miroku continued to yell into the phone. The sounds blurred in and out as she continued to sob and hiccup into the receiver.
"Kagome, stay on the phone. Kirara is coming to you now; we'll track her as she gets to you. Hold on Kagome, I'm coming for baby-girl." Miroku whispered as she heard a door slam.
She nodded; dumbly believing he understood the motion through the phone. Minutes passed and the flying fire feline landed next to her. "Kirara," Kagome whispered her voice rough from crying. The neko purred and curled around the crumpled miko's form. She licked away the tears but they had already stained her cheeks. Kagome clutched Kirara's fur and held on for life as she passed from consciousness to the world of slumber.
Bright lights soon burned passed her eyelids, and Kagome could do nothing but turn away. "Oh Kami, Kagome," Her sister's voice cooed. A pair of shaking arms wrapped around her and hesitantly lifted her up; tucking her into what she assumed was the back seat of the couple's minivan. Fingers wound themselves into her hair as she continued to cry. Sango's voice blurred with the rest of the world.
"Miroku…" Sango's voice whispered frantically to her husband. "What if she was mugged or she has internal injuries? I think we should take her to the hospital, just to check." Sango began to cry but Miroku knew better. He knew what was to happen tonight but didn't understand what went so wrong to bring Kagome to the state she was in. Why didn't the boy take her home? How could Inuyasha be so irresponsible? Why did the hanyou keep messing up?
"Don't think that way my sweet. Let your mind rest as well as Kagome's. We must be strong. When she wakes, she will tell us what happened. Call your mother and warn her we are on our way." Sango nodded, her hand absent-mindedly petting Kagome's hair as she dialed the familiar number. She waited for an answer, watching Kirara lick Kagome's cheek and try to wake the younger woman up.
"Hello?" A faint voice finally answered.
"Souta, tell mama to get up. Something happened to Kagome and we are coming over." Sango tried her best to sound calm. Her little brother said he would and promptly hung up. "Kagome…" Sango whispered to her sister, tears running down to splash on Kagome's shoulder.
Miroku fought the urge to pull over as he watched his pregnant wife cry in the rearview mirror. This was his fault. He wasn't the one that broke his little sister-in-law but he didn't prevent it when he could. This was just as much his fault as it was Inuyasha's, Kouga's, and Sesshoumaru's.
He stopped at a red light and hit the steering wheel as hard as he could. In his frustration, he smacked the damn thing again and again, but his guilt only worsened. He resorted to banging his forehead against the horn, trying to bash the pain away. Had Kagome been Mika, he would never have let this happened to her. Never. Kagome was just like Mika so why, why dear Kami, did he let it get this far! Why?
"Miroku…?" his wife's voice brought him back to reality. Calming himself down, Miroku wiped his eyes and continued to drive. Within the hour, they had reached the Higurashi Shine. During the drive, Sango called in sick for Kagome as well as called Sesshoumaru-sama to inform him that he would need someone to come pick up little Rin.
"What do you mean? What has happened to Kagome?" Sesshoumaru had questioned but Sango could give no answer. She simply told him to come and pick up Rin, and then hung up.
"Miss Kagome!" Rin shouted out as Miroku walked through the shoji door, Kagome curled into a tight ball in his arms.
"Hello mama," Sango greeted as she took her mother in for a close side hug. They began talking quietly to themselves over what happened as Miroku set Kagome on the couch and covered her up. "She'll need a bath and maybe you could give her a quick check…" he caught some of the women's conversation as he sat in the chair next to the unconscious woman.
"What's wrong with her?" Rin asked from behind him.
"I don't know," Souta answered, his voice wrapped in worry.
"Ane-san will wake up soon. She is fine, so stop acting like she's dead." Kohaku ordered the other two but his own concern echoed in his voice.
"Then why is Obaa-san crying?" Rin asked innocently, watching the eldest Higurashi woman weep by her daughter's side. She never got an answer. They all sat silently waiting for Kagome to wake up.
"Mama, come. Let's go make some tea and the children's breakfast. They have school in an hour," Sango offered the distraction as she helped her mother from the floor. She nodded and followed her eldest child to the kitchen. The other children followed, leaving Miroku alone with Kagome.
Miroku picked the cell phone from his pocket, dialing two familiar numbers. Both receivers answered.
" That bastard hanyou didn't just break up with her but he did something else! Sango and I found her this morning and… she's not waking up. It wasn't supposed to happen like this… we need to talk to Inuyasha," Miroku stated with a calm even voice. He was about to reply to the voices on the phone when another startled him from the doorway.
"Miroku?" Sango walked in; unable to comprehend what she was hearing.
He looked into the watery eyes of his wife and knew they were busted.
Some of you might be wondering why I didn't do a lemon between Inuyasha and Kagome. To be honest, I couldn't. Sorry if I made you cry. Btw, if anyone was wondering the order of Higurashi siblings it's Sango(28), then a few years later Kagome(22), a year later Kohaku(20), then a few years later Souta(17).
Term Bank:
Youki – demonic energy
Reiki – holy energy
Kappa – frog
Kitsune – fox
*Red Channel – Dirty movie/Pornographic television
Btw, I have gotten asked how to pronounce my pin-name, Mari. It's not Mary with an "I" its pronounced Mar-ee, like Mario without the 'o'.
So one last thing, I am starting a challenge. Whoever can come up with the best cover for this story will have a sneak-peak/spoiler of where the story is headed and also have a hand in choosing how it will end. Tell me if you like it this idea and leave a review!
Love you, Mari 3