Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha

Chapter 2. A Chance

...

"So, what do you think about this one, Kagome?" asked Sango for what seemed like the hundredth time on that day.

From where she sat, Kagome took a quick glance at the white dress Sango was holding in her hands and realized it was the same dress she had earlier. "Sango. You tried that dress already…"

"Hmm, really? But I think I like this one than the last one better… Okay. Let me try this again!" answered Sango as she returned to the fitting room.

Kagome sighed before she chuckled lightly. 'Guess women do crazy things for the men they love…'

She rose from her seat, and walked to the isle of the dresses. Soon enough, her gaze was locked with a white satin dress that was put at the end of the isle.

Her heart skipped a bit. It was the same exact dress she had almost bought three years ago. Why was it still there and no one had took it?

'It's like the dress was waiting for me to come and take it.' She thought to herself, but quickly shook her head, 'what a dangerous line of thought.'

At the sound of her phone ringing, she was brought back to the world of reality.

"Hello, Higurashi's here."

"Ms. Higurashi, please, you need to help me!" a woman's voice sobbed from the other line.

Kagome frowned. Sunday was supposed to be her free day. But it seemed like she had to handle a request pretty soon.

"I'm sorry Maam?" she tried to answer politely.

"My brother in law- He deceived us! He framed my husband and took my husband's business! Please, you need to help me!"

"I understand, Maam. Please calm down. I cannot help you if you're panicking like this. I'm sorry, with whom am I speaking now?" asked Kagome calmly.

"My name is Tsubaki. You need to help us now, please…. We have nothing left, and my husband is on the verge of losing his mind, Gods, he even talked about suicide now!"

"I will try to see if I can do anything to help you, Mrs. Tsubaki. Can you wait at least for tomorrow? I will definitely see you tomorrow."

"Please…. I beg you, Miss. Higurashi… We really need you help now… At least, my husband can rest a bit, knowing there is someone who will help us. Please… I had lost everything; I don't want to her him as well…"

Hearing the woman's ruthful tone, Kagome sighed.

"Okay Mrs. Tsubaki… Why don't we meet somewhere today, and we discussed the problem together? Where can we meet?"

"Really? Thank you! Thank you! Oh God I can never thank you enough… I live near the 92th Street. You know, that complex near the Goshinoboku Café?"

Kagome froze. That café. The Café that she didn't dare to visit in the past seven years…

"Miss Higurashi?"

"Ah, I'm sorry, then Goshinoboku Café it is. How about we meet there, in about an hour?" said Kagome as she took a glance at her watch.

"Yes, it is more than ok. I'm going there right away."

"Ah yes, Goshinoboku Café. Alright. Please wait for me. I'll be on my way soon." Answered Kagome politely.

"Thank you, Ms. Higurashi, once again, thank you…"

Kagome smiled. "You're most welcome."

She hung up her phone, just in time to see Sango running towards her.

"Kagome! I've been looking for you for a while. What are you doing here?"

Kagome took a deep breath, preparing for the wrath of her friend. 'Here comes nothing…'

"Sango, I'm really, really sorry… But I just got a call from a client. I think…. I should go now."

.

.

.

"Hello?"

"Mr. Takahashi, it is done. She's on her way to Goshinoboku Café right now."

"Alright, thank you Mrs. Tsubaki. You did your job well."

Inuyasha hung up his phone with a smirk on his face. He knew that he was using such a low tactic. But he was a businessman. And a businessman would do anything to get what he wanted, no matter how to achieve it. And he wanted to see her now.

The first time he had came back from England, which was almost a year ago; he had found out that the Higurashi shrine- Kagome's old house was already sold. He had tried to look for her, but with him having no contact whatsoever with her for almost three years, trying to find her was next to impossible.

But now that she marched back to his life, he just knew it; something needed to be done. Although he wasn't really sure what exactly it was.

.

.

.

Standing at front of the entrance of the Goshinoboku Café, Kagome suddenly began to regret her decision. Why in the world did she suggest to that woman to meet at that café? This café brought up too many unwanted memories for her.

From their first meeting, their first date, to the day where he proposed to her….

With a long sigh, she entered the café. As she waited for the waiter, she studied her surroundings. The warm atmosphere, the mahogany counters, the buzz of the machines whirring, the smell of vanilla and coffee…It almost as if nothing has changed there.

There were not so many people in the café. Probably ten or less. It was a small place after all. So, where's that woman now?

As if on cue, she suddenly felt her phone vibrated.

Ms. Higurashi, I'm already at the Café right now. I'm sitting at the corner of the room.

Kagome walked until the end of the café, but she didn't even saw any woman in the café. She was confused, so she decided to call the woman back.

As she waited for her call to be picked up, she heard the sound of a ringing phone right behind her. She glanced towards the source of the sound, and almost dropped her phone at the sight of it.

"Inu… yasha?"

.

Hearing his name being called, the young business owner tilted his face up. A grinned began to formed from the corner of his lips.

"Hello, Kagome." He greeted.

Kagome could only gape at him. But as soon as she regained her composure, she quickly glared at him. How dare he tricked her like that?

"So you tricked me? Oh Gods, you're truly despicable, aren't you, Takahashi? How do you even got my number?" hissed the raven-haired woman angrily.

"Relax, Kagome." He smirked, "It's not like I'm doing anything illegal. I just wanted to see you, and I know you wouldn't agree so I have no choice but to did this."

"Tell you what, Takahashi," Kagome glared. "I don't wanna see you and now if you please can excuse-" She gasped as she felt Inuyasha grasped her hand tightly.

"You didn't let me try to explain to you last time." Inuyasha said, "shouldn't you at least try to hear what I am gonna say? I'm just trying to have a decent, civilized conversation with you!"

Kagome bit her lips and sighed.

"Okay, Inuyasha. I'll listen. But don't think that would change everything between us."

Inuyasha smiled wearily. "So… how've you been doing?"

"Good." answered Kagome briefly, trying to sound as uninterested as possible.

But Inuyasha didn't seem offended even a bit. "Kagome. I just wanted to make things clear to you. I knew that I messed up big time few years ago, but heck, it wasn't as if I never tried to make it up to you!"

That statement earned him a glare from the raven-haired woman.

"Make it up? What do you need to make up to me, Inuyasha? I thought it was pretty clear that you wanted to do nothing to do with me." She replied coldly.

"Woman, I've tried to call you several times when I was in England. But apparently, you changed your damn number, probably trying to avoid me." answered Inuyasha back.

"Oh so I'm not allowed to change my number, but you're allowed to left without telling me? And don't you dare saying I was trying to avoid you. I've been waiting for months, Inuyasha." Kagome gritted her teeth. "All the time hoping that you would somehow come back to me with an explanation. I had promised myself, if you had just come back, I was willing to hear everything from you."

Kagome could felt tears threatened to fall from the corner of her eyelid. But she refused to let him have the satisfaction; she won't show her weak side to him, not today, not after he broke her heart.

Inuyasha froze. She's been waiting for him that time? But he thought…

"Then I finally realized that you probably didn't even give a damn about me. And it hurts, since what I've been thinking everyday was only you." She admitted and took a deep breath, "I got to go now."

Inuyasha caught her hand as he stood as well. "No, you're not."

"You're not telling me what to do, Inuyasha." answered Kagome without even looking at him. She let out a screech as Inuyasha suddenly pulled her into his strong chest.

"I said, you're not going…" he whispered to her ear.

Kagome closed her eyes. "Just… Let me go, Inuyasha."

"Do you really want me to let you go?"

Kagome turned her face around and stared at Inuyasha's eyes, suddenly felt so captivated with them.

"Do you still love me, Kagome?" He asked again.

Kagome tried to look away, but Inuyasha griped her chin.

Suddenly, their faces were almost touching and their lips were only few centimeters apart. Inuyasha leaned in, and as if she was being hypnotized, Kagome closed her eyes.

Their lips finally touched. Kagome clutched to Inuyasha's broad chest desperately as his hands began to pull her closer. The urgency in the kiss was becoming unbearable.

It was then when Inuyasha realized that he still wanted the woman in his arms, desperately. His tongue begged for entrance. Kagome gasped in surprise and in seconds, his tongue was against hers.

Kagome panted as they broke from their kiss, blinking her eyes rapidly as if her mind was trying to process what had just happened.

"Kagome…" began Inuyasha, "Please give me one more chance."

Kagome couldn't believe what she had just done. Inuyasha had kissed her, and what's worse, she actually kissed him back.

'Give him a chance?' Kagome thought to herself. 'How do I know that he isn't just trying to play with my heart again? How do I know if he isn't just… wanted to use me?'

She had known Inuyasha for many years. And she understood well what type of man he was; the kind of man who would do anything to satisfy his desire. His ego was big. If there were anything Inuyasha hated the most in this world, it would be losing to someone. The thought that Inuyasha might just trying to lure her in order to win his case against Naraku made her heart clenched in pain. With all her might, she pushed him off of her and glared at him coldly.

"How do I know that you're not just planning to use me for your own benefits, Inuyasha? For all I know, you could be only trying to get me to your side now stop helping Naraku." She hissed.

Inuyasha growled. "What the fuck, Kagome? This has nothing to do with Naraku! Do you really thing I would stoop that low, huh? Tell you what, I ain't afraid of that bastard at all!"

Kagome shook her head rapidly. "I just don't know anymore, Inuyasha. Everything just happened so suddenly," she admitted. "First, I found out that I have to work for someone who apparently held a suit against a man who betrayed me years ago. And now, you; that man, came to me, basically asking me to just forget everything and pretend that nothing had happened between us. How do you expect me to react now?"

Inuyasha threw his stare at the ground as he spoke with a low voice. "You know, Kagome. I never meant to betray you."

"Never meant to betray me?" Kagome laughed bitterly. "Tell me Inuyasha, what part of sleeping with another woman behind your soon-to-be-wife's back that is not suppose to be a betrayal?"

"It was only a mistake okay!" Inuyasha yelled, getting frustrated. "Damn it, Kagome, Kikyo was drunk - and she pushed me-"

"Kikyo WAS drunk.But you WERE NOT, Inuyasha." replied Kagome icily, "If you're a man, you could've easily refused her. But no, because you're such a bastard, and you only think with your dick."

Inuyasha let out a dark chuckle. "Don't act so innocent, Kagome. If you were on the same boat with me; if we were to switch position that time, I knew you would go screw that fucking bastard as well."

Kagome just kept glaring at him. "What the hell are you talking about?"

"If you truly forget, then let me refresh your memory and entertain you. Remembered that night after the graduation, Kagome?"

Kagome blinked several times. Inuyasha was only talking nonsense, wasn't he? Furrowing her eyebrows, she desperately tried to remember what that night, until it finally clicked her. That fight they had just a day before their supposedly wedding day…

.

"Damn you, Inuyasha. You're such a selfish bastard. I'm tired of your childish attitude!" Kagome exclaimed angrily, her voice dripping with venom.

"If I am such a selfish bastard, why don't you go run to your precious lover boy? He's a gentleman, yes? A prince that could sweep you off your feet, while making your all stupid fairy tale dreams come true?" Inuyasha answered in a bitter tone.

"Gods, Inuyasha," Kagome said exasperatedly, "Leave Koga out of this! You know I only saw him as a friend!"

"Friends do not put suck each other's tongues, Kagome." Inuyasha hissed coldly.

Kagome's eyes widened. "I was not kissing him!"

"If a thief admitted herself, then the jail will be so full, Kagome."

"Are you trying to say that I was cheating behind your back, Inuyasha?"

"I did not say that. But I bet it's the truth, huh? I bet you couldn't wait until I left, so you can quickly go screw him."

"You- fuck you, Inuyasha. Tell you what? I had enough of your fucking attitude. Maybe I should just go screw Kouga just like you said. After all, he's a much better man that you would ever be. He's loyal, much gentler, much-"

SLAP

Kagome touched her burning cheek as she blinked rapidly, as if she couldn't believe what just happened. Inuyasha had just raised his hand against her. Something he never did before, something he had promised to her he would never do to her.

Inuyasha's breathing was harsh. His face was red with anger. But when he realized what he had just done, he froze.

"Kagome-" He tried to reach for her, but Kagome flinched as she took a step back.

"You… you actually hit me," she whispered in a broken tone.

"Kagome, I didn't mean-"

"I don't wanna hear any of it!" Kagome cried, "what the hell, Inuyasha. I don't even know who you are anymore."

She took her bag and left his house without sparing anymore glance at him.

Inuyasha glanced at the mirror beside him, suddenly hated his own reflection. He growled in frustration as he punched his fist through the glass.

'I actually hit her. With this hands….' He thought as he watched his hand began to bleed.

.

"Remember how we didn't talk for days after that, Kagome? Even on the graduation. I tried to apologize to you multiple times, but you were being such a cold-blooded bitch and ignored me. Do you even remember what you said to me when you told me to bring Kikyo back to her home?"

.

"Hic… Inu…Hic…yashaaaa…" Kikyo slurred drunkenly, snaking her arms around Inuyasha's waist.

Inuyasha tried to free himself from her, "You're drunk, Kikyo, stop it."

"Baby..hic… what's…. wrong? Hic… don't tell… hic… me, you… Hic don't love… hic… me again…"

"Kikyo, you know I am engaged to Kagome."

"No need to play your holy man card, Inuyasha." Kagome said in a bitter tone. She had been watching the two for quite sometime and had grown annoyed. "Just take Kikyo back to her home. Do what you want, I don't give a shit."

Inuyasha glared at her. "Kagome, don't you think it's enough already? I told you I'm sorry!"

"If sorry is enough, then jail would not be needed, Inuyasha." Kagome answered in a mocking tone, rephrasing what he had said to her few days ago.

Inuyasha gritted his teeth. "Fine, then," he hoisted Kikyo up and carried her bridal style, "I'm bringing her home."

"So… Just like that… You let her seduce you?" Kagome asked in disbelief.

"A woman practically threw herself to me when I was being treated like shit by my own fiancé. What else could I do?" Inuyasha replied with a glare.

"You could've pushed her away!"

"Quit your innocent act, Kagome. And what about you, didn't you go and fuck Kouga too the next day?"

"What the hell are you talking about?"

Inuyasha growled. "I realized what I did the next morning and felt guilty as shit. I didn't dare to tell you right away, cuz I knew you would hate me even more, and you would probably left me. I couldn't bear that," He paused and his eyes began to darken, "But that night, I gathered my courage to go to your house and tell you everything. But guess what I saw? You, Kagome, were entering his damn car. I followed you two with my car, and you both went to a fucking hotel."

Kagome's eyes widened in surprise. It was the day when Kikyo told her she had slept with Inuyasha, and even had the nerve to show her the marks she got from him. She had been crying the whole day, until Kouga came and consoled her, bringing her a few bottle of drinks.

"Tell me what's the different of what you did and what I did. Tell me where the difference lies." demanded Inuyasha fiercely.

"I didn't sleep with him that night, you know," Kagome answered slowly, "I might be drunk, but I wasn't that stupid. He tried to get me to bed with him, but I refused him and went home alone with a taxi."

"You're probably lying right now." Inuyasha chuckled in a bitter tone.

"I do not, Takahashi. Why don't you ever trust me?" Kagome hissed.

Inuyasha growled. "Perhaps because you always compared me to that son-of-a-bitch ex-boyfriend of yours."

Kagome's eyes widened. So the way Inuyasha saw it, she had always compared him to Kouga?

"I see." She muttered softly. "I guess there are just too many misunderstandings between us, Inuyasha."

"True. But Kagome," He hesitated a bit, "I'm willing to try everything from the beginning. That's it, if you're willing to give me the chance."

Kagome stared at Inuyasha's dark orbs, contemplating if she really should give him the chance. To be honest, she didn't know if she truly wanted to start everything over again. One one side, she couldn't really fool herself into thinking that she didn't have any feelings for him anymore. But then, it really hurt a lot to know that Inuyasha could easily lost his trust on her. And would easily go screw some other woman behind her. Did he actually love her at all? And her life had been perfect until now, even after he left. So why risked for the uncertainty?

This is a win or win situation, Kagome. Even if you are not sure if you want to let him back in your life, having his trust would benefit you in so many ways right now. You know, Inuyasha's not a weak opponent. You understand well how determined he is. This is your chance to lure him… and get as much information as you needed for the next court trial.

Kagome felt her blood ran cold as the thought passed her mind. Where did that came from..?

Think about what will happen if you win the case… This is a perfect opportunity for your own future. The whole Japan would know your name as the best lawyer… You can pay for a better medication for your grandfather… You can send Souta to the best University in the world he had always wanted to go. And no need to lie to yourself, Kagome. You actually wanted to see that heart-broken look on Inuyasha's face, right?

'That's right.' She thought. 'Inuyasha deserves to get his pride destroyed, once in a while…'

"Kagome?" called Inuyasha softly when he saw how quiet she had been.

Without she even knowing it, a smile formed from the corner of Kagome's lips. She didn't know what had gotten into her, but slowly, and carefully, her right hand reached to touch Inuyasha's left cheek.

"Inuyasha…" she breathed, "Yes… I am willing to give you another chance."