DISCLAIMER: All Inuyasha goodness belongs to the amazing Takahashi-san!

Rhythm of the Heartbeat

By: MissKatt

Chapter Three: Encounters

"Kagome-chan!" Sango cried once all of her friend's students had left the studio. She had patiently waited for the class to be over before bursting into the room with her emotions hi-wire.

Kagome turned towards her best friend with a smile, but it instantly drooped down into a frown when she saw how distraught her friend looked. "Sango-chan? What's wrong? What happened?" She asked, holding her arms out to her friend and the taller girl ran over to her. She folded her arms over her friend's back, trying to sooth her as she cried. Funny how their positions had changed since last night.

"I saw him. He was trying to talk to me." Came her muffled replied.

"What was he saying?"

"That I was his everything and that he never lied. Can you imagine? The nerve of that man!" She huffed, pulling away from her friend. That was the difference between her and her best friend. Sango could easily turn her sadness into rage, let it out, and then be over it. Kagome wasn't quite the same.

"Well, maybe he wasn't lying. Perhaps you should hear him out, Sango-chan. I know you still love him." She said softly, watching at the girl went and pulled out her only, very used looking, punching bag and began impaling it with ferocious punches and side kicks.

"How could I…ever…trust…him!" She said in between blows.

"Do you really think you guys couldn't pick up where you left off?" She asked and stepped into her yoga pants, pulling them up over her dance shorts to be more conservative. Sango suddenly stopped and leaned against the heavy bad, sighing as she did.

"I don't know, Kagome-chan. He was convicted of murder. All three of them were."

"Well, I wouldn't put it past Inuyasha and I don't know his brother, but I don't think Miroku could ever kill anyone." She said earnestly. She had never really met Inuyasha's brother, but she had seen what Inuyasha's rage could do; especially when his youkai took over.

"You really think so?" Sango asked, biting the inside of her cheek.

"Yes and I know you know that too, Sango-chan. You're just upset. You knew him better than all of us." She said softly, smiling at her. Sango offered her one in return.

"Yea, I guess you're right, Kagome-chan. But I think I still need a little time." She replied and ran her hand through her hair before beginning to tie it up into a ponytail. "How many classes are you doing today?"

"I just finished my second one. Let's see, it's 12:12pm. I'm going to be taking a little break and then I have three more. My next one is at 3:00pm, then 4:30pm, then my final one at 6pm." She said, counting on her fingers. This last class and her final class were the only classes than ran an hour and half because they were her favorite classes.

"Lame. That means Kikyou is going to be here from 1:30 until 2:30 and you won't even be here to save me." Sango sighed dramatically and put her arm on her face. Kagome let out a laugh.

"I think some how you will survive." She said, smiling still. "Well, I'm off to take my break, do you want me to bring you something to eat?"

"Mm, how about a Wac Double? Oh, and a large fry please!" Sango grinned and went to fetch out her wallet. Kagome waved her hand.

"You're fine. Don't worry about it! You'll need it after two back to back classes!" She grabbed her gym bag before walking towards the doors.

"Kagome, you're crazy. You do two more classes than I do and I'm going to need it?" Sango commented, smiling.

"Oh, it's nothing. I love teaching!" Kagome grinned and waved again. "Have fun with your ninja class and self-defense class!" She called before leaving.

*~~~RHB~~~*

"Class is done. Get out. Your wimpy asses better be here on Wednesday!" Inuyasha snapped out to his students. They groaned and practically dragged their feet as they left the studio, pain radiating off of them in waves. "Keh, pussies."

"You didn't hurt them too much, did you?" Miroku asked, sipping from a WacDonald's straw.

"Of course I did! I have to get all of them into shape! None of them have any of the right postures and they hit like girls!" He complained, shoving the punching bags into the storage closet of the room.

"Yes, but we need them to come back, remember?" Sometimes he really didn't think Inuyasha had a hamster turning the wheel in his mind.

"Oh, they'll be back." Inuyasha said and tossed his shirt over his shoulder. "Another meditation class?"

"Yes, then I believe Sesshoumaru is teaching the Swordplay class at 2 and fencing at 6:30. Don't you have another class?" Miroku asked, raising a brow at his friend.

"Yeah, Swordplay at 4." He replied and stretched out his arms. "Well, see ya." He tossed the key at his friend and left. Miroku watched him go and then began setting up his class needs.

"Argh, I hate this!" Inuyasha murmured to himself as he walked down the wooden path towards the employee room. He stopped suddenly in his tracks when a familiar smell slapped his nose. He raised his head and saw a familiar black haired beauty walking toward him from the other side of the shrine. His golden eyes widened, several emotions taking over him. Regret, happiness, and loathing. Those were only a few. What was she doing here? Was she a student?

"K-Kagome." He said loud enough for her to hear. She froze mid-step and almost tripped over herself. He watched as fear quickly replaced her earlier smile. She went to raise her head, but stopped herself, thinking otherwise. She jumped off of the hallway and onto the stone entry way. She ran across the courtyard and to the shrine steps, quickly hopping down them, taking three at a time.

He sighed and looked down at the ground miserably. What did he expect? For her to throw herself at him like nothing had ever happened? He had hurt her; broken her, physically and mentally. He was in a better place now than he was before, but he tried to kill the hope that they could still be together.

"Ah! Inuyasha! What are you doing here?" He turned around to see the cause of all his problems staring at him, wearing an almost too low cut shirt.

"Oh, hey." He said, continuing on his way towards the employee lounge. She followed him, almost bouncing in step.

"Oh hey? That's all you have to say?" Kikyou asked, crossing her arms over her chest. "Why didn't you call me when you got out of jail?"

"I had just gotten out for murder, Kikyou. Murder. I wasn't really in the mood to meet up with old flings." He said, keeping his eyes pinned ahead of him so he wouldn't continue to stare at the swell of her milky breasts.

"I should have been the first person," She continued on, pursing her lips together when he refused to look at her. "Why are you out so early anyways?"

"They concluded they didn't have enough evidence."

"I never once thought you were guilty." She said smugly, putting her hands on her hips.

"Yeah? And how do ya know that?" He finally turned to look at her, eyes narrowed.

"Because I know you. I mean, despite Kagome, you couldn't hurt anyone." She glared at him when his ears flattened against his head in shame.

"That's not funny, Kikyou. I wasn't…myself."

"I find it hilarious. You never lost your control with me, Inuyasha-kunnn." She cooed the last part of his honorific, toying with him. She hugged his arm, pressing her breasts against it. He stiffened as she did.

"Enough!" He snapped, clenching his fists.

"Fine." She huffed.

"What are you doing here?" He questioned, ignoring the way she brushed against his side and the goosebumps that arose on his flesh from it. No, no, no. This was all bad.

"I work here. What about you?" She asked, smirking at him as he shifted when she moved against him again.

"I work here too." He said, trying to be short and nonchalant despite the fluttering his heart did the more she remained near.

"Oh! So you were the one who saved the shrine! I guess I should thank you," She stopped and grabbed his hand, forcing him to stop too. She smirked wickedly at him and drew his hand dangerously close toward the crotch of her jean shorts. "Perhaps we could meet in the employee lounge later." She whispered, but the twitch of his ear gave away that he heard her loud and clear.

"I-I-…" Before he could reply she rose up on the balls of her feet and pressed her lips against his in a rough manner. She then winked at him before turning away and walking towards the archery field.

Yes, he was in trouble.