Ch. 3- Unexpected Reunion

Inuyasha © Rumiko Takahashi

"Kagome!"

Kagome looked up to see a young woman with brown hair that was tied up in a ponytail, wearing a magenta coat and a light pink scarf around her neck, plus a pair of dark brown pants and a pair of black boots. She also had on some light red eyeliner around her eyes.

"There you are!" she called. "I was when you'd show up! You're late, you know!"

"Sorry, Sango," Kagome said as she approached her and gave her a hug.

Sango was Kagome's childhood friend, just a year older than she was. The two girls were practically joined at the hip since preschool together. Sango had always been something of an older sister figure to Kagome ever since the older child scared off bullies that were picking on the younger girl by forming a circle and singing "Kagome, Kagome". Ever since that day, the girls were hardly ever seen apart.

"Come on," Sango said as she and Kagome entered the university building. "We're late for the lecture."

"Sorry," Kagome said. "I had to take care of something at home. Before I knew it, I was running late."

"Well, you still made it, at least," Sango said. "I'd be really worried if you never showed up."

"You're always fussing about me," Kagome replied.

"Someone has to," Sango quipped, causing the two of them to laugh. "So...what happened at home?"

"Oh, nothing special," Kagome said. "After I got off work at almost 1 in the morning, I ended up bringing a little houseguest to my apartment." She then sighed while muttering under her breath "A drunk houseguest..."

"Wait, what?" Sango asked. "Drunk?"

"Don't worry about it," Kagome replied. "He went home."

"It was a guy?!" Sango questioned.

"Shh~!" Kagome shushed. "Sango, please! Keep it down!"

Soon, the pair were in the lecture hall, listening to the professor. Not many attended, just the usual 13 people, some humans, and some demons. Among them was a tall, tanned-skin young man with long black hair that was tied up in a ponytail and wearing a brown headband. He had on a brown hooded jacket and a white T-shirt underneath, as well as a pair of gray jeans. What stuck out about him most, however, was the long, brown, furry tail sticking out of his rear end.

The moment his blue eyes fell on Kagome, he smiled warmly.

"Hey there, Kagome," he greeted.

"Hello, Koga," Kagome greeted, though in a bit of a deadpan tone.

"I was starting to wonder where you might have been," said Koga. "You hardly ever run late."

"I had something to take care of at home, okay?" Kagome asked as she grabbed a book and began to open it.

"Don't start any funny business, today, Koga," said Sango in a warning tone.

"Oh, come on, can't I just be friendly?" Koga asked...but then he paused as his nose twitched...then he leaned closer to Kagome and took a big inhale, causing her to push him away.

"Oh, my god, what is wrong with you, Koga?!" she questioned.

"Are you out of your mind, you crazy wolf?!" Sango asked. "I know you've been crushing on Kagome for a while, but that's creepy even by your standards!"

"I-I'm sorry!" Koga cried. "I...I just..."

"You just what, Koga?!" Kagome asked.

"...I...I'm sorry," Koga apologized. "Really."

"Come on, Kagome," Sango said as she got up. "Let's sit somewhere else."

"But Kagome-" Koga started.

"I don't wanna hear it, Koga!" Kagome interrupted as she left with Sango.

"Well, that was weird," Sango said. "Normally, he just leers at you...I've never known him to sniff you before. Even my boyfriend's not that big of a creep, half the time."

"Yeah..." Kagome muttered as they sat in different seats.

'That was really weird...' she thought. 'I mean...I know that canine demons are known to smell things, but that was a little too close for comfort.'

XXX

A little while later, Kagome and Sango were sitting in the university library, just minding their own business.

"So, who was this guy that you brought to your home?" asked Sango.

"Don't worry about it, Sango," Kagome said in a hushed voice so as not to disturb the other university students.

"Come on, you can tell me," Sango urged. "I won't tell anyone, okay?"

Kagome looked at her childhood friend, who looked at her with these pleading eyes. Kagome wasn't really one for gossip, but she knew Sango wasn't one to blab to anyone else. Not even her boyfriend knew very much between the two, and that was saying something.

"...Well," Kagome started, "it's difficult to explain."

"Try me," Sango smirked.

"...Okay," Kagome replied. "You see, I was getting off work and locking up the cafe for the night...but then, as I was heading home, I saw someone get kicked out of Ren's Joint."

"You mean that bar that Renkotsu owns not too far from the cafe?" asked Sango.

"The very one," Kagome affirmed. "Anyway, I get up closer to him and I see that he's a half-demon."

"A half-demon?" asked Sango in surprise. "Wow...those are really rare. I mean, it's hard to tell if someone's a demon in this day and age with how well they blend in, but a half-demon? What kind was he?"

"A dog," Kagome answered. "He had white hair and two dog ears on his head...and...these really pretty golden eyes..."

Sango blinked at her friend, who had this slightly wistful smile on her face, which caused her to chuckle.

"Uh...anything else?" she asked.

"Well, he was really plastered," Kagome replied. "Apparently, he had been there since 10 o'clock last night, so there's no telling how much he had to drink. I tried getting him to call his parents, but he was so drunk, he couldn't even coordinate properly. So, I took him home, called his folks and left a message...then I ended up letting him sleep in my bed."

'God forbid I tell Sango I had to take off his vomit-stained clothes,' she thought.

"He slept in your bed?" Sango asked. "...You two didn't-"

"No!" Kagome whispered, sharply. "Dear god, no! That's the last thing I'd do...although..."

"Although what?" Sango asked.

"...When I put him to bed," Kagome began, "he started crying in his sleep...and then he called me 'Kikyo'."

"Kikyo?" Sango repeated. "That's weird..."

"Yeah, I know," Kagome said. "And...you know what else is weird?"

"What?" Sango asked.

"On the night I met him," Kagome said as she looked at her finger, "I saw a red string, tied around my pinky finger."

"A...a red string?" Sango repeated in confusion. "I don't understand."

"Neither do I," Kagome said. "I mean...sometimes, it's there and sometimes, it's not...and when I first saw it...it was tied around his finger."

"Huh...that is strange," Sango mused. "So...did you get his name?"

"Yeah," Kagome replied. "His name is-"

"Kagome."

Kagome tensed before she turned around, only to sigh as she saw that it was Koga, again. Rolling her eyes, she turned away from him while Sango glared.

"Don't you have some other girl to stick your nose at?" she asked.

"Look, I'm sorry," Koga apologized. "I couldn't help myself. My base instincts took over. When I smelled this weird scent coming off Kagome, I had to be sure."

"What weird scent?" Kagome asked as she glared at the wolf demon. "Are you saying I don't bathe?!"

"N-no! God, no!" Koga cried before he sighed. "Look, I'm just gonna go ahead and ask...Kagome...did you...get a dog or something?"

Kagome's eyes went wide.

"A...a dog?" she repeated. "Why?"

"Because for some reason," Koga began, "your usually sweet-smelling fragrance is being overpowered by the stink of dog."

Kagome couldn't help hearing the slight venom in his tone of voice as he said this.

"And not just that," Koga said, "you kinda smell a little like booze, too...and I know you'd never drink a drop of alcohol in your life, Kagome." He then glared. "...Don't tell me...you didn't meet him, did you?"

"Meet who?" Kagome asked.

"Who are you talking about, Koga?" Sango asked.

"Inuyasha Taisho," Koga answered. "A half-demon...and man, is he bad news."

"What do you mean?" Kagome asked.

"That guy is a ticking time-bomb," said Koga. "Just about anything will set him off!"

"Okay, I think you might be exaggerating, just a little," Sango said. "There's no way that somebody is that temperamental."

"It's no joke," Koga said. "I actually know the guy...got into a few scrapes with him, myself." He then growled in his throat. "Just smelling him makes me sick."

"I'm sure he's not that bad," Kagome replied.

"Oh, trust me," Koga said. "He's not exactly a ray of sunshine...especially after what happened, three years ago."

"What?" Kagome asked. "What happened three years ago?"

"It doesn't matter," Koga replied before he looked to the girl and held her hands with the utmost sincerity. "Listen to me, Kagome."

"Oh, here we go," Sango deadpanned.

"If that mutt ever puts his grubby paws on you again," Koga began, "let me know and I'll gladly put him in his place for you...understand?"

"Uh...I think I can take care of myself, Koga," said Kagome, "but I appreciate your concern."

"Well, I'm still around if you need me," Koga replied as he turned to leave. "Be seein' ya, Kagome."

On that, he left, while Sango stuck her finger in her mouth and gagged.

"Seriously?" she asked. "Can you believe that guy?"

"... ... ..." Kagome remained quiet.

"What's wrong?" asked Sango.

"...Don't tell Koga," Kagome whispered, "but...I actually did meet Inuyasha last night."

"What?!" Sango asked in surprise, though tried to keep her voice soft. "You're kidding!"

"No, I'm not," Kagome said, "and honestly...I think Koga's got him pegged all wrong. I mean...he might look grumpy, but I think he's just got his issues."

"You think that only after one night with him?" Sango asked.

"Not just one night," Kagome countered. "I actually spent a little time with him this morning before his brother came and took him home. I mean...maybe he is a little rude and needs a bit of an attitude adjustment, but honestly, he seems okay for the most part."

"Are you sure about that, Kagome?" Sango asked.

"...Oh, it doesn't matter," Kagome replied. "I probably won't even see him again."

"What makes you so sure about that?" Sango inquired.

"It was just happenstance that I happened to meet him, at best," Kagome said. "He was drunk and in trouble, so I helped him out. That's all it is."

"...If you say so," Sango said, "but Kagome...sometimes, fate has a funny way of working things out."

"Pfft!" Kagome buzzed her lips. "Fate..." As she glanced down at her left pinky finger...her eyes went wide upon seeing that same red string from last night.

'...Again?'

XXX

"Haa...this is much better, huh, Taro?"

Taro panted as he walked along while Inuyasha held his leash, both of them walking down the street. Inuyasha figured that maybe a nice walk with his dog would clear his head. So far, it seemed to be working. His mind hadn't been on the argument with his father since he left the house.

This time, though, he remembered to take his phone with him, just to keep Izayoi from worrying.

Taro barked as he pulled on his leash, causing Inuyasha to chuckle as he walked after his dog. The Akita always seemed to cheer him up, no matter how much of a grouch he was being. He could still remember the day he adopted him, 5 years ago from the shelter on the day he was due to be put down. At first, Toga wouldn't allow it, saying that Inuyasha wasn't responsible enough to care for a dog, but his son proved him wrong. He fed him the best dog food he could buy, brushed him almost every day, bathed him once or twice a week (which usually ended with Inuyasha falling into the tub), hell, he even saved up more than a thousand dollars out of his own allowance just to make sure that he had proper vet care.

And of course, the dog repaid him with his own affections...especially after...

Well, all in all, Taro was the one thing that still brought some semblance of joy to Inuyasha's life.

As the two walked, Inuyasha's stomach started to growl. He realized it was about lunchtime. Maybe he could stop at his favorite ramen place and grab a bowl to eat before he went back home, not to mention give some pork belly slices to Taro as a treat. Of course, he could also bring home some ice cream macarons. Shippo loved those.

Just then, the leash went taut and caused Inuyasha's left arm to get pulled back. He was so caught up in his thoughts, he didn't realize that Taro had stopped in front of some fancy-looking cafe, staring through the glass door while wagging his tail. Inuyasha blinked, perplexed as to why his dog decided to stop and stare at such a place, but he supposed it might have been because he might have smelled something good in there.

"Taro, what are you doing?" Inuyasha asked as he tugged on the leash. "Come on, let's go."

But Taro wouldn't budge, instead choosing to hook his claws into the concrete, to his master's frustration.

"Taro!" Inuyasha demanded as he pulled on the leash, again. "Come on, boy!"

Taro growled as he pulled away from Inuyasha, who grunted as he tried to pull the leash back, but then, all of a sudden, his collar slipped off and the Akita ran inside the building.

"Taro!" Inuyasha yelled as he chased after him. "Taro, get back here! Heel!"

As soon as he entered the cafe, all eyes fell on him from both the patrons and the staff. Inuyasha panted as he looked around for his dog until he spotted him going up a flight of stairs to the upper deck...but that wasn't the only thing he saw: there, on the steps, was that same red thread, and when he looked down at his right hand, he saw that it was tied to his pinky again...but he didn't have time to focus on it, now. He had to get his dog back before he got into any trouble!

As Inuyasha ran up the stairs, his breath got caught in his chest as he found Taro...being petted by a familiar black-haired woman wearing a black uniform and a white apron tied around her waist. As she looked up, her chocolate brown eyes met his golden ones, causing her to gasp as she stood up...the red string seeming to float before the two of them.

"Inuyasha...!" Kagome whispered.

Wouldn't meet again, eh? I think NOT.

Review, please!