A/N: Here we go. My computer is acting like a butt so I'm trying to write and update on a new device... We'll see how this goes!
Some time later... I'll tell you how it went, not well. The auto fill changed my words constantly and in the end it was too much of a hassle. Luckily my computer is acting much better and I am working on getting back into the swing of my stories. To everyone who reads and reviews Thank you Thank you Thank you for your attention and your patients.
Standard Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha or any of the characters from the anime/manga. However any original characters belong to me.
Chapter 6
"RRRAAHHHHH!" Inuyasha shouted out in anger as he kicked the dummy in the training courtyard behind his family's home. As Koga's father was to the wolves, Inuyasha's father was the leader of the Western pack of demon dogs. It afforded them a lifestyle that would always come with the title Inu no Taisho, still Inuyasha didn't care for any of it. Some hated him within the pack because he was the second son from a second woman. His mother was married to his father, but his older brother was the one everyone favored to take over the title next. Punching the next dummy, he growled in his aggravation, he'd never be a leader like Koga was destined to be. Never give Kagome a grand lifestyle like his own mother lived. Claws at the ready he slashed the last dummy standing as if it were merely paper. What stupid shit! Did it matter anyways? She was gone. How did it end up this way?
"Inuyasha." His father's calm voice called out in the darkness.
The young hanyou whipped around in his defensive pose. The night had grown thick around him, everything outside of the training area was illuminated by the heavy glow of the full moon. He hadn't even noticed the night him until that moment.
His father stood still in the moonlight, silently watching as his son breathed hard trying to calm himself. He had been watching Inuyasha for a short time. Akio was truly worried about his youngest son. The calm, cool Sesshomaru had was not for Inuyasha. Inuyasha was hot headed, quick tempered, and foul mouthed. It was something Akio had been himself at that age.
"Let's talk." Akio said as he tossed a water bottle to his son.
"You talk to mom yet, old man?" Inuyasha asked as he walked passed his dad, out of the lights of training yard, and over to the darker covered patio. Grabbing a towel he started rubbing the sweat away from his face and neck. Looking sideways at his father, Inuyasha waited for the yelling to start.
"Yes, I talked to your mother. She told me about school and that she thought something else happened at Kagome's house." Akio looked at his son. He could see the pain the young demon was trying to hide.
Inuyasha sighed. So they were going to really do this, the father son bullshit that they usually avoided, huh? He had his doubts. "So, are you going to yell or what?"
"Walk with me, I really think we should talk." Akio walked out from under the patio towards the woods their home bordered. He knew he hadn't been the best father to either of his sons. Sesshomaru had shown little concern with the detachment, less concern for others, but still had excelled at everything life threw his way. Inuyasha had not failed exactly, but he acted out in ways his brother never had. Still Akio knew he was partially to blame for the way both of his sons acted.
Inuyasha followed his father quietly into the woods, the fucking silent treatment thing was starting to get on his nerves. "The suspension is my fault. I'll take whatever punishment you want to give me."
"I'm not going to punish you." Akio stopped walking and looked up at the stars through the leaves. "I met your mother in high school you know. At the time she was good friends with wolf demon named Taiki."
"Koga's father." Inuyasha stated as he leaned against the trunk of the closest tree.
"Yes. Anyways, he had a crush on your mother but didn't seem willing to test the bounds of their friendship by acting on it. Around the middle of third year I came into the picture. He tried to tell me off," The Inu no Taisho smirked at his son, "I wasn't having that. We fought...a lot." .
Inuyasha furrowed his brow at the elder demon. Was this the same guy who gave him grief all of the time for fighting with Koga? What the hell?
Akio laughed lightly nodding his head. "I know what you're thinking. But yea, me and that wolf fought everywhere, over every thing. At the movies, parties, the beach, it didn't matter. He'd say something and I'd get pissed, I'd say something and he'd get pissed." His father sighed as he looked back up at the stars. "Close to the end of senior year I caught him kissing your mother in the hallway at school. I lost it. We destroyed an entire wing at the school in that fight because we had let it turn into a demon battle, full forms and all. Kaede had come close to expelling us. If anyone would have been injured she wouldn't have had a choice." Looking dead on at his son he said, "We got lucky. You got lucky." .
Inuyasha nodded. "I know.", he whispered, ashamed again at how out of control he had pushed things to get.
Akio believed his son, one thing Inuyasha was, he was a terrible liar. "Your mom was devastated. She had hated the fighting and bickering anyways. Me and Taiki had always known it. She confronted him that night about his actions. From what I understand he told her about his feelings and thoughts about the two of them. She was furious about the kiss, about his assumptions, about a lot of things that she never fully told me and I never asked. She ended their friendship, choosing me."
"Hold on." Inuyasha interrupted raising up from his spot. "If you and mom were together since then how does Sesshomaru even exist?"
Akio laughed the most nervous laugh Inuyasha had ever heard from his father. "Well you see I was quite the ass back then. I was livid about Izayoi letting Taiki kiss her. We didn't talk much the week of the suspension and finished the last few weeks of high school being tense with each other. I dumped your mother after graduation in favor of attending an all demon university in another city."
Inuyasha stared at the demon next to him as if he had never seen him before. He had known that his dad and Sesshomaru's mom met at university but he hadn't known about his parent's true history until just then.
"I met Kimi in my third year."
"Had a theme going there, huh?" Inuyasha muttered as he crossed his arms over his chest and leaned back against his tree.
Akio glared a little at his smart mouthed kid. "Seemed that way. I was on my way to being the next Inu no Taisho and there were elders in my ear about heirs and bloodlines and bullshit." Akio shook his head as he looked down at the ground. "Kimi never cared for the idea of marriage or permanent mating. She was willing to have my pup, she said she could see power in me and that's what she wanted for her offspring. She had no need of money or title, she had both of them by her own birthright. So we formally courted for a year and with six months left in my finally term at university I was set to come home, take the title from my uncle, and raise an heir. " Akio sighed as he paused.
Inuyasha furrowed his brow at his father. It didn't fucking end there. He was proof of that damn it! "How the hell did you end back up with mom?"
Akio growled lowly as he snapped his head up and to the right to stare at his son. "Watch your tongue, Pup." Straightening his posture he continued, "Three years later I had gone to meet Kimi at a restaurant up town to have dinner and give her Sesshomaru for his summer break. The waitress came up to our table while I was looking at the menu, she greeted everyone cheerfully and I was instantly annoyed. Since your mother I hadn't had much patience for happy humans. I looked up ready to demand another server but I came face to face with your mother. The moment she recognized me she took off running through the back of the restaurant.". Akio remembered Izayoi's shocked voice whisper his name, her soft brown eyes filled with pain as she looked at Kimi and Sesshomaru. As she took in the appearance of his family.
"I couldn't allow that. I took off after her, following her through the kitchen and out the back door. She had almost made it to her car when I caught her. She hadn't been expecting me to follow and when I grabbed her arm to turn her around she screamed so loud I thought I was going to go deaf."
"Mom was a waitress." Inuyasha said impressed. He had always thought of his mother as a princess. Her working had never crossed his mind.
"Yes." Akio smiled at his son's amazement. "When she realized who had a hold of her the screaming changed into yelling. I believe words like bastard and asshole were thrown around coupled with things like get away from me, I hate you."
Inuyasha chuckled at his father pretending to not remember. He knew the old demon remembered every word. "How did you get her to stop and listen to you?"
"How do you think?" Akio smirked. "I kissed that crazy woman. Then I dropped to my knees and begged her to forgive me. I had loved her in high school and been a stubborn ass. I had loved her while I was away at university but let foolish elders talk nonsense into my youthful head. I would never trade Sesshomaru as my son, I am deeply proud of him and am grateful for the opportunity to be his father. Still had I not been so foolishly stuck in my ways I may have never slept with Kimi."
The two stayed silent for a time listening to the wild in the wood. Finally Inuyasha had been silent enough.
"It's nice to know everything, but what was the point of telling me now? I'm not you in this go around, Dad. I'm in Taiki's fucking shoes! She told me to leave, that she needed fucking space." Reaching into his pocket he grabbed a handful of the beads and pulled them out. Showing his dad, while he was on the verge of yelling, "This morning we were fucking bonded and now it's all gone! I pushed shit too far without explaining things and now she's gone.". Sticking his hand with the beads back in his pocket he hung his head and began to walk away. "Thanks for the story, old man, but I'm not getting the happy fucking ending."
Akio stood still and watched his son go. There had been no point in telling Inuyasha that Izayoi had slapped his face when he had kissed her then gotten into her car without hearing him out, and had driven away. Her tear stained face was forever burned into his mind. He had shown up at her job every day for two months before she talked to him and it wasn't anything nice when she finally did. Another month passed before she was willing to wait his table instead of passing it off. Four months of that before she had let him ask her on a date, another two before she accepted, and another three before she allowed them to be an official item. But Akio could never say he didn't appreciate every moment she had fought against him, ever moment he had felt the need to prove his love. She had been right to be angry. He never tried to tell her it was wrong of her and he never would. All he could do was be thankful that she had taken him back and in the end gave him a wonderful son as well as loving his first son.
Still he was heartbroken that Inuyasha was following the same path they had walked so long ago. Because Inuyasha was right, at the moment he was in Taiki's shoes. Akio knew the wolf loved the wife/mate he had now. Izayoi had not been the one for him as she had been for Akio. However something told him Kagome was the one for Inuyasha not Koga. He just hoped they all realized that before it was too late to turn back.
Inuyasha stormed into the kitchen. He was caught off guard when he almost ran into his mother as she shut the fridge door. He had figured she was in bed at that hour. Looking at the clock on the stove he realized it was just after midnight.
"What are you doing up, Mom?" He asked as he gave her a hug.
She returned the gesture lightly knowing Inuyasha hated it when she squeezed him like a child. However when he didn't let go she held on a bit tighter as she worried. "Inuyasha-"
"Why couldn't you forgive Taiki?" Inuyasha asked as he hugged his mom. He couldn't look at her. He couldn't see if she still hated the wolf. They definitely hadn't been on good terms at the school when they were in Kaede's office earlier.
"I did forgive him. It was just that I forgave him too late." Izayoi said as she stroked her hand down her son's silver hair.
Pulling back Inuyasha looked questioningly at his mom. "But today you guys were brutal with each other?"
Izayoi looked sadly at her son. She wasn't sure how to explain everything. "That was pain you saw. We had been good friends for so long..." Izayoi sighed shaking her head as sorrow crossed her features, "the wound we made couldn't heal. We had both been hot headed. When I told him that I was in love with your father he couldn't accept that."
Inuyasha nodded. He understood, Kagome said she loved Kouga. Inuyasha didn't believe that she really did but there was nothing he could do now. "What do I do, Mom?" Inuyasha pleaded. He hated the need in his voice but he was praying she had some kind of answer for him.
"I can't answer that. I don't know all of what's going on with you and Kagome. " Holding up her hand to stop her son she said, "I don't need to know. There are things going on that she might not want you to say to anyone else. Wait and see what happens after the suspension."
Inuyasha didn't want to leave it at that, but he nodded his agreement as his mother kissed his forehead. Silently he watched as his mom walked out of the kitchen and down the hall towards the stairs. He knew that she was right. Waiting was the only thing he could do right now. Digging his hands deep into his pockets as he headed towards his own room, Inuyasha ran the beads through his fingers for the umpteenth time since Kagome had removed them. They were nothing now. Powerless beads reminding him of everything.
Morning came all to soon for Kagome's liking. Her alarm screeched in her ear like it did every school day. She slammed her hand down on it silencing it for the third time. She needed to get up, she knew that, but she had no desire to move from her bed.
"Kagome?" Her mother questioned softly as she opened the door to her teenage daughter's room. "If you don't get up, dear, you'll be late for school. "
"I know, Momma." Kagome said but she stayed curled on her side.
Asako sat on the edge of the bed and parted her daughter's leg. "I promise, it only feels like the end of the world." She allowed only a brief moment of silence before she stood back up and headed towards the door. "Breakfast is waiting. "
"The end of the world." Kagome sighed out unquestioningly as she rolled over to her back and laid her arm over her eyes. It wasn't so much that it felt like the end of the world but more like a gnawing emptiness in her. Her fight with Inuyasha played in her mind part of the night and the worry over Kouga's radio silence screamed through her mind the rest of the night.
As if it had been waiting for its cue her phone buzzed on the night stand next to her bed. Lifting her arm slightly she glanced sideways. It was a text from Sango.
Hey, Kagome, so you want us to pick you up this morning? - Sango
Kagome sighed heavily as she sat up and swung her legs out of her bed. Grabbing her phone she looked to see if Koga's had texted her while she was sleeping...nothing. Damn she didn't feel like being around anyone.
No thanks, San. I'll be walking for a few days I think. - Kagome
Ok, we'll see you at school then. - Sango
See you there. - Kagome
Stretching Kagome looked to her closet. There was her uniform, just like it was supposed to be. Clicking her tongue against her teeth she got up and made her bed before opening her window. Then she grabbed her uniform and heading to the bathroom. She wasn't going to rush getting ready for school but she knew this couldn't become a habit.
Still what was there to mornings now? Inuyasha wouldn't be showing up anymore. There would be no reason to rush. At a standard pace and by bathing at night she could be ready, eat, and out the door within thirty minutes.
Looking in the mirror as she brushed through her hair, Kagome couldn't help but notice how abnormally pale she looked and how dark the circles under her eyes were.
"I guess a little makeup won't take too long." She mumbled to herself as she reached into the bottom drawer at the sink. Opening the bag Kagome frowned, had it really been that long since she had worn any make up? Pulling out the middle school strawberry pink lip gloss she realized she hadn't worn any make up in quite awhile.
"Still, there has to be something in here that I can use!"
Digging through the bag Kagome found some light brown eye shadow that wasn't to sparkly, some blush, and mascara. After ten minutes longer than she wanted to bother with it, she walked out of the bathroom.
"I have to skip breakfast, Momma!" Kagome called down the stairs as she ran into her room to grab her bag and phone. She looked at her open window but it was clear no one had come in. Sighing are her own stupidity she closed the window and jogged out of her room.
"At least eat this toast on your way out." Kagome's mom said as she met her daughter at the bottom of the stairs.
Kagome stopped on the last step and gave her mom a teary eyed smile. "Thanks, Momma." She said as she wrapped her arms around the older woman.
"You're welcome, sweet heart. Try to have a good day." With that Mrs. Higurashi shuffled her daughter towards the door.
Kagome slipped on her shoes and took off out of the house at gentle jog. She was willing to let herself be late today, but tomorrow she'd be early!
The determined teen approached the stairs that lead up to her family's shrine. The gate greeted her. Ancient and red it overwhelmed her with its presence.
"Much like another ancient thing here." Kagome stopped and looked back towards the sacred tree.
Shaking her head to stop her silly train of thought, she carefully made her way down the stairs. She had no business thinking about Inuyasha! He had done her wrong and she was no less guilty. However the person she had done the most wrong too had been Kouga. She had been ignoring his pain, naively brushing off his anger about her smell at every turn. Kagome knew she needed to make it up to him but with his lack of response she didn't even know if they would be together after this.
The walk to school had taken her mind over more scenarios about what was going on in Kouga's mind than she should have entertained, but as the school neared of her her mind was given something else to think about. The minute she stepped onto the school grounds the whispers began around her. Closing her eyes for a second she took a deep breath to try and center herself. Kagome knew she was close to being late but there seemed to be a lot of people still lingering in the front courtyard of the school. Looking around no one seemed to be in the slightest hurry. 'These must be the delinquents.' Kagome thought as she rushed up to the door trying to ignore the people there.
"Not even a good morning?"
Naraku's voice caught Kagome so off guard she missed her next step. Stumbling to correct her footing her annoyed brown eyes locked with his amused red ones. He was sitting on the ledge near the steps, leaning against the building. His ink black hair was pulled back and his uniform was perfect. Next to him standing on the stairs was Kaugra. Her red eyes swept over Kagome before she turned her head away.
"Are you running late today, Kagome?" Naraku's voice purred with amusement.
"Are you running late, Naraku?" Kagome asked as she straightened up and grabbed the door handle.
Naraku stood up and walked to the door in a fluid movement that Kagome knew most demons were capable of.
"You're right." Naraku laid his hand on top of Kagome's.
Kagome tried to pull her hand free but he wasn't having it as she felt him apply more pressure. Narrowing her eyes at the offending demon she was about to complain but he didn't give her a chance. Opening the door quickly he released her hand and gestured for her to walk through.
"Shall we walk in together?" Naraku gently urged Kagome through the door with a hand on the small of her back.
The chill that flooded her body was almost painful. She wasn't sure what it was about Naraku that bothered her but he rubbed her the wrong way. Stepping away from the new kid she gave him the best smile she could at the moment. "Thank you, Naraku, but I'd rather be on my own."
As Kagome rushed off she missed the sinister smile that crossed the lips of the demon behind her.
On the other side of the school Sango sat drumming her fingers on her desk top in their homeroom. Thrum, Thrum, Thrum. Over and over and over again.
"Stop it!" Ayame growled out. "It's been fifteen minutes. Can you please give it a rest?"
"I'm worried about Kagome." Sango defended as her fingers drummed again. "She isn't the type of person who is late."
Ayame tilted her head towards the door. "She's not going to be late today either."
Before Sango could ask what she meant Kagome came through the door. The slayer in training instantly relaxed, until she noticed the make up on her friend's face. Kagome wasn't a fan of make up. She hated the time it took to put on, and take off, she hated the reaction from others. People often acted as if make up brought some great of beauty to a person that they didn't have before and that bothered Kagome more often than not.
"Kaggy, how pretty you look today." Kikyo called as she angled herself in her seat so that her perfectly crossed legs were blocking the isle. "I assume you have reached a decision."
Kagome glared down at her cousin. On top of everything happening, she had come to realize she loathed her cousin. "Inuyasha and I are done." Kagome said as she walked around her cousin. "Good luck."
Kagome walked a couple of rows away before she looked back to see Kikyo whispering with the female fox demon next to her. A fellow cheerleader who had never been nice to Kagome. It made since now why Kikyo had never believed her about her and Inuyasha. All the Kikyo had to do was asked her cheerleader friends and they would easily tell her who Kagome smelled like.
Kagome was sure that the scent on her had been pointed out to Kikyo immediately when Inuyasha had started dating the head cheerleader.
Sitting down in her normal seat in the back row Kagome dropped her head down on the desk top. She heard Sango try to talk to her but she honestly had nothing to say, so she rolled her head to look the other way. Unfortunately there was Miroku and she couldn't stop her curiosity.
"Did you know too?"
Miroku's violet eyes studied the girl next to him for a moment. He knew what Kagome was asking. He was Inuyasha's best male friend, he knew more about what Inuyasha felt for the young miko than anyone else. It still didn't make answering her any easier. "Yes."
Kagome nodded her head against the desk before wrapping her arms around her head to block out those around her. All she could think was how long the day was going to be.
Across town Koga was running at his top speed around the track that lapped the training center under the local wolf clan headquarters. His father had woken him up at sunrise and demanded that Koga join him at the headquarters for the day. Unfortunately there was nothing for the young wolf to do. He was too young to join in the meetings and there was no need to consult him for any of the mediocre tasks the females took care of in the office areas. In fact the ladies had gone so far to declare he would just be in the way. So there it was, he was useless, or in the way.
He never thought he would actually wish to be at school but as he was lapping the track for the hundredth and tenth time he found himself wishing to be in class. Kagome plagued his mind as he ran. Honestly she had been in his mind all night and from the moment he had gotten up. Like an ass he hadn't called her or messaged her. He was punishing her, he knew he was, like an ass. But damn it all! How did she not know? Did she really not get that she was off limits to that damn dog?
"Koga!"
His father's voice brought him to a dead stop. A dust cloud formed around him momentarily and when it settled he could see his dad looking far from amused.
"Did you need something from me, Dad?" Koga asked as he walked over to the side of the training center.
"You are being summoned to the council chamber." Taiki said in a calm but stern voice.
"Does the pack leader usually deliver summons?" Koga questioned as he grabbed a towel from the shelves against the wall next to the door.
Taiki watched his eldest son as the young wolf reached into the cooler on the floor and fish out a water. "In regards to my son's future mating I decided to make an exception."
Koga felt frozen, still stooped over in the cooler, the word mating echoing in his head. "What do you mean mating?"
"Let's first begin walking to the council chamber." Taiki said as he turned around and walked out of the door.
Koga knew he had no choice but too follow, so he did. "I plan to mate Kagome after we graduate." He said firmly to his father.
"Why? What does she offer the pack? " Taiki questioned calmly without ever looking at his son.
Swallowing the lump in his throat Koga searched for the right way to explain he choice in Kagome to his father. They had honestly never talked about this once. "She will be the most powerful Miko of this age. She will be a great asset in detouring others from trying to take our lands."
"So you want her to serve as a weapon for the pack?" Taiki asked as he looked at Koga skeptically.
Koga stopped walking, drawing his brow together as he stared at the floor. "That's not what I mean." He half whispered.
Taiki stopped walking himself and turned around to face his son. Koga stood there in the middle of the grand hallway looking like a confused child. His head hung towards the floor, his fists clinched at his sides, Taiki could see the youth at war with himself. "Then what did you mean?"
Koga looked up at his father. His blue eyes searched his father's deep brown. What was his dad trying to get him to say? "I love her and I see that she will be powerful enough to stand beside me as head of the pack."
Taiki nodded his head as he pushed his lips out in thought. "You are free to plead your case to the council. If your love is proven and her worth accepted then you may get your wish. If not you will be faced with the choice of leader or Kagome." Taiki turned around and started down the hall once again.
Koga bristled at the thought of an ultimatum from the council. "My choice will always be Kag-"
"I'd think carefully before spouting youthful ignorance." Taiki warned as he interrupted Koga's brash words of anger.
"Yes, Sir." Koga replied as he fell into step once again with his father. The council room door soon came in to view. Koga had never in his life felt his future looming over him the way he did the those moments leading up to his father shoving open the massing wooden doors.
In the West Inuyasha rolled around in his king size bed grunting and growling to himself. He was bored. There was nothing to do it at least nothing he wanted to do and Kikyo wouldn't stop texting him.
The sound of his phone let him know she was at it again. The girl had basically written a book about how they were meant to be and that how he needed to move on from Kagome and blah blah blah blah blah. He really wasn't in the mood. Laying in his bed with his arm over his eyes he realized what the hell did he have to lose? Kagome was out of his reach, he and Kikyo had never really given their relationship a real shot. Maybe with the air clear they would actually work out. "Or we'll fuck each other over again."
He couldn't argue with himself about that really. Picking up his phone he skimmed through the massive amounts of information she had sent. Once he had a good idea of where she stood he decided he'd message her back before she over loaded his phone.
Hey, babe, I got ur messages...ALL of them. Give me a few days 2 think about us. We don't have the best track record n there's no good reason 4 us 2 keep hurtin' each other. - Inuyasha
Her reply didn't take as long as he thought it would with her being in school so she must have been waiting for it.
Now that ALL of our biggest problems r taken care of we will fine, baby! I'll give u a few days 3 - Kikyo
All their biggest problems. She probably thought she had been the one to get Kagome away from him. It did make him wonder what Kagome would have done if things had been different. Would she have told Kouga the truth and hoped for the best?
Inuyasha couldn't say and he'd just get a headache thinking about it. Fuck! This shit was hard.
Suddenly his door was slammed open causing the young hanyou to jump. Unfortunately his reaction was too slow. The burning around his neck was intense and the pressure increased as he was dragged from his bed. Looking up the length of the green acid whip, Inuyasha's eyes doubled in size when he saw his mother standing next to his bastard of a brother.
"Sesshomaru is home for holiday from university!" She exclaimed excitedly as the older demon released his hold on his younger brother. Izayoi smiled at her son before patting Sesshomaru on the shoulder and then walking away.
"If you can laze about in your bed passed lunch then you can train. This Sesshomaru can see you are in need of more practice." Sesshomaru looked down at his hanyou brother with cold unfeeling eyes.
Inuyasha didn't back down from the look. Yes he was on the floor, yes he had a nearly two inch wide burn mark on his neck, but he would not turn away first. "Why are you here?"
"Has your sloth like nature finally affected your hearing? As your mother said, this Sesshomaru is here on holiday." With that the older demon turned his entire body towards the hall giving his back to the younger. "Be in the training yard in ten minutes or you will be dragged there."
Inuyasha growled out in defeat as his fist collided with his floor. That was the real show of dominance between them. He could hold a stare until then end of the world but he wouldn't dare attack Sessh's back and he knew if his ass wasn't in the training yard soon he would have that fucking whip around his neck again as Sesshomaru dragged him there.
Lunch had passed by at the school a couple hours ago and Kagome was eager for the day to be done. Her grace was that economy was one of the classes she didn't share with Kikyo. On the other side of that was she shared the class with Naraku and it was her last class of the day before homeroom...that she shared with Kikyo.
"I can feel you staring at me, Kagome. Is there something you need from me?" Naraku said softly without turning around.
Kagome felt herself cringe, she definitely hadn't meant to stare at him.
"No, Naraku, I was just spacing out a little. Sorry if i was bothering you."
Hoping that would be the end of it Kagome looked down at the work in front of her and began to focus.
However, Naraku felt like more needed to be said. "So I noticed the wolf and dog from yesterday were not here. What where their names again?"
Kagome glared at her page on the desk in front of her. He sounded so far from sincere about not knowing their names. "Kouga and Inuyasha. And you're right, they're not here."
Naraku smile and looked at Kagome in a condescending manner. "Is that why you are staring at me?"
Kagome furrowed her bow as she leaned back in her seat to look at the male demon in front of her. "Why would them being gone cause me to stare at you?"
His red eyes glossed over the young miko's face. She was pretty, there was no denying that. Right now something had happened between her, the wolf, and Inuyasha. The timing couldn't have been better for him to get what he wanted. "Because you clearly need an ear to listen. Whatever has happened you are not talking to your friends so maybe you need someone who is on the outside to listen."
Kagome couldn't help the confusion on her face. Was he serious? That was actually really nice. Still she didn't think it would be a good idea. "Thank you, Naraku." Kagome said as honestly as she could. "But I don't think now is the time."
Naraku smiled and nodded easily at the girl before turning around.
After that the end of school was basically quick and quiet. She hadn't been willing to talk to her friends and had ignored everything Kikyo tried to say. The bell had been the sweetest sound to her ears all day.
Kagome walked home slowly. She was so unbelievably tired from the entire day. Naraku hadn't been the only one with questions. Yuki and a couple of her other friends had been super chatty about the fight in their home basics class. Yuri had cornered her after lunch with questions about the relationship Kagome and Inuyasha had. Kagome wasn't sure if Yuri had been honestly curious or had been fishing for information on Kikyo's behalf.
During lunch Ginta and Hakkaku found her and informed her that Koga had been summoned to appear before his father and the wolf council. She had shared her worries over the news but the two wolves assured her that this wasn't a big deal just standard stuff. Still they felt as Koga's woman she had deserved to know.
Kagome sighed for what had felt like the millionth time that day. Was it possible to sigh a million times in a day? Not even a full day, just eight hours! She wasn't sure but she was sure tomorrow would be just as bad.
Climbing the stairs Kagome didn't let her eyes wonder, that was until she was near the top. Her eyes seemed to move without her permission as they skimmed over the branches of the sacred tree. It was a habit she had never really noticed before, but she couldn't deny she looked over the branches almost every time she passed the tree. Dropping her eyes, she reminded herself that she had not reason to search the branches anymore, that was when she noticed the figure at the base of the tree. His back was to her and his head bowed as if he was in prayer. Still his brown tail and thick black pony tail pulled high on his head left no doubt in her mind.
"Koga." She said softly in surprise.
The blue eyed wolf demon turned slowly to look her direction and smiled. He had heard her when she was walking up the stairs but he went on and finished his meditation. When she called his name he couldn't help but look at her and smile. She really had a beautiful voice. He started walking towards her, she must have had the same thought because she met him half way.
"Hey, Babe." He said gently tucking stray hair behind her ear.
Kagome grabbed his hand before he could pull it back. "I wasn't sure I'd see you so soon." She said as she held tightly too his hand.
"I'm sorry, Kagome. I was being an ass not replying. I'm fine, thanks for worrying about me." Koga smiled as the small female held tightly to his hand
Kagome felt like she was going to burst into tears. He was sorry?! He shouldn't have been sorry and in the next few minutes he might never want to see her again. Quickly she let go of his hand, jumped up on her tip-toes, and wrapped her arms tightly around his neck.
She could feel herself shaking as she fought back tears. "You don't need to be sorry. I'm so glad you're okay!"
Koga recognized the change in Kagome instantly. Not just from her actions or the trembling he felt as he held her body close to his, but her scent had changed. She was terrified but he wasn't sure why. Whatever it was had her so scared she was shaking.
"Kagome...?" He didn't know what to say or ask or even what to do. So he simply hugged her back, squeezing her securely, but carefully minding her human frame.
The two stayed that way for awhile until Kagome whispered in his ear. "We need to talk."
For some reason he couldn't explain, her voice had him holding the young miko tighter if only for a moment more.
A/N: So this took me way longer than I thought and for those who are reading this I am sorry. Hopefully the next chapter will take half the time this one took to get out. Thank you to everyone who reads and reviews! I've gone over this one a couple of times but if there are any weird phrases or misspellings that you notice please do point them out. I originally wrote this one a tablet and the auto correct had a hay day with changing things on me.
edited 8/9/18