Chapter 7

Present

Thank the rain, the cold and the warmth of my bed for this chapter. I started it over a lot of times and on top of that, my wrist be killing me dammit. But it's here… and seeing that it's featured for the month on ED… It would be shameful to see that I hadn't updated for the month right?

Enjoy! =D

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"Tell me again why I needed to come?" Kagome asked bitterly, digging her bare toes in the warm sand as she looked around discretely. "It's not like you wouldn't be able to find the beach." She bowed her head slightly, allowing her hair to cast a veil over her while a group of girls and boys passed them, chatting and laughing away without a care in the world.

She rolled her eyes grudgingly, remembering a time when she was once like that, not too long ago it seems. She also remembered how she enjoyed every single event this little town had to offer – as long as she was with her guy and their friends – then there was nothing that could dampen her mood.

"It's our vacation Kags," Sango rolled her eyes, bouncing to the beat where she sat, her eyes scanning the vicinity. She was still amazed at how lively the place was and how glad she was that Kagome finally decided to visit here and invite her. "You're supposed to forget about all your worries and enjoy yourself."

Snorting, Kagome sneered at Sango like she was crazy. "How am I supposed to forget when am smack dap in the heart of it all?" She grumpily questioned, flashes of Yashie's face – both from the past and the now – fighting to dominate her memories. She felt her heart tightening, her throat constricting as she fought for control over the dam before casting blue eyes towards the shimmery ocean. "Being here feels like being in his embrace," She whispered, never caring if her words travelled to her hyper friend or not. "Yet that's an embrace I know isn't as warm and welcoming like before…" Pausing to control her breathing, she looked back at Sango with sad eyes. "And the fucked up part is that it's all my fault."

Sango paused in her swaying, the drink going slack in her hand as she looked her friend over…really looked her over from since she opened up a little to her earlier this morning. She had heard of her old friends wailing over lost 'love', depressed that it had ended and always wondered aloud how they could ever move on, get over it and live the life that's ahead of them. But over time, six months being the longed of despair, all her friends quickly reverted back to their usual self. They started going out like crazy, partying and hooking up until that 'love of their life' was just a phase in their lives. So in the end, Sango never really thought much of persons around her age, damn near stopping their life and simply existing when it came to this lost love they claimed to miss. She never once called down their feelings but that didn't mean she wasn't free to her own silent opinions right? And right now, such an opinion could be further from the usual. She actually believed in the depths of Kagome's feelings, could basically feel the sorrow wafting off of her every time she thought of what she messed up. The look in her eyes alone made Sango's throat clog with cotton, the swallow so painful it made tears sting her eyes.

"He was the one wasn't he?" Sango whispered softly, confident that the wind would carry her message to her friend. "I now fully get how all the guys I tried setting you up with or the outings I've begged you to come to were completely futile?"

"I don't know how to fully enjoy myself without him." Kagome shrugged in defeat. What more could she do? How was she supposed to know that what she thought was for the best only made things worse? In the end she was that little girl she tried so desperately to cover up with false maturity and the lack of confidence only proved to show how foolish she was.

Taking a sip of her drink through a small, thin red straw, Sango scooted closer to Kagome until their legs touched lightly. She wanted to hug her friend and promise her that everything was going to be alright. But what good would that be when she knew nothing of the situation? How could she make such an empty promise when all Kagome's been doing since before they met was suffering and wallowing in her mistakes whereas Sango always blamed it on simplicity from coming from a small town and also anti-social syndrome.

"What…" She paused when Kagome looked up at her through shimmering eyes. "…Happened exactly?"

Who knew such a simple question could feel like the weight of the world weighed down on her weary shoulders that now sagged with defeat and sadness? Who the hell would have think that the questioning of her stupidity could make her feel worse that shit? Kagome shifted her eyes from Sango's prying own, looking off into the distance, seeing others engrossed in their activities. Laughers and chattering send a musical note across the beach and Kagome fought a sad smile that tugged on her lips. It was like hearing her young animated voice talk nonsensically, hoping that her dear Yashie would notice her and give her all his precious attention. And as years passed by, she noticed her still animated voice, this time with conviction and what she thought then to be confidence as she spoke to her friends, cocooned in the strong arms of her other half…

'I…I was scared," She whispered just as a howling wind flew by them, pushing their hair about them like a graceful tornado dancing about its destruction. It was like hearing Yashie spit those words at her in the alley, his eyes filled with mixtures of hatred and pity. "I was so scared, Sango…" Looking up at her friend, she shrugged carelessly, "I mean, I've been crushing on him since forever you know."

Sango saw a hint of a smile kiss her friend's lip and she smiled softly at the image.

"Everywhere Yashie was, I was there," She giggled at the memory of her brother chasing her down the road with a piece of stick, threatening to break it on her multiple times if she didn't stop following them everywhere. "Hell, if you wanted to know where I was – find Yashie." A grin broke out every time she called his name. "The fact that he never showed annoyance, or simply accepted my presence made me so…happy you know."

By now Sango could see the light shining in Kagome's ocean pools, and the way her whole body just revved up with anticipation…expectation for the spark to ignite it fully. Her whole body became animated as she reveal to Sango fragments of her childhood that were sealed behind a closed door once upon a time. Sango found herself chuckling at the image of a little defiant Kagome, glued to Inuyasha as if her life depended on it – and maybe that was just it because the life right now was lacking something tangible…something that needed to spark her once more and bring back the Kagome Sango knew was somewhere deep inside.

"…Could you believe how mortified I was when it happened?" Kagome continued, her shoulders sagging in relaxation as she continued her joke and the way Inuyasha would act like nothing was amiss then just when she was feeling comfortable about the situation, he'd whisper something to her that'll make her burn with embarrassment. "First it was all innocent, because I was like a sister," She bitterly mocked, her face screwing up in annoyance. "But as we got older and he started noticing me other than a stupid sister – the teasing got so much more…"

"Hot?" Sango chipped in, a smirk playing on her lips. "My oh my… How about that eh?" Sango teased, her brows waggling with suggestion.

"Ugh – can it!" Kagome hissed with a roll of her eyes. "He…argh… oh my gosh – he is so amazing Sango!" She gushed, the words escaping her for they knew they'd do no justice in their explanation.

"He sounds pretty amazing," She agreed, her smile fighting between complete happiness for her friend and sadness for her stupidity. It felt surreal to hear about Kagome's life – to live it through her words and excitement, but it was her very being that proved its truth and another sad part was knowing that such an amazing thing to that person was shattered because of them. How fucked up could that make one feel? Sango wished she never had to experience anything like that and as much as she wished the same for Kagome, she would never offer herself up to be in such a position. She probably wouldn't even wish it on her worse enemy.

"Yeah…It was," Her wistful sigh was like a release of her enjoyment.

Sango watched Kagome's sagging shoulders, her sad gaze lingered on nothing but the sand, and her dead looking presence literally sucked the positivity from around them. "It really was…" Kagome mumbled in a whisper.

At a loss of what to say, Sango just sat there, the music that once consumed her now a dull sound, as if this whole night was a fading dream, thumping softer each beat until only the two of them sat alone near the once cackling bonfire that seemed to have gone mute. It was a realm that she soon realize belonged to Kagome, slowed or even frozen in time while she peered inside a window, indifferent to others living as her nonchalant character looked on with a hint of sadness. Only Kagome had the power to climb through that window and rejoin the living, but her state of mind – the comfortableness of just…being was enough for Kagome – made her feel safe.

Another sigh brought Sango from her musing, and she looked up to see Kagome's brows furrowed a mixture between confusion, hatred and of course sadness.

"But there's always some girl trying to be 'the one' right?" She spat angrily, her brows dipping even lower, turning her glower to angry slits. "Someone acting like your friend, but turning out to be that bitch that stabs you so heartlessly…"

"I'm not following…" Sango too furrowed her brows, but they were clearly due to confusion.

"I thought she truly cared about me you know?" Kagome continued in ennui, as if Sango didn't say anything. "I use to foolishly run to her for advice not knowing that I was feeding her antidote for my demise."

"Wait…you're saying that you broke up with Inuyasha because…"

"Not really," Nibbling on her bottom lip, Kagome eased back in her seat, her hair casting a veil over her face. "…Not really," She echoed once more, tears burning the back of her closed eyes. "I…I was just stupid and young…And Yashie was older – out of my league –…"

"Did he ever do anything to make you feel that way?" Sango countered. "Said anything to stomp on your feelings?"

An angry snap of Kagome face, sent a glare straight at Sango. "That twisting of the knife straight to my heart didn't hurt one bit," She said through clenched teeth. "Thank you fucking much."

"No need to act all bitchy here," Sango said, opposing her friend's angry response with calmness. "All I'm saying is that when your man is treating you like a queen, telling you with words and still action – then you shouldn't care what outsiders said."

Quivering lips made Sango stiffen, her eyes turning to saucers as she outwardly panicked at Kagome's sudden change of emotions. It was interesting to see this side of Kagome, and it almost felt like she hadn't known her to begin with. She wondered if the reason behind Kagome's choice of university, so far away from her hometown had more to do with starting over than actually acquiring the best education for a sure and productive career path.

"Rumors kept tweeting in my ears…" She stressed out, "And I believed everything the fucking bird said. I was so stupid! Because she had more experience than me and I thought when she told me things… helped me out when I was hesitant in some stuff… fuck she even taught me some tricks for behind closed doors," A blush dusted her cheeks and she turned her head defiantly when Sango gave her a teasing look. "Not gonna elaborate…!" She squeaked out.

Sango threw her head back in laughter.

"Not funny either!"

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry," Sango gasped, trying to contain her giggles. "It's just that…you have this bitchy attitude when you're ready but you're so innocent in so many ways." She giggled, holding up her hand in a silent plea for more time.

"Done?" Kagome asked dryly and her friend nodded sagely, taking a huge gulp of her drink before clapping her tongue. "I hate when you do that," Kagome commented, scrunching up her nose in disgust.

Sango clapped her tongue once more.

"When did you realize the tweeting was all false accusations?" Making quotation marks with her fingers at the substitution of gossiping, Sango was rewarded a glare that quickly died down. She wondered if she was in for a treat, full on of the Kagome that one may not favor too much.

"The second I confronted him…Argued with him and was irrational about…everything."

"So why didn't you admit it?"

"A part of me still thinks it's for the best… I mean… look how successful he is?" She whispered. "And if I got troubled and worried over things so easily, not consulting Yashie, then yea…it was definitely for the best."

"Ah, I call bullshit right there," Sango began, gazing intently at Kagome. "You don't think you deserve him and I'm sure you've tell yourself all that fuckshit until even you yourself believes it." Shrugging, Sango eased back in her seat, this time sipping her drink and savoring the sweet/sour taste. "You think your level wasn't up to par with him. That you were basically playing a grown up way ahead of time… I mean shit, if you could believe everything someone said so easily and go off like a crazy wife – then just maybe you weren't fit to be next to him…It was fine looking at his back, enjoying him silently."

Opening her mouth to probably object, Sango glared at her which pushed the words back down her throat through fear.

"But you fast realize that that thing you thought was freedom," Using quotation signs with her fingers, Sango rolled her eyes at the absurdity of her thoughts. "Was nowhere near freedom in any sense and instead of experiencing that feeling – which was only when you were with him – you felt lost, trapped in a world that suffocates you…"

Opening her mouth again, Kagome's words still refused to come forth and so she closed it once more. After a few long minutes she tried again – all in vain for a little under a minute before turning on her side and giving Sango her back.

"No wonder you keep passing Psychology." She mumbled sullenly.

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Passing a red towel over his face, Inuyasha removed the sweat before it reached his eyes before slinging it over his bare shoulders as he made his way to and fro the closet towards his suitcase which he packed carelessly. A content smile was donning his features as he moved around his room quietly, the approaching dawn lazily coming upon him.

He had to admit that the feeling casted a soothing bandage over his opened wound and he felt anew, ready to move forward with confidence that it'll heal – or seem that way. "Besides," He whispered ghostly, bunching up a couple shirts and shoving them in the corner of his suit-case, "rehearsing those new songs felt so exhilarating."

A wide grin broke out on his face, his long midnight hair sticking to his damp skin – the glistening body evidence of the hard rehearsal him and his band mates were indulged in a mere few minutes ago. He could still hear the dull tapping of sticks against random surfaces; surprised Kouga still had more practice in him when he was the one whining about finishing up their packing for their flight a few hours from now. The only sound coming from Miroku was the occasional insult towards Kouga as he nursed the effects of a headache from partying and probably drinking his fair share of booze.

"Are you just coming in?"

The sleep laden voice made Inuyasha jump slightly and he looked over his shoulders to see a young woman curled up under his sheets.

He smiled sadly. "Yea – we got a little carried away with some new songs." Shrugging slightly, he dismissed her as he turned around to his clothes, this time folding them with ease and placing them orderly in his luggage.

How could he forget that she was still in his room? His brows knitted in concentration, fighting between indifference and a feeling of dread that he'd left her alone all these hours without word of his whereabouts. Not that he owed her an explanation – she was just a friend and he expected her to leave the moment he wasn't available. Although seeing that she was visiting too, specifically to see him as she claims, he should be more sensitive to her feelings right? No matter how much she understands and accepts him. He swallowed thickly, wondering if she would comment on his behavior the night of the club when he'd bump into her again.

It doesn't matter, He thought, his grey gaze shifting around frantically, searching for something that wasn't there, it's not her business and she knows not to ask anyways.

"I missed you," Her light touches made his form go frigid for a moment, but he relaxed when her lips touched his cold shoulder. "I wanted to make you feel better after what Kouga said early."

Ok so maybe she forgot how to act ignorant?

Inuyasha closed his eyes painful, a wave of anger and hatred washing over him, filtering towards Kouga. Even though they had silently squash their difference with a slight nod followed by the damn best rehearsal of their lives, everything was all cool. A slight smile flashed across his lips, wondering just how much 'making him feel' meant. "It's all cool," he strained out, his eyes falling close in reluctance as she kissed and raked her teeth along his cold skin – heating it up almost instantly.

"I figured you say that," her palms flattened against him, moving down his hard-rock back before gliding around his front, making him convulse from the caresses she was awarded him with, "I just knew how much it hurt you…And from the other night –…"

"Just drop it," He growled out, adding evident annoyance that had her pausing in her actions. "It doesn't concern you."

Inuyasha turned around quickly, their forms close together but not touching fully. Grey looked deeply into saddened chocolate and he wondered – not for the first time – if this was the right thing to do. If hooking up over the past couple of months was good for either of them. Sure he told her the truth, told her that their relationship – like always – wouldn't venture further from the physical and even though she accept, told him she knew and understood – he could tell from the sudden dimness in her gaze that she was hoping for more. But he just couldn't and she knew that…

The fact that she was willing to give up her chances of a wonderful relationship with some guy out there, just to help him feel good – if only for a few moments – made him feel more guilt than he was ever willing to admit. The fact of the matter was that she truly helped him forget for the moment, and the feeling of being loved, while blissfully ignoring the true love deep within him was a place he vied for like a hungry man.

Palms kissing rosy cheeks, breath caressing slightly parted lips, Inuyasha smiled brokenly, hoping she'd accept the apology in his eyes for being everything she thought she needed but knew deep down the toxic would only eat away at her overtime.

She laced her arms around his waist, moving closer to him until their bodies were flushed against each other. "I understand," She whispered and with that, she sealed their unspoken worries with a kiss, instantly allowing Inuyasha to dominate it since she knew he needed this. Pushing the sudden tears back down in their jar, she moaned into the kiss, allowing these stolen moments of rapture as dawn fully broke outside the window of his bedroom.

Groaning when she sucked on his tongue, Inuyasha moved his hands down to her panty clad ass, dragging her up against him slowly, hearing her own moans as she wrapped her legs around his waist. She broke the kiss to rain kisses and nips along his neck, grounded her hips against his hard erection.

"Fuck," He breathed out, he too grounding his hips to meet hers. He felt drugged by her actions, loving it and accepting the second best distraction that he was provided. When her hands started fumbling with his Lakers shorts, trying to push them down even with their proximity, he chuckled at her impatient mewls, wondering just how long she was waiting for this.

Walking blindly towards the twin bed, Inuyasha leaned forward, allowing her to fall into the blush covers while he hovered over her, her legs still locked tightly around his waist.

"I want you so bad," She whispered in his ear, her teeth holding his lobe captive. "I want to feel your cock deep inside me Inuyasha," Loosening her legs, she eased a hand downwards, her nails raking a path to her goal. Not pausing in her actions, she pushed her hand in his shorts and boxers, grasping his shaft firmly and drawing a strangled groan from his lips.

"Fuuuuuck," He repeated, his face buried in the crook of her neck while he thrust slightly in her welcoming palm.

She smiled warmly while she continued attending to his ear and erection, pumping him in time with his thrusts while his own hand roam her body like a mad man – squeezing, kneading and caressing her all over – her moans turning to musical notes that lulled Inuyasha.

Inuyasha moved to kiss her slowly, opposing their fevered movement as he took his time exploring her mouth, allowing their tongues to dance sensually together while he gave one hard jerk of her panties, tearing it effectively. Knowing that she was going to argue like all the other times, he quickly cupped her pussy, the heat and musky scent driving him crazy. When she wiggled her hips upwards, he smiled in the kiss, breaking it reluctantly with a nip to her bottom lip.

By now, the peeking sun outside his window had casted the room in a soft warmth of a glow, and it glistened off of Inuyasha's sweaty skin. His long hair casted a veil over them, mixing with her own straight bone mane, hiding them from outsiders as their breathing mingled together.

"Impatient are we?"

She wiggled her hips once more, her deep chocolate gaze searching his eyes. A soft, blissful smile touched her lips. "Only when it comes to you," she mumbled. "You know that." Not giving him time to change the subject or ignore her and wound her already crumbling heart, she squeezed the underside of his cock, making him gasped in pleasure.

This time, he broke out with a grin. "It's like that huh?" Moving his middle finger to her clit, he pressed it firmly, making her jerk at the sudden buzz of sensation racing throughout her whole body.

"Yashie!" She groaned out, her body arching towards him as it shook her into an unprepared orgasm, her hold on him going slack as she rolled her hips against his hand, riding out the powerful orgasm. All the time she tried to close her legs, but the position they were in denied her such a task and Inuyasha was none the kinder to help her.

His intense gaze watched her unravel, but his mind flew into another direction, making him remember the time he'd first introduced Kagome to the world of orgasms. The way his name spilled from her lips was enough to make him cum, enough to send such emotions tugging at him, fighting for dominance, yet the way this woman called his name made him feel cold and unresponsive. He mind kept comparing her to his Kagome ever since the trigger had been pulled with his name, and he wondered why even after all these amazing encounters did the childish Kagome seem to prevail?

A warm hand cupped his face, and he looked back at her, berating himself for getting lost in his memories. Shame filled his eyes and he was force to look away, unable to handle the sadness filling the coco gaze beneath him. "It's okay," She whispered, but the crack in her voice proved otherwise. "I understand, remember?" He didn't even dare look up to see her expression because he knew he'd lose it completely and might as very well leave the room like a couple times before, when his guilt had consumed him to the point of full submersion.

The door slammed open before they could say or do much more, and both Miroku and Kouga barged in.

"Is everything alright?" Kouga shouted.

"We heard a scream!" Continued Miroku.

When both guys got a good look at the scene – girl hand in shorts, guy hand my pussy, labored breathing while Inuyasha hovered over her – it was like slow motion as Kouga and Miroku's worried expression turned slowly to salacious, their body sagging as they looked over the scene.

"Well…well….well," Kouga started, and he chuckled when the girl turned her head away in embarrassment.

"Dudes!" Inuyasha shouted, easing up away from her with a pillow in his free hand. He chucked it in their direction angrily. "Get the fuck out!" Glaring at his two knucklehead friends, he searched blinding for something more threatening to throw. "NOW!"

As the door slammed, blocking out his pillow assault, Inuyasha couldn't help but hear his stupid friends complain.

"Why does he get to have girls over and not us?"

"You attract herds." One said, chuckling when the other denied it.

"Like you're track record is fucking squeaky!"

Inuyasha ran his hand throw his tangled locks. "Those assholes are gonna be the death of me."

Giggling, said girl propped herself up on her elbows. "They seem like the only ones who haven't changed." Giggling even more, she missed the sad look that crossed Inuyasha's features.

"I think I need to finish packing." Moving away from her into a standing position, he drank in one last image of her form before turning his back on her and heading towards his luggage.

"At least…" She rushed before him, putting herself between him and his bag. "Let me…" Licking her lips, she went on tiptoes to kiss him briefly before sinking to the ground.

Inuyasha took the hint almost immediately, and when he felt the first touch of her lips on his glistening tip, he let his head sag backwards, his hands burying in his hair while he released a long guttural groan.

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