I apologize! Don't hurt me! I had summer school, then fall semester started, and it was awful! I am back, and here is the next chapter, so those who stuck with me, enjoy, and remember I LOVE reviews

Disclaimer: I do NOT own any rights to Inuyasha or The Office

Chapter 7

"I was just…um...I'm in love with you." Kouga stood in a hazy area, looking at her with a serious, saddened expression. His eyes never left her face.

"What?" Kagome was frozen to the spot. Was this really happening?

"I'm really sorry if that's weird for you to hear, but I needed for you to hear it. Probably not good timing. I know that, I just-" Kouga tried to explain himself, but the best he could do was a monotone voice.

"What are you doing? What do you expect me to say to that?" This can't be happening. Kagome's heart was pounding and she could hear her blood rushing into her ears.

"I just needed you to know…once." Kouga stood there, hands in his pockets,

"Well, I um…I can't. You have no idea-" Kagome started to say, but Kouga cut her off.

"Don't do that." This isn't right. All those days of joking around with her, their friendship, it wasn't for nothing. She had to feel something, he knew she did.

"What your friendship means to me." She had Inuyasha, she couldn't leave him. She was with him, and there was nothing else to it. But why was she still with him?

"Come on. I don't want to do that. I want to be more than that." Kouga knew she made her decision, even if they both knew it wasn't the right one. Why couldn't she ever do what made her happy?

"I can't." Kagome felt her heart squeeze tightly as she said these final words, her vision becoming distorted.

Kagome awoke from her sleep groggily, and slowly looked around the room. Her tired eyes landed on her television set which was still playing Casino Night from The Office on her DVD player. She reached for her remote on her nightstand and shut it off.

'Goodness, what time is it?' Kagome thought to herself, as she looked over to her alarm clock.

3:42 am Sat

'I need to stop falling asleep with the TV on. I have the weirdest dreams.' She rolled over onto her side, snuggled into her blankets, and fell back asleep.

As the sun rose, and the day continued, Sango arrived at Kagome's house in the afternoon after her work shift, all ready for their weekly sleepover. Sango, still expecting her to be upset about Inuyasha, came prepared with a pint of ice cream each, and horror films.

It's been a week since the infamous showdown between Inuyasha and Kagome. Word spread like wildfire on the dream couple's 'break up.' Inuyasha attempted to apologize, but Kagome just diligently ignored him. They were both very stubborn, and neither wanted to admit they were wrong. Inuyasha decided to try to apologize once, and if she wouldn't accept it, he would let it go. She would come around eventually, she always did.

Kouga heard rumors on what had happened between the two, each one wilder than the last, but he did not know the truth. As the days continued, he didn't have the courage to ask her what had happened. Who was he to budge into her personal love life? She purposefully avoided the topic in class, and each passing day, the circles under her eyes grew darker and more prominent. With regionals coming up, she had practice every day, twice a day, and couldn't afford to take a day off to relax.

"Hello my awesomely awesome best friend!" Sango announced as she walked into Kagome's room. She found Kagome lying on her bed, staring at the ceiling.

"What are you doing?" Sango wondered aloud, sitting on her pink desk chair, pulling out the horror DVD's.

"Just thinking." Kagome sighed.

"About…" Sango pressed her for an answer.

"I just have no idea what to do!" Kagome exclaimed, sitting up. "I mean, he doesn't text me, he doesn't call me. We ignore each other now. I don't even know if we are still together. Shouldn't we be more upset? We dated for two freaking years, and we act like a ping-pong ball. Always back and forth."

Sango wisely sat back into the chair and handed Kagome her pint of strawberry ice cream, while digging into her own chocolate chip ice cream.

"I mean, yeah he apologized once. That was it," Kagome continued to say through a mouthful of ice cream, "Shouldn't he be trying more? I thought he cared more about this relationship. I just don't know whether or not I should apologize. Especially with regionals coming up, I can't deal with this stress right – Argh! Brain freeze!" Kagome cried out, while placing her head into her hand.

"You already have my opinion on the relationship you're in," Sango said taking the chance to jump in, "but because it means so much to you, I'll give you my advice.

"You two have been together for an awful long time, and sometimes even the best of things run out. Remember the awesome purple eyeshadow I bought like two years ago? Even though people loved it, they didn't make any more. It is kind of like that. You may still love him, but it may be time to let go. No, let me finish," Sango said to stop Kagome from interrupting.

"As I was saying, it may be time to let go. However, if you feel like you truly want him back, you two need to stop being so stubborn. Yes he shouldn't have said that, it was beyond low, but he apologized. You have to either accept it and move on, or forever hold a grudge and lose the guy you love."

Sango looked at Kagome, and saw she was really considering what she said.

"Okay…" Kagome finished slowly.

"If it were me though, I'd dump his ass. Screw all those chances you've given him. He's just going to think he can get away with it time and time again." Sango finished, acting more like her tough self.

Sango stood up and inserted one of the lame horror movies our generation creates into the DVD player, and laid on the bed next to the Kagome, who just sat and thought.


"Will you boys please set the table?" Mrs. Buzoku said, handing Ginta and Hakkaku a beautiful azure blue plate set and silverware to set at the table.

"Sure thing." They responded in unison. Just as they finished setting the table, the doorbell rang. Hakkaku eagerly went to open the door for their expected guest.

"Kouga! I am so glad to see you. How is your aunt? Is everything fine at home?" Mrs. Buzoku went to greet Kouga, along with Hakkaku, and enveloped him in a mother's embrace. "Please come in, you are just in time for dinner. I made fried chicken, mashed potatoes, corn, and green beans. I hope you enjoy them." She ushered him into the chair, and began to pile food onto his plate.

"Thanks for having me over ma'am. Auntie appreciates it." Kouga eagerly dug into the delicious smelling food.

"Oh it was no trouble dear, we love to have you over. My boys certainly do enjoy your company. What is it that Ms. Kagura is doing tonight?" She politely asked while pouring iced tea into all their cups.

"Some date with a guy. I haven't met him yet though, so I can't tell you what he is like." He apologized. Kouga noticed that Mrs. Buzoku was always interested in new gossip.

"Oh no worries. So tell me, how is your girlfriend? I believe my boys said her name was…Kagome?" She thoughtfully looked at him, hoping she gave the right name.

Kouga nearly choked on his food, while Ginta and Hakkaku grinned mischievously.

"Mom, we told you, she has a boyfriend. Kouga is just in love with her." Hakkau said with a somber face. "Unerequited love, isn't it sad Ginta?" He turned to face his brother, who had an identical somber face.

His mother gave them a shocked look and stared incredulously at Kouga. "Oh my poor little guy, unrequited love is it? Well, don't you worry dear. She would be crazy not to notice you. If she doesn't than she is not worth your time. Oh, to be young again." She sighed, her eyes twinkling.

"You've got it all wrong, just ignore them, they seem to have lost their minds" He said through gritted teeth. "Where's Mr. Buzoku? Did he have to work tonight?" He was very eager to change the subject. Although he was as straight as a ruler, talking about girls was not one of his favorite subjects.

"Yeah Dad has to go patrol the dark and scary parking lots. He is one tough guy, he is." Ginta sarcastically replied. "He gets off at five I think."

Ginta and Hakkaku's father was a security guard at a well known motorcycle dealership. His schedule changed depending on the month as to what shift he had to work. Mr. Buzoku has been working there for nearly twenty years, and he used to take his boys to the dealership when they were younger. It was how they got their knowledge of bikes.

The rest of the dinner was filled with plain chit chat of what had gone through their lives the past week. Mrs. Buzoku filled them with details of the boutique she helps manage and the new designs she helped create. Although the boys could care less about her internal debate between salmon pink or rose pink (they had to politely hide their yawns into their napkins), they feigned interest quite well. Once they cleaned their plates of dinner and desert, the boys excused themselves and went out to the garage to practice some music.

"Why'd you go and tell your mom that I had a girlfriend!" Kouga rounded on his two friends, who had a look of pure innocence.

"We would never." Ginta said, pretending to be hurt. "How could you think so low of us? What kind of friendship is this?" He continued to play the innocent card while Hakkaku had to stifle his laughter.

"Bull. I know it was y'all. When are you going to get it through those thick skulls of yours that there is nothing between us?" Kouga ranted as he strapped on his guitar. "Do you just ignore the fact that she has a boyfriend? Who, by the way, will probably want to fight me because due to your imagination."

"Don't tell me you're scared of that tool!" Hakkaku said in a shocked voice. "We can take him!"

"We aren't taking that guy anywhere. No I am not scared, I just don't want to cause any more trouble for Kagome. She's been really sweet to me, and I heard about the rumors. Her life is way too stressed right now."

"Yeah he doesn't sound like he's crushing on her." Ginta whispered sarcastically. Kouga rolled his eyes, and started strumming on his guitar, clearing his head. "Have you even talked to her about what happened?"

"Not really. She just avoids that subject completely. I figured she'd bring it up if she was ready. I am not in love with her! Stop giving me those looks!" Kouga began to complain as Ginta and Hakkaku's face began to get cloudy with visions of them as a couple. "If I was in love with a girl, trust me you'd know." Kouga said knowingly.

"Oh really? And how would we know?" Hakkaku asked doubtingly.

"Because nothing would keep me away from her." Kouga said with certainty. "Come on guys let's practice. How about we start with 'First Date' by Blink-182?" He began to strum the chords to the beginning of the song. Hakkaku and Ginta just chortled while beginning to play their instruments.


Kagome just sat in the dark listening to Sango's quiet, even breathing. It was the middle of the night and she couldn't sleep. It has been like this for the past week. She rolled over and looked at her cell phone, no text message, no phone call. She sighed and set the phone, screen down, on her nightstand.

What she really wanted to do was talk to someone, but Sango was sleeping peacefully. She couldn't wake her friend. She grabbed her phone and scrolled through her contacts until she found the number she was looking for. She decided to text the same message to two people. Hoping one of them was awake and would talk to her.

A minute later she received one back from the person she didn't expect to be up at this hour. She pushed that message away into the back thoughts of her brain, and waited patiently for the one person she wanted to talk to, but no reply came from him.

Reluctantly, she texted Kouga back. She hoped that maybe Inuyasha would text her later.

I can't sleep –Kagome

Well why can't you sleep? – Kouga

Thoughts just keep bouncing around in my head. I think I might go running, clear my head. Why are you awake? – Kagome

Auntie still isn't back from her date yet, I swear she's worse than me sometimes. Why would you go running in the dark? You're asking to get raped. – Kouga

Psh, I am a ninja. Anyone who encounters me will feel my wrath of fury! Seriously though…I carry a knife. – Kagome

A knife! Jeez, what are you gonna do, shank some poor person? – Kouga

No one said I knew how to use it :D - Kagome

That's safe. Where do you run this late at night? – Kouga

Around my neighborhood I guess. I have practice early in the morning so I might as well get started on the exercising. – Kagome

Fine. See you in ten minutes then – Kouga

? – Kagome

I am not gonna let you run around in the dark by yourself. At least I can use your shank knife – Kouga

Was Kouga really going to meet up with her? Kagome doubted it. She quietly arose from her bed, careful not to wake up Sango, and walked gracefully in the dark to her closet. She slowly and silently pulled on her archery training outfit (a simple red track suit with the school's name on the back) and put up her hair. As she grabbed her iPod, her phone vibrated suddenly.

Outside – Kouga

Kagome grinned silently to herself, and felt a flutter of excitement. She was actually looking forward to this run. She left a note for Sango and her mother explaining she left early to train. Her archery practice sessions were usually before anyone woke up, so she knew no one would notice. She ran quietly down the stairs to the front door, and stepped outside in the cold, early morning air.

"Hey." Kouga came out of the shadows and jogged to meet her. He was standing underneath this huge tree that was at least a century old. It was where she and Inuyasha shared their first kiss, and many fights.

"Oh my higher deity, I thought you were a murderer." Kagome placed a hand over her beating heart, slyly hiding the knife she quickly drew out.

"I told you I was outside. So, where we going?" Kouga retied his long midnight hair into a ponytail, and looked down at her. The moonlight from the waning moon cast an angel-like glow on her face. He momentarily lost his train of thought, but quickly snapped out of it.

"Just follow me I guess." They both stretched out in silence, trying to figure a way to start a conversation.

'Is this awkward or what? He is really sweet for running with me though Would Inuyasha run with me?' Kagome thought back on all the conversations they shared, and realized they never really talked about their likes or dislikes, or even what they did outside of school. Their flow of conversation was daily, and of what they did. Sure they know the simple things, like favorite color (his was red), or what they hated (spicy food), but when did their conversations get so…boring?

The minutes passed in silence. All that could be heard was the rustling of the leaves from the chilled winds, and their steady feet pounding against the cement. Fifteen minutes passed easily to Kouga. He continued to stride along like he was casually walking, Kagome was another story.

She was slowing down, her breathing became labored, and she couldn't take it anymore.

"I can't take it anymore!" Kagome whispered (told you). She stopped, leaning against her knees to catch her breath. Kouga knew the instant she stopped, he couldn't hear her footsteps in tune with his, and he came back for her.

"Why'd you stop? It's only been fifteen minutes." Kouga said smoothly. Kagome noticed with a hatred feeling that his breathing was just peachy.

"I'm tired. Let's take a break." Kagome whined. Kouga tried to stifle his laughter as he saw Kagome complain. It was too darn adorable.

"Fine." They both walked to the community park a few blocks down. "I thought you ran before." Kouga looked to his left at Kagome, noticing her cheeks were still rosy.

"Who said that? I don't like to run. If this was a horror movie, I'd be dead first because I hate it that much." Kagome laughed.

"Aren't you a dancer though?"

"Different muscles. Good cardio, my calves look awesome, but the quadriceps muscles are screaming in agony right now." She stopped for a second to stretch out her quads by lunges. "Anyways, how'd you get so good?"

"I was a lifeguard in the summer at my old neighborhood for the local YMCA. Running was part of our endurance training. Can't save someone's life if you can't carry your own weight." He put his hands in his pockets and shrugged.

They sat on the swings and watched more clouds cover the moon, leaving them in a darkness that didn't seem real.

CRASH!

"AIIYYEEE!" Kagome screamed and ran for her life. A crash of thunder exploded into the sky. Kagome appeared to be terrified of the sounds, and ran off for shelter.

"What the…" Kouga jogged to where she was hiding in the kiddie slide. "Eh…Kagome? It was just thunder, not a murderer."

Kagome looked sheepishly out and grinned in embarrassment sort of way. "I know…thunder and I are not friends. Want to join me? Not sure if you'd fit though." Kagome tried move for him but couldn't make any space.

"We should probably get going, looks like a storm." Kouga turned his back to the wind that attacked him ferociously with leaves and dirt.

Kagome cautiously wiggled out the slide and took a look around. The winds were definitely picking up, and the moon was covered by thick, dark clouds. In the distance she could hear thunder. A flash of lightning covered the sky and illuminated them for the second. Kouga saw her scared face and knew he had to protect her. He tugged on her arm to divert her focus to him.

"Let's go." He grabbed her hand and he forced her into a stride to get them back to her house. At the moment of contact, Kagome's heartbeat was like a hummingbird's.

'Is it because he grabbed me, or because I'm scared?' She thought to herself. She quickly came to her senses as another thunder clap was heard. This time, it was much closer. She started to run as fast as she could, but the wind was blowing against her.

Fat raindrops started to fall from the sky. It was bearable at first, but they came down faster and harder. The wind added to the painful sensation they felt when the raindrops hit their body. Kouga looked at Kagome and saw her tiny body shivering and shaking. He never thought he could see someone so tiny, fighting so hard against nature's attacks. Her face was determined to get home. The tracksuit clung to the curves on her body, and her wet, dark hair was matted against her face. She looked terrified, but wouldn't back down.

Kouga grabbed her hand to stop her. He couldn't let her carry on like this.

"What are you doing? It's raining cats and dogs out here!" Kagome yelled at him, making an effort to be heard over the howling winds.

"Trust me." He picked her up bridal style and began to run with her back to the house.

Kagome's face was pink from the cold. She wanted to protest and be put down, but he was just so warm and protective. He ran with ease, despite the extra weight he had to carry. Before they knew it, Kouga was outside the car doors. He set her down and quickly pushed her into the passenger seat of his aunt's car. As soon as he was in the driver's seat he turned on the heater to try to warm them up. Their breaths were coming out in puffs of air, and both were shivering to try to keep warm.

"I want to go home." Kagome said quietly, hugging herself.

"I think you should come back with me. I'm sure your mom or grandpa would have something to say if you came in at 4 in the morning, drenched head to toe."

"You're probably right." She sighed and leaned back against the seat. All she wanted was to be warm in bed right now.

The two drove quietly to his house. The only noise they heard was the swish of the windshield wipers. When they arrived at the house, Kouga took off his sweatshirt and handed it to Kagome. She was surprised, but gratefully put it on as an extra layer. They both ran to the house at top speed, desperate to avoid the chilling rain.

Once inside the warm house, Kouga quietly crept up to Kagura's room to see if she was home yet. To his surprise, she wasn't.

"Hey she's not home, so you can stay here until your practice starts. Uh I can grab you some old clothes of mine and you can shower. Stay in my room though, I don't want her to find out you're here."

"Wait. Stay here? No, that's alright." Kagome started to say, until she realized she couldn't go home. She expected to be out until the school grounds opened at six that morning. But staying with Kouga, alone, in his house...was this seriously happening?

"Just cool it, it's no big deal. I used to do this before." He quickly left the room and came back with a pair of old sweats for her to sleep in, and a pair of blue boxers.

"And what are these for?" Kagome asked holding these up.

"I..uh…thought you might want to change out of all your clothes." Kouga's cheeks felt like they were on fire.

"Right. Well where's the shower?" Kagome avoided the awkwardness of the moment and quickly walked past him, looking for a sign.

"Follow me." Kouga led her down the hall to where the restroom was, which was conveniently placed directly outside his bedroom door. "Don't worry, Auntie has her own bathroom. So here's a fresh towel, and I just have Axe shampoo and body wash, I don't know if you mind. Leave the water running just in case Auntie gets home. Sneak in my room when you're done." Kouga left Kagome to undress.

'So this is where I lose all credibility as a decent woman. I am alone, in a hot guy's house, taking a shower, in his personal restroom. Oh where did I go wrong?' Kagome thought grimly to herself as she stepped into the hot, steaming shower.

'Ah this is heaven.' In just an instant, all her worries went away.

Once she was warm, clean, and most importantly, dry, she reluctantly left the comfort of the steaming bathroom and walked quietly into his bedroom. He was sitting at his little desk, listening to music. He was sitting there shirtless, and a used towel was on the floor next to him.

"Can you please put on a shirt? I get that you're home and want to relax…but come on." Kagome stated uneasily. She knew she wanted him to keep it off, but what girl says that to a guy?

"My room, my clothes, my decision." He took off his headphones, and turned to face her. If he had any doubts about his feelings for Kagome, they were gone as soon as he saw her.

His oversized gray Johnson and Wales University sweatshirt (the college where Kagura got her pastry degree) hung loosely on her body. His sweatpants, although way too long for her legs, surprisingly wasn't falling off of her. She stretched her body, grateful for the warmth, and he caught the blue boxers he let her wear. Her dark hair was wet, and clung around her face. She had a shocking appearance as her dark, almost black, hair and brown eyes contrasted greatly with her pale skin.

He thought she looked beautiful. One look and he was gone.

He knew he was gone, and he hated it. He spared a second look at her, and left the room. Kagome was too busy brushing her hair to notice any demeanor change.

She put her wet clothes on top of his wet shirt and towel. A second glance at their wet clothes just sitting on the floor, she resolved to go find the dryer. She put the clothes in the towel she just used and quietly left the room. After successfully finding the dryer, and putting their clothes in to be nice and toasty, Kagome had no other choice but to go back. What if Kagura came home?

Once she shut the door, she turned on the desk lamp, and shut off the room light. The adrenaline her body produced from running away from the storm was long gone. Her body felt drained, and her limbs felt tight. To pass the time, she sat on the floor to stretch her legs, but something else caught her attention. Kouga's computer was left open to his music files and she decided to check it out. Even though he gave her a list of his favorite bands, she wanted to know more.

She sat on the chair and took out his headphones, clicking on the song that Kouga left paused. The song and artist's name had Untitled as its name. She supposed it was an underground band or something, and hit play.

To her surprise, it wasn't music. It was a voice recording. She heard a man with a deep voice, telling the story of meeting a woman that he instantly fell in love with. Kagome restarted the recording, and listened closely. The stranger's voice had a haunting tone to it. At the highlights of the story, his smile could be heard, but towards the middle and the end, his cheerful voice turned depressed. Kagome felt as if she could see the man sitting there, recounting this story.

He told a story of how he first met the love of his life. Both were in a crowded room when their eyes met, and she walked over. She instantly captivated him, and all he wanted to do was fall in love with her. She was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen. The man continued to tell of their dates at night, and how he proposed to her. He knew he wouldn't love another; she was the one for him.

However, after the part of the proposal, his voice transformed to the depressed version. He then spoke of how she had a terrible thing to tell him. She had cancer, and she only had a few months, maybe a year if she was lucky, to live. She tried to console him, she told him to not to be sad. Her life was fulfilled because she met him. He was the greatest thing that had ever happened to her.

It fell on deaf ears to him though. He didn't want it to be true. He grabbed her close to him, and wouldn't let her go. He was afraid to lose her.

Kagome sat in shock, what kind of story is this?

After the man caught his breath, he told the listener to don't fall in love. He didn't want them to go through what he did, there was just too much to lose.

The final words the man spoke were 'Now son, I'm only telling you this because life can do terrible things.'

'Son? Wait, is this Kouga's dad?' Kagome wondered to herself. She listened closely and still heard the shower running, so she took the opportunity to listen to the recording again.

She was so entranced with the story she didn't hear the shower cut off, and she didn't hear the footsteps. She did hear the door creak open, and she jumped guiltily.

"Kouga, uh, I was just, uh, I wanted to listen to music, but this was on, and I am so sorry. I'm just sorry." She said this pretty fast, and looked timidly at him. Kouga looked tense, but didn't seem to be angry.

"No, it's whatever, people are curious. I probably shouldn't have left something so personal up like that." Kouga walked to his closet and grabbed a t-shirt to wear for Kagome's sake.

"So it was your dad speaking then." Kagome suggested, looking at him curiously.

"Yeah that was him. He made it for me when he was in the hospital. One of his friends helped him do it, and he made Auntie promise to give it to me when I turned sixteen. I think it's because he met my mom when he was seventeen and she was sixteen. He was trying to get me to not fall in love."

"Kouga I am so sorry. It seemed like your dad really loved you though, and he was just trying to protect you."

He ignored her and sat on his bed, plugging his cell phone into his charger.

"Just because he told you to not fall in love, doesn't mean you should." Kagome continued on. "It's part of growing up. Falling in love, break ups, crushes. It all comes with the territory. I think your dad just recorded it in a moment of desperation."

"Some fatherly advice. He should be here to give me advice. But he's not, he's dead. The only advice I have from my father is to not fall in love, and it's on a recording." Kouga stated simply.

Kagome studied him from the chair, and saw the same face her little brother makes when he's trying to be strong. She stood up and cautiously walked towards him. Before she knew what she was doing, she embraced him in a motherly hug. She held him tight, hoping to take away some of the pain he felt.

"Even though your mother died, he wouldn't trade the memories he had with her for the world. I know that, because that's what love is. It's the happy memories and the sad memories." She whispered to him. He hugged her back as he realized she was right. Yes falling in love stinks, and they were moments he wished he could forget, but without that experience, he wouldn't be who he was.

Minutes passed by before she realized Kouga fell asleep. She did her best to adjust him onto the bed, and tuck him in. Pleased by her work, she was prepared to lie down as well.

The problem was, there was only one bed.

'Might as well.' Kagome thought to herself.

She lay down next to Kouga in his bed, making sure they both had separate blankets, before setting her alarm. She knew she only had a couple hours of sleep, but she was content with just being there. Her body moved of its own accord, snuggling into his body, and she fell asleep with a smile on her face.

A/N: The recording was actually a song written by Mayday Parade titled Terrible Things. It's what inspired me to write this story in fact. I hope you enjoyed it, and sorry for taking so long. Turns out I have a test every week until first week of November T_T I'll do my best to continue though. Review please & have a great day!