Chobits: Aw, thanks for reviewing all three chaps! I'm glad you're liking the story so far!
Incatata: Thanks very much, and I hope like this chapter.
SongoKiana: Yup, I definitely noticed the update, and it was brilliant. I totally agree, things just get so interesting when they're in the same room, haha. Exactly, I know the juicy parts in this story is scarce, but the fluff's coming. ;p
Siooly: WHAT? Oh gosh, please don't get mad me, I never made inuyasha SHORT, in fact, I would never make him short. I apologize for the misunderstanding, but know that Inuyasha is fully . . . tall. Haha. Thanks for reading!
Kisskitty: Ooooh, then I'm sure you're going to like this chapter. Not only is it long, but it sheds lots of light to the past (actually . . . not really, but play along). Haha. Aw, I'm flattered that you like this story!
Angelgt1231: Thank ya thank ya! I'm glad you like it.
Iliketv: Thank you so much! Hope you like this chapter too!
Jasmine the punk fairy: oh la la, them getting closer, I like that. But, I think you might be on to something there. Well, maybe some of your questions'll get answered in this chapter, but everything's definitely going to be revealed throughout the next two chaps!
Allison: Wow, thanks, I just love getting reviews from new readers, I don't know why. I guess it's because I know that if old readers stop reading, I'll still have some new readers or something like that. Haha. But thank you very much. And wow, 200 reviews already, huh? I've come a long way!
Avelyn Lauren: Oh man, your review made my brain go in a loop. After I read it the first time, I was like, "Huh? What's going on!" But then I finally figured it out after reading over it a couple of time, and I totally agree with you. I think that's real diligent thinking, and what you said is completely right. Kagome's shell's going to crumble down eventually. Thanks for the review.
Medievalprincess91: Well, you know Kagome, the party animal that she is. Haha. But anyway, thanks for the review, and continue reading!
Jennie555: Aw thank, well, I try. Sorry for this late update, but I'm happy to tell you that the next chapter'll definitely have a faster update, guaranteed! Thank for reading.
Foxy Love: You'll just have to wait to find out what happened freshman year. But c'mon, it's not that much of a wait. It's only in the next two chapters!
Inu-girl162: Hehe, well, you do have to admit. Even if Kagome wasn't a psycho, everything can get a little out of control at parties. Especially with Inuyasha there. Keep reading, and I hope you enjoy the chapter!
Yenni2110: Thanks, and I'm sorry for the spacious updates. Forgive me. Haha. I ensure you that I'll have MUCH faster updates later, yeah? Anyway, thanks for the review.
Oro kenshin: Oh, love the enthusiam. Hehe. Addicting, eh? Then I guess if I stop updating, you're gonna have to quit cold-turkey, huh? Just kidding. I really hope you enjoy this chappie!
Animebabe101: YIKES! Now don't even get me started on the subject of grammar. I despise grammar mistakes, it just makes the writer sound so childish. Well, I hope I didn't make too much grammar mistakes (my teacher doesn't call me the grammar nazi for nothing ;p ) but hey, at least I'm not getting bashed for them. Hehe. Thanks for reading!
Woven Bamboo Pattern: Inuyasha . . . a jerk? How so, did I miss something. Yeah, I know, I'm a spacious writer, I could hardly even keep up with my own fic . . . even though this is the ONLY fic I'm working on. Haha. I thought I portayed Inuyasha's image pretty . . . nicely, but whatever. ;p
Dark Angelx3: Really, favorite chapter? Personally, my favorite one was the first chapter. There's just something so exciting about beginnings. Hehe. Hmm, Kagome and Inuyasha'll work it out, cuz that's just expected.
Jessiskags: I know . . . I just love sad chapters. Actually, correction, I love writing sad chapters, but hate reading them, you know what I mean. I guess it's all the sad music I listen to while writing. Sometime, I'll be at a happy part, and I'm listening to rows of sad music, and I'm like, 'Shoot . . . what do I write now? Can't get into the jumpy mood. Oh well, I'll just move on to a new paragraph'. Anyway, start getting used to the sad chappies, it'll get worse before it gets better.
XxInuyloverxx: Oh, lots of questions, huh? Well, they'll be answered soon enough, just have patience. And is your real name Evelyn, cuz that's so pretty. Do you mind if I use it maybe some time in the story if I get to it?
Kannalover: Thanks!
O-Mega Lead: I'm always looking forward to reviews from long-time readers, hehe. Anyway, did you just say 'fluff'? jumps back gah, fluffs are just not my thing. They're just so . . . cheesy. Yuck. But I do like real un-cheesy fluffs, there'll probably be a few in the next few chaps! Rest assured that Kagome won't hate him when she remembers what happened in the past, well, cuz she's been dealing with it already for so long, so yeah. ;p
SapphireDragonlover: Hehe, thank you for the review, and I hope you like the chappie!
Broken-Midnight-Butterfly: Real pretty pen-name. And thanks so much for reviewing for all those chapters, I love it when people does that. Haha. Yup, definitely Inu/Kag, no other way I'd have it. Other couple pairings are just so off the original intentions of the story. Thanks for reading!
Lil mutt face grl: Yes, as a matter of fact, I did start playing my flute to shut them up. I swear it was driving me insane, haha. Pretty smart too if I do say so myself. Ah, but I'm sorry to break to you that your dream of Inuyasha jumping out and saying "Kagome, I still love you" will not happen. I mean, what really are the chances of that happening, unless I get sick of writing this story and just end it quickly. Hehe.
.0.
Summary: Kagome has always been the shy quiet one, a simple innocent wallflower. Inuyasha was the heartbreaker, fooling around with love and lust. When they have to spend their summer together, Kagome may just learn a thing or two about feeling sexy.
Chapter best listened to with:
'Yes U Can' by Jewel
'Dance Floor Anthem' and 'Keep Your Hands Off My Girl' by Good Charlotte
'Only Hope' by Mandy Moore
'On Fire' by Switchfoot
Yeah yeah, I know, another late update. But I can promise one thing, the next chapter'll definitely have a faster update (Already 10 pages done!). Summer vacation's here, and I'll have more time to work on it, and you'll have my word for it.
So anyway, I hit a roadblock in this chapter, and was having the hardest time trying to get past it. I kept putting working on this chapter back in my schedule, then after getting stuck babysitting my 5-year-old cousin and watching Teletabies with him, I made up my mind to take a deep breath and finish the whole thing. You see, after 3 continuous hours of 6 episodes of little puffy Teletabies shouting, "again again!" it was either suicide or working on this, and you could see what I chose. Has anyone realized how scary that purple one holding a red purse is?
Oh, and also the REAL reasonable reason for this dilatory update is become of the fact that I had to switch internet connections since I just moved. After a week of hauling boxes, I'm ready to get back to work.
You're going to find out a lot about the past in this and the next chapter, hopefully, everything will become clear.
Reminder: Italics are what happened in the past.
I better not hear anyone complaining about this chapter, because 4 weeks and 25 pages later, I give you this:
Enjoy,
Walking Flame
0.0
The Heartbreaker's Innocence
Chapter 10
Kagome flinched at the piercing sound of Inuyasha's ringtone. Gritting her teeth, she seethed while waiting for the noise to die down. Inuyasha, meanwhile, showed no sign of even hearing his phone chime.
Unbelievable.
She squared her shoulders, shook out her hair, and continued walking.
Then it started again.
Kagome groaned, opening her mouth to speak up about the problem, when suddenly Kouga piped up. "Goddammit, Taisho. You wanna just go ahead and answer the damn phone?"
The hanyou shot him a withering look. Annabelle Lee frowned, and latched her arms with Inuyasha's.
"He has a point there, sweetie," She hesitated with concern. "I mean, the person's been calling you for the past ten minutes. You can't just pretend that you don't hear it. After all, if the person's so persistent, it may be important."
"A. Lee," he chided in frustration.
"Either answer it or turn the stupid phone off," she hissed in an unladylike manner.
He reached into his pocket and fumbled for a second with the cell phone. Then he turned to the rest of the group and hitched up a brow, "happy?"
Grumbling like a child, A. Lee tugged him along in a constant pace.
"We've been walking for forever," He complained, sticking out his bottom lip. "When are we going to get to the club."
And it was true, Kagome had to admit, they'd been walking for an awfully long time. The exclusive party rendered them with a long line of a traffic jam. Since they weren't exactly VIPs or anything like that, A. Lee recommended that they park their cars two streets down and walk there.
"We're close," A. Lee reached to point out the end of the line rounding the corner of a posh building.
The lights in the city were glittering, and Kagome could feel the trimmer of the music pumping from the building. She remembered this fast paced nightlife so well. Deom Bell was just awakening. Looking up at the bottomless inky sky, she smiled besides herself.
Suddenly a sweet melodic tune jingled playfully, and Kagome jerked her attention back to the source of the noise. A. Lee glanced around curiously, then dug out her own cell phone. The screen flashed. She crossed her perfectly arched brows and scowled.
"Hello?" she said.
The group stopped to watch while A. Lee listened intently into the cell. Her eyes would flicker every once in a while towards Inuyasha while she grimaced.
She sighed, plugging the phone away from her ears, and outreached her hands. "It's my sister, Kara Lee. She wants to talk to you, Inuyasha."
There was no way Inuyasha missed the dark glare from A. Lee's eyes.
"Me?" He double checked, feeling a drop of sweat roll down his forehead.
She rolled her eyes as if Inuyasha's display of innocent was wasting her precious time. "But who else?"
He plucked it from her service gingerly between her forefinger and thumb, as if it was contagious. Then he eyed it, a look of disgust molded in his face.
"Hello?"
"Hold on," A. Lee reached for the phone, pressing a button. "I put it on speaker phone."
"—Yasha?" A computerized voice transcended from the cell phone.
He looked at the flashing screen, and breathed, "Hey . . . Kara Lee." Silence. "How are you do—"
"Don't play stupid with me, you asshole," the sharp voice barked. "I've been calling you for the past five minutes, and why is it that you not only haven't answered but also turned your phone off as well?"
His mouth dropped, at loss for words. Looking around at the three, he hoped for some backup. His eyes met Kagome's. She hiked up an eyebrow and grinned smugly as if he had this coming to him all along.
"K-Kara—"
"I waited for you to call. 2 weeks, and nothing. Then I find out that you've been after my sister?"
Now Annabelle Lee perks up her attention.
"Now, what does she have that I don't?" The childish voice complains.
He thought for a bit, seemingly puzzled, but then ventured, "Age?"
Kagome winced. Wrong answer. She wondered exactly how old this young voice was.
"Oh, shut your blow hole, jerk. You were just made for Annabelle Lee. I'm already so over you."
Beep.
Holding the phone from his ears, Inuyasha cringes and clenches his teeth together. Obviously, he was rendered in an extremely uncomfortable situation.
Lee mashes her lips together into a thin line, and scrunches up her face. Then she snatches the cellular device back and pockets it without a second glance.
"So," Kouga smirks, rubbing salt in the wound, "Anything you'd like to owe up to, kid?"
He flinches, not daring to take his eyes off of A. Lee. He looked so very remorseful, while he gapes, waiting for words.
Kagome shoulders herself, pained by both their expressions. Inuyasha's helpless one while A. Lee's was unreadable. Cringing, she couldn't have found herself in a more difficult place. It was so awkward.
A. Lee's eyes shoots heavenward towards the sky, and she lets out a long, patient sigh. Crossing and uncrossing her arms across her chest, she lets her head loll to the side. Kagome thought that A. Lee was going to do something dramatic, like strike Inuyasha. But instead A. Lee glances at him full of curiosity, and asks, "Age?"
His posture shifts, and holds his own tight smile. "Well . . ."
"Hilarious," she states plainly, and continues walking.
Inuyasha pokes his head out of his shell, confused. Was she being sarcastic, though her tone didn't hint it?
Kagome and Kouga sighed, the weight evaporating from chests. They hurry their steps to catch up with Annabelle Lee, leaving the hanyou waiting.
The night was getting brighter and noisier by the second. People rushed by with their lingering swagger and twirls. Loud girls in bright attires smiled with a flush, while built guys pumped their cars.
He released the grips his hands were in, and strode towards A. Lee with intention. His walk was with purpose.
"Are you mad at me?" He yelped irritably.
She spun around with a clip of her heels, and faced Inuyasha with carefulness. "Sweetie," she rolls over the words slowly, as if Inuyasha might have a hard time comprehending, "let's just pretend that the conversation you had with Kara Lee never happened, yeah? For your sake."
0.0
Kagome fingered the scratchy vinyl fabric that decorated the chair she was currently sitting on. Wild colors flashed the dance floor while music pumped the floors, rocking up and down. Her eardrums were in intense pain, and her eyesight was going blurry.
There was a couple to her right, making out on the couch, wild limps tangled together. Two girls to her left leaned against the countertop, occasionally slipping a sip of their beers, looking totally bored by the scene.
Here Kagome was, wallowing in her own self-pity.
That's when she descried the infamous silver hair in her view. Leaning back against the railing of the view, she let the scene unfold in front of her.
Inuyasha had a staggering brunette girl in his grasp, as she let him around the winding dancefloor. The girl looked as if she was saying something to him, the drunken smile never leaving her lips. Kagome followed them with her eyes for as far as they could go, before the couple was lost in a throng of dancers.
A pang of jealousy hit her, and she berated herself for this sinking feeling whenever she saw Inuyasha. Why was he always so happy? She wanted to feel the way he did, and to be petty and materialistic like he was. But most of all, she wanted him to tell her that it was okay to miss what they had, and that she shouldn't feel guilty about it.
The truth was always there though, Inuyasha really was just an apathetic playboy. The one thing she knew was that the girl in his hold wasn't A. Lee like it should be.
"What, are you too cool to dance?"
Kagome sat up straight in alert, and swiveled her chair around so she was directly facing the person speaking to her. "Excuse me?" she screeched over the blaring music.
"You're too cool to dance?" the bartender leaned in, keeping with his growling low voice.
She cleared away the lump at her throat, and shrugged with a wry smile, wondering if that was some kind of pick-up line. She'd already decided a while ago that whoever invented pick-up lines should be shot.
Nah, followed her second thought, why would a bartender use a pick-up line on her?
"I'll make you something to drink," he leaned against the counter, eyeing her expectantly.
It was true, she was pretty thirsty since she hadn't trusted herself to drink here. Her throat was absolutely parched, but drinking wasn't the best idea.
"Don't you have other customers?" She flatly turned him down.
He persisted with, "Don't worry, my shift's over, sweetheart. C'mon, I'll make you something special . . . my secret recipe."
Kagome couldn't help but smile at his obvious wink. "Make it virgin."
Letting out a roaring laugh, he replied, "good choice."
She watched in awe as he maneuvered 5 or 6 bottles at the same time. His nimble hands twirled the glasses as if it was nothing, fluttering around in wild dances and flashes of color. Within 5 seconds, a cool glass of colorful drink was rounded in front of her.
Looking at it curiously, she gave him a cautious glance. With all the bright shades, it did seem somewhat . . . baneful and poisonous. The drink was both daunting and comely at the same time.
"Go ahead," he urged her, studying her expression as she took a sip.
The fruity taste blasted against her tongue, the strange sweetness still so foreign to her. "Impressive."
Don't think, just drink.
0.0
Freshman year . . .
Don't think, just chug it down.
Kagome exhaled a deep breath, flinging the bottle to Ayame. She leaned against the sink, expecting her breakfast to hurl itself up any second. Nothing came.
"God," Ayame said worriedly, "Are you gonna be okay, sweetie?"
"Bloody fine," she spat, motioning for her friend to hand her another pill. "Aspirin, have we tried that yet?"
The school girl snapped open the cap and a round tablet came tumbling into her palm. "You know, someone could walk in on us any second, and then we'd both be expelled."
All Kagome did was laugh. One of those haunting laughs that scares the wits out of Ayame and made her think that maybe Kagome wasn't all that sane. "Like anyone in this school has the courage to go to the principal about it. If they do, my cronies'll make their lives a living hell."
"Better?"
Kagome crashed her head against the mirror, wiping the perspiration from her forehead. She shut her eyes against the blinding school head lights, felt Ayame pass her the bottle of Evian, and chugged down another mouthful.
"I told you not to go out to Yagira's party. On a school night. With alcohol. Where you stayed until 3 in the morning. When you knew there was school the next day. And you—"
"SHUT UP!" Kagome slapped her in the face. Not hard enough to leave a bruise, but definitely something to stop the talking.
"That boy's dangerous. Is he playing rebound guy for you again?"
Kagome jammed her eyes close together, until she started seeing stars.
"I'm telling you, you really shouldn't let him move on. What you're doing is absolutely corrupt." Ayame played with her fringes. "Star quarterback, the senior every girl wants, yet he's hanging out with you, a freshman. It's pathetic, you're wasting his youth, you know."
"I just—I needed a break from Inuyasha." Kagome breathed as if it was painful.
This perked up Ayame's attention, so she took this opportunity when Kagome was down to pump her for more info.
"Trouble in paradise? I thought it was just true love waiting to happen."
"Something's wrong." she looked up dramatically. Her friend tilted in like a little kid drawn to a storyteller's entrapment. "I think he might be bipolar."
Ayame giggled. Okay, that's not going to cut it. Kagome still had her guard up, even with a hangover. She was going to work harder than that if she wanted to get the knowledge she needed against Kagome.
"Stop thinking," Kagome groaned, patting her stomach. "You're trying too hard . . . all your thoughts are seeping out and flooding me."
Ayame jumped in alert, clamping her mouth. Has she said anything out loud, or was it the drink talking? Maybe the pills had impaired part of her brain and she's gone insane.
"Everyone around school's saying that you and Inuyasha are a match made in heaven. We were all scared you were gonna go off and get married. And to think, just 15 too."
"Oh shut up, it scares me how much I like him. Love is dumb, there's not such thing as true love, so everyone can just give it up."
Perfect, Ayame was practically drowning in her own euphoria. "But you know, I'm sure you guys are going to make the perfect couple. And imagine . . . the baby—"
"God," Kagome tugged on her hair in a motion of suffering. "Will you drop it? I don't love him, okay? Remember rule number 5 . . . never fall in love in High School? Inuyasha's just another way to pass time."
Ayame almost would've been fooled, if she hadn't caught that sigh at the end of the statement. She knew, Kagome was madly in love with Inuyasha. He'd been the first guy she's gone strong with for as long as three months. Everyone knew that she was slowly losing her edge and grip on the gold. One day, someone's going to trip her and she's not even going to feel the hurt until it's too late.
"So he's just another guy. No love, nothing. And you won't be hurt if he broke you heart."
Kagome looked up and met her eyes. Ayame saw that her friend was actually considering her words.
The schoolgirl drew her bangs back and glared, "You forgot, love, I don't have a heart."
0.0
Present days . . .
Inuyasha blinked drowsily, rubbing the sleep from his eyes. His breath tasted of beer, and he found it hard to breathe. Setting himself upright, he found a petit girl of limbs slung over him roughly.
Running a hand through his hair, he wondered if maybe he's passed out. The thumping fast music was doing no good for his thoughts.
The girl that was flung across him snored soundly, her eyes half opened somnolently. Inuyasha wasn't sure if she was asleep or just simply resting. Would it been mean to just push her off, she sure was heavy for such a little girl.
Something was tugging the back of his memory, but he couldn't quite place it.
"Damn," He hissed, suddenly wide awake. "A. Lee!"
With steady strength, he tossed the girl off his lap in the couch. She moaned sleepily, and turned positions, falling asleep again.
The only source of light was the flashing wild colors blinding the dance floor. It was impossible to make out anyone in this place. He cursed like a sailor, and threw himself moodily across the room through the tight throng of dancers.
It was moist and humid outside the back door of the club. A few people glanced up at him when he exited, and then went back to their own businesses.
Inuyasha's cell phone read 2:27AM. Dammit, he was going to be hearing it from Sora tomorrow if Kagome wasn't back yet. Maybe Kouga already dropped her off and gone. Please don't fail on me now, Inuyasha prayed.
The screen flashed 4 messages. The hanyou gathered his thoughts together, still a bit soggy from all that drink. Then he scrolled through the icons on his screen and until a voice read "Four new messages . . ."
"Hey baby," A. Lee voice rang out clearly from the speaker. "Well, I guess you're kinda busy now, huh? Don't drink too much, and take care of Kagome for me, yeah? I wouldn't trust that Kouga kid if I were you. Anyway . . . who ended date, you or me? Well, something came up, so I'm leaving early. Maybe call me later? Don't get drunk, sweetie. Beep."
He sighed, pushing his messy hair back. Messed up again. At least he gets a second chance, so he made a reminder to call her first thing to apologize.
His slow fingers dragged across the keys, messing up several times on the numbers. Finally, after the fifth try, he rubbed his eyes and waited for the rings. Inuyasha's head was hollowed and his body was wrung dry. The rings kept chiming over and over again.
"Hey, this is Annabelle Lee. You know what to do . . . Beep."
A message wasn't going to cut it, so he snapped the phone closed.
Trying to sort out his disorderly thoughts, he groaned in frustration. It was just one drink too much.
Sliding his back against the warm wall, he shut his eyes and grimaced. It was probably time to go, not that anyone at house gave a crap about it anyway. The Taisho household was a fast-paced place, everyone with their own priorities.
His heart sank. His father ran the world-famous jewelry line. Sesshoumaru was a model, and Sora was a singer. Leaving him . . . a slum.
"Dammit," he growled, pushing back that bitter feeling. Time to go home and some Tylenol would make everything better.
Inuyasha trudged indoors, feeling more down than ever. A cool blast of AC slapped him in the face, and the music was more deafening than ever. This wasn't the scene.
A bumptious beauty immediately caught him in her swiveled beat. She tugged on his belt loop and did 2-step number. Her skin was grimy from dancing, and as she looked up all he could see was messy too-much glitter cross her face.
"Dance!" she urged him, bringing her body closer to his. He stood there, wondering where all this energy was bouncing around from. How could this girl be so . . . happy? The musty smell of sweat, deodorant, and designer perfume plugged his senses as she crowded closer, giggling so much that he could feel her ticklish breath against his neck.
Hie eyes lingered at her cherub face, and it just seemed so vulnerable and . . . something. He couldn't quite place his fingers on it, but it was so brilliant. When her eyes met his, he staggered back. Unlike him, she was extremely sober, and having the time of her life. The dull brown eyes emitted this shocking sparkle, while her whole body was swinging like a pendulum. He couldn't tear his eyes away. How does this girl dance so perfectly without any alcohol? She was probably at the apex of an awakening state. Her smile widened as he just stood and looked in awe.
He'd caught a falling star.
The resemblance was almost unlike, but it was there. Her swishing black hair that had formed a halo, her grinning face, and the similar 2-step number. Most of all, the natural glow that surrounded her. That bright light in her burgeoned for a second and then blighted.
He shook his head, to clear the thoughts. And he once again saw the blinding sparkles from her face and vamp red lipstick roughly applied to those plump lips.
A falling star indeed.
"See this?" she dangled a necklace in front of his face. The amorphous shape was lackluster and jumbled.
Inuyasha took it in his hand. "This is what you had to show me? This is what you deemed as urgent?"
"Nah!" She giggled, burying her flushed red face deeper into his jacket. "I was bored, so I needed you to rescue me. Plus, I just found it and I thought it might be interesting to show you."
"What is it?" He mumbled, trying to move his butt that had stiffened from the coldness of the park bench.
"Remember what we agreed on about honesty the other day?" She gazed up at his with clear eyes. "Well, I wanted to show you this because I think it's important."
He kicked the snow around his ankle, and held Kagome closer.
"This is a falling star." She said in a matter-of-factly tone.
Inuyasha chuckled, howling, "Now is that what it is? Cuz it looked like blob to me."
"Shhhh!" Kagome hissed, obviously angered that he'd made fun of her treasure. "Anyway, this was given to me by my first boyfriend, who also happened to be my first love."
He stared wide-eyed at her, wondering why she'd chosen to share this with him. He urged her to go on.
"Anyway, he wasn't really good with his hands or anything—" At this, Inuyasha cracked up, and Kagome clocked him in the head "I meant artistically, but he was extremely sweet. Houji, that was his name. He wanted to become and astronomer you know, so he'd always take me to those weird planet shows and museums, and he had this monster telescope in his porch. Sometimes he'd call me up in the middle of the night to tell me about some star sighting."
She sniffled a bit, Inuyasha wrapped his arms around her, not because he wanted to keep her warm, but he was truthfully a bit jealous of that Houji kid. He whispered something into her sweet shampooed hair and embraced her with kisses. As she sniffled, he tipped her up face to see if she was crying. He couldn't tell because naturally her nose was pink from the coldness.
"So this one night, he asked me to come to this park with him, because there was supposedly this Venus or some planet sighting. Actually, it was a meteor shower, and it was really beautiful." She looked up, wiping this smudge of tear daring to leak out of the corner of her eyes. Smiling, Kagome looked up into the sky. "And he had all this really romantic stuff set up. He gave me this necklace, which he made himself from his dad's workshop. He melted it and shaped it, and all that cute stuff."
She paused, molding herself in Inuyasha's embrace. She cushioned her cheeks against his shoulder and closed her eyes, imagining the meteor shower. It was as if the sky was cry, daring effulgent tears.
Inuyasha smothered her cheek with a kiss. It was then that he saw that she was luminous. Absolutely glowing.
Kagome sighed, her breath a white puff in the cold winter breeze
"It was so beautiful."
By then her voice was just a hush breath.
"Houji," she opened her eyes once again and stared into space, transfixed on the snowy feathery scenery, "He called me his falling star."
They sat there, entwined in each other, taking shallow breaths. He knew that he wasn't allowed to see her cry, as was she herself. Looking down, he saw her hand clutching the necklace, wrapping it completely in her palm. Knuckles as white as the snow far back in the scenery, she just held it as if it was her only hope.
He finally found the voice to speak, so he rasped, "And whatever happened to him?"
Kagome looked up with trusting eyes. "That's for me to know and for you to find out. Everyone just thought that it was puppy love. A joke. He was the first."
The hanyou shifted in the bench, fully warm now.
"And Inuyasha, you're only my second."
"I'm sorry, I have somewhere else to be," Inuyasha grasped the girl by the shoulder and stepped back.
She studied him for a second, her eyes seemed crestfallen, but the glitters on her face not taking a second to stop sparkling. Shrugging quickly, she bounced off.
He needed to go. It's been a long night, and he certainly didn't trust himself to be around anyone in this state, especially not Kagome. The one thing that he made certain was to be sure not to see Kagome for the rest of the week. He'd have to busy himself.
As he was walking, somebody's shoulder collided with his. Inuyasha stiffened, he could recognize that scent anywhere.
"Where the hell are you going?" He snarled at Kouga, who looked like he was in a hurry to get out of here.
The youkai jerked his attention up at Inuyasha with slight repulse. "Why do you care?"
"What about Kagome?" It was when he said it that he felt a hint of concern tracing his face.
Kouga rolled his eyes, "she's a big girl, she can take care of herself."
"DAMMIT!" Inuyasha yanked him up by the collar. "You left her, dumbass?"
If it was one thing Inuyasha could recall clearly about Kagome from years ago, it was that she could not hold her alcohol even if her life depended on it.
"What's the big deal?" Kouga chuckled. "I've been keeping an eye on her like I said."
"Where is she?" Inuyasha loosened his grip.
"Take a look for yourself, she's doing fine," He pointed her out in the light.
There she was, on the dancefloor, grinding with some random stranger. She was laughing and looked like she was having the time of her life. Her waist twisted and snapped in perpetual motion, and her hair was flying loose and wild. The waistband of her once-long skirt was rolled up unnecessarily so that the skirt was thigh-high, the trim so low that in fact when she dipped you should steal a peak of what was underneath. The straps of her camisole was released against her creamy shoulders, so that the top looked like it was tear off if you simply even touched it.
A small crowd had gathered around her, while the DJ made sure to give her a dim spotlight. He could see why too . . . as usually, she was glowing. But her shine radiated to everyone around her.
For great brevity, his breath was stolen by how august she looked.
Inuyasha could feel himself sour and flinch inside at the sight of the guy touching up against her. The anger bubbled over him, but he wasn't sure whether he wanted to face it or just hurl. Those few beers from a while ago were not doing him any good either.
"Damn fine dancer if I do say so myself," Kouga smirked. The one thing he was right about totally set Inuyasha off.
"Get out of my face. And I swear if you even try to call her after this, I'll make sure you'll never get a job in this town."
"You're drunk," Kouga called out as he stumbled away.
Inuyasha stomped across the room, shoving every dancer out of his way brusquely. He wasn't just mad, he was seething. This was just not his day. And for all this, he only has Kouga to blame.
By the time he reached Kagome, every dancer had cut a wide berth around him like he was murderous. He was causing a scene, but that was the last thing on his mind.
Lashing out, he had a vise-like grip on her wrist to keep her in still motion. For a second there, he thought she was so out there she couldn't feel his grip, but then she turned around and made eye contact. The expression of ecstasy on her face didn't trace any sign of recognition when she saw him, and that's when he knew she was a goner.
"It's time to go, Higurashi," he mumbled, attempting to keep it all inside.
He could have sworn a look of annoyance flashed across her bliss features, before she yelped real loud, "OW! Let go, you're hurting me."
Then he realized that he was strangling her wrist, and pleaded with a look of sorrow. Her wrist was so narrow and fragile, he could've crushed her bone with a bit more strength. There was a scar from the damage he caused at the pool the other day. The black blood was crusted in straight line down her flesh.
Guilt hit him. There was absolutely no reason he had to be so harsh with Kagome all the time. But it seemed necessary to act that way around her, if not, where did stand with her.
She was shrinking away from him, gradually tugging her wrist away with that hurtful look.
"Hey kid, why don't you scoot your boot? She says you're hurtin' her, boy!"
Inuyasha's eyes darted up, and down, then sideways until he saw the pretty boy Kagome was dancing to earlier addressing him. He scowled impatiently.
The boy's all about looks and no game. Inuyasha knew how to deal with kids like this.
"Take a step back," He ordered, sneering. "Here's a heads up: she's my fiancée. So why don't you mind your own little business, huh?"
"Whoa man, I had no idea." The boy quirked up a brow. "Sorry you got stuck with her. I mean, no offense, but she's a little too easy to get tipsy if you catch my drift. You can do better, bro."
Right then, Inuyasha wanted to wring the kid's skinny little neck, but instead he said, "Well, what can you do, right?"
0.0
Summer of 8th grade . . .
"There's 5 kinds of way to get popular," Fiora sang while Kagome braided her hair. "You guys want to know?"
All the girl dropped what they were doing to gather around Fiora. She snickered, soothing her hair back, and in doing so, messing up Kagome's work. "1. The money/connections. Like you, Marybeth." She flashed all her pearly whites, erasing all the meanness there was to that statement.
"2. The looks, obviously myself," She crossed her legs. Fiora was the queen of mean, also the unprecedented leader of all the clubs there were at school. There weren't a thing as second-say if you're in the presence of Fiora. "3. The personality, aka social butterfly. Like Akira."
Akira piped up, "But, I'm, like, pretty too."
Fiora rolled her eyes, choking out, "Is that what your mom tells you, Akira? Cuz that doesn't count."
Trying to avoid the uncomfortable situation, the girls giggled softly. It wasn't funny.
"4. The relationship, like you Kagome. We've been best buds for, what, 6 years now? This is a pretty hard factor to go by, because you're the only friend I've got left who I haven't dumped by the end of middle school."
Kagome shrunk. She knew it too, she wasn't too gorgeous, nor was she rich or very popular with the kids in school. The only reason she was still there was because Fiora kept her around when she made her rise in middle school.
"And lastly, and IT fact—"
"FIORA!! I have to go drop Kagome off. It's her curfew!" Fiora's brother jangled his keys, breaking open his sister's door. "C'mon Kagome. Say goodbye and make it quick."
The girls all tried to stifle their excited giggles to see Fiora's brother. Ah, teenage hormones.
"Chop chop, not getting any younger."
The girls found that hilarious.
"Oh, well, um . . . I'll miss you, Fiora. I can't believe you're moving, but call me once in a while? You know can always stay at my house." Kagome said timidly.
Fiora, being the queen that she was, rolled her eyes as if she was just so above all this. "Whatever. Since we've been bffs for, like, forever. I'll always remember you."
They all knew that there was no way Fiora would keep in touch with any of them unless she'd suddenly gone broke and needed somewhere to stay. In that case, still none would hear from her besides Marybeth.
"Maybe I can call you later tonight?"
Fiora waved her hand, shooing Kagome away. Their convo'd been over the moment Fiora stopped caring.
At this point, every last one of them knew that when Fiora steps off, she was going to have to leave to throne to someone. They were all kissing up to her, except for Kagome. She'd had enough of Fiora's snootiness and was only hanging on by her last finger. By the time Fiora fully moves and breaks connection, Kagome's hoping to ditch them and makes some real friends in high school. Some friends that she doesn't feel inferior to.
Fiora's always had the best of everything compared to Kagome. Ever since they were little, Fiora's claimed the new blonde Barbie and the dream castle, while demanding Kagome to be the old naked brunette girl that's already had most of her hairs chopped off already. Then later in elementary school, Fiora started getting into designer brands, so she nicknamed Kagome Dior-a without Kagome's say in it. That lasted about a year or so before Fiora decided that 'Fiora and Diora' just wasn't her cup of tea. Oh, Kagome could just go on for ages about the wrongs Fiora did her, and surprisingly, after 6 years, Fiora was still the kind of girl she was in elementary school.
Kagome made a quiet exit, leaving Fiora to finish what she'd been talking about. Following Fiora's brother, Erik, out the door, she gathered her things and tip-toed outside.
It was humid hot from the quick summer rainshower earlier that day, but hollow dark outside. She crossed the lawn to his shiny car, and settled her supplies on the passenger seat. The strangled quietness between the two was a bit intimidating to Kagome.
"You know I could just walk," She suggested as she stepped into the car. It smelt of the yummy designer cologne that he always wore, and a little bit boyish. It was quiet an alarming setting for an 8th grader with little experience.
He laughed, that really mature heartmelting laughter. "Right. Like I'm going to let you walk home alone at 2:30 in the morning. Please, Kags. I may not be an adult yet, but I'm responsible."
She fumbled with her seatbelt daftly while he pulled the car out of the driveway. It was when he started cruising down the street that he took his eyes off the road and started searching for something in the pocket of the door.
"So, what do you girls talk about at those kiddies sleepovers?" He asked.
Kagome bit her lips worriedly at the sight of him avoiding attention on the road. It wasn't as if there was much traffic in the neighborhood anyway, but the fact that she was afraid he might run over somebody's mailbox, which was all too common at this part of town.
"You know . . . girl stuff."
"Yeah? Like what?"
She tensed up, feeling so immature next to this varsity star hockey player. Was there anyway to get around the topic without sounding like a kid?
"Mostly you," She blurted, then immediately flushed bright red. Stupid stupid Kagome still didn't know how to handle herself around boys.
"Is that so?" Erik chuckled, sounding amused. "And what you think of me?"
"Oh no, not me!" She defended shrilly, "The other girls do."
"Uh huh," He didn't seem persuaded yet, but grinned a silly smile when he pulled out something from his side. Passing it to Kagome fluidly, he recommended, "Here, take a sip."
Kagome held it in front of her, still hot from her previous blunder in words. It was a bottle of adroitly disguised alcohol, she didn't miss a beat.
"You want me to drink alcohol." She stated. "I'm 14."
The girl might've been shy, but she wasn't stupid. She'd taken enough drug awareness courses in school to know all about that peer pressure gunk, but she wasn't one to believe in it. After 6 years of friendship with Fiora, she'd grown up a lot sooner than she'd expected and have been exposed to a lot. Drugs were always a big no-no, but alcohol she could deal with.
He dipped in so close to her that she could personally smell his aftershave. "You really are something, you know that, Kags?"
She saw that he'd already parked the car outside her driveway, and wondered if it'd be childish to just make a break for the house. But then again, she'd just have to put on a show for him before he moved, because that's what he wanted.
Uncorking the bottle, she tipped her head back and let the bitter fluid slither down her tongue. Nothing unusual than the regular. Kagome tried to remind herself that this was just a going away present for Erik, after all, she'd already given Fiora hers.
The next time she came up for a breath, she'd already downed half the pint-size bottle.
"Good girl," He cheered, and before she even saw it coming, he enclosed her lips within his so forcefully that in fact she was shoved into the passenger car door.
Kagome squirmed, trying to get comfortable without pissing him off. The seatbelt was strangling her body, while the door handle was digging into her back, but he just pushed her back further like she was going to bolt any second.
And the whole time, all Kagome could think about was Erik's girlfriend of 2 years. Oh what girl wouldn't pay to be in position, while Kagome just wanted to burst into tears.
He dipped his hand to the small of her back, and kept running his finger through her hair, murmuring, "You're so beautiful."
She had a boyfriend . . . a loving boyfriend . . . whom obviously adores her and loves her . . . and, oh GOD, she had a frigging BOYFRIEND.
When Erik finally started to release her and soften up, she shoved him off. While he was strangling the seat for some air to breath, she hugged herself, wishing for her boyfriend. She rubbed the raw skin where the seatbelt dug in a red mark.
He finally rasped his breath back to normal and looked up devilishly at her. Kagome faked a smile like that was the most fun she'd had for a long time. She just wanted to go.
"You have a long way to go, sweetheart," he remarked not so kindly, "If you want to take Fiora's place, you better learn quick."
0.0
Kagome swung her bag over, and dropped them by the potting plants. She'd just have to pick them up later that day. Now that she'd dropped a load, she could easily maneuver herself inside the kitchen window without getting caught.
Checking her cell phone, it read 2:57 AM. Great, jerky Erik held her up for 20 minutes. Thank god her mother wasn't home today, just her almost-dead grandfather who didn't know most of the things that went on around him.
Just as she poked her head into the woozy room, the overhead lights brightened up, nearly blinding her to death.
"Kagome?"
Damn, since when did the old geezer get up at 3 in the morning?
"Yeah, hey gramps."
"Come take a seat with me," he croaked.
Hmmm, she was gonna have to count her blessings. At least he didn't go and cross-examine her about the whole deal.
She perched herself on the edge of a stool, trying to look as comfortable as she could get. "So . . . what do you wanna talk about?"
"Who was the boy?"
Looks like she spoke too fast.
"Excuse me?"
"The boy that dropped you off."
"Are you going delusional again? There was no boy."
"Kagome, I'm not born yesterday. I saw him with my own two eyes. I may not be getting with the times now, but I'm pretty sure guys don't say goodbye by sticking their tongue down girls' throats. Especially not yours."
"That's prying into where you head doesn't belong, namely, my business!" She scowled indignantly.
"What about Houji?"
"Leave it alone! Houji and him, they're both just . . . guys!"
He shook his head calmly, looking at her with wrinkled, peaceful eyes. "Those girls you hang out with, they're not your friends."
"Oh stop it! You've always treated Fiora better than you have ever treated me so you just put a lid on it!" She said. "Now if you don't mind, I'd like to go to bed."
"You missed your curfew by five hours, Kagome. I want an explanation."
"I'll save it for my mom," Kagome narrowed her eyes.
He remained tranquil, and said, "Your mother isn't here, so you're going to have face me."
"Well, she's NEVER HERE, now is she! Always going on tour with those dumbass rock bands!"
"Watch your language! And don't turn this about her, she's a great mother."
As she turned to leave, Kagome brushed by him with force. Despite how he may look, he was plenty quick to snatch up her wrist.
"Have you been drinking, Kagome?"
She attempted to shake his aged hand off, and in doing so frustrated herself even more. Her lips curled into a frown. "Why do you care?"
"You smell of alcohol! It's illegal for someone of your age to be drinking."
"I'll do whatever I want, this is none of your business!"
"Come here," he roped her closer, trying to examine her.
"LET GO OF ME!" she shrieked. "THIS IS HARRASSMENT!!"
"I don't want you going out for the rest of the month!"
"YOU ARE AN ASSHOLE OF A GRANDFATHER! YOU ARE OLD, EMBRASSING, AND CONTROLLING! I HATE HAVING YOU LIVING HERE AND CONSTANTLY BUTTING INTO MY LIFE, JUST STAY OUT!"
His eyes bugged way out as his jaws slackened in disbelief.
"I FUCKING HATE YOU AND I WISH THAT YOU'D NEVER COME TO LIVE HERE! GO DIE IN THE SINKHOLE."
With that, she stomped off to the bathroom, hoping to scrub off any traces of alcohol left on her.
0.0
"You're it!"
"WHAT?" Kagome scrubbed off the sleep from her face and stumbled into the kitchen for a cup of freshly brewed coffee.
"I want you to be the next IT girl," Fiora chirped over the phone.
The 4 hours of sleep had done nothing for her. "Me?"
Was it too much to ask for to have everyone leave her to herself? She just wanted some real friends, not to control all their lives like Fiora did. She'd rather have left the job to any other girl in their IN crowd.
"Now now, I know what you're thinking, sweetie. It's going to be a long stretch, because you're going to have a lot to learn about making other people bow down to your will and killing their social live, but hey, I think you can do it. Plus, would I really trust any other girl with the job?"
"Wow, I don't know what to say, I'm flattered, I guess."
"KAGOME!"
She twirled around, facing the distraught figure that was her mother as she erupted through the door. She was holding her cell phone in one hand, and looked as if that was the only string pulling her together.
"Hey, when'd you get home?" she asked while pressing a hand over her own phone.
"Get your stuff, your grandfather had a stroke. He'd in the emergency room."
No. of Pages: 25
No. of Words: 8800
Date Started: 5/29/07
Date Finished: 6/27/07
Spell Checked: no
Date Edited: N/A
Date Posted: 7/7/07
Wow, ten chapters already, huh? I've certainly come a long way, and I'd just like to take this time to thank all those of you that's read this fiction, and those that have reviewed or added this to their favorite.
In a way, I really think writing this thing have matured me a lot. Now I take responsibility for this story. Such as taking time off to work on it and meeting deadlines (okay, so maybe I'm not great at it). But this is actually the first story I haven't given up on when I get writers block and things like that.
I would have never expected 210 reviews, or 10 chapters ( the longest I've gone is 9), nor have I ever finished a fiction since 2 years ago. The last one I've finished was my first fiction ever written.
Lastly, I'd like the thank everyone for not bashing this story or my grammar mistakes.
Walking Flame AKA Ellen
PS. I promise for faster update on the next chapter. And watch out for it, because things are going to get a LOT juicier.
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