Months later he had learned that she and Naraku had mated. InuYasha had then decided to take a whirlwind trip to Spain. Somewhere, anywhere to just get away. He'd dragged a protesting Miroku along which had the added bonus of pissing Sesshomaru off. He'd returned leaner and tanner but feeling no better than when he'd left.

InuYasha couldn't stand it anymore. He couldn't take looking at her knowing that she was in the same room. Slipping his mask off and gently laying it on the table, InuYasha stood and walked out to the open and thankfully vacant balcony. He stood there drinking in the gentle sounds and smells of Tokyo. A cold wind played with his thick bangs and tickled his ears. He gripped the stone railing tightly. How in the hell had all this happened? He closed his eyes and breathed deep. His sensitive ears picked up on a small sound, a light step with the gentle swish of cloth.

"Kikyo."

He didn't bother phrasing it as a question. He knew that the minute he left the room she would come looking for him. "What do you want?" His nose caught the barest hint of salt, he frowned. She was crying.

"It is true then? You have completely forgotten me? Am I that easy to forget InuYasha?"

At the sound of his name he whirled around to face her. "Do not act like this is my fault. You cheated on me remember? With one of my law partners no less!"

"I know. I am so sorry! It is just that you refused to commit to me. You always seemed so aloof and uncaring. Naraku comforted me when I needed it." She paused for breath. "You never said you loved me."

He strained to hear the last words. "I never told you I loved you? That's bullshit Kikyo! I loved you with all my heart! We were going to get married!"

She took a step forward placing her scarlet tipped hand on his arm. He instantly stiffened his posture at her unwelcome touch. "I need you InuYasha. I was a fool. I needed you and I threw you aside. Please. Forgive me. Come back to me."

He wrenched his arm from her grasp. "You forget Kikyo. You are mated to Naraku. You aren't going anywhere. You belong to him now." InuYasha sneered. "You're trapped. Forever. Now be gone."

Her seemingly gentle face hardened into a mask. Her hands had curled into fists during his speech. As he threw her words back in her face a eerie pink glow began to form over her clenched fists. "You dare…"

InuYasha snorted. "What are you going to do? Purify me? Half the people in that room are demons. Demons that your precious husband desperately needs to impress. How would it look for his miko wife to suddenly purify the son of a very influential man? A powerful man?" InuYasha laughed bitterly. "Admit it Kikyo. You're screwed!"

The pink gleam slowly faded. "This is not over InuYasha. I will ruin your life. I will find a way to break you." With these ominous words she turned on her heel and glided back into the ballroom.

InuYasha huffed out a breath. He'd never admit it but that little conversation had taken the strength out of him. He clutched the stone railing for support. Small chips of granite and dust rained down as he heard a noise behind him. Thinking it was Kikyo, he snarled and whirled around ready for round two.

Miroku stood with hands raised in defense. "Relax. It's just me. I saw you come out here with Kikyo on your tail and figured you could use some back up." He slowly stepped forward until he was leaning on the railing with InuYasha. Thick heavy silence surrounded the pair as he glanced over at his brother. Miroku sighed when he saw InuYasha's ears droop. He squeezed InuYasha's shoulder. "If you need to leave I'll explain for you." InuYasha grunted his thanks and soundlessly dropped onto the ground. Miroku stood on the deserted balcony as he watched the hanyou speed away over the manicured lawn.

Kagome refolded her napkin and looked expectantly at the balcony doors. She had not missed InuYasha's hasty departure or the fact that a slim woman in a red dress had followed him. She shot a look at Sango and Miroku. They had both just shaken their heads and frowned. After a minute Miroku had gotten up and went the way InuYasha had gone. He came back a few minutes later alone. He plopped down in his seat as Sango leaned over.

"Kikyo?"

He nodded. He met Kagome's eyes over Sango's shoulder. The look in them was questioning. InuYasha owes me big for this. He beckoned the two women to follow him back out to the balcony. He half shut the French doors for privacy. "Kagome, there's something you should know. A few years ago InuYasha was engaged to be married."

Kagome gasped. Engaged?

Sango continued, "He and that woman that followed him out here was his fiancé Kikyo. We had never liked her. She was always hanging on InuYasha and demanding treats." Her voice was hard. "If you think going shopping with us is tough go shopping with her. She always had to have what she wanted and no one was going to get in her way. But InuYasha is our friend so we put up with her."

"What happened?" Kagome's voice was just a whisper.

"I don't want to go into all the sordid details but two weeks before the wedding InuYasha went to pick her up for a surprise date." Miroku's face contorted, "He walked in to hear Kikyo talking on the phone to Naraku Onigumo. His father was law partners with Inu no Tashio. Apparently she and Naraku were having an affair. InuYasha called off the wedding."

"Oh my."

Sango nodded. "A few months later we all found out that she and Naraku were mated and he was starting his own practice. InuYasha was devastated. She was the only person outside of his family and us that he'd opened up to. He is always afraid that people will shun him." Sango shook her head. "We don't know why he thinks that. He may be slightly rough around the edges but inside he's one of the most caring people you'll ever meet."

"In fact he's been so closed off these past few years, we were really surprised that he warmed up to you so quickly. We haven't seen him act like that since Kikyo." Miroku looked at her speculatively. "It is lucky for us that you're such a good person. I think you can help him." He grabbed her hands. "I hope that you can help him overcome his pain and see that the world is not out to get him. Please say you'll try."

His grip on her hands had started to hurt, but Kagome couldn't refuse the beseeching look in his eye. Sango pried his hands from Kagome's. "Miroku. You're hurting her."

He shook himself. "I'm sorry my dear. I beg forgiveness my beauty." He bowed low before Kagome who laughed. "Now then let us rejoin our dinner partners." Sango and Kagome turned toward the doors only to feel a wandering hand on their backsides. Two loud smacks echoed off of the granite walls.

"PERVERT!"