A/N: wooohhoooo, chapter thirteen! I'm officially on Summer break, which means more time to write! I am hoping to bring this story to a close on break seeing as it has been an entire year, whoaaaaaaaa, since I first started posting this, but I'll see. I have an ending for this story, but it may pull me in a few directions between now and then so we'll see.

Anyways, enjoy!

Chapter Thirteen:

Inuyasha strut down the hallway of Kagome's dorm building. People stared. He was still very much shirtless, but did he give two damns? Huh, hell no. He was on top of world and a new found energy was bursting through his body. It took major self-control not to run all the way home.

Just wait until Miroku hears about this. Now all he had to do was figure out a way to see Kagome again. All smiles, he dug his hands into his pockets to grab his keys. His eyes opened wide. Oh shit.

His phone.

Serial Killer's phone.

Damn it. Damn it. Damn it. Inuyasha raced on his feet. The pavement nearly cracked beneath his shoes. His heart was racing. If Kagome saw that phone, it'd be over. God, he didn't want any of this to be over. Nearly crashing into bodies on his way up the stairs, people muttered words of distaste. Yeah, fuck off, you have the girl of your dreams be on the verge of breaking everything off and see what you do.

His breath was rapid as he banged on Kagome's door.

Please. Don't text my alter ego yet.

The door turned and cracked open.

"Inuyasha? I told you to go, I really meant it too."

Inuyasha's eyes were frantic as he nodded and rubbed the back of his neck. He wanted to fall onto the floor, relieved. Kagome hadn't found it yet.

"I forgot my phone and I-" He paused when he saw her still holding onto his shirt. She wasn't wearing the dress anymore either. She had covered herself in a pair of torn jeans and t-shirt and she was still holding onto his shirt. Fuck. If he wasn't worried about his phone, he wouldn't let her live that down.

As if Kagome came to the same realization, she swung her hands behind her back. "Uh, yeah, go ahead and look for it."

Inuyasha stepped inside and found the phone fairly quickly on the rug by her bed. Miroku had texted him, but the phone was on silent. Thank God. No texts from Kagome to Serial Killer either.

Maybe it was time he told her. Maybe he needed to say something. If he felt this terrible about her finding out now, what would it be like later? The longer he kept this charade going, the more it would hurt if she found out. He knew that.

"Are you good, now?" Kagome asked.

"Actually, no, Kagome I," he paused and when he glanced up to Kagome, she wore a face of worry. Damn, could he just rip this bandage off? What if he let Serial Killer go? Their text relationship could just die. The real life Inuyasha could make her forget about the virtual one.

"Inuyasha?"

"I think we should go on a date." Yeah, Inuyasha wasn't sure where that came from. By the looks of it Kagome didn't expect it either.

Kagome stepped back and dropped his shirt onto the floor. "Whoa, whoa, whoa, what are you saying? I um, don't you think that we should at least-"

"Like a real one where I pick you up and you actually want to go and we actually make an effort to know each other. We have fun and by the end the of the night you might let me kiss you again, but only if you had good time."

Kagome was a little breathless as he spoke to her.

"Go on a date with me, Kagome."

"Will you wear a shirt if I say yes?"

Inuyasha grinned as he said, "Only if you want me to."

"Then, yes. I'll go on a date with you."

It's been five days since the party where just about everything happened. You know. Getting drunk, Inuyasha in Kagome's bed, Inuyasha kissing her, Inuyasha kissing her again, Inuyasha shirtless, Inuyasha asking Kagome on a date and Kagome saying yes. Inuyasha shirtless.

It's also been five days of Kikyo ignoring every text of apology Kagome sent her. As much as she didn't get along with Kikyo, Kagome did feel guilty for just leaving her at the party. Kagome was drunk…but that was no excuse. It wasn't like this was the first time Kikyo had been this upset, so Kagome knew that this wouldn't last forever.

"So," Sango's voice broke Kagome's thoughts of guilt. The two of them were at the gym, jogging side by side on the treadmills.

"So?" Kagome asked as Sango clearly had something on her mind.

"Now that you're dating Inu-"

"We haven't started- I mean, we aren't dating, we just, we're going on one. Just one."

"Right. So my question is if you're going to stop flirting with that text guy. What do you call him? Murderer? Stalker?"

"It's Serial Killer." Kagome corrected Sango as if the actual nickname made anything better. "And I don't flirt with him."

Sango burst out laughing as she slowed down and increased the incline. "Wow. Kagome even you can't be that oblivious. What are planning to do? Just keep texting this guy and date Inuyasha?'

Kagome sped up. What was Sango trying to do right now? Did she just want to argue? Kagome didn't want to talk about this. Serial Killer hadn't even texted her back in days. "We aren't dating. I can text a friend whenever I want to."

"I get it. You can do that, Kagome, but I just don't want anyone to get hurt."

"Who's going to get hurt?"

"You know what, never mind."

"No Sango, what are you talking about?"

Sango was breathing harder as Kagome questioned her. The girl knew more than she wanted to right now.

"You should stop texting him. "

Kagome braced herself as she put her feet on the sides of the treadmill before hitting stop. "I don't know why you're so invested in this relationship, but I'll do what I want." Besides, he hasn't even texted her back. Kagome didn't add that part. She knew he'd come back. He disappeared sometimes, but when he comes back, he always gave her clarity. He distracted her from her problems. What was wrong with that?

"I'm gonna go." Kagome said and jumped off the machine.

"Kagome, wait, I-"

"It's fine. I'll see you later." With that, Kagome headed for the door. It was still early morning so the sun was just barely peeking out. As Kagome came outside, the wind sent chills indicating that fall was at its peak. A few orange leaves hit her legs. She reached to zip her jacket up. She took her phone out and was met with more disappointment. Still nothing. Maybe he was busy with finals. Sighing, she tried not to think about it too much.

"Kagome?"

The voice struck Kagome, sending uncomfortable chills down her spine. Her whole body stiffened. He hadn't shown up to class for several weeks. She assumed he dropped out. She thought she was safe again.

"Kouga."

"Yeah, hi, I-"

Kagome, ready to bolt, began to step away back in the direction of the gym. Kouga was swift though, he grasped onto her arm.

"If you don't let me go, Kouga, I swear I'll-"

"Please, Kagome, I promise I'm not trying to hurt you, I just need a minute." He appeared desperate, but every voice inside Kagome told her to run and run fast. If she screamed loud enough, someone from the gym would hear her. She was ready to do so when Kouga spoke again. "It's about Inuyasha."

Kagome felt a sharp pain in her chest. What could he possibly have to say about Inuyasha? Pressing her lips together, she ignored her instincts and pulled her arm away and said, "You have one minute. What is it?"

"You have to stop seeing him."

Kagome scoffed and rolled her eyes. "I don't know what you're on right now, but you have got to get some help. "

"No, Kagome, you don't understand. Do you remember Hojo and how he broke everything off and the car accident-"

"Wait, how in the hell do you know about Hojo? You never met me until this year." Feeling dizzy, she stepped back to steady her balance. She really needed to get out of here. "What does that have to do with Inuyasha, Oh God, get the hell away from me."

"I understand this is a lot to take in, but I don't want to see you get hurt."

"You tried to hurt me."

"I know I did, but I was a coward and now I'm trying really hard to make this right. You have to get away from Inuyasha." Kouga looked behind him like he was expectant of something or someone. "I have to go, but please listen to me. I know you don't have any good reason to. You have to though. "

Just then, footsteps came around the corner and when Kagome turned around, she saw Inuyasha, in his gym clothes, running after her. His arm came around her, which was warm. Kagome was gasped lightly as she swiveled her gaze back to Kouga, but he wasn't there anymore.

"What're you doing just standing out here, alone? You're usually killing it in there." He asked, toothy grin and all. Her body felt like ice. Inuyasha didn't see him. Kouga was here and he told her to stay away from Inuyasha. Why? She couldn't figure that out. Then there was the Hojo thing, which gave her the creeps on every inch of her body.

"Whoa, are you alright, you look like you're either really constipated or you're going to throw up."

Kagome couldn't tell him what happened. The last she needed was for him to go on a rampage to find Kouga and kill him. So she sucked in a breath and made a weak attempt at playfully elbowing him in the stomach.

"Funny."

Inuyasha smiled lightly, but he still seemed suspicious. Kagome never held back when she found his comments or questions to be crude. "Do you need a ride home or something? You really don't look good."

"Wow you know how to talk to a lady, don't you?

"Wait, no, that's not what I meant, I meant, uh, you know." He stumbled over his words and Kagome smiled, but not all the way.

"I'm kidding, dummy."

"Who are you calling a dummy? Huh?" Inuyasha retorted by reaching around her to tickle her sides. Kagome squeaked, trying to get away from him when he picked her up and made her face him.

Kagome glanced away. "It was just a rough workout so I'm a little exhausted."

Inuyasha nodded, choosing not to poke at whatever was getting to her right now. "Are you too exhausted to let me tell you about our date?"

Kagome raised her head at his question. It was like she hadn't been completely aware of how his hands held her up by the waist. His strong fingers were swirling between the fabric of her jacket, clutching her gently. Okay, this was better than focusing on Kouga. This was a lot better than everything else that had happened this morning.

"Mmm, okay, but I hope you know I'm expecting something high-class, you know, black tie, violinist playing, a proposal of your undying love for me, that kind of stuff."

Inuyasha smirked. "Don't test me or that's really what you'll be getting, darling."

"Okay, tell me what we're doing."

Inuyasha's eyes rolled back to the side to think about it. He licked his lips before speaking. "On second thought, I think I'll keep it a surprise."

"Wait, what? Hold on a minute, you just said," Kagome began to protest and patted his chest with her fists. This made him put her down. She was stilling hitting his chest when he gripped onto her hands, forcing them open. He intertwined their fingers.

"Inuyasha," Kagome breathed. Stay away from Inuyasha. I don't want you to get hurt. Kouga's voice echoed in her mind. Why would he say that? Why was he back here? He disappears for a while and then, boom, he's back.

"You make me really happy, you know that?" Inuyasha's voice was soft, unintimidating, rarely sweet and yet, Kagome could only picture Kouga's warning. Say that she did need to stay away from Inuyasha, who was telling him this? What would happen if she stayed with him? Why the hell did she feel the need to trust him? There was no reason to trust him. He was just trying to scare her for whatever reason.

"Kagome, is everything okay?"

"What?" Kagome's shoulders flinched up. "Oh, um yes, I have to go. I've got a test today and my book is in my dorm and I really have to go." She was unwinding their fingers and stepping away before Inuyasha had a chance to say anything. "I'll text you later okay?"

Inuyasha scratched his head as he nodded, a little dumbfounded. "Uh, okay." Kagome tried not to sprint away. Worries consumed her. There was only one person she could talk to, the only person who could make everything okay. She was sure of it. He'd talk her through it.

Please answer me. I need your help. You're the only one I know I can talk to. Do you know a guy named Kouga?

A few blocks away, walking into the gym, Inuyasha heard his Serial Killer phone vibrate. He had ignored it all week, hoping to fade away, but when he read Kagome's text, he didn't hesitate. He answered.

What do you need me to do?

A/N part 2: Don't forget to review, follow, and favorite if you enjoyed! All of your support, reactions, and helpful feedback means so much to me. Thanks to all that read my story too. Y'all are the absolute best.

Every review gets a virtual hug from me. C: