Author's Note: hi! enjoy. Read what I have at the bottom if things get confusing.

My Darkest Hour

Chapter 21

Kagome and InuYasha had woken around eleven in the morning, so they knew that if they got to work today, they'd be really late. The only things Kagome had that she wanted moved from Kouga's place—the time she tried to live with Sango and now with the opportunity she got from InuYasha—were clothes and accessories, shoes, pictures of her family, her toiletries, and all other significant miscellaneous items that she owned. They got all her personal items that belonged in a bedroom in their right places. InuYasha wanted to help Kagome put out the items that were meant for living rooms and bathrooms, but she insisted that since he already helped her with the more personal things, they could figure that out another day. InuYasha wouldn't have it, saying that the bedrooms already had something of a woman's touch thanks to his mother, but for guests that don't stay overnight the rooms they see need a little something-something too. So with a smile, Kagome joined InuYasha in putting her little knick-knacks out.

Now, four hours later, the two were done but nowhere near being exhausted; just feeling really lazy. It was only three o'clock, so they still had two hours before work was done with. InuYasha and Kagome rushed to get ready, and in 20 minutes were out the door. They were already late for Kikyo's arrival—no need to make things worse by wasting time.

By four they had made it to the office. They broke out into a sprint as soon as they reached the doors; the way Kagome ran looked more awkward since her feet were restricted by stilettos. Anyway, she and InuYasha ran past Laura's desk, ran up to the elevator, up to the fifteenth and top floor, and collapsed onto each other directly after walking through the door to Kagome's office.

When the two recovered, they moved from each other and stood up straight. Upon looking up, however, the two froze. Silently perched there on Kagome's desk… was a very pissed off Kikyo. InuYasha and his secretary made no sound so as not to provoke the seething beast that appeared to be calm as she inspected her perfectly manicured nails. After a few chilling moments of silence and tension, the ghostly woman looked up, a smirk on her almost perfect lips.

"So!" she cried with faux cheer as she stood up and clapped her hands, "this is why neither of you were here! You were out somewhere with each other…?" Kikyo's tone at the end of her sentence left room for correction, but the look on her face ferociously dared them to do just that.

InuYasha sputtered for a moment, not sure what to say to the woman that he wanted to dump, but that he had a deep relationship with. Kagome was hurt; she'd noticed the hesitance and unwillingness in InuYasha's expression. Apparently… he may have a crush on her, but he's afraid to fess up to Kikyo because of their bond. Kagome sighed, her heart aching, and silently trudged over to her desk. She felt Kikyo's piercing eyes on her, but Kagome's stayed glued to the ground in her sorrow.

Kikyo rolled her eyes when she realized Kagome wasn't going to meet her gaze, and then turned sharply to place her withering glare on InuYasha. He was still staring at her, still frozen in fear at the doorway. Kikyo rolled her eyes once again and stepped forward once.

"InuYasha Taisho Takahashi! You and I have a few things to talk about. It better not be long after I get in there, that you bring your ass into your office, too." With that Kikyo turned on the heels of her sparkly, silver pumps, and stomped into the entranced man's office.

When she detected no movement coming from the doorway, Kagome looked up to stare at her boss with pain-filled eyes. Was he really so reluctant to end what he has with Kikyo for her? Kagome's heart throbbed painfully at that thought, and so she looked away from InuYasha to alleviate the pain.

"Aren't you going to listen to your girlfriend, InuYasha?" she whispered bitterly.

InuYasha snapped out of his shameful reverie, but didn't notice Kagome's heart wrenching mood. He shook his head briefly. "Huh?" he said dumbly. After a few beats of silence, he just strode off to his office.

Kagome jumped when the door was slammed and a loud smack was heard. Kikyo hit InuYasha? She hit him! Kagome momentarily felt a possessive anger over that fact—how dare Kikyo harm InuYasha! But then the feeling died down and was replaced by one of painful betrayal as she recalled how InuYasha behaved when he saw Kikyo. He knew she was going to be here, so it definitely wasn't shock—at least not for long. It was clear in InuYasha's eyes that he wasn't ready for something upon meeting with Kikyo today, and it was obvious that what he wasn't ready for… was breaking up with Kikyo. Kagome kind of understood. She had been told that InuYasha had been with Kikyo for two years, and later found out that they had been casual friends for three years prior to their relationship's beginning. They weren't super close like she and Sango, but they definitely had a solid relationship. So Kagome wasn't shocked at InuYasha's reluctance; however, she was hurt that his "crush" on her apparently wasn't enough incentive for him to end the two-year affair.

Kagome faintly felt tears prick the back of her eyes, but she didn't let them develop enough to make them water. She wasn't going to cry over this man as if they were in high school or something. They were all grown, and if he couldn't act that way to end things with Kikyo and back up the words he said to her, then Kagome would just have to get over whatever feelings she held for him. She didn't want to have to—who ever does?—but if this continues for much longer, she just might have to.

Kagome shook her head at her thoughts—she was thinking too far ahead. Today was the first day after InuYasha kinda-sorta told her that he wanted to be with her, so she should cut him some slack. She shouldn't be getting all heart-broken just yet! He hadn't even said that he wanted something serious with her yet. Kagome decided she would give InuYasha a week. If by then he hasn't broken it off with Kikyo, and started a serious relationship with her, then she'd start acting like a crazy, lovesick bitch.

Kagome nodded to herself, then smiled and stood up. It's been two days after she'd collected $1,600 for the apartment she'd wanted. That makes six weeks and two days before she had confirmed that she was saving money for the place. At the end of that sixth week she had contacted the owner of the apartment to let them know that she was a day away from having the $2,000 that she needs for the place. Now Kagome had $2,400, and she wasn't sure what to do anymore. At that point she hadn't known that she would be living with InuYasha, so the deal was pretty much confirmed. But now that she moved in with him, it wasn't necessary to go to the place unless she started feeling like a burden. Then again… if this Kikyo situation gets worse, then Kagome should complete the apartment deal and move in there.

Kagome groaned, plopping back down into her chair. "Goddammit! Men will always make my life hell, won't they?"

Just then the door to InuYasha's office opened and Kikyo stepped out. Without looking in Kagome's direction, the woman walked to the corner of the secretary's office to the bathroom with her nose high up in the air. Kagome just shook her head and stared directly ahead of her, zoning out a little.

InuYasha came out of the office not long after Kikyo, and tapped Kagome on her shoulder. She looked up at him, her face questioning and her heart aching.

"Let's talk for a minute," he said quietly.

With an impassive look about her face, Kagome stood and followed InuYasha to his office without a word. InuYasha went around his desk and leaned against the back of his chair, and Kagome just stood next to the chairs that were meant for his guests.

Without noticing Kagome's mood, InuYasha began. "Kagome… Kikyo is my girlfriend…"

Kagome's heart twisted slightly at his tone. Was he not going to break up with her?

"But, I mean… I don't know! I know what I told you and I meant that, Kagome. I have feelings for you and I'll continue to show you that once I end things with Kikyo. But to be honest, I'm not sure when things with her and me will be broken off." InuYasha stood up straight and walked over to where Kagome was. He stood near her, but not very close. "I hope you can understand… I definitely want to be with you, but… I don't know. I just don't know… when that'll be."

Kagome only nodded. After a few moments of a silence that left a feeling of dread in InuYasha's heart, Kagome spoke. "I get that you've been with Kikyo for a while, so things will be hard to end… But you do keep saying that you have feelings for me and that you want me." Kagome looked up and met InuYasha's eyes. "All I know, InuYasha, is that I'm not going to let you play both sides for long. I had decided before to give you a week, but I guess I'll give you two since we really don't have much more than a friendship right now." Kagome's look turned fierce. "Don't you fucking dare… mess things up with me, Takahashi. We're friends now… but in two weeks you'll be done with Kikyo, and maybe a few weeks after that we can start to build something. Understood?"

InuYasha nodded, not sure what to think of her attitude right now. What exactly was she feeling?

"You better not hurt me…" Kagome said hotly, but quietly. Since she didn't even want a response to that, she spoke again before InuYasha could. "So when are we going to the mall next?" Kagome asked. Her mood changed quickly, turning into that of just a friend, instead of a woman on the verge of falling in love.

InuYasha smiled, understanding now. 'Until we get to the point where we can't stand not being with each other, until we fall in love or something like that or even just get together, Kagome and I are friends. It's not going to be hard or awkward since we only have simple feelings for each other now. So we're just good friends, nothing more.' InuYasha laughed slightly. This really will be easy.

Kagome smiled too. 'It will be easy, InuYasha. We're just going with the flow, friends till we want something more. I definitely was extremely jealous and needy a few moments ago, but those feelings won't come again until we're right at the door that'll open up to whatever wonderful relationship we'll have… This sounds like something straight out of a fairytale movie… but I really feel deep inside that things will be simple.'

Kagome and InuYasha both laughed for a few, relishing in the light feelings they felt at the moment. Things really will be easy, until it's time to fall in love.

InuYasha's smile widened significantly. "So Kagome, why don't we hang out tonight, after dinner? You already live with me," InuYasha paused to laugh, "so let's have a movie night after Kikyo leaves."

"Okay," Kagome said, feeling really light and happy. 'What's happening right now? Yeah, we're going with the flow and all, but I really don't get why we're both so excited and happy. This is kinda weird… Whatever, as long as it's genuine… and it really is.'

Kagome turned to go back to her desk, brushing past Kikyo in the doorway. She sat down at her computer to get some work done, but rolled her eyes as the sound of Kikyo shrieking about her being alone with InuYasha in his office.

'Whatever Kikyo, calm the fuck down. InuYasha and I are friends… for now.'

Author's Note: TO CLEAR THINGS UP IF NEED BE: Kagome and InuYasha are not in denial or anything. The progression of their relationship really will be easy, light, and simple. Please R&R.