Disclaimer: Inuyasha belongs to Rumiko Takahashi, Shogakukan, VizMedia.

Chapter 36

Last Time…

They pulled back, eyes closed and chests heaving. Inuyasha opened his eyes first and watched Kagome's slightly swollen lips carve into another wistful smile. He smirked in male pride at her dazed expression. Immediately recognizing his expression, Kagome scowled at him and sighed in resignation, resting her head against his chest. Inuyasha grunted lightly and held her tightly to him.

"And now?" she asked.

"We sleep," he said simply. "I'm fucking tired."

Kagome laughed and shook her head. "Okay, Inuyasha."

"But I also… that is, well—"

"What has you so tongue tied?"

"Do you want to get dinner tonight?"

"With you?"

"No, with the goddamn mailman."

Kagome frowned in confusion. "Oh, I'm not too sure about that. I think he might be married." She squealed when Inuyasha poked her in the ribs. Once she caught her breath, she grinned at him. "Dinner sounds great. Sounds like a date."

Inuyasha smirked at her. 'The last first date you'll have.'

"You what?" Sango asked, her dark brown eyes wide in shock. She would have dropped the stack of bridal magazines in her hands if Kagome didn't rush to grab them from her.

Kagome felt warmth flood her cheeks as she avoided Sango's gaze. She shrugged nonchalantly and sat on the couch, immediately leafing through one of the magazines determinedly. Sango sighed and sat next to her, dropping down forcefully next to her and nudging Kagome with her elbow.

"Kagome, you don't just drop news like that on me!"

"Sango, I don't see what the big deal is," Kagome hissed.

Sango raised her eyebrows at that. "Don't see what the big deal is?" she asked incredulously. "You don't understand the implications of you and Inuyasha getting back together again?" she asked flatly.

"We're not back together," Kagome hedged.

"You're not?"

"I mean… we…" Kagome shrugged. "We went out, we broke up, and now we're trying again. I mean, we don't know what's going to happen," Kagome said in a rush.

"I think we all know what's going to happen," Sango replied, taking several of the magazines out of Kagome's lap and placing them onto the coffee table. She pulled Kagome's hands from the magazine she was pretending to look through. "But I understand if you guys don't want to label it..."

Once Kagome looked at Sango from the corner of her eye, uncertainty evident in her stare, Sango narrowed her own eyes at her.

"I'm happy for you guys," she started sincerely. She looked over Kagome's face intently. "But are you okay with it? That's all that really matters."

Kagome chewed on her bottom lip in consideration and sighed, a small smile forming. "It's… a strange sensation, I guess. We'll have a moment or… of course there are some behaviors that will never change and we'll fall into an old pattern but then there are instances where we both know we would've acted differently six years ago. And we're okay with it. We're adjusting—"

Sango squeezed her hands tighter. "But are you happy?"

Kagome looked at Sango's eyes and pressed her lips together while nodding enthusiastically. "Yeah," she said quietly. "I feel really happy. Like I said, we're taking it slow. It's not picking up where we left off." She laughed softly. "Inuyasha calls it 'rebuilding'." Kagome rolled her eyes and used her fingers to make air quotes.

"And what do you call it?"

Blinking at Sango's question, Kagome's smile faded as a thoughtful expression came over her. Then she lifted her eyes to Sango's. "Coming home." She chuckled. "It sounds so corny, but it's comfortable without being boring and I feel like I can be myself again."

In a move too fast for Kagome to have caught, Sango threw her arms around her shoulders and hugged her tightly.

"You have no idea how worried I've been about you," Sango revealed in a whisper. "Ever since that night we talked after your father died… you have no idea how good it is to hear that you're feeling like yourself again."

Warmly returning the hug, Kagome replied, "I guess almost as good as how I'm feeling."

The two women relished the hug before pulling apart, Kagome reaching for a magazine again. Sango grasped her wrist.

"Wait!"

"What?" Kagome asked in bemusement.

"What have you guys done?"

Kagome's blush returned, this time flooding her whole face and creeping down to her neck. "It's not like we're sixteen years old again whispering in my bedroom, Sango. You've been under Miroku's influence for too long," she grumbled.

Sango grinned unapologetically. "For better or for worse."

"We've just gone on a handful of dates, he comes over to the apartment a lot. Just to spend time with me. We've also had to iron out the details of his case. There's nothing legally barring me from being part of his legal team, especially since I'm not the lead counsel, but I'd rather not have our relationship be used as ammunition by the prosecution, claiming conflict of interest or some other bullshit."

"Hmm…" Sango hummed in thought. "What does Inuyasha think about that?"

Giving Sango a wry smile, Kagome recited, with an accurate affectation of the hanyou, "Who gives a fuck what those bastards think? They've got their damn heads shoved so far up their ass, they couldn't see the forest for the trees."

"Equal parts crass and insightful."

"Inuyasha in a nutshell."

Sango finally released Kagome's wrist. "But you still haven't answered my question."

"To answer your question, no, we haven't slept together." Kagome rolled her eyes. "Like I said, we're not picking up like nothing happened. As far as we're concerned, this is a brand new relationship, completely disconnected from our past one."

Pursing her lips together, Sango asked tentatively, "And what about Kouga?"

"He's been avoiding Inuyasha at work. And Inuyasha said he's been trying to talk to him, but I don't know how much stock I'd put into his claims. I'd reach out to him myself but…"

"You also don't want to be the bad guy," Sango finished.

Kagome winced. "It's been, what? Two months since our divorce? I just don't want it to feel like it was done with the sole purpose of getting back together with Inuyasha." She frowned at the memories of Kouga's accusations.

"That makes sense," Sango agreed.

"But I don't want him to get wind of it through secondary sources. He deserves to hear it from one of us," Kagome said resolutely.

Sango offered her support as she wrapped an arm around Kagome's shoulders. "That sounds like the best course of action. I know you don't want to hurt him, Kagome, but at least he won't be constantly consumed with not knowing. That's worse sometimes."

Nodding, Kagome leaned into Sango. "Okay, that's enough of that. Let's get started with the planning! We survived the announcement party last weekend. Have you and Miroku finally set a date beyond 'sometime next year'?"

"Sometime in the next year," Sango replied absently while perusing a magazine. She glanced up at the sound of Kagome clicking her teeth in annoyance. "What?"

"Maybe something more specific?"

Sango smiled sheepishly. "Sometime next spring?"

Kagome shook her head. "I'll take it," she playfully groaned. "Okay, so that gives us a little over a year to plan." She pulled out her planner from her bag and looked over the next year's calendar. "April?"

"Sooner. Maybe we could catch the cherry blossoms."

Her mouth dropping in a big smile, Kagome nodded enthusiastically. "Okay then, last weekend of March. Oh that'll be perfect."

Sango smiled, though Kagome knew she was restraining her own excitement. "I'll talk to Miroku about it when he gets home and then I'll let you know so we can look at venues."

"Won't Miroku want to come?"

Scoffing, Sango rolled her dark eyes. "Miroku just wants it done with. We'll bring him along to the final choices for his input, but he's not particularly interested. We just need to find a way to mix the ceremony between Buddhist and Shinto."

"It shouldn't be too much of an issue."

"Exactly, so he's pretty much checked out of the wedding planning. Except for his bachelor party."

"What's your policy on his party?" Kagome asked, laughing as she spoke.

"He can have strippers."

"Really?" Kagome asked with wide eyes. She didn't expect Sango to let Miroku have that.

Sango glanced at Kagome from the corner of her eye. "But I have to approve them and he's not allowed to touch. Kohaku will be filling me in throughout the night."

Kagome broke into large peals of laughter, Sango joining her soon after.

Tapping her foot impatiently, Kagome huffed when the elevator doors opened and she hurried through before they completely opened. She made her way through the familiar halls before walking into the room full of humming computers and a quiet buzz of chatter. Finding her target, Kagome walked up and placed her hands over his eyes.

Inuyasha arched a brow before turning in his seat. He told her plainly, "I smelled you the second you stepped into the lobby."

Kagome pouted and removed her hands, placing them on her hips instead. "I would've thought there'd be enough smells to mask mine," she bemoaned.

"Keh! You should know by now that I can pick out your scent regardless of how many other scents get in the way."

With a sly smile, Kagome leaned down to kiss his cheek. "I know," she teased. "I just like to be reminded."

Inuyasha reached out to wrap his hand around the back of her head and tug her towards him, leaning up to capture her lips. Kagome squeaked in surprise, unused to him being so public with his affection, but didn't dwell on it too long as Inuyasha pulled away just as quickly, growling at someone over her shoulder. Kagome looked behind her and grinned at the bashful-looking young man uncomfortably staring anywhere but them.

"What do you want, Shippo?" Inuyasha asked gruffly.

The auburn haired man looked back and narrowed his jade-colored eyes in a glower. He tossed a file, which Inuyasha deftly caught. Inuyasha immediately began to rifle through the papers.

"Glad to see I'm so easily beaten in the fight for your attention," Kagome complained lightly, without real annoyance in her voice. She turned to meet Shippo, extending a hand. "Since Inuyasha is too rude to do it himself, allow me to introduce myself. I'm Kagome Higurashi."

Shippo smiled sheepishly. "Shippo Hatsu," he replied, reaching out to grasp Kagome's hand. "And I already knew who you are, you're kind of infamous around here."

Kagome stiffened and her face fell, her arm dropping to her side lamely, thinking he referred to her former marriage to Kouga. "Oh…"

Attuned to her distress, Inuyasha looked up from the file and glared at Shippo, wrapping an arm around Kagome's waist reassuringly.

"I mean, the woman who dared to deal with this baka? A bunch of us are wondering if you're really that much of a saint or you're demented."

Inuyasha growled, "Watch it, Shippo," turning his glare to Kagome when he picked up on the quiet giggle she was masking behind her hand. Inuyasha looked back at the file and frowned in obvious disappointment. "This is all you could find on him?"

Shippo's grin faded and he nodded solemnly. "Yeah. Dude's a damn ghost. We have nothing on him after he dropped out of university a few years back. It's like he fell off of the face of the Earth."

With a grunt, Inuyasha continued rifling through the small packet of papers. "Obviously not," he grouched. "Otherwise he wouldn't be on my radar." Inuyasha sighed and rubbed his face in fatigue. "Thanks a lot, Shippo. This is more than I would've gotten with any other cyber dweeb here."

Scoffing, Shippo retorted, "Maybe because you call them cyber dweebs. It doesn't exactly instill the right sense of motivation to do research for you."

"Aw come on! What about the righteous sense of doing the right thing?"

"Sometimes you're too much of an asshole."

Kagome blinked at the kitsune youkai in shock, never hearing anyone address Inuyasha that way unless they were a close friend or enemy. As if suddenly remembering her presence, Shippo glanced at her and blushed, but not for long before he turned his petulant stare back at Inuyasha.

Inuyasha took a step in his direction and Shippo hurried away. "Alright, well, time for me to go! Nice meeting you, Kagome!"

"You, too, Shippo!" Kagome offered Inuyasha a confused smile as if to say 'What was that all about?'

"Twerp likes to rile me up for no reason. He's good, though."

Kagome's smile widened. "Probably looks up to you. Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery."

Inuyasha made a face. "Doubt it," he huffed. "I'm the inspector that ended up getting transferred from one of the most elite divisions to cybercrimes."

"Temporarily," Kagome reminded him. She tightened her grip on his hand reassuringly. "Just until we get everything settled. That's why I dropped by. Masahiro has some news for you."

"Oh yeah?"

"He refused to tell me over the phone. Wanted to tell us in person so if you're free, I can call and we can go meet him."

Inuyasha nodded and turned to shut down his computer and grab the files for his open cases, shoving them into his cabinet and locking them up, save for one. "I gotta head upstairs first and hand this one over to another inspector. She was asking to look at this file, too."

Kagome tried to sneak a peak at the file in question, her curiosity piqued, but Inuyasha grabbed Kagome's hand again and the two made their way upstairs, the elevator dinging with every floor they passed. Kagome frowned and looked at Inuyasha. He sighed.

"Yeah we're going up to the other bullpen."

Kagome knew what he meant by that and asked quietly, "Have you two spoken?"

Inuyasha bristled. "We've both been doing a good job of avoiding each other."

"Inuyasha… I've been thinking— ding!"

Kagome didn't get a chance to finish her sentence as the elevator doors opened and Inuyasha hurried them through. His hand was on the small of her back as he guided her back to the bullpen that she used to visit frequently. Once she and Inuyasha had begun dating, she tried urging Inuyasha that they should tell Kouga so as to ensure he wouldn't be blindsided by the news. But Inuyasha was the only one whose stubbornness could rival her own.

"I know," he said quietly. "Just let me get this file to Mizuki and we'll get it over with."

Faltering in her step at his choice of words, Kagome's hand slipped out of his. "Get this over with?"

Inuyasha squirmed uncomfortably, his eyes darting around the empty hallway. "I just don't want him to be a smug bastard about it and start yelling about how he was right in front of everyone." He clenched his jaw momentarily. "You were right, Kagome. That night you were in the hospital."

Although she knew when he was referring to, Kagome asked dryly, "Which one?"

She allowed herself to be pulled along by him once more. Inuyasha said quietly, "I'm sorry."

Kagome shook her head. "Me, too. I know it's not easy to be this close to him every day."

Inuyasha smirked. "Yeah, but if the situations were reversed, you'd have probably had the balls to get this over with a few weeks ago."

"That's me, Kagome 'Big Balls' Higurashi."

Inuyasha froze and looked at her with a mixture of horror and disgust on his expression. Kagome laughed as he shuddered before he clarified, "I would have gone with 'small but mighty'."

Kagome wrinkled her nose. "Still too much innuendo."

Inuyasha gaped at her, his mouth opening and closing like a fish. "That's— you know—" he spluttered.

"Don't worry, Inuyasha. I'm not talking about little Inuyasha." Her laughter increased as his expression darkened. "Was little Inuyasha the wrong thing to say?" she asked with far too much innocence for Inuyasha's taste. He could see the mirth in her honey eyes.

His cheeks were bright red and he had a pout on his face as they entered the bullpen. "Entirely," he grumbled.

Their lightheartedness quickly fell away as they passed several desks and cubicles on their way to Inspector Mizuki. Kagome unconsciously huddled closer to Inuyasha and Inuyasha used his larger frame to keep Kagome from view. He could feel the stares boring into his back but was resolute in keeping his eyes on Mizuki's desk.

Mizuki peered up when Inuyasha unceremoniously dropped the file onto her desk, sitting in the chair in front of her and tugging Kagome onto his lap, ignoring her obvious discomfort so that she wouldn't garner unwanted attention hidden from view.

"Look what the cat dragged in," Mizuki drawled. "Is that an appropriate thing to say to an inuhanyou?"

"Shove it, Mizuki," Inuyasha grumbled. "I dropped off that file you wanted to take a look at, didn't I? Just wanted to know where Kouga was. Need to speak to him."

To her credit, Mizuki's eyes slid towards Kagome for only the slightest glance. Then, she began perusing the file Inuyasha gave her. "He just finished sending someone off to booking. Should be back in a couple of minutes." Her eyes met Inuyasha's for a moment. "But if you're looking to have a private conversation, then I suggest cutting him off before he gets back up here. Had enough of a show up here during your arrest."

Inuyasha scoffed and picked Kagome out of his lap, keeping an arm around her waist as they began to rush out of the bullpen.

"Hey, Takado! Don't you want this file?" Mizuki called out.

"Hold onto it for me until Monday!" he shouted, pulling Kagome with him.

"Inuyasha?"

"C'mon, we've gotta make it to— aw, fuck."

Inuyasha slowed as the elevator doors opened and Kouga walked out, his strides slowing as his eyes landed on Inuyasha and Kagome, then dropped to their joined hands. Inuyasha instinctively tightened his grip on Kagome's hand, expecting her to pull away, but Kagome made no such effort. To his surprise, she squeezed back.

Kouga clenched his jaw and stood in front of them woodenly. He jerked his head at their clasped hands and demanded gruffly, "This the moment then?"

Kagome said, "We wanted you to hear directly from us."

"Appreciate it," Kouga cut in curtly. "Now if you'll excuse me, I have a report to finish up so I can go home early tonight."

Kouga breezed past them and Kagome looked helplessly at Inuyasha, but the hanyou kept a grim expression on his face. He shook his head, but Kagome called after Kouga.

"Wait, Kouga, please wait!"

Kouga stopped, his back taut with tension. He turned his head slightly so that his profile was showing, but he kept his eyes downcast.

"What for, Kagome? I get it. I appreciate the fact that you two waited a couple of months and that you told me yourselves. Really. But as much as I saw this coming, I don't want to see either of you right now. Have a good weekend."

Inuyasha and Kagome watched him disappear down the hallway and turn into the bullpen. Inuyasha cupped Kagome's cheek and gently tugged her face so that she looked at him instead. She saw the apology in his eyes and shook her head to silence him before he spoke. Kagome leaned into his hand and smiled warmly at him before leading the way towards the elevator.

Once alone, he murmured, "Give him time."

"I know…"

"Don't nag him."

"I know."

"What did you want to do about dinner?"

Kagome rounded on him. "Is food really on your mind right now?"

Inuyasha rolled his eyes. "You said we were going to meet up with Masahiro," he reminded her.

"Oh." Kagome's cheeks turned pink. She gently pinched of her nose to try and ward off the oncoming headache. "I'll call him. Should we just go to that restaurant nearby? The one by the park? It's close enough to his office, too, so we wouldn't have to wait for him for too long."

"Sounds good to me."

"Hey," Kagome tugged on his arm. "How are you feeling?"

"Isn't that what I should be asking you?"

"You've never been one for tradition and neither have I."

Inuyasha sighed. "You were right. It feels better to have gotten it over with."

Kagome mock gasped. "I'm right? Inuyasha Takado thinks I'm right?"

"Shut up, you know I give you credit plenty of times."

Grinning back at him, Kagome replied, "It's just so nice to hear it, though." Her smile widened when Inuyasha gave her a quick kiss.

Reaching into his pocket, Inuyasha pulled out his phone to call Masahiro. "You know, he could just as easily have bad news for us."

"We'll cross that bridge if it comes."

"When."

"If."

A few hours later, Inuyasha and Kagome sat dumbstruck, but equally relieved. Masahiro Matsuo sat across from them at the dinner table with a relaxed smile on his face.

"The judge didn't find enough cause to proceed to a trial. He told the prosecution to get some concrete evidence and drop the charges. You're cleared, Inuyasha."

Edited May 2019