Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters from the Inuyasha universe or any of the popular name brand apps, products, services, etc. The rest is mine.

Chapter 2

Sitting on Bessie, pulled flush against his chest brought back memories. It was so comforting and familiar and she felt herself melt back into him like nothing had ever happened.

God...When was the last time they had done this? Seven years ago? When they were eighteen? The night he…they had...they...

She sighed, not wanting to think about it, which of course only drew his attention to her.

"So...How's life out in California?"

Did he have to say California like she had just spat on his mother's grave? Then again, maybe to him this was just as bad. She had left after highschool ended to go to UCLA for their writing program. How she had managed to swing a full ride, she would never know. But she had...and...well...It had been the beginning of the end for them.

"It's...it's good. Thanks."

"Really? Just good? Huh..."

"'Huh?' What's that's supposed to mean?"

"Nothin'," he shrugged, and Kagome turned around to look at him as Bessie continued on towards the main house.

"That didn't sound like 'nothing' to me, Inuyasha…" she squinted, noticing how miserable he was at feigning nonchalance.

"Just thought that it woulda been more than 'good' given all you left behind. Was hoping it mighta been a dream come true," he replied casually. Going straight for the jugular huh?

She wanted to be angry with him. Wanted to fight him. Wanted to feel something...anything other than just...tired.

How many times had they had this conversation as kids? Or rather, this argument…

"Dreams take...they take time, Inuyasha."

"Somethin' I'd know if I had any?" He asked roughly and she winced, turning back around.

"I didn't say that…"

"Didn't hafta."

Now she was feeling something. She wanted to pull out his hair and scream. This was why she avoided him whenever she came in to visit. Because the way they had left things? That last conversation had been bad. Soul crushing. It had taken her years to move on from it and she had made a few too many mistakes trying to outrun the pain of losing him.

Or rather…

...Of giving him up.

They might have imploded together, but she was the one who lit the match that ultimately ended them.

"You have dreams too, Inuyasha," she ground out, her body tensing against his to keep from yelling.

"Not nearly as big or as important as the great Kagome Higurashi's, though."

She wouldn't scream. She wouldn't scream. She would. Not. Fucking. Scream.

"I don't want to do this again, Inuyasha."

"Fine. Then let's not. Just do me a favor - next time someone asks you how your fancy new life is goin'? Lie. Say you love it and it was worth everything you sacrificed for it."

He meant everyone, and they both knew it.

"You know I can't lie to you like that…"

"Ya can't? Or ya won't?"

"Pick one," she snapped. "Can we change the topic, please?"

"Sure. How's your pet cat?"

"Buyo? He's fi—"

"—I meant your boyfriend. Heard you were dating a cat demon now. Decided you weren't that much of a dog person after all?"

"That's none of your business," she ground out. How the hell had he found out about Zach? Not that it mattered since they broke up a few weeks ago...Still. He didn't need to hear about that. "You shouldn't believe everything you hear, anyways. It might not be true."

"So I should stop listening to your mother? I'll be sure to tell her you think she's a liar."

She could hear the smirk in his voice as she sputtered.

"And since when did you start having such long, heartfelt conversations with Mama?"

And more importantly...why hadn't she been told about it? She genuinely doubted that her mother was trying to set her back up with Inuyasha. She had seen the carnal wreckage left behind. She had tried to help piece her back together. It had been hard on all of them...especially her younger brother, Sota. He had always looked up to Inuyasha like an older brother. He was Sota's hero. His idol. He couldn't wait for them to get married so he'd be his brother through and through...but…

She mentally shook her head as he began speaking again. "I've been helping out around the ranch a lot. She didn't tell you?"

"Nope."

"Huh."

"Huh?"

"Huh," he repeated.

"And what's that supposed to mean?"

"Nothin'. Just that for a smart lady, you sure can be all kindsa stupid sometimes."

"Excuse me?"

"You can excuse yourself. Kagome, when was the last time you talked to your mother?"

"I talk to her all the time!"

"I mean really talked to her, Kagome..."

"I...All the time!"

His tongue kissed his teeth - an annoying sound that grated on her nerves when she knew he was playing holier-than-thou-Mr-Know-It-All.

"If you say so…"

"Why - what do you know?"

"Nothin'. 'Sides...I thought you weren't supposed to believe everything you heard."

Cocky ass bastard. He was enjoying playing with her. And not the fun kind of "playing" they used to do. The kind where his hand would "accidently" slip under her bra while they ground their hips together as they made out. This was intentionally malicious. He was doing it to...to toy with her just because he thought he could.

And he fucking could.

What the hell did he know that she clearly didn't?

"You shouldn't," she agreed, her tone a bit harsher than she intended and she winced. "You haven't told me how you're doing, by the way."

"You didn't ask."

"Well, I am now."

"I'm great - everything is going wonderfully. Thanks for asking. See? How hard would it have been to have said that, Kagome?"

"It...it's not then?"

"Does it matter?" he sighed, and she slumped in response to his tone. He was still miserable, wasn't he? God...they had really done a number on each other, huh?

"It does matter, Inuyasha. I do care. We...we were best friends once. Before everything else happened...Can't we find a way back to that?"

"That's the problem, ain't it Kagome? I never just wanted to be your friend. I always wanted more. You didn't."

"We were children, Yash!"

"Don't call me that!" he snarled, and she immediately apologized. She could feel his chest vibrating against her back from his low growl and she helplessly stared at her fingers as they worried themselves in her lap.

"Maybe we should...maybe we shouldn't talk," she finally whispered, and he snorted in agreement.

"Best idea you've had inna while."

A/N:

Gonna try and get parts 3-10 up within the next few days. Might hoard part 11 for a while. If you've read this before, I HIGHLY recommend rereading because I will be tweaking!