Luxury Never was Cheap
Chapter Eight
Kagome ran fast, faster than she'd ever run before. Her heart clenched tighter as she replayed he scene she'd just seen in her head. How could Inuyasha do that? Play with her feelings. Make her feel like she was loved just to go running back to Kikyo.
How? How could he?
She didn't even pay attention to where she was going, she just ran and ran. She didn't want to be around people right now, all she wanted to do was crawl under a rock and die.
She slowly came to a walk and Kagome didn't feel the throbbing pain in her feet. Everything just felt dark and lonely.
Inuyasha, on the other hand, was feeling lighter than air. His shift ended without him getting in trouble and Shippou wasn't too mad with the fact he'd left him to rot in the high chair as he had his little make-out session with Kagome. In other words, his day was looking up.
Slipping off the chef's outfit the restaurant made him wear, Inuyasha and Shippou made their way towards the apartment.
Shippou watched his brother float instead of walk, "Are you happy Inu-niisan?"
"Happier than I have been in ages," Inuyasha said more to himself than to his younger brother.
"Why?" Shippou asked, the curiosity obvious in his voice as his big green eyes stared up at Inuyasha. Inuyasha just ruffled his hair and smiled.
"I'll tell you when you're older," he said simply.
Shippou huffed, "But I'm ten now!" Shippou stamped his foot and muttered about the evilness of his older brother.
Inuyasha walked down the street, Shippou sleeping soundly at the apartment. He'd expected to find Kagome there, with her shinning eyes and smiling face that he loved, but it turned out she was nowhere in sight.
He'd left the apartment in search of her, he was pretty sure it was futile, but he needed the exercise any way. The only problem was that he didn't know where to look. There weren't many places Kagome went without him, so where could she be?
Sighing he walked down the street, dodging people coming at him and following the crowd for some clue to where Kagome could be.
He searched for her hair, unlike most people; hers had a bluish tint that sparkled when it was hit by the sun, making the feature stand out in a crowd.
The sun was shinning even now, though clouds blocked it from fully enlightening the earth, the warm rays basked any one outside in its golden warmth, making his mood rise along with his pace. When had he become so attached to Kagome? She was wonderful, and he couldn't believe himself for being so rude to her all those times. Always hiding his true feelings behind his mask.
Finally, after what seemed like hours, Inuyasha finally caught sight of Kagome. But what he saw made his heart dive down and his pleasant mood evaporate. He stood and watched as Kagome sat on a bench in the park, tears streaming down her face. He took a hesitant step towards her, wanting to comfort her and at the same time wondering if he was the reason for her tears.
Swallowing his fears he stalked over to her and tentatively touched her shoulder, which was moving up and down with her sobs. She instantly tensed under his touch and she jerked away from him as if he'd burnt her. Inuyasha withdrew his hand, though it was still in a position to shoot out and comfort her at any moment.
She was still, except for the occasional sniffle or a tear falling down her cheek and collecting in little pools on her thighs. She looked up at him, her eyes a mixture of pain, anger, and betrayal. Inuyasha took a step back as if her glare had sent out an invisible barrier around herself.
She growled softly in her throat and stood up, facing him.
"Kagome?" Inuyasha asked, his voice finally coming to him, "What's wrong?"
"You've got a lot of nerve to say that," she hissed, her voice almost as venomous as the glare she was giving him. Her cold eyes bored into hers, making him shiver slightly, even if it was warm outside. "How dare you ask me that!"
"Kagome?" Inuyasha had never seen Kagome so angry before, her eyes flamed with a hidden rage that Inuyasha couldn't even begin to comprehend.
He found himself fidgeting under her icy gaze and he wondered, not for the first time, what was wrong with her. Kagome turned away, willing the tears to stay under until she was finished with him. Her heart felt dead, shattered into many pieces, and those shattered further.
"So you love her then?" she whispered, her chilled breath filling Inuyasha's sensitive ears.
"What?" he blinked, amazed that Kagome could even think that, he took a step towards her, "What are you talking about Kagome?"
She turned around fiercely and slapped Inuyasha across the cheek. Inuyasha faltered in his steps towards her. He fingered the red welt appearing on his cheek and stared at Kagome in shock. The slap hadn't hurt, but it was the fact that Kagome was the one throwing it at him that stunned and troubled Inuyasha.
"Kagome..." he took another step towards her, and Kagome looked about ready to hit him again. Which she did so.
Inuyasha's cheeks were both a bright red handprint, but he still pushed forward towards her.
Kagome backed up a step, "Stay away from me!"
"Kagome, please, tell me what's wrong," Inuyasha whispered softly, trying to comfort the savage girl. He watched as more tears spilled from her eyes and fell, making two silvery trails down her pale cheeks.
"Don't play innocent with me, I know what you did, and you know what you did, there's no point in pretending anymore!" Kagome gasped out, her voice cracked and a little higher than usual.
"Kagome," he said gently as he grasped her hands, "I don't know what you're talking about."
"Shut-" Kagome didn't finish when Inuyasha suddenly slammed his lips to hers in a kiss that took Kagome's breath away. She felt safe in his arms, but then remembered what she'd seen. Pulling back, she punched him hard in the stomach and backed up away from him. "How dare you even think that that's alright!"
Inuyasha placed his hands on his stomach and wheezed from breath, "Damn it, bitch that fucking hurt!" Inuyasha cringed when he realized that wasn't exactly the smartest thing to say to a crying girl who was blaming you of something.
Kagome's tears flew freely now, "That's all I am to you, huh? A god damned bitch!"
"No I didn't mean it, I swear!"
"Shut up!" Kagome screamed at him, she threw a blind punch at his face, which he quickly dodged, "shut up. Shut up. Shut up. Shut up!"
Inuyasha stared in shock as Kagome turned away from him, "I never want to see you again. I hate you."
"Sango?" Miroku peered across the table at his lovely girlfriend. She smiled at him to show she was listening. "Are you ok, you seem a little distant?"
"I'm fine, I was just thinking about something, you know?" Sango said as she bit into her hamburger, which Miroku had had the courtesy to buy for her.
"About what?"
"Inuyasha."
Miroku gave her a look that clearly said, 'you're thinking about him on our date?'
"Not like that, I meant Inuyasha and Kagome's relationship," Sango sighed as she stole some of Miroku's French fries, "I mean, they're so cute together!"
"Yeah I agree," Miroku said as he playfully batted Sango's hand away from his food, "Hey, I'm eating that!"
Sango giggled and grabbed his hand, twisting it and grabbed his fries, "Don't mess with me Miroku."
Miroku rubbed his hand, "That's my girl!"
"Miroku..." Sango growled out in warning. Miroku made a weird sound that sounded more like a yip then a gasp and closed his mouth.
"Sango?" Miroku reached over and grabbed her hands, "I'm sure they will discover their feelings for each other, after all, they might have even now, but their stubbornness prevents them from really cutting loose and admitting, even to themselves. Sometimes admitting it to your self is the hardest thing to do. The best thing to do is to let them ride it out, and if they don't realize it for themselves, then it wasn't meant to be."
Sango blinked in surprise, her eyes wide, "Wow, Miroku that was deep."
"Yeah, I'll give them two days, then I'll interfere," Miroku said, the evil glint in his eyes. Sango giggled and batted his head affectionately.
The two walked home happily, both unaware of the bloodthirsty fight between the topics of their conversation.
"You...what?" Inuyasha stared in shock at what Kagome had just said. He couldn't believe it, wouldn't believe it. It hurt.
"I hate you; I never, ever, want to see you again!" Kagome whispered out, she stared at her feet, not able to meet his violet eyes. She had to act tough. She had to show him that she couldn't be used. No matter how much it hurt.
"Kagome, please, whatever it is you thought I did, I didn't do it!" Inuyasha whimpered out, he was begging, but he didn't care, he didn't want to leave Kagome.
"Liar! I saw you! I saw you! I watched as you chose her!" Kagome glared at him, hiding her true emotions behind a wall of rage, "I saw you kiss Kikyo!"
"What?" Inuyasha stared in wide-eyed shock, "I never-"
"And yet you still deny it!" Kagome screamed and ran away. Her footsteps falling softer and softer until he could no longer here her crying or her pounding steps.
Inuyasha fell to his knees, his heart shattered and thrown to the side like last week's garbage. He clutched the dirt and held it firmly between his rough hands. How could she think that? How? He'd chosen her!
He'd chosen her…
"Kagome...." It was too late now, Kagome was gone, out of his life, and it was all he could do to stop himself from crying like a little child who'd lost their favorite toy. But Kagome wasn't a toy; he'd never do something like that to her. She was too important to him.
He loved her.
Sango and Miroku sat near a small pond at the center of the lake, watching as ripples extended the small clear pool. The sunny day reflected from the water, its calm surface almost still enough to walk on. Trees surrounded the small pool and tiny little leaves descended to the pond every so often.
In other words, it was very peaceful.
Sango sighed contently and leaned her head on top of Miroku's shoulder. He leaned into her head wit his own, a shadow of a smile lighting his face. He was in the arms of the woman he loved, what could be better than that?
Sango's breath soon became even and Miroku chuckled, Sango was always falling asleep. At times he thought it was cute, and others he hated it. Right now, he was just happy she was near him.
Screaming off in the distance was heard over the silence of the lake and Miroku thought numbly how someone could scream that loud. To him, it sounded a lot like a lover's spat, if anything. He heard bits and pieces of words coming from the screaming air, things like 'love' and 'deny' and 'liar.'
Yeah, definitely a lover's spat.
Miroku smiled and leaned further into Sango, good thing they never fought. Unless you counted his perverted nature...then they fought at least once a day, only to end up in each other's arms.
"There is no way anyone can be happier than me," Miroku said to himself.
"Buttered toast," Sango muttered in her sleep.
Sango and Miroku walked into the apartment surprised that it was unlocked. Glancing around they searched for their two friends, but only found Shippou sleeping soundly on the couch, a tiny little blanket around him. Kirara slept on his head, Buyo at his feet, and the nameless kitten moving up in down to the time of Shippou's soft breathing.
Sango glanced at Miroku, "What do you think happened?"
Miroku raised an eyebrow, "Shippou got tired, so Inuyasha dumped him here all by himself, he's ten, he can take care of himself."
"I know but-"
"Why is it that something's always wrong, Sango dear?" Miroku asked as he patted her backside tenderly.
Sango's aura grew dark as she turned slowly towards Miroku, "I'm giving you ten seconds."
"Hee hee!" Miroku chuckled as he ran into his room.
"One, two, TEN!" Sango chased after the poor boy.
"My dearest Sango, do you not know how to count?" Miroku asked as he jumped out his window and landed on the fire escape. He chuckled as Sango pelted him with a pillow. "I'm wounded that you would do such a thing, Sango!"
"Oh hush up you!" Sango called out to him.
Miroku looked up with a smirk, but his eyes widened as a lamp came thundering towards him.
Sango dusted her hands, a smile gracing her lips as she heard the satisfying thump of a lamp on flesh. Walking out of his room Sango peered at Shippou to make sure that Shippou had not awakened.
Walking towards her room, she jumped when she realized that she wasn't alone.
Inuyasha stood silently, the sun outlining his figure as he stared at something on Kagome's desk. He fingered it softly before turning slowly. He didn't seem embarrassed or surprised to see Sango staring at him from the doorway.
She stared in shock at his face. It seemed like he'd aged twenty years and his eyes seemed cold and dead.
She frowned and looked at the thing in his hands. Sango immediately recognized it as a picture of Kagome and himself. It was a picture Sango had taken when the two hadn't known it. Kagome was eating an ice cream cone, with bits of it on her cheeks, but her eyes were alit with an inner child. Inuyasha had his arm around her and he was smiling one of his rare smiles, his face somewhat downwards to stare at Kagome. The two looked happy in the picture. Inuyasha seemed alive.
"Inuyasha?" Sango asked as the boy set the picture back down and headed towards her, not even acknowledging her presence.
"Inuyasha what's wrong?" Sango called out behind him, only to see him grab Miroku and drag him into his room. The door clicked shut and was locked.
Once inside, Miroku readjusted his shirt and looked at his friend for an explanation. Inuyasha was digging around his half of the closet before pulling out a small duffle bag.
Miroku watched in fascination as Inuyasha stuffed some clothes into the bag. Walking around the room he grabbed random things that belonged to him and placing them into the bag. He glanced at Miroku every so often, only to return to his task.
"Inuyasha, what on earth are you doing?" Miroku asked as he watched his friend pack.
Wait, pack?
He couldn't be leaving?
Could he?
"I'm leaving," Inuyasha said so softly it almost wasn't said. Miroku looked at his friend pitifully and watched as he continued to stuff things into his bag.
"Why, though?"
"If I told you, you wouldn't believe me," Inuyasha said flatly.
"Try me!" Miroku said as he clutched his best friend's shoulder, "come on, Inuyasha, what's wrong with you?"
"Nothing, ok?" Miroku almost lost his composer at that. Inuyasha always snapped at him whenever he said something was wrong with him. Since when did Inuyasha speak so softly, so quietly? Since when did he sound so timid and afraid?
"Inuyasha?"
"I just have to go away for awhile, ok?" Inuyasha replied, his timid voice hitting Miroku with the same force as if he'd been screaming through mega- phone.
"You don't have to do this!"
"Yes I do."
"You're not right in the head! What could make you want to do something like this!? We've lived together for years! Why suddenly do you want to leave me?"
"I just...have to, ok?" Inuyasha said apprehensively. He clutched the bag in his hand, his knuckles going white, "Please don't question me."
"But you don't even have a car!" Miroku said, racking his brain for an excuse for his friend to stay.
"I'll just walk," Inuyasha said, clearly dodging the excuse as if it's nothing, "I don't like cars much."
"Inuyasha..."
"I love her but she doesn't love me back."
"What? Who?"
"Kagome."
"What are you talking about?" Miroku said staring in shock, "Kagome adores you, I've seen her look at you!"
"She told me so today. She never wants to see me again. And I want her to be happy. She saw something and thought it was me, but it wasn't. But she wouldn't listen." Inuyasha stared coldly at the wall, "Kikyo did something."
"What?"
"I'm not sure exactly."
"But running away from your problems won't help!" Miroku yelled, getting angry.
"I'm just giving her some air, I'll only see her from a distance, but at least she can move on. Be with Hojo or Kouga or whoever the hell she wants."
"Inuyasha…"
"I've made my decision, just let me go," Inuyasha's pained voice made Miroku's anger turn to sorrow as he glimpsed at his friend's face. He flinched at the state his friend was in.
"Ok, but I don't understand why you have to go," Miroku said plainly, only to realize that Inuyasha had left the room and was talking to Sango.
Sango nodded and hugged Inuyasha, whispering something in his ear and Inuyasha nodded his head. Inuyasha pulled away and sat next to his brother, who was beginning to wake up.
Shippou rubbed his eyes and rested on his dark haired, lavender eyed brother. He sat rigidly in his chair and looked at the bag at his feet.
Shippou blinked in confusion and stared at his brother, "Inu-niisan?"
"Shippou," Inuyasha's voice made Shippou shiver, "I need to go away for awhile. You'll be staying here with Miroku, Sango, and...Kagome, I'll be back for you in a few weeks okay?"
Shippou blinked as his brother unfolded this information into his tiny ten year old head. He looked at his brother, "Are you leaving me because I'm annoying?"
"No, Shippou, it has nothing to do with you," Inuyasha leaned forward and hugged his brother to him. Shippou stared in shock. Never before had Inuyasha shown such emotion in anything involving him. And why did he seem so sad? "It has nothing to do with you, but I promise you. I promise you that I'll come back. Just stay here and behave for me ok?"
Shippou nodded as he began to cry, "I'll miss you niisan!"
"Don't worry, I'll come back," Inuyasha whispered before patting his head and standing up. He cocked his head to the side and stared at Miroku and Sango, "don't tell Kagome I was here, ok?"
Sango and Miroku blinked in confusion and stared as Inuyasha made his way to the door. But someone's velvety voice drifted through the apartment, "Hey! Sango, Miroku? Are you here?"
Inuyasha made a pained noise in his throat, and Shippou could have sworn he saw his brother's eyes water as he ran towards the window, threw it open and jumped onto the fire escape.
Miroku and Sango ran to the window and looked out after the boy who ran away, his hair flying out behind him as he soon left sight and was gone.
Kagome entered the room, not looking much better than Inuyasha had, but had on her mask of happiness as she peered at the teary eyed Shippou and her two friends staring out the window. "Guys?"
Sango and Miroku jumped from the window and stared at Kagome. Miroku cleared his throat and Sango stepped forward. She reached out to her friend and pulled her into a hug. The understanding between the two girls seemed evident.
"Oh Kagome-Chan, I don't know what happened but I'm so sorry!" Sango whispered.
"Sango-Chan, I'm fine, I really am," Kagome whispered, making it obvious that she wasn't fine. At all.
"Kagome, what happened?" Miroku asked as he walked over and sat next to Shippou.
Kagome pulled away from Sango and didn't make eye contact, "Inuyasha."
Sango and Miroku exchanged looks then returned their gaze to Kagome. "What do you mean?" Sango asked lightly.
"He left me for Kikyo. He had the nerve to kiss me and then he ran to Kikyo! I was just a replacement!"
Miroku shook his head and grabbed Kagome shaking her furiously, "How can you think that Kagome?"
"I saw him!"
"How do you know it was Inuyasha?"
"I heard her call out to him," Kagome sobbed, hating the fact she'd come home only to be bombarded by her friends.
Miroku rubbed his forehead and stared at Kagome like she was a ranting three year old screaming for candy. He sighed and shook his head. "Inuyasha loves you."
"He does not!" Kagome screamed.
"He told me himself!" Miroku's calm composer long gone, and a new angry fire building up in his eyes. Sango and Kagome both took a step back, not familiar with this side of Miroku. "There's one thing I can't stand: having my friends be hurt! Or blamed for something they didn't do!"
Kagome and Sango blinked in surprise.
Miroku calmed himself, "Sorry. Anyway, I know Inuyasha. I've known him practically my whole life, and I know he would never do something you said he did! He broke up with Kikyo because there was no love between them, but Kikyo still liked him and desired him. He'd moved on, however. He told me not to tell you, but he was here just five minutes ago!" Kagome gasped and realized Sango and Miroku had been watching him leave. "He told me, Kagome. He told me that he loved you, and if you never wanted to see him again, then he'd leave you. So you could be happy! I saw the look in his eyes whenever someone mentioned your name. He fucking loves you!
"But you don't realize it!" Miroku yelled, his anger returning. "He's done so much for you, and you haven't lifted a finger yourself!"
Kagome felt her eyes water, not at Miroku's yelling, but at the truth in his words.
"How can you yell and scream at him," Miroku peered at her, "I'm guessing that's what happened, anyway, and not even pause to listen to his side of the story? How could you? He can be a real jerk, but he's one god damned honest jerk, he's never lied to me. Well maybe once, but it was a white lie!"
"Miroku," Sango whispered, placing a hand on Miroku, "You're making her cry."
Miroku paled and lost all his anger, "Kagome, I'm sorry I…"
"No, you're right," Kagome whispered, clutching herself, her arms wrapped around her, "I never once stopped to listen to him, how could I have known it was him?"
Sango ran to her friend and threw her arms around her, Miroku soon followed suit.
Shippou, who'd remained silent the whole time, listening to what Inuyasha had said before he'd left, and then Miroku and Kagome, finally looked up and looked at the little group hug.
"Hmmm," Shippou said thoughtfully, loud enough for the huggers to hear him through the sobs.
"Shippou-Chan?" Kagome asked.
"Hmmm."
The three watched the little boy.
Shippou snapped and rubbed a non-existent goatee.
"Hmmm."
Shippou nodded to himself as if contemplating whatever it is that he was thinking, "Yup, niisan loves Kagome-Chan."
"Shippou..."
"I may only be ten years old, but I know what Inu-niisan is like and how he acts."
The three blinked at the younger boy.
"Whenever he was around Kikyo, he was a lot quieter and more polite," Shippou nodded recalling the memories, "But...that's not him inside. He couldn't act himself around Kikyo, he was always different. Colder, even. But then he broke up with her and he was my cool big brother again.
"Then he met you...Kagome...I've only been here for a while, but I can tell by the way he looks at you, talks to you, anything, he's really into you. He likes you because he can be himself, and you except him for who he is!"
"Wow, Shippou, that's amazing." Miroku blinked.
Shippou nodded and turned towards Kagome, "I may be young, and have never fallen in love. But Inuyasha would never do that Kagome-Chan."
Kagome nodded and hugged Shippou, "Thank you for making me realize."
She stood up.
"But I'll never know, now will I? He ran away. He has to be guilty for something, and until he can come and face me, then I'll just have to except the fact he's run away to Kikyo."
She nodded firmly, "Now if you'll excuse me, I have to kick some Kikyo ass."
Sango, Miroku and Shippou all stood there, staring as she slammed the door shut. Sango sighed, "I don't think we got through to her."
Miroku nodded, "then it's up to us to get them together!"
"Kikyou!"
Kikyo looked up from her position in front of the movie theater, a glass beer bottle in hand. Kagome was coming towards her. She snorted in disgust; of course she came around just when she was going on a date with Naraku. She didn't really like the bum, but he had some cash on him, why not milk him for all he's worth?
She smiled sweetly at Kagome, "Kagome-Chan, how are you?"
"Don't Kagome-Chan me, you god damned bitch!" Kagome growled as she stomped towards Kikyo. People in between them backed away from the girl, swearing that she was going to punch anything in her path.
"Now, Kagome-Chan, whatever is the matter?" Kikyo asked sweetly as the girl stood before her, her hands clenched at her sides.
"Shut up!" Kagome screamed before punching Kikyo in the nose.
Kikyo recoiled and clutched her nose, "Bitch! Do you know how much that nose costs?"
"I don't care how much your god damned nose costs! I couldn't possibly care less about you at all! But what I do care about is the fact that you played with my heart and Inuyasha's! I can never forgive that!" Kagome screamed and punched Kikyo again.
"Get a grip, Kagome!" Kikyo hissed her nose bleeding and bruising.
Kagome grabbed Kikyo's beer bottle and smashed it against the wall, jagged edges facing Kikyo's face. "Fine, I got a grip. On a beer bottle, care to tell me what else to do, or are you going to let me beat the shit out of you without protest?"
Kikyo gulped, never had she seen someone so pissed off.
Kagome raised the bottle and was about to bring it down on Kikyo's face when she stopped. Dropping the bottle she backed up.
What was she doing?
She was no better than those street thugs that beat up another without a weapon. She stared at Kikyo before running away.
'Inuyasha,' she thought as tears stained her cheeks and she ran to the comfort of her room.
Author's note: (August 6,2004) I'm editing this story, and I'm completely shocked at all this stuff I've written. Holy crap, and Kagome getting pissed at Kikyo. Holy crap…