Chapter 5
New Romances
InuYasha and Kagome spent the rest of their day together in total bliss. They ate their doughnuts first, and then danced around to some old songs on the radio. InuYasha did things with her that day that he would never admit to doing in front of his friends. And he'd had a blast. Later, they took a walk in the park.
Kagome pointed to a spot over by a secluded bench. "That's where I broke up with him."
"You broke up with him in the park?"
"Yeah. . . I was planning to do it after the movie, but he stopped us to ask me what was wrong. No one was around and. . . well, the timing had just felt right."
"You never told me how he took it."
"Well, at first, he looked like his whole world was falling apart. But then, he realized I was obviously leaving him for someone else. He asked me who it was, and I told him it was you. He got all cold, and distant. It really hurt me to see him that way. He didn't say anything and just walked away. It was really hard for me to do that to him, and that's why I'd been crying. I walked around aimlessly for about five hours, wondering, you know, 'what's next?' And then I found myself knocking on your door." She smiled up at him.
"And I'm glad you did," he said, kissing her on the forehead.
They continued to hold hands, walking through the park in a delightful silence, just enjoying each other's company.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
"Kagome-chan! InuYasha! Where have you guys been?! We have been so worried about you two! You know, you guys are lucky you didn't get fired not showing up like that! I can't believe you two would just. . . " Sango's voice faded to a whisper when she noticed the way InuYasha and Kagome were looking at each other. "Wait a minute. . . what's going on, here? What's up with you two. . . Oh. . . Oh!" She exclaimed, realizing what exactly was going on. "You two didn't-"
Kagome nodded her head.
"You did?!" Unbelievable! What an unexpected turn of events. . . talk about total shock! "Well, why didn't you guys at least call us?! We were really worried about you guys!"
"Sango?" Miroku called from another room. He had been changing out of his work clothes. He walked out of the room, now ready for his outing with Sango. "What's all the. . . Kagome! InuYasha! We've been trying to reach you all day! Where have you guys been! Kaede-san was seething when you guys didn't show up! And Kagome, you worried the hell out of me not coming home last night! You could have at least called!"
Yup. . . Kagome thought, those two are perfect for each other. . .
"Miroku-chan, calm down! I'm here now. We didn't call because. . . well, we honestly. . . forgot."
"'We?'" Miroku asked, repeating her. "'We forgot?' You guys were together. . . "
Well, duh.
"Hey," he said, the realization suddenly dawning on him, "You guys didn't. . . "
Sango nodded her head, this time.
"You did?! What about Kouga? What exactly happened last night, Kagome?"
"Well. . . a lot." Kagome, still holding InuYasha's hand, tugged him over to the couch. Sango and Miroku followed, looking like the victims of some cruel prank. Surprised, angry, and utterly confused.
Kagome explained to them everything that happed, but left out personal details, of course. Some of that was only for her and InuYasha alone.
The other couple was fascinated at the sudden change of events, and even more fascinated at Kagome's sudden change of heart. "So Kouga. . ." Miroku asked, ". . . you never really loved him?"
"Oh, I love him, " Kagome reassured him, "I just don't love him. I know. . . it's weird, but. . . now I'm happy."
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
When he arrived at work the next day, Sesshoumaru was not a happy man.
When will he get to see his brother lose something for once?
When InuYasha was born into the world, he had their father, and what should have been Sesshoumaru's happy family.
When InuYasha wasted his given opportunity to go to college, Sesshoumaru had worked and studied strenuously for a scholarship.
And while Sesshoumaru had lost the only woman he'd ever had strong feelings for. . . InuYasha was in his apartment fooling around and doing god-knows- what with his new lover, who in fact just had to resemble Kikyou. . .
All he wanted was to just for once see the boy unhappy. Just for once, Sesshoumaru wanted to have more than InuYasha.
The thoughts of his strange obsession with InuYasha's unhappiness had plagued Sesshoumaru all night.
And who other than Kikyou had to be the first person in his office that morning?
"Tokunawa-san! Good morning! Here is a new book sent in by an. . . " she looked at the front of the thick packet of papers, "Ito Hanyou."
The last name caught him off guard. "Hanyou?"
"Yes, Ito Hanyou. . . it's her pen name. Pretty catchy, huh?" She handed the packet over to him.
"Yes. . . catchy." Sesshoumaru was already into the first paragraph. What form this Ito woman had with her writing. . . excellent. Maybe this time he would finally get to edit something good.
"Well," Kikyou said awkwardly, "I'll let you get to your editing."
Suddenly, something snapped in Sesshoumaru's brain. Don't let her leave! his mind screamed.
"Wait." he commanded.
She stopped.
What was he doing? What would he say?
He got up and went over to close the door. He then stepped up to Kikyou, so close that he could feel her breath on his chin.
"Kikyou. . ."
She tried not to look at him.
Why was he doing this? Was he actually trying to get her to change her mind about being with him?
He wanted to hold her again. . . just once. Maybe he could change what had happened. Maybe she wasn't in reality as cruel as she'd been when she'd ended their relationship. Maybe. . .
"Tokunawa-san, what are you doing?" she asked coldly, even though she knew exactly what he was doing. She just had to stop it before it went any further.
He looked down at the carpet, embarrassed at his sudden advance on her. "I'm sorry, Kikyou. . . I just thought, maybe. . . ah, never mind, woman! You may be on your way."
He turned back to his usual composed self and left her to go sit back down at his desk. He was foolish for even thinking she would change her mind. He would just have to get over the woman, then.
She quietly left his office without a word.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
The feeling in her stomach began to wear off as she began to walk down the hall. Sesshoumaru always gave her that feeling. . . but didn't he understand why she didn't want to be with him? Naraku-chan, that's why. She was a fool for Naraku, she realized. He always gave her the attention she needed, anything she needed.
Her attraction to Sesshoumaru had merely been physical. He was too stiff with her, and at times, he was ignorant. Always trying to be a step ahead of his idiotic brother. . . only that's what he thought of InuYasha. She herself liked the younger man. He was fun and easy to talk to. . . even though she'd only met him a couple times, she thought he was terribly nice. What did Sesshoumaru have against him, anyway?
She spotted Naraku at the end of the hall, and all thoughts of her former boyfriend vanished as she went to greet her new one.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
The next day. . .
"Kagome," Sango said, walking into the back room of the store. "You are never going to believe who is here looking around."
Sango looked like she was on the verge of freaking out.
"Who, Sango?"
"Sesshoumaru Tokunawa!"
"What the hell is he doing here?" They had their voices low, now, as if he would walk in and hear them at any minute.
"I don't know! I refuse believe he's here to buy a basket! He must be here for InuYasha!"
InuYasha! He was due to be back from his last delivery at any minute, now! "Sango, we can't let InuYasha see him here! They're to intense toward each other!" How did Sesshoumaru even figure out where they worked? Then, Kagome realized, The discount! The discount that I brought with that delivery! It had our address on it!
"Kagome! What should we do?"
Kagome thought for a moment. "I'll have to go talk him into leaving."
Sango looked uncomfortable with the suggestion, but nodded. "Okay. Be careful around him!"
"It's okay, Sango! I know how to handle him."
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
'What a quaint little shop,' Sesshoumaru thought to himself. 'InuYasha must be paid very well.'
The old woman at the cash register just went about her work at her computer, oblivious to who he was. He knew his coming here would upset things. He just had to find way to break Kagome and InuYasha apart.
A girl he recognized from the past somewhere came into the front room to tell the old woman something, and when she saw him, her eyes had widened, and she pivoted quickly and ran into a back room.
To tell someone, he guessed.
He smirked to himself. So it started with that.
Only, the person he had expected to come teeming through the back door, did not. Instead, Kagome stepped through the door quietly, and approached him.
She looked over at the old woman, her boss, he presumed, then looked back at him. She spoke softly.
"Sesshoumaru, can I help you?"
"Why, yes miss Higurashi, perhaps you can. You see, I haven't spoken with my brother since the other day- you remember- and I never got to ask him my question. Is he around?"
"No, he's still making his deliveries. Maybe you should leave before he comes back."
"But he hasn't been answering my calls, and-"
"Sesshoumaru, he told me about the money. I don't think you should start anything with him today."
"Oh, so you know. I suppose you hate me just as much as he does. I imagine he made me sound rather greedy. . . though, miss Higurashi, I do beg to differ-"
"Look, can we. . . " she looked over to the door. He caught her message and agreed.
"Kaede-san, " she said to the old woman, "may I leave for about ten minutes? It's personal."
"You may," the old woman replied.
Kagome took him by the arm and lead him out the door. Once outside she said, "I don't think you're greedy. I think you're hurt. He told me everything, why his father left him this money, how he left your mother for
his. . . how you never got to have a family like his. I don't blame you for wanting this money. In fact I think you deserve it."
The girl agreed with him?
He sat down on the bench they had stopped at outside the shop's door and said, "Truthfully, I'm not sure that I agree that he had the right to tell you any of that." She blushed. He continued. "But I am glad you agree with me. I just have one question." He offered her a seat beside him on the bench and she sat down, folding her hands in her lap. He felt a strange comfort sitting beside her. He brushed the feeling away and continued. "What do you see in my brother?"
She looked a little surprised by his question.
"Well, he's. . . fun, and easy to talk to. We get into silly fights. There's a lot that I see in him."
"Oh. . . Well. . . "
"Why?"
"Just curious. " He looked at this watch. "I should leave. I apologize for interrupting your work."
She didn't say anything as he stood. She was confused by him. He looked over to the door before he turned and left, and Kagome looked to see what had caught his attention.
InuYasha was standing at the door, his arms angrily folded across his chest.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
So, that's why Sango had kept stalling him. He was here. And talking to his girlfriend.
Well, Sesshoumaru would get his, InuYasha decided.
InuYasha had spied the two just in time to see Kagome join his brother on the bench. That had infuriated him. When Sesshoumaru finally left, he spotted InuYasha and smirked. Then, Kagome saw him.
Something in her eyes made InuYasha feel betrayed by her. What exactly did she think of his brother, anyway?
He turned away from the door and headed out to his delivery truck. He had wanted to take his lunch break with her, but now he just wanted to be alone.
As he drove, he wondered about the other night. Had it been too soon for them? Did they rush into it? InuYasha already knew he was in love with Kagome, but did she feel the same for him? Or did she do this all the time? He knew little about her past with Kouga. But somehow he couldn't see her sleeping around, like some common whore. Kagome had self-respect and received plenty of love and attention from her friends. Why had they slept together? InuYasha knew why he'd slept with her. But he doubted Kagome's reasons.
Was she in love. . . or only lust?
InuYasha and Kagome spent the rest of their day together in total bliss. They ate their doughnuts first, and then danced around to some old songs on the radio. InuYasha did things with her that day that he would never admit to doing in front of his friends. And he'd had a blast. Later, they took a walk in the park.
Kagome pointed to a spot over by a secluded bench. "That's where I broke up with him."
"You broke up with him in the park?"
"Yeah. . . I was planning to do it after the movie, but he stopped us to ask me what was wrong. No one was around and. . . well, the timing had just felt right."
"You never told me how he took it."
"Well, at first, he looked like his whole world was falling apart. But then, he realized I was obviously leaving him for someone else. He asked me who it was, and I told him it was you. He got all cold, and distant. It really hurt me to see him that way. He didn't say anything and just walked away. It was really hard for me to do that to him, and that's why I'd been crying. I walked around aimlessly for about five hours, wondering, you know, 'what's next?' And then I found myself knocking on your door." She smiled up at him.
"And I'm glad you did," he said, kissing her on the forehead.
They continued to hold hands, walking through the park in a delightful silence, just enjoying each other's company.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
"Kagome-chan! InuYasha! Where have you guys been?! We have been so worried about you two! You know, you guys are lucky you didn't get fired not showing up like that! I can't believe you two would just. . . " Sango's voice faded to a whisper when she noticed the way InuYasha and Kagome were looking at each other. "Wait a minute. . . what's going on, here? What's up with you two. . . Oh. . . Oh!" She exclaimed, realizing what exactly was going on. "You two didn't-"
Kagome nodded her head.
"You did?!" Unbelievable! What an unexpected turn of events. . . talk about total shock! "Well, why didn't you guys at least call us?! We were really worried about you guys!"
"Sango?" Miroku called from another room. He had been changing out of his work clothes. He walked out of the room, now ready for his outing with Sango. "What's all the. . . Kagome! InuYasha! We've been trying to reach you all day! Where have you guys been! Kaede-san was seething when you guys didn't show up! And Kagome, you worried the hell out of me not coming home last night! You could have at least called!"
Yup. . . Kagome thought, those two are perfect for each other. . .
"Miroku-chan, calm down! I'm here now. We didn't call because. . . well, we honestly. . . forgot."
"'We?'" Miroku asked, repeating her. "'We forgot?' You guys were together. . . "
Well, duh.
"Hey," he said, the realization suddenly dawning on him, "You guys didn't. . . "
Sango nodded her head, this time.
"You did?! What about Kouga? What exactly happened last night, Kagome?"
"Well. . . a lot." Kagome, still holding InuYasha's hand, tugged him over to the couch. Sango and Miroku followed, looking like the victims of some cruel prank. Surprised, angry, and utterly confused.
Kagome explained to them everything that happed, but left out personal details, of course. Some of that was only for her and InuYasha alone.
The other couple was fascinated at the sudden change of events, and even more fascinated at Kagome's sudden change of heart. "So Kouga. . ." Miroku asked, ". . . you never really loved him?"
"Oh, I love him, " Kagome reassured him, "I just don't love him. I know. . . it's weird, but. . . now I'm happy."
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
When he arrived at work the next day, Sesshoumaru was not a happy man.
When will he get to see his brother lose something for once?
When InuYasha was born into the world, he had their father, and what should have been Sesshoumaru's happy family.
When InuYasha wasted his given opportunity to go to college, Sesshoumaru had worked and studied strenuously for a scholarship.
And while Sesshoumaru had lost the only woman he'd ever had strong feelings for. . . InuYasha was in his apartment fooling around and doing god-knows- what with his new lover, who in fact just had to resemble Kikyou. . .
All he wanted was to just for once see the boy unhappy. Just for once, Sesshoumaru wanted to have more than InuYasha.
The thoughts of his strange obsession with InuYasha's unhappiness had plagued Sesshoumaru all night.
And who other than Kikyou had to be the first person in his office that morning?
"Tokunawa-san! Good morning! Here is a new book sent in by an. . . " she looked at the front of the thick packet of papers, "Ito Hanyou."
The last name caught him off guard. "Hanyou?"
"Yes, Ito Hanyou. . . it's her pen name. Pretty catchy, huh?" She handed the packet over to him.
"Yes. . . catchy." Sesshoumaru was already into the first paragraph. What form this Ito woman had with her writing. . . excellent. Maybe this time he would finally get to edit something good.
"Well," Kikyou said awkwardly, "I'll let you get to your editing."
Suddenly, something snapped in Sesshoumaru's brain. Don't let her leave! his mind screamed.
"Wait." he commanded.
She stopped.
What was he doing? What would he say?
He got up and went over to close the door. He then stepped up to Kikyou, so close that he could feel her breath on his chin.
"Kikyou. . ."
She tried not to look at him.
Why was he doing this? Was he actually trying to get her to change her mind about being with him?
He wanted to hold her again. . . just once. Maybe he could change what had happened. Maybe she wasn't in reality as cruel as she'd been when she'd ended their relationship. Maybe. . .
"Tokunawa-san, what are you doing?" she asked coldly, even though she knew exactly what he was doing. She just had to stop it before it went any further.
He looked down at the carpet, embarrassed at his sudden advance on her. "I'm sorry, Kikyou. . . I just thought, maybe. . . ah, never mind, woman! You may be on your way."
He turned back to his usual composed self and left her to go sit back down at his desk. He was foolish for even thinking she would change her mind. He would just have to get over the woman, then.
She quietly left his office without a word.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
The feeling in her stomach began to wear off as she began to walk down the hall. Sesshoumaru always gave her that feeling. . . but didn't he understand why she didn't want to be with him? Naraku-chan, that's why. She was a fool for Naraku, she realized. He always gave her the attention she needed, anything she needed.
Her attraction to Sesshoumaru had merely been physical. He was too stiff with her, and at times, he was ignorant. Always trying to be a step ahead of his idiotic brother. . . only that's what he thought of InuYasha. She herself liked the younger man. He was fun and easy to talk to. . . even though she'd only met him a couple times, she thought he was terribly nice. What did Sesshoumaru have against him, anyway?
She spotted Naraku at the end of the hall, and all thoughts of her former boyfriend vanished as she went to greet her new one.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
The next day. . .
"Kagome," Sango said, walking into the back room of the store. "You are never going to believe who is here looking around."
Sango looked like she was on the verge of freaking out.
"Who, Sango?"
"Sesshoumaru Tokunawa!"
"What the hell is he doing here?" They had their voices low, now, as if he would walk in and hear them at any minute.
"I don't know! I refuse believe he's here to buy a basket! He must be here for InuYasha!"
InuYasha! He was due to be back from his last delivery at any minute, now! "Sango, we can't let InuYasha see him here! They're to intense toward each other!" How did Sesshoumaru even figure out where they worked? Then, Kagome realized, The discount! The discount that I brought with that delivery! It had our address on it!
"Kagome! What should we do?"
Kagome thought for a moment. "I'll have to go talk him into leaving."
Sango looked uncomfortable with the suggestion, but nodded. "Okay. Be careful around him!"
"It's okay, Sango! I know how to handle him."
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
'What a quaint little shop,' Sesshoumaru thought to himself. 'InuYasha must be paid very well.'
The old woman at the cash register just went about her work at her computer, oblivious to who he was. He knew his coming here would upset things. He just had to find way to break Kagome and InuYasha apart.
A girl he recognized from the past somewhere came into the front room to tell the old woman something, and when she saw him, her eyes had widened, and she pivoted quickly and ran into a back room.
To tell someone, he guessed.
He smirked to himself. So it started with that.
Only, the person he had expected to come teeming through the back door, did not. Instead, Kagome stepped through the door quietly, and approached him.
She looked over at the old woman, her boss, he presumed, then looked back at him. She spoke softly.
"Sesshoumaru, can I help you?"
"Why, yes miss Higurashi, perhaps you can. You see, I haven't spoken with my brother since the other day- you remember- and I never got to ask him my question. Is he around?"
"No, he's still making his deliveries. Maybe you should leave before he comes back."
"But he hasn't been answering my calls, and-"
"Sesshoumaru, he told me about the money. I don't think you should start anything with him today."
"Oh, so you know. I suppose you hate me just as much as he does. I imagine he made me sound rather greedy. . . though, miss Higurashi, I do beg to differ-"
"Look, can we. . . " she looked over to the door. He caught her message and agreed.
"Kaede-san, " she said to the old woman, "may I leave for about ten minutes? It's personal."
"You may," the old woman replied.
Kagome took him by the arm and lead him out the door. Once outside she said, "I don't think you're greedy. I think you're hurt. He told me everything, why his father left him this money, how he left your mother for
his. . . how you never got to have a family like his. I don't blame you for wanting this money. In fact I think you deserve it."
The girl agreed with him?
He sat down on the bench they had stopped at outside the shop's door and said, "Truthfully, I'm not sure that I agree that he had the right to tell you any of that." She blushed. He continued. "But I am glad you agree with me. I just have one question." He offered her a seat beside him on the bench and she sat down, folding her hands in her lap. He felt a strange comfort sitting beside her. He brushed the feeling away and continued. "What do you see in my brother?"
She looked a little surprised by his question.
"Well, he's. . . fun, and easy to talk to. We get into silly fights. There's a lot that I see in him."
"Oh. . . Well. . . "
"Why?"
"Just curious. " He looked at this watch. "I should leave. I apologize for interrupting your work."
She didn't say anything as he stood. She was confused by him. He looked over to the door before he turned and left, and Kagome looked to see what had caught his attention.
InuYasha was standing at the door, his arms angrily folded across his chest.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
So, that's why Sango had kept stalling him. He was here. And talking to his girlfriend.
Well, Sesshoumaru would get his, InuYasha decided.
InuYasha had spied the two just in time to see Kagome join his brother on the bench. That had infuriated him. When Sesshoumaru finally left, he spotted InuYasha and smirked. Then, Kagome saw him.
Something in her eyes made InuYasha feel betrayed by her. What exactly did she think of his brother, anyway?
He turned away from the door and headed out to his delivery truck. He had wanted to take his lunch break with her, but now he just wanted to be alone.
As he drove, he wondered about the other night. Had it been too soon for them? Did they rush into it? InuYasha already knew he was in love with Kagome, but did she feel the same for him? Or did she do this all the time? He knew little about her past with Kouga. But somehow he couldn't see her sleeping around, like some common whore. Kagome had self-respect and received plenty of love and attention from her friends. Why had they slept together? InuYasha knew why he'd slept with her. But he doubted Kagome's reasons.
Was she in love. . . or only lust?