Author's notes: I'm sorry that the last few chapters have been short. I've just been slacking off, in case you couldn't tell. I've been kind of stressed lately, what with my Japanese class, Debate club, learning how to use photoshop, homework, finals (ick), baby sitting, being taken advantage of coughcoughPANICcoughcough and all that good shit.
I love to write, and I'm hoping that someday I can break away from just doing fan service on my favorite anime on my favorite fan fiction site, and be able to establish my own characters and make them interact and actually get published somewhere. Until then, however, I am content to write about anime characters and I'm eternally grateful every time I open my inbox and see all the reviews that you guys were kind enough to write to me.
I am truly thankful to all of my reviewers, you are the ones that constantly convince me to continue writing. Without you guys, I swear I would fade off the face of the earth.
SO TO THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR SUPPORT AND YOUR (UN)PATIENT WAITING: This chapter is extra long! Enjoy! Also, there is some 'fluff' in this chapter, many have asked for it so I managed to squeeze it in.
Thank you! And I'm sure you want to stop listening to my pathetic groveling and read on with the story with a plot thicker than my grand mother's toe jam. Oo (bad image)
Forgotten Snow
Chapter nine
The next day, Miroku stood at the coffee machine sipping on some coffee. His mind was plagued with the information Inu-yasha had given him. He had started out tense, but then soon he was pouring his guts out to Miroku like he was on his deathbed. He saw Inu-yasha's sorrow, his regrets; everything he'd thought couldn't exist in the seemingly cold man. But no, now he realized that he was simply hiding everything up. Soon, he feared, Inu-yasha would explode and have a mental breakdown.
When Miroku asked Inu-yasha if he'd ever laid Kagome, however, resulted in Inu-yasha getting all flustered and kicking him out of the office. Miroku took that as a yes.
Sango came out of Sesshoumaru's office with a feverish sway in her hips, her hair was neatly combed into a low pony tail and her hot pink eye shadow brought out the beautiful maroon of her eyes. He found himself grinning and leaning against the wall like a 'smooth criminal' as he liked to call it.
Sango raised an eyebrow as she came to a stop at the coffee machine, "Don't even think about it."
"You know," Miroku said with a smirk, "you've been avoiding me, Sango, if I didn't know better I'd say you were trying to get away from me."
Sango gave him a dry look.
"What?" Miroku asked, feigning innocence.
Sango rolled her eyes, "For your information, I've been giving Kagome some emotional support. She's been a wreck ever since she became Inu-yasha's secretary."
"Tell me about, Inu-yasha just basically spilled his guts yesterday," Miroku said sadly as he stared at the remainder of the liquid in his cup. "He really misses her. He hates to admit it, though."
"Yeah," Sango agreed, "It's obvious that Kagome still loves Inu-yasha, I mean, why else would she stay near him? If I were in her shoes I would have quit the moment that asshole of a boss even snapped at me."
Miroku looked out the window at the clear sky. The snow lay idly around the city. He sighed deeply, "If only it were that simple, ne?"
Kagome yanked the cord from the phone jack with a heavy heart. It was her day off and she'd spent most of the time crying silently. The ringing of the phone in the background of her sobs became too much to bare, causing Kagome to silence it altogether.
She sniffed and wiped her eyes with a tissue. She sat in the middle of her kitchen, having slipped on the linoleum tiles and banging her head on the counter top. Tears fell silently from her hazy blue orbs and her face was blotchy and tears stained her once vibrant cheeks.
She had been going to the kitchen to get some aspirin and had only succeeded in giving herself a killer headache. She collapsed to the floor and stared at her ceiling. The light shinned back down towards her in a blinding display, causing Kagome to shut her eyes.
But the moment she shut her eyes, the memories would return.
The sickening beautiful memories of Inu-yasha being with her. Smiling at her, laughing with her...everything.
She hadn't cared that he was a half demon. She hadn't cared that he was a rude eater. She hadn't cared that his hair was longer than hers. She hadn't cared about the dog-ears on his head. She hadn't cared at all.
All she cared about was him.
Being with him and loving him.
His sweetness, his friendliness, his calmness, his love for her.
But now...
Now he was so different. He was rude, egotistic, a jerk.
What had changed him?
He'd never hesitated to tell her that he loved her with his whole being.
So why did she leave him like that? Without a warning, without a moments hesitation to his feelings? Why hadn't she ever stopped to think what would happen to the greatest man she'd ever met?
Kagome stood slowly and got herself a glass of water and some Advil before traveling back to her couch were the TV flickered on dramatically telling a story of a movie star.
Kagome swallowed the pills and sighed deeply, her eyes still brimmed with tears.
Truth be told, there were many times she'd thought of quitting, to get away from the man she loved so deeply. Maybe if she went away the feelings would evaporate like rain in a desert. But...the very thought of it made her heart painfully throb and tears to collect in her eyes.
Even if he despised her, she would stay by his side for as long as she could.
"Inu-yasha..." Kagome sobbed out, "don't hate...me..."
A furious punch flew at the punching bag, causing the poor object to go soaring across the room and ramming itself into the wall opposite of the crouching figure.
He darted forward and kicked the bag before it could touch the floor and punched the wall with all his might.
Plaster fell from the ceiling.
Inu-yasha stood panting heavily as he whipped hair from his eyes and leaned against the wall, his eyes focusing on his bare feet.
His apartment was small, had a kitchen a bathroom and a bedroom. It wasn't much to look at, considering that plaster was falling from the ceiling.
It was odd; being the vice president of a company you'd expect the cream of the crop. But no, the vice president of Takahashi Inc., one of the most famous and richest electronic company (known mostly for its gaming systems) lived in a dump worthy of a hobo.
There wasn't much furniture either. A table, a chair, a punching bag, and a couch (where he slept).
Considering the amount of people in Tokyo, he was very grateful for even having a place to sleep at night. Besides, he wasn't planning on being here long, he'd eventually move back to America, right?
His heart gave a painful jolt at the idea of leaving his hometown.
Of leaving her...
He shook his head furiously and pushed himself off the wall to get a proper lift into the air. He began soaring through the air (or as much soaring a half demon can make in a small apartment with only the wall as his thrust). When in the air he did a little back flip and did a pile drive onto the punching bag, imagining it was his brother.
He sighed pitifully and released the bag from the headlock he'd trapped it in.
Draping his body over the couch he stared at the ceiling where cracks resided on the walls. He idly wondered if he had rats.
He glanced at his watch: seven.
He should be at work by now but-
He really didn't want to work right now.
He was basically on Japan time, finally, and was happy to be able to sleep when the sun set and rise along with the early risers. It always amazed him how most people could work here. After living ten years in America, Japan's determination of the working community always astounded him, completely. Over fifty percent of working men die from stress. The only time they're really at home is for three hours (where they sleep) before running back to the factory or company.
Some of them even slept at their office, not bothering to come home ever.
Inu-yasha ran his hand over his face, wiping away some sweat he'd worked up while beating up "Sesshoumaru the punching bag". (As he had thoughtfully dubbed it)
He glanced out the window watching the icicles drip down into small puddles in the snow. It had stopped snowing, leaving only a crisp December day. Christmas was coming, and Christmas lights once more overran the lights of the city. Christmas carolers, Santa's, sales: the works. He didn't feel festive.
Besides, this was nothing compared to New York City during the winter season.
He closed his eyes and dropped off into a light sleep.
Kagome walked towards downtown. It was her day off and she should be getting some Christmas shopping done, damn it! After a good cry, Kagome really felt like she needed to get out. So, that's exactly what she did. So far she had only half her list done. She needed to get something for her mom, Sango, and Miroku (he'd be heart broken if she didn't get him something).
She was still debating whether or not to get Inu-yasha a Christmas gift. After all, he had said that he didn't celebrate Christmas. But he was her boss.
And you're supposed to get your boss something right? It was brownie points for crying out loud! As she shopped she spotted many things she could give Inu-yasha but somehow something always drew her back. Like she was doing wrong by getting him something.
She sighed as she entered a store. She'd get Sango some new makeup. She had been talking to her lately on how she was running low on her favorite pink eye shadow.
She weaved her way through the endless shoppers and picked her way through the selection of beauty products.
"May I help you miss?"
"No...I'm fine," Kagome whispered as she eyed the eye shadow's different colors.
The sale's clerk wandered off to help some other mindless fool who was swept away in the most commercialized holiday of the year.
She backed away and ran into someone. She turned around to apologize and was met with the deep golden eyes of Inu-yasha. Her mouth dropped to the ground, as she stared at Inu-yasha. He was looking at her with as much surprise as she felt.
"What are you doing here?" Kagome asked.
"Shopping, what does it look like?" Inu-yasha asked as he turned back to the display of mascara. "Fuck," he mumbled.
Kagome peered over his shoulder, "Why are you buying makeup?"
"Because I've decided to come out of the closet," Inu-yasha said dryly.
"Really?"
"No not really, geez woman," Inu-yasha rolled his molten eyes to the ceiling fan. "I'm buying a Christmas gift for my sister-in-law."
"I thought that you didn't celebrate Christmas," Kagome said slowly.
"I don't, but the rest of my family does," Inu-yasha said calmly as he looked through the eye shadow, "They'd kill me if I didn't get them any gifts. And I'm having issues on what to get her."
"Maybe I can help," Kagome said meekly, "After all I am a woman. And I do wear a little makeup."
Inu-yasha eyed her and sighed. "Sure."
"Ok, what color eyes does she have?" Kagome began at once.
"Red..." Inu-yasha said hesitantly, as if he wasn't sure to trust Kagome.
"And what's her skin color?" Kagome asked with a smile as she watched the bemused Inu-yasha.
"She's a kind of olive color," Inu-yasha said, "I think."
Kagome grabbed a container of lipstick and a case of eye shadow. "Here, this will work."
His clawed fingers lightly grazed hers and the electricity of his touch shot through her. She felt her heart speed up and a blush to rise in her cheeks. "I have to go!" she said suddenly and hurried out of the store, not bothering to pick up Sango's gift.
If she had looked back, however, she would have seen a rejected looking Inu- yasha staring after her, his ears drooped.
Kagome's cell vibrated when the tiny phone signaled that she'd received a text message. It was all the rage in Japan nowadays, no one spoke any more, they simply wrote out onto their cell phone like they would their laptops.
She clicked open the phone and say the message from Sango:
U busy 2nite? the phone said in Sango's quick slang.
Kagome rolled her eyes and typed, y?
A new message soon was received and Kagome clicked the message open. Want 2 have din /w me and Kohaku?
Kagome smiled and looked out her apartment window before returning to the phone. Sure
Kagome rang the doorbell to Sango's apartment and her younger brother, Kohaku answered the door.
He grinned when he saw Kagome, always being a fan of Kagome. "Kagome! Come on in!"
"Thank you Kohaku," Kagome smiled and slipped her shoes off.
Kohaku was fifteen and it was very evident that he had a huge crush on Kagome.
Sango's parents ran a nature show on Discovery Channel, and often traveled the world. They would visit Sango and Kohaku when they had the chance, but the siblings preferred to stay in the sanctuary of their home, Tokyo.
Sango often referred her family as the Wild Thornberries: Japan style.
"So what are we having, squirt?" Kagome giggled and ruffled Kohaku's hair.
He huffed as his already messy hair was further thrown into the chaos of tangles before smiling softly, "I don't know, you'll have to ask Sango." He took her coat from her. "She's in the kitchen," he added helpfully.
Kagome smiled and winked at Kohaku before traveling to Sango's kitchen, were the said woman was stirring something in a pot and talking on a fifty's styled telephone. "For the final time, Miroku, I'm making dinner for Kagome and my brother. I can not come down to the office and 'keep you company'!" She rolled her eyes heavenward as Miroku said something, "NO!"
Kagome smiled and pulled on an apron hanging off a hook. She always loved Sango's apartment, it always reminded her of an old fashion home. Perfect.
Sango noticed Kagome and waved her towards a half-prepared salad. "Miroku, she's here, will you please stop pestering me?" she tapped her fingers impatiently as Miroku said something 'suave' to her. "Fine, if you come over, will you promise never to bother me again?" A pause where Sango allowed a small smile. "Deal."
She hung up the phone without saying goodbye and smiled at Kagome, "Miroku's coming over, I hope you don't mind?"
"Of course not," Kagome beamed, "The more the merrier!"
"Good, because he's bringing a friend," Sango said a little slyly. There was a knowing twinkle in her maroon eyes that caused Kagome to feel a little uneasy.
"Who?"
Sango looked around nervously, but Kagome didn't notice, "Don't know. Guess we'll find out soon won't we?"
Kagome nodded and began to chop some carrots.
She totally missed Sango and Kohaku exchanging a brief look and a wink.
"It will be good for you!" Miroku said in a singsong voice.
"I will forever regret having the same apartment building as you," Inu- yasha muttered as he stuffed his hands into his jean pockets. His hair was pulled back into a messy ponytail and he was wearing a black t-shirt. His ears twitched towards Miroku's snickers and his Tennis shoe clad feet kicked a pebble down the street. "You're hiding something from me, what the fuck is it?"
"Nothing, nothing," Miroku said as he skipped down the street, slamming down into puddles made from the melted snow. The bottoms of his pants were growing damp but it was hard to tell since they were black pants.
"You're lying," Inu-yasha said crossly.
"How do you know?" Miroku wiggled his eyebrows.
"One," Inu-yasha held up one finger, "Because you just gave me that look." He held up a second finger. "And two I can smell you lying," he tapped his nose, "This isn't here just for looks, you know."
Miroku snorted and stopped in his skipping to allow the hanyou to catch up with him. "You're pathetic."
"Me?" Inu-yasha asked dryly, "I'm not the one skipping down the street like I'm drunk as a skunk just because the woman I like invited me to dinner."
Miroku grinned.
"And she's only doing it because you bribed her," Inu-yasha said with snort.
"No shattering my hopes or dreams today, Inu-yasha, if you do, I'll have to kill you!" Miroku said.
"And how, pray tell, will you manage to do that?" Inu-yasha asked with a dark eyebrow raised to his hairline.
"Well, my family does come from a long range of monks I can purify you," Miroku made a one handed prayer and bowed. "May Buddha bless your soul."
This seemed a little too amusing to Inu-yasha and ten minutes of the walk was spent with Inu-yasha's cackles filling the air.
"It isn't that funny!" Miroku snapped angrily as he tugged on his tiny ponytail in annoyance.
"Yes it is," Inu-yasha chuckled, "You a monk? The biggest pervert I've ever known?"
"What do you mean? It is a sin to even dream of bedding a woman," Miroku said with a look of innocence on his face. "I am as pure as purified water."
"You know, they never get everything out of those bottled waters. They add stuff too," Inu-yasha said as he eyed his friend and colleague.
"Ok, bad example," Miroku said and thought for a moment. He snapped his fingers, "I'm as innocent as a lamb!"
"You know, in the feudal era the monks of Mt. Hiei would violate the roles of monks. They would eat fish, keep concubines, you know the kind of stuff you do."
"I do not eat fish," Miroku mumbled.
"Lies. I've seen you order meal number nine at McDonalds," Inu-yasha said with a smirk.
"Silence is golden!" Miroku hissed.
"Admit it, you aren't innocent at all. You'll probably be killed just like the monks in feudal era," Inu-yasha scoffed, "Their temples were burnt down and they were executed by Oba Nobunaga."
"Thank you for that image," Miroku said dryly.
Inu-yasha shrugged.
"I'm serious, I will not resort to earthly sins!" Miroku protested.
"Hey look a whore!" Inu-yasha pointed towards the other side of the street.
"WHERE?" Miroku whipped around so fast he almost got whiplash.
"Oh you just missed it, Miroku," Inu-yasha snapped his fingers. "Now, I have no idea where Sango lives, so can we hurry it up, please?"
The rest of the walk was spent making fun of Miroku and resulted in Inu- yasha being in the best mood he'd experienced in years.
The doorbell rang and Sango grinned, "I'll get it, you just finish the salad, Kagome."
"Will do!" Kagome grinned and stirred the vegetables into the bowl of lettuce.
Sango opened the door and was greeted by a grinning Miroku and a slightly apprehensive Inu-yasha.
"Come on in, guys, make yourself at home," Sango said and stepped aside, "Dinner will be ready soon."
"Yay!" Miroku said as he skipped into the house like a kid would in a candy shop.
Inu-yasha and Sango both rolled their eyes.
"Well, if you'll come this way, Inu-yasha!" Sango beamed and motioned for Inu-yasha to follow her. He felt kind of odd being in his employee's house having dinner like they were old friends. Maybe in a way he was?
He shrugged and followed the maroon eyed girl to a dinner table where a boy sat playing a game boy. Sango snapped it from his hands.
"Hey, what was that for?" the boy snapped.
"Kohaku, this is Inu-yasha. Inu-yasha, this is my brother Kohaku," Sango said as she plucked the batteries out of the game system and chucked them into the nearby garbage can.
"Hey there squirt," Inu-yasha said with a wave.
Kohaku smiled, "Yo!"
"Inu-yasha, could you please get the salad?" Sango asked with a smile as she placed some food onto a hot plate.
"Whatever," he shrugged and walked towards where the kitchen was. He could smell the vibrant smell of food wafting from it as well as a foreign smell that smelled distantly familiar. He shrugged and walked in.
Imagine his surprise when he ran into Kagome who just finished the salad.
They both gapped at each other. And then: "What are you doing here?" they both asked at the same time.
"What am I doing here? What are you doing here?" they replied as one.
They both stopped, it was kind of weird to say the same thing at the same time so they chose to remain silent.
"I was invited," Inu-yasha finally said, once he was sure Kagome wasn't going to talk at the same time.
"So was I," Kagome said as her eyes widened in realization. Moments later the cogs in Inu-yasha's head started turning and he too realized the intention of Miroku and Sango.
"Bastards," Inu-yasha grumbled. Kagome shrugged.
"Um, so why are you in here?" Kagome finally asked after an awkward silence.
"I needed the salad," Inu-yasha said pointing to the bowl Kagome held.
She smiled and held the bowl out to him. He reached forward and grabbed the bowl. His rough, calloused hands closing over her delicate milky ones. They stood like that, their hands softly connected as they stared into each other's eyes.
"Um..."
His eyes twinkled. "You need to let go, Kagome," he said with a smirk. She blushed bright red and released the bowl, her hands automatically going to her cheeks to try and hide her blush. He smirked and focused his attention on the lettuce and carrots that danced in the bowl.
You know that would be funny to watch, carrots dancing...
"Well, shall we go?" Inu-yasha asked with a smile. He was in a guest's house; he didn't think it wise to make a scene in his employee's house. Therefore, he was doing his best to stay on good terms with Kagome. Sure, they were having numerous rocky moments, but she was his employee as well....
"Ok," she said, slightly nervous, as if he was going to shatter and totally explode in her face.
After dinner, Sango and Miroku were doing dishes; Kohaku was walking over to his friend's house and Inu-yasha and Kagome were staring at each other across the table.
Inu-yasha tilted his head so that he was peering at Kagome through his bangs. Seeing this, Kagome slowly descended her head to her folded arms, staring at him with a dead serious look on her face. The two stared until Kagome's eye began to twitch.
Inu-yasha's lips were twitching as he tried to not smile and Kagome's eyes were twitching and starting to water when she refused to let them blink.
After a long moment until Inu-yasha smirked and Kagome blinked...
At the same time.
"I win!" they both said.
"No, I win," Inu-yasha announced as he leaned back in his chair and propped his foot up on the table.
"No, I win!" Kagome insisted harshly as she leaned forward and whacked his feet aside.
"That's a lie!" Inu-yasha said as he too leaned forward so that their faces were inches apart, both glaring angrily at the other.
"You're the one who's lying!"
"I demand a recount!"
The two stared at each other; their glares mentally making them shiver as magma gold locked with oceanic blue.
Inu-yasha slipped his shoes on, "Oi, Miroku! I'm leaving whether you're coming or not is not my concern."
"Bye then, Inu-yasha!" Came Miroku's voice. He was too busy 'helping' Sango to bother with his friend and neighbor.
He stepped out into the cold night, crossing his arms to keep as much warmth in as possible (he regretted wearing a short sleeved shirt) and walked towards his apartment.
The world was dark and the snow seemed to withhold long enough for him to become lost in his thoughts. Tonight, he had actually been civil with Kagome. And that scared him. After what had happened so long ago he had sworn never to allow himself to go astray with another woman.
But Kagome wasn't another woman. She was the same girl he'd fallen in love with during high school, and though he hated to admit it, he liked having her around.
