Chapter two
Moriko cocked her head to the side. There were a lot of difficult words that she couldn't understand but whatever it did say had made her mother cry. She dropped the letter and paddled her little feet to her mother's closed door. With a whimper she leaned against the wood and tried to push it open. She was very small and couldn't reach the big doorknob without a chair. "Mommy," she said to the door where she could hear her mother trying to contain her sobs of agony. "Mommy…!"
She heard her mother walk to the door and the click of the unlocking door as Moriko watched the golden knob turn. She looked up at her crying mother and felt her own tears fill her eyes. She hated to see her mommy cry and she couldn't help but think maybe Kagome was crying because of her. "I'm sorry, Mommy!" she cried, trying to get her mother to stop with the tears. "Please don't cry!"
Kagome fell to the ground and grasped her daughter tightly in her arms, Moriko made a small squeak of surprise before wrapping her arms around her mother's neck. The two girls cried for a moment before Kagome pulled away and dried her daughter's tears. "Don't cry, baby, its not your fault Mommy's sad," she whispered and Moriko nodded, her tears falling down her cheeks. 'I swear to god I'm going to Italy and kicking Kouga's ass…how can he do this to me?'
"Is Daddy not coming home?" Moriko asked fearfully. She didn't want her Daddy to go away, she loved him! And she knew that her mom loved Daddy too! Why did Daddy leave?
"That's right, baby," Kagome hugged her daughter tightly to her as she fought to keep her tears inside her. "Daddy had to go away for a little while…you'll see him someday," that was a lie, but Kagome was desperately trying to comfort her crying daughter. And she'd do that at all costs.
"Are…are we still going to California, Mommy?" Moriko asked softly, her little voice the only thing heard in the room. Kagome felt her daughter's heart beating and her silent sobs as she cried on her mother's shoulder. Kagome bit her lip and closed her eyes. A solitary tear ran down her cheek.
"No…" she said finally.
The early spring night soon echoed with thunder and rain pelted the empty streets. Wind blew furiously through the empty New York streets and the trees swayed ominously. Rain flew in sheets, pelting windows, cars, trees, signs…and a man.
His long black hair, having been wiped out of the ponytail, flew around the man and whipped his face harshly, causing rain to splatter into his deep lavender eyes. He cursed silently as he stepped into a deep puddle, soaking his shoes and socks. His dark jeans hung tightly to his powerful legs and his jacket was soaked to the point of uselessness. The man held a suitcase in hand and a guitar slung over his back. He tried fruitlessly to move his hair from his face and look around.
'Is this is?' he asked himself as he looked at the building. It was three in the morning, so of course all the lights were out, and due to the troublesome hair he couldn't really read the street signs that well. He guessed this was it. Clearing his throat and taking a deep breath he crossed the street and fought against the winds. 'This had better be it. All I want right now is a nice bath and a good nights rest…Damn, I never knew that it would take this long to get to New York. It will be worth it though, Kouga said so…but he always was a half ass…hm…'
He reached the apartment building and pushed open the door before releasing it, it flew out of his hand and slammed behind him. He cringed visibly and hoped that no one had heard his loud entrance; the last thing he wanted was some old lady chasing him out into the rain with pepper spray and a kitchen knife. He groaned when he spotted no elevator. 'Kouga said it was on the top floor…according to him there's only one room on the top floor. Good. It will be easy to find and I can take my nice hot bath…' the boy smiled at the thought of having a warm bath after trudging through the freezing cold rain for three hours.
As he approached the top he stepped on a squeaky step and nearly slipped in surprise. "Damn, this is an old building, isn't it?" he asked himself before realizing he was talking to himself. With a sigh he continued his trek.
Meanwhile, a very depressed Kagome was suffering insomnia. Moriko lay snoozing next to her, having begged her mother to let her sleep with her for tonight, Kagome had happily agreed, not wanting to be alone.
'How…' even now, so late in the night her thoughts were of him. Of his betrayal. 'I knew that Kouga loved his job…but…to put it over Moriko and me? Why? How could he do this? What did we do wrong?' She sighed numbly and stared at her cold feet. 'What did we do wrong? I thought we meant more to him like that…AND HOW LAME? A letter! Why not in person! Is he that much of a coward?' Kagome felt her anger boiling but resisted the urge to break something for the safety of her daughter. Kagome gazed at Moriko…the constant reminder of what she had shared with Kouga…
As she lay staring at the ceiling she heard a door slam. She sat up and looked around in bewilderment. The digital clock at her side stated that it was nearly three in the morning. 'Who could be coming home at this hour?' she thought to herself and rubbed her eyes. Getting up out of her bed she cast a look at her daughter before shrugging on a bathrobe and slipping out of the room. She approached her kitchen and looked out her window. Her eyes widened at the heavy storm she hadn't noticed before. But there were no familiar cars outside that would show that a resident was coming home. Kagome's eyes narrowed in confusion and she instinctively looked around for a knife. She cursed when she realized that they were all packed.
She carefully slipped towards her bedroom, it was probably nothing important, just her imagining things. She smiled reassuringly to herself; she had no reason to be paranoid, she was just letting her depressed imagination take her away to la la land.
She was about to reenter her room when the unforgettable squeaking of the staircase's step reached her ears. She tensed and cursed softly, running to her daughter's room. She looked through the box that she hadn't sealed yet and pulled out a baseball bat and crept to her front door. As carefully as possible, she double-checked the door was locked and placed a chair under the handle for good measure.
"Damn this is an old building, isn't it?" came a voice outside her door and she narrowed her eyes. It was a male outside and for a brief moment she thought it was Kouga announcing that this was all some cruel joke and that he was testing her loyalty or something… but the person outside was moving very quietly, as if afraid to awaken anyone. Her grip tightened on the bat, she was ready. Whoever was out there was not Kouga…
"Mommy?" Kagome jumped and turned around to see her daughter looking up at her with huge blue eyes. She clutched Koinu tightly in her arm and she stared up at her mother, blinking, "what are you doing?" Her eyes filled with tears, "Are you leaving me like Daddy?"
Kagome, alarmed, retreated back to her daughter and cradled the girl in her arms. "Of course not, Moriko, I'll never leave you. I'm just…playing a game…do you want to play?" Moriko brightened and nodded vigorously. "Good, now, you go hide under Mommy's covers and don't make a sound until Mommy says its ok, ok?"
"That's a stupid game," Moriko mumbled but retreated to her Mother's room when Kagome sent her a look.
During this exchange, the dark haired man reached the top of the staircase and yawned softly. Rubbing his eyes he reached into his pocket and felt around for the key. Kouga had given it to him when he had rented out the apartment to his old colleague and friend. He withdrew the golden key and walked up to the door. With a sigh he inserted it into the lock and turned it.
Kagome felt her heart racing, whoever was out there had a copy of her key and could get into the house. She braced herself, ready to strike, but as long as the chair was there she'd be fine…
The doorknob giggled and a soft 'what the fuck?' could be heard on the other side of the door. The sound of the key entering the lock again was heard and then muttered curses when the key holder realized that something was blocking the door from opening.
Then the sickening crack of wood breaking met Kagome's ears and she yelped in surprise when the chair underneath the handle began to crack. Whoever was outside was very strong. She dove forward and pulled the chain over the door just as the chair gave way and the door burst open, only stopping when the chain turned taut.
The man outside was nothing like she'd imagined. She had half expected to see a greasy old fat man who had too much to gain and nothing to lose. Someone with oily slick black hair and dead, stoned eyes. Someone who was pumped up on steroids and out to take advantage of a depressed woman and kidnap a helpless child to torture to death. The man outside was nothing like that. He had long, shiny black hair and deep purple eyes. He was wet from head to toe and he was holding a suitcase and what appeared to be a guitar on his back. He looked tired and hungry like he'd been walking for miles. He was young and he looked slightly scrawny, yet he was strong enough to break her chair (grumble grumble). There was a doubt about it…this man was attractive and too tired to really put up a real fight against a lady. Namely her…and she'd do anything to protect herself and Moriko.
"What do you want?" Kagome tried to sound brave as she gripped the doorknob, ready to slam it on this newcomer's face. "Who are you?"
"What do you mean who am I? Who the fuck are you?" the man said, startled and annoyed with the fact that someone was inside his house.
"I live here," Kagome growled darkly, "And I don't appreciate visitors in the middle of the night. So if you'd be so kind as to—"
"What the hell do you mean you live here?" the question came out darkly and a low growl. It wasn't loud but dangerously quiet…sadistically quiet, like the calm before a storm. Kagome found herself gulping and her knees beginning to shake. A beautiful (if not slightly scary) stranger was standing outside her door and looked outraged at the fact she lived here.
"Yes, I do live here, along with my…husband and daughter," she decided that pretending Kouga was still here would help ward this stranger off. "And they're both trying to sleep. So if you'll excuse me…" She was about to close the door but the man's foot stopped her. The sneaker clad foot was as wet as the rest of him and she noticed the pool collecting at her door way.
"I think there must be some misunderstanding," the dark haired man insisted earnestly. "I'm Inu yasha Takahashi! This apartment was rented out to me by Kouga Wolfe!" to prove his point he dug around in his pocket, failing to see the dark look that passed over Kagome's face. After a moment of shuffling of clothing the only sound in the air, Inu yasha's purple eyes returned to her dark glare and he held out a printed e-mail explaining where and when he should claim his apartment. Kagome's eyes narrowed, the letter was sent over a week ago…that meant that Kouga had known for a while he'd be leaving her…
"How do I know your lying?" Kagome snarled, "Anyways, I know no one by the name of Kouga Wolfe, you best leave."
"Please," the man stressed the word pathetically, "I'm cold and wet and—"
Before he could finish, Kagome kicked his foot away from the doorway and slammed her door shut and locked the bolt. She heard Inu yasha mutter some profanities before he started stomping away. Kagome let out a sigh of relief.
With a small smile and a small victory dance, Kagome retreated back to her room. She smiled as she saw Moriko hidden under her quilt. With a sigh, she climbed into bed and tapped her daughter's shoulder. "Ok, baby, let's go to sleep."
Moriko grunted, proving to Kagome that she had already fallen asleep. Kagome didn't seem to notice.
"The nerve of some people, don't you think sweetie?" she asked her sleeping daughter, still oblivious, "coming at our door in the middle of the night and insisting that it was their home. I should call the police if he sticks around." She settled and closed her eyes, "Don't worry sweetie, he won't bug us anymore!"
Moriko snored on.
However, Kagome's problems were just beginning, as at the moment a very wet, pissed off and tired Inu yasha stormed across the deserted street and punched fifty cents into the only visible payphone in sight. With grumble he called the phone number Kouga had left in his email. The apartment phone. With a dark glare at the empty windowsill he waited as the phone ringed.
Kagome awoke with a start at the sound of a phone ringing; with a groan she hit her alarm clock, thinking it was the cause of her disturbance. She blinked when she realized the sound wasn't stopping. Moriko twitched and opened her bright blue eyes and yawned. "Mommy…?"
"Go back to sleep sweetie," Kagome whispered.
"I can't with the phone ringing," Moriko protested softly.
"Right," Kagome yawned and grabbed the phone. "I don't give money, I don't want to buy it, and normal people are sleeping, what do you want?"
"My house!" Kagome's eyes snapped open and she gawked at the phone.
"How did you get this number!" Kagome demanded.
"Kouga gave it to me," the man's voice growled out darkly.
Kagome's heart pounded fiercely in his chest and she stood to glance out the window. Sure enough, his figure stood in the phone booth; wind whipping his hair and drawing attention to his livid eyes, even from this distance.
"I-I don't know what you're talking about!" She demanded and hung up.
Moments later, the phone rang again. Kagome glared at it and held Moriko gently in her arms. The answering machine picked it up.
"I know your there. Look," Inu yasha's voice carried through the silent room. "I came all the way from Denver…I'm tired…I'm wet…I have no where to go, plus I'm out of quarters. Please…please let me stay! I don't think I can last much longer out here!" Kagome groaned…of course he would go for pity! "One night is all I ask, and in the morning we can figure something out. Please, if you'll let me stay, turn on your light…"
Kagome stared at her light switch hesitantly…
Inu yasha held the phone to his ear, staring hopefully at the dark apartment. Moments passed by and nothing happen. He sighed; the woman wouldn't dare allow a stranger into his house, especially with a daughter in there.
He was about to hang up the phone when a beacon lit the dark and empty street. Inu yasha's purple eyes filled with hope and he turned his eyes hesitantly towards the top apartment. He smiled when the light shown through.
Gripping the phone tightly he whispered, "Thank you…!"