By: Maggz
Disclaimer: InuYasha and Co. © Rumiko Takahashi
Chapter 4
The bar was average size with a small band already assembled on the stage playing different selections of music. I hadn't heard Japanese music much since I had been away from my home and it was nice to remember the beautiful haunting notes as they swept over me. InuYasha glanced at me and smiled..."..the music.., ", he grinned and I nodded and closed my eyes. "You miss it when it's not around, don't you, Kagome?", he said and traced a finger over the top of my hand that he still held in his own. I opened my eyes... and nodded. "Very much, InuYasha", I said. "That's one reason I thought to bring you here... only the 'old-timer's' play here and it's very quiet and kind of private… I thought, but I wasn't sure, that you would love it.", he said.
He took my very breath away from me with that. Nobody that I could ever remember, except Josh, had ever done anything for me like that. Nobody. Just to think of something I would like and DO it... it almost made me cry with the deep feelings that welled inside me. "Hey... what's wrong?", he asked as he looked down into my face... it was dimly lit inside the place and made it hard to see the hand in front of your face, much less the face of the person beside of you. "Nothing, InuYasha… that was really sweet of you... and I DO so love the music… and hadn't realized how much I missed it 'til we walked in here... thank you.", I said and left it at that. There were some things InuYasha just didn't need to hear about my personal life... after all, this was the first time I'd really been alone with him and I had never even told Josh or any of my girlfriends at school how I felt… really felt inside.
"Let's sit and have a drink… then you're gonna dance with me again!", he laughed as he pulled me behind him to the table. He found an empty one at the back of the place... near enough that the music still washed over us but far enough away that it didn't over power our conversation. I sat down across from him and fingered the thick gold candle that sat on the table to cast a little light there. "Did you get home and get unpacked yet?", he asked me as he sat down. "Well… I got home… but not unpacked... I was so tired I just fell asleep and decided I'd clean up either tonight or tomorrow… I never realized how lucky I had it in my dorm room… my mom would've had a heart attack if she'd ever seen it!", I laughed, thinking of the cozy mess my roommate Shannon and I had preferred. "You mean your mom never saw it... never saw your room?", he asked. "Ahhh... well… no, InuYasha... I was gone for a year...", I said. "I realize that, Kagome... but a year is a long time for no family contact... even I know that... you're telling me that NOBODY in your family came to see you while you were away... not Christmas, not summer break... not anytime?", he asked, frowning.
How did I answer him and not color his perception of how he had seen my family for the six months he and Kikyo had been together? I had no idea so I sat and looked at him... for a long time... trying to think of something to say that sounded right... and fair... and normal... because to me, it WAS normal. I don't think I had ever thought that it was strange my family hadn't visited until InuYasha pulled it forward in my brain.
I looked down at the table and then back up at him... and he cocked his head to one side and smiled. "You're not talking to me?", he asked me and I started to open my mouth with something... SOME crack... but was saved by the appearance of our waitress. "Ready for a drink?", she smiled and InuYasha nodded and ordered for the both of us. "Would you want anything to eat now as well?", she asked and looked from InuYasha to myself. "You like steak and chips, Sis...?", he asked and I nodded. "Good then… bring us each steak and chips...", he said and she scribbled on her pad and walked away.
I let my gaze drift over to the band and my fingers started a dance of their own against the polished oak of the table. My mind was a million miles away... back at school... back to Josh... and that is where I wanted it to be at that moment. Being with InuYasha was stirring up all kinds of things inside me... in my head, and in my body as well. "Let's dance, Darling", he said at once and stood up... pulling me to my feet and leading me to the dance floor. Only one other couple danced there to the slow haunting melody and I sighed as InuYasha slid his arms around my waist and pulled me to him. When I stood there the way I had been, arms by my side… letting him lead me... he reached down and grabbed my hands... putting them up around his neck and leaned down to whisper in my ear. "It's OK if I hold you... we're dancing, Love...", he said and grinned at me.
What did he know? I wondered. Did he know my heart was triphammering thru my chest like a locomotive…? did he know I could hardly swallow past the lump in my throat as he held me close... so close, that I could smell his cologne, a scent that I would forever recall in my mind each time I thought of him? "Kagome... relax, sweetheart... you're coiled as tight as a spring… I can feel it in every muscle of your body... it's OK... or you don't want to dance with me?, he murmured against my ear. "No, I 'm sorry InuYasha… I'm just miles away... I do want to dance and I'm sorry...", I said. One hand had slid off my waist and up my back… into my hair... stroking thru the damp long tresses as he hummed in my ear. "Take it easy, Love... I'm trying to get your mind of your troubles...", he whispered and I closed my eyes... afraid I would cry right then and there.
How had Kikyo found and kept him? how could somebody like InuYasha love her enough to stay with her for six months? She wasn't bad... or horrible... and she was beautiful... but she WAS shallow... and sometimes callous... and he was so much more! Was it her beauty? is that what had pulled him to her and kept her there? her body, her touch? I didn't even want to think of it.
We danced through two more slow songs and I suppose I would have stayed there with him all night until he would've had to carry me off the floor. His hands went from my waist to my back and up into my hair alternately, until I was completely relaxed against him. He let the last song end and then pulled back from me, looking into my eyes. "Don't you realize how special you are, Kagome?", he whispered. "No, InuYasha... I don't suppose I do... but that's not your problem...", I said and turned away from him to walk back to the table. Our drinks sat there along with our food and I realized I could hide behind the drink and the eating without him asking me any more questions that had to do with my family.
"This looks great... I'm starving", InuYasha said and rubbed his hands together. "Me too... and it does look good!", I said. "But the beers look even better, huh Love?", he smiled and I nodded and picked mine up to take a gulp. The beer was cool on my throat and I relished the taste of it as I closed my eyes. When I set my glass back on the table, I felt his eyes on me and I looked up. "Thirsty?", he grinned and I laughed. "Don't be so cheeky, InuYasha… I've heard that you can put back a few pints quite well on your own!", I said. "Oh you have, have you?...so you're a fan then?", he asked as he picked up his knife and dug into his steak. "Well… not really... I mean... what I'm trying to say is... oh, InuYasha...", I finally gave up and started to laugh. He smiled at me and lifted the first piece of his steak to his mouth. "NO… I need to hear this one… it MUST be good if it's got you speechless... c'mon.. tell me!", he said and started to eat. "I meant… well... that I don't have you guy's CD's nor have I been to a Wild Silver concert, I don't stake out hotels and wait for you to appear... I don't know what your favorite color is or if you prefer boxers or briefs... I'm just very proud of your success because you come from Japan... that's what I was trying to say!", I said.
"Red and boxers", he said before he started to chew the second bite off his fork. "Say what?", I asked and popped a chip into my mouth. "I said… Red and boxers... you said you had no idea what my favorite color was or if I wore briefs or boxers!", he laughed. "Oh, InuYasha... too much information!", I laughed and picked up my knife and fork to cut my steak. "Really now... well... how about you..?", he asked me. "Me?… what about me?", I laughed and poked a bit of steak into my mouth. "Favorite color and... ehrm... as for your knickers... well, bikinis or thongs?", he asked and picked up his mug... looking at me all innocent. I decided right then to play his game... at least this kept him off the subject of my family and off the subject of me.
"Well... let's see... black and... well, both actually!", I laughed and he took a long pull from his mug and then sat it down. Those golden eyes were so beautiful, I thought as he looked into mine... and his smile... it could light up a whole room. "Black thongs... what an image I get!", he whistled and I laughed and balled up my napkin, throwing it at him.
We talked over dinner about everything under the sun... from Wild Silver, to my past year in school to our school days in Japan and plans for the future. Not once, did he mention my sister and it wasn't until I got back home that night and was snug in my bed reliving the evening, that I realized it.
I looked at my watch and gasped. "InuYasha!… it's well past ten... I should… we should go!", I said and nearly scooted off the seat in my haste. "Hey!... Kagome... hold up...", he said and grabbed my wrist before I could get off the booth seat. "What?", I asked. "You're nineteen years old... you're with me... what safer place is there, except home for you and is that really where you want to be?", he asked me as his fingers tightened on my wrist. "InuYasha... you don't understand... at least I should call... and what about Kikyo...?", it had popped out of my mouth before I thought better of it and I slammed my jaws shut with a snap. "What about Kikyo?", he asked me. "Would she approve of me spending the whole evening with you... like a date?", I said and was instantly ashamed of myself. Why would he EVER consider it a date with me... after all, hadn't he said from the beginning that Kikyo would be happy to know he and I were getting to know each other better?
"I'm not married yet, Kagome... and I do enjoy being with you and getting to know you... just in this short space of time today, I've really enjoyed your company… and if I plan to spend time with Kikyo and your family, isn't it true that I should be getting to know you as well?", he said. "Yes, I suppose...", I mumbled and looked around the place for a phone. "Here... use my mobile and call home... tell them you're with me… I can promise it's ok.", he said. Gratefully, I took the phone and punched in our number… then waited for it to be picked up. My Dad picked up the line and I started to explain. "Dad… it's me... yes, I know... and I did go running... no… I'm here... with InuYasha... we had dinner... yes, you'll tell Kikyo?… ok... I'll be home in a bit.", I rang off and gave him back his phone.
"See, I told you...", he said softly and replaced the phone back in his pants pocket. "I'm sorry... I just... I feel so...", I said and shrugged my shoulders helplessly. "You feel so what?… guilty... wrong...?", he asked. "Yes... no... I don't know!", I said and looked at him finally. "You've nothing to feel guilty for, Darling... we've done nothing wrong... dinner, a few dances… it wasn't planned and even if it was... it would be ok…", he said. I happen to think you're brilliant company... and as far as Kikyo goes... don't you think she has dinner with other men when I'm away... friends, business associates...?", he asked. "I've no idea, InuYasha... I wouldn't know that...", I said. "Well... just trust me… it's fine... you and I are gonna be close... good friends... I can see that... and if it's ok with you... we'll plan things to do ever so often.", he said.
My head was swimming now and all I wanted to do was get out of that pub. "Ready to go, Love?", he said and I nodded. He got up first and then walked to my side of the booth, holding out his hands. I placed both mine in his and he pulled me up to stand in front of him... and he just stood there... it seemed forever... and looked at me. "I wish you wouldn't doubt yourself so much... I can see it in your eyes... and it's just not right... whoever put those doubts and fears and that second guessing into your soul... well, it should be a crime... you have no reason to ever feel that way, Kagome… none...", he said.
Before I knew it... his lips were on mine... soft and sweet... a gentle brush and then off again. "Let's go and get you home now... you must be ready to just crash into bed.", he said and with a smile, he took my hand and led me up to the counter to pay the tab.
"Have a nice time, InuYasha?', the waitress sang and smiled over at me. "Grand… everything was brilliant.", he said and grabbed my hand once more. "Good... you come back soon...", she smiled and he nodded and put his arm around my waist, leading me out the door.
We were almost to his car... in the near empty parking lot when he pulled me into his arms again and looked into my eyes. "Have you ever really been kissed, Kagome…? have you?", he asked me and his lips covered mine again as he pulled me tight against him. He reached down, as before, when we had been dancing... and pulled my arms up and placed them round his neck. My fingers found their way into his hair, curled against the soft skin there and I stroked thru it's softness as he moaned into my mouth. I was on fire... my body responding strongly to him, knowing it was wrong... but OH GOD… not ever wanting him to stop.
His hands had moved back to my waist and now settled lower on my hips as he pushed himself against me. I couldn't breathe… not at all... and my body sagged against him. He finally released my mouth and looked at me... my fingers still twined into his hair... his hands still on my hips. "Don't tell me it was wrong... just... don't say a thing...", he said and grabbed my hand, pulling me speechless behind him to the car.
--------------------
A/N: Well, here's another chapter here more than When He Was Mine... I bet you all waited eagerly for this moment ^ _ ^ But don't blame ME for leaving you hanging, blame my best friends for taking me out saturday night and my stupid ISP *argh _... Anyway: Eli & Eli I love ya, girlies!
Now a couple of explanations on the story:
* It's true that InuYasha is somewhat OOC in this story, but let me to tell you that it has a purpose. However, this doesn't mean he won't be a little violent, jealous and hot-tempered as the original character *lol
* I must admit I'm not a "Kikyo Hater", however in this story she will be a real pain in the ass to our favorite couple. And it's not like she's trying push InuYasha to Kagome... Not way!, she only wants to show him off to her little sister, to show off that InuYasha is handsome, rich and very famous...
I only ask you to be patient, 'cause as the story goes on your doubts will be clarified. Without nothing else to add, I only have to say:
Review! Reviews make me happy! ^_^
Maggz