By: Maggz
Disclaimer: InuYasha and Co. © Rumiko Takahashi
Chapter 7Home the next several days was finally back to normal and as Kikyo had a modeling assignment in a nearby town, she was gone for at least two of those days at least. Kouga had called as promised and we had decided to get together the next evening for dinner and a movie. We had ended up on the phone for over two hours and found we had several things in common. I looked forward to going out with him... a real date.
When Thursday evening arrived, I was ready... and Kouga was right on time. Nobody was home but me and he smiled as he led me to the car. "Should I call and get permission from InuYasha before I take you out? Man! you would've thought he was your Lord and Protector!", Kouga laughed. "Oh no, it's fine... he likes being my Big Brother'.", I said, hopping in the car. "If you say so...", Kouga said as he closed my door.
We drove to a cinema out of town and watched a movie... a comedy... that had he and I both laughing and nudging each other... and then he took me to a beautiful seafood restaurant that overlooked the water. We both ate hungrily and sipped nearly a whole bottle of wine... then he took me for a walk along the beach... and there, he kissed me. It was sweet and soft, and his arms felt good around me.
But it didn't feel like InuYasha., my brain shouted at me and I drew back from the kiss and looked up at him ."What's wrong, Kagome?", he asked me as his fingers traced my collar bone. "Nothing, Kouga... it was nice...", I said and took a deep breath. "Nice... yeah... it was...", he said and moved his hand behind my neck, lifting up my hair and placing his palm flat there to pull me to him again. This time the kiss was deeper... and I fought with myself to get InuYasha's touch and feel off my mind... his fire!
Kouga's mouth was like heaven... he was an excellent kisser and I did try to enjoy it so much. He had kissed down my neck and was softly sucking the sensitive skin of my neck into his mouth as his fingers slid around on my collar bone and down to where my shirt opened at the throat. His fingers encountered the thin gold chain that hung there with the heart pendant on it... Josh had given that to me as a going-away present and Kouga stopped kissing me and looked down at the necklace in his hand.
"Boyfriend?", he asked me and looked into my eyes. "He... was.", I answered slowly... "back in the States...", I explained. "Special to you, yes?", he asked as his fingers slid across the heart pendant. "He is... was... whatever...", I said. "Did I move too quick on you, Kagome?", he asked me and pushed a finger up under my chin so I was looking into his eyes. "No, Kouga...", I said and he ran a finger along my jaw. "Maybe... I should just take it a bit slower... no harm in that....", he smiled and reached for my hand. I took a deep breath in relief... I didn't want to hurt him... or lead him on... BUT I really DIDN'T want to move very fast at all... I needed to be sure.
You see, at this point in my 19 year old sheltered life, I was still a virgin... even with having had Josh there I still was, and I wanted it to be special... for me to be special to the man I finally went to bed with for the first time. It could very well BE Kouga... I didn't know but I'd need to know him alot better and alot longer before I made the choice... and I wasn't going to bring it up unless I had to.
He drove me home and kissed me softly at the door, promising to call me as soon as he could. I thanked him for the evening and told him what fun I'd had, hoping he didn't regret being with me and not getting to go any further than he had... but if he did... there wasn't much I could do about it.
I undressed and climbed into my soft, childhood bed... pulling one of my stuffed ragdolls against me as sleep started to take me over. It wasn't until I was almost over the edge of consciousness that I remembered the thought that had pounded it's way into my brain the first time Kouga had really kissed me... why didn't it feel like InuYasha's kiss?????????
*****
The weeks went by quicker than I had thought they would. Kikyo was still at her modeling assignment... a new layout had been added and she would be home sometime within the next week. I knew I hadn't very long until I had to continue my classes for the spring at college and I was savoring my stress-free life as much as was possible. Kouga had called me several times and we had went out at least three more times since the very first alone date and it was great. We were still finding things we had in common and he was an excellent listener as well as talker. I found he talked more when he was alone with me than when we had been in a group. As for InuYasha... well, I hadn't heard anything from him since Kikyo had left town and I didn't really expect to... it was kind of like, out of sight-out of mind. If I didn't see him I could get over him quicker... though I thought I was pretty much over him already, thanks to the attentions of Kouga.
The last week went by and Kikyo was home... but tired and cranky and I got the general idea that she and InuYasha had experienced a major argument. Only because I knew her so well and heard her end of several conversations when she finally came home. I didn't question her or ask anything, I just knew.
The day came when I supposed she could stand it no more and she came into my bedroom and sat on the end of my bed. I was writing an email to Josh at the time and immediately closed my computer, turning it off. I had no ideas of showing her what I had written and answering her questions just so she could tease me later on. It was best for me to keep my business to myself in this house... in my home... I had learned that pretty early on.
"Kagome... do you think InuYasha loves me?', she asked at once and I shot her a look and waited. Whatever I said, I'd be wrong , that much was true. She was famous for asking my opinion and then slapping it back down. "Well?", she asked and slid up on my bed to lie down on her tummy. "Why are you asking me this first of all?", I said. "Because... I want to know what you think... really.", she said. "Well, yes... I suppose I do think InuYasha loves you... you've been together long enough for me to think that would be logical... but Kikyo, I've not been around the two of you very much, not enough to base an opinion on that!", I said. She sighed and studied her nails.
"I'm getting impatient with him... but I don't want to lose him.", she said and looked up at me. "Impatient?', I questioned. "Yes... he's never around... always on tour or out promoting... I haven't got one piece of jewelry from him yet... he won't commit and for the last month I've had to practically BEG him to sleep with me!", she said. I sat stunned on my bed... never had Kikyo shared this much with me... and why InuYasha?
"So I gave him an ultimatum... either he commit to me... we become pre-engaged .I'll accept a pre-engagement ring if it's suitable enough... we go very public with it... or else...", she said offhandedly. I still sat there with no words for her... how could she be so shallow? so callous? so thoughtless of him? She looked at me as if waiting for an answer but I had nothing to give her. "Well?", she said. "Kikyo... how... how could you do that? you must know he cares for you... do Mom and Dad KNOW you did this?", I asked her. "Mom does... and she approves... it doesn't matter with Dad cause he'll just agree with Mom... you know that!", Kikyo said. "But InuYasha...", I said. I couldn't imagine how he had reacted to this from her.
"He's not happy... he doesn't like to be pushed into the corner and made to do something... at least that's what HE'S calling it but what can I say... he frustrates me... he wants to hide me... but then he wants the comforts of having a girl he can call while he's traveling the road doing God knows what!", she complained. "What am I getting out of it?", she said. "Love?", I asked her and she looked at me as if I was crazy. "Love? we haven't slept together in three weeks... he won't even initiate it and I sure as hell am not going to.", she said.
"Oh... Kikyo... I don't think...", I started but she broke in on me. "You'd never understand anyway... I mean, how many boyfriends have you even had?", she said and got up to get a nail file from my vanity. "Not many, Kikyo, but I know how to treat people or at least I try my best.", I said. She laughed. "You have to look out for yourself, Kagome... being with InuYasha has gotten me into a lot of doors I wouldn't have gotten into otherwise.", she stated and my heart fell. He had promised me he wouldn't let himself get hurt. I hoped he knew what he was doing.
"Why are you looking me like that? don't you see my side of it?", she frowned and sat down at the vanity bench as she filed across her nails. "I just... you two... you are good together... at least from what I saw... and I think you should just sit back and give it a chance... don't push him into something... you might be sorry.", I said. "You would say that... and I AM giving it a chance... we either pre-engage or it's over.", she said. I sighed... that was the problem with Kikyo... she only saw her side of it... what she wanted... and what if she hurt over this more than she realized. I had to try once more. "Kikyo... if InuYasha gave up his career for you to prove his love... would you still want him? I mean, if he was not InuYasha from Wild Silver anymore?", I asked. "I... well... sure... I mean... well I don't know, Kagome!", she bit out. "I don't like you confusing me!", she said. "Do you LOVE, InuYasha, Kikyo? really love him!?", I asked. "I love being with him... of course I do!", she said but never even realized that was not what I had asked her.
"Well... there's a party planned for this weekend... up at a farmhouse in the upper country. We'll just see what happens there, OK?", she said. I could only nod my head and hope she would come to her senses... losing InuYasha would've been major heartbreak in my book... but then... I wasn't Kikyo, was I?
--------------------
A/N: Review! Reviews make me happy! ^_^
Maggz