Dont Leave

All standard disclaimers apply.

A Short Story by bittersweet-memory that wasoriginally planned as a one shot but had too much to put into just one chapter.

Summary: AU, OOC. Regrets are hardest to bear when one realizes they could have been avoided. Now all they have left are awkward silences and memories of what was and the enticing possibilities of what MIGHT have been.

Couple: Read and find out

italicized = thoughts (Kagome's and Inuyasha's)

Chapter 3

Kagome's eyes widened in shock as she saw her…er, husband for the first time in two years.
Speak up Kagome! You've never been quiet before. Now is not the time to change habit!


Maybe it was her "inner voice" which made her realize that her hand was still on Inuyasha's chest. In any case, she removed it quickly, and not without a hint of a blush.

"Come in Kagome. Have a seat." "Um, of course. I'm assuming you know why I'm here." She hated how her voice broke. How seeing him brought back all the memories.


"Of course. Your lawyer called me two bays earlier and informed me of your… intention to end our marriage."

"Well you needn't make it sound so sudden! You should have been expecting this after that night!" Kagome gasped and put a hand over her mouth.
Did she really just yell that?
By the way Inuyasha's eyes flashed, she guessed she had.
"I'm sorry. I had no right to bring that up. What's done is done and it can't be reversed."
"I know Kagome. I can't tell you how many times I wish it could've…"
Did I just hear that? Did he say what I think he did?

Inuyasha looked across at his wife from his position behind his daunting oak desk and watched as emotions played put on her expressive face.

First sadness, then a small smile, bitterness and a flash of dare he say…hope?

He was cut from any further musing by the sound of his wife's voice.

"Inuyasha?"

"Now it's my turn to apologize. I shouldn't have said that."

Was that regret he just saw? He didn't care. All he knew was, she definitely felt something for him besides hatred.

He could see it in her eyes and her face. He saw his chance, and damn if he didn't feel a touch of hope either.

Maybe I can get her back…


He started to speak, but was suddenly cut off by the knocking on his door.

"Come in."

A smartly dressed elderly man wearing "spectacles" (yes spectacles, they were too thick to be glasses) came in with a thick pile of papers.

"Mr. Taisho, I have the divorce papers here."

Kagome flinched when she heard the word "divorce". She couldn't help it. It just sounded so…final.

Inuyasha thanked the man and exchanged a few pleasantries, much to Kagome's bemused amusement.

He's certainly changed. It used to take a threat of bodily harm before he'd even say hello to my grandfather…

The man smiled at Kagome and left.

"I presume that was your lawyer?"

"Yes. Indeed it was."

He had a smile playing on his lips. Well, considering it was Inuyasha, maybe a half smile, half smirk.

"But let's hold off on signing them until I've said everything I need to say first, eh?"

Kagome worked hard to suppress a look of surprise, but nonetheless, put down her purse and waited expectantly for him to begin.

"I have a proposition."

"Really? Do tell. The last one is what led to us being here in the first place, remember?"

If anything his smirk (yes it no longer qualified as a smile) only got wider.

"Listen Kagome, I can tell you still love me—"

He was cut off (once again) by an unladylike snort from the woman sitting in front of him.

"You still have that pesky Narcissistic Personality Disorder, huh Inuyasha? You severely overestimate your appeal and if you think—"

He cut off whatever she was going to say by placing a long, tapered finger against her lips.

"Hush, Kagome. You said you would keep quiet."
She looked like she was going to say something else, but decided against it because of the firm pressure of his finger against her mouth.

"As I was saying before, I have a proposition. Can I take my finger back or are you going to keep talking?"

He lifted his finger after receiving a nod in the affirmative.

"I still love you Kagome."

He ignored the startled gasp and pushed on.

"And I know a part of you still wants me too. I can smell it."

He watched as a blush bloom on her cheeks and decided to (once again) ignore the muttered "…damned hanyou nose…"

"So here is my proposition: you give me one month. One month, to reverse everything that happened. If, after that time span, you still want to leave," he paused here and breathed in deeply "you can leave."

He closed his eyes and waited for her reaction. When he got no response he opened his eyes and found his wife gaping in open-mouthed shock.

"Close your mouth darling, it's most unbecoming."

That did it.

"You BASTARD! How dare you even assume that I would want to start over? I came home and found you in bed with my SISTER! I should just—"

Inuyasha stood up, walked around his desk and stood in front of a (shall we say) peeved Kagome.

And covered her delightfully lush lips with his own.

It felt so good to be kissed like this.

And all of a sudden, as soon as it started, it stopped.

"See…so there…"

Kagome was almost offended at being kissed, simply to prove a point but it faded when she looked over at Inuyasha and he looked as affected as she was.

"If anything else, we definitely still want each other," he said, with a roguish smile playing on his lips.

"That", referring to what they just shared, "doesn't make up a marriage Inuyasha. Trust does. Fidelity does. Love does."

"I can give you that. I can give you everything. I can prove that you're the only one I've ever wanted if you just give me this chance."

She looked at him, one fluffy puppy ear down, his golden eyes pleading, lips half curved in a gentle smile…

It almost made her say yes.

But then again, almost doesn't count.

"No. I can't do it Inuyasha. You have no idea how badly I want to, but I can't. I'm sorry." She tried to reach for the forgotten divorce papers but Inuyasha got there first neatly cutting them in half with one claw.

"Kagome, this isn't over. I'll get you to say yes if it's the last thing I do. I'll be everywhere. At your house, at your job even at those damned parties Sango and Miroku insist on throwing every two seconds. The only way you'll be able to get rid of me," at this point, his lips were back in that infernal and unfortunately, (at least to Kagome) dead-sexy smirk, "is agree to my demand."

Kagome's eyes widened with righteous indignation, then softened, before she turned her back on him and said in a whisper almost too low to be clear…

"I'll call your bluff Inuyasha. Prove that you mean what you say."

And walked out.

wow….long chapter…. enjoy!!

R&R

To AmericanStarryKnight89, it looks like it's gonna be a full-fledged story….teehee…