The Club
Christielea54
Chapter Ten
Silence descended over the two like a blanket, and neither wanted to be the first to break it.
Finally Kagome decided she wanted some answers. "You live up here?"
Inuyasha stared at her dumbly for a moment, then narrowed his eyes suspiciously, and if she didn't know better, even a little bit hurt. "You're going to go blab it to everyone now aren't you?"
She looked surprised. "Of course not! Not if you don't want me to!" She tilted her head to the side curiously. "Why's it a secret anyways?"
Inuyasha considered her for a long time. So long she thought he wasn't going to answer her. "Because Myoga, my 'legal guardian' is never around. It's not exactly legal. In fact, I haven't seen him in three years now…"
For one short moment, Kagome saw a look cross his features that was silently asking her for reassurance. With a start she realized that he didn't have anyone else in his life to go to for that. He was all on his own. She couldn't even begin to describe the feeling it gave her that he'd come to her for that. For starters it terrified her. But it also made her feel strangely warm. Really very warm. But another moment and the look was gone.
"Inuyasha…"
He walked over to the small refrigerator set up in the kitchen area and threw her a coke. "Almost ran away once when I was fifteen. Oh, don't look so surprised."
"Ran away?" she squeaked. "To where?"
"You know, I never really thought about that. I was running away with someone actually." His eyes clouded over. "She looked like you."
Silence. She had a feeling that this conversation was getting really serious very quickly.
"Kikyo. That's what you called me that first day: Kikyo."
"Yeah, Kikyo." He played around with the tab on his coca cola can for awhile. She'd realized a long time ago that with Inuyasha, you just had to have a lot of patience. "I loved her," he said without looking up. "I was only fifteen, and it was so stupid, but I did. Said she loved me back. She didn't," he confessed bitterly. "She would've taken anyone with her. Just didn't want to be alone."
Kagome sat down on a kitchen chair stiffly. What was she supposed to say? How was she supposed to act? Inuyasha wasn't the type to gush his soul out like this, and frankly she didn't know how to handle it. "I, I'm so sorry," she whispered.
His eyes darted over to her and he seemed to remember that she was there. Great. The last thing he needed was for her to think of him as some cry baby. Angrily he slammed his can down onto the table. "I don't need your damn pity Kagome!"
She stood up just as angrily. God! Inuyasha had more mood swings that ten women combined! "I don't pity you! I'm sympathizing with you!" she shot back.
"What the hell's the difference?!"
She passed a hand over her eyes. "Inuyasha! I don't pity you! God! Did it even occur to you that maybe I admire you for coming out of everything you went through still sane?! Your parents died! You had no one to raise you! The whole Kikyo ordeal! Yet you've managed to land yourself an amazing apartment and a guitar! I know that could do so much with your life if you tried, and I know that you know it too!" she shouted right back at him.
His eyes looked as if they were on fire. "What the hell do you know about me? You've known me for a month!" he snarled.
"And I've spent six days a week with you since! I know that you're stubborn! I know that you're strong! I know that you're a winner! I know that you've had a hard past! I know that you don't take no for an answer! I know that you stick up for yourself and the people you care about! I know that you're not afraid to say what you want to or to take what's yours! I've seen you with Shippo and the guy that came after him, I've seen you with those awful jocks, and I've seen you with the poor kids at the orphanage! I've heard you sing! I know that you don't want to stay in this stupid town! You want to know something mister? Neither do I! It's not all about you! But you've got the talent to be somebody once you leave here. I believe in you Inuyasha. Why can't you believe in yourself?"
She was having a hard time breathing properly after that. He wasn't going to be mad at her, was he?
Inuyasha was left, for once in his life, speechless. He opened his mouth to say something a few times, but shut it quickly after. How the hell did she have him figured out so fast? No one knew him that well. No one ever had. Not Sesshomaru, not Myoga, not Kikyo, not Miroku. No one. So how the hell did she?
When he didn't respond, she began to get panicky. "I'll… see you tomorrow," she whispered, and all but ran from the room.
Sango took a deep breath. Not the kind you take after you've fallen off a bike and winded yourself, but a real one. The kind that settles your soul. She had cried. So much, that she wasn't sure how long she'd been just crying. She hadn't been able to make the tears stop falling though, and so she'd given in to the grief for the first time. But now, now that all her tears were cried, she felt better. Cleaner. As if they'd been the rain to wash all the dirt off her soul. It still hurt, when she thought about them, but it wasn't so overwhelming anymore. She exhaled slowly, pushing herself further into the warmth of Miroku's chest.
Wait… With a start she realized that yes, she was gripping the front of Miroku's shirt as if for dear life, and yes, she had cried a wet spot all over the front of it. Slowly, she pulled away and looked up at him with wide eyes. His features were dark with what she assumed was concern as he watched her, but then as if determining that she was okay, he was all smiles again.
Miroku smiled. Thank God. She was okay. Well, maybe not totally, but he could tell just by looking at her that she was going to be now. Her eyes weren't so stormy anymore. True, they weren't as seductive either, but he'd rather have the happier eyes any day. Besides, they held a beauty all their own. "How are you feeling?"
"Sorry I got your shirt wet," she mumbled.
"It was a small price to pay."
She stood up quickly. It wasn't fair that he could make her feel this way! She looked at him seriously. "Thank you."
"Anytime!" How could he be so casual about this whole thing?! He started to walk towards the door.
"Wait!" she called. He stopped and looked back at her with one eyebrow raised. "You are coming this weekend to visit… that Shippo boy, right?"
"Wouldn't miss it for the world!" He winked at her, and then he was gone.
The next day Miroku stood behind the bar washing glasses, wondering what was up with Inuyasha. He just kept dropping what he was doing for a few moments to stare off into the distance. And he was being unusually grouchy. Okay, so maybe that wasn't so unusual, but still! What could possibly be wrong with him?
The bells over the door started ringing against each other. Miroku turned to see who it was, and saw Inuyasha visibly flinch as Kagome walked in.
Kagome walked inside looking extremely tense. So she's all upset too? Did something happen between them? Stiffly she walked over to the counter to put away her bag and put on her apron. "Hello Inuyasha, Miroku," she said pleasantly, but with none of her usual bounce.
"Hey," he replied just as tersely.
Miroku walked towards one of the coffee tables to pick up a stray magazine, and casually tossed over his shoulder, "Lover's spat?"
"Miroku!" both yelled.
Kagome tucked her hair behind one ear nervously. "Look Inuyasha, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said it and-"
Inuyasha had been all ready to yell at her some more. Even had a few choice insults worked out. But he just couldn't bring himself to say them. "It's okay," he said seriously, and a little gruffly, his golden eyes boring holes into her own.
A watery smile appeared on her face. "Really?"
She was just so open. Didn't she realize how rare a trait that was? He rolled his eyes. "Yeah."
She smiled warmly, and just like that, things were back to normal.
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Schools out, so I can update more frequently now!
I think I've got the ending figured out, but your reviews are still really helping me come up with ideas! Thanks! Keep it up!