DISCLAIMER: ahhhhh... i already said it. im just gona repeat myself.

Chapter 3 : Now I Owe You Nothing

I still think about my relationship with Hojo these days. I often wonder to myself what would have happened if we were still going out. He never contradicted me when we were a couple, always letting me do whatever I wanted. I remember the day when we broke up; he didn't even say anything;merely nodding his head in defeat. Not one complaint or question passed his lips.

Back then, Kouga had an immense crush on me. He knew that Hojo and I were going out, but he still came after me. Driving me to the movie theatre whenever Sango and I needed a ride; picking us up after we went shopping… you name it. Kouga was one was one of the richest and handsomest guys back in college. Girls would jump for the chance to be with him. Because of his money and status, he acted pretty wild and bossy in school. But never around me. To me he was always respectful and loving. I mean, even if my heart was made of rocks, it would still have softened a little. I thought to myself before: if I didn't meet Hojo before him, then I definitely would have wanted to be with him. So I made up my mind: I'm going to tell him it's not going to work out between us. He called me and told me to meet him in the coffee shop. In there he told me that he's going to ask me for the last time if I could give him a chance. Looking into his hopeful face, a surge of pain washed over my heart. I shook my head and told him that we would never work out. I especially emphasized the word never. He nodded silently and looked down with the saddest look I've ever seen.

"Can I get a hug then, before I truly give up?" He asked quietly.

I was about to cry. Tears filled the brink of my eyes as I nodded at his request. So we hugged. But that one hug turned out to be one of the biggest mistakes of my life. As I leaned over to his shoulder, I saw Hojo standing behind him watching me. I felt like I was going to die right there.

Later on I called Hojo three times on his cell phone, but no one picked it up. I thought he was deliberately ignoring me so I went to his house and announced our break up. He excused himself to go to the bathroom. I leaned against the wall and heard the water running, toilet flushing, but also picked up his quiet sobbing. My heart was broken into pieces. I slid down the door frame and sobbed.

I went to another restaurant with my friends today. I admit, we're pigs who can't resist good food. But who can blame us? Food is always good appealing. I went with Sango this time. As we went in the door, I saw Kouga flirting with Ayame like always. What did I expect? Then I saw Kikyo sitting in a corner with Hojo. I went to the other side of the room and laid down on the sofa to take a short nap before the waiter came to seat us. I was exhausted! Abruptly I heard quiet foot steps approaching me.

"Kagome?" I opened my eyes reluctantly and looked up. Hojo gazed at me expectantly.

"Yeah?" I closed my eyes again, trying to block him out.

"Can you do me a favor?"

My eyes abruptly opened again. It wasn't often Hojo needed a favor. Usually it is I who needed his help, not the other way around. "Ok. State your request. As long as it's anything I can do, I'll do my best to help you." I thought to myself that I owed him too much. This could be a great opportunity to compensate.

"Well, you see. Kikyo has this book she wrote; and she really wants it to be published. Since you're a writer and you know many publishers…" I was annoyed. So it wasn't something for him after all. It was something for his dear girlfriend. I cut him off before he could babble on.

"Fine." I said curtly. Taking out my cell phone, I dialed Mr. Himasaki's phone number.

"Hello, Mr. Himasaki?"

"Oh hello! If it isn't the famous novelist, Kagome!" He smiled into the phone.

"Well, you see, I have this sister who wants to publish her book. You've gotta help me!! This is my blood-related sister! …"

After work, I went straight home. My body was strained with fatigue that i thought my bone was going to diassemble. I swear Inuyasha was trying to kill me with work. He often made me stay later than my work hours. But then who can complain? He was pretty generous on giving me such high wages for extra hours. I grinned to myself as I tried to count how much money I could save from all my extra working hours.

I moved again from my old condo. It was just too far from my recent working place. And plus, Inuyasha offered me a place in his apartment building. The place was pretty nice; don't even mention how close it is from my company!

Flash back

"Where are we going Inuyasha?" I asked curiously after he told me to hop onto his car.

"The place I'm going to introduce to you. Remember you told me you want to find a new place to settle down?"

"Oh."

So we drove about thirty minutes and finally stopped at a nice-looking apartment. I followed Inuyasha into the building through the glass door. We stopped in front of a counter. The woman working there didn't even give me a second glance when Inuyasha told her I needed an empty room. She chatted to Inuyasha for a while then gave us the key.

I looked at Inuyahsa, and saw him grinning evilly at me. "Your room is right next to mine!"

"Oh." I said tersely. What's the big deal here?

"Man, I really have to watch out. I mean, who knows what you can do to me with you living next to me and all."

What? I eyed him daggers. Who is the man between us?

End of flashback

When I got home from work, it was pretty late already. The phone suddenly rang. I picked it up with fatigue.

"Hello?"

"Hello Kagome. It's Himasaki here."

"Oh, hey. How's the novel coming along?"

"Kagome, did you even read the writing? I bet middle school students can write better than Kikyo!" He said as a matter of fact.

"You've got to help me Mr. Himasaki! This is my sister we're talking about!"

"You don't have to lie about it Kagome. I mean, you guys have different last names! Kagome Higurashi and Kikyo Karei? Pretty close sisters I have to say." He laughed.

Suddenly I felt helpless. What do I do? Hojo's going to kill me!

"But then," Mr Himasaki went on, "if you're really desperate, I guess I can help you! But on one condition: I get 50 percentof the profit!"

Oh man, Kikyo is not going to be a happy puppy when she hears this one. I guess I'll just have to chip in some of my own money. There goes my hard work.

I called Kikyo to tell her the situation, and decided I'll help her.

"Hello?" I could hear Kikyo's voice at the end of the phone.

"Hey Kikyo, this is Kagome! You see, about your novel…" I was cut off suddenly. She was unexpectedly upset.

"I knew it! What can I expect from you? I knew I couldn't count on you to do anything!" Then the phone was dead. She hung up on me. I was pretty pissed. Who does she think she is? Here I was about to offer her help and she just threw it all away like a piece of shit. I slammed my body down the mattress and squeezed my eyes shut. Teers were on the verge of pouring again. Argh, I'm suhc a cry baby these days. I restricted my teer from coming out. I would not let Kikyo have her satisfaction! NEVER!

For the second time, the phone rang again. This time it's Hojo.

"Kagome. You have to publish the novel for her. If you need money, just give me a number and I'll give you whatever amount you need." Kikyo was pretty fast. Not even two minutes yet and she already got herself a rescuer.

I was very upset by what Hojo said to me. I mean who does he think I am? All our six years of relationship of trust just disappears like a puff of smoke. Does he really think I'm that heartless and insensative?

I screamed into the phone, unable to control my feelings any longer. "GET YOUR ASS TO THE CAFÉ NEXT TO MY COMPANY IN FIVE MINUTES! IF YOU'RE LATE, I SWEAR I'LL FREAKIN KILL YOU!" There I said it, though more like screamed it.But hey, as Ilet all my angers out it made me feel refreshed and relieved.

I ran to the café with my drawing album. Inside is a drawing Hojo and I did when we were in high school; he has a copy and I have one. When I got there, Kikyo and Hojo were already sipping on your coffee waiting for me.

I stormed in and stopped in front of Hojo. Abruptly I raised my head and slapped him across his face. It may have appeared to be a hard slap, but only he and I knew that it didn't really hurt. I'm not ready to truly hurt him yet.

"You asshole! Who did you think I was? I cannot believe what…" then I was cut off by a hard slap from no other than Kikyo. I raised my hand to my face and felt it burning at my touch. Tears were on the verge of pouring down. She's the first person who ever slapped me! I refused to cry; especially in front of her. I was throbbing with pain. It felt like the whole café turned their eyes on me, watching.

I raised my hand to return her slap, but Hojo caught my hand in midair.

"That's enough, Kagome," he said gravely. Just as he held my hand, ::SLAP:: Kikyo gave me another one. That wasn't all. After she gave me the two slaps, she poured her coffee right on to my face. "Who do you think you are, talking to Hojo like that?" She shouted.

Instantly I felt all my power and anger flew out of the window. I slid down onto the floor and sobbed. The coffee dripped onto my album and left a huge stain. This is the last thing I had with Hojo, dammit! I used my sleeve and tried my best to clean the liquid, but it was useless. Suddenly I felt a pair of strong arms lifting me up. I looked at the rescuer, and saw Inuyasha looking back at me with concern.

"You okay, Kagome?" Then he looked at Hojo and Kikyo with burning rage. "I'm going to friggin rip your heart out, bitch!" He rolled up his sleeves and was about to punch Hojo until I stopped him.

"Lets just go Inuyasha." I sobbed quietly. He looked at me then nodded.

"If you ever do that to her again you asshole, you'll find yourself have a lot to pay for!" With that he headed out the door.

I followed him silently. Then turned my head and looked at Hojo. "I have repaid you Hojo. Now I owe you nothing."