Hello
Chapter Six

Kagome took a sip of her coffee hesitantly as she sat across the small café table from Kouga. The man took an equally as quiet sip from his drink as she, and they continued this for several moments.

Stiffly, Kagome pondered to herself how she got in this situation.

She'd woken up in the morning, perfectly happy and completely content with herself only to remember the inevitable meeting she'd have to have with Kouga after Moriko left for school. Sadly, she'd realized she hadn't made a meeting time with Kouga, and had had to call him. She hated doing that. Especially with Inuyasha right behind her, trying to act like he was busy preparing Moriko's breakfast and lunch.

But Kouga and she had decided to meet at the Starbucks near the grocery store that Kagome shopped at.

And now, here she sat; with Kouga across from her, staring at her. Did he expect her to be the first to speak? If she recalled correctly, it was Kouga who wanted to talk to her, not the other way around. She just had such mixed feelings about him.

She swallowed hard and finally rested her blue eyes on Kouga's dazzling azure gaze. "So…"

That seemed to break the ice because Kouga cleared his throat and blinked his eyes a few times. "Where to begin?"

Kagome pursed her lips, not entirely sure she wanted to partake in this conversation. But she owed it to Kouga to listen. And he owed her an explanation for his behavior months prior.

Kouga licked his lips and cleared his throat, his blue eyes staring at his coffee cup as if it held the secrets to all his problems. "I suppose… I should start at the beginning?"

"That would be wise," Kagome agreed and emptied the last of the coffee in her mug.

"Okay…" Kouga said slowly and took in a deep breath of air. "It all started a little bit after new years…"

"Keep up the good work, Kouga!" called the director as he packed away some things into his briefcase. Kouga looked up from where he'd been taking a large drink of water from a bottle and joking with his best friend, Ayame.

"Thanks!" he called back and grinned one of his dazzling smiles. Ayame punched him in the shoulder and he looked at her in surprise.

"You didn't answer my question!" Ayame protested, her green eyes twinkling happily. Ayame had pursued an acting career just like he had. They'd been friends forever and were inseparable. Plus, if it weren't for Ayame, he would never have met Kagome; which was a prize in itself.

"Sorry, what was your question again?" Kouga smiled apologetically, having been distracted by the director and his one of many compliments. Kouga Wolfe was the best actor in the man's opinion, the apple of his eye. Kouga was the reason the television program he partook in stayed on air, in his opinion. True, Kouga certainly wasn't the star, and barely had any face time, but he helped with other actors, and had Kouga had a little more years experience when he joined, he would have had the lead part of the program.

"I said," Ayame said with a small narrow of her eyes. Flipping her red hair over her shoulders she crossed her arms, "Are you doing anything with Kagome and Moriko tonight?"

Kouga pursed his lips and shook his head, "No, I don't think so. Kagome's busy at work and Moriko will probably be at a friend's house, or something." He smiled fondly at the mention of his family. True, Kagome and he had their issues now and again… mostly involving Kagome's lack of wedding ring. The girl had been nagging him lately to tie the knot, but Kouga was apprehensive. He just didn't want to be that committed, but when he explained that to Kagome, she'd get agitated and go into the whole 'we have a child' thing. Her trump card.

Ayame grinned and grabbed his hand. "Good, then you can come with me while I meet this friend."

"Friend? What kind of friend?" Kouga asked with a raised eyebrow. "Male friend? Girl friend? Gay friend?"

"No," Ayame scowled and playfully slapped his cheek. "Don't be an idiot. I'm talking about a 'friend'."

"Uh…" Kouga seemed to have missed the hint Ayame was bluntly giving him.

"And when I say friend," Ayame said with a deeper frown at her best friend's stupidity, "I mean a friend who will get us out of this mediocre career and onto bigger and better things!"

"…Meaning…?"

"Holy shit, Kouga, you're dense tonight," Ayame said with a scowl. With a great flourish of her hands she exclaimed, "Hollywood! Movies! Million dollar contracts!"

Kouga was pretty sure that his jaw had dropped. "What?" he squeaked out, nearly passing out from it all.

Ayame grinned, having gotten the reaction she had hoped. "If we play our cards right, Kouga, we could be looking at a three year contract for a trilogy…"

Kouga grinned widely. Things were looking up.

Kagome glared at him. "So you chose your career over me?"

"No," Kouga said quickly, looking distressed. "Oh Kagome, I know what I did was so horrible… but… let me explain."

"I'm listening," Kagome said softly, her blue eyes glaring at the table and she frowned.

"Well, you see, over the course of a few weeks, Ayame and I started meeting this man," Kouga said softly. "At the time, I wasn't aware that once I got the job I'd have to go all the way to Italy. But that's the way the cookie crumbles, I suppose.

"At any rate," Kouga said with another clearing of his throat, "When he requested the job, Ayame and I took it without hesitation. I mean, a million dollar plus contract, Kagome. That's a big deal. I could have had us living on easy street even if the movie was a flop. So, I didn't even think about it when I signed the contract with him."

Kagome frowned.

"He told us that we'd go to Italy in spring," Kouga said slowly, his eyes saddening. "I must have not seen it in the contract when I signed it, because I was shocked and crushed that I'd have to go to Europe. Away from you and Moriko."

Before Kagome could stop him, Kouga's hands darted forward and grasped Kagome's, pulling them towards him. "Oh, Kagome, my darling. Words cannot describe how very, terribly sorry I am. I love you so much, and I couldn't bare the thought of leaving you!

"It was the hardest thing I've ever had to do," Kouga said softly, lowering his gaze to their (reluctantly on Kagome's part) intertwined hands. "I knew that I couldn't tell you just yet. You'd be crushed. You'd be angry. You'd hate me…"

Kagome didn't say anything, just pulled her hands away from him, crossing her arms over her chest and looking at him expectantly.

"So… when the time came near… I did the cruelest thing I've ever done. I signed a note to you." Kouga seemed genuinely ashamed for this action and he let out a sigh. "I knew if I told you to your face, I'd lose my nerve and not be able to go. And then I'd be sued for not fulfilling the contract I'd agreed to. So I wrote you a letter, Kagome, because I knew that would be the easiest for me…"

"But what about me, Kouga?" Kagome protested, finally speaking. She glared at him. "What about Moriko? How could you just leave us without any preamble? Without even a proper goodbye? How was I supposed to explain to our daughter that her father had abandoned her for a movie? How the hell was I supposed to explain it when I didn't understand myself?"

"Kagome…"

"And you sold our apartment! You rented it out and expected Moriko and I to just get up and leave?" Kagome snapped.

"I had no idea that you would still be there," Kouga said with a frown. "We were planning on going to California, weren't we?"

Kagome glared even harder. "So, in the midst of my betrayal and abandonment of the man I've spent countless years with, I was supposed to get up and leave with Moriko tucked under my arm and trot off to California? Are you insane? After something like that, I was so devastated that even if I wanted to leave to California, I wouldn't have had the strength to get out of my damn bed!"

"Kagome… I know you're upset—"

"Hell yeah I'm upset," Kagome snapped, cutting of Kouga's apology. "You left us! And sold our apartment to some guy you knew in college… or wherever the hell you know Inuyasha from!"

"Kagome…"

"I was so devastated. And then this stranger I've never even heard of comes to my house, demanding it's his and calling me on a payphone so that I'd get some damned guilt trip and let him spend the night! And then I discover the apartment is his and that as long as I cook him food and do his laundry he'd let Moriko and I stay!"

Kagome seethed. "The smart thing to do would have been for Moriko and I to find our own place. But I held onto the belief that maybe you'd come back. And if I wasn't there, I wouldn't know. But soon…"

Kagome quieted and a shadow of smile graced her lips. "Soon… I felt that maybe I was over you… that maybe I could move on. Inuyasha helped me… he distracted me from my loneliness. If he hadn't been there, I'd still be depressed.

"Inuyasha was there for me," Kagome said darkly, "Where were you?"

"Kagome…" Kouga said and scratched his ear hesitantly. "I love you. I love you so much, and I know that I don't deserve your forgiveness or your love. But I have and always will love you." He cast dazzlingly sad eyes towards her and Kagome felt herself squirm.

"I did it for you," Kouga said, crushed. "I took the job so that we could have money. So that I could afford to support you and Moriko. So that Moriko could grow up never worrying about the cost of college or life after college. I did it so you and I could grow old together and never worry about health care costs or retirement. But I knew that if I had to do a long, drawn out goodbye I would never find the strength to leave you.

"I wanted you to go to California," Kouga said softly, "So that when I did come back, we'd have a real home together. Not some small apartment in New York. I didn't want our daughter growing up in this city."

Kagome lowered her eyes.

"I… I missed you so much when I was in Italy," Kouga said softly. "I counted the days until the movie was finished shooting. In a few months we'll begin recording the second movie… but… I made it my personal mission to find you. To try and explain it to you. That's why I came back, Kagome. I love you too much to be away from you. I hadn't realized how much you meant to me until I lost you."

"Kouga…"

"I know that while I was gone you tried to move on and have a relationship with Inuyasha," Kouga said with a frown. "I know that. And though I don't like it, especially considering it's Inuyasha, but… it's your decision."

Kouga fidgeted under her intense gaze and swallowed a lump that was forming in his throat. Kagome watched him. He seemed to be really sorry, and he seemed so genuine. But should she listen?

"Kagome…" his voice was so soft, so gentle. Kagome found herself staring at him nervously. He was so… she couldn't describe it. She didn't want to.

'Inuyasha…'

The thought struck her so quickly. What was she doing here? Inuyasha was at home, worried out of his mind probably.

"Kagome…" Kouga repeated, his blue eyes staring at her. "I… love you, so much."

Kagome felt her heart clench again. After all those months she believed that he favored his job over her, he'd simply been looking out for her best interest? All those months she spent trying to get over him, trying to explain to Moriko that her dad wasn't coming back.

But… she couldn't bring herself to return the proclamation.

Kouga, realizing that Kagome wasn't going to say anything, cleared his throat and looked at her sadly. "Kagome… what is it that you want?"

"Huh?" Kagome asked, alarmed by the question.

"When I came back… you denied that you were with Inuyasha. You acted like you wanted me to be here. Now… you're distant."

"Kouga, how can I not be distant? This is all so overwhelming! I just… I just don't know what I'm feeling right now."

"Kagome…"

"Kouga… please…" Kagome said lightly, averting her gaze.

"Kagome." His voice took on a more demanding tone as he sat up straighter in his seat. "I can support you so much better than Inuyasha. I'm the father of Moriko. It's important that I have an influence in Moriko's life. No child should be away from their father. I can be a better husband. I'll never leave you again; I'll never treat you horribly. I'll be the greatest man I can be."

Kagome stared at him, speechless. The force of his words hit her full force and left her tensed as Kouga stood, said a quick goodbye and was out the door.

The door cracked open and Inuyasha's head instantly snapped up. Like a puppy that'd been separated from his master for too long, Inuyasha darted out of the kitchen. His eyes widened happily when he saw Kagome and he jumped forward, grasping her tightly and pulling her into a hug.

Kagome let out a small gasp of surprise and blinked her bright blue eyes in confusion. "Um… hello, Inuyasha."

"I'm so glad you're back," he gushed out before her could control himself. Kagome squirmed a little in his grip but he simply held her tighter, burying his head into the hollow of her neck, where the shoulder met the neck. He nuzzled her gently and Kagome let out a small giggle. "I didn't think you were coming back."

Kagome's eyes widened as she forced herself to pull away from Inuyasha so that she could look him in the eyes. "Why wouldn't I come back?"

Inuyasha rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly, an awkward smile on his face. "It's stupid… I just… you know, thought you'd stay with Kouga."

Kagome's eyes softened as she reached out a hand and tenderly touched his cheek. Her pink lips quirked into a small smile and she shook her head. "No, never."

His lilac gaze softened as his hand came up and grasped hers. Lightly he pulled the hand to his lips and placed a tender kiss on her knuckles. "L'amour, je t'aime."

Despite the fact she had no clue what he was saying, but having a faint clue that it was a compliment, Kagome's cheeks turned a light pink.

"Inuyasha…" she whispered with a small smile.

"L'amour," he repeated, but didn't stop there. "Koishii, mon cher, mi amor, Meine Liebe, il mio amore."

"Inuyasha…" Kagome giggled lightly. "Stop being so damn romantic."

Grinning and appreciating her recognition of his attempts to woo her, he continued anyway. "Mijn liefde," he murmured, confusing Kagome. How did this man know so many languages? And how come, no matter what language he happened to speak, he still managed to be so damn sexy?

"Cut it out." Kagome blushed brightly as he wrapped his arms tightly around her. "I have no way to respond to all this."

"You don't have to," he murmured with a small smile as he brushed his lips over her cheek. Pulling away he moved his hands in elaborate movements that Kagome recognized as American Sign Language. She also realized that he'd just said 'I love to dance' in ASL, which was hardly romantic, but rather adorable to watch him do it.

Kagome returned the gesture with her own, 'I like cheese' she said in ASL.

Inuyasha seemed surprised. "You know ASL?"

"I took it in high school," Kagome said with a smile. "I only remember a little bit. How do you know so much?"

"I have a talent," Inuyasha boosted proudly.

Despite the tender moments they seemed to be sharing a lot lately, Kagome couldn't help feeling guilty over what Kouga had said. He had a point. But then again, Inuyasha had his equal share of valuable points. Who was she supposed to go with? What was best for her and her daughter? The immediate answer she wanted to say was Inuyasha, but…

She hated being so indecisive.

Standing on the tip of her toes, she brushed her lips over Inuyasha's before quickly pulling away, slipping off her jacket and her shoes.

"I'm going to take a bath," Kagome said with a small smile as she began walking away. Inuyasha raised an eyebrow and crossed his arms, giving her a withered glare. "What?"

"That's it? Jeez, I feel so snuffed," Inuyasha said with an over dramatized sigh.

Kagome rolled her eyes and slapped his butt as she walked past. "I think you can find it in your heart to forgive me."

Inuyasha yelped in surprise, turning shocked lavender eyes towards her. With a giant grin and a playful wink, Kagome retreated to her bathroom. Inuyasha's childish behavior had started to wear off on her. With a small giggle, she started her bubble bath and enjoyed the last few hours before Moriko would return from school.

At three forty five, the ten minutes before Moriko was to return home from school, Inuyasha knocked on the bathroom. "Kagome?" he called through the wooden structure. "Do you want me to get Moriko?" he asked, leaning against the door jam with a gentle smile.

"Yeah, that'd be great. Thank you so much, Inuyasha," Kagome called as she toweled her hair. Stepping outside on a cold November day was not a wise thing to do when you have wet hair.

"All right," Inuyasha called, a smirk playing on his lips as he stepped away from the door. "Au revoir, mon petit chien!"

Kagome rolled her eyes and slipped into her bathrobe.

She retreated to her room and quickly got dressed. Eyeing the unmade bed that had lost many blankets after Inuyasha's little escapade the night prior where he'd jumped into her bed screaming, Kagome let out a frustrated sigh and started to make the bed as best she could. "That man is going to be the death of me…" she muttered. Content for the time being, she moved to Moriko's room and quickly straightened out her daughter's bed. 'Inuyasha and Moriko should be home at any time now.'

After everything was as tidied up as Kagome was willing to make it, she began to prepare her daughter a snack. There came a knocking at her door and Kagome blinked her eyes.

"Inuyasha, why are you knocking?" Kagome muttered to herself as she shook her head. Then the thought struck her that perhaps it wasn't Inuyasha. Last time she thought it was it had turned out to be Kouga.

Kagome let out a sigh. She didn't want Kouga to be here right now. She had to talk to her landlord about investing in a number code at the entrance of the building. Shaking her head she marched towards the door.

'Either Inuyasha being a dumb ass or Kouga… being… a dumb ass, too?' Kagome frowned. 'Whatever.'

Grasping the handle of the door, Kagome opened it, proving that her coaching on not being surprised was all a fruitless attempt.

The woman who stood before her towered over her, two bundles of red hair pulled into twin pig tails. Emerald green eyes shining energetically stared down at the smaller of the two women.

"Ayame?" Kagome gasped out.

"Kagome!" The girl smiled brightly. "Its great to see you."

Kagome stared in shock at the girl before her. It had been so long.

Suddenly the two girls were squealing and grasping each other in an attempt to hug each other. "Oh my god!" they both exclaimed happily, squealing and giggling like high school girls who'd just gotten back home from a night of shopping.

It was magical…

Author's notes: What a lame place to leave off, huh? Especially since I'm going to Mexico on Thursday. So, updates shall be slowed to the max. Sorry everyone, I'll be gone for ten days getting a tan. So, if any of you happen to be in Cancun during Christmas and see a pale, tall girl with glasses, maybe it's me! Stalk me! I dare you!

Beta's notes: And if you see a short, also pale girl with long brown hair, stalking the previous girl, don't say anything at all. She's being stealthy.