Hello
Chapter Seven
"Ayame, I can't believe you're here!" Kagome gushed with a bright smile as she poured Ayame a cup of tea. "I haven't seen you in forever!"
"I'm sorry about that, Kagome; I know I should have made a bigger effort to hang out with you!" Ayame said with a bright smile as she gratefully accepted the tea Kagome offered her. She took a long sip and let out a satisfied sigh when she set the teacup down.
Kagome smiled and poured herself her own glass of tea. Noticing Ayame's empty cup, she quickly filled the red head's cup again. "So, what brings you here, Ayame?"
"Well, at first I was outside the city, visiting my family and all. They live in New Jersey," Ayame explained. Of course, Kagome knew this because of her long-term friendship with the green-eyed girl.
"Then I came because…" Ayame trailed off, staring at her mug of tea as if it were the most interesting thing in the world. A small frown danced across her pink lips and she let out a small sigh. "I heard about Kouga coming to see you."
"How'd you hear about that?"
"Inuyasha told me," Ayame said offhandedly with a shrug and took a sip of her drink. Noticing Kagome's shocked expression she smiled faintly. "Yes, I do know Inuyasha. He and I go way back." She waved her hand as if to demonstrate how far back they truly went. "He and I went out for a couple of months, too," Ayame confessed, ignoring Kagome's mouth falling open in shock. She laughed softly. "But it didn't work out. Not enough chemistry… plus I…"
"You what?"
Ayame blushed. "I was in love with Kouga."
Kagome stared at her friend in shock. First she'd been surprised to see her best friend from her college years and now she discovered that not only did Ayame know Inuyasha, she dated him. Plus, she loved Kouga.
"Why didn't you ever tell me this?" Kagome asked with wide, disbelieving eyes.
Ayame shrugged. "It never… really came up. Plus, I didn't want you to feel uncomfortable being with Kouga and knowing I had a thing for him." She fiddled with the handle of her coffee mug, her red bangs shadowing her green eyes.
"Do you… still love Kouga?"
Ayame nodded slowly and whipped her head up. "Believe me, Kagome. I thought that Kouga had told you about Italy! I… I didn't mean to take him away from you."
Kagome stared openly. She hadn't really been thinking about that… but now that Ayame mentioned it.
Kagome lowered her eyes. "That's right; you went to Italy with him, too."
"Yeah… please, believe me, Kagome. I thought he'd told you about it. I didn't know he was going without telling you," Ayame pleaded. "I would never betray you like that. I know you were with Kouga. I would never try to steal him away from you."
"I know, Ayame," Kagome said with a small smile. "I know you'd never do that. You're not like that at all."
"Kagome…" Ayame looked away. "I don't know the nicest way of putting this… but…" Ayame bit her lip. "Kouga's… not to be trusted."
"What do you mean?" Kagome asked.
"Kouga lied to both of us… he lies to everyone. He's poison," Ayame said. "I don't know if you can believe me. After all, I just told you that I love him. I mean, how can I say I love a guy and then say that he's a lying bastard? But please, Kagome. Kouga's deceitful… Be careful when you're around him. He's not worth it, trust me."
"Ayame…"
"He only really cares about his career and money," Ayame pleaded, staring at Kagome. Her eyes remained wide and unblinking. "Kagome… I've known Kouga for years and I've known Inuyasha for years—"
"Did Inuyasha tell you to say this?" Kagome asked suspiciously and Ayame shook her head.
"No, never. You and my family are the only ones that know I'm in New York City," Ayame said. Kagome knew that she wouldn't lie to her. "But I know both of them. I also know that Inuyasha cares so deeply for you."
"How would you know?"
"From what I've heard over the past few weeks from Kouga and when I spoke briefly with Inuyasha over the phone a few days ago," Ayame said earnestly.
Denver, Colorado: eight years ago…
A door slammed in the background as a long-haired, violet eyed man leaned against the couch in his apartment living room, staring at the news report.
Taking a sip of his bottled water, his amethyst eyes rolled to the doorway as another long-haired man entered the room. Throwing off his shoes he slouched into the armchair near the couch.
"Hey," the first man said, his lavender gaze flickering to the second male's before returning to the television screen.
"Hey, Inu," replied the second man.
"Did you get the job?" Inuyasha asked as he finished the rest of his water and threw it onto the coffee table.
"No," Kouga said with a shrug. Fingering his long pony tail, he flipped it over his shoulder with a small huff. "I can't. Stupid girlfriend called before I got there. She keeps yapping about how I'm never around and all that."
"Hm." Inuyasha apparently wasn't interested in this latest of 'girlfriend rants' and continued watching the other, more relevant, news.
"I know she understands the fact that acting is important to me and that I haven't graduated yet, but really, I wish she'd stop nagging me about coming out to see her more. Airline tickets are not cheap, you know."
"I know."
"But seriously, she keeps talking about me moving out there and moving in with her after I get my degree." Kouga snorted and slammed his feet onto the coffee table, causing various magazines and newspapers to fall to the floor, knocking over empty bottles of water and beer.
"Stop complaining."
"Glad to see your support in this, man."
"Keh." Inuyasha smirked and stuck his nose in the air. "Like I care about you and your girl problems. I don't even know this girlfriend of yours. When am I going to meet her?"
"Hopefully never; you'd probably woo her into oblivion and steal her away from me," Kouga said with a smirk.
Inuyasha rolled his eyes. "Nah, she sounds like a nagger. Next thing you know she'll be bugging you about getting married and then having a kid."
"The kid thing will probably have to wait," Kouga said with a bitter laugh. "The girl's still a damned virgin for crying out loud. She's got this whole 'wait until we're married' ordeal going on. But I know I'm wearing thin on her," Kouga said with a small shrug.
"Keh… stupid females."
"What are you, gay?"
"Hardly."
"Then explain the long hair and the women's shaving cream."
Inuyasha was silent for a long moment, a frown on his face. "Three things. Number one, you have long hair, too, and it's longer than mine. So shut up about that. Number two, women's shaving cream smells so much nicer and it softens my skin—"
Kouga snorted.
Inuyasha gave him a withered glare. "And number three… shut the hell up."
"Spoken like a true poet," Kouga said with a snicker.
"I'm no poet, asshole."
"Apparently; your vocabulary is horrible," Kouga said with a smirk.
"Like I care about that. I'm an actor: I read other's materials. I don't write my own."
"Whatever." Kouga was about to say more when the apartment's phone rang. Kouga let out a sigh and stalked towards it. "I'll bet you fifty bucks that it's either Ayame or my nagger of a girlfriend."
"No thanks, I know I'll lose that bet." Inuyasha laughed and clicked off the television, knowing that all the interesting parts were finished.
"Hello?" Kouga asked after picking up the phone. "Oh, hey, Kags honey, how are you?"
Inuyasha rolled his eyes and left the room. He didn't know who this 'Kags' was, since he'd never met the girl. Silently he added that he hoped he never did if she was as much of a nagger as Kouga said she was…
"Hello, hello!" Inuyasha called out as he entered the apartment with Moriko gripping his hand tightly.
"Hello, hello!" Moriko chirped, mimicking Inuyasha. Inuyasha laughed and knelt down, helping the little girl out of her coat and scarf.
"Inuyasha!" Called a very feminine voice that wasn't Kagome's. Blinking his eyes, he stood up in time to see a red head dart from the kitchen and rush towards him, her arms opened wide. "Inuyasha!" She said again and tackled him into the door, pulling him into a fierce hug.
Inuyasha felt his air leave his lungs and stood leaning against the door stupidly. "Ayame…?" He gasped out as he wheezed for air. Pushing the girl away he held her shoulders at arms length, as if trying to determine whether it truly was Ayame or not. "Hey!" he said happily when he discovered that it was indeed his friend and pulled her into a huge hug similar to the one she'd given him. "I haven't seen you in forever. How are you?"
"It's great to see you," Ayame said happily and pulled herself out of her arms. She smiled brightly at Inuyasha. Despite their failure in being a couple, they still managed to be very good friends. Inuyasha considered Ayame his best girl friend, but would never consider her as a girlfriend ever again.
"Is Kagome here?" Inuyasha asked, slightly confused at the girl's enthusiastic greeting and lack of Kagome. Moriko trotted down the hallway, but not in time to escape Ayame's clutches.
"Oh, Moriko! I haven't seen you since you were a little toddler! Look at you, all grown up and so adorable," Ayame said with a bright smile as she gave Moriko a kiss on the cheek.
"Auntie Ayame!" Moriko said happily and wrapped her stubby arms around Ayame's neck, squeezing her tight.
Kagome came out shortly afterwards, a new coffee cup in her hands. A gentle smile on her face and her blue eyes shining brightly, Kagome handed the pink mug to Inuyasha. He observed the porcelain cup with a critical eye before giving her a mock toast and taking a sip.
"Ah pink, my favorite color," Inuyasha joked. "So, Ayame," Inuyasha said after a long moment of drinking tea, he eyed the red head. "What brings you to the great ol' apple?"
Ayame grinned. "Just checking up on all my old friends. You, Kagome, sweet little Moriko." Moriko laughed when Ayame winked at the little girl.
"Well, now that that's all settled." Kagome smiled brightly. "Ayame, would you like to stay for dinner?"
Moriko grinned widely and nodded her head vigorously, hoping up and down. "Say yes, say yes!"
Ayame cracked a grin. "Of course!"
A few days after the arrival of Ayame were not as cheerful as the dinner with the said red head was. Instead of a delightful snowfall they'd just begun to experience, New York City was hit by a warm front followed shortly by a steady rainfall that washed away any of the white powder. In addition to the city's bleak weather, Kagome received a call from Kouga requesting another meeting. They planned to meet at Central Park. Hesitantly agreeing, Kagome and Kouga planned to meet on Thursday, while Moriko was at school.
"I'll be back later, Inuyasha," Kagome said cheerfully as she poked her head into the living room, where Inuyasha was resting on the couch, watching a sports event of some kind. Waving his hand lightly, he turned his head to smile at her.
"Be safe," he said brightly and turned his head back towards the television.
Kagome nodded and closed the door behind her. Walking down the staircase, trying to step on the squeaky staircase without making it squeal, Kagome let out a small sigh. She didn't exactly lie to Inuyasha, she just hadn't stated the complete truth.
Central Park was a bit of a walk, but Kagome didn't bother getting a cab. Setting out down the crowded streets, Kagome shoved her way past window shoppers and dawdlers, wishing that she wasn't meeting Kouga but at the same time hoping that she could sort things out with him.
Ayame's warning rang in her head, but she quickly shoved it to the back of her mind. Somehow, thinking about Kouga's priorities in life only made her feel worse. Snorting, she continued walking, shouldering her purse and shifting her umbrella in her hand.
As she neared Central Park the rain began to fade and Kagome happily closed her umbrella. Tucking the blue umbrella under her arm, she walked to a bench and sat down, waiting for Kouga to arrive.
About five minutes later Kouga appeared at one of the park's many entrances, spotted her and made his way towards her, a grin on his lips. "Kagome, hello."
"Hi, Kouga," Kagome greeted and stood up, tucking some hair behind her ear. "Well, I'm here. What do you want to say to me?"
She knew she was being rude, but she wanted to be home before Moriko came home.
Kouga didn't seem to notice her dislike to the current situation because he simply began walking. Letting out a sigh, Kagome caught up to him and began walking in place with him. Kouga took a deep breath of air. "You know, it always smells very nice after a good rain," Kouga commented.
"Hm," Kagome replied absently, staring at the ground. Stuffing her hands into her coat's pockets, she walked beside Kouga.
"Kagome…" Kouga shook his head and cut off whatever he was going to say. They walked around a grassy field, staring out at the other couples walking together.
When they crossed over a bridge, Kouga stopped. Looking around to make sure that no one else was around, the tall man turned to Kagome and smiled charmingly at her. "Kagome," he began again.
"Yes?" Kagome asked, trying to be polite. She glanced at the sky again, noting the way that the clouds threatened to spill their rain again.
"I know that I've screwed up big time and have probably betrayed your trust to the point where I may never get it back again. But back in the coffee shop… I meant what I said. I can never tell you how sorry I am because the English language has its limit in ways of expressing regret. But… Kagome… I love you. I love you so much."
"Kouga…"
"I know it may take a long time to regain your trust, but I want to have a second chance. I screwed up once, but I will not screw up again." He turned pleading eyes towards her, stuffing his hands into his pockets and staring down at her. "I am Moriko's father, the father of your child. It's important that I have a role in her life. Moriko needs to know her father. I need to know my daughter."
Kagome was silent.
"Kagome… I want to make it up to you. I want to prove to you that I can be a good father and a good husband." Kagome's breath caught in her throat, a feeling of foreboding turmoil looming over her like a dark shadow. "Kagome," he pulled something out of his pocket and confirmed Kagome's fears.
Getting down onto one knee, Kouga looked up at her and smiled softly. Reaching out a hand he grabbed one of her hands. "Kagome, will you marry me?"
Inuyasha looked up when the door cracked open. Clicking off the television the long-haired man stood up and casually walked around the corner, spotting Kagome slowly taking off her shoes and other various outerwear.
"Errands run?" Inuyasha asked casually, leaning against the wall. Kagome jumped and looked at him wildly. He blinked his eyes in confusion when she quickly stuffed her hands into her pockets, fiddling with something underneath the blue jeans. "Is everything okay, Kagome?" Inuyasha asked, concerned.
Kagome nodded her head. "I'm fine," she squeaked out, her voice sounding a pitch higher than normal. Inuyasha looked at her again, his lavender eyes flashing with concern.
"Are you sure?" he reached out a hand to grasp her shoulder but she backed up. His eyes narrowed. "Kagome… did something happen while you were out?"
"Um…"
"Did someone hurt you?" Inuyasha asked in shock as he darted forward and grabbed her forearms. He looked her over. "Did you get mugged? Beaten up? Pushed into the road and nearly run over by a short, deranged Santa in a Hummer?"
Kagome stared at him then realized he was joking. Letting a small giggle escape her lips and shook her head. "No, I was not mauled by a bloodthirsty Santa Claus."
Inuyasha cracked a smile and steered her away from the small hallway and into the living room. "So, tell me, Kagome." He tried to get her to take her hands out of her pockets, but she wouldn't budge. "What's wrong?"
"Nothing," she said quickly.
"Liar."
Kagome sighed and shuffled her feet. "Promise not to get mad?" she squeaked out, staring at her feet like a teenager about to face her father. Inuyasha frowned and crossed his arms.
"Depends on what you're going to tell me. I'm not making any promises," he said and stared at her earnestly. "You can tell me, Kagome," he said when the girl continued to hesitate.
"I went to see Kouga today," she said quickly, slurring her words together and making the one sentence sound like one word.
"What?" Inuyasha asked, partly because he couldn't believe it and partly because he could barely understand what she'd just said.
"I… we met in Central Park," Kagome said, a little slower this time. She flopped down onto the couch and tucked her hands underneath her legs. "He said he had something important we needed to talk about."
Inuyasha joined her on the couch and didn't say a word. A deep frown played on his face and he stared at the shag rug that covered the majority of the living room.
"And…" Kagome looked away and slowly pulled her hands out from under her legs. On her ring finger on one of her hands flashed a platinum ring with a small diamond in the middle. Inuyasha felt as if his heart had been ripped from his chest. Like he'd been shattered into a million pieces. He stared at her hand, complete with a large, expensive engagement ring like it was the first time he'd ever seen a precious stone. He felt his mouth go dry and his stomach flop.
"You said yes?" he whispered out, barely trusting his voice to get any louder. Kagome meekly nodded her head. "Why?"
She retracted her hand and still didn't meet his eyes. "Inuyasha… he's the father of my child. He was with me for years. He deserves a second chance, doesn't he?"
Inuyasha squeezed his eyes shut and silently counted to ten in his head before continuing. "But, why?"
She finally turned to look at him, tears in her eyes. "How would you feel if the father of your child walked through the door and wanted to be in your life again?"
Inuyasha cracked a small smile. "I would be disturbed if the father of my child came out of nowhere."
Kagome stood up, her frustration evident in her face and her voice. "Can you ever be serious?" she exclaimed with a large groan.
She made to walk from the room and lock herself in her room but Inuyasha stood up and grabbed her hand. "I can be serious!"
"Prove it!" She glared at him.
Inuyasha sighed, realizing that he couldn't make this situation any easier for both of them. Easing his grip on her wrist, he let out another sigh. "Kagome… you can't do this."
"I have to," she said weakly. "It's for the good of Moriko."
Inuyasha felt her pull away from his grasp and begin walking towards her room, obviously wanting the conversation to end. Inuyasha frowned and walked after her. Slamming against the door when she made a move to slam it in his face, he forced her back and walked into her room.
Before she could protest, he'd grabbed her wrists and pushed her against the wall, his larger and much more powerful body keeping her in place. He glared at her darkly, feeling that his anger was the only way he could conceal the hurt that overwhelmed him.
He took a deep breath and waited until Kagome met his eyes. "Kagome," he growled out when she stared at her feet. "Look me in the god damn eyes and tell me you don't love me!"
The request came as a shock to Kagome and she snapped her head up, staring at him in surprise. Her eyes widened as two twin tears fell down each cheek. Sad blue eyes met with raging violet orbs. Neither of them spoke before Kagome turned her head away again.
"I-I have an obligation," she finally said, more tears slipping from her eyes. Inuyasha continued to stare.
"A what?" he snapped out. "Just because he's Moriko's father?"
"Yes…"
"That's bullshit! I'm a fucking better father than Kouga will ever be! I love Moriko! She's the greatest little girl I've ever met," Inuyasha protested, squeezing his eyes shut. "When I look at her, I see her as my own daughter! I taught her how to swim, Kagome, how to ride a bike, I've been helping her with school! What the hell has Kouga done for her lately?"
"Inuyasha…"
Inuyasha was silent for a long time. He didn't release his hold on her, just stood in front of her, breathing hard and with his eyes squeezed shut tightly.
After a long moment, he finally spoke. "Kagome… when I came back from California, I told you that I didn't know you long enough to love you. But now I have known you…"
"Please, no," Kagome begged. This was already hard enough. He was only making it worse.
"I've known you for a while now, Kagome and I love you. I love you so much. I've loved you for months now, I've just been too hesitant to tell you. But I do. I love you," he repeated, staring at her pleadingly. For a brief moment Kagome thought that maybe he'd propose to her, but he remained silent. It took her a moment to realize he was waiting for her response.
She tried to speak. But nothing came out.
"Inuyasha…"
"No one knows you like I do, Kagome. No one loves you like I do," Inuyasha said softly, staring at his feet now. His cheeks were a bright red and his grip loosened the tiniest bit. She hadn't responded to his confession. Did she not return the feelings? He knew she loved him too, but would she admit it?
"I will always love you," he promised and let her go. Kagome stared at him for a long moment as he backed away from her, slipped to the door and left the room.
Hearing the front door close behind him, Kagome sunk to her knees and let all her tears fall. She sobbed loudly, tears spilling from her eyes and hiccups sounding from her mouth.
"Inuyasha… Inuyasha… Inuyasha…" she wept and banged her fists into the carpet. She'd lost him, she knew it. But she had an obligation. She'd already said yes to Kouga, she couldn't say no now. She had to do it for Moriko; she had to do it for Kouga. Even if she didn't love Kouga anymore, he deserved to have a relationship with his daughter. He deserved a second chance.
She just wished that she could be selfish like she'd been when she was younger…
Kagome didn't wait for Moriko to be let out of school. Glancing at the clock on the wall, she decided that Moriko could be pulled out two hours early. She needed to pack her essentials and get out of the apartment. After all, it technically belonged to Inuyasha. She would go to Kouga's apartment. She would live there from now on…
She felt her heart clench at that thought. She didn't want to. But she had to…
Suitcase in hand, Kagome glanced out the window. A steady rainfall was outside. All signs of the sun were gone and only the sight of dark rain clouds could be seen in the sky.
As she left the apartment, she took one last look around. She would come back for Moriko's stuff later. The important thing was that she got out of the apartment. If she ran into Inuyasha…
As if the fates were against her, when she turned around Inuyasha was standing there.
His violet eyes glanced at the suitcase in her hands and he looked like a flower that had just wilted. His whole body sagged and he looked like a defeated warrior. "You're leaving…? So… soon?"
Kagome weakly nodded her head. "I have to."
Inuyasha watched as she moved past him down the stairs. He followed after her. She ignored him. "I'll come by in the next few days for my other things. But the apartment is yours… you are in possession of the deed, after all."
"Kagome… please… don't leave," Kagome heard his plea in his voice and clenched her eyes shut. She couldn't be swayed, no matter how much she wanted to. She wished Inuyasha wasn't there. It would be so much easier for her to leave if he was still outside, storming the city, releasing all his anger.
"I have to…" she said miserably.
"You can stay with me," he pleaded again. "I can take care of you. I can make you happy."
"I want to… but I can't," Kagome said and more tears ran down her cheeks. "Please, Inuyasha, don't make this harder than it has to be…"
"Don't go," he repeated and reached out for her. Kagome kept moving and he retracted his hand.
She reached the bottom and pushed the door open. Looking down the road, she waited for the taxi she'd been calling earlier. "Kagome…" He'd followed her out. She clenched her eyes shut and shook her head.
"I can't!"
"You can! Please, I'll be—"
"Stop it," Kagome pleaded.
A yellow taxi turned the corner and made its way towards the couple. Kagome breathed a sigh of relief. As the cab stopped in front of the building, the driver climbed out and popped the trunk. "Hurry it up, lady," he called over the pouring rain. Kagome nodded her head and moved towards the trunk. Throwing her suitcase into the trunk she closed it and made her way towards the back door of the cab.
"Kagome…" Inuyasha whispered out, almost inaudible over the pounding rain drops of water.
"Inuyasha…" She slowly walked towards him, reaching out her hand without the ring and gentle cupping his cheek. Tears streamed down her cheeks and she sniffed. She repeated his name again, the simple word burning with all the desire and love she could muster without collapsing into his arms and allowing him to carry her back up. She had an obligation. She had to do it.
His eyes softened and he bit his lip as Kagome pulled away and started backing up towards the cab. "Inuyasha… I'm sorry. Please forgive me," she whispered out. She handed him her umbrella and opened the door.
"Kagome…" his voice was pleading. "I love you. Please stay with me."
She shook her head, a sob racking her body. "I can't…"
She closed the door without another word and the yellow taxi pulled away and down the streets. Inuyasha watched it, clenching her umbrella in his two hands. The rain plastered against his body, causing his clothing to stick to his skin and his hair to flop in unruly knots on top of his head. As the cab turned the corner he tilted his head up towards the sky.
He felt as if he might cry. But he was too proud to do that, and in the unlikely event that he was crying, the rain would wash away all evidence.
Looking down at the umbrella, he cracked a dry, mirthless smile. "You're a little late…" he whispered pathetically to the umbrella.
He collapsed to his knees and sat on the cold, wet street. Clutching the umbrella he let out a shaking breath. "I love you…" he said painfully. "Don't leave me… stay with me… I'll take care of you…"
But Kagome didn't hear him…
She'd left him in the rain.
Author's notes: One more chapter after this one. Also, please refrain from telling me how much of a bitch Kagome is. I plainly explained her reasoning for taking up Kouga's offers…and even though I don't (and you probably don't either) agree with all her reasoning, please try to understand from her point of view.
Thank you all for your support and reviews! I love you all!