Sorry for the long delay. I've been so busy packing and moving to my new apartment lately, I didn't have time to finish writing this chapter (it was 1/3 done when I moved) until everything was unpacked and I was finally settled. (whew) Never knew that packing and unpacking was tiresome. And I want to say thank you to all off you who review. It actually motivated me to update faster. .

This chapter was supposed to be called 'Muffin' but I later cut it into two parts. 'April 15' and the next 'Muffin' because the first part is mainly about Inuyasha's… (smile innocently) I won't ruin this chapter for you guys. Just go and read it. BTW, there might be some grammar mistakes in this chapter and the next because I want my beta to have a nice vacation. After all, it's Spring Break.

Disclaimer: I sneak into Rumiko Takashi's house in the middle of the night and tried to steal the legal document of owning Inuyasha, but I was caught before I even make it to the vault. . Dang, so close…

The Wrong Soul Mate

Chapter 9: April 15

This morning was unusual. Everybody was quiet like they knew something horrible had just happened. It had this thick melancholy air around the kitchen, making Kagome feeling uncomfortable. Heck, it even made Miroku and Sango eating their breakfast in gloomy silence. As for Inuyasha, well, he was late as usual.

It seemed like forever as the long hand of the clock moved to six. The depressing atmosphere hasn't lifted yet and somehow at the pit of her stomach, she knew today wasn't a normal day. Frowning, she gazed at the kitchen's entrance from the hallway, waiting for Inuyasha to make an entrance, but nothing happened. Only the sound of the clock ticking echoed across the room.

Gazing at the half-empty cheerio bowl in front of her, she got up and put it in the sink. Although her food screamed to her 'Eat Me!' she didn't had the urge to eat them especially in this murky mood in the air. 'Something is wrong.' She thought.

As she turned around, she was surprised to see Inuyasha putting on his shiny black shoes near the doorway. Her brow furrowed when she noticed the dark circles under his eyelids. She had never seen him looking gloomier than ever. To top things off, he looked like he had gone through hell. "Inuyasha?" She approached him as he looked up to see her. "You haven't eaten breakfast yet."

"I'm not hungry." He responded in a monotone voice before opening the door and left without saying a word of goodbye to her.

Leaving her in a state of bewilderment, she frowned again. 'Something is not right.' It was only three days ago when Kikyou left and flew to Hong Kong, and she knew for sure, the depressing atmosphere today wasn't because of her departure. Although she would have like the idea of Inuyasha missing her, but the thought of Sango and Miroku missing her desperately too doesn't make much sense at all. It has to do with something else. 'But what is something?'

"What's wrong with everybody?" She asked when both Miroku and Sango approached the front door.

Their face darkened. "Today is April 15th." Miroku answered melancholy.

"What happened on April 15th?"

"Let's go, we might be late." Changing the subject, Miroku walked out of the door.

"Sango?" She turned to Sango.

Firmly putting her hand across Kagome's shoulder, Sango replied softly. "It's better for Inuyasha to tell you when he's ready." She gave her a reassuring smile. "Let's go."

Furrowing her brow, Kagome followed Sango out of the door. 'What happened on April 15th?'

- . - . - . -

Inuyasha leaned against the elevator wall as he waited for the flashing number to reach the last floor. Today… today was April 15th. The very faithful day that turned his world upside down and changed his life forever.

He never did like this day that much. It brought too many depressing memories to him. It kept on flooding back into his mind nonstop like a fierce rapid moving swiftly across the riverbed, and not even he could put a dam in the middle of it to block and control the flow of water with ease. It happened like this every time. Other days, he felt strong, but yet when the months and days turned into this day, he felt vulnerable like a puppy.

If only he could go back in time and prevent that accident from happening.

- . - . - . -

"Hojo?" She tapped him softly on his shoulder.

"Hmmm?" Hojo wrote the amount of food storage onto his notebook.

"Do you know what happen on this day a long time ago?" Kagome asked.

Hojo froze as his pen fell on top of the notebook.

- . - . - . -

Absentmindedly, he walked out of the open elevator as he made his way towards his office. When he went inside, he noticed the tall figure of his half-brother standing near his glass windows, gazing at the skyscrapers as the sunlight cast a nice glow around him.

Walking slowly towards Sesshoumaru, he too stared at the sceneries below them. He knew for a fact that his half-brother doesn't come into his office that often unless of course, it was an urgent business matter. But today, it was a different matter entirely.

No one spoke for awhile as they both continued to watch the people down below happily walking around on the sidewalks, minding their own business, and not knowing that today was the most heartbreaking day for this company. If only they knew how much these two brothers are feeling, especially the silver-haired hanyou.

The silence stretched on until finally Sesshoumaru broke it. "Today is that day."

Inuyasha slowly nodded. "Yeah…" He whispered.

A pause. "Are you ready to visit their graves again?"

He hesitated. After a few seconds had passed, he averted his gaze from the people to his brother and nodded soberly.

- . - . - . -

"Hojo?" Kagome called his name again as she leaned forward to see if he was okay.

He made a grim smile. "It's best if you ask Inuyasha-sama, Rin."

"Oh… okay." Disappointed, she went back to work.

Every time she asked one of the workers about it, they always replied with the same answer. "It's best if you ask Inuyasha-sama." Or sometimes, "I think you should ask Sesshoumaru-sama about it."

During lunch break, she decided to skip it and go looked for Inuyasha instead, but when she went upstairs to find him, his secretary told her that Inuyasha had already left a few hours ago with Sesshoumaru.

"Do you know when will they come back?" Kagome asked.

The secretary shook her head. "No. They haven't told me."

"Oh, thanks anyway." Sighing in defeat, she walked slowly back to the cafeteria. 'Maybe I could ask him when I'll get home.'

- . - . - . -

Inuyasha gazed at the tombstone in front of him. It felt like time stood still as he stood there, staring at his parents' name. Inutashio and Emiko Sakamoto. He couldn't feel anything warm at that moment except that cold wretched feelings running along his mind. It was like a bucket filled with cold water was dumped over his head.

He averted his gaze to the lilies in his hand. It was his mother's favorite flowers. He went down on his knees and laid down the flowers across their grave and continued to stare at their engraved names.

He blamed himself for their death. The guilt was still there, eating him away each time on this day. If it weren't for him, they would still be alive. He clutched his fists as he tried to put all his anger into it. It was his fault.

A warm reassuring hand was laid across his right shoulder. He looked up and stared at Sesshoumaru's face. Although Sesshoumaru wasn't known for showing much emotion, he did show the sadness in his eyes at this moment. He nodded at his younger brother before gazing back at the tombstone.

He had to admit. At first, he didn't like Inuyasha's mother that much. He was young back then. When a young kid sees their dad marrying another woman, they start to believe that his father forgot his own mother. That was how Sesshoumaru felt back then. Each moment he saw her, he was cold to her. He hated her with a passion, but yet she was still nice to him, patience with his arrogant and rudeness. If only Inuyasha knew how much he loved torturing his mother when his father was away back then. But as time goes by, she started to grow on him. She unraveled his cold heart and gently broke the ice away with her love, her concerns, and her gentleness. She soon became another mother to him. And when she died, it was like seeing his mother dying all over again.

He glanced at Inuyasha, knowing for a fact that their deaths were killing him more inside. His brow furrowed. He told him many times that it wasn't his fault, but yet, he still kept on blaming himself. 'If only it didn't rain on that day…'

Inuyasha closed his eyes, afraid that his eyes might betrayed him with tears. 'I'm sorry…'

At the distance, he could hear the echoes of birds chirping.

A few hours later…

He closed the door quietly behind him as he made his way upstairs towards his bedroom. At the kitchen entrance, Kagome stared at him with a worry expression on her face.

He threw his jacket and tie across the bed before walking to the bathroom. He washed his face and stared at his reflection. He was tired, and the bags under his eyes were proof of it.

He turned off the faucet and dried his face with a towel before making his way out of his room.

- . - . - . -

Kagome waited impatiently at the bottom of the stairs as she waited for Inuyasha to come down. After a few minutes have passed, there was no sign of him coming down. Patience wasn't one of her best qualities at the moment. She must have caught it from him.

Frowning, she got up and ascended the stairs.

"Rin?" Sango asked as she walked into the living room. Her brows furrowed when she only saw Miroku on the couch.

"She went upstairs." He gestured behind him as his eyes were still glued to the TV screen.

br Br br

Kagome knocked on his door. Nothing. No footsteps were heard on the other side of the door. She frowned again as she knocked again. Again, she met with silence. She quietly opened the door and walked in. The room was empty. There was no trace of him. All she saw was his jacket and the tie on his bed. But there was no Inuyasha.

She didn't saw him came down, so that means… she walked back to the hallway and looked at the door at the distance. The roof.

She was right. By the time she opened the door, Inuyasha was already leaning against the edge, gazing at the stars above.

Kagome walked towards him softly, afraid that she might distract him. As she got nearer, she noticed the sad look in his eyes.

"In the Lion King, Simba's dad said that when a lion king dies, he becomes a star, watching over his kin. Do you think it happens the same way too for a demon and a human?" He spoke without glancing at her.

Kagome leaned against the edge and gazed at the stars shining its glory. "Maybe." She answered. "But to be honest, I don't really know. I always thought that a person would either go to hell or to heaven after they die." Now that she think about it, when an angel lost their wing, do they becomes stars or be send down to Earth to live as a human? She should ask Lady Kaede about it when she have a chance.

She averted her eyes and looked at Inuyasha. He looked like he'd just lost his way in life and his eyes… his eyes was like an open window to his soul. It was full of grief and sorrow with a touch of… 'Was it guilt?' She thought. How could she ask him about what happened on this day? It seemed rude and uncaring. 'I know I'm being too noisy… but…' "What's wrong?"

He chuckled. It sounded lifeless with a tint of fake humor in it. "How could I forget, you're really… what's the word?" He tapped his chin.

"Determined…?" Kagome added.

"Exactly!" He gestured with his hand and glanced at her. "No matter how many times I tell you to butt out of someone's business, you're always determined to see what the problem is."

"Gee thanks. Don't I feel special…" She sarcastically replied.

His face became serious again as he went back gazing at the stars. "Today was…" He paused. "It was the day that my parents died."

Kagome stared at him, surprises written across her face. It wasn't everyday that Inuyasha told her about his feelings. Shoot, it was always, "You're annoying." Or "Sooner or later, you're going to become a pig." But this… it was quite different.

"I'm sorry."

"Why are you being sorry for? You're not the one that caused the car crash." He retorted.

Her eyes widened and then softened when she noticed the inner turmoil in his eyes.

He continued on when she didn't say anything. "It was raining on that day… I was about ten. I was doing this Romeo and Juliet play…"

A little Inuyasha frowned as he paced around behind the stage. His parents were late again. And making things worse, his costume started to make him itched.

He quickly walked to the curtains and peaked through the small gap at the side. The two seats next to Sesshoumaru were still empty. "Where are they! They better not be late again!" He crossed his arms. His father was always busy, especially with that business of his'.

His mother suggested him to do this Romeo and Juliet play to broaden his skills and knowledge. All he did in this play was fencing and hold some dying girl at the last scene and killed himself. The only excited part was when he killed that one guy—Juliet's cousin, he think. Well, not exactly killing, pretending that is. If only his fake sword was real though, so he could stab Kouga with it. After all, he was playing Tybalt and he was Romeo.

The audience became silence, indicating that the play was starting as one of his classmates walked into the stage. Inuyasha frowned again. His parents didn't show up yet. 'How late are they?'

At that precise moment, he saw two men came up to Sesshoumaru's seat and whispered something to him. It was hard to tell what he was saying at the distance, but by his brother's expression, it wasn't that good. Automatically, their eyes met.

Sesshoumaru got up and walked towards the door, leading to the backstage. He walked towards Inuyasha and averted his eyes somewhere else beside Inuyasha' face.

"What's wrong? Pop says he can't make it to my play?" Inuyasha presumed sharply. "Isn't it a bit late to say that?" He crossed his arms in anger.

Silence.

His brow furrowed when he noticed his brother's expression. It wasn't everyday to see Sesshoumaru showing emotions, especially sorrow. "What happen, Sesshoumaru?" He asked, feeling a bit uncomfortable with this strange side of his brother. He has this sinking feeling that something bad has happened.

"There was a car accident…" He paused. "involving our parents."

At that moment, his world came crashing down and he saw black.

He became quiet after he told his story. "And you know what the funniest part was? I was angry for them for being late to my play, when actually they were dying at that exact moment." He spat angrily. "I was pissed, and I didn't know they were dead yet."

Kagome looked at him, seeing a bunch of emotions being displayed on his face. It pained her to see him like this.

He lowered his voice, almost to a whisper. "They don't want to be late for my play, so they drove their car passed the red light, not knowing that another car with a drunken driver was heading towards their way." He gazed downward. "It was my fault. If I hadn't…" Next thing he knew, he felt something warm was pressed against him. He glanced beside him to see Kagome embracing him from the side.

"Shh… it's not your fault. You didn't cause their deaths."

"Yes I did!" He shouted.

"No you didn't!" A tear gently rolled down her cheek. "You couldn't control what had happened."

His eyes softened when he noticed the tear. "You're crying."

She looked up as her melted blue eyes shimmered with tears, threatening to fall again.

"Don't cry." He wiped the tear away. "It doesn't suit you."

She smiled before letting him go. "You should live in the present Inuyasha, and cherish those memories you have, but don't let the past guide your future. You should set it behind you and move on. Don't let it become your whole life."

He gave her a surprise look. "You actually said something right for a change."

"What's that suppose to mean? I'm always right." She folded her arms together.

"Keh." There was a small smile forming at the side of his lip.

"And here I am, worry about you and you just—"

"You were worried about me?" He interrupted her.

Kagome leaned against the edge as she gazed at the sky. "Isn't it beautiful?" She whispered, changing the subject. She gave a big sigh before opening her mouth. "But you know, you're lucky to actually remember your parents. I, on the other hand, couldn't remember what they look like."

"What happen?" He looked at her, ignoring why she changed the subject. He never knew that she lost her parents too. Then again, he doesn't know much about Rin's past.

"I don't know. Lady Kaede said they were in an accident." Realizing what she just said, she tried to think of something quick. 'Did Rin's parents died too?' She started to panic. If only she knew how to do a memory charm.

All he did was gave her hand a squeeze and stared at the crescent moon.

It was silence. Not awkward, but it was one of those silence where you felt comfortable in.

He averted his gaze and stared at her. She was unusual. He never met someone like her before. Usually girls her age would give him those adoration eyes and say "Can I be your girlfriend?" or "I would do anything for you." Yep he was a lady's man alright. He inwardly smirked as he went gazing above him.

"You know, I remember when I was little, my mother used to make this irresistible chocolate chip muffin with a tint of honey in them. They were so delicious I would steal some of Sesshoumaru's." Not that he admitted he always failed doing so.

Kagome chuckled. "I bet I would like them too."

He gave her a look. "You and your big appetite." After a few seconds of silence, he softly added, "But I do miss those muffins."

Kagome averted her eyes and looked at him. He was smiling for once. 'His mother's muffins…' Another idea formed in her head.

AN: It's Spring Break, so that mean I have plenty of time to finish typing 'Muffin.' I'm guessing that you guys will have a pretty good picture what will happen in the next chapter, right? Maybe I just end the story with Inuyasha marry Kikyou. Just kidding. I don't want a bunch of readers chasing me with a bat in their hands, saying "How could you!" (shudder to think)

Next Chapter: "Muffin"

Amanda Trinh: Don't worry this is an Inu/Kag story. Although I don't hate Kikyou that much, I just hope that in the anime, Inuyasha and Kagome will be together at the end. (cross our fingers)