Between The Lines
By: Maggz
Disclaimer: I'm just a poor woman with an overactive imagination. InuYasha and Co. © Rumiko Takahashi.
Author Note: Review! Reviews make me happy!!!
Chapter 2
InuYasha had met Kagome the year he turned twelve. She'd been his girlfriend at least six times that he could remember and his best friend forever. Things between them were simple but complex and that thought made him laugh. She was everything he wanted in a girlfriend but she exasperated the hell out of him. He couldn't understand how two people could end up getting along better as best buds instead of as girlfriend/boyfriend. But that was just the way it worked with the two of them and they had finally came to accept it.
Kagome had moved in with him just before the start of the fall term. She was enrolled at college the same as he but two years behind him as an art major. That was the one thing he'd never doubted as he'd been drawn, painted and sculpted in every possible position and place he could think of by her for as long as he'd known her. If one didn't know better when going into her room, they'd have thought she was obsessed with him! Pictures, paintings, etchings, sketches, photos and small sculptures were everywhere the eye could see. She had them pinned on the wall, hung from the ceiling, scattered over her desk and stuffed into her back pack.
He knew the truth though. He was her easiest subject. She knew him better than he knew himself. She always had. Which was why he couldn't understand why she refused to have him as her subject of choice for this all important grade. But then again, maybe he did. There wasn't any use in making things complicated... and sketching him naked would definitely make things complicated, at least in HER eyes. He laughed out loud at the thought as he drove along. That was ONE thing that had never happened between the two of them... sleeping together. She'd been adamant on that note! No matter how much he begged her, pleaded with her or just plainly argued with her over it, she never once had given in to him. Oh, she'd given him his share of kisses, enough to drive him to distraction and back. And he'd copped a feel once or twice but that was IT. She'd drawn the lines very clearly early on and she'd stuck to them and loving her dearly, he had complied. But not without disappointment.
She'd always kept him on his toes whether riding bicycles, skating, playing pool, basketball or even a damned board game. She was a formidable opponent, very competitive but an excellent team player as well. When he and Kagome were on opposite teams, everybody groaned. Their competitiveness was just THAT strong.
InuYasha thought Kagome was just beautiful. But if he ever let it slip that he thought so, it earned him more than his share of mumbled replies and a huge frown. So he had learned to keep his admiration to himself and in his own opinion, there was much to be admired.
The day she'd shown up, suitcase in hand to move in with him- he'd been flabbergasted. The cute girl he'd known forever had grown into a lovely young woman! He realized then that it had been over a year since he'd seen her, most of their conversations had happened by either email or phone.
So when had she gotten so damned pretty?
"You cut your hair?", he'd asked.
"Over six months ago, InuYasha.", she'd answered, looking up at him. Just how many times had he pulled that waist length pony tail of hers and had her run after him screaming? She wasn't Kagome without the long hair!
"Don't you like it? Or are you one of those men that expects women to let their hair cover their ass 'til it falls off or turns gray?', she'd grinned.
"I like it but I've got to get used to it. Turn around, let me see you!", he'd said.
"Can I at least come inside first!?", she'd laughed and he'd stepped back, allowing her in.
"Nice place. You still sure it's OK with you?", she'd asked him and he'd nodded. The suitcase she'd been holding onto had hid her somewhat from his view but now that she'd sat the bag down, he was getting his first overall view of the young woman that had been his best friend forever.
And what a view it was!
Kagome's athletic nature lent much to her compact frame, meaning, she was built to please. The thought had startled him and he'd laughed.
"It's that much of a shock, eh?", she'd grinned, thinking he meant her hair. Her hair was the last place he had been thinking of. His thoughts had been centered around the short denim cutoffs she'd worn that just barely covered her bum (and God what a bum it WAS!) and then out of those shorts came the most amazingly perfect legs he'd ever seen!- Strong, nicely tanned and sculpted with lean muscle from thigh to calf. Hell, she was even barefoot and that had really made him laugh!
He'd recalled at once all the times she'd never wanted to wear shoes when they'd played together and her mom had fussed at her for the state her heels were in. Seems the scolding still hadn't worked!
He'd let his eyes move upward and slide quickly but firmly over her chest... and a tight feeling had gripped his stomach. Lovely just would not have begun to describe her. He'd lifted his eyes to her face, then and smiled at her.
"Inspection over?", she'd asked.
"Yeah, and your hair... I DO like it!", he'd grinned and he had. The shock of seeing all that hair gone had been a strong one but the style she'd adopted fully suited the Kagome he could now see had emerged whilst they'd been apart. Jet black hair simply cut just above her shoulders that she'd tucked behind her ears as he had looked her over. Yes, it looked right on her... it looked good. SHE looked good!
"So do I pass, InuYasha?", she'd asked, twirling around in front of him and OHGOD had she passed!
"Yeah, now give me a damned hug and a kiss. It's been way too long!", he'd said and picked her up in his arms, holding her against him as she'd laughed and puckered her lips at him. Thinking to give her just a peck and sure that's exactly what she'd expected- their lips had connected and that was when InuYasha knew Kagome wasn't a little girl any longer... neither was he the same little boy.
What had started out as a brief little peck had soon developed into a slightly longer kiss. His hands had slid down her back to her waist and then had settled onto her hips as the kiss had deepened. He'd been able to feel every last bit of her body as it pressed into his and he'd had to admit it felt good. When his hands had slid to her bottom to squeeze it she'd made a little sound and pulled herself out of his arms.
"What was that, InuYasha?", she'd asked... her brown eyes wide and wondering.
"A kiss... remember? We used to sneak off behind the barn and practice. Has it been that long, Kagome?", he'd asked, trying to play off just how strongly the kiss had affected him. He could tell by the look on her face, it had affected her just as strongly and like him, she had been confused.
"We never kissed like THAT. You've had more practice than me apparently!", she'd quipped and smoothed her hands down the front of her shorts.
"Sorry. Maybe I got carried away... You just look so pretty and I've missed you, Kagome. It's been so long!", he'd said.
"Just make sure you... WE don't get carried away again, InuYasha. I love you and all but the boyfriend/girlfriend thing ended back when you were fifteen. Don't mess it up just because you think I'm different now, just 'cause I look different to you. I'm still the same old Kagome that beat your ass playing cards every Friday night under the back porch, still the same old Kagome that got you into trouble by sneaking into your bedroom window when I ran away that time... It's ME, InuYasha. Just me. Stop looking at me like I've changed into someone else. I've grown up but I'm still me!", she'd said and her eyes had pleaded with him for understanding. He'd loved her enough to honor that wish, and that was how it had been since then. Things had settled into a comfortable routine but he'd have been lying if he'd ever said he didn't notice the woman underneath the girl of his childhood.
He'd had to conceal many a thing with her around all the time. His appreciation of her beauty, his want to protect her at every turn, his obvious distaste of the guys she dated and partied with, his fondness for the cute little shirts and shorts she wore as well as his happiness over the fact that she slept in one or more of his oldest largest t-shirts... Shirts that swallowed her whole and left everything to his overactive imagination.
But it had gotten better with time. Much better. He loved her and she loved him. They were as comfortable as two old house slippers together and they never stepped on each other's toes. They respected their differences and took joy from the things they loved doing together. For awhile, they'd partied together, came home drunk together and often ended up in the same bed... sleeping together. But only sleeping. It was like they were grown ups playing at being children now instead of the other way round. Sometimes it confused him. He was sure it did her as well. But he wanted her around, needed her around. He wouldn't have had it any other way!
He got out of his car, shaking his head and smiling over Kagome. Simple yet complex, that was exactly how he'd have described their relationship to anyone that asked. And it did a lot. A lot. It drove his friends insane that he wouldn't speak of her like they wanted him to, divulging her girly secrets or answering their pointed questions. It drove the girls he dated just as mad once they'd met her and found out that he really DID live with his best friend and that she was really a girl. More than one relationship had gone sour over that very fact. People found it hard to believe that a guy and a girl could actually just be best friends, nothing else involved. Sometimes, so did he.
Walking in to the bar, he was met with the usual round of shouted greetings and made his way to his friends at the pool tables. This was the usual Friday night hang out with his crowd. A game or two of pool, beers and beers, girls, jokes and just good fun.
"Hey, InuYasha. You want a beer?", Miroku asked as he walked toward the bar InuYasha had just passed.
"Of course I do, man. Thanks!", InuYasha grinned and Miroku shot him a smile and went to grab the brew. InuYasha stood between the two tables, watching the action simultaneously between both so he could tell which table he'd be best to play at.
"InuYasha, you will NEVER believe what the damned wind just blew in!", Miroku was laughing from behind InuYasha as he brought back the beer. InuYasha turned, expecting one of Miroku's usual lays to be walking up with him but saw instead a familiar face he hadn't seen in over a year.
"Well FUCK if it ain't that WIMPY WOLF!", InuYasha shouted and grabbed the other man, hugging him so hard he picked him up off his feet. They'd been best friends their first year of college but Kouga had moved away, going to America to live with his uncle in Florida.
Kouga was laughing, pounding InuYasha on the back and scrubbing his knuckles across his head.
"What in the hell are you doing back home?", InuYasha asked as he took his beer from Miroku.
"Missed the hell out of you lot!", Kouga said and a chorus of 'hell yeahs' went up around the pool tables. Kouga laughed and stood by InuYasha looking over the action at the tables.
"I cannot believe you came back! I thought you'd have found a nice, young American girl and gotten yourself married by now!", InuYasha laughed.
"Me? Hell no! Single for as long as I can be! Too many girls to see. How about you?", Kouga asked as InuYasha sank down onto a wooden bench, waiting his turn to play.
"Married? Are you nuts in the head? Fuck!", InuYasha frowned and gulped down the last of his beer.
"Attached?", Kouga asked.
"No, see whoever I want, whenever I want for as long as I want!", InuYasha laughed. "Want to get a beer?", he asked Kouga and they walked up to the bar, sitting down on the stools.
"You still at college then?", Kouga asked.
"Of course. Still here. You coming back?", InuYasha asked.
"Maybe next semester. We'll see. Right now, I'm just looking for a place to stay whilst I hunt around for a job.", he said.
"Stay at my place.", InuYasha said at once.
"Really?", Kouga asked as he picked up the beer that had been sat in front of him.
"Of course. I've got room. We'll split the rent. No problem...", he said.
"Great. Would tomorrow be too soon?", Kouga asked with a laugh.
"Nah... that would be fine!", InuYasha grinned. "It's just mad having you back here. Just like old times!", he said.
They finished their beers, then after being called back to the pool tables, spent the rest of the evening there until it came time to go home.
"Where are you staying?", InuYasha asked as they walked out of the bar and toward his car.
"Hotel down the street. Just got back today.", Kouga said.
"Where to? Home or the hotel?", he asked.
"Hotel. I'll come by tomorrow if that's OK... And thanks InuYasha. Really, I appreciate it.", Kouga said as they got into the car.
"Not a problem, what are friends for? It'll be mad!", he said.
He dropped Kouga at the front of the hotel and drove back home. The thought had never crossed his mind to tell Kouga about Kagome or to even discuss Kouga with Kagome before asking him to move in with them. This was the first thought that crossed his mind as he let himself in, throwing his keys onto the table by the door. He grunted, everything would be fine. She wouldn't mind and neither would Kouga. He was sure of it.
The lamp in the living room had been left on and he smiled to himself at the feeling it brought to him. He walked quietly down the hallway to the last door on the right. Cracking the door, he poked just his head inside. A kaleidoscope of colors swirled over the walls and ceiling from the turning pattern lamp Kagome kept on for her safety light. A bright neon pink lava lamp stood guard as well against whatever creatures she feared from the night. He tiptoed in and stood near her bed, looking down at her. She was lain on her side, her knees up, panty covered bottom peeking out from underneath the huge t-shirt she wore. He smiled as he reached down to pull the cotton blanket over her, hearing her sigh as she turned to her back.
"'Night, Kagome...", he whispered and backed out of her room.
All was safe and sound...