Between The Lines
By: Maggz
Disclaimer: InuYasha and Co. © Rumiko Takahashi
Author Note: I need to know if this is working, so please don't forget to review.
Chapter 3
Kagome emerged from her bedroom, arms loaded with a change of clothes on her way to a shower. She'd sworn to InuYasha that today was going to be her day to 'find' her subject and she was bound and determined to do just that. Come nightfall, she'd have found the person that would pose for her, allowing her to complete her project and get on with her life. She wasn't going to rest easy until the project was well on its way and she didn't have an overabundance of time to complete it.
Slipping into her favorite pair of ragged jeans, she grabbed her college sweatshirt and made her way toward the kitchen, pulling it on as she went. With a glance at the clock, she figured on InuYasha being in bed for at least another hour or so before she'd finally have to bug him to get up and go with her. Plying him with a promise of a late Saturday breakfast usually did the trick, along with a huge cup of coffee sitting at the ready.
She started the coffee machine and peeked inside the fridge to see what was available. Moving things around, she was shocked into a scream when she heard InuYasha's voice from behind her.
"Morning...", he'd croaked.
"Damn it, InuYasha! What the hell are you doing up so early?", she squealed as she turned and swatted him with a fresh package of bacon. He held up his hands, warding her off and pointed toward the coffee.
"Please, no abuse before my first cup. This is WAY too early for me, especially it being a Saturday!", he yawned.
"Why ARE you up so early?", she asked, ducking back into the fridge to grab the carton of eggs along with some cheese she'd spotted.
"Two reasons. One, you wanted me to go with you to find a naked prospect. Two- I'll discuss with you over coffee.", he said, giving her backside a smack as he walked past her.
"Must be a good one if it has to wait for coffee- you ARE going with me then?", she asked, surprised he'd agreed without any pushing from her as of yet this morning.
"Yeah, I'll go with you but only because I'm still real curious to see just HOW you are gonna talk to these poor unsuspecting people. Do you think maybe you just might draw... SKETCH a girl? I'd be able to give you a few pointers.", he said as he stood looking at the coffee maker, waiting for the last of it to drip down into the pot.
"You're hopeless!", Kagome frowned as she tore open the package of bacon and looked for a pan to fry it up in.
"I guess that means 'no' then. I should've known. Just let me know when you are gonna be sketching. I'll be sure to be long gone!", he said as he poured his coffee.
"Pointers, InuYasha. I may need point-", she laughed as the ringing of the doorbell interrupted them. She threw a glance at InuYasha who was looking at her over the rim of his coffee cup.
"One of your buddies? Can't be, it's too early. Must be for me!", she grinned and moved toward the door to answer it.
"Kagome, I think I-", InuYasha said as he followed her into the hallway and stood watching her as she opened the door.
"Emmm, is this number 337?", Kouga asked, squinting his eyes to look at the address InuYasha had given him the evening before. Maybe he'd written it down wrong. He backed up to look at the number over the door and then back down at the note in his hand.
"It's 337. ", Kagome confirmed.
"Kouga?", InuYasha spoke up from behind her and she turned, looking at InuYasha as Kouga smiled, adjusting the strap of the bag that hung over his shoulder.
"InuYasha! Sorry...", Kouga said with a glance toward Kagome.
"Sorry?", she asked, her hackles rising. If there was one thing she could barely tolerate, it was one of InuYasha's Neanderthal friends assuming she and InuYasha slept together JUST because they lived together!
InuYasha heard the rise of her voice and put a hand to her shoulder.
"Kagome, this is reason number two I was gonna talk to you about. Kouga, meet Kagome- my best friend in the world and roommate as well!", InuYasha said. He hoped he'd covered all the bases quickly but knew Kagome well enough to know there would be some real explaining to do very soon. He turned his eyes back to Kouga and watched as they both looked at each other for a brief moment. He hoped to hell he wasn't in dire trouble with Kagome, hell- he hadn't even TOLD her the news yet that Kouga would be living with them very soon. Soon as in... NOW.
Kagome looked at Kouga, smiled briefly as she extended her hand and said hello. Kouga returned the smile, grabbed her hand quickly and let it go, as he looked into her eyes.
As InuYasha watched them, something clicked in his mind and he smiled. A huge, full on grin.
Kouga's confused expression became more confused. Was she InuYasha's girlfriend? Hadn't he just said they LIVED together and why hadn't he mentioned this AT ALL the evening before? He could tell by looking at her that she had no idea why he was there, no idea at all that InuYasha had asked him to move in with him... THEM.
"Kagome, Kouga's your new subject...", InuYasha smiled and watched as Kouga's eyes grew wide then even more confused.
"Kouga, come on in. We were just getting breakfast ready. ", InuYasha suggested as he moved to hold the door open a bit wider, inviting him in. Kagome stepped back, her gaze tight on the man in front of her. Her artist's brain had kicked in and she assessing him as he walked past her, his eyes flicking over her then away. What the hell was she STARING at him for? He smiled at her, then followed InuYasha into the lounge, taking his bag from his shoulder and sitting it down beside the sofa.
"Nice place, InuYasha.", Kouga said as he looked around the large living room and toward the kitchen.
"Yeah, it's plenty big. Two bathrooms, three bedrooms...", he said as he looked nervously from Kagome's questioning gaze to Kouga's smile of approval.
"Come clean, InuYasha.", Kagome said suddenly and Kouga swung his gaze back toward her.
"What?", he asked, a bit sheepish. He hated when she looked at him like she was doing right at that moment. Like she'd caught him right in the act of doing something wrong.
"What's up?", she asked, looking between the two men stood in front of her, hands on her hips.
"Kagome, Kouga's one of my best friends from college nearly a year ago. He went to the States for a year and just got back home. I offered him a room here. We've got plenty of space...", InuYasha was running out of words as Kagome's frown turned into a glare. Kouga wasn't missing any of it and started to laugh. InuYasha hadn't changed after all.
Kagome frowned at Kouga's laughter and turned around on her heel, marching into the kitchen as they watched her.
"Nice one, InuYasha. What's the story here?", Kouga asked as he rested his bottom against the back of the sofa, arms crossed in front of him.
"She's NOT my girlfriend, Kouga. It's like I said, we're best friends. She moved in with me at the beginning of the term this Fall.", he said as his eyes moved toward the sound of banging pots and pans in the kitchen.
"She's not your girl... OK, are you banging her?", Kouga asked.
"NO!", InuYasha frowned, hearing the slamming of cupboard doors.
"Why NOT?", Kouga asked. "I mean, come ON, InuYasha. You haven't changed THAT much in such a short time, have you?"
"It's not LIKE that, Kouga... Not at all. Look, I'll fill you in later, ok? I've got to take care of this before she destroys the kitchen. Your room is at the end of the hallway, left side. LEFT. Whatever you do, don't go into her room, I don't want to be taking me and you to the hospital just yet.", he said as he started toward the kitchen. He could hear her muttering to herself as she banged plates and bowls down onto the countertops.
"InuYasha, one more thing?", Kouga interrupted and InuYasha turned, looking at him. "What did you mean by ME being her SUBJECT?", he asked, curious as ever.
"OH God!... she's... well, she's an art major. Big end of term grade coming up. She needs a subject to pose for her and she's had trouble finding one she likes. I just thought to smooth things over... you might consider...", InuYasha smiled, shrugging his shoulders.
"Ahh, I see...", Kouga nodded. "You want me to get your ass out of the fire, is that it? What makes you think she'll LIKE me. I didn't get that impression from her at all! In fact, I'd say it's the exact opposite judging from the sounds coming from in THERE!", Kouga said with a nod of his head toward the doorway into the kitchen.
"I'll talk to her... just hang on a sec. Put your things away. I'll take care of it.", InuYasha said as he heard the louder than normal slamming of the fridge door.
"Ok, gotcha.", Kouga smiled as he hefted his bag and took it toward the bedroom at the end of the hall.
"LEFT side, Kouga.", InuYasha called after him and Kouga smiled, raising his hand to indicate he remembered. He, for one was glad he wasn't in InuYasha's shoes at the moment. Kagome looked ready to take his head off!
"Save it, InuYasha.", she said as she stirred the eggs into the hot pan. "I can see where things are right now."
"Things?", he asked, opening the cupboard doors and pulling out juice glasses.
"Stop it, InuYasha. Just cut the crap!", she said.
"Why are you so angry? He's not a bad guy. I've known him for awhile.", he said.
"It's NOT Kouga, InuYasha. It's YOU. Did you never think to speak to me about this? I do pay you half rent you know!", she glared.
"You're right. And I'm sorry. I was going to speak to you about it this morning but Kouga got here sooner than I expected. I only saw him last night, Kagome. But I'm sorry, ok?", he asked, walking up behind her and putting his hands on her shoulders.
"It's ok, InuYasha. I just... I wish you had let me know but now I understand why you didn't. ", she said quietly.
"Are you sure? I mean, if you really don't want Kouga here, just tell me.", he said and she turned to look up at him.
"I'd never do that, InuYasha and like I told you... it isn't KOUGA. I was just angry that you acted first without talking to me. We're ok.", she said with a smile.
"Sure?", he asked, frowning playfully at her.
"Yeah... Tell Kouga to come and eat. Were you serious about him being a prospective subject for me?", she asked.
"Emmm... yeah... I said something to him about it.", he answered her. "But you should talk to him about it, give him the details and such.", he said.
"Yeah, I'm just not sure...", she said and caught InuYasha's annoyed look. "Fine... fine, I'll try him out. We'll see. But InuYasha, if it's not there, it's just not there. I have to FE-", she started.
"FEEL... you have to FEEL. Yes, I know Kagome. Just... well, just talk to him about it and give it a chance, please?", he asked. The sooner she got this out of the way, the better. She was driving him crazy with it as well as herself.
He heard her take a deep breath and then sigh. "Ok, InuYasha... OK. Maybe you're right but don't get your hopes up. ", she said and spooned hot eggs onto each plate.
InuYasha hid his grin as he turned away from her and went to find Kouga. Fingers crossed, this just might work!