Between The Lines
By: Maggz
Disclaimer: InuYasha and Co. © Rumiko Takahashi.
Author Note: I know, short chappie but I'll make it up to you on the next update.
Chapter 15
Baby you deserve much better
What's the use in holding on?
Don't you see it's now or never?
Cause I just can't be friends
Baby knowing in the end
That I will love you more than that
I won't say the words, then take them back
Don't give loneliness a chance
Baby, listen to me when I say
There's not a day that passes by
I don't wonder why we haven't tried
It's not too late to change your mind
And so take my hand, don't say goodbye
I will love you more than that…
More Than That (Backstreet Boys)
"I'm going out, you need anything?" Kagome's voice broke thru the muddled mess that was InuYasha's mind. He looked up at her, his expression blank and she sighed.
"Laundry, InuYasha? It's Monday.", she prompted.
"Oh, laundry, yeah… I'm going later, thanks!", he said softly and looked down at his hands, taking a deep breath. By the time he looked back up, she was walking toward the front door and he got to his feet and followed her, watching as she struggled with two bags of laundry, her books and keys.
"I've got it, InuYasha.", she said as he reached for the door knob.
"We need to talk and you KNOW that", he said.
"No, not now, InuYasha. I can't and I don't want to… Even if I did, we don't have time. I've got to get this washing finished and then I have some shopping and a class to get to. Do you have anything you want me to wash for you while I'm there?", she asked.
"No, I'm gonna go later but why have you got so many clothes anyway? You never wash this much and you just did laundry last week, you didn't skip it!", he asked.
"Don't start on me again, InuYasha.", she said as she struggled past him and out onto the little porch.
"Start with what, Kagome?", he asked. He felt sick to his stomach with fear, desperation and heartache. He knew she'd slept with Kouga the night before. Knew it as sure as anything. Her bed had been empty, Kouga's door closed… just the thought made him furious. He wondered again why he'd hid the feelings he had for her for so long? It was crazy…
"I'm washing my things AND Kouga's things, InuYasha.", she said and watched as he turned on his heel and walked back toward the door.
"You've got to stop this InuYasha and you know it. You can't DO this to us… you just can't. You keep it up with me and I suppose I'll have to move. I can't take this.", she said, her breath hitching over the words.
He turned to look back at her, pain clear on his handsome features.
"You are falling so fast, Kagome and it's just not right. He's not the right one for you. He won't love you like I do… he can't. Nobody can. He's gonna hurt you, Kagome and then what? What will you do?", he asked, his hands up in the air.
"You don't OWN me, InuYasha! You can't TELL me who to date and who not to date. Why in the HELL has it been a joke to you about who I dated up to this point. You ragged me to go out with that horrid MIROKU, remember? You WANTED me to let him take me out! You've never said ONE WORD about who I went out with or brought to our parties or to the club. WHY KOUGA? What about him threatens you so much? I don't get it!", she said.
He walked back toward her, closing the distance between them quickly.
"You NEVER fell in love before, Kagome. I never watched you fall in love. That's why. Do you think this is EASY for me? Standing by to watch you make the biggest mistake of your life!?", he asked. "Do you think it's fun telling you what's inside my heart? Do you?"
"Then STOP IT, InuYasha! You're smothering me! I can't breathe! I WANT Kouga and he WANTS me and you have to learn to accept that. If you can't let me know and I'll find me somewhere else to live!", she said.
He could see the tears standing unshed in her eyes and his heart ached for her even as he lashed out at her. It was as if he couldn't stop, didn't know how to and at the moment didn't really care. He wanted to hurt her as badly as she had unintentionally hurt him. The fact that it was with Kouga made it that much worse. He really didn't know why… maybe because he and Kouga had been such close friends before he had moved away, maybe because the three of them were living together now, maybe because Kouga had put a look into Kagome's eyes, a glow on Kagome's face that he'd never seen before and it gutted him.
"I don't want you to move, dear God, Kagome. I couldn't stand it. But how do I walk away from this? How do I step back? I've already told you how I feel and I can't take it back. I wouldn't if I could.", he said.
"Your timing sucks, InuYasha. We've already established that!", she said and turned away from him to walk to her car.
"Say you'll stay, don't leave the house, Kagome. Please…", he said softly from behind her.
"I can't promise you anything, InuYasha. I don't see an easy solution to this. Maybe it's time I did grow up and stop depending on you so much. Maybe I've taken advantage of you for long enough. Maybe it's time for us to let go and move on… this hurts too damned much, InuYasha. I can't take it. Now, I gotta go…", she said and opened her car door, throwing the bags of laundry into the back, her backpack into the seat adjacent to her and with a deep sigh… the keys into her seat and walked back to him.
"You are my best friend. I've had you with me every step of the way, InuYasha. Without you, I wouldn't be who I am and I wouldn't be here. I LOVE you. I always have. I can't even dream of a life without you in it. But you're hurting me and you're hurting yourself right now. There's so much I don't understand. I'm feeling a thousand different emotions right now but I know I love you and I know I need you. I also know I'd never intentionally hurt you, EVER! All I'm asking is for you to try to see what it's like from MY side, what I'M feeling."
"InuYasha, Kouga makes me happy, in a very different way. But no less important. I don't want to hurt you by saying this to you but I need to be straight with you. Please, give me a chance for happiness.", she said softly and touched his face with her palm.
"That's all I'm asking for as well, Kagome… for you to give US a chance. How can you know if you aren't willing?", he asked.
"InuYasha, I… I've got to go! I mean it, I'm running way behind here. Just know I love you, InuYasha. I LOVE YOU!", she said meaningfully and stood on tiptoe to press her lips quickly to his.
"I love you.", he answered and held her hand in his until she pulled away. He watched her climb into her car, put it into gear and back away from him. She was swiping at her cheeks, he knew she was crying…