Title: It Started With A Kiss
By: Queen Beryl
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Chapter Nine: Reconciliation

How could he do this to me? He was the only one who could make me so furious at him one moment and want to run into his arms the next. I was supposed to be mad at him! He wasn't supposed to write a cute little letter that made me cry for hours.
I read the letter for about the thirtieth time before finally folding it back up and stuffing it into the envelope. I clutched the paper container to my chest and fell back onto my bed.
"Stupid Inuyasha." I muttered, staring at the wall. He actually apologized. He'd never done that before, and I should know.
"You read the letter, huh?" Souta's voice came from my doorway. I lifted my chin and peered upside down at him.
"When did he come over?" I demanded, ignoring his question.
"Before school. I told him you probably weren't going to go to school today, so he told me to give you the letter. He told me not to say anything until you'd read it. It was a promise between guys."
I laid there for a moment, thinking that'd I'd heard that phrase somewhere before. I shook my head and let the thought flutter away.
"Are you still angry with him?" Souta asked.
"What do you mean?" I played stupid.
"I could tell you two were angry because he didn't want to come in and see you... and then you were crying earlier. I can put two and two together, you know." Souta explained wisely.
"I hate little brothers."
"What'd the letter say?"
"Nothing. Don't you have homework to do?"
"Possibly." Souta evaded.
"Out." I stood up. He slid out the door very quickly. I smiled and decided a nice refreshing shower was in order.
After I'd dried off and was working on my hair, my mother called me saying there was somebody on the phone for me. Assuming it was Sango, I promptly picked up the phone.
"Hello?" I asked into the phone.
"Kagome?" A timid voice asked on the other end.
"Rin?" I guessed.
"You remember me!" She sounded rather excited.
"I only talked to you two days ago." I sat down on my bed and smiled.
"Oh, yes, that's right."
"So, what's up?"
"Can you come over to Sesshy's house?"
"Sesshy?"
"Sesshoumaru. I just want to talk some more... please?" Rin pleaded, gripping the phone tight.
"Sure." I consented. She helped me; I'd help her, right?
I stood on the front porch for maybe five minutes, too afraid to knock. I raised my hand and got within a centimeter from the door before I chickened out again. What if Inuyasha came to the door? What if I just broke down and started crying?
Finally, I just rang the door bell. I stood there, shuffling my feet until I heard footsteps coming ever closer to the door. I froze and waited. It seemed to take a century for the person to answer the door.
"May I help you, Miss?" A small, older gentleman asked me. He was dressed in a white shirt and black slacks, but he didn't appear wealthy.
"I uh, have I got the right house?" I asked confused. The old man smiled and nodded.
"If you are looking for Master Sesshoumaru or Master Inuyasha you are at the right place. I'm Jaken, just a humble servant." He bowed politely.
"Oh, actually, I'm looking for Rin. She said to meet her here."
"Come right in. She's in the library."
"Library." I repeated dumbly. He closed the door behind me as I entered. He bowed and walked away. I'd never been to the library. I always sat in the room just beyond the entryway... and then there was Inuyasha's room, but that was upstairs. Who knew? Maybe the library was, too. I sighed.
"Now, if I was a library... where would I be located in a mansion?" I asked as I peered into a room. "Nope, there's the office. The... other living room? How many does a person need? And behind door number three... a pool!? Awesome!" I stood in awe at the pool for a moment before I realized there was somebody in the water. I hid partially behind the door and waited for whomever it was to emerge from underneath the surface.
It was Inuyasha. Well, wasn't that ironic.
He hadn't seen me, luckily, as he finished up his laps and climbed out of the pool. He stood dripping next to a stack of towels on a table with a thick glass top. He pulled a fluffy crème colored towel to his body and started to dry off. He looked so good. His violet eyes were hidden from my angle, but I got a full view of his wild onyx hair that was already starting to dry. I admired his tan, muscular arms and back, just above his red board shorts. Red was definitely his color.
"Admiring the merchandise? See anything you wanna buy?" I jumped at the voice that came just behind me. I blushed and turned to find Rin smiling and winking at me.
"R-Rin!" I exclaimed, ignoring the fact that Inuyasha would probably be able to hear me.
"I guess you got sidetracked on your way to the library, eh? I would too, if I was you. Jaken told me you were here, so when you didn't come in; I figured you'd got lost. It's a big house, so it's understandable. Who would have thought that you happened to? get lost in the same place Inuyasha happened to be swimming? It's actually quite romantic." Rin clasped her hands in front of her and went starry-eyed.
"Romantic? Have you forgotten? We're no longer together."
"What difference does that make? He still loves you... you still love him... it doesn't get any better than that."
"Have you forgotten the entire conversation with me yesterday?"
"Did you get his letter?"
"What?" I asked, faltering. How on earth did she know?
"He was up all last night writing it. He asked me to tweak the letter if it needed it. I told him it was kind of repetitive, but that you'd most likely get over it."
"Oh. Is that what you wanted to talk to me about?"
"Mostly. Have you forgiven him?"
"I want to. I really do, but he didn't exactly say what I wanted him to."
"I knew you'd catch on to that. I think you two need to talk it over and sleep on it. Hopefully you'll reconcile and all will be well again. Otherwise, there will always be a cloud of hostile anguish floating around this house."
"Is it that bad?"
"He's been moping. Moping! I've never known Inuyasha to mope."
"I don't mope." Inuyasha's masculine voice sounded from just behind me. I jumped for the second time in ten minutes and turned to face him.
"I think I'll leave you two alone." Rin squeezed out of sight, not even giving me a chance to blink. I looked nervously at Inuyasha for a moment before looking away again. He grabbed my hand and pulled me over to a lounging chair. He sat up against the back while I sat on the foot part.
"You got my letter." He began. I noticed the little droplets of water at the tips of his dark hair. It made him look very sexy. Wait! I'm not here for that!
"I did." I nodded, chasing away the sexy Inuyasha thoughts.
"I'm sorry, Kagome. I want you to let me make it up to you. Don't be mad at me for keeps?" Inuyasha lowered his head to catch my eyes with his. I swear I heard that line from a movie before. I shrugged it off.
"I'm not anymore. I forgive you, Inuyasha." I smiled.
"So, beloved, dinner tonight at seven?"

I'm terribly sorry for the inconvenience! I was banned from any computer activity [twice] and I got sick [again]. This is a messed up world. This is a short chapter, I know... wait, didn't I make a promise it'd be longer?! O.o [checks] Okay, I'm sorry. The next one will be very fluffy and longer than this one. I REALLY promise this time. GOMEN! It's just... never mind. Enough excuses.
Okay, I'll make the little one-shot. Frankly, I've lost count of how many people wanted it, so I'll post it when ISWAK is complete! [which will be soon!] ^_^
AND thank you soooooooo much to all my wonderful reviewers! I love you all so much! You're awesome!!!!
YashaGangEVA: I am honored! Thank you so much!
LAU!: Yes, Kikyo will continue to be a bug. EEK!
And lastly [really, really]: CONGRATS to chrisy12 for being the 200th reviewer!!! YEAH! *throws confetti*