Chapter 12

Kagome worked as a waitress at Charlie's Place and was scheduled a seven hour shift Friday afternoon and night. Because of her good looks and her outgoing personality tips came much easier for her then the rest of her co-workers. Kagome wanted to believe the good tips were for her sharp memory but she was realistic enough to alter her uniform to be more revealing then required uniforms. Never hurts to use your resources, she thought with a smirk, if these losers want to pay me to look at more leg and a little cleavage its fine with me!

After dropping Kloie off at the babysitter's Kagome started for work. She was thankful the restaurant and the babysitter's was within walking distance from the house, it was still a good distance from the house but until she had enough money for a car she stuck to walking.

She passed the little book store she knew to be a religious store. Kagome stopped in front of it and looked inside; if I went in there… maybe I could find some answers, she shook her head and started walking again, answers to what? Why Inuyasha won't talk to me? He already told me! She sighed I might as well give up. He's so different then me. Kagome walked on and smiled remembering she never talked to Kouga about his date offer. "At least there's that," she said quietly. She wondered if maybe another man could make her forget about the ones that hurt her.

"Again!" Inuyasha barked at the student holding the crimson square punching bags in each hand. The boy held up tightly clinched fists his eyes darting to the left and the right following the older man's movements. Inuyasha clinched his jaw tightening his grip on the bags and smacked the left one against the boy's head, not in an abusive way just to get the boy focused, to get his adrenaline going.

The spiky haired boy let out an angry hiss as he hit each bag, the technique consisting of two jabs a hook and another jab. One who had never been to a karate class might find the hissing strange but the original masters of Kempo started the technique and found it easier to conserve energy then shouting with every hit.

When the adult class was finished Inuyasha dismissed them, he and, two of the teens from youth group that were also in the karate class, Tyler and Sari went for a burger before the children's class at 3:45.

"So Inuyasha you just have to tell us about that girl from Wednesday night!" Sari said nibbling on a french fry, "Are you two going out?"

He took a bite of his triple cheeseburger and said nothing.

Tyler wasn't much of a gossiper but he was curious about the supposed kiss everyone was talking about. "Come on, man, are you dating her or what? Sari's been going nuts about this for two days straight, I'd like to hear more things then how cute you two were."

Sari elbowed him in the rib blushing, "Don't listen to him!" Giving her boyfriend a death glare Sari curled her lips into a forced smile, "Now tell us about this girl!"

Inuyasha sighed inwardly, ever since she was hit by the car and news that Kagome was staying in the duplex everyone grilled him with information. Of course they all knew he was an honorable man he never seemed interested in women because of his devotion for the Lord but now with this talk of him kissing the 19 year old mother, Inuyasha was starting get frustrated. "There's nothing to tell," he said at last, "Kagome and I are just friends."

"You don't kiss your friends," Tyler said.

"Yea! You don't kiss your friends!" Sari chimed in a dreamy look in her eyes.

Inuyasha smirked, yeah…I know that, he thought.

Kagome walked out of Charlie's Place with a smile on her face, tonight had been a great night. $120 of tips certainly made it a great night! Of course when most of the customers were barely out of high school and more then a little lecherous helped a lot. It was getting late; Kagome hoped Kaede had remembered to pick Kloie up. She moved out of the way as a car came up her way. The last thing she wanted was to go through that again. Her thoughts drifted to Inuyasha and his confession, she wanted to know more about him she wanted to know more about his devotion, she wanted to have that.

"Hey Kagome," someone said from inside the car.

The voice startled her a bit, Kagome saw that it was Kouga and relaxed, "hey."

"You look great in that uniform," he said looking her up and down.

Kagome found it slightly annoying that he was holding her up for this, "well it's going to come off," her eyes widened in horror at how that sounded. "I-I mean-"

Kouga laughed at her embarrassment, "I've only met you twice, so soon? Pretty eager aren't you?" He wanted to say 'pretty eager for a mom' but he kept it to himself, "Lucky me."

She blushed, "No. Not for six months anyway." Kagome looked at the ground and continued walking as he drove slowly beside her. "Look it's late and I should get home."

"I can if you a lift home. It's only a few minutes drive, come on." Kouga stopped the car, "You know you want to, you've been on your feet all day you must be exhausted."

He's being way too nice. But it was a long walk home; she knew that something about it was wrong, something in her heart told her to just go home, go home to what? A voice asked her, to a man that thinks you're trash to a man who rejected you? Why go back home when you have this chance? This chance for a man to make you feel wanted. She nodded and gave him a sweet smile. "Sure, why not?"

Kouga smiled and reached over to open the passenger door, "Just put your stuff in the back seat."

She climbed in, put her bag in the back seat and looked at him, "My house is just a few blocks away." She pointed ahead to emphasize this, "I hope this isn't too much trouble."

"No of course not I was just on my way to a friend's for a party." He said, "Is it a left up here?" She nodded, "say why don't you come along, I'm sure it would be nice to do something fun once in a while. You told me you had a kid that has to be rough."

Kagome smiled, "Thank you, Kouga, it sounds like a wonderful idea I just…I don't know. I shouldn't leave Kloie alone, it is getting late."

"Aw come on it'll be fun," his blue eyes dazzled with excitement, "Just for a little bit."

Kagome saw the duplex as they passed Inuyasha had just gotten home and was walking inside. Honestly Kagome wanted to go home and spend time with her baby – No- she wanted Inuyasha to spend time with both of them. She wanted to learn more about the one he cared so much for. She wanted to but something kept her from telling Kouga to stop the car and as they passed the house she could have sworn that he turned what the hell it will only be for a few minutes. "Sure, I'd love to."

Inuyasha's mouth fell open seeing Kagome in Kouga Williams's car, what? He paled remembering Kouga's more then explicit activities in high school. He also recalled his grandmother saying that Kagome was going to accept his date offer. Inuyasha groaned, Kagome! She was going to get herself in real trouble. He went to his car, "No," he said aloud, these are her decisions and I can't protect her.

"Inuyasha, do you know where Kagome is?" Kaede asked when he came through the door.

He looked at his grandmother her forehead wrinkled with worry as she cradled the baby in her arms, "No I don't. I'm sure she's fine." Kloie began to fuss, "here let me take her," Inuyasha took the little girl in his arms rocking her, "Shh shh little one, everything's going to be fine shhh." He went into Kaede's living room and sat on the couch, "Can you give me one of her bottles?"

Kaede brought him one and smiled in adoration watching this young man feeding the girl, they were adorable together. It was that simple. Inuyasha would make a great father one day. Kaede chuckled when Kloie grabbed a hand full of Inuyasha's hair and pulled.

"Gah!" he winced grabbing her tiny wrist, he examined her little hand when she let go. Her fingers were round with baby fat, from milk, so tiny. He wondered how Kagome was able to leave this little miracle alone so often. Her brown hair was starting to curl and her eyes were still an angelic blue. Inuyasha's eyes softened as her tiny fingers wrapped around his finger. He kissed her forehead and held her close to him as she drank her bottle.

She took another sip of her drink, wincing at the strong taste. The room was thick with the harsh smell of grass they were doing, even without taking it herself the thick smoke made her head spin. Kouga had his arm around her tightly as if proclaiming to his buddies that she was his or something.

"Wanna go to another room?" He asked

Kagome met his gaze, "I ..I think I should go home now."

Kouga looked disappointed but, to her surprise, didn't argue. After saying goodbye to his buddies he took her back out to his car and without a word he drove her home. "I'll walk you to the door," he said.

"Well I guess this is goodnight," she said putting her hand on the door knob.

"Kagome?"

She turned to look at him, "Yes?"

He grabbed her shoulder and leaned close like he was going to kiss her, she pushed him back, Kouga's eyes widened, "What are you doing?"

"Kouga, I barely know you I-" she saw his eyes dart to the movement at window..

"Oh I see you have another man do you?" He frowned, "So you came to the party with me just to make him jealous is that it?"

"No that's not it! Kouga, there is no one else it's just I don't think kissing is something we should do right now….I mean I don't know you and you don't know me." She was panicking now, looked really angry and he was under the influence of drugs, her hand went to the door again, "I'm just gonna go-"

He moved so he was partly blocking the door, "Not until I get my kiss!" He threw his muscular arms around her in a tight unwanted embrace; his arms felt like steel bars around her body, she twisted against him.

"Kouga, damn it! Get off me!" She thrashed suddenly not with disgust but with fear.

He kissed her hard before pressing his body up against her. Afterward he let go, without a word and went to his car.

Shaking, Kagome jabbed the key into the keyhole and opened the door. She whimpered softly as tears welled up in her eyes, I'm so stupid! She pushed open the door into her and Kaede's part of the house to the sight of Inuyasha holding a sleeping Kloie on the couch.

Inuyasha turned to look at her, "We were getting worried," his voice held no feeling of worry, his head was lowered, his eyes hooded by his bangs. "I fed her changed her and now she's sleeping fine," he said standing to give the baby to her mother. His eyes flashed in anger as the scent of alcohol met his nose. "Kagome, were you drinking?"

She was still trembling from Kouga's attack, any moment she knew she would break. "Inu….yasha," Kagome fought for composure bracing herself on the door frame.

What has she done? He laid Kloie on the sofa, putting a pillow next to her so she would not roll off. His attention returning to Kagome, "You went out with Kouga Williams didn't you?"

She covered her face with her hands replaying what had just happened. Now I know how it feels to be raped! "It's none of your business!" Kagome started sobbing, she curled into a ball on the floor, putting her head against her knees.

"Kagome…" Inuyasha knelt beside her rubbing her back gently, "What happened?"

"He forced a kiss on me!" She wept, "He's so strong he wouldn't let go, he could have raped me!" Kagome wanted to die, she felt violated because of Kouga, guilty for leaving her baby, dirty and whore like because of how low Inuyasha's opinion must be of her now.

Inuyasha sighed, "I'm sorry. Is there anything I can do?"

She shook her head then nodded, "C-Can you put Kloie in her bed? I need to take a shower."

"Of course."

Kagome didn't leave her room for the next few days except for the necessary reasons. Still shaken by what Kouga had done, but she was most of all ashamed at the look in Inuyasha's eyes when he said goodnight to her. They spoke of his hurt and most likely shame for even considering someone like her as more then a friend. She wanted to die now more then ever, Kloie was growing like a weed she would be walking soon maybe even talking and SHE was worried about men and work. Kagome loved her daughter like no other but she was treating her little girl like shit. It was plain and simple.

She had made the decision. She was going to move out, not far there was a little apartment for rent that was closer to her job. The car would have to wait and she would have to find a new babysitter but Kagome knew everything would be okay. She just needed to be away from Inuyasha, of course she would keep in touch with Kaede, the old woman was like her own grandmother and a good friend.

"She's what?" Inuyasha turned to his grandmother as if he had heard wrong.

"Kagome says she's moving out this weekend, she found herself a little apartment, you know the one on 3rd Street, and it's closer to her work so it will be easier for her to walk from place to place. There's also that 7/11 she can walked there. What are you so worried about?"

"She came home half drunk, Kaede! She could have gotten raped for worse! And what about Kloie? You're the one who normally watches her when you're not at work. Now she's going to have to find a full time babysitter because she's never home!" He was pacing now, "I'm glad that she wants to be independent but look where that has gotten her so far!"

Kaede shook her head, "Inuyasha, I think she'll be fine and as of coming home late I think she learned her lesson with what this Kouga person did to her. Just have faith in her, son."

He sighed and continued pacing, "That's just it I don't think I can she's been acting so immature and foolish lately I don't know how-" he gasped, "K-Kagome?" she must have been listening on the other side of the door for she barely pushed it open and he saw her. Oh no…

She bit her lip holding back the desire to scream at him; instead she spoke softly but calmly with a sense of control "Well I just want to say that it's a very good thing I bought the apartment today. I can see some of us don't think I know what I'm doing." Kagome looked to Kaede, "Can you help me start taking my things over there? They said I can move in as soon as tonight." Without another word Kagome went to her room and started gathering up her things.