In With the New

Disclaimer: I do NOT own Inuyasha…I can't think of anything creative here. It's just sad.

A/N: Thank you to all my readers, and especially my reviewers! Wow, I didn't realize I'd get so many reviews at once.

blaise91-here's the update, I hope u like this chapter!

Zookie Moon princess-thank you for all your reviews! I'm not one for hardcore Kikyo bashing either.

Xesha- sorry about it being too mushy for you, but one of the genres for this is romance.

Df-glad u liked it.

Fanficluv7Inu- I totally liked your review, thanks. It's such a relief to know that you loved it!

Raithya-thank you very much for telling me what u liked about my story. Your question is answered in this chapter…

Chapter 8: Standing In Your Eyes

Kagome finally pried herself away from Inuyasha. She knew she couldn't just stay in his arms, no matter how much she was dying to. She peered up into his eyes. Now that she looked closer, she could see herself in them. It was like staring into a golden mirror. She was amazed at how reflective they were. She moved in closer, her nose pressed against his as she admired the tiny image of her in his amber orbs. She realized just how close she had gotten to him and felt a blush begin to rise in her delicate cheeks. She backed away from him and the reflection of her in his eyes shrank to a small speck.

Inuyasha's face slightly reddened as she gazed into his eyes, getting closer to him. He partially smiled when she got embarrassed at how close she was and slunk away from him. She looked down at the floor, remembering that he was just with Kikyo last night. (A/N: at dinner with her, they didn't sleep together! Just in case you were wondering, he never more than kissed Kikyo.) He noticed the wave of sorrow wash over her face again. "Kagome, do you want to tell me exactly what's bothering you?" He asked. She opened her mouth to speak and his cell phone rang. (A/N: imagine the first 25 seconds of Grip! Right before the vocals start hehe…) Inuyasha ignored it and waited for Kagome to talk. The ring tone ended, then started up right again. The scene went on like that for several minutes. "Just answer it!" She shouted. "No! If you would hurry up and tell me, then it wouldn't keep going off!" Their argument continued and Grip! still played in the background:

"Answer it, I know you want to!"

"Not 'til you tell me!"

"There's nothing to tell!"

"Yes, there is! You don't look like shit for no reason!"

"I look like what!"

Kagome was fed up and reached for his phone, which hung from a clip attached to his side pocket. "Hey!" He hollered. Before he could stop her, she opened his flip phone and answered sounding annoyed, "Hello!" "Who's this? Where's Inuyasha?" A female voice interrogated. Kagome looked at the caller I.D on the screen: Kikyo. Kagome was embarrassed and said sheepishly, directing the phone toward Inuyasha, "it's for you." He growled and glared at Kagome angrily. (A/N: Basically, touching Inuyasha's phone is like touching his precious Tetsusaiga lol. Okay, you've had enough of me already. I won't cut in anymore.) Kagome sat at the foot of his bed waiting for him to finish his conversation, but it was so dead quiet in the room-and house-that she could hear Kikyo's voice emit from the cell phone, "What are you doing? Are you with another girl?" "Kikyo, it's not like that. I'll talk to you later." He said with an inaudible sigh. "Do you want me to leave?" Kagome asked as she stood up to leave. He scowled at her and shook his head. She sat back down, elbows propped up on her knees, and she held her face in her hands. Kikyo was still going on at him on the phone and Kagome had stopped listening. He finally was able to interject Kikyo's heated rambling after about ten minutes and simply said, "I'll see you tomorrow," then hung up.

Kagome hadn't noticed he was off the phone and just stared at the wall in deep thought. She was bored and had a headache now. This is the last thing she wanted to be doing for her afternoon. She was actually kinda pissed at him for letting this drag on. Why is he being so persistent anyway? She couldn't exactly tell him about Kikyo and how she flirted with other guys and how Kikyo didn't seem to like her much. She had overheard at work that Kikyo couldn't stand her. But, Inuyasha would probably forgive Kikyo for the flirting and all and would probably take her back in a heartbeat. I mean, why not? She was more to him than Kagome could ever be….Kagome looked up, realizing that Inuyasha had been staring at her.

He had watched her facial expressions change, her shoulders rise and fall, and her eyes shift with every thought that crossed her mind. He could see she was having an internal discussion with herself. "I'm not upset with you," she explained, "I'm sorry I made you worry. I'm just concerned about living on my own; sometimes I'm not sure if I'll be able to afford it and it gets lonely…I get stressed with school and work. It's tough, but I know I can do it. It just gets to me sometimes and I know it shouldn't-" He cut in, the look on his face serious, "It happens to all of us. I've been on my own for a long time, so I understand, more than you know." She smiled that he had opened up to her and that she had thought of the right thing to say. "Now that's finished, I have homework!" She exclaimed. She turned to him and added, "I'll see you later." then, went back to her room. She was so delighted with how things with Inuyasha went, she decided to take advantage of her good mood and get her homework done.

The next day at school, Kagome was headed to class. She suddenly saw Naraku come out of an auditorium with film equipment. He was taking a film class? She shrugged it off and walked to join Sango for lunch at the food court. She waved when she saw spotted Sango. Sango's dark hair was down in a loose pony tail and she had a bowl of teriyaki chicken and rice. Kagome sat across from her with a serving of chicken katsu (deep-fried chicken cutlet served with tonkatsu sauce.) "Kagome, that looks really good." Sango said. Kagome nodded happily with closed eyes.

The two girls happily enjoyed their meals. Kagome put down her chopsticks and looked up in time to see Kikyo pass by. Sango noticed Kagome slouch down in her seat. She had gone half way through the semester without having to see Kikyo. She figured it was a large enough campus that she wouldn't have to run into her. It was enough just having to work with her. "Are you okay, Kagome?" Sango asked, afraid that her friend had eaten too fast or too much or even worse. Kagome looked pale now. "Kagome?" Sango asked again. Why am I trying to hide? I haven't done anything wrong. Kagome thought to herself. Sango said, "I'm going to get you some water." She got up and left Kagome, unintentionally, in plain view.

Now, Kikyo had approached her and was sitting in Sango's seat. "What's your relationship with Inuyasha?" Kikyo asked callously. She didn't waste any time, just cut right to the point. "Uh, we're just friends." Kagome uttered as she looked down at her plate of food. "I think you're getting in the way." Kikyo replied. Kagome looked at her unsure of what she had meant. I never tried to get between them. I don't even want to. Kagome thought.

"Why do you say that? Inuyasha cares a lot about you; can't you see that, Kikyo?"

"The way he cares about me now is different than it used to be."

"If that's so, it's not because of me. You were the one who broke his heart."

"He didn't do anything to keep Naraku from kicking me out!"

"So, you break his heart? What could he have done? What should matter is that he wants to be with you now."

Kikyo narrowed her eyes at Kagome, then, looked back down at her watch, "I have to get to class." She got up to leave, her back already facing Kagome, but Kagome said, "If it's anyone you should hold a grudge against, it's Naraku. He got you kicked out, not Inuyasha." Kikyo stopped and sharply turned around to say, "I am trying to make things work with Inuyasha. Stop interfering by keeping your distance from him." Kagome glowered and crossed her arms as Kikyo walked away.

Sango came back in time to see Kikyo leaving. "Are you alright, Kagome?" She asked. Kagome nodded while thinking, I have a class with him and I live with him! Plus, I don't want to avoid him. "We should go now." Sango said. Kagome agreed since they were going to be late to their next class. Kagome thanked her for the water and walked to her Sengoku Jidai course. As the two friends parted, Sango looked back at Kagome with concern. She knew Kagome wouldn't say anything to anyone about Kikyo talking to her. Just then, she felt familiar hands touch her shoulders. A familiar male voice said, "Ah, Sango! How nice I've run into you. Let me walk you to class." "Miroku, that's fine, but do you really have to be stroking my hand?" Sango replied. "Would you rather I stroke your-" Sango bonked him on the head and shouted, "Do you have to do grope me in public! You're such a pervert! Stop walking behind me, that's not walking me to class; it's following!" Miroku rushed to her side smiling awkwardly while rubbing his head. He didn't mind being slapped around as long as he got to touch Sango.

During class, Kagome stayed quiet. If she happened to glance over at Inuyasha and he noticed, she would smile slightly and look back at the projection of notes, copying them down into her notebook. He kept seeing Kagome stare at him. "Is there something you want to say to me?" He asked in a rough whisper. She simply shook her head and went back to her class work. After class, Inuyasha said, "I'm meeting Miroku and Sango. We're going to the mall. Do you want to come?" "I'd really like to," She began to say, but declined, "I have to work and then I have homework." "Okay. I'll catch up with you later." He said and went on his way.

Inuyasha sat with his friends snacking on some pocky he bought. Sango and Miroku were walking alongside Inuyasha and noticed he seemed to be a daze. "Say, Inuyasha, are you thinking about Kikyo?" Miroku asked suggestively. Sango bonked Miroku on the head again; she knew he wasn't just asking an innocent question. "Not that it's your business, I wasn't actually." "Ah, you were thinking of Kagome then." He said again. Bonk! Inuyasha grumbled, "shut up!" "Were you thinking of the two of them-" Sango interrupted him, "Miroku! Enough already, you lecher!" Sango spoke seriously this time, "Inuyasha, did Kagome mention Kikyo talking to her earlier this afternoon?" Inuyasha looked toward Sango with a serious expression that said he had no idea what she was talking about. "No. Did she tell you anything?" He asked desperately. Sango shook her head, "Nothing. Nevermind, then, it wasn't my place to mention it." Miroku asked, "Why are you so worried for? You and Kikyo are back together, aren't you? What does Kagome have to do with it?" "Kikyo and I aren't back together- anyway, what do you care!" Inuyasha barked the last part. He crossed his arms and looked away angrily. "Are you with Kagome, then?" Sango asked. Inuyasha growled and snapped, "I'm not with anyone! Damn, why the hell are you being so nosy?" "Now, calm down." Miroku said calmly, "it's not Inuyasha's fault he can't choose between two women." Inuyasha hit Miroku on the head and took off without another word. Miroku nursed his head with his hands. "Why does everyone keep hitting me in the same spot today." He stated. Sango looked genuinely concerned at the lump on his head. "Let's get you an ice pack." She said with a hand on his back. Since both his usually roaming hands were on his head, she could keep an eye on them.

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A/N: where is Inuyasha running to? Find out Next chapter! This chapter is shorter than my other chapters, but I need to save what I have planned to happen for the next chapter. Also, I have to leave for work in 10 mins and I get home late, then I go back early so right now is the only chance I get to update! Otherwise you would've had to wait til tomorrow evening….Thanks for reading and I hope you review! Your reviews help me write by motivating me, more than you know! For those of you who choose to read only, that is fine, too because I see the hits I get and at least I know you are reading! THANK YOU EVERYONE!