I "forfeit" my rights to claim Inuyasha. yea right! and also, i dont own THE (hwy) 401 - i believe the Canadian govt owns it.

Chapter 4: Second Life

"Don't tell me you're going to work?"

Izayoi furiously shook her head. Her son had just been recovering from a serious accident two months ago. "I'm not letting you leave this house, young man. You should just stay in bed."

"Mom, I think I'm getting worse every minute I spend at home. In fact, I think I should go back to my apartment," Inuyasha complained. His oh-so protective mother had insisted Inuyasha to do his recovering at home, rather than at his downtown apartment. It was not so bad, though. Inuyasha once again was subjected to his mother's spoiling and pampering. Plus, he had free food, laundry, and electricity. Still, he wanted to have his independent moments back. "I'm really thankful though but… I need to go out."

Izayoi stepped forward, determined to stop him from leaving. "I don't care what you say. You're staying here inside the house until I believe you are ready to go out."

Inuyasha raised his hands in surrender. There was no use arguing with his mother. He plopped himself on the couch, a pout on his face. He had been in the hospital for a month. When he was released, he was immediately taken to his parents' house, stayed inside his old room for another month. He was beginning to get bored. "I'm fine, you know, mom. I really am. I healed fast. You don't need to worry. Plus, I think they need me back at work." He tried convincing her, although he knew his mother would not budge.

"Let him go, Iza. He'd cause you more trouble in here," Taisho interjected, coming from the kitchen. "On one condition, Inuyasha. You're not driving," he sat down on a nearby couch and resumed reading his newspaper.

"What? I'm not gonna take the bus nor a taxi. Those are too slow. C'mon, dad. I learned my lesson. I'm gonna drive carefully this time," Inuyasha scratched his head. His parents were becoming more and more overprotective of him. "For heaven's sake, I'm twenty-seven years old!"

"I'll drive you," a voice offered.

All turned to look at Sesshoumaru leaning against the wall. Izayoi beamed at the request. Taisho nodded his head. Inuyasha had a look of surprise.

"Keh! You'll drive me? Are you sure I'm the one who had an accident and was in a coma? Looks like Sessh here was the one who had amnesia. Big bro, you hate me. You forgot about that?"

Sesshoumaru's expression remained blank. He was used to his brother's sarcastic remarks. "Whenever you're ready, brat," was all he said, before turning away.

Izayoi stood in front of her younger son, a cross look on her face. "Now be grateful your brother's here and was kind enough to offer you a ride. Or else I won't let you out. Or maybe you want ME to drive you instead?"

Inuyasha jumped up from the couch. "Who said I didn't accept Sessh's offer?" he walked quickly towards the back door. He was not letting his mother drive him to work. That would not be good for the reputation! "Well, gotta go now mom, dad," he waved his hand as he made his way outside.

"Fasten your seat belt!" Izayoi shouted in reminder.

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Silence. It was what Sesshoumaru was famous for. Inuyasha stole a glance at his older brother, a smirk playing across his face. Not many were aware of Inuyasha's secret envy towards Lord Sesshoumaru, as he referred to him when they were younger. To Inuyasha, Sesshoumaru was always the stronger, more capable, responsible and more intelligent between the two of them. Inuyasha did not understand why his older brother despised him so. As a result, his defence mechanism was to be more sarcastic, more insulting and hateful towards Sesshoumaru.

"So Sessh, what hit you that you offer me a ride huh?" he snorted, playing with the radio.

Sesshoumaru brushed his fingers away before Inuyasha destroyed his car's new sound system. "Be thankful and shut up instead."

"Keh! There's gotta be a hidden agenda in this. What you want, huh? You can't possibly ask money from me. You have a bigger paycheque than I am. So, what's in it for you?"

Sesshoumaru ignored Inuyasha. It would do him no good if he admitted to his younger brother he was doing the deed out of the 'kindness' of his heart. Inuyasha took the hint his brother would just continue ignoring him. He did as he was told, stayed quiet but a huge scowl painted on his face.

They were engulfed in silence once more. Both their workplaces were located downtown, about a forty-five-minute drive from their parents' house. The traffic at Hwy 401 was heavy and moving at a slower pace. The brothers would just have to endure being together a lot longer. Knowing Inuyasha, he could not stay quiet for so long.

"How was mom when I had the accident?" he suddenly asked.

Sesshoumaru looked at him out of the corner of his eyes. "She was devastated, to say the least. She never stopped crying even when the doctor told her you're stable."

Inuyasha looked out the window. His jaw tightened as he recalled the minutes before he saw the truck coming his way. "I saw the truck coming, you know. It was like in slow-mo. I was stuck, almost frozen," he said in a serious tone. He had a dazed look in his eyes, as if he was telling his tale not to Sesshoumaru but to someone else. "I knew I was going to die." Sesshoumaru remained straight-faced on his seat. He was not used to his brother talking that way.

Inuyasha blinked, realizing it was Sesshoumaru he was talking to. "Keh! But I'm alive, am I not?" he snorted out. He remained looking out the window to hide the real emotion playing on his face.

"You're given a second chance. Use it wisely," Sesshoumaru muttered and silence once more resumed. No one talked until they got off the highway and made their way to Inuyasha's office. "I'll be back to pick you up," he said before Inuyasha climbed out the car. The younger brother only nodded his head, unwilling to argue.

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Everyone was surprised to see him. All knew of the accident the young executive was subjected to; no one expected him to be back so soon. But everyone was gracious and respectful still. Every corner of the office he would hear a 'welcome back, sir' or a 'good to see you, sir'. His secretary scrambled to meet him, a smile on her young face. "Good morning, sir," she said, taking his briefcase.

Inuyasha responded with a nod and smile. He entered his office feeling as if he had been gone for ages. It was true that a near-death experience would give a person a new outlook in life. What is mine, then? He had been pondering that since the day he woke up from his coma.

He had been sitting in boredom at his desk for almost an hour, really not in the mood to do any work. Maybe he should have listened to his mother in staying home. "Sir," his secretary buzzed on his phone's intercom. "Someone is here to see you." Inuyasha didn't feel like talking to someone for the moment. "It's Ms. Higurashi, sir. She said it's important."

Inuyasha was a little puzzled. "Show her in, Abi." Inuyasha fingered the purple beads of his necklace. It was a gift from Kagome when they were on the first year of dating. He never took it off, as if it was a symbolism of their relationship. He tried taking it off but for some reason he was unable to; because every time he tried taking off the necklace a wave of guilt surrounded him.

Karen opened the door for the young woman, also known as Inuyasha's 'ex'-fiancée. "Should I bring in some coffee, sir?" Abi asked her employer; then closed the door behind her when Inuyasha shook his head.

Inuyasha immediately noticed tears forming in Kagome's brown eyes. "I called you at home, no one answered. So I figured you were at your parents'. Then your mom told me you went to work. How are you?" she asked, her voice quavering.

Inuyasha approached her and motioned for her to sit down on the couch at the corner of his office room. "I'm fine. Still a little sore though," he answered.

Kagome nodded her head then threw her hands at Inuyasha. "I'm so relieved you're okay. When I heard you got into an accident and were in a coma, I got so scared… scared that I'll lose you," she sobbed in his chest. "And then when I finally went to see you, I was too late. They already moved you to a different floor. By then, I lost courage to see you and left instead. Since then, I can't sleep without thinking of you. I never want to lose you. I love you so much."

Inuyasha brought her closer to him. A part of him wanted to tell her there was no more chance for the two of them to reconcile. But as Sesshoumaru had said, he was given a second chance in life. In this second life, he had to straighten up things he had done wrong in the past. He closed his eyes.

"Don't worry Kagome. I feel the same way too."

But somehow, he could not get himself to say the exact same things Kagome had said to him.

In this second life he was given, how should he spend it wisely? Somehow, Inuyasha felt he was still doing what did before the accident. He was lying again to Kagome, and especially to himself.

He gave Kagome a small smile as he dried the tears away from her innocent eyes.

A/N: this chapter doesn't offer much but it has a little InuKag interaxn. I don't like Kagome, so don't get your hopes up this is gonna be an InuKag – after all it's under an InuSan category. Also, Sesshy's here again. I'm in love with this guy.

In regards to Sessh, I'm writing a companion fic all about him. hopefully, you guys will also read it.

Thank you very much for all the reviews. Greatly appreciated. (Kanon-chan, thanks for correcting me. What does the word YUUKAN mean? I googled it, and they said it's bravery and/or courage. So if it's, I'd like to keep it. if it's not…then, I mite change it. still, thank you for letting me know.)

Sorry for another long A/N, a crappy chappie and the OOCness in this chappie.

Next chapter Inu and Sango will meet once more – but how? Hmm… stay tuned!