Author's Note: Im back! Sorry for the two month wait. But with the holidays, I did get busy. I had a good Thanksgiving with my family, especially my four nephews. Watching them grow and come into their own person is so rewarding as an aunt and godmother. Love them.
Anyway, I actually found this chapter a doozy. I wrote the first half easily and the last half I lost inspiration. Until someone came along. But he leaves again... possibly for good? Not sure how he's going to take the news but, he's back.
Oh, and I go on vacation this Friday (December 10th) until 2022, so I should have lots of time to write. Hopefully I use that time to write lol. But I am wanting to get to the concert because there's a lot that's going to be happening. I already have the outline in the months of what I want to happen when. So I see the ending. I just don't know how many chapters it'll take to get there. But now that I see things and what's going to be happening, I'm excited to see how the details play out. I'll try to get another update before the end of the year, before I go back to work. Cross fingers
And oh my gosh! I got the Hulu cyber Monday deal just to watch "The Irregular at Magic High School S2". Instead, I ended up binge watching S3 of SAO, and the first movie, and I am IN LOVE with Kirito/Asuna. I think they're my second favorite anime couple, right under Inuyasha/Kagome :) SAO is like Inuyasha, where I can watch it over and over and not get sick of it.
Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha.
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R2R
anime-geek: Awww I'm glad you liked the lemon. I know everyone was waiting for that thing to come (no pun intended) and when it finally did, it was like hallelujah! But yes, I will be giving more lemons because those two have a sexual attraction that is on fire. And now that they've been in bed together, I'm not sure how they're going to dance together without getting the hots for one another lol. Anyway... thank you for your review! Enjoy this next one.
susu-anon: Thanks for your review! Yes, Sessho's kids (all 3) are now in the story, and a little twist comes to light in this chapter about them. As for Naraku/Kikyo, well he isn't making any friends and he isn't helping himself. I'm glad you like Izayoi having more a role in my story. Yes, even in my "The Prophecy of the Child", Izayoi had a huge presence as she was alive and a bubbly, loving mother to all the characters. But in this story, she'll be moreso because of Kag's past and not having a real mom. Yes, like I said in my A/N, there's a lot that's going to be happening in the months ahead. Concert, album, birthdays, wedding. And even with all of this good things... we all know that some bad has to happen. The past will come back to haunt. And Inu's family is ready to protect Kags. Awww, I'm glad you liked the sex scene. I'm also a very sexual person, so writing them comes naturally to me (my imagination runs wild for that). I already have plenty of ideas for their next encounters, which they are sexual creatures too, so there will be more. Some might not be as long and detailed (it'll probably get old if I put too much in the story lol). But who knows how I feel. Yes, I already have an idea for Inu jacking off and yes, that was Kag's first time giving Inu head ;) Enjoy this next chapter.
hive-chan: Haha! Love your first question. Yeah, your guess is as good as mine, though he just came with Kikyo 'cuz he thought he could. He wasn't invited, but he just came because he was with Kikyo the whole day and she told him about it, so they planned to go together. Honestly, he and Kikyo aren't official- the same way she and Inu wasn't official. They're just flings. I'm glad you liked the lemon :) It was a long time coming ;) But I have more ideas already, and clubs are on the list. And yes, Kags doesn't like "that" because of what Koga did to her. Thanks for your review! Hope you enjoy this next one.
Rosie B: Thanks for your reviews! Yes, I wanted Kags to see a little Inu, and I thought the portrait would be cute. Also maybe a prelude of what's to come? Hmmm. The whole kid thing will be many topics of discussions to come. And I'm sure Izayoi have a lot planned. It's a milestone birthday= 250. Something big has got to happen, right? I haven't thought the details yet, just the timeline, so I'm sure something good will happen. And I did listen to that Ariana song "POV"- it does fit with Kags, totally! Anyway, hope you enjoy this one.
xsophiex: Thanks for your review! Yes, Kagome comes alive in the bedroom, especially with someone she loves and trusts. She can be her true self- which is a sex kitten. She's comfortable in her own beauty and sex appeal, and she always knows how to use it to her advantage. It's just this time, like you said, she can receive instead of being the only one giving. Yeah, the whole cum thing was just another paint on her past. But now that Inu knows, he can do what he can to make her comfortable. Anyway, enjoy this next one.
vanessa: Thanks for your review! Inu/Kag's sexual chemistry is too strong. The two of them kept fighting themselves, which wasn't helpful. Inu's need to claim her as his mate is strong. But he will wait until he talks with her first and gets her to understand the risks and the sacrifices that come with being his mate. Rin and Izayoi will help explain too, to get a women's perspective. As for his demon wanting to impregnate her, yes, Inu does want children. Whether that's a need from his demon or human side, don't know. But he's always wanted kids, even with Kiyomi, just because he wants a family. He knows that he can't, but that his mother is trying to help hangouts conceive, with no success yet. But there's more to them conceiving than just that... Well, enjoy this chapter :)
MinxieXCX: Don't forget, I like hearing my fan's ideas. Whether or not I use them, that's my choice. But I appreciate hearing your thoughts and your perceptions of how you see things going because I can see it too, through your eyes, and it makes me smile. I might not use it now, but maybe it'll pop up in my mind in the future, so who knows. I still appreciate your idea, even though I didn't do it. Yeah, at the end, Kags just wanted to be clean and not lying in cum, since that's what Koga did to her. But thanks for your review! Hope you enjoy this next one
val-rommel: LoL thanks for your review and your animosity towards Koga. Cracks me up. Yes, he's a "bad guy" in my story, though I have no hard feelings for him. It just turned out that way in my mind. Kags didn't go to the hospital because of sex injuries - she went because he pushed and she felt two stories, breaking bones, and then leaving her to bleed out, almost to death. She does have sex injuries, the scars on her labia from when he used his fangs and claws to taste her blood during his lust. And she has scars in her vagina from his scars scratching her when he fingered her. She never went to hospital for it though. The house nurse treated her secretly so that Koga wouldn't get questioned. Hope that answers your question. Hope you enjoy this next one.
inusitter: Awww thanks for your fluff review. Yes, Inu/Kag's love for each other is so cute. Yes, they have their wild, sexual moments that can't be explained or contained. But they also have their soft, vulnerable sides with one another. That comes from them trusting one another with their good and their bad- without fearing judgment or abandonment. They love each other, and their love grows more because of their trust. I hope you enjoy this next one!
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It was warm. Kagome stirred, moaning as realized she was lying on her side with Inuyasha wrapped around her from behind. She smiled, moving her cheek against his arm that was under her head. 'Inuyasha...' She loved this man. And she had given him everything- her body, her heart, her soul, her past. She thought about the things that she still hasn't told him yet, but in time she would. She just didn't want him to judge her work at Midnite. She truly loved that job, maybe because it was her safe haven and her place of security where she was in control. But she also knew that Onigumo helped her so much. She didn't know how he was going to react to all this. He was already on edge with her being so involved with Kikyo's dance group, and then with the rise in fame with 'Blue Lightning', it seemed like he was getting angrier the more successful she got. Onigumo would be another hurdle she would have to face. And then, she had to tell Inuyasha about her relationship with Koga. She frowned, trying not to think about it.
Kagome moved and tried to turn around as much as she could without waking him. He had his arm and leg wrapped around her, draped over her and holding her to him. That was why she felt a little warm under the comforter, tangled in him.
"Honey..." she said, turning around in his arms to see if he was awake. His ears stirred first as he heard her and she giggled softly. "Wake up, my love." He stirred with a groan that sounded more like a 'no'.
Inuyasha tightened his arm around her, trapping her with his legs. She giggled and moved to her back, making him shift them again. He snuggled her and rested his head on her shoulder, keeping his eyes closed. She watched him, his face so young and innocent. He looked handsome even in his sleep, but in a cute and innocent way. She ran a hand over his arm draped under her breasts.
"Baby... I need coffee." She did. After yesterday's busy day with drinks and laughter that ended late last night, and then last night's... She smiled to herself, taking note of how she felt. She still felt tender down there, a little sore, but she wouldn't know if she could walk until she got up and tried. He definitely made sure she would feel him in her long after their lovemaking. She got goosebumps thinking about it, how thorough he was with her last night, making sure that her pleasure was first. She still remembers the sight of him, how sexy he looked thrusting into her from above, transformed. He was dangerous, that she could tell, and yet he never once hurt her. He took care of her in every way, even down to worrying about her being sore. She had never been treated like that and it was endearing to feel so precious to someone like that. So strange. "Yasha..."
"No..." he groaned.
Kagome giggled and patted his arm. "Then you stay in bed while I go make me a cup of coffee."
"No," he said, holding her tighter. Kagome chuckled, feeling like a prisoner to a child. It was strange to her to wake up with someone, in someone's arms, when she had always woken up alone.
"Wake up, honey. I need my coffee."
Inuyasha groaned and cracked open his eyes, making her smile as she saw the sleep still heavy in his eyes. He blinked several times, not liked being awaken when he had been so comfortable. He slept hard last night, and he figured it was because he had Kagome in his arms. Just her presence made him feel safe and comfortable, like he never wanted to wake up from this peace. He squeezed her tighter against him, and she felt him 'wake up'.
"What time is it?"
"I don't know. My phone is in my room." She smiled at him knowingly, feeling his body stir as it woke up against her. "Morning?" she asked, moving her eyes down his body under the comforter to give him the hint. Inuyasha smirked.
"My 'good morning' to you, love," he said, stealing a kiss.
"Well... let's go get coffee. And then see what we can do about that." She pulled back the covers from over her and immediately regretted it. The cool air gave her goosebumps and her nipples hardened, which didn't go unnoticed by Inuyasha who was staring at her.
"Mmmm..." Inuyasha moaned, quickly moving to capture her right nipple closest to him into his mouth. Kagome gasped, moaning his name as his warm mouth tugged and pulled at her nipple, making her core clench at that familiar feeling. It was amazing how her body responded to him immediately. He had her body wrapped around his finger.
"Inuyasha..." she whispered, her body getting heated. She held his head to her, running her fingers into his hair. "Thank you for last night."
Inuyasha released her nipple and went to lick at her scar beneath her breast, now getting a better look at it. The sky outside was getting lighter by the minute but the sun still had yet to rise and wake up the land. He could see her with little light and he looked at the thick scar, running his thumb along the length of it, his face unreadable.
"How long did it take for this to heal?"
Kagome frowned, realizing his attention had gone from seduction to unwanted memories. "Two months? Not sure. After I left Shikoku Island, I was living on the streets for days before I got an apartment. But I still didn't go to the doctor to get it properly cleaned and get the stitches taken out. I did that... by myself. That's why it hasn't healed nicely. It's just an ugly scar."
"It's not ugly," Inuyasha said, his eyes going to hers. "You have beautiful scars. You have a beautiful body."
Kagome smiled, grateful for him saying that. "Thank you, honey."
Inuyasha kept his finger over the scar as he came up to kiss her, spending a bit more time loving her. He didn't want to get out of bed, but she wanted coffee, and it did sound good after last night. He still would trade being in bed with Kagome over coffee any day.
"Let's go get that coffee," he said, pulling back before he lost his will. He gave her breasts another once over, checking to see that where he marked her last night was now a pink mark. The puncture wound from his fangs were gone, leaving behind just a dark pink mark. "Your wound is healed."
"Hmmm?" She looked down as Inuyasha turned onto his back to stretch out on the bed. She saw where he had bit into her last night, remembering the feeling of it. Such pleasure over the pain. She ran her hand over her breast. Her skin was a little red but that was it. It was almost like he had given her a hickey. "Your saliva did this?"
"Yeah." Inuyasha sat up and went to the edge of the bed, looking down at their clothes thrown about on the floor. He stood up, turning around to look at her. "Are you sore?"
Kagome watched him in pure female satisfaction. He stood at the side of the bed with nothing on, totally comfortable in his own skin. Her eyes roamed his body, taking in his muscular build and nicely toned abs, down to the 'v' in his hips and the softening 'good morning' erection. He truly was a sight to behold. Hers. That alone brought a warmth to her belly. Inuyasha was hers, and she was his.
Inuyasha arched his eyebrow, catching her checking him out. "Like what you see, huh?" he asked, placing his hands on his hips to shake his hips back and forth, teasing her. Kagome laughed, throwing the comforter off as she went to the opposite side of his bed, crawling over.
"Of course I like what I see," she said, looking over her shoulder to see him now staring at her. She slowly crawled to the other side of the bed, making sure to add a little more sway in her hips and an arch in back, just to prove her point. "Like what you see too, huh?" she asked with a giggle, getting off the bed.
"Always..." Inuyasha said with a smile, as she walked to the bathroom.
Kagome turned on the bathroom light and ran her hands over her hair, grabbing it and twisting it up into a tied bun. She walked over to the toilet to use the bathroom, marveling at how beautiful the bathrooms were. Inuyasha's bathroom was definitely his own, filled with men's toiletries. As she used the bathroom, Inuyasha walked in. Her eyes went to him, a little shocked and embarrassed to have him in here while she was peeing, though she felt like after all they've been through, this was nothing. A part of her still felt shy around him but another part of her didn't really care. She felt like he had seen all of her already, and he made her see herself differently. Slowly, he's making her feel comfortable with her scars, as if she has nothing to hide, and through his eyes, she felt so beautiful.
Kagome finished up as Inuyasha went to one of the sinks to wash his face, grabbing a scrunchie to put his hair up in a ponytail. Kagome flushed the toilet and walked over to the sink. She went up behind him, looking at his eyes in the mirror as he finished his hair, and she wrapped her arms around him. She pressed herself against his back, loving this intimacy that she shared with him. She wanted to touch him as much as she could. Touch was important to her. To be able to touch someone the way she wanted, but also to receive the touch the way she wanted. When she had hated people, men mostly, touching her, she now couldn't get enough of being touched by Inuyasha, someone who loved her. She thought of how her world was turning a 180 because of him.
Inuyasha grabbed Kagome's hands from his chest and intertwined his with hers, squeezing them. "Are you sore?" he asked her, unable to see her in the mirror. He felt her shake her head against his back.
"No. Just a little tender. I'm bleeding a little bit, but just spotting. I'm okay. I just didn't know that you were going to make me feel like you'll be in me all day long," she said with a smile. Inuyasha chuckled and lifted her arms so that he could turn around, letting her go only to wrap his arms around her waist.
"Feel me in you, huh?"
The smug male satisfaction on his face made her laugh. "Don't get too proud of yourself, hotshot. Would it be overdoing it if I told you you were the best I ever had?" she asked, looking up at him coyly. She wrapped her arms around his waist as he wiggled his shoulders up and down with each word.
"Why thank you." He smiled as he brought his head down to kiss her, taking his time as he swayed them back and forth. He never wanted this to end. The hell with the others and the engagement party week. He just wanted to curl up in bed with Kagome all day long, skin upon skin. "You're the best I ever had too," he said with a last peck, both of them releasing each other.
Kagome arched an eyebrow at him, smirking, as she made her way to the doorway. "Thanks honey." She walked out and went straight for the tank top that he had laid out for her last night at the foot of the bed. Putting it on, she realized that it was big enough to cover her body like a short dress. "I'm heading back to my room," she said, going around the bed to grab her panty and shoes from the ground. "I need to take a shower and get ready." She walked out onto the balcony to grab her discarded dress and bra, looking down at all the other balconies to see that no one was outside. She took a moment to smile at the awakening dawn, the sun not yet coming over the horizon but the sky erupted in pinks and blues. It was going to be a beautiful day. And out here, watching the sunrise over the countryside, was a purely beautiful sight. She sighed happily and walked back in to see Inuyasha leaning in the doorway of the bathroom, brushing his teeth.
"I'll meet you downstairs, then," he said with toothpaste and a toothbrush in his mouth. The sight made her laugh.
"Okay. I shouldn't be too long." She came up to him to give him a kiss on the cheek and then went for the door. He watched her until she walked out and then went back to finish brushing his teeth and then take a shower himself. Today was going to be a good day.
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Downstairs, Chibi was currently moving dishware around as Inuyasha came into the kitchen. He chose to wear jeans pants with a red button up shirt, keeping his hair up in a ponytail. Chibi looked up when he entered. He took a hand out of his front pocket, waving at the kid.
"Hey."
"Good morning, Inuyasha. Can I get you anything?" Chibi asked with a smile. He stood behind the huge island in the kitchen with stacks of all sizes of plates in front of him.
Inuyasha walked up to the island and pulled out one of the high chairs, sitting down to face him. "Can you start the coffee? Kagome's getting ready and should be down soon."
Chibi nodded and turned to start the coffee. He knew exactly where everything was and within seconds, he had the water boiling on the stove while he poured coffee grinds into a large french press. "Just the two of you?"
"Yeah." Chibi nodded and made enough grinds for two cups, going to the refrigerator and cupboards to grab all the other essentials. He put on a plate a small bowl with sugar and a small creamer glass that he poured almond milk creamer into. He placed spoons on the plate and pushed it forward towards Inuyasha, turning around to check the water.
"Would you like anything to eat with your coffee?" he asked when he looked back at Inuyasha.
Inuyasha shrugged with a yawn, his ears twitching, swiveling to focus on the doorway. Kagome was coming. "Kagome might want something. Do we still have leftovers from last night?"
"Yes." Chibi went back to fridge just as Kagome walked in. Inuyasha turned around to look at her and smiled, seeing her in a beautiful yellow halter dress. Her hair was up and she looked beautiful.
"Good morning, ma'am," Chibi said with a bow towards her at the open door of the fridge. Kagome smiled, a little shocked, and bowed slightly towards him as she continued to walk towards them.
"Please... no formalities. Just Kagome." Chibi smiled and nodded his understanding, going back to look in the fridge.
Inuyasha opened his arm to her and she walked into him with a smile that pulled at his heart. "You look beautiful," he said, kissing her. Kagome giggled and began to undo the top two buttons of his shirt, revealing his skin and his rosary necklace.
"You look handsome." She patted his collar down to smooth it out and gave him one last kiss, leaving his side to head to the chair next to him. She took her seat and watched as Chibi brought out two plates from the fridge, one with the matcha swiss roll and one with the brownie. Her mouth began to water.
"Mmmm are those leftovers?" she asked, watching as Chibi nodded his head with a smile.
"There's more," he said, turning around to head back to the fridge.
"Oh, no. Can I just have one of the matcha swiss roll? It was so good," she said, looking at Inuyasha with a smile.
The water began to boil and Chibi went to close the fridge and then to take the boiling water off the stove and pour it into the french press. Now that the coffee was brewing, he was able to focus his attention on their food of choice.
"Just a roll for you, Kagome?" he asked, seeing her nod. He grabbed a small plate and cut into the roll to place it on the plate and serve it to her with a fork. "Anything for you, Inuyasha?"
"I'll take the brownie. We can share both." Kagome smiled at him, loving the way he thought. She remembered the times they went out on dates for lunch or dinner and how they always tended to order many different dishes so that they could share and try them all. That's one thing she loved about him. He loved food. And so did she. She was a big girl, well, by Japanese standards. She was thick and she loved to eat. Sweets were her nemesis.
"You know the way to my heart," Kagome said as she grabbed his hand, giving it a squeeze.
"What? Sweets? Or food?" he asked with a smirk, leaning back in the chair.
"Both. You know I love sweets." Inuyasha nodded his head with a face.
"Oh yeah, I know." Chibi smiled, listening to them, and chose to remain silent as he prepared another dish with the brownie and pushed it forward.
"Thanks...?" she drawled out, wondering what his name was. She remembered seeing him Monday morning when she arrived. He was the young boy who took her suitcase and helped her with her things. He had the strange eyes, one red and one purple. He was one of the help since she always saw him around, helping to serve the food. She still didn't know what kind of demon he was, but he looked so young and wondered how old he really was.
"Chibi, ma'am... I mean, Kagome," he said with a bow. "Sorry. It takes me a little bit to be informal."
"It's fine," Kagome said, wondering how old he was. "How old are you, Chibi?" She felt Inuyasha squeeze her hand and she looked at him, wondering if she shouldn't have asked him that. "Was that rude?"
"No, it's fine. I'm a hundred and six." Kagome took in his facial features, his smile and boyish looks, truly amazed at how young demons looked despite their years. Even Inuyasha could've fooled her.
"Wow... you look so young. You remind me of a friend of mine, well, a coworker. He's young and you remind me of him in your looks."
Chibi smiled, nodding his head. "Thanks. I'm a dwarf squirrel demon. We usually look small and young. But it makes for a great worker," he said with a big smile, proud of his job.
Kagome smiled, nodding her head, wondering how long he's worked for the Fujimotos. Chibi went back to putting the stacks of dishes away from last night's event to clear the countertop. She turned her attention to Inuyasha when she felt him place his hand over hers to intertwine his fingers with hers. She looked at him when she saw Naraku walk into the kitchen. Her eyes stayed on him for a while, taking in his black jeans pants and light grey shirt. His eyes fell on her and he smiled at her, making her smile at him politely, then turn her head from him. She couldn't be angry at the guy, he was her boss in a sense and had to work with him. But she still didn't like him. Not after what he did to her in Osaka.
"Good morning, sir," Chibi said with a smile at Naraku.
"Morning," Naraku said with a wave.
"Can I get you anything?"
As Naraku ordered a coffee, she looked at Inuyasha and noticed that he didn't bother to turn around or acknowledge Naraku's presence. His eyes were focused on the brownie in front of him with a faraway expression. She squeezed his hand, seeing that got his attention. He smiled at her comfortingly, his eyes soft and warm once he looked at her.
"Morning," Naraku said as he took a seat next to Kagome, looking at her.
"Morning," Kagome said, sparing him a glance with a small smile. "Where's Kikyo?"
"Up in the room. She wanted to sleep in a little longer after yesterday's events. We had an early meeting with the label and then we did a teleconference with Caesar's Palace to get all of the legalities smoothed out. The announcement should go out today on all the news stations and on social media. Akari is dealing with all of that with our PR team."
Kagome frowned, listening to all that Naraku was saying but only interested in one fact. He had slept over, and with Kikyo. They all sat in silence, none of them having anything to say in return to Naraku's points. Chibi was busy putting more water on the stove for Naraku's coffee when Kagome decided to say something.
"Are you and Kikyo dating?" she asked, staring at the swiss roll.
Naraku stared at Kagome, curious as to why she would ask. He smirked and looked ahead. "No."
"Then why are you even here with her?"
The question gave him pause, shocked that she would have the nerve to ask him that and with that tone. Even Inuyasha turned to look at her, shocked, though she turned to glare at Naraku.
"I understand why you would be with her so much during business hours. But this is personal. And I don't like you messing around with Kikyo like that." Inuyasha squeezed her hand and brought their hands to his lap, trying to get her attention, but she wasn't going to back down. She was going to stand up for Kikyo. If no one else was going to, she would. Kikyo deserved better than Naraku. She already told Kikyo this back in Osaka, and if the girl didn't see her worth, then Kagome was going to make sure Kikyo didn't get hurt.
Naraku turned his head, cocking it to one side as he regarded Kagome's hard stare. That fire in her eyes was so beautiful. She really looked beautiful even when she was angry and standing up for something. He smiled. "Kikyo and I have a relationship that's our own. I don't expect you to understand, but I do expect you to butt out."
Inuyasha's ears twitched, getting irritated at Naraku's tone with Kagome. But Kagome was quick. Inuyasha wondered why she was getting so worked up about Kikyo's relationship with Naraku. She seemed angry on Kikyo's defense.
"Kikyo can do better than you," Kagome said, glaring at him. "Like I said before... you disgust me. You shouldn't be blurring the lines. You're her business partner."
"What? You think I'm forcing her to sleep with me?" he asked her with a smirk.
Chibi turned with Inuyasha and Kagome's cups, pushing the freshly brewed coffee towards the both of them, and wisely staying out of it, continuing with putting the dishes away.
"No. I give Kikyo more credit than that. She's a strong woman. But I do think you need to be more professional in your relationship with her. Don't just use her whenever you feel like it."
Naraku chuckled. "Speak for yourself. I see you and Inuyasha are getting pretty cozy. Seems like you're not following your own advice, Kagome."
"It's different. I just don't like seeing Kikyo lower herself to someone like you." Inuyasha tightened his hold of her hand, sensing that things were getting heated between the two. He appreciated the fact that Kagome was standing up for Kikyo. Even he felt the need to slap some sense into Kikyo sometimes for her choice in sleeping with Naraku. But he had said his peace to Kikyo many times, and if she wasn't going to listen, he wasn't going to waste his breath. She was old enough to make her own decisions and she wasn't a fool. But Kagome was clearly going to stand up for someone who she barely knew, and he loved Kagome all the more for it. Kikyo was still his friend.
Naraku smiled at Kagome. "How ironic... lowering herself? You should look in the mirror. Your boyfriend blurred the lines too with Kikyo... and now you're lowering yourself to his level."
Kagome didn't have time to react to what happened. In a growl, Inuyasha had moved so fast that she only felt the wind behind her before she realized that Inuyasha had Naraku in the air by his shirt. But what was more of a shock was the fact that Inutaisho was here, standing behind her, with his hand wrapped around Inuyasha's wrist.
"Put him down, Son," Inutaisho said, his tone leaving no room for argument.
Inuyasha growled low, watching Naraku's smirk. The guy was so arrogant that he didn't even once worry for his own life, thinking Inutaisho would protect him. He could kill Naraku with a simple snap of the guy's neck. Naraku wouldn't even know it was coming. This weak, pathetic excuse of a man was so cocky and sure of himself that he didn't seem the least bit frightened. Not even his scent smelled like fear. Inuyasha felt his father's hand squeeze tighter on his wrist and he knew he was testing his father's patience.
"Honey?" Izayoi asked, coming into the kitchen. "Is everything alright?" she asked, taking in the scene in front of her. Her and her mate were just coming into the great room when Inutaisho had left her side in an instant. She hurried over only to see her youngest holding up Naraku by the collar as if he wanted to pummel the guy. She worried for Naraku's safety.
Inuyasha dropped Naraku, making the man stumble and catch himself on the island with his arm, glaring at Inuyasha. The hanyou didn't back away but simply glared at Naraku, clenching his hands at his sides as Inutaisho regarded the two of them.
"Enough of this. Whatever was said... let it go."
Kagome frowned, watching the scene unfold. She didn't know if she should say something to Inuyasha to calm him down. He looked angry. Pissed. And she was too, but at Naraku.
"We're leaving." Inuyasha went to grab his coffee with the plate of sugar and cream, and his brownie plate. "Let's go, Kagome." He didn't wait for her but walked behind her and left them all as he made his way to the backdoor. She grabbed her coffee with a 'sorry' smile at Inutaisho, then picked up her swiss roll and turned to follow Inuyasha out to the back.
"Good morning, Kagome," Izayoi said, seeing that those two obviously needed time alone.
"Good morning," she said, turning around to quickly bow towards her, feeling bad for leaving them like this. She quickly caught up to Inuyasha just as he opened the door and waited for her to walk out in front of him.
As soon as the two left, Inutaisho urged Izayoi to take Inuyasha's empty seat as he spoke to Naraku. "You should watch what you say about Kagome," he warned. He had heard everything Naraku said since he had been listening and smelling to see who was up so early in the kitchen. And the things he heard Naraku last say were not nice. He understood why Inuyasha got so upset. He would've been too if someone disrespected his mate like that by saying she lowered herself. "Inuyasha is very protective of her."
Naraku 'tsked', fixing his shirt as he went to take his seat again, irritated that his morning was ruined and now he had to sit with Inuyasha's parents. He would wait for his coffee to brew and then head back up to the room.
Back outside, Inuyasha and Kagome made their way into the sunroom. He headed for the table with four chairs around it, setting his plates and coffee cup down while she followed suit. The two of them sat, pushing their chairs closer together. Inuyasha gave Kagome a kiss on the cheek, making her smile at him with adoration.
"You're spoiling me," she said with a shy smile. She poured some cream into her coffee and used the spoon to give it a stir. She brought her feet up onto the chair while fixing her dress beneath her knees, grabbed her coffee, and sat back comfortably with her mug between both hands. The warmth of the mug felt good. The sun had also risen not too long ago and the soft rays poured into the glass room, hitting the hanging pots with an orange-yellow glow. Kagome looked up at all the plants with a smile. "This room is beautiful."
"Not as beautiful as you." Kagome giggled, her eyes going back to him. He was staring at her with a smile, content with just watching her.
"Is that how you pick up girls?"
"Well it worked for you. You were the only one I was trying to pick up."
Kagome laughed. Things had changed so much within five days, from Saturday morning to Wednesday morning. It was like her life had flipped and everything shifted. She didn't want to think about what it all meant. All she knew was that she was in love with this man and she was going to be with him no matter the costs. Kagome took a sip of her coffee, testing the heat, and moaned. She closed her eyes in pure bliss.
"That's some good coffee..." she whispered happily. Inuyasha chuckled, making his own coffee to his liking and giving it a stir.
Inuyasha couldn't stop looking at her. He felt like his whole life had meaning now, like he had a purpose, something to live for and protect. Kagome. She was the one thing he was going to protect and live for, for the rest of his life. For once in his life, looking at her sipping her coffee, he felt... peace.
"What are you thinking about?" Kagome asked him, catching him staring at her. Inuyasha shook his head, taking a sip of his coffee.
"You."
"What about me?"
"I'm thinking about how much you mean to me," he said truthfully, placing his mug back on the table to look at her. "I'm thinking of how, for once in my life, I feel like I have everything I need. I have something to live for and I have something to protect. I don't know how to explain it," he said with a shrug, looking back at his mug. "When you've lived as long as I have, life becomes mundane, almost meaningless. The only thing that keeps us going is our honor and our mate. You don't know how much you mean to me."
Kagome smiled sadly at him. "I know." She leaned forward to place her hand on his arm closest to her, giving it a gentle squeeze. "I feel the same way. For once in my life, I feel like I belong somewhere. I feel like someone actually cares for me and loves me, truly loves me. I feel like I have a home." She giggled, trying to brighten the mood as she leaned back away from him, staring up and around at the sunroom. "Not saying this is my home, although this is nice. But I'm saying that you, Inuyasha. You are my home." He turned to look at her, his golden eyes full of love that it always made her heart hurt at being loved so deeply by this man.
Inuyasha leaned towards her, offering her his mouth, wanting a kiss. She smiled and leaned towards him, kissing him tenderly. His lips were so soft and gentle as he kissed her sweetly, both of them savoring this time together. When they pulled away with smiles, they got back to their coffee and sweets with Kagome tasting both of them and moaning at how good they are. The two enjoyed their coffee and sweets, all the while making small talk of last night's party.
Kagome smiled to herself, thinking about what happened after the party. She remembered the way Inuyasha looked, so hot and sexy, giving her body pleasures that she never thought she could ever feel. Even now, her body remembered every touch and kiss, every inch of her body was branded by him. He turned to look at her, arching his eyebrow at her.
"Now what are you thinking about?" he asked her with a knowing smirk.
Kagome giggled. "How'd you know?"
"I can smell you," he said, as if that was the great reminder that she needed to never forget. "I smell your faint arousal... and your heartbeat sped up, and your breathing is shallower"
Kagome laughed, caught by the Detective Inuyasha. "My goodness. You should've become a detective instead of a choreographer."
"Meh... too boring. I would know. I would track down the killer and get them too easily."
Kagome smiled with a shake of her head, watching him take another sip of his coffee. She stared at his face, that beautiful face of his that was so sexy and handsome. Even his ears, those cute, fluffy ears. She bit her bottom lip, clutching her mug tighter, placing it on her knees in front of her chest. "Inuyasha? How many women have you been with?"
His ears flicked towards her and he gave her a surprised look, shocked at her question. But then she knew immediately that he was not going to give her an answer. "Why?"
She shrugged, her eyes going down to her mug. "Curious." He gave her a look, turning to give her his full attention.
"Why do you want to know about my sex life?"
She gazed up at him, smiling sadly. "All my life I've lived in a state of not knowing. Not knowing where I'll sleep tonight, not knowing what I'll eat... not knowing if my parents are alive or if they'll come back to get me." Inuyasha's expression changed, softened, and she smiled at him, trying to cheer him up. She didn't want to see a look of pity on his face. Not from him. "I'm the kind of person that would rather know, whether good or bad. It's worse to live a life of not knowing and constant worry than it is to know the truth and living with the pain. At least for me it is," she said sadly, and went back to stare at her coffee mug.
Inuyasha took a breath, hearing every truth she spoke. He didn't know what to say to that. He just wanted to hold her. He stood, making her stare up at him, shocked at his movement. He grabbed her cup from her and placed it on the table, then took her hand and urged her up. She stood and followed him over to the lounge chair. He sat down on it and pulled her down with him. They both got comfortable lying back on the chair as Kagome laid on her side to drape her leg over him, snuggling up against him. Inuyasha simply held her tightly with both arms.
"Kagome..." he breathed, taking in her scent. He hated the fact that she had such a horrible life. He hated that he had it so good while she was out there, alone and afraid, hungry and homeless. He vowed to himself that she would never be alone again, that he would give her the best life that he could. "I promise... you'll be happy with me. I'll make you happy. I'll give you everything you need."
His arms tightened around her, squeezing. Kagome looked up from his chest, smiling at him as he stared at her, his eyes so full of love and conviction. He meant every word. "Inuyasha... you make me happy. I've already been living such a happy life since I met you and the others. I've never felt alone since I've joined the group. We all hang out outside of work and everyone has been such a good friend to me. I can't help but think that it was because of you that I feel so happy. You did give me the job, by the way."
Inuyasha smiled, glad to hear that she didn't feel lonely. He knew that his family loved her too and they would protect her no matter the cost. He kissed her forehead and watched her smile up at him, her blue eyes so beautiful.
"Now... tell me."
Inuyasha groaned, rolling his eyes as he looked up at the hanging plants. "Why do you want to know this so bad?"
She shrugged in his arms, crawling a little closer up his body, trying to see his eyes. "I would rather know than not know." She played with his shirt, a little nervous to even know. "I won't lie. There's a part of me that doesn't want to know because I know I'll compare myself to them, and what they did better than me. But there's also that part of me that just needs to know for my own sanity."
Inuyasha held in his objection. He could tell this meant a lot to her if she would keep bringing it up like this. And he could understand her reasoning. He would want to know too. And he did know. She told him the extent of her love life, which didn't help knowing, but he was glad that he knew. Now, he knew why she is the way she is with men and that he needs to take a little more time coaxing her, getting her mind away from the abuse, before he had his way with her. So he could understand her desire in knowing the unknown. It was better to know than to not know, even if it hurt to hear the truth. At least there would be no secrets between them.
"If I tell you... you have to promise me that you won't compare yourself to her."
Kagome blinked, confused. "Her?" 'Just one?'
He nodded, bringing his head back down to look at her. "I already told you about Kiyomi." She nodded her head, remembering his first love, the inuyoukai. "Kiyomi and I were together for a century. After she left me... I... it was one of the darkest periods of my life." Inuyasha held her, feeling her breathing against him, as he remembered those days that he would rather forget. "Let's just say... I killed a lot of people. My father and brother hunted me down but I kept avoiding them for years. My mother was tortured with knowing that I was out there, alone, and in my demon form. I was a mindless animal. I didn't care about anyone or anything. I just... wanted to kill."
Kagome brought her hand up to his neck, rubbing her thumb against his racing pulse. It helped to ease him and he smiled down at her, seeing her comforting eyes. "You were hurt."
"Anger is easier to feel," he admitted, his ears drooping. "It wasn't until I was in my mother's arms again did I allow myself to admit how hurt I truly felt." He took a breath and sighed, rubbing his hand up and down her arm. "I lost my virginity to Kiyomi. She was my first and she was the only woman I've had sex with... aside from you, of course."
"Really?" she asked, shocked. Inuyasha arched his eyebrow at her.
"What? You thought I fooled around with all the girls that threw themselves at me?" he asked, offended.
Kagome smiled. "No. I just... thought that you being this old and this good looking... I just thought you would've had girlfriends after her."
"I didn't want any. Kiyomi broke my heart. And my species aren't the type to sleep around. We mate with our mates, and we mate for life. But that's not to say that I didn't fool around with women and had oral sex with them. But that was all it was. I never kissed a woman after Kiyomi and I never had sex with a woman after Kiyomi. You were the first."
Kagome bit her bottom lip, thinking about what he said. His species only had one mate, which was different from the wolf species who had harems. He only had sex with his mate, the one that he would spend the rest of his life with, while Koga had a mistress and a mate. He told her he would explain to her the whole mate ordeal, but from what she could understand, it seemed like all demon species had different concepts of a 'mate'.
"So... while you were with Kiyomi, you were never with anyone else?"
Inuyasha blew out air. "No. We never cheat on our mates. We can't. Our sexual desire is only for her. We're aroused by her scent alone, and no one else's."
"You're telling me that you don't find any other woman sexy?" she asked, skeptical about that. He was a man, after all. And she tried not to compare him to Koga or her father, but men will be men. Still, from what she knew about Inuyasha in the small time she has known him, she knew that he was a man of his word.
Inuyasha stared at her, his golden eyes hard and serious, not liking being questioned about his fidelity. That was a touchy subject for him, and something he was passionate about since Kiyomi was the one who left him and re-mated. "Understand this, Kagome. I don't cheat, and I never will. There are beautiful women in this world, but none of them are as beautiful as you. You're the only one that turns me on, the only one I want to be with now, and forever." She felt so touched by his words that it almost brought tears to her eyes. She moved up to kiss him, wanting him to know how much his words and his love for her meant to her. His arms held her tight against him as he deepened the kiss, making her moan when his tongue entered her mouth. He kissed so good. He always knew how to bring butterflies to her stomach, making her core clench in need of him.
"Don't question my love for you, Kagome," Inuyasha said, breaking the kiss. "I don't like it when people doubt me. I can't have you, of all people, doubting me."
Kagome shook her head, understanding him. "No. I don't doubt you. But I told you that I'm jealous, and it's something that I'm discovering about myself. I think that I can be super jealous, maybe blindly so... I'm not sure. It's never happened until I met you." He smirked.
"Well I'm glad you're jealous. 'Cuz so am I. So we make the perfect couple."
Kagome laughed, relaxing back in her spot against his chest. "I wouldn't say that it makes for a healthy couple."
"Meh, whatever. No one can judge our relationship but us."
Kagome giggled, nodding her head. She rested her head on his chest, playing with his shirt, feeling a warmth in her at his words he just confessed to her. It gave her a sense of pride and comfort to hear those things. It made her feel special. "How many women did you have oral sex with?"
Inuyasha looked up at the hanging plants, counting in his head. "Over the century... a little over a dozen. I mostly took care of myself, but when the need got too strong, I got serviced by willing women."
"Where did you find them?" she asked, now interested where these 'willing women' were.
"Recently? RUSH."
"You're kidding," she said, now looking up at him. The bar that his family owns? He would go there to have oral sex with women knowing that his family owns that bar? 'Well, maybe that was why he could do it there.'
"It's easier when alcohol's involved," he said casually with a shrug. He didn't feel guilty. It was a mutual agreement, done with women who wanted him for the moment, and nothing more. "Still..." he thought out loud. "Even after it was done... I still felt that emptiness. Nothing changed. It only offered me a few minutes of forgetting. Nothing more."
Kagome wrapped her arm over his chest, holding him tightly to her. "Inuyasha..." They both had some issues, even demons, that they had and are still working through. But she never wanted him to feel empty or lonely. She never wanted him to feel what she had gone through.
"The only one I did it multiple times with was with Kikyo. And that... well, you know that story."
She frowned, hearing Kikyo's name. She immediately felt a certain way. "I still can't help but feel jealousy towards her."
"What? Why?" he asked, looking down at the top of her head.
"Because... she's one of your best friends. She knows a lot about you, things that I don't know."
"Well, that's where you're wrong. She doesn't know that much about me. It's not like we talked much when we were going at it. She and I are good friends, yes, but there's a lot about me that she still doesn't know. You know more about me than she does."
Kagome smiled, taking that to heart. "Still... you and Kikyo... you guys seemed good together. There were a lot of people who thought that you two were going out. And you two looked like a cute couple." She ran her hand over his chest. "She still loves you."
Inuyasha sighed. "I know. We talked about it. And she knows that I don't love her, at least not in the way she hoped I did." Inuyasha kissed her forehead. "But me and Kikyo are just good friends. Nothing more. I never wanted anything more from her and I tried, but failed, to make that clear to her. Whatever... what's done is done. At least we've moved on from that."
Kagome moved her head against him. "Mmmm... maybe. I'm sure that it'll take a while for her to get over you. You're not that easy to let go, you know?" She smiled up at him.
"How would you know?" he asked, arching his eyebrow.
"Because I tried to let you go. Remember? When we broke up..."
"We didn't break up," he said, cutting her off. She rolled her eyes.
"Whatever. During this past weekend, I tried to let you go and stop loving you, but I couldn't. I'm sure that Kikyo... and maybe Kiyomi still loves you." That thought made her pause. If Kiyomi did still love him...
"I don't care if Kiyomi loves me or not." She looked at him, hearing the venom in his voice. His eyes were hard as he stared at her. "The only one I care about is you, Kagome. I made myself clear that I love you and I only want you. It's up to them to move on and stop loving me."
Kagome smiled sadly. "So easy, huh?"
Inuyasha shrugged. "I can't give them something I don't have for them."
Kagome sighed and rested her head back against his chest, holding him close to her. "Thank you for telling me." She did feel much better now, knowing about his sexual past. In a way, she was glad to know that he only kissed and slept with one woman. Of course, he had oral with other women, but those weren't as intimate as intercourse and having a relationship can be. Kiyomi was the only woman who had Inuyasha's heart, and the only woman who could take him from her.
The two of them remained quiet, enjoying each other's touch and the soft rays of the sun as it touched them and made the room brighter. "I have to leave by noon," Kagome said after a few minutes of quietness.
"What?" Inuyasha wasn't prepared for that. He looked down at her head. "Why?"
"I have to work tomorrow. My friend who brought me here has to work tonight, so he's coming to get me before he goes to work."
"'He'?" Inuyasha asked, clearly focused on that one subject at the moment. Kagome giggled, looking up to see his angry face. "Who is 'he'?"
"He's one of my coworkers. He brought me on Monday and he brought me to the charity event too. I want you to meet him. His name is Jinenji," she said, her eyes brightening at the thought of introducing Inuyasha to Jinenji. She never had to introduce anyone to her coworkers, especially not a boyfriend. But now, she wanted her coworkers, the people she considered family for the past ten years, to meet her boyfriend. She smiled at the thought of Ayumi and Midoriko officially meeting him. "You should meet my other two coworkers. They would love you. I think they kinda sorta already do," she said, giggling.
Inuyasha arched his eyebrow. "I don't mind meeting them if you want me to. But why do you have to go home today? I can take you home tomorrow before work."
Kagome shook her head. "No. I just want to go home today so that I can get rested since I work long nights." She frowned, thinking about the other reason. "And... at the time... you and I weren't in a good place. I was coming to support Miroku and Sango on their day yesterday and leave today without having to be around you for too long."
"So you're leaving to get away from me?"
Kagome gave him a look. "You know that's not the reason now."
"Then stay," Inuyasha said, defiantly. "I can take you home tomorrow morning."
His arms tightened around her and she was so tempted to take him up on that. But she really wanted to get home. She needed to think about a lot of things. One was her work at Midnite and how she was going to bring this up to Onigumo. She just wanted to be alone for a bit. But she knew that she would miss Inuyasha terribly. The thought of leaving him and sleeping alone was already making her sad.
"No, Yasha. My friend already is going to come get me. I'll just wait for you to come back to Tokyo, and then we can be together again," she said with a comforting smile.
Inuyasha frowned, not liking that she wanted to go home instead of be here with him. He realized that they would have to talk about this. He needed her like he needed air. He wanted to be around her every moment he could, or at least at the beginning and end of every day. He wanted to hold her and kiss her. After so many years of being alone, he finally had someone that he cared about, someone to be with.
"Live with me."
Kagome blinked, feeling like her heart stopped. She frowned, trying to digest what he just said, staring at his lips.
Inuyasha chuckled. "I didn't think it would take you this long to give an answer."
"I..." Kagome turned her head from him. "Inuyasha... I don't think I should."
"Why?"
"Because... it's just too soon." That wasn't the reason. "I just... need time to think about it. Okay?" she asked, turning to him with a smile, but it didn't reach her eyes. Inwardly, she was cringing at the thought of that question. So many other questions came up from that one question. 'I don't think I can.'
Inuyasha frowned but nodded, not wanting to make her upset. He could tell she was trying not to hurt his feelings and downplay the real reason. But she didn't seem like she was ready to talk about it, so he wasn't going to push her. After all the things they talked about in two days, they both could use a break. But he was going to bring this up again and they could have a good talk about her feelings towards living with him.
"Think about it," was all he said as he laid his head back and closed his eyes.
Kagome smiled, watching him relax back, content with just being here with him. She nodded, getting comfortable again in his arms, and snuggled with him. After a few minutes of cuddling, the two went back to enjoy their coffee and sweets while talking about next week with their dancing classes and the upcoming concert.
At noon, Jinenji showed up at the Fujimoto's home to pick up Kagome. With a text to let her know he was out front, Inuyasha and Kagome made their way to the door. She had said her goodbyes to everyone before they all went their own ways. Some were in the game room while some of the women wanted to go out to the sunroom. Inutaisho and Izayoi had already left for work this morning, and so did Sesshomaru. Rin was a stay-at-home mom now with an infant so Kagome was able to have a small talk with Rin and say her goodbyes to the woman, thanking her for her help on Monday. They promised to catch up and talk again with Rin offering to help Kagome if she ever needed it, and Kagome was open to having a closer relationship with Rin. After Sango promised to call her when they returned to Tokyo this weekend, Inuyasha and Kagome left the others in the game room and headed for the door where her suitcase was left.
Inuyasha opened the door and the two walked out into the sunlight. He followed her down the stairs, his eyes going to the black car to see a man get out of the driver's seat to walk around the car and open the back door for Kagome. He eyed the man, noticing he was a hanyou by his jyaki. Kagome turned to him as they approached the man, smiling at Inuyasha.
"Inuyasha, this is Jinenji. He's a good friend of mine." She turned to Jinenji and motioned towards Inuyasha. "Jinenji, this is Inuyasha. My boyfriend."
Jinenji took off his glasses, staring at him with those green eyes. Inuyasha noticed a scar above his left eye, making him look a little brutal. His facial features was hard and he looked like he could hold his own in a fight. If he had to guess, Jinenji looked like a bouncer or a security guard from the way he carried himself and remained so formal and uptight. He wondered how a hanyou like this had met Kagome.
"Hey," Inuyasha said, nodding his head slightly.
"Good to meet you finally," Jinenji said. He could feel the touch of the boy's jyaki, making him smile inwardly. Inuyasha was sizing him up and assessing his demonic strength, which he couldn't blame the boy. "I can take that," he said, reaching for Kagome's suitcase.
Inuyasha gave him the suitcase and Jinenji made his way to the trunk, putting Kagome's suitcase in the back. Kagome walked up to Inuyasha and wrapped her arms around him, making him hold her immediately.
"I'll miss you," she whispered with her face against his chest.
Inuyasha sighed, kissing the top of her head. "So will I." He looked to see that Jinenji was going around the car to the driver's door, getting in to let them have their moment. He felt like by this immediate encounter that he liked Jinenji enough to trust him with Kagome. He didn't feel like a threat, and to be honest, beneath all that bravado and muscle, Inuyasha could feel a tenderness to Jinenji's soul. He would like to meet Jinenji again and get to the know man a little more, especially to learn about his relationship and history with Kagome. "Call me when you get back."
Kagome nodded her head against him. "I will." She pulled back and smiled up at him. He couldn't help but smile, looking at her beautiful face and eyes. She was perfect to him. And he never wanted her to leave.
Inuyasha kissed her, savoring the feel of her lips against his. She clutched at the back of his shirt, holding tight to him as if she didn't want to let go either. She brought her hands around to his front, running her hands up his chest and up to his neck, holding his face. With one last kiss, they pulled back. Kagome ran her thumbs against his jawline for a moment, thinking.
"Have you every grown a beard?" she asked, wondering what he would look like with facial hair. She smiled at his lopsided smirk.
"My mother told me it makes me look too old." Kagome laughed. "She still sees me as her 'little boy'. My facial hair doesn't grow fast either so I shave it every other week, or once it starts to get stubbly." He interlocked his fingers at her lower back, keeping her pressed against him.
Kagome giggled, looking at his chin. "You should grow it out." For some reason, seeing him with a beard sounded like a huge turn on. She kissed his chin and patted his chest, stepping away from him. "I'll call you when I get home."
"Okay." He followed her as she got into the backseat and closed the door for her. Jinenji turned the car on and she rolled the window down, smiling up at him. "I love you," he said, meaning every word.
"I love you more," she said back with a smile. And he watched as the car pulled out and around the driveway, heading out to the road. The loss he felt at that moment only made him realize more and more how much she meant to him. She was his mate, and she was the other part of his soul. As the black car pulled onto the road and out of his sight, he could only think of how things had changed so much in five days, and now he felt like he had everything he'd ever wanted.
-'-'-'-'-'-'-'-'-'-'
The club was busy for a Thursday night. Kagome looked around to see groups of men taking up different places of the club. A group sat in the lounge, another in one area on the main floor while the other group sat opposite in another area on the floor. They were all dressed as if they had just finished work, with their fine suits or formal attire, they all smelled like money. Anyone who stepped in here had money, and they were willing to spend it for a night with a woman.
"Sapphire."
Kagome turned to see Jinenji walk up to her at the bar. She sat with her legs crossed, wearing a white strapless dress that went down to her ankles with a slit on one side that went up to the middle of her thigh. She added a silver belt around her waist along with white stilettos and a pearl necklace. She had her hair up in a messy bun with a feather clip at the top of her bun. She kept her makeup neutral, the way she liked it, but boldly wore red lip gloss as a striking color contrast against all the white.
"Yes?"
"Onigumo wants to see you."
She tried to read Jinenji's expression but he seemed to not know what Onigumo wanted from her. She held in her sigh, turning to her right with a sweet smile. "Sorry, Kenji, but I have to speak with Onigumo. Save my seat?"
The young man who was her client for three years turned to smile at her, giving her his million dollar smile. "Don't forget about me, Sapphire."
"I won't," she promised, placing her hand over his for a moment. She got off the bar stool and headed towards the stairs behind the side of the bar with Jinenji following her. The music in the club changed, growing louder as the lights began to fade, signaling that a dance was about to begin.
Kagome made her way carefully up the stairs, holding onto the railing with one hand while holding onto her dress with the other. She braced herself for what Onigumo would want to talk about, running through scenarios. When she had come to work earlier, he wasn't here. He had arrived just as the doors opened for business, so she hadn't had time to talk to him yet. She reached his door and knocked before opening, scanning the room to find him. Onigumo was sitting at his desk with a pen in hand, writing something. He looked up at her and looked back down.
"Close the door," was all she got. She closed the door with Jinenji a few stairs below.
Turning around, Kagome headed for his desk. "You wanted to see me?" He had instrumental music playing, something totally different from the blinding lights and pounding bass just outside of this soundproof room. She made her way to his desk, standing opposite of him, watching as he read a piece of paper on the desk.
"Did you have a good week?"
She wondered why he was asking about that. "Yes." She didn't want to say too much so she simply answered his questions, waiting for him to give her a clue as to why he summoned her here.
Onigumo's eyes left the paper, gazing up at her with his blue-green eyes. "I heard Kikyo has a new gig coming up."
'So that's what this is about?' Onigumo was always very controlling of her, especially with this job she had with Kikyo. He always let her go, knowing that this was her dream, but he was starting to seem more and more reluctant. She could tell by the energy he was giving off that he didn't like hearing this news. Perhaps it came too soon after Osaka's concert.
"She's performing at Caesar's Palace in Las Vegas next month for three days. I don't know the details yet of when we're going and returning to Japan... but I was going to tell you about it."
"Really?"
She frowned. He leaned back in his chair, linking his fingers together in front of him, giving her a displeased look. "Onigumo... I always tell you about her concerts and when I need to take off."
"You need to take off?" he asked with a smirk. "Kagome... who said I'll let you? You talk about it as if you're already going."
She stiffened, suddenly wondering why he was talking to her like this. "You... you always let me switch my days around so that I can make it work with Kikyo's days. You know how much this means to me."
"What? That job? Or that boy?"
She took a step back, not wanting to get into an argument with Onigumo about Inuyasha. "This job with Kikyo. I've wanted to become a professional dancer..."
"And you are. Here," he said, cutting her off.
"We had this conversation," she said, crossing her arms. She didn't say anything but was starting to get angry with him. Was he jealous? Angry? Wasn't she still here, working for him?
"You seem to be full of so many secrets," he said, his face angry as he glared at her. "Anything else you want to tell me?"
His stillness worried her, and the look in his eyes frightened her. If he wasn't going to let her go to Vegas, then she would need to start pleading and let him know everything before he found out through someone else besides her. He, like her, wanted to know everything, especially when it came to his girls. He never liked sneak attacks. "Inuyasha and I also have a deal with a dance academy to teach their students a choreography this month. We're supposed to start next week, but the classes are during the daytime for two hours on Mondays and Wednesdays. It won't affect my work hours here so I didn't think it would matter to tell you."
Onigumo chuckled as he moved to stand. "See, that's your problem, Kagome. You don't think before you act." He sighed as he walked around his desk towards her. Kagome took another step back, which only angered him further. "This whole job with Kikyo is ruining you. You don't think about the consequences of your actions until it's too late. Everything you do revolves around that damn job."
Kagome frowned, looking at him as if he'd lost his mind. "What are you talking about? This job has been good for me."
"What part? The part where your name and face was plastered all over the internet? Or the part where you seem to have found a love interest?"
Kagome clenched her hands at her sides, glaring at him as he stepped towards her. "I dealt with those consequences both at Midnite and outside of the club. I knew what the job might possibly cost me. And so far, Koga hasn't found me."
"Yet," he finished for her.
Kagome bit her lip, angry that he would say that. She turned and headed for the door. But he ended up following close behind her.
"Where were you last night?" She said nothing, too angry to talk. She didn't want to see his face right now, she was that angry. The fact that he would consider Koga finding her only hurt her and pissed her off at the same time. And since she had a client downstairs, she didn't want to get angry and ruin her whole mood for the night. But Onigumo wouldn't relent. He grabbed her arm and pulled her to a stop, yanking her around to face him.
"Where were you last night?!" he yelled, startling her. He was in her face, angry and frustrated, clutching her arm in a death grip.
"You're hurting me," she said, pushing at his chest with her free hand.
"Jinenji picked you up yesterday from a friend's house outside the city. The only 'friend' I know you have who could possibly live outside the city is that Fujimoto boy. His family owns land out in the country. So where were you?" His grip on her arm only tightened the more she tried to fight with him, so she stopped fighting but kept her hand on his chest, clenching his shirt.
"I stayed at Inuyasha's parents house with the others. It was an engagement party. What's the big deal?" If he was jealous, fine. But he didn't need to put his hands on her like this to get her attention. And what she did outside of this establishment was none of his concern. "Let go of me."
Onigumo glared at her, putting his face closer to hers. "Your mood changed. First, you were sad and depressed on Saturday. Now... you're different." He could tell. He knew the moment he saw her that something had changed in her. The way she carried herself and the way she spoke to him was different. He even watched her with her client tonight and saw that something was different. He knew her for ten years and he knew her moods and personality. She was different.
"I'm fine. Would you let me go?" she asked, yanking her arm from him as she pulled herself back and out of his hold. She stumbled back, catching herself, but he wouldn't relent. He came towards her and she turned from him and ran towards the table next to his couch, putting the table between herself and him. The problem was, he was standing between her and the door now. "What's your problem?"
"You're different, Kagome." His eyes pinned on her body, raking her figure up and down. He immediately knew what it was. He briskly walked towards her, making his way around the table. Kagome kept backing away from him until her back hit the wall. He grabbed her arms and pulled her against him with a shake.
"You slept with him!"
The accusation caught her off guard and her wide eyes stared at him like captured prey. 'How does he know?' Onigumo glared at her, furious. He held her with one hand while using the other to pull the front of her dress down, nearly ripping down her bra. She gasped as he pulled her dress down to reveal the light pink mark on her breast, his mark. It's been two nights since then and the pricks from his fangs had healed, like he promised, leaving behind a light pink mark on her skin that was fading by the day. Kagome slapped his hands away from her, pulling up her strapless dress as she nudged him out of the way, going to head for the door.
Onigumo caught her arm and yanked her back, slamming her against the wall, knocking the air out of her. Kagome gasped, catching her breath as her head hurt from hitting the wall. Onigumo trapped her there with his body, caging her in. "You gave your body to that hanyou!" he yelled.
Kagome flinched. "It's none of your business," she said with venom, glaring at him.
"I'm hanging on by a thread, Kagome... Don't. Push it."
"I can do what I want outside of this building. It's my life and my body."
"Your body is mine! I was the one who saved you! I gave you a new life!"
"I know! I haven't forgotten," she whispered, losing her will to fight him. His body was pressed against hers, pinning her to the wall. His fury was uncontrollable, radiating off of him. His hands squeezed her arms, hurting her. And then she began to realize her heart was racing too fast, her palms were sweating and her legs were shaking. Her body was starting to betray her, reacting to what her brain knew this to be. Her vision blurred and her heart pounded in fear, stealing her breath and freezing her body. 'No!' She was having an episode.
"You belong to me, Kagome! You told me that you would dedicate your life to me if I was willing to help you. Just as easily as I gave you a new life, I can easily take it away," he promised, squeezing her to prove his point. Kagome flinched, turning her head from him, expecting him to hit her as she squeezed her eyes shut. She could see Koga's angry face, snarling with rage as he lifted his hand up to hit her. All she could do is tremble in fear, waiting for the strike to happen.
Onigumo nearly growled, releasing her with disgust and turning away. Kagome dropped to the ground in a loud thump, but he didn't turn around to check on her. He walked straight to the door as she wrapped her arms around her knees, curling into a ball. Onigumo flew the door open, catching Jinenji's eyes.
"Take her out of here." He walked back towards his desk as Jinenji came in, running to Kagome's side in a flash, crouching next to her. His arms were on her shoulders as her body shook uncontrollably in shock. Jinenji turned his anger on Onigumo, glaring at the man walking towards the desk.
"What did you do to her?"
"Take her home."
"Onigumo..." he said, his voice deep and low. "Did you hurt her?" His patience for Onigumo and the way he treated Kagome was starting to wear thin. He had always hated the way Onigumo treated Kagome as if she belonged to him, like some possession that he bought. He didn't like the way Onigumo looked at her, talked about her, and the way he treated her. Onigumo had a twisted sense of love for Kagome, an unhealthy relationship with her. He blurred the lines between boss and lover, caring for Kagome as a lover would, but with a strange, almost addiction-like, love. Jinenji could never understand Onigumo's relationship with Kagome, and he was slowly starting to disagree and dislike the way Onigumo was treating her nowadays. Ever since she started working for Kikyo, Jinenji was keeping his eyes on Onigumo and being more protective towards Kagome.
Onigumo got behind his desk, never once sparing them a glance. "Take her home, Jinenji. She's done for the night." He sat and went back to his paperwork as if nothing happened, dismissing them from his presence.
Jinenji growled, his eyes flashing a bright green as his demon blood roared in his ears. He wanted to tear the man apart, his job be damned. Kagome came first. Always. He went to stand, ready to face down his boss for her sake.
"Jinenji..."
That soft whisper was the only thing that he could hear. Kagome's voice broke through his demon's roar for blood, and he turned his whole attention to her huddled figure on the ground. He would first make sure that she was okay and help her through this episode before he sought revenge on her behalf.
"I'm here." He was always there for her when she had her episodes. He always got her through them and stayed with her until her shakes went away. Even after her episodes he would hold her, if she needed, until she was grounded and okay to come back to reality. He picked her up easily, bringing her into his arms, carrying her bridal style towards the door. Without a thought, he kicked the door shut with a slam, hoping that he broke the hinges, and walked down the stairs. Her body was still shaking and when he looked at her, her eyes were shut. Times like these she couldn't open her eyes until she felt safe, and every episode was different in how long it took her to get out of it. Patience and gentleness was all she needed. Coaxing and reassurances that she was safe was what he needed to give her.
Manten looked up and straightened off the wall he was leaning his back against at the bottom of the stairs. "Is she okay?"
"No. I'm taking her home." Manten nodded his head, letting Jinenji pass. Jinenji went straight for the hidden door a few feet away. He closed the door behind him and walked down the dimly lit hall towards the girl's dressing room at the other end.
Jinenji went straight for the brown couch near the lockers, leaning forward to sit her down while he got her things to leave. But Kagome clutched at his suit jacket, clinging to him with a death grip.
"Please... don't leave me," she whispered.
"I'm not. I'm going to get your things and then take you home." But she wouldn't let him go, keeping her eyes shut from the world. So instead, he stood back up with her in his arms and turned around to sit down. The leather couch made noise as he moved to settle them comfortably, keeping her on his lap as he wrapped his arms around her.
"I'm here."
-'-'-'-'-'-'-'-'-'-'-
Kagome groaned, turning onto her back as her phone kept ringing. She opened her eyes, noticing the sun's rays pouring into her room. Her mind was foggy, but she remembered coming home, stripping down to her underwear in front of Jinenji, and going straight to bed. He helped her in and sat at the edge of her bed until she fell asleep. She doesn't remember when he left, or if he left. She moaned as her phone kept ringing, stirring as she looked around her room. She sat up, noticing that her phone wasn't on her bedside dresser, making her wonder where Jinenji had put her purse.
Then the ringing stopped. She leaned over her bed to look down and see that her purse was left on the floor next to her bed. She reached in to retrieve her phone, laying back down to check who it was.
'Four missed calls.' Inuyasha had Facetimed her four times in the past hour. It was already nine in the morning, way past her usual wake up time. Maybe that was why he was calling her. It wasn't like her to still be sleeping at this time. She frowned, checking the texts he sent her.
"Good morning, love. Call me when you wake up." - 7:04am
"Are you still sleeping?" - 8:11am
"Kagome? Is everything okay?" - 8:58am
She smiled to herself, hugging her phone against her chest. 'Inuyasha...' She missed him terribly. She felt her chest tighten at the thought of him, nearly choking back her tears. After last night's episode, all she wanted to do was run to him and feel his arms around her. She wished she had stayed at his parent's home with him and the others. 'I have to work.' The thought of going back to Midnite tonight for work just gave her anxiety, so she decided not to think about work or Onigumo. She just wanted to hear Inuyasha's voice.
She Facetimed him, waiting as it rang. On the second ring, Inuyasha picked up. She could hear him tell someone that he was going outside to talk to her, and there were others in the background talking. A few seconds later, his face popped up on the screen and she was overwhelmed with emotion. Her eyes watered as his face blurred from her vision.
"Kagome? What's wrong?" She didn't answer him but just hid her face with her free hand, wiping away the tears that were sliding down behind her ears. "Kagome, talk to me. What happened? Are you okay?"
She sniffed, trying to get a grip on herself. She could hear the worry in his voice, and she didn't want to worry him. She just got so emotional seeing his face again and not being able to be with him. She didn't mean to worry him and she wasn't going to tell him what happened. But the fact that he immediately noticed that something was wrong just touched her heart. He 'saw' her. He knew that something was wrong just by looking at her, and that was enough to make her feel so loved and precious to him.
"Kagome if you don't answer me right now I'm getting in my car and coming to you."
She giggled, her arm draped over her eyes. "Don't."
"Then talk to me. What happened?"
She lifted her arm and looked up at her phone as she kept it above her, making sure to keep her face in the camera. The sight of Inuyasha just warmed her heart. "I miss you."
He looked at her confused. "Is that why you're crying?"
She shook her head with a frown, wiping her tears. "I had a rough night at work last night. Me and my boss got into an argument."
"About what?"
"This job." She laid her arm above her head, looking at him. It was so good to see him. He was outside on the balcony. She recognized the walls outside the Fujimoto's home and could see blue skies whenever he would move around. "He didn't like that Kikyo has another concert in the States again. I told him about our dance classes we're doing, and he didn't seem to like that either."
"Why? What the hell is his problem?"
"He's just worried that he's going to lose me. I'm one of his best workers. He's realizing more and more how accomplished Kikyo is, which means that I'll be taking off a lot more to work for her instead of him."
"And he's jealous," Inuyasha said, putting two and two together. Kagome smiled, nodding.
"Yeah, I guess so." She honestly didn't know or care how Onigumo felt. He hurt her last night: physically, emotionally and mentally. She could care less about how he was feeling. "It was just a rough night... but anyway. How's everything been since I've been gone?"
Inuyasha frowned but decided to let her change the subject, shrugging as he turned around to look at the open door of the grand hall. "Meh. My parents have been working but we've all been hanging out a lot, which is nice. It's good for us to relax and chill together instead of just working together."
Kagome nodded with a smile. "Yeah. Is Kikyo and Naraku still there?"
"No. She left yesterday morning. She has a busy weekend promoting her new album and the concert."
"Her album comes out in two weeks right?"
"Yeah. And next week Monday we start our dancing classes."
She glared at his smirk. "You totally set me up."
Inuyasha snickered. "I didn't sign up for this anymore than you did. This is all Akari's fault."
Kagome rolled her eyes. She tried to see the bright side in all this. She would be learning how to teach others how to dance, which sounded interesting to her. And she'll be able to put herself out there in the dance world a little more by teaching dance students who are a part of this dance studio that hired them. The others in the group were invited to come, to bring morale and excitement to the class. And the cherry on top was that she would be able to work more with Inuyasha, refining their art together.
"Do you know what you want to teach?" she asked him. They still haven't talked about the song and the dance they were going to teach for the whole month.
Inuyasha nodded, moving around. She watched him as his background changed from the sky to the hill country behind him. He seemed to be leaning back against the balustrade, holding the phone up in front of him so she could see his mother's garden and the land behind. It made her smile since he knew how much she loved his mother's garden. "I was thinking we could teach the 'Lets Make Time for You and I' number. It has good tempo changes that'll challenge the students and teach them new skills."
She nodded her head. "That's a good one." She was kind of happy that he didn't propose their song 'Who's Got You?' with their famous duet. For her, that was their song, their dance, and she was hoping that Inuyasha felt the same way. It wasn't a song that they were going to teach to anyone.
"That reminds me. We need to finish 'Rewrite the Stars'."
She smiled at him. "I haven't forgotten. I love what we have so far." They had finalized up to the female part, which was the second verse into the second chorus. She loved how every verse and every chorus was different because the lyrics were different, the meanings changed deeper into the song, portraying both the male's and the female's feelings. And Inuyasha was so good in 'hearing' the soul of the song and interpreting that into dance. "We finished the male and the female parts," she reminded him.
He nodded. "We just need to finish the duet part. The bridge and the final chorus into the outro."
"I love it so far," she said, complimenting his skills. "You made this song super sexy."
He smiled at her. "You made it too."
She smiled at him. "It's definitely a song that fits us perfectly." He nodded his agreement, wanting this song to be for them because it spelled out their relationship.
"You sure you're okay?" he asked, his worry and concern coming through in his voice and face. She smiled, seeing that he hadn't forgotten.
"I'm fine, Yasha. I must've needed that sleep more than I thought. But I'm good."
He waited a heartbeat, judging her reaction, and decided to trust her. "What are you going to do today?"
"I was gonna go to the gym for an hour and then come home to clean my apartment. Then... I'm off to work tonight." She didn't want to think about it. "What about you? When are you guys coming back?" She really missed him and wanted to see him.
"Why, you miss me?"
She smiled, seeing that he wanted to hear her answer. "Of course I do."
His ears perked up and she giggled at the stupid grin on his face. "I miss you too." His eyes went up above the camera and he nodded at something as she heard someone's voice mumbling. "I think the others wanted to go to Hitotsumatsu Beach. It's only a half hour drive from my parent's house, so we were gonna take a couple cars and have a beach day."
"Oooo sounds like fun," she said, envious. "Well... don't be oogling too many girls."
Inuyasha snickered. "The girl I wanna oogle isn't coming."
Kagome giggled, hearing him use cute, childish words. She stared at his face, feeling her heart melt and her chest tighten at the love she felt for him. "I love you, Yasha."
"I love you more than you know. We're coming back tomorrow," he promised.
She smiled, excited to see him soon, and air kissed him. "You guys go and have fun."
"Okay. I'll text you when we get to the beach and send you some photos."
"Okay. I love you."
"I love you."
-'-'-'-'-'-'-'-'-'-'-
"Is everything okay?" Ayumi asked, turning to face Kagome. The two of them sat at the bar, sipping on their drinks until their clients arrived. Ayumi had noticed last night that Kagome was MIA. And when she had asked Jinenji, he told her that he took Kagome home and stayed with her until she fell asleep. He wouldn't tell her what happened, except for the fact that Onigumo had done something and told Kagome to go home for the night. Which was so unlike Onigumo to send her home. "What happened last night, Sapphire?" She was worried about Kagome, especially after last weekend when Kagome was so depressed and not herself. Ayumi knew that it had to do with Inuyasha, and Kagome had confirmed it. The two had broken up. And now, she wasn't sure what happened with Kagome and Onigumo, or if Kagome and Inuyasha were still broken up and yet working together.
Kagome turned to look at her, gazing over Ayumi's shoulder as men started to come into the club with excited smiles and wandering eyes. Friday night. The beginning of another busy set of days. "Onigumo and I just got into an argument, that's all." She wasn't about to go into the details now, but she was grateful for Ayumi's concern. "I'm okay."
Ayumi flipped her hair over her shoulder, taking a sip of her drink. "And you and Inuyasha?"
Kagome looked at Ayumi's knowing eyes and smiled reassuringly. "We're good. Better than good, actually."
Ayumi's eyes brightened, those eerie white eyes shining with delight. "You guys are together again?" Kagome nodded her head once, enough to make Ayumi squeal as she kicked her feet against the bar. "I knew you two would work it out. You guys were meant to be together." She made a dreamy look as she turned in her chair to look out at all the men coming in, finding their seats on the floor or in the lounge, waiting to be serviced. "It's like a dream come true."
Kagome chuckled half-heartedly. "Not sure if you can call it that." Her eyes looked at the door and she immediately noticed Sai come in. He always commanded attention. His muscular build and the way he carried himself, not to mention he was very handsome and good-looking, just commanded the room's attention. If not the room, then at the least the women in the room. "I've got to go. Sai's here. You have a good night, Aurora," she said with an air kiss, taking her drink with her.
Ayumi turned as Kagome walked past her. "You too, Sapphire," she said, eyeing Kagome with envy and laughter.
Kagome walked towards Sai as he made his way in, heading towards her. His eyes remained on her the whole time as they met each other halfway. "Sai," she said with a smile, tilting her head to the side.
"Sapphire," Sai said, looking over her beautiful figure. She was dressed in a strapless-flared, blue dress with black heels. Her hair was down, just the way he liked it, and she had simple, nude makeup on. Her lips were a shiny gloss, and he stared at them a little too long, remembering the feeling of her lips on his last weekend. He swallowed past the lump in his throat, realizing that he was staring too long at her as she gazed at him in wonder.
"Ummm... you look beautiful, Sapphire."
She smiled at him. "Thank you. And you look handsome as ever."
"Ah, Sai." The two of them turned to see Onigumo heading towards them. Kagome flinched, backing up a few steps as she faced Onigumo, keeping him in her sights and a few feet away from her. She even noticed that Jinenji appeared in her peripheral view, standing at her side closer than usual. "It's good to see you this weekend."
Sai turned to look at Kagome, wondering why she had moved back a little, and her bodyguard had moved forward, next to her side. He noted that, and turned his attention back to Onigumo. "As usual, I came to see Sapphire. This week has been good to me and my company, so I wanted to celebrate with her."
Onigumo nodded, turning his smile to Kagome. "She sure has a lot to celebrate too." The look in Onigumo's eyes made her cringe.
Kagome wanted to leave. She moved to Sai's side and wrapped her free arm with his, pulling him away from Onigumo. "Let's go find a spot to sit." She was thankful that he went willingly with her, walking away from Onigumo without a farewell. She couldn't stand being in his presence right now, not after what happened last night.
The club was already busy just ten minutes into opening on a Friday night. The bar was busy making drinks and lining them up for the girls to take. The girls were walking around with trays, getting the 'lightning round', as they called it, of drinks out to all the men. Some of the girls, like the professionals, were constantly booked with clients while the other girls were like 'free-roamers', open to serve all the men with no one in particular and available to perform more often than the professionals. They were available for more service and entertainment to anyone than the professionals who had a large clientele.
Sai and Kagome made their way into the lounge, finding a spot near the entrance area, facing the stage. He took his seat, looking up as she held onto his hand for a little longer.
"I'll go get you a drink."
He smiled up at her and nodded. She let his hand go and he watched her walk away. He sighed, taking in the sights of tonight's attendance. A lot of the tables were taken already and one girl was sitting on the center stage, hitting her heels against the stage as she talked with a man who obviously was interested in her.
"Hey."
Sai blinked, turning to look to his side. A man wearing a maroon suit with long brown hair in a ponytail stared at him from his seat a few feet away. The man seemed to be here alone as he took a sip of his drink.
"Is she with you?" he asked.
Sai furrowed his brows, wondering who this man was. He had never seen the man in Midnite before, but then again, it's not like he came to sight-see the men. "Yes."
The man smirked. "You do know who she is right?"
"Yes, I do."
The man's eyebrows went up and after a moment of surprise, he closed his eyes and shook his head. "Be careful, man. That girl already has someone. That Blue Lightning duo is some powerful stuff."
Sai squinted his eyes at the man, sizing the guy up. "It's not what you think. She's my girl. Just mind your own business."
The man raised his hands, looking at Sai with an amused look. "Hey, man. I mean no offense. She's hella beautiful and gorgeous. All I'm saying is to watch yourself. I saw the way you looked at her just now. And it looks like you're invested in her."
Sai was about to respond when Kagome came around to stand in front of him with a bright smile and two drinks in hand. "Here you go."
Sai smiled, thankfully up at her, dismissing the man without another look. "Thank you." She smiled at him and moved to sit next to him, brushing her body up close and snug against him. She held her drink in one hand while the other she placed on his chest, running her hand over his suit.
"So you said that your company did well this week. Tell me about it," Kagome said with a smile, wanting to hear about his life. The lounge area was busy, bustling with conversations. The music had started and one of the girls took to the center stage wearing white leggings with a white, leather jacket that revealed her breasts. She climbed the pole and flipped upside down, sliding down with her legs wrapped around the pole above her. All the men stared in awe and wonder as they watched her perform her sexy number.
Sai looked at Kagome with a bright smile. "We just signed a huge deal with an electric vehicle company. We're working with FE on this new project and it's going to be a big one. We're thinking within the next two years we could possibly start production on these new futuristic vehicles that we projected. They'll be fully electric, capable of going up to 200 miles per hour, and the battery we're hoping to reach 450 miles."
Kagome smiled, watching Sai light up with excitement and passion as he talked about his business, which she knew nothing about. She loved hearing about his business and his dealings. It seemed to be his passion, and she loved watching this man get passionate. She could see in his dark eyes just how much he loved his job, such a drastic change since the first day he became her client. He went from dreading being the next owner of his family's company to fully embracing his duties and really loving it. He was in his element.
"Wow. Electric vehicles?"
"Yeah. They're all the rage now globally. Tesla stocks are through the roof. Here in Japan, we're slower at jumping on the electric vehicle train, so it could become marketing potential for smart business owners."
"Ah... and you're taking full advantage of it," she said with a giggle, taking a sip of her drink.
Sai nodded, looking down at his drink. "I've always been interested in more sustainable and earth-conscious markets. And thanks to FE, they're letting me take the lead in this project. So I really get a chance to spread my wings and show the world what I can do. I still will have to checkin with FE and get my proposals submitted, reviewed and approved by them, since they're a stakeholder in this and is funding a lot of this project... but in the end, I'll be the face of the project and I'll get to design everything from start to end."
Kagome watched him so animately talk about this new endeavor he seemed so fired up about. She smiled, happy for him. "Who's FE?"
Sai paused, losing his smile. He glanced at her for a second and then took a sip of his drink. "Fujimoto Enterprises."
Kagome stiffened, staring at him in shock. It took her a moment to remember that night at the charity event, and how Sai was there. Sai was in the same circles as Inuyasha's family, so it would make sense for him to know and work with the Fujimotos. But she was at a loss for words. Somehow, both of her jobs were starting to intermingle, in the worst way possible.
Sai smirked, taking a sip of his drink again, knowing he would get some sort of a reaction from her. "Fujimoto Enterprises have their foot in many markets. One of their passions is the green movement, so they were all for this project and working with me. I met with two of Inutaisho's grandsons this week and then signed the deal with Inutaisho and Sesshomaru." He made sure to use names since he knew that Kagome knew who he was talking about. Not just because she was there at the Fujimoto's charity event that night when he saw her, but also because he knew of her relationship with Inutaisho's youngest son.
Kagome recovered from her shock, hearing their names. "You met with Kaito and Minato?"
Sai nodded, looking at the dancer on the stage. "On Monday. We had a full day of proposing this idea to them and then working together to modify everything to our liking. In the end, we were able to come to a compromise. It took us the whole day, but it got done."
'That's why they didn't show up to the dinner on Monday night,' she thought.
"Tuesday my team drew up the new plans and contract, and Wednesday I got a meeting with Inutaisho and Sesshomaru to sign the new contract." He turned to look at Kagome. She seemed lost in her thoughts as she stared at him. "You okay?"
Kagome blinked, nodding her head as she moved away from him a little, needing some space to think. She had forgotten about Sai's relationship with the Fujimotos, and she honestly didn't think much about it. But the more she thought about it, the more she remembered about that night at the charity event and how Inuyasha knew Sai's last name. It was as if Inuyasha had met Sai before. He had been so mad that night when he found her and Sai together, holding hands, and it had been so awkward to explain to Inuyasha and Inutaisho about her relationship with Sai. She couldn't tell them that he was her client at a gentlemen's club and that she services him. And she had forgotten that Sai had told her that night that his father and the Fujimotos had close business ties. The Fujimotos were loyal to Sai's father. She had forgotten all of that, up until now. This could pose a problem for her.
"Sapphire?"
She turned to Sai and smiled, trying to compose herself again. "Sorry."
"Does it upset you that I'm working with the Fujimotos?"
Kagome frowned, shaking her head. "No, of course not. That's your business."
Sai shrugged. "I don't want it to cause any problems between you and I," he said, taking her free hand into his and giving it a gentle squeeze.
Kagome watched as Sai's eyes lit up, softening as he stared at her with a tender expression. 'No...' She frowned, her heart beating too fast. "Sai..." She pulled her hand out of his, holding her drink with both hands. She found this harder to talk about than anything else. "You know... there's nothing between you and I, right? It's just business."
Sai frowned, confused. He tried to read her expression as she turned her face from him. "What do you mean? Sapphire?" He placed a hand on her wrist, running his thumb over the back of her hand. "What was that last week?"
She looked at him, pleading with him to understand. "Sai... that... was just..." 'Stupidity.' She was a fool to have done that to him. She knew she was only leading him on when she did that. She knew how desirable she was to men, and she knew Sai's feelings towards her. She used all of that to her selfish motive. She was hurt. And Sai was the only one who could comfort her the way that she wanted to be comforted. But she didn't even stop to consider about Sai's feelings and what her using him for her own selfish pleasure would do to him.
"Did that mean nothing to you?" When she said nothing, he felt his heart slowly begin to break, and he took his hand back.
Kagome quickly tried to explain, desperate. "Sai, listen. I care about you." His eyes slowly came up to look at her, but she could see in his eyes that she was breaking his heart. "Sai... what happened last week..." she turned her head from him, ashamed. "I was just hurt. And you were trying to comfort me. And... I shouldn't have let it get that far."
"Sapphire." Sai tenderly grabbed her chin with his index finger and thumb, tilting her head a little so he could whisper in her ear. "I care about you more than you know. I love you."
"I love you more than you know..." Inuyasha's words replayed in her head. Kagome closed her eyes, pained. "Don't," she whispered, enough where she knew Sai heard her. She felt him kiss her cheek as he pulled back, straightening up to look at her with a pained expression, reflecting her own.
"You love him."
"More than you know," she said, choking back her tears. "I'm sorry. But I only love him." This wasn't the place to get emotional or talk personal, but with Sai, he just brought that side out of her. He was her client, yes. But he was more than that. He was a man she wouldn't mind meeting outside of Midnite, to know as a friend. But nothing more. There was only one man in her heart. "I shouldn't have lead you on like that."
"Stop."
Kagome quieted, seeing his serious expression. He changed in a second, almost turning cold.
"I regret nothing that happened on Saturday, and if I hear that you regret it or wished it never happened, then it would be too much for me to take." He turned back to his drink in hand, trying to get his emotions under control. He took a sip of his drink and then decided the better. He downed the thing, feeling the burning fire in his belly. It was better to feel that than to feel the emptiness he felt now.
After Saturday night, he had been thinking about how he could tell Sapphire how he really feels about her. The kiss they had shared was the most passionate kiss he's ever had in his life. Though he hasn't been around the block much, he definitely had a few kisses in his life and none compared to that. They had kissed until both of them needed a breath. And he had starved for her like a dying man since then. All he could think about was her. She haunted his dreams and his waking hours. He thought about her at work, her lips, her touch, her softness. Gods be damned, he wanted to make her his. He even started to plan his approach with Onigumo and how much it would take for Onigumo to let Sapphire go from here. He knew he would be able to treat her well, better than that Fujimoto boy. She would never be in want, and she would never have to work at this damn place anymore. He would give her the world and everything in it if she asked. But as much as he wanted all of that... she didn't want it too. She didn't want him And that ugly truth was something that he would have to swallow.
"Sai?"
Kagome placed her hand over the rim of his glass, slowly pulling the empty cup from his hand. "I'll get you another drink," she said, worriedly. She didn't want him to get drunk, not when he might be emotional and angry with her. She didn't want him to be angry with her. She moved to stand with both their cups in her hands, and he suddenly stood with her.
"It's fine." Sai turned to look at her with a small smile. "I'm going to head out early." Kagome stood there, shocked, as she gripped their cups tighter. "I think I need some time alone. I can't be here." His expression softened as he stared at her, unable to be mad at her. His heart just broke when he looked at her, knowing that his love for her was unrequited. He would either have to move on or fight for her. And as he stared at her beautiful face, he didn't have the desire to be around her right now. She made him sad, and he had such a good week that he didn't want to end his week on a low note, especially when she was always the highlight at the end of his week.
"I'm sorry for telling you that. I thought you should know how much you mean to me."
With a last smile, Sai nodded at her and turned to leave. Kagome could only watch as he walked away, feeling like a horrible person for hurting this good man.
"Sai!" She took a step forward and then stopped herself. She didn't know what to do. She was at work, and he was her client, and she was his paid mistress. She couldn't stop him because she wouldn't know what to say. There was nothing she could say that would change the way he felt about her, nothing she could say to make him feel better. He wanted her love, and she couldn't give that to him. None of her clients had ever gotten this close to her. They knew better. This was a gentlemen's club, not a dating hospital. This wasn't a place to fall in love and dream of 'happy ever afters'. This was a red light district, where only the rich and dirty came to runaway from the world and escape reality. But what happened in this place was never meant to go back into reality. It was never supposed to become reality. Her clients knew that. Except Sai.
Kagome watched as Sai walked out of the lounge and headed around the wall, out of sight, towards the front door. Standing there with both drinks in her hand, she felt heartbroken. She had just hurt this man, broken his heart, and he was a dear friend to her. She cared about him. She enjoyed their time together. And last week, she had crossed a line that confused him and lead him on. It was her fault for pushing him away. It was her fault for breaking his heart. She felt horrible. Kagome kept her composure as she headed towards the bar.
She missed the man in the maroon suit chuckle to himself, watching the whole thing unfold next to him with amusement. He had warned the guy. That woman was bad news. She was a heartbreaker and a liar, that was for sure.
"What happened?"
Kagome turned to see Onigumo take a seat at the bar next to her. She held in her discomfort and annoyance. She wasn't in the mood to be lectured by him. She took a sip of her drink as she watched Hojo make a few drinks at once, hypnotized by his talent.
"He left."
"Why?"
She frowned, refusing to look at Onigumo. "Because... he has feelings for me that I can't reciprocate."
Onigumo turned in his chair so that both of his legs were on either side of her, caging her in between. "Feelings? You mean, Sai loves you?"
She turned to see his smirk and his knowing eyes. "Don't act so surprised," she said with a glare.
Onigumo chuckled, tilting his head to the side. "It's clear to anyone with eyes that he's infatuated with you. Men like him don't get out often in the dating pool. And he's always here, sometimes multiple nights a weekend, just to see you. It was meant to happen eventually."
"He's the only client I've had who had this much feelings for me."
Onigumo shrugged. "The man doesn't know what's good for him." He eyed her suspiciously. "And neither do you."
She turned her eyes from him. "My life is none of your business."
Onigumo chuckled. "Funny... you made your life my business, remember?" He tilted his head to catch her eyes, but she refused to look at him. "Remember? You nearly begged me to help you erase your former life and give you a new one. Your life became my business... and now that you don't need me, you have the audacity to spit in my face."
Kagome turned to look at him, angered. "I didn't..."
Onigumo caught her wrist, squeezing it tightly, trying not to call attention to them. She winced at the sudden pain. "You're like an ungrateful child who forgets the hand that feeds it."
"I make my own money now," she said, furious that he would think that of her. "And I never forgot how much you've helped me. But I never promised to stay here forever."
Onigumo's face went unreadable and his grip on her wrist loosened. She stared at his intense eyes, feeling her heart stop. "You're thinking of leaving?"
Kagome swallowed. "N-no. Not here."
"Where?"
She wasn't sure if she should tell him, knowing that he was only going to get angrier. He already looked like he wanted to hit her. But his eyes never once left her, demanding her to tell him. "He... asked me to move in with him."
Onigumo's eyes hardened and he straightened in his chair, bringing his arm back to his lap. He looked at his fingers and drummed them on the bar two times before he stood up, so close to her. He brushed her hair behind her ear and leaned down to whisper. "If you ever leave me, I will hunt you down and find you. You think Koga was bad... you haven't seen me at my worst."
With that, Onigumo planted a kiss on her temple and left her sitting there. Kagome was shocked. She had never heard him say anything like that to her, ever. But the threat was still real, and she felt his words deep in her bones. Her hands shook as she grasped her drink tighter with both hands, trying to control herself. She had the natural instinct to run, like a prey being hunted. This had happened before. Someone had threatened to cage her like an animal, and she tried to run before she became its prey. But just like back then, she was powerless to run. In the middle of this club, with the music and the bustle of people around her, she felt utterly alone and terrified. She jumped when a hand fell on her shoulder, turning to see Jinenji come into view as he sat next to her, giving her a sympathetic look.
"Sapphire, it's just me." Jinenji could tell that she wasn't okay. He knew Kagome well enough to know when she was having an episode, or close to one, or when she was shut down and unreachable. Right now, she looked like she was having a mix of everything. Whatever Onigumo had told her had shaken her, and he could tell that she was not okay since he had kept a sharp eye on her all night long. "Let's go to the dressing room and take a breath."
She nodded her head, robotically. She couldn't think. She realized that she was too shaken up to be working. If Jinenji was able to scare her, then she was not okay to work. Again.
-'-'-'-'-'-'-'-'-'-'-
She placed her hand on the glass wall of the elevator, gazing out at the beautiful sights of the city. 'What am I going to do?' All night she had been worried about Onigumo and her situation with Sai. He had left her so suddenly last night, so cold and swift. He seemed so sad, and it broke her heart to know that she was the reason why he was so sad. 'It never was supposed to be this way.' All of her clients knew who and what she was. She was a 'lady of the night' a 'mistress'. She was a woman who serviced men at night. They signed her contract and knew her rules. A gentlemen's club was not a place to fall in love. None of her clients ever had that problem of falling for her. Except Sai. And now, she worried if she would ever see him again. Did she just lose a client?
The city was a moving blur in front of her as her thoughts raced, her stomach dropping and her ears tightening, popping slowly from the pressure of climbing so high so quickly. She just couldn't stop thinking about Sai's sad face as he looked at her as if his world had ended. The words he spoke to her last night were full of sadness and pain. She could feel his broken heart with every word he said. And she was the reason for his pain.
The elevator dinged and a woman's voice came on to let her know she was on the fortieth floor. She turned around to head out of the elevator, turning to the right to head down the hall. Her feet moved in front of each other on instinct, her head down in deep thought. She had been so deep in her thoughts and distracted the whole train ride and walk here to Roppongi. And she couldn't stop seeing Sai's sad face. He haunted her with his expression and it broke her heart that she was the cause for his pain.
She came to the door and knocked, finally taking the moment to look around and above her. The interior of the building was nice, the walls minimally furnished with some paintings and lights down the hallway from the elevator. There were only two apartments on this floor, both doors at opposite ends while each apartment took up their entire half of the floor.
There was metal against wood and she looked up when the door opened to see Sango standing inside, smiling.
"Kagome!"
She forced a smile, though it didn't reach her eyes, and Sango noticed. She immediately frowned as worry kicked in. "Is everything okay, Kagome?"
She tried to ease Sango's worry by brushing it off. "I'm fine. Just had a rough night at work."
Sango frowned and took a step out into the hall, bringing Kagome into her arms in a tight embrace. "Kagome..."
She was shocked at first. She and Sango didn't hug much. But this was a moment where Sango knew that she wasn't doing well, and a hug from a friend always helped. Kagome smiled, feeling her eyes sting with tears. She wrapped her arms around Sango, grateful to have a friend like her, making her lose to her emotions. She felt tears fall from her eyes at the thought of having someone to hug when she was sad or scared, something so foreign to her. And her soul cried out that this was something that she always craved and needed.
"I'm sorry you had a bad night," Sango said as she slowly let Kagome go, the two of them stepping back.
Kagome smiled, shaking her head as she wiped her tears. Sango's love and compassion really helped to cheer her up and take her mind off Sai. "Thanks, Sango. I needed that."
Sango smiled. "I'm glad I could help. Come inside. The boys are in the kitchen."
Kagome walked in and placed her shoes in the cubbies. She went to her left as Sango closed and locked the door behind her. She walked past the guest bathroom and into the kitchen, seeing Inuyasha and Miroku talking at the island. Miroku was standing on the side closest to the fridge while Inuyasha sat at the opposite side on one of the barstools.
She held her breath as her steps quickened, seeing her saving grace. She didn't realize how much she needed him until this very moment of seeing him. It had only been a couple of days, but after the last two nights and not being able to physical be with Inuyasha, she missed him terribly. She came into the kitchen and both men turned to her, but her eyes were only on Inuyasha.
"Kagome." Inuyasha stood, sensing her distress and sadness. He could tell that something was wrong, and he immediately forgot about the conversation he was having with Miroku about their plans for this week. His whole attention was on her. His eyes took her in as she came rushing towards him, making sure that she was physically okay. He took a couple steps towards her until she was against his chest and within his arms, holding her tight against him.
"Kagome? What's wrong?"
Miroku frowned, coming around to stand on the side of the island, worried for her. Inuyasha cast a glance at him to see Miroku's concerned look, and then stared at the top of her head. "Kagome, talk to me. What happened?"
"Nothing... I'm okay now." She was. Inuyasha's presence, the feel of his body, the strength of his arms wrapped around her and the smell of him, all brought her peace. She needed this. She needed him.
Inuyasha felt her nuzzle against him and he frowned, still worried about her.
"She had a rough night at work last night," Sango said, walking in. She made her way to sit on a barstool, leaving the first two empty for Inuyasha and Kagome. Miroku looked to her and she smiled back reassuringly him. The both of them watched as Inuyasha and Kagome held each other, both knowing that a lot has changed between them and this was proof.
"Again?" Inuyasha asked, wondering what was happening at her job for two nights in a row. Was it her boss again? Was he still giving her a hard time because of Kikyo's concert?
Kagome was the first to pull back and look up at Inuyasha, forgetting about her worries from last night. "Inuyasha," she said with a genuine smile. She wrapped her arms around his neck, holding him again, just because. She loved him. "I missed you."
Inuyasha took a deep breath, breathing her in, and sighed. He wrapped his arms around her tighter, reveling in the way he felt when she was with him. "I missed you too, love." He kissed her temple and ran a hand over her hair.
"Alright, alright. You're both making me jealous," Miroku said with a smirk and one hand on his hip as he leaned the other on the countertop.
Kagome giggled as she reared back, smiling at Miroku. "I missed you too, Miroku."
He placed his hand over his heart, his face emotional. "Awww, thanks, Kagome." The girls laughed as Inuyasha just rolled his eyes at his best friend's weirdness. Miroku laughed and turned to move back to his position on the other side of the island.
Kagome moved back, smiling up at Inuyasha. He just made her day. "How was your guy's little vacation out there?" she asked, walking around him to sit next to Sango. The girl beamed at her, drumming her fingers on the counter.
"It was so fun! It was good for us to have a team bonding vacation together, even though it was more for our engagement party. I really love how we were able to live with one another and spend every moment with each other."
"Literally," Inuyasha said as he took his seat at the end of the island. Kagome turned to smile at him, holding his hand on the table. She knew that even though Inuyasha sounded annoyed, he still treasured his friendships with the group, especially with Miroku and Sango.
"Everyone missed you, Kagome," Sango said with a sad, but happy smile. "We played games and went out into the woods behind their home a couple of times. We went to the beach the other day. But other than that, we were just content with staying at the Fujimoto's home. There was a lot to do inside and outside."
Miroku snickered. "Yeah, we even got to watch Inuyasha and his family duel."
Kagome turned to look at Inuyasha. "Duel?"
Inuyasha shrugged. "We were born and raised in eras where death came looking for you. It's in our blood to fight, and we're always wanting to hone our skills. Who better a duel partner than our own blood?"
"Your family is amazing in combat. Something you don't see every day," Miroku said in awe.
"Something you don't see a lot of anymore," Sango said with a smile. "Don't worry, Kagome. Even when they did injure each other, they heal quickly. They're demons. And they're also family so it's not like they're fighting to the death."
The way Miroku and Sango talked about their 'duel' made Kagome think they've seen this before. "I take it you two have seen them do this before?"
The two smiled and nodded. "Several times. It's their form of exercise. Treadmills and weights don't really do the trick for demons since they can run faster and farther than humans can, and lift heavier objects than humans," Miroku said matter-of-factly. "The only type of exercise that, I guess, really makes them sweat is fighting against an opponent with their same level of strength."
Inuyasha snickered. "Sort of the same level of strength. My brother and I are on the same level. But my father is a little stronger than the both of us, but not against the both of us together."
Kagome wasn't that shocked to hear all of this, but she was shocked at how common it was for many demon species. She had seen this 'duel' before. Koga and his friends would fight once in a while, though to her it was never an even fight. His friends, more like his henchmen, pulled their punches since he was their boss. Koga, however, never held back. Ginta and Hakkaku always came out bloody and bruised, but the next day would be healed as if nothing happened. She thought it was just Koga and his tribe who did this because of their animalistic nature. But now she knew that it was a commonality for many demon species. It was just in most demon species' nature to fight.
"Anyway... we were just talking about next week," Miroku said, once again getting excited. He and Inuyasha had been talking about it and he was all excited about the plans leading up to the concert. "Next week, we're going to start practicing for the big show."
Kagome nodded, knowing that was Inuyasha's plan with their short notice. He would want to start practicing as soon as they could, for as long as they could, up until the hour before the performance. It's just how he was. "Yasha and I have that dance class for this month."
Inuyasha nodded. "Yeah. And Kikyo knows that Mondays and Wednesdays you and I are busy with that in the morning. But we can still meet with the group after lunch for a couple of hours on those days. On the rest of the days, we'll meet our normal hours and start getting our stuff in order."
"Hmmm..." Sango said, placing her chin in her hand as she rested her elbow against the countertop. "I wonder... have you started making choreographies for the new songs, Inuyasha?" she asked, tilting her head to look at him.
"Nope," he said, a little annoyed. "That's why I got irritated when Kikyo talked about all of this 'great news' as if it was no big deal."
Miroku laughed. "Well, both she and us have a lot to juggle for the next month and a half."
"Mizuki and Suikotsu have her songs and will play it for us on Monday at practice. We're going to meet at the warehouse every day for practice for the next two weeks. We can't play the new songs at the academy until the album's released, so it's safer to practice at the warehouse for now."
"That'll be hard since we won't be able to see ourselves," Miroku said with a sigh.
"Don't we have those mirrors?" Kagome asked.
"Yeah, we do," Sango said. "But the academy is obviously the best with four walls as mirrors. We can't go wrong with that. And the warehouse only has a dozen of those mirrors."
"It's only for two weeks," Inuyasha assured them. "Kikyo's new album has fourteen songs on it. I think she wants to do fifteen songs, maybe fourteen. She hasn't fully decided yet, but about the same as usual. And over half the songs is going to be from the new album."
"Which means more work for you in little time," Miroku said with a knowing smile. He truly felt bad for his friend.
Inuyasha growled. "Yeah, thanks. Sometimes she doesn't really think about these things," he complained.
"You can't blame her, Yasha," Kagome said with a smile. "Kikyo was offered the chance to perform in Vegas. It's not like she planned to do it around the same time her album is released. So we can't be too hard on her for making it stressful on you."
"Well, that's why he's got us," Sango said, lifting her head up with a grin. "We're all choreographers in a sense. Miroku and I help Inuyasha, even though he gets the final say." Kagome turned to look at Sango with wonder. Sango winked at her. "You too, Kagome."
"Huh?"
"You're also gonna become a choreographer too."
Miroku laughed watching Kagome's face turn to horror as she realized what Sango was saying. "Oh, come on, Kagome. You know you've got skills. You've made your own dances before, I'm sure. You've got some moves on you. I've seen it in RUSH."
Kagome blushed, turning to look at Inuyasha, who was looking at her with a knowing smile. She looked down. "I... don't know if I can do something like that."
"Like what?" Sango asked. "It's just making moves to a song. Don't get so wrapped up in it being for a popstar. Just think about it as any old song that you're gonna dance to at a club. That's really all it is. And then we come together with our ideas and dance it for Inuyasha. He either shoots them down or uses it. It's nothing personal. It's just fun!"
Kagome felt Inuyasha squeeze her hand and she looked at him, seeing his reassuring smile. "I know you can do this, Kagome. I've seen you come up with moves on the spot," he said, not wanting to tell anyone yet about his duet with her, but still wanting her to know that he believed in her because he knew she had the talent. "You don't have to come up with the whole routine. Just listen to the songs, and tell me whatever ideas you come up with. I listen to everyone's ideas, and I use them or not. But I appreciate everyone putting in their ideas and wanting to help make the performance perfect."
Kagome smiled at him, taking comfort in his words. With their new duet, he had seen her come up with moves on the fly. And she knew that she could do what Inuyasha does, just not as quickly and as efficiently as he does. But she could at least offer her ideas, like they said, and try to help him. Everyone needed to pitch in for this. With the time that they had up until the performance, they all needed to be on their game and helping out wherever they could. Kagome smiled, looking at everyone as she nodded, squeezing Inuyasha's hand.
"Okay."
I hope you liked this chapter. Lots of emotional yo-yo'ing. Let me know what you think. I will try to update another chapter by the end of the year *cross fingers*
