Disclaimer: The characters in my story are borrowed, not owned. If for any reason they must be returned, I will hide and claim I lost them! Just kidding. Seriously, I don't own the characters. Just the story. Don't sue me. I'm not worth much.
On with the story..
Chapter 8
The drive was quiet after his declaration.
Kagome looked out the window and a wave of nostalgia took over her. It had been so long since she'd rode in the passenger seat of one of his cars. She closed her eyes and inhaled the familiar scent of the hanyou she once knew. He still held the same clean musk that was both rugged and refreshing. He watched her as she opened her eyes to stare once more out the window before he focused his eyes back on the road.
They both seemed to think back to that fall when Sophomore year of college had just started and the tension between the two was evident. Sophomore year things went from awkward to downhill in their friendship.
"You know to be fair, I got you red peonies just like you talked about Princess." Inuyasha said, giving her a small smile. He glanced her way to see her reaction and frowned when her eyes became distant. She remained silent as if he didn't say a thing.
Inuyasha tried again. "What happened that night? Why is it so hard for you to forgive me? I seriously had a game -"
"Oh stop acting like you give a damn!" Kagome scolded, cutting him off. "You were playing football with Sesshomaru and his friends. That's nothing big. You could have cancelled. You could have been there but you chose to skip out."
She took in a deep breath in hopes to calm down. She wasn't back in Tokyo to hash things out with Inuyasha and the fact that he wanted to go down that road was opening up wounds she swore she healed. This trip was supposed to be about him.
"Hey that's not fair. The game wasn't supposed to go on that long and you know that. We lost track of time and as soon as I realized it, I made sure to have Bankotsu pick up and deliver you the best red peonies he could find before the party began." Inuyasha explained. He parked the car at the docks.
"Sesshomaru managed to make it. Why not you?" She bit out. She unbuckled herself and reached to open the door. Inuyasha grabbed her hand with his demonic speed and leaned on the passenger side to place his head directly in front of Kagome's.
"You've been pissed at me all this time because you've been comparing me to Sesshomaru?!" Inuyasha's eyes flashed red with every syllable he spoke. Thinking back to that evening, he could have sworn Sesshomaru had mentioned leaving early to get prepared for a job interview the next day. If he would have known Sesshomaru was going to Kagome's birthday party instead he surely would have went as well.
"No! I'm pissed that of all the people you could have sent to deliver your little shit of a gift, you send Bank! At least Sesshomaru was there for me! Couldn't say the same for you." Kagome tried her best not to cry through her words. "Let. Me. Go." She added, regaining her composure.
Inuyasha still couldn't understand the anger. If she wasn't comparing him to his brother than what was the big deal? "Hey, at least I made sure you got what you wanted on your birthday Kagome. Don't be ungrateful." He said. He finally let go of her hand.
"Ungrateful? Fuck your flowers Inuyasha." Kagome whispered harshly in disbelief. "Do you even remember the place and time you were supposed to give me that gift? Thirty minutes before the party in -"
"Your room." He finished for her. "I know! I remembered and I made sure he didn't fuck up. He said he made it on time!"
"Didn't fuck up?!" Kagome accused. "He almost raped me Inuyasha!" This was becoming too much. Kagome got out the car and began walking on the wooden deck. She wasn't quite sure which boat was Inuyasha's so she just kept walking until she reached the end.
Inuyasha sat in the car in disbelief. He knew Bankotsu had some sick twisted ways but they always thought he was just joking around. I should have known, he thought. Bank had been the first to volunteer when Inuyasha told his friends he needed a favor regarding Kagome. They all knew how rocky things were between the two friends. They were all aware of Kagome's crush freshman year and how everything changed from there.
He rushed out the car after what felt like a millennium and raced after Kagome. He found her sitting on the edge of the dock gazing at the sunset. He boldly sat beside her and leaned her to rest on his shoulder.
"I didn't know. I should've sensed something. Fucking disgusting son of a bitch. I'm so sorry you got.." Inuyasha stumbled his words trying not to black out from rage. He tried his best to make this about consoling Kagome and not about feeding his instinct to go murder the bastard.
"..violated." He forced out. "I should have been there to protect you. How far did he go?"
Kagome's mind flashed back to the horror she felt that night. She had stopped fighting once he had her tied with her mouth shut.
"I don't know.." Kagome began. Inuyasha tried his best not to lose his patience. He knew this was a delicate question but he needed to know.
"What do you mean you don't know?" Inuyasha questioned. He held her tighter to him.
"I just... I don't know. Once he had me tied up to the bed, I gave up hope. No one could hear me. No one knew I was there but you and you clearly weren't going to show. I gave up and blacked out as soon as he ripped off my panties. I guess the only one who knows how far it went is Sesshomaru. The only thing I know for certain is I woke up in Sesh's room with his bloody arms around me.." Kagome admitted. She lifted her head to look at Inuyasha.
"It's strange," Kagome said gently. "I always thought you knew. I used to feel like you purposely set me up... until this moment. It was hard to look at you for a while. But I can't believe it... You didn't even know." She set her gaze back to the water. Kagome suddenly felt the urge to go swimming. She felt dirty.
"How could you ever think I'd want to put you in a situation like that?! Why would I purposely want to hurt you like that?" Inuyasha seethed.
"Why would you want to skip out on your best friend's birthday party?" Kagome countered. She stood up and stretched, not feeling in the crying mood. They weren't kids anymore. She switched her question in fear of hearing his obvious answer, that he was avoiding her to protect her feelings. She inwardly smiled. It seems she avoided the topic just as much as he did now. How interesting.
"Which of these boats are yours? Or are we soliciting again?" Kagome chuckled.
Inuyasha gave a light smile in thanks for the topic change. He would have to bother Sesshomaru later to hear why he never told him the details of that night. It slightly scared him how calm she was about talking about that day. He assumed Sesshomaru reassured or calmed her somehow that night. He clinched his jaw and remembered to keep things on a light note.
"I almost forgot about that night we stole my neighbor's boat when we were kids. We got in so much trouble!" Inuyasha laughed as he got up and turned around. "It's the one to the left." He said softly.
He and Kagome walked over to the yacht. Kagome walked into the doorway to a beautiful dinner on the floor with blankets and pillows all around. There were candles and flowers everywhere. It made Kagome's eyes immediately close to savor the memory.
"Hmm." Kagome sniffed. "Dahlias? I thought you hated Dahlias." She walked in and sat down to smell one of the stray white petals.
"I'm trying to teach myself to do things for those I care about despite how I feel about the details. I know you've always loved them. So I'm sucking it up. Come. Let's eat." Inuyasha explained.
"Don't you feel like this is too... romantic of a dinner setting? Tell Jak he did amazing as usual. Like this place is decked out gorgeous..." Kagome asked while she admired the room. Inuyasha's errand boy Jakotsu always did the best of the best when he needed a favor.
"You don't like it?" Inuyasha said in a rush. He was ready and willing to make a phone call and have it all gone if she requested.
"It's not that." Kagome sighed. She looked down and grabbed the glass of wine and took a large gulp. "This behavior is what got me confused in the first place. Moments like this that you'd do for me... You used to make me feel like.."
"A princess?" Inuyasha chuckled out. "That used to be my goal. Ever since your mom died, I vowed to take care of you. You deserved the best I could offer. Even now."
Inuyasha made it sound so simple. Kagome rolled her eyes and downed the rest of her glass. Inuyasha gave her a judgmental gaze and poured her some more. She closed her eyes and took another long sip.
"All this time I used to tell myself things got awkward because you saw me as a little sister. And now I learn it's because you saw me as your daughter!" Kagome groaned. Kagome raised her glass to him. "Well whatever! This wine is fantastic!"
Inuyasha could do nothing but stare as she finished her second glass and poured her third. After a sip she finally decided to eat the lasagna on her plate. He knew she'd bring it up eventually and he had practiced his explanation over and over yet he was unable to speak at this moment. He knew she need to hear something so he tried his best.
"I never once said I didn't like you Kagome." He whispered.
"You never once said you wanted to date me either." Kagome countered with a giggle. The alcohol was starting to make her happier by the minute. The topic was easier to speak about with alcohol in her system.
"I couldn't date you Princess. Things would have changed and promises would have been broken." Inuyasha simply said. He smiled at her giddiness. She was starting to drink straight from the bottle and it was dripping down her chin.
"Sure. Okay dad!" Kagome blurted. She didn't believe him for one second. She would have to call Sango back and tell her she was wrong. This man was only out to torture her emotions. "You're so full of shit Inuyasha. Just eat your food. It's really good!"
He stared at the italian dish in front of him. He meant for this night to make up for 6 years ago, not to reopen the wounds left behind 7 years ago. He took a deep breath and did his best to look her in the eyes as he spoke.
"I loved knowing everything there was to know about you. Every secret. Every beauty mark. Every stray hair. I loved that when you had a problem, I was who you ran to first. When you had something to celebrate, I was who you called on first. Nothing was ever held back when it came to you and I cherished that. People in relationships... hide things from one another to protect them. People vent to their best friends about their relationship issues, not the person they're in the relationship with. We were always truthful to one another no matter how much it hurt. Relationships don't always last, Princess. And I used to think our friendship would last forever..." Inuyasha rambled.
He was doing his best to explain to Kagome how he didn't want to lose what they already established. Their foundation seemed bulletproof.
"Why are you saying all of this now?" Kagome sighed. She wasn't ready for any of it and surely didn't come prepared to shield herself from any prank he was about to pull. She silently cried about the empty bottle of wine currently in her hand. Another glass of wine was definitely needed to hear this long awaited explanation. She figured she could always slam it against his head and steal his car if he's was just joking with her emotions.
"Because it's time you knew. And I've already fucked up your 'Re-birthday' so I might as well try and salvage it with as much honesty as I can muster." He said as he moved their plates to the side. He opened the curtains with the remote to admire the moonlight that beamed through. She snuggled to him out of habit. He figured it was just the wine.
"Honesty huh?" She challenged. He nodded his head and waited for her to continue. "Let's make a promise to each tell the entire truth to three questions the other chooses. Deal?"
"Deal." Inuyasha accepted. "Me first. How long have you liked me?" He looked down to watch her answer.
"Since I was 14." Kagome felt like that was an obvious answer. Inuyasha smiled as she rolled her eyes. He had no clue.
"Earlier you mentioned never saying you didn't like me. So when did you start liking me?" Kagome wondered. It was bold but she had to know. She had wanted to ask when he initially said it but she didn't want to seem desperate to know.
"Age nine. How long have you liked Sesshomaru?" He countered. Once again his answer seemed simple, however Kagome couldn't help the butterflies that formed in her abdomen. So you liked me, but wouldn't date me? Men are ridiculous. She shook her head of the thought. Every nice jester and semi-romatic moment they've had flashed through her mind and she wondered why she never knew. What is his sick obsession with my feelings for Sesh? Kagome inwardly groaned.
"I think 18-ish. Around the time he would keep his hair in a braided ponytail." Kagome giggled. "You've always been supportive of my relationships but when it comes to Sesshomaru your blood boils. Why is it you didn't approve with me being with Sesshomaru? Especially after you showed you weren't interested." She argued.
His anger was obvious and he took in a deep breath of her scent to calm himself down enough to reply. She'd find out sooner or later.
"Aside from my comfort zone with us being being best friends... Sesshomaru was the main reason I never crossed that line with you. If I was an only child, I swear you would have been mine by age 10."