Kagome blinked once, twice, trying to figure out if the figure standing in her doorway reallywas her ex-fiancé, before closing them tightly, looking half way psychotic. 'Deep breaths, girl. Its not really him. You're seeing things, just like before. Its not really Inuyasha, just wishful thinking. You'll open your eyes and poof, he'll be gone.' She counted to three and felt her heart race as the man before her clearly had not disappeared, but neither did he take a step towards her.

She tilted her head, taking in his full image. His shoulders were hunched as he dug his hands into the pockets of his hoodie, a twisted scowl on his face as he altered from completely avoiding her gaze and giving shy, unsure peeks in her direction. His entire body looked tense, and more infuriatingly,hot. How could he look so damn goodjust standing there? It pissed Kagome off that she could go months without seeing him, but the second she did she was weak in the knees and her stomach in knots.

It used to be something she liked, back when they were a couple. The man would so much as look at her with those amber eyes and she was a puddle of want. Now… Now she needed to get over it. They- well, there was no 'they' anymore. It was he and Kikyo. She and Koga. They were nothing more than history, over and done with, and yeah, she sometimes longed to revisit, especially on those long, lonely nights, but that wasn't reality. She couldn't let Inuyasha have this effect on her, not anymore. Giving herself a mental shake, she gripped the grocery bags in her hand, knuckles turning white and let out a shaky breath.

"Inuyasha?" She asked. Her voice made him snap to attention, eyes trained on her, somehow hard and fragile all at once. "What are you doing here?" She did her best to hide the lump in her throat, but the words still choked her. She didn't want Inuyasha to notice that seeing him here was like witnessing a ghost, a piece of her past she wanted to wrap herself in.

It was hard to look at her. Rationally, he knew Kagome was different, but fuckit felt so familiar- like coming home, because damn it, this washis home. And she washis woman.

Is. She still ishis woman. He couldn't let Miroku keep swaying him. Seeing her ready to open theirdoor, to theirhome, still in her work clothes, ingredients for their dinner bagged and ready to be cooked… it just felt right. This was where he belonged. Not with Kikyo or Miroku or anyone else on the damn planet. With Kagome.

He needed to go home.

Closing the distance between them, he stood over Kagome, her frame smaller than he remembered in his absence. Kagome sucked in a breath, hating and loving the scent of him that was filling her head and making her dizzy. Kagome was certain the hanyou could hear her heart beating at double speed as he locked eyes with her, bending slightly as slid his hands over hers, causing her to jump at the unexpected contact. Inuyasha had managed to transfer the bags into his own hands and removed the weight from hers. He gave her a crooked smile and said, "I'm here to help with these," He motioned towards the bags, slightly nodding his head. "What else?"

She was wordless, in complete shock as she watched him walk to the doorway, and wait, raising his brows when she didn't move to unlock the door. "You coming?" He asked. The whole thing was off. Did- Did he lose more time, more of his memory? Did he forget that they were not together? She winced thinking about having to go through that situation again. The break up was hard enough, but having to do it a second time was torture. She really wasn't sure she would be able to withstand it a third time. Swallowing hard, she stood her ground.

"I- I don't think it's a good idea you're here." Kagome bit her bottom lip, watching for a sign of… well she didn't know what.

"Why?" He questioned, tone clipped. "You're boyfriend going to get mad?" His expression seemed to change into something darker. Kagome felt like the wind was knocked out of her; she wasn't sure if she should be happy that he wasn't worse off, or upset, the way he was talking. Hearing her ex talk about her current dating situation made her stomach sink. He spoke low, his sharp fangs bared with his threat. "Bring him. Let him say it to my fucking face." He could feel his blood boiling, feel the rage building inside of him, ready to take on whoever dared to warm his fiancés bed. Inuyasha took in her surprise, her eyes wide with shock, the way her body language changed and knew he needed to calm himself down or he was going to blow everything. "Look, I'm- I'm sorry." He said, breathing out deeply. Kagome arched her brow; sorry wasn't something the hanyou said often. "Can- Can you just open the door? I only want to talk. If… if you don't want me to stay, I get it. I'm not trying to make things hard for you. I can set these down and leave. I just want to talk. Even if its just 5 minutes. I'm-" He sighed and looked up at the ceiling, as if the white tiles could grant him the words he needed to convince her. "I'm so fucking confused. I just- I just need to clear a few things up. I'm really struggling, Kagome."

She considered, for a moment, telling him to leave. Set down the bags and just turn around. His problems were not hers,not anymore at least. But when was the last time she had seen him so vulnerable? When had he needed her, reallyneeded her like this? It was only natural that he had questions, and logically, the person he would turn to for answers would be her.

Even after everything he had put her through, she wouldn't be able to turn him away. Crossing the space, she took her key and unlocked the door, hesitating before she pushed it open, stepping aside so the hanyou could pass through. He muttered his thanks as he placed the things down on the table, taking a not so subtle look around the room.

Not much had changed. The kitchen was tidy, a few odd dishes drying on the rack, the living room still arranged in the same manner. The pictures on the wall were different. Faces he recognized in places he had never gone- things that had happened after they split. Not for the first time, he thanked God that she hadn't moved, that he could find her easily, that things seemed normalhere. "I can't believe you're still here." He mumbled. This had never meant to be permanent, just a cheaper spot to live while Inuyasha and his team worked on their home. They figured they could accrue a savings if they lived in a less than stellar house and pour it all into the plot of land Inuyasha was building their dream home on. He said his comment in what he meant to be gratefulness, however it rubbed Kagome the wrong way.

"Well you didn't leave me with much of an option." She said, rummaging through the groceries as she began to put things away. Turning in her direction, he walked over to the table and grabbed a jar of peanut butter and opened the cabinet door, placing it on the bottom shelf. A small moment he relished. A small piece of normal. A small piece of them. "What do you mean?" he asked. Kagome did not look his way as she answered, choosing to focus on her task.

"You left me in a mountain of debt and a lease." She answered, tone cold and precise. "We had deposits and payment plans on everything from the furniture to wedding venues and when we made purchases it was based off of a two income household. By the time I was able to pay off some of it, staying here was the cheapest option."

Inuyasha did he best to hide his surprise. How could any of that be possible? Okay, so they did break up, but was he really so much of an asshole that he wouldn't help set her right? He thought about her car, how worried she was about the high payments, but he insisted that she get a decent vehicle, adamant he would help her. They were a couple, right? What was his was hers, no question. If she needed some help paying for a car that would keep her safe he was happy to do it. Inuyasha had a sinking feeling in his gut as he thought of it now. "How? Why didn't I take half the debt, or help pay it off?" He asked. "Was I really that much of an ass?"

It was hard to stay mad at him like this, helpless and unsure of everything, but Kagome refused to be swayed. "Post break up Inuyasha wasn't my favorite version of you." She looked him up and down, still helping unpack her things and gods, she must've seen him do this a thousand times. It brought back a tender memory that softened some of her anger. "Besides," She sighed, "its not like I asked you to help shoulder it." She put the last of her things away and leaned her back against the counter.

"Why wouldn't you ask?" He questioned. "Why put yourself through so much bullshit? I would've-"

"I'd rather pay it off for the rest of my life than ask you for help." She cut him off, a colder side than Inuyasha could ever remember. She had always been so light, happy. This slow burning anger, is this what he had reduced her to? "You shouldn't have to ask, I should have fucking known." He hung his head and lowered his voice. "I'm so sorry, Kagome."

"You had other things on your mind." Kagome folded her arms over her chest and squared her shoulders. She needed to draw a line between them, and having him knee deep in regrets he couldn't even remember would do no one any good. She tried to soften her tone without sounding cold. "What did you need to talk about?"

"Well, for starters this. We need to go to an ATM." He said, eager to right his wrongs. "I have money in the bank. How much-"

"No, Inuyasha." She said.

"Not no, Kagome. How much mon-"

"No." she answered more firmly.

"But-"

"Just stop!" She screamed, finally losing her temper. "You can't fix everything all the time. You-"

"You always have to be the hero, don't you?" She was crying, tears uncontrollably rolling down her plump cheeks as her anger came to a full boil. "I used to love that about you, you know? I was always so proud that my boyfriend was the one who stuck up for the underdog, my fiancé was the one who would be the first to jump in and defend someone. I bragged about your sense of justice." She laughed, bitter, devoid of any warmth, giving him a chill. "You couldn't just leave her alone, could you? She needed help and you just hadto step in and make things better, even if the cost was me, or us?" Her eyes… he had never seen them so full of anger, so full of betrayal. He had turned her into this, turned her kind soul into a jaded one. How could he come back from this?

Inuyasha blinked as his jaw fell open, the ringing in his ears so intense he stumbled, catching himself on the chair. Kagome rushed to his side, any anger she had completely dissipated, his safety and health the most pressing matter on her mind. "Are you okay?!" She asked, gripping his shoulder, urging him to turn her way. "Inuyasha, look at me! Do we need to go to the doctor? In-"

He gripped her hand, wrapping his large fingers around her small ones, taking deep breaths of air, before he spoke. "I'm alright." He said. "I'm okay." Without thinking, he leaned his head against hers, closing his eyes as he tried to process what in the hell had just happened.

"What-?"

"I think, I think I had a memory resurface." He shook his head slightly so that he wouldn't jostle her. "I'm not sure."

"That's great then." Kagome smiled. "That's good, right?"

Inuyasha raised a brow as he looked at her. "It wasn't a particularly good one." He swallowed hard, his voice still hoarse. "Either way, this is the first that's come back." Kagome seemed genuinely surprised by this. It had to be being home, being with her. She had stood up to get him a glass of water and pushed the glass towards him. Wordlessly he thanked her, a slight nod of appreciation. She always knew what he needed without asking.

"Should I call Miroku to take you home? Or to the doctor?"

Well, maybe not always.

"I don't need a doctor." He waved her off. "And I'm already home."

Kagome frowned. "Inuyasha," She started. "We talked about this. A lot."

"And it doesn't change the way I feel." He crossed his arms over his chest.

"Inuyasha, Im- I have a boyfriend." Well, sort of a boyfriend, but he didn't need to know that. Nervously (seriously, why was shenervous that she was dating?) she tucked a lock of hair behind her ear.

"You had a fiancé first." He ground out, reaching for her hand. He needed to touch her, needed the skin to skin contact. She tugged her hand, but he refused to let her go.

"And my finance cheated on me and left me for another woman." She reminded him, giving her hand another tug to gain freedom.

"I cheated?" he asked, his hand going slack. "I really…" It didn't seem possible. He never even thought about being with someone else, let alone act in it. Taking the opportunity, she removed her hand and shrugged.

"You said no, you never physicallycheated, but I wasn't sure. There were a lot of times I think back on and…" it was hard to finish her sentence, almost if she spoke it out loud it would make it true. "But emotional cheating is just as bad. Maybe worse."

Inuyasha nodded, because what else could he do. He fucking agreed. "I'm so sorry Kagome." It felt like a broken record, that he just kept saying the same few phrases over and over but he truly meant it.

"Look, it's the past. Theres no reason to dwell on it. You moved on, I moved on. It sucks that you cant remember, but maybe that's a good thing. A fresh start, you know?" She gave him a small smile, a kindness he didn't deserve.

"I don't want to start over. I don't want to forget." He said low. "I want you back. I never wanted to lose you in the first place, but obviously I screwed things up. I need you Kagome."

How many times had she envisioned this? Heard it play out in her head, in her dreams. In her fantasy, she was able to over come the hurt, but reality left the confession feeling bitter and a little too late. She shook her head. "No."

Inuyasha looked up towards the ceiling, searching for the right thing to say, the right way to phrase his thoughts without putting his foot in his mouth. "I get it." He finally said. "Its going to fucking kill me, but I understand." Kagome bit her lip as she nodded, the pressure of the conversation heavy and tense.

"Could- Do you think I could still see you?" He asked, a delicate hope in his eyes. "I know it's a lot to ask… but I need some normal and fuck, Kagome you're my normal. I know I can't go back to being your fiancé, but… can't we go back to friends?"

Could they? She had so much anger, so much unresolved shitwith Inuyasha, was that even possible?

Was it something she even wanted?

"I don't know…" She answered honestly.

"We used to be friends. We were friends first-"

"Barely!"

"But still friends first. Wasn't my fault you couldn't keep your hands off of me." He wiggled his brows suggestively.

"Sure, because I was the one making advances." She snorted.

"Fess up Higurashi, you couldn't keep your eyes off my ass and you know it."

Kagome shrugged. "It was a really nice ass." Pointing her index finger at him she chastised, "But I never made the first move."

"And it drove me fucking crazy." He admitted. "You drove me crazy." He said with a smile.

"Ditto." It felt easy, and gods, that was dangerous. A heavy silence fell over them, the magic of the moment gone.

"We always had fun hanging out." Inuyasha said. "Just dinner, or a movie or-"

"That's dating. We cant date. I don't think Kikyo would be thrilled with that idea."

"Fuck Kikyo." He hissed. "I haven't spoken to her since that day at the hospital." That seemed to surprise Kagome, although she was remiss to show it. "I get it- youre with Koga and Ill fucking deal with that on my own…I just… I want to be around you. I need you in my life."

Kagome was sure that this was a mistake.

There was no such thing as being friends with an ex, not really.

But he was hurting, and he seemed genuine. As long as they kept a boundary, maybe it would give her the closure she was aching for and finally be able to move on with her life.

"Okay." She said weakly. "We can… tryto be friends."

Even though she knew it was a mistake, her heart felt so full watching the smile reach his eyes