Stolen

Chapter 10

(Still Flashback!)

The party was rocking! The music was too loud, there was an excess of people and the place was a complete mess, scratch that, it looked like it had been burned down – just Kagome's cup of great. Not really.

She had a painful headache and walked around trying to clean the place up with whatever means possible. With a disgusted face, she placed coasters under each of the many alcohol filled glasses on the coffee table. She frowned, when she felt a ring on her finger and stood up straight, placing a hand on her hip. Kagome eyed the silver piece of jewellery and twirled it around in between her other fingers. A thousand questions and doubts crossed her mind.

Her day couldn't get any worse, could it?

Just then, she heard somebody puke in the hallway and sighed, plopping her self down the settee in complete defeat. Throwing away the bleach and cloth she had been clutching in her hands, she laid down and closed her eyes to try and block out the noise. It failed her, it was just too loud.

They had driven back home the other day from their beach vacation, the four of them, and surprisingly her family had gone to visit some far off Aunt of hers on the other side of the country – that's what the note on the fridge said. It was alright actually, because she really needed time to be alone for a while, especially after being engaged. At the thought of it, she felt heavy, as if the burden was too heavy – what was wrong with her? Shouldn't she be happy?

She didn't know anymore.

Of course, typical and bubbly Sango would do something like this. The moment she knew about the engagement, she began to plan a great party so that everybody could celebrate it with them. She thought she was doing Kagome a big favour. But Kagome wasn't so sure that there was anything to celebrate. It just happened that her family was out of town so that they had a venue for the gig, she knew it was going to be a total disaster – and so far, she was right.

Kagome huffed, rubbing a hand over her aching temple. She was getting really sick of this, every now and then people would congratulate her on both the engagement and the party – but both of them weren't really hers to be fond of. The party was Sango's, and the engagement, well, Inuyasha made it pretty clear that she should agree if she loved him and she did, so she couldn't just say no.

"There she is!" She heard Sango's voice from nearby, followed by a 'thud' as she sat on the sofa next to her, "The lucky bride to be!" She yelled and everyone close by who could hear her, cheered and applauded.

Kagome scoffed and opened her eyes again, sitting upright so that she could see Sango properly.

"Wake up, sleepy head!" She said, patting Kagome's back, "This is your engagement party!"

Kagome's eyebrow cocked up in response, and she let out another long sigh, "Yeah sure." She said down heartedly, "Hey Sango, what's that?" She asked, pointing to the beer bottle in her friend's hand, fortunately untouched.

"Beer. You want some?"

Kagome shook her head vigorously, backing away and making a slight face, "No thanks." She murmured, as the music got slowly louder.

"Well, you're going to be married soon!" Sango shrieked, changing the subject and almost right away, Kagome's heart sank again. There was something really wrong with her.

"Give me that!" Kagome snapped, grabbing the bottle from Sango and chugging down the entire content of it. Instead of making her feel better, her headache only grew worse and she tasted a foul something in her mouth. She quickly threw the bottle away and heard the faint sound of it smashing into pieces on the floor.

"Kagome!" Sango yelled in surprise, "Are you okay?"

Kagome nodded childishly, swaying a little from side to side, "Can I talk to you?" She stage whispered, attempting to grab a handful of Sango's shirt.

"Of course," She replied, looking concerned and knowing far too well that her best friend's alcohol intake was remotely too much for one go. She leaned in to hear what she had to say.

"No! Somewhere private!" Kagome hissed childishly, and standing up. A few passing by stared at Kagome in amusement to which Sango gave strong glares. She held Kagome by the arm and escorted her to wherever she was going. Kagome walked unsteadily down the hallway.

Abruptly, she stopped and snatched another beer from a person standing by, "Thank you!" She smiled before swigging it down her throat violently; afterwards she looked even more drunk and anxious.

Sango took the bottle away, giving it back to the owner, and dragged her into an empty study room, sitting her down on a chair very firmly. She gave her a confused stare as Kagome fidgeted in her seat, occasionally poking the ring on her finger.

"Kagome!" She yelled in worry, "What's going on with you?"

Kagome smiled, and attempted to stand up, but her knees buckled and she settled herself down again, "I want to tell you a secret!" She stage whispered again, putting a hand up to cover her mouth slightly.

Sango bent down to her height, since she was the taller of the two, and took Kagome by her shoulders. She looked into her eyes in search of answers, but eventually found none. Just something of doubt, and maybe fear.

"You can tell me anything!" She said, in an almost pleading tone, her grip on Kagome tightening comfortingly.

Kagome nodded, and drew in closer. All the words she had never really wanted to say were about to come out, and she was too out of it to actually notice, "I don't want to be. I don't want this ring! No no, Sango." She murmured.

"What?" She asked in shock.

"I don't want to be engaged, I don't know – help." She begged, taking a grasp on Sango's arm.

"Kagome, why did you agree then?"

"So many questions! He said to say yes if I love him, and I-I-"

Sango looked at her friend in sympathy, not quite taking this information in.

"Do you?" She interrupted to which Kagome stared blankly, "Do you love him?"

Kagome said nothing for a moment, but then she nodded firmly, "I love him." She replied strongly. Her eyes were growing heavy, they fluttered between sleep and being awake. Slowly, Kagome began to fall back into the comfort of her seat, "But I can't be engaged yet… not yet-"

Sango smiled faintly, and patted her friend's shoulder, before pulling back. She understood and watched as Kagome drifted into a deep sleep, snoring lightly. Her hair curtained her face, her features peaceful.

After a while of sitting in the silence, Sango got up to go and ask somebody to carry Kagome up to her room – the party was over. With a faint 'click' of the door shut behind her, Sango pushed through the crowd to a familiar face in the living room.

"Kouga!" Sango called out, to which his gaze snapped in her direction immediately. He smirked at the sight of her and broke his conversation with a girl called Kikyo. She smiled in fakery when they saw the girl walking towards them, she threw her straight jet-black hair behind her shoulder and stood tall.

"What's up Sango?" Kouga asked when Sango approached them.

"Hey! I um, need you to help me with Kagome." She said, and Kouga smiled. Kikyo looked away and left them, disappearing into he crowd. Kouga stared after her for a moment but then shook his head, "Okay lets go."

"Inuyasha!" He heard someone called from behind him as he placed a hand on the front door. He spun around just in time to see his brother hovering in the living room doorway.

Inuyasha sneered and opened the door, "Don't worry! Party is dying out anyway." He said, "People are leaving."

Sesshomaru shrugged and returned back into the room, so Inuyasha shut the door behind him and left. He ran over to the white picket fence that separated his house from the one neighbouring it and leapt over it – some people, who sat outside, cast him freaked out looks but he ignored them and went inside the house.

Once through the front door, he met a blaze of roaring music and a complete clutter of a house. He sighed of the party's doing and continued to walk around the bottom floor in the search for his girlfriend. Wait no, his fiancé. He smiled upon thinking of it and knew that he was the luckiest guy in the world.

"Thanks Kouga!" Sango said, giving him two thumbs up and gesturing that she was leaving to go clean up, "I really can't carry her!"

"It's no problem," He replied, and lifting up Kagome with both arms easily.

Sango beamed, "That's great, just leave her in her room. Up the stairs and the second door to the left, you'll know its practically covered in pink." She sighed and gave Kagome a concerned look before thanking Kouga one more time. She left.

Kouga nodded, and set himself out the room, locating the stairs with ease. He walked over towards it in the hopes getting her up quickly, as he received stares from the visitors knowing that this girl was engaged. He frowned and edged through the remains of the crowd.

"Inuyasha?" Kagome mumbled, pulling herself closer to him in her sleep and unconsciously draping her arms around his neck. Kouga froze and stared down at this girl, suddenly his arms felt tired and he carried on walking.

"I love you…" She said, before going back to sleep and falling light into Kouga's hands. He ignored it and saw somebody before him with a shocked look on his face. Damn, it was Inuyasha. As much as he despised the guy, it hurt him that he was at the wrong place at the wrong time. Did he hear what she had just said – he hoped he didn't.

"What the hell are you doing?" Inuyasha said, his tone angry and stepping forwards from out of the crowd. Soon after, they started to leave. It was just me, Inuyasha and very few people left in Kagome's house – it didn't look too good.

"I'm taking your girl up to her room, she passed out!" Kouga replied just as menacing, he hated when people spoke to him that way. His grip tightened around the girl and he took a quick glance in her direction, "Where were you when that happened?"

Inuyasha stared him down and his face flushed slightly, he was taken somewhat aback, "She's my girlfriend, and I'll take her!" He shouted, and glaring at Kouga icily. Kouga gaped and shook his head in a disappointed manner, handing Kagome over to Inuyasha's stronger arms, his own two arms ached after her weight confiscated.

"I'm not picking a fight man, but whatever you heard just a moment ago – it wasn't being said to me." Kouga said quietly so only Inuyasha could hear, he raised his hands in mock defence. He then greeted the remaining people he knew a goodbye and left the house, without even a look back. Inuyasha felt a slight pang of guilt but it was quick to fade. His arms wrapped tightly around Kagome as he carried her bridal style and found the stairs quickly.

"Inuyasha!" Sango yelled when he was half up the stairs, he turned midway to avoid slipping and looked at Sango, "You're a bit late for your own party! Hey, where's Kouga?"

"He's gone home." He replied, before continuing to walk upstairs. Sango nodded and went back to cleaning, wondering what happened to him. Fiercely, she forced Miroku to help her with the tidying up – she didn't want there to be a mess when Kagome woke up. Because: one, she was a good friend; and two, Kagome had a lot to think about already.

Inuyasha kicked her door open with his foot, since he knew this house like the back of his hand, there was no need to second-guess which her room was. After a short time, he found her bed and put her down on it; making sure to take of any shoes or jewellery before pulling the covers over her.

When that was done, he sat on the edge of her bed and watched her, his eyes steadily studying her emotionless features. In the dark room with only a lamp for light, she looked beautiful – Inuyasha frowned and looked away.

That one conversation put doubt wide in his mind, it had taken its toll on him, but he was willing to let it go for now. He leaned forward and stroked her face, suddenly she stirred and he drew back hurriedly.

"Kouga…" She whispered profoundly in her sleep.

Inuyasha's eyes widened, and he stood up. He was head over heels with this girl, but something wasn't right. He was willing to risk his entire being just to be with her, and now this was going on. There was an aching in his chest and it was hard to ignore.

Inuyasha walked across the room and stormed out of the house, welling with regret. Sesshomaru was right, he should have stayed at home – he hated it when he was right.

He touched the necklace he wore; hanging around his neck, it held the ring that signalled their engagement. They both had one. He loved her, but did she return those feelings back. The same doubts that rummaged his head when they first met returned inside.

He could be overreacting or it could be the truth.

She doesn't want me…

A/N : Well, well, there you go, the official tenth chapter of this story. I'm sorry for my absence, its exam period and I don't really have time to type type type. But I hope this chapter is alright and clears some stuff up about how the both of them are slowly growing apart - for all the wrong reasons, I know. It sucks, but something has got to happen right. You can't always have a straight out happy ending, you got to work things out.

Please please review, it may the only reason for me to carry on. Because, in fact, it makes my day and motivates me to write a better chapter - sad but very true. Tell me what you think of it.

Thank you to those who have already reviewed, alerted or favorited, this or my previous story - you guys are the most awesome of all. Thanks a lot. I will severely try to make a new chapter soon.

-Fallen11angel