Stay

By: Patche

Disclaimer: Umm I do not own/am not in any way affiliated with… Inuyasha, the song "Stay" or any songs I think fit the story perfectly.

Friends
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"So, he just said that… to you?" Miroku asked me, completely shocked by the news I had to bring him. I had to work the next day after Inuyasha got sick. I hadn't heard from him since, but it had only been a day.

I sighed and leaned on the counter, feeling nothing short of sorry for myself.

Sango piped up, "You know… you don't deserve that, Kagome. You're such a sweet and smart girl. You've just got to see that one day, Mr. Perfect will fall into your hands. Nine times out of ten, though, it doesn't happen in High School."

I lifted my head up. "So… when did you find Mr. Perfect, then?" I asked trying to put her on the spot just to relieve me of my current depressed state.

Sango just blushed. "Well… I…" she looked at Miroku, then back at me. "I don't know if I'd call him perfect…" She looked at him again, this time blushing and smiling.

"Miroku?" I asked raising an eyebrow.

He just laughed nervously, scratching the back of his head.

"It was just one date…" Sango said before Miroku got carried away.

I just chuckled lightly. "Aww… really?" Sango and Miroku both smiled and nodded.

"Is there a second date in the works?" I asked.

Miroku smiled. "Actually, that's just where we're headed after work."

"It's this nice little sushi bar. You can come if you want…" Sango offered. I had to refuse. Being the third wheel is way too awkward… especially after you just got your heart broken… again.

"It's okay. In fact, I can close up and you guys can get there before the crowd." I said, taking the keys to the shop from Miroku.

"Really? Are you sure?" Sango asked.

I shrugged. We were closing in half an hour minutes, anyway. "Not a problem, my dear. You just go out and have a grand old time with Mr. Perfect." I said giving them a wink as I pushed them out the door.

"Okay… you have a good time, too!" Miroku said a little confused.

I sighed after they had left and looked all around me. I definitely did not need that around me right now.

I resumed my position behind the counter for a brief moment, until I saw Inuyasha walking in the door.

What in the hell was he doing here? I had no clue… I quickly hid behind the counter, hoping he wouldn't have seen me.

"Hello?" He called out. I was silently praying he'd just leave. "Kagome?"

How did he get my work address anyway?

"Kagome…" He was next to the register, glaring down at me. "What are you doing?"

"Well what's it look like?" I asked, standing up. "I was reorganizing the counter space. "Now if you don't mind sir, we're closed."

Inuyasha rolled his eyes. "Yeah, 'cept your sign says you're open…"

"I just haven't gotten around to turning it off…" I retorted, hoping he'd just go away. I hated him… I really did. He just wanted to make me feel worse. He was Taro's little messenger boy. He had to make sure I understood that Taro didn't want me back ever again.

"Well…" He started and lifted up a giant yellow bag. "I brought you your backpack. I would've brought it to you yesterday, but I was kind of sick… and I figured you didn't want to see me."

I just huffed. "Well, it's not like I wanted to see you today, either…" I was sounding so rude, but I couldn't help it… Inuyasha was making this hard on me… he really was.

He raised his eyebrows in a sarcastic manner. "Ouch… that one was pretty low." He said.

I just shook my head. This was too much. "Just go, please. Thanks for my backpack… but I don't need this."

Inuyasha shook his head. "No, Kagome. You're going to have to deal with things. That's your problem. The way you feel right now… the reason you miss Taro so much is all making up for the day you didn't cry. You have to learn to just… deal with things. You don't."

I cocked my head to the side, listening to his rant.

"You've always got your head ten miles deep in the clouds. You don't ever pay any attention to the problems in your life."

I just sighed and looked away from him, crossing my arms.

"Why do you care, Inuyasha? Why do you care how I live my life, how I handle breakups? What business of yours is it?"

He seemed to be taken aback. "Well… I dunno… I just do. I probably shouldn't… but I care." He paused for a minute, as if thinking of someway to take back his last statement. "Because the way you live pisses me off!"

"And it's your soul duty to make sure that everyone lives their lives according to how you want it to be, correct?" I really could not believe I was sitting here arguing with him about this.

"No… I mean… I care because I hate to see you cry."

That was a little unexpected. I lost my pissed off facial expression and looked directly at him… waiting for him to cover it up with another insult like 'I look so hideous when I cry… he can't bare to look at me.'

But he didn't.

"It… it hurts." He bit his bottom lip. "I don't like seeing you so sad." His voice had completely changed from its usual gruff and tough tone to a much softer… and sensitive one. It was so different, but… I really liked it.

"Really?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Well, yea… I mean, we're friends, right? No one likes to see their friends cry. I'm sure if I started bawling right now, you'd feel pretty bad, huh?" He asked laughing.

"I'd be pretty grossed out…" I said laughing.

"Hey!" He shouted, playfully punching my arm. "I look beautiful when I cry, thank you." He said.

I smiled. "I'm sure." I glanced up at the clock. This little conversation had been going on for thirty minutes.

"Oh, shit! I have to close now." I said.

"I'll wait outside for you…" He said walking to the door.

"Why?" I asked, raising my head.

"To walk you home… it's really dark, silly." He said. I smiled.

"Okay, thanks."

--

During the walk home, we talked about all the fun teachers we've had in the past, like Myoga-sensei. He always looked like his eyes were going to pop out of his head.

Or there was Takaya-sensei who every boy had a crush on. Inuyasha swore he didn't, but I could see past that lie. She was gorgeous.

"Inuyasha…" I started as we turned down my street.

"Hmm?" He asked, looking up at the sky.

"Who is mystery girl?" I asked.

"Mystery girl?" Inuyasha repeated.

"You know… the one you're in love with…"

"You named her?!" He asked me.

"Well… I had to. Otherwise whenever I thought about who it could be… then… I'd get confused with other girls." I explained.

Inuyasha just laughed at me. "You are so weird." We walked in silence after that. "You want a hint?" He offered.

I nodded.

"She had long black hair and brown eyes… and she had Myoga-sensei with us…"

"Back during our tenth year?" I asked.

Inuyasha nodded. "Yup…" He said as we reached my house.

"Well thanks for the tip, then… I'll ponder it much more."

He shook his head. "Don't think about it too much. It's not a big deal…" He mumbled.

"Nonsense. We're friends, right?" I smiled. "Goodnight, Inu-chan!" I said, standing up on my tiptoes to kiss him a little peck on the cheek. "Thanks for walking me home."

And as I closed my door I watched him through our peephole as he smiled and touched the spot on his cheek before he walked away with a little more bounce in his step.

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A/N: Aww I so giggled with that last part. Thanks for the reviews guys. I'm really surprised at how popular this story is getting. I'm glad you all like it. Trust me, as predictable as it sounds… it won't be.

Enjoy

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