Disclaimer: I own nothing InuYasha.

Author Note: Chapter two, and I have a ton of homework that I need to do… You're lucky I love you guys so much! Haha. I hope to be updating more and more, since I don't work tomorrow. Even though I'm pounded with homework and timing, I'll be sure to make some progress. Next chapter is the date!

Tricky Business

Chapter Two

I groaned as the throbbing in my head continued. I couldn't put my finger on exactly how much I had drank but the empty whiskey bottles were physical evidence that let me assume an estimate. Every part of my body was aching and I groaned and shifted. I slowly opened my eyes to a dreary room, with grey light seeping in from the window. Rain was pounding against the ground from the sky above. The day seemed to reflect my mood already.

I sat up, making grunting noises, and ran a hand through my tangled hair. I grimaced as it pulled at my scalp and quickly removed it to place it on the bottom of the object I was sitting in. How the hell did I wind up in my tub?

Mustering all my strength I managed to get out, strip down, and enjoy a warm bubble bath. By seven in the morning I was dressed in blue jean bootie shorts, running shoes, a white tank top, and a grey sweater that hugged my figure. Sango was silently snoring as I crept in to change, and didn't wake up even after I had my hood pulled up and my iPod plugging my ears.

Hello darkness my old friend, I've come to talk with you again… The Sound of Silence must have been a song designed to be listened to by people like me. Although you think it's great and everything when you first hear it, you realize just how depressing it is when you take it seriously and analyze it. Nothing is quite so beautiful under a microscope, is it?

As soon as I stepped outside into the warm air, full of chilling rain, my phone vibrated in my pocket. I pulled it out to see the text message that lit up the screen. Kagome Higurashi: Ayame, can we please talk? Come over to my house, whenever you get the chance.

What made her think I wanted to face her, that I even could face her if I wanted to? She stole the man of my dreams, and she knew that. I felt my eyes get heavy again and my nose started to get that tingly/burning sensation that I knew, all too well. I was in public now though, somebody could see me. I couldn't cry.

What better thing to do in a time like this than run? So I did. I ran. All the way to Kagome's house. We needed to get things straightened out.

Koga

I thoughtlessly strummed on the old Gibson guitar that was sitting in my lap. The sleek acoustic wasn't what was on my mind, however. Kagome was on my mind, and she had absolutely nothing to do with music. She didn't have a musical bone in her body, and I didn't really care. Because it was her, it didn't really matter.

I really did have hopes so high that she was going to actually go out with me. The girl led me on, know matter what she thought she was doing. I sighed and placed the old guitar on my cheap bed that was in my small room. I would be going house-hunting soon or, rather, apartment-hunting. I wanted a place away from my mother. She could have this house to herself. She could fuck all the guys she wanted, and do all the drugs she craved. I wasn't going to be part of it anymore.

I really thought Kagome was going to be the girl to pull me from the dark depths of my life into the life. She did, but not as much as I would have liked to her. Instead, she was pushing me deeper into this life I loathed.

She was with a boy now, InuYasha. He was a rich party boy who had the money to throw away and impress. A lot of spoiled teenagers did around here. Kagome was different though, she didn't try to show off and be a spoiled rotten brat. She was somebody sentimental that you could just hang out with and enjoy spending time with.

Then she went and told me to add some chick that InuYasha and her were friends with. She was throwing me out to some little rich bitch who obviously had a drinking problem. She was a pretty girl, but she looked like she had a rough life. If only she knew the half of what it was like to have a horrible life.

"Hey, where the fuck is your mother kid?" some guy snarled as he barreled my door into the wall. I gritted my teeth and tensed up my body just to resist the urge to not hit him. It was better to not start things, since druggies like him were usually packing something. Drug trafficking is dangerous business; you have to carry to protect.

"I don't know and I don't care." Was my simple reply.

Ayame

"So please forgive me?" Kagome asked after she finished this long speech about how sorry she was and everything else she could possibly think of. She was a convincing person, and I couldn't be mad at her. After all, it wasn't her fault he fell in love with her instead of me. And it wasn't her fault she was too beautiful for a guy to let go, too sweet, and too perfect. And he was just too all-around perfect to deny, as well.

"I forgive you." I replied and wanted to add 'for destroying my life'.

"I'm glad you do." Kagome breathed a sigh of relief and came to wrap her arms around me in a friendly embrace as she sat on the couch beside me. She pulled back, looking intently with those sincere eyes. "So are you interested in Koga? He really is a sweet guy, but he has a rough exterior. I think you guys would make a hot couple."

"Yeah, it sounds like a good idea." I faked with a fraud smile and fraud enthusiasm.

"Great! So we have that double date planned out that InuYasha told you about, of course. You'll get to meet Koga and enjoy a romantic night together. InuYasha volunteered to pay for the whole thing, of course. He's really hoping that you two hit it off. I told him about Koga and he thinks he sounds like the perfect match for you." Kagome gushed.

Yeah, except InuYasha was my perfect match.

"It sounds… perfect."

"I thought so too!" Kagome obviously didn't pick up on my disappointment. "We should go shopping right now and pick you out something fancy but sexy. I mean, we only have until tonight and we have a lot of stuff that we, as girls, need to do."

"Wait, this is going on tonight?" I raised an eyebrow.

"He didn't mention that?" Kagome asked innocently.

"Mustta slipped his mind." I grunted.

What did it really matter though? It wasn't like I was going to be with InuYasha or anything. I was going to be doubled with that Koga guy and I wasn't really looking to impress. Then again, I could always win back the heart of InuYasha by looking so incredibly he goes head over heels for me and drops Kagome in a heartbeat.

And, sure, it was a horrible thought but it was horrible for her to pull such a move in the first place! If she liked him she should have at least warned me. The other main messages in my cell phone consisted of:

InuYasha: Hey Ayame, what's up?

InuYasha: Hey Ayame, did you talk to Koga yet?

InuYasha: Are you still sleeping?

InuYasha: Are you ignoring me?

InuYasha: Ayame?

InuYasha: Talk to me when you're ready.

Sango: Where the hell ARE you?

I also missed a total of 37 phone calls; five of them were made by Sango. My guess was that she would have preferred if I mentioned to her that I was leaving before I just kind of bolted? But, in all due respect, I didn't think I'd be taking a run through the pouring rain to Kagome's house which would only offer pain and cheap apologies.

"I actually have a dress, and I'll just get Sango to help me out with my hair and shoes and everything." I spoke up quickly. "She's getting antsy, not knowing where I am, so I'm going to hit the road. I'll see you later tonight though."

"Oh… yeah." Kagome frowned, her voice seeming to be less happy as well. It wasn't hard to hurt Kagome's feelings, she was extremely fragile. She couldn't take anything, including a joke. It was all serious and hurtful to her. "Well we should be around to pick you up at eight."

"Good deal." I nodded before getting up and turning on my heel and spinning my body towards the door. I paused for a moment, with my hand on her doorknob. I wasn't sure what I wanted to say. At least she tried to make an effort, and I hoped it would make both of them happy. Sure, it was ruining my fairytale, but it was making another one come true.

I opened my mouth, then shut it, opened the door, and decided to walk home. The pouring rain chilled me to the bone and drenched me automatically. I was so numb that I couldn't even feel it though. I really did hate my life.

There are no guarantees, but remember: Even in the future, the sweet is never as sweet without the sour. – Vanilla Sky