My dears! Thank you for such patience. I would've had this out sooner but due to unplanned circumstances (mainly my laptop crapping out on me and losing the chapter I worked so very hard on! ) I am now posting this long awaited chapter. It's nothing like the one I lost but it's close! So please review it and enjoy. I hope to get more out the following week.

Take care loves!

It didn't take very long for InuYasha to jog back to his apartment. Within the hour he had managed to freshen up; knowing that even he couldn't stand his own body odor, he would take a quick shower in the process. After bathing and putting on fresh attire, he'd leave his place with no more than his phone, keys and wallet. Driving off into downtown Tokyo where a sunset rested on the horizon; the day slowly ending but the evening simply beginning.

As he drove through downtown, the sidewalks bellowed with those who couldn't wait to get home after a long day. Then there were those who were ready to hit the town, despite it being a weeknight. Parties of young adults to corporate business men went to various bars and clubs to start their happy hours. InuYasha drove with his windows down and his radio humming softly; the wind whisked his mane of hair in every which way. The streets became more narrow and so he'd park down the block from Bar's Bar where he was meeting Miroku.

As he entered the dim lit bar, the only real light came from the dimming sunset from outside as he entered. There was a strong aroma of incense, cigarette smoke and a hint of dirty business man; it stung his nose just a bit but he simply shrugged it off. With his hand shoved in his pocket, fidgeting with his phone; he scanned the open bar for Miroku. Only to see that he had not even shown up yet, he scoffed lightly.

"Of course he would be late." He muttered to himself before finally acknowledging the pair of deep brown eyes that had patiently been waiting on him. He peered down ever so slightly at a pixie like hostess. Her brown hair rested on her right shoulder in a low pony tail and her uniform was clean cut. After a few seconds of eye contact, she simply nodded and turned herself in a semi-circle; InuYasha followed behind her.

Once InuYasha was settled at a table in a secluded area of the bar, the hostess who was already accustomed to InuYasha and Miroku's regular visits, scurried away to get the usual round of drinks. The two always escaped to Bar's Bar whenever they got the chance too. So much that they became familiar with their routine as well. InuYasha waited patiently as he pulled out his phone to see the message from Miroku.

I'll be late, touching up for you handsome! (;

InuYasha snorted at the message. They might as well be a couple seeing as how they argued like a married couple but teased like teenagers. It was all good fun and just what they did as best friends but if a situation called for them to become an instant homosexual couple; they'd might as well be nominated for an Oscar with such a performance. InuYasha always appreciated having such a great best friend. Though never ever really saying it, Miroku just knew.

Skimming through messages, emails and what not to keep himself busy while waiting for a Miroku; the hostess returned with an imported bottle of rum and two glasses. She'd pour InuYasha his first glass before bowing with a smiling and leaving him. No more than a second after she disappeared, a voice spoke up from behind InuYasha. He grinned.

"Hey handsome," InuYasha glanced over his shoulder to see Miroku winking "Waiting on me?"

"You wish, freak." He retorted, Miroku took a seat in front of him.

"Freak? Isn't that how you like'em?" InuYasha rolled his eyes while pouring Miroku his glass and handing it to him.

After a few rounds of imported rum and long conversations, a silence overcame bother InuYasha and Miroku. Around them a hum of several conversations from several different parties; the later it got the busier the bar became. Only slightly though seeing as how they were still very secluded from everyone else. Miroku had taken the moment to glance at InuYasha whom was lost in a daze, while robotically taking a drag from his cigarette.

Miroku took the pleasure to adjust himself from his slouched position in his seat, to something more comfortable. While doing so he cleared his throat, loud enough to break InuYasha from whatever deep thoughts he was going through. InuYasha looked like a confused child for a second as he came back into reality. This made Miroku smirk with amusement.

"What?" InuYasha huffed, putting out his cigarette

"Oh nothing," Miroku spoke before leaning forward just a bit. "So, have you seen Kai?"

This seemed to have caught InuYasha off guard a bit.

"No," he responded "He's been with Souta and Mei for the week."

"Have you spoken to Kagome?" Miroku asked, InuYasha knew this would eventually come up. It was what Miroku did. He was on both sides, he didn't pick. Neither did Sango.

"You would know wouldn't you? Sango tells you everything Kagome tells her."

"Well she hasn't mentioned much." Miroku spoke truthfully.

"That's a surprise." InuYasha took a shot at Kagome, seeing as how she never really kept much to herself. I would've thought she'd spill everything to Sango, like always.

"How is your guy's situation going?" Miroku referring to the divorce, he shrugged.

"It's divorce, how else is it supposed to go?" Miroku looked slightly annoyed with InuYasha's response. They simply looked at each other in silence for a moment before Miroku sighed.

"You don't seem too serious about it all you know."

"What does it matter? I mean, it's going to happen." InuYasha huffed "She's the one who is just nagging about every little thing."

"Nagging? InuYasha, you two are getting divorce, after you cheated on her." Miroku bluntly stated, InuYasha was being childish about the situation. Sango at time referred to it as the Kikyo effect.

InuYasha being buzzed didn't appreciate his best friend giving him a hard time about his divorce. He pour himself another small glass of rum, then just holding it loosely in his hand. He thought about how Kagome was not communicating with him, only by lawyer because he hadn't given her the papers yet. It was childish. He of course could not admit that it wasn't; she just drove him to the edge lately. It seemed as though she was giving him a taste of his own medicine.

Either way; the divorce was there and happening.

"Do you really want this?" Miroku asked, finding himself look directly InuYasha in the eyes.

"I wouldn't be doing this, would I?" InuYasha spoke bitterly,

"I'm just trying to look out for you and Kagome." Miroku sat back, crossing his arms "Kai too."

"I know."

"If you know then you need to really get your head out of your ass."

InuYasha brow arched at Miroku who simply grimaced in his direction, even though Miroku didn't get far with the conversation. The tension was there but this was the things that needed to said and pointed out. Or things just would fall out of balance. Ever since their college days, the two of them had conversations like this. Miroku was InuYasha's conscious in the flesh.

He was grateful but scoffed taking one last drink.

It was later than expected; InuYasha was not so wasted that he couldn't manage to drive home. Miroku of course being the woman he was, wanted InuYasha to let him know he made it home safe. Though they both knew InuYasha was most likely going to crash on the couch the moment he reached home. InuYasha managed to depart from the bar, to his car and drive out of inner downtown; the desire for sleep was clear but thoughts from InuYasha and Miroku's conversation lingered.

Do you really want this?

It angered him that almost everyone questioned the choice that he clearly made. He just didn't feel the same with Kagome; he knew he loved her but Kikyo was his first and all he ever really wanted. InuYasha never intended to hurt Kagome or Kai but he couldn't deny his feelings. It would've been worse down the road, he was sure of it.

With him pondering on these thoughts it seemed as though he drove blindly home as he realized he was already home. Thankfully he made it home safe and sound.

As he dragged himself into his apartment, he half expected Kikyo to be waiting like she tended to do often whenever he was out. Yet he was greeted by nothing more than his dark, empty apartment. He took no more than a few steps into the apartment before just collapsing on to the couch; his face buried into the throw pillow. InuYasha laid there in silence, only the sound of his breathing made it's presence but his mind kept on going. This was Miroku's fault, bringing up things he knew would stick. Miroku played both the angel and devil on his shoulders.

I am doing nothing wrong; I'm simply being human… he thought as he opened his eyes slightly. Even in the dark he could see the bulked manila envelope sitting on the small end table across the room. He'd put off signing the papers. He didn't have a real reason for it but he just didn't do it.

Do you really want this? Miroki's words repeated once again in his mind, InuYasha sighed in response.

InuYasha's endless thoughts were interrupted by his phone buzzing in his pocket. The vibrations tickled his thigh. As he pulled it from his pocket to check the message, the bright light blinding for a second; he noticed it was from Miroku. A message simply checking to see if he had made it home alright, he did nothing more than clear it. The last thing he'd see was the background on his phone.

Kai.

He soon fell into a coma, slipping away from the thoughts that were becoming a burden to him. Yet, there were no promises he'd be free from pestering dreams.