DISCLAIMER: I Do Not Own Inuyasha, Fiesta Karaoke Bar, or any of the songs used in this chapter.
A/N: Once again, sorry this took so long. My girls got sick, we are looking to buy a new house and I have been really busy. So, I will do my best not to take so long with the next chapter, but I am not promising anything because I don't know what my schedule is gonna be like. Thank you to all my reviewers, I appreciate you more than you know! :) Oh, and this story got nominated for Best Sesshomaru Portrayal , Drama, and Lemon Scene on Dokuga, so if you think it is deserving, please don't forget to vote! Now on with the story!
Confession Or Suppression?
Kagome stared at her former love in a shocked stupor actuated by his sudden and completely unexpected appearance. The wheels of her brain seemed to slow to an imperceptible crawl as she faced him, and all she could do was gape.
"What's wrong Kagome? You look like a fish with your mouth hangin open like that." Inuyasha said moving to sit on the edge of the tub. "Aren't you happy to see me?"
Kagome's mind finally came to, but she really had no idea what to tell him. She was caught between telling him about her new relationship with Sesshomaru, or keeping the secret from him a little longer to use it later to deepen the pain of her revenge. Truth be told, she had pretty much gotten over Inuyasha the night after she had seen him driving around town with his other female, but she couldn't help wanting to burn him back. She decided to play it cool for now and talk to Sesshomaru about it later.
Kagome placed a fake, warm smile on her face. "Hey! Sorry, I'm just surprised. I wasn't expecting you to be home so soon."
"Yeah well, things moved faster than I thought they would. I am really happy to see you though wench." Inuyasha replied with a grin. He leaned in to kiss her, and Kagome cringed inwardly. She had to stop him.
"You know," she started, dodging his lips. "You never called me to tell me you arrived in London ok."
He paused. "I guess I forgot."
"How could you forget? That was really rude, ya know!" she cried with feigned anger. 'Perfect. If we're fighting, he won't touch me.' she thought triumphantly. 'I'll be able to escape for awhile.'
Climbing out of the tub, Kagome wrapped herself in a towel and stomped off to their bedroom.
"Kagome, I didn't mean to, I just.."
"Save it Inuyasha! You're an inconsiderate jerk and I have things to do today, so just leave me alone!" she shouted angrily. Inside, she was grinning like a cheshire cat, silently thanking her lucky stars he had forgotten to call and given her this excuse to be mad at him. She heard him follow her into the room and smirked as she dressed.
"Kagome, I'm really sorry. Can't we just make up and forget about it." he purred, kissing her neck and pulling her close.
Turning around to face him, Kagome poked him hard in the chest. "What makes you think that I would just be ok with the fact that I haven't heard anything from you in over a week?! For all I know you could have been lying cold and dead in a hole somewhere!" she cried as she pulled on her sneakers. "I am going over to see Sango at Miroku's. I can't be around you right now with you being a selfish ass." With that, she spun on her heel and walked out the door leaving Inuyasha standing alone with a familiar fishy expression.
Kagome smiled to herself as she climbed in her car and drove to Miroku's apartment. That couldn't have gone better. All she had to do now was figure out how to proceed with her plans. She left a message on Sesshomaru's cell asking him to call her asap.
Sango opened the door quickly, startled by the slightly ballistic banging coming from the other side. Kagome rushed in and went straight into the kitchen in search of coffee.
"Won't you come in?" Sango teased as she closed and locked the door.
Kagome giggled. "Sorry, I didn't mean to burst in, but my adrenaline is going crazy right now. You'll never guess what happened." Kagome replied seating herself at the table.
"You and Sesshomaru had phenomenal sex all night long."
Kagome glared at her friend. "No, Inuyasha graced me with his presence while I was taking a bath about thirty minutes ago."
"Wow, he's early. You were alone in there I hope."
"Yeah I was, thank Kami. I don't even want to think about what would have happened had Sesshomaru even been in the apartment, much less in the tub with me. That would have been a disaster!"
"Most definitely. So what happened?"
"Well, after the initial shock wore off, he tried to kiss me and I started yelling at him for not calling or anything for the last week. Then he tried to get some make up sex, I yelled some more and told him I was coming over here for awhile. That's about it."
"You have to go home eventually you know." Sango pointed out.
"I know that, but I need time to talk to Sesshomaru before I see Inuyasha again. So if it's ok, I want to stay over here tonight." Kagome replied.
"You can stay over here anytime you want, you know that."
"I know, but I feel better when I ask." Kagome said looking around the apartment. "Where's Miroku?"
"He thought it would be funny to sneak up and try to scare me. He managed to catch me off-guard and I swung." Sango stated nonchalantly.
"So he's passed out on the floor?"
"Pretty much, though I did move him to the bed."
"Think he'll stay out for a while? I don't want to listen to you guys scrumpin all night." Kagome said with a giggle.
Sango arched a brow. "Didn't you put Miroku and I through that just recently?"
"That was an accident! I wasn't planning on sleeping with Sesshomaru and I really tried to keep the volume down. He wouldn't let me!" Kagome cried, her face resembling a tomato.
"Well, normally I would do it just to get even, but since it's you, I promise we won't do anything while you are here."
"I appreciate that."
Later that night, Kagome was sleeping peacefully on the couch in the living room, when she was startled out of her rest by hushed voices, the scuffling of feet, and toilet flushing repeatedly in the bathroom. She sat up and listened quietly, trying to figure out what was going on.
"Sango, it won't go down!" Miroku whispered loudly.
"Just flush it! It's not rocket science!" Sango murmured from their bedroom.
"I'm trying, it filled with air and is floating like a balloon in the water!"
"Well poke a hole in it with something, and flush the damn thing!"
"It's not working!" Miroku cried, panicking slightly.
"Oh for the love of Kami." Sango growled irritably as she joined him in the bathroom.
At this point, Kagome was covering her mouth with her hands trying desperately to hold back the explosive laughter threatening to burst from her lips.
A moment later, Sango tip-toed into the kitchen and fumbled around for a glass. Kagome decided it was time to make her wakefulness known. She reached up and turned the light on, causing Sango to spill her water all over herself and the floor.
"K-kagome, what are you doing up?" Sango asked nervously.
Kagome grinned sweetly. "Some strange noises woke me up. And what about you?"
"Just had the urge to get a cool glass of H20, and now that I've got it, I'm going back to bed." she replied turning towards the bedroom.
"Yeah, ya know, I don't think that was your only 'urge' tonight."
Sango flopped down onto the chair next to the couch. "I know I said I wouldn't, but Miroku can be really persuasive. You weren't supposed to find out."
"Well, it's a little difficult to sleep with all that noise."
"It's not my fault he can't do something as simple as flush a condom!" Sango wailed despairingly.
Kagome couldn't hold back the laughter any longer.
Sango got up with a huff and walked back to the bedroom leaving Kagome rolling in hysterics on the couch.
Kagome awoke the next morning to the smell of breakfast cooking. She stood up, stretched and sat herself at the table.
"Good morning Kagome, I trust you slept well." Miroku greeted her pleasantly.
"For the most part. It was a rather interesting night." Kagome replied with a smirk.
Sango practically threw the food to the table as she sat down, blushing furiously.
"Sango dear, what on earth is wrong?" Miroku asked, completely clueless.
"Nothing. And it's not funny." she muttered darkly, glaring at Kagome who was giggling once more.
Miroku glanced back in for between the two girls for a moment before shrugging and focusing on his breakfast.
It was noon when Sesshomaru finally called Kagome back.
"Sesshomaru, I am so glad you called. Can you meet me for lunch in a half hour at Brasserie Viron Cafe?" Kagome asked.
"I suppose I could. Is there any particular reason for this meeting?" he responded.
"What, I can't just ask you to lunch?"
"..."
Kagome could just see him standing in his office with a brow raised giving the phone one of his world famous 'cower lowly peons' glare.
"Ok fine, I need to talk to you about something."
"And what does this something pertain to?"
"I will tell you when I see you. Please just meet me at the cafe."
"Very well."
"Than..."
Click.
'Jerk.' Kagome thought grumbling. They had made a lot of progress in their short time together, but Sesshomaru was still Sesshomaru.
Thirty-five minutes later, Kagome arrived at the restaurant and found Sesshomaru sipping coffee at a table on the far end of the establishment. She smiled as she seated herself across from him. After ordering a coffee and small raspberry pastry, she looked up at his expectant face.
"Hi."
"I believe you had something you wished to discuss."
"I'm fine, thanks for asking." Kagome replied sarcastically.
He arched a brow silently, and Kagome sighed, giving up on the pleasantries.
She looked at him for a moment. "Inuyasha's back." she said quietly.
"And?"
"And, I thought we should talk about whats going to happen now that he's here."
"What exactly is there to discuss? I had thought we had already decided to proceed with our relationship. Has that changed?" Sesshomaru asked in a biting tone.
"No! Of course not! That's not what I meant at all." Kagome shifted apprehensively. "I want to be with you, it's just... I still want to back at him for what he did."
"So precisely what is it you plan to do? I will not allow him to touch you if you are thinking to continue your artificial relationship with him."
"I will not let him touch me ever again, but I think I should keep up the facade until I can come up with a way to really burn him. I know he's going to continue 'working late' to run around with his other girlfriend, so I can spend that time with you."
"Hn."
"Oh come on Sesshomaru. You hate Inuyasha more than I do, so really, it's beneficial for both of us to hit him hard where it hurts."
Sesshomaru regarded her for a moment. "Do what you feel is necessary, but know this, should I find there has been any inappropriate physical contact between the two of you, I will not hesitate to kill the hanyou in the most brutal manner possible."
"I swear to you that won't be a problem. I'd sooner die than let him around me like that again." Kagome promised sincerely. "The only one I want anywhere near my person in that manner is you, and only you Sesshomaru."
"Hn."
"Hn?" Kagome said, smacking his arm playfully. "Jerk."
Sesshomaru smirked as he leaned in to kiss her lips.
The coffee had been finished, Sesshomaru had to return to work, and Kagome had to face Inuyasha.
As she stood in the doorway to her flat, Kagome rehearsed her answers to the questions Inuyasha was sure to ask one more time. Taking a deep breath, she turned the knob and walked into the apartment confidently.
"Wasn't sure you were gonna come back." a gruff voice stated from the shadows of the living room.
"I just needed some time to think. You really surprised me yesterday, and I was angry. I had to sort through my thoughts so we wouldn't fight unnecessarily." Kagome told him, trying to sound apologetic. "Are you mad?"
"Keh, nothin that can't be fixed easy enough." Inuyasha replied huskily as he slowly made his way over to her.
Kagome tensed as his arms snaked around her waist. He buried his face in the crook of her neck, and Kagome mentally struggled trying to find an excuse to make him stop.
As, it turned out, she didn't have to. Inuyasha paused, and sniffed hard. Kagome was spun around so fast she lost her breath. She looked hesitantly up at his irately suspicious glare, and wondered what had caused this reaction.
"Why do you smell like him?" he growled at her.
"L-like who?" she stammered.
"That bastard Sesshomaru. It's faint, but its there."
The previous uncertainty morphed into resentfulness. Sure she had been unfaithful, but he started it! Inuyasha really had no right to get so upset when he had been fooling around on her for months without an ounce of remorse. She had at least felt bad for a bit. She pushed herself away from him and poked him hard in the chest.
"First of all, if you have something you want to ask, then ask without snarling at me! And secondly, you don't own me Inuyasha, I can spend my time as I see fit when you go gallivanting all over the world doing who knows what!" she yelled furiously.
"Ah-ha! So you admit you've been seeing him!" he cried triumphantly.
"Not that it's any of your business, but yes. We have the same lunch schedule, and I sometimes join him for a meal. It's boring hanging out by myself all the time!"
"You never spent any time with him before, why the sudden change?"
"You weren't ever so busy either! If this is anybody's fault, its yours, baka!" she spat as tears of frustration began descending down her anger flushed cheeks.
Inuyasha stared at her for a moment, absorbing what she had said.
Finally snapping out of his scrambled thoughts, he wiped the wet, salty trails off her face and pulled her into his strong arms tightly.
"I'm sorry. I didn't realize me bein gone all the time would affect you so much. I never thought it would drive you so far that you had to kill time with my icy bastard of a brother. I will try to make more time for you, ok?" Inuyasha said softly.
Those were the very words she had yearned to hear more than anything in the world... before she had discovered what he was actually doing with his 'late nights at work'. Before she had found solace, and complete and utter happiness in Sesshomaru. She still had some measure of feeling for Inuyasha, of course, but that feeling was firmly stuck in the friend zone. She hoped that once all of this was over and done with, they could remain friends, but right now she had to think of something to say to his apologetic statement.
Kagome sighed. "It's ok Inuyasha. Don't mess with your schedule for me,
I will be alright. I'll just visit with my mom more often or something." she said,forcing a smile.
Inuyasha looked at her, trying to gage her seriousness. "If you're sure." he replied tentatively.
"I am."
"Ok. Oh, and speaking of your mom, she called earlier and wants you to go over there for dinner tonight. She said somethin about some relative visiting."
"We'd better get ready then." Kagome said, moving towards the bedroom.
"I can't go, I have some stuff to do at work."
She shrugged. "Ok, I am going to change and head over there."
"See ya later." he responded, placing a brief kiss on her cheek.
"Yeah, see ya."
While she replaced her current clothing with fresher attire, she couldn't help but wonder if he was actually going to work. Deciding it wasn't important anymore, she tossed the thought out the proverbial window, and left.
Kagome pulled up to the shrine, and headed up to her childhood home. It was very much the same as it had been for as long as she could remember, and still offered her small contentment. She often had to remind herself she no longer lived here, as her more immature side still longed for the carefree days of her youth.
She knocked on the front door, and embraced her mother warmly, before stepping inside and hanging up her jacket.
"Where's Sota?" Kagome inquired, following her mother to the dining area.
"He's studying at a friends house. But there is someone else that wants to see you."
Curiosity peaked, she looked over to the figure waiting at the table.
Kagome almost fainted right then and there. Sitting comfortably with a smile, was the woman from the photographs Sango had taken. Here in her mother's home, was Inuyasha other girlfriend.
"Do you remember your cousin Kikyo?" her mom asked cheerfully. "You haven't seen each other since you were six, but you used to be absolutely inseparable."
'Cousin?' Kagome thought as her mind whirled with uncontrolled shock. 'Wait, Kikyo?! This is the girl I used to play dolls with all those years ago? Oh Kami help me, this can't get any weirder.'
Placing yet another fake smile on her face, Kagome went to hug her once dear friend, and current source of love life drama.
"Hi! I can't believe it's you!" Kagome exclaimed, noting with an inward smirk the double meaning behind her words.
Kikyo returned the embrace. "Little cousin, it is so good to see you again." the slightly older woman replied warmly.
"Yeah, hehe, you too. I definitely wasn't expecting to see you here."
"Isn't this nice?" her mother said placing dinner on the table. "Now that Kikyo has moved back to Tokyo, you two will be able to see each other all the time!"
"Yes, I would very much like to reestablish our relationship Kagome. I have truly missed our closeness." Kikyo remarked sincerely.
Inwardly, Kagome grimaced. If only Kikyo new how 'close' they actually were. Under other circumstances, she would have loved to get reacquainted with her cousin, but the present situation would make that extremely difficult. It was awkward enough knowing that Kikyo was the other woman, but to spend time with her? Kagome could see that being unbearable.
Despite her internal turmoil, Kagome found herself nodding in agreement to Kikyo's invitation to have lunch with her sometime this week.
"I would love for yo to meet my boyfriend too, I think you would really like him." Kikyo went on.
Kagome choked on her noodles. "I, um, I think it would be nice to just have some girl time first, get to know each other again. I would like it to be just us, you know, like when we were kids." Kagome replied, praying silently that her cousin would go for it.
Much to her relief, Kikyo nodded.
"I think that would be lovely. Are you free tomorrow?"
"Yeah, I took some time off work, so I am pretty much open."
"Is there any place in particular you would like to go?"
Kagome thought for a moment, trying to think of an eatery where a run-in with Inuyasha would be the most unlikely. She smiled, thank Kami for spicy food.
"How about Ajanta?" Kagome asked. Ajanta was one of her favorite restaurants, but rarely went there because Inuyasha can't take the potency of the peppers used in Indian food. There was no chance they would run into the hanyou there.
"I love that restaurant!I haven't been there in years, so yes that would be divine!" Kikyo answered enthusiastically.
The rest of the evening went by smoothly. It was a bit strange, but Kagome found she was thoroughly enjoying being around her cousin again. She could do this after all.
After goodbyes and promises to visit soon, Kagome drove home.
When she arrived, she immediately hopped into the shower to remove Kikyo's smell from her person. That would be one more surprise she would throw at Inuyasha when the time came. She smirked evilly to herself. He would probably crap his pants. She stepped out of the shower, dried herself off and pulled her pajamas on. It had really turned out to be a good day, and she went to sleep peacefully.
Lunch with Kikyo passed without incident. Kagome was truly happy that aside from the lingering uncomfortableness of their shadowed situation, they both had a great time and were excited to do it again in the near future. Kagome found herself wanting to bring everything about their love triangle into the open. She still felt a little bad for herself, but now she mostly felt for Kikyo. She often talked about her boyfriend and how special he was to her. It wasn't right that Inuyasha had played both of them, and Kikyo would be devastated when she found out. Kagome just couldn't decide whether or not to tell her.
Inuyasha was still 'working late' everynight, and she would spend a couple hours of that time with Sesshomaru. They would talk for awhile, but it always ended with a naked mile. And oh, how she loved it. He could make her sail to the moon with something as simple as a heated glance, and his reaction to her was very much the same. She was firmly convinced that such bliss could only be achieved with her stoic youkai, no other would ever be good enough. She hoped he felt the same.
Kagome had just gotten out of the shower when Inuyasha barged in throwing her an irritated glare.
"Where the hell have you been!" he stormed. "We are supposed to be at my dad's in an hour!"
"Sorry, I forgot. I was having lunch with my cousin. Don't worry, I will be ready in five minutes." Kagome answered calmly.
"Keh! Just hurry it up wench, I ain't got all day." he replied stomping out of the bathroom.
Kagome rolled her eyes and proceeded to get ready to leave.
Forty-five minutes later, they pulled in to Taisho seniors estate. Kagome walked up to the front door, and walked in not waiting for the grumbling hanyou who had gotten his shirt stuck in his car door.
"Kagome!" Rin chirped as she ran into Kagome's waiting arms.
"Hi Rin! How was your trip?" Kagome asked with a smile.
"It was great! I had so much fun! And look!" the little girl replied picking up the kitten standing next to her. "Tora is all better now!"
"I'm so glad. That's wonderful sweety."
"Where's the bastard?" Inuyasha growled as he came into the house.
"Inuyasha, if you don't watch your mouth around Rin, so help me I will scrub your mouth with so much soap, you'll be burping bubbles for a year." Kagome threatened.
"Keh." he responded, but his face blanched noticeably.
Rin grinned, unperturbed by her grumbling uncle. "Lord Sesshomaru went to the store to get something. He'll back any minute."
It was Kagome's turn to pale. She hadn't really thought about the possibility of Sesshomaru being there. 'Crap.' she thought crossly. 'This is gonna be awkward. Why me?' She stood up and sighed, firmly believing that the universe hated her for putting her in these sticky situations.
"Kagome, Inuyasha! I am so glad you both made it!" Toga exclaimed, giving Kagome a fierce hug and patting his son on the back.
"Keh, we always do old man. I don't know why you're so surprised." Inuyasha grunted.
"Don't be rude Inuyasha." Kagome scolded him.
"Oh, don't bother with it, my dear girl. I am used to his boorish behavior." Toga said dismissively. "Dinner is ready though. Shall we?"
Kagome nodded, taking his offered arm and following him to the dining room.
They had only been sitting for a moment before they heard the front door open and close. Kagome tensed. Sesshomaru was back.
Sesshomaru parked his car in his designated spot, and started towards his father's home. From the corner of his eye, he saw Inuyasha's red Camaro sitting crookedly on the side of the curb. 'Hn, so the half breed is here.' A devilish smirk placed itself on his handsome face as he detected a familiar flowery scent. 'So is Kagome. This shall be interesting.' he thought, making his way to the dining area.
He stepped into the room, his face blank of any emotion. He paused a moment to ruffle Rin's hair, before looking around at the rest of the group.
"Father." he greeted shortly while hanging up his jacket.
"Sesshomaru." Toga replied with a nod.
"Inuyasha." Sesshomaru acknowledged, albeit begrudgingly.
"Bastard."
"Inuyasha..." Kagome growled warningly.
Inuyasha huffed. "Sesshomaru."
"Hn."
Making his way to the other side of the table, Sesshomaru decided to irritate his brother a little bit more. He sat himself directly across from Kagome, reached across the table grabbing her hand, and placed a chaste on her knuckles.
"Kagome." he said, looking her in the eye.
Kagome blushed furiously. She was sure the kiss had been a ploy to anger his brother, but the way he was staring at her right now had nothing to do with the hanyou.
"Hehe, hi Sesshomaru." she replied nervously.
"Oi, take your hands off her Sesshomaru!" Inuyasha yelled.
"Hn." He released Kagome's hand, and smirking at his brother.
Toga raised a brow, and glanced back and forth between his eldest son to his youngest's girlfriend. 'Interesting.' he thought lightly.
Shaking out of his momentary daze, he looked at Inuyasha. "Calm down, boy. Such gestures are not uncommon amongst family. It is merely a show of endearment."
"Keh." Inuyasha grunted, crossing his arms over his chest.
The food was served, and they ate in silence. After dinner, Rin dragged Kagome off to play, as usual, leaving the three youkai sitting at the table.
Inuyasha couldn't sit there idly any longer. He stood up and pointed an angry finger in Sesshomaru's face. "I don't know what you're up to, you bastard, but I know you've been spending time with my Kagome. Stay away from her, she's mine!"
"You forget yourself whelp. You're claim on the woman was void the moment you bedded another. I enjoy my little get togethers with Kagome, and as long as she needs companionship, I will continue to provide it." Sesshomaru replied blandly.
Inuyasha rushed over to his sibling and grabbed him roughly by the front of his shirt. "Is there something going on between you two?" he growled.
Sesshomaru arched a brow. "Remove your hands from my person, half-breed, or I will do it for you."
"Go ahead and try it ice prick!"
"That's enough pups!" Toga shouted, separating his sons. "I will not have you fighting in my home!"
"Hmph, whatever. But you listen to me Sesshomaru, you leave my Kagome alone, or I will kill you, no matter what dad says." Inuyasha threatened, as he left the room.
Toga looked questioningly at Sesshomaru. "Is there something going on between you two?"
"Hn." he replied, also leaving the room.
Toga sighed. "This will not end well."
Kagome stood outside watching Rin chase Tora around the yard with a content smile on her face. She turned when she felt Sesshomarus familiar aura come up beside her. She frowned when she saw his dark expression.
"Is everything alright?"
"You told Inuyasha you've been seeing me." he stated.
"Yes, I had to tell him something. He smelled you on me the other day. I told him we've been meeting for lunch every once in a while." she replied. "Why do you ask?"
"He suspects something and does not want us to see each other anymore."
"Oh, well to bad. I can hang out with whoever I want. I will deal with him, don't worry."
"Hn."
"Besides, he can't say anything, or I will forbid him from staying at work late. He won't want to miss his precious time fooling around with my cousin." she added a bit bitterly.
"Your cousin?"
"Yeah, I haven't had a chance to share that juicy detail with you yet. The woman he's been seeing is my cousin Kikyo, who I saw yesterday for the first time in like seventeen years."
"I imagine that was a bit of a shock."
Kagome chuckled. "You have no idea. But I am passed it, with her anyway. We had lunch today. It was nice."
"You are a strange woman, Kagome."
"How so?"
Sesshomaru shrugged slightly. "Most would not willingly associate with their competition."
"She's not really competition anymore though." She smiled. "I have you. I still feel a little guilt about lying to him and everything, but I think I would be worse as a person if I didn't feel a little bad."
"That is true, on both counts."
"Right, so everything will be alright."
Her phone rang. "Hi Sango! Whats up?"
"You want to meet us at Fiesta in a couple hours? We figured we'd go tonight since no one could make it yesterday."
"That sounds great! I will be there."
"K! See ya!"
"Bye."
"Your karaoke?" Sesshomaru asked.
"Yeah. You should come sometime. It's really fun."
"Hn."
"You can really be a kill-joy sometimes, you know that?"
"Indeed."
Kagome sighed dramatically. "I give up."
He was about to respond when Inuyasha walked up, grabbed Kagome and started pulling her to the car. "Come on wench, we're leaving."
Kagome yanked her arm away from the fuming hanyou. "If you want to leave, you can just ask, ya know! You don't have to pull my arm out of its socket. Jeez!"
She rubbed her shoulder and turned to Toga and Rin who had gathered around during the commotion.
"Bye guys, see you next month ok?" Kagome said, giving them each a hug.
"Bye Kagome!" Rin replied.
"Goodbye my dear." Toga leaned his face in closer to her ear. "Be sure the choice you make is the right one for you." he whispered so only she would hear him. He pulled away, giving her a knowing smile, and took Rin back into the house.
Kagome sighed, and got into the car.
They had been driving in complete silence for twenty minutes, when
Inuyasha spoke up.
"I don't want you hangin around my brother anymore."
Kagome scoffed at him. "I can use my spare time however I see fit, Inuyasha. You have no right to tell me what I can and cannot do."
"I have every right! You're mine, and you will obey me!"
Kagome's temper flared. "I belong to no one Inuyasha. Especially not you." she said, the quiet volume of her voice accentuating the coldness of her tone.
"What the hell is that supposed to mean?" he asked, more than slightly taken aback.
"It means exactly what it says. Now leave me alone, I don't want to talk to you anymore."
Inuyasha dropped Kagome off at their apartment, and went off to 'clear his head.' Unfazed, Kagome showered, dressed and caught a cab to Fiesta.
She flopped down into the chair next to Sango and Ayame, and downed the drink they had ordered for her.
"You feelin alright?" Sango asked.
"I'm fine. It's just been a long day." Kagome relied, rubbing her temples absently. "I have a headache in my eye. How does that even happen?"
"Care to elaborate?"
Kagome told them about Kikyo, and all that had happened with Inuyasha since he returned. When she finished, they all stared at her with stunned looks on their faces.
"Wow." they said in unison.
"It's amazing you still have your sanity." Miroku commented drly.
"Tell me about it. I don't really want to think about it right now though. I want to have fun and relax. I will worry about my mental health later."
Their new drinks arrived, and everyone paused to take a long gulp.
"Seems like you got a lot on your plate, no wonder you've been skipping out on work." Ayame stated.
"Yeah, I think I will probably come back on Monday though. How's everything going there?"
"Good. Dr. Aichi is very thorough, he does a good job."
"I'm glad to hear it. So who's up first?"
"None of us really felt like singing tonight. We're just here to watch." Sango answered.
"Except me, of course. I am always ready to make a fool of myself." Miroku asserted with a cheesy grin.
Kagome laughed. "When are you going up?"
"Should be fairly soon, I think."
"So how are things with you and Sesshomaru?" Ayame inquired.
"Great! I know its only been a short while, but I think I might love him. I am really starting to question the resolve I had to burn Inuyasha. I want to, don't get me wrong, but its getting in the way now. I don't know how much longer I'll be able to keep this up. I am starting to think I should have just ended it, you know?"
"Does what you're doing bother Sesshomaru?" Miroku asked.
"No, I think he's going to enjoy tormenting Inuyasha more than I will. But I definitely don't want it coming between us."
"I wish I knew what to tell you, but I think this is something you need to figure out on your own." Sango told her sympathetically.
Kagome sighed. "I know. I'll sort it all out eventually."
Miroku was called to sing his song, and they sat stayed for another couple hours watching all the other people perform. All in all, it was a good end to her somewhat stressful night.
As Kagome drove herself home, she thought about her situation. She wasn't sure what she was gonna do about Inuyasha yet, but she knew no matter what, she wanted Sesshomaru. Kagome got home and climbed into bed, images of herself and her lover flowing though her mind broadcasting an unrivaled sense of peace. She'd figure out the rest of her life later.
A/N: Finally! Once again, sorry it took so long. I hope you're not too put out with me. But at least this one was not left with a cliffy! I really will try harder now that the creative juices are flowing. I think this is the second to last chapter though, and I already have some ideas for my next story. Anyway, I hope you enjoyed the new segment! Please leave reviews, it inspires me to work faster! Thanks!
Creature of Shadow