The next month went by in much the same way. The awkward tension between Kagome and Inuyasha never completely subsided, but now they could ignore it and act as if it wasn't there. They were becoming experts at being around each other and avoiding direct eye contact. The air between them was stiff, yet somehow still electric. When she would notice his eyes, or his ears (which was often the case), on her during class her heart would skip a beat and her palms would become sweaty. She would get nervous, and she couldn't explain that to herself. Well, she could, but she didn't want to. She didn't want to admit what she knew was becoming more and more true every day. At this point, they saw each other often. Miroku and Sango had long since became an official couple, so now movie nights once a week at their grand apartment had become a main-stay. The only difference now was that Kagome had persuaded Sango to take the couch, that way Inuyasha and herself weren't awkwardly stuck next to each other. The first time this happened Inuyasha and Kagome sat in the two armchairs, across, and separated, from each other. They didn't even discuss the movie until it was finished and they were forced to as Miroku and Sango sat in their couple bubble. Once in a while, she would notice Sango shooting her a concerned look, but she would just wave it off. Sango was happy, really happy, for the first time in a long time. She deserved that, and Kagome knew it, so she did her best to not let her own confused feelings get in Sango's way. The next weekend when they went over for a movie Inuyasha looked at her before abruptly standing up and dragging his chair over next to hers. They didn't touch, but now they were close enough to talk, and talk they did. They would blabber throughout the whole movie, discussing each action sequence, debating the characters, getting annoyed at cheesy lines that were all too easy to predict… It was the only time when the odd atmosphere between the two would seem to cease and they could just relax into each other's presence. It wasn't until the movie came to an end, the credits rolling, that they could feel the tension again.

Of course, this tension wasn't made any better by either of their phones going off, their respective other beckoning them away.

Kagome tried not to feel hurt when Inuyasha would leave one of their group gatherings. He had had to leave the movies early once, and usually left as soon as the movie was done. Plus, the few times they had all met up for a quick lunch on campus he had had to ditch. She knew she shouldn't care… But, she could see a pained look on his face every time the phone went off and it was her. She could tell instantly when he got a text from Kikyo because his whole demeanor would change, and not in a good way. He looked pained, as if something deep inside was tugging at him, pulling him towards an outcome he didn't want to accept. His eyes still held love when he gazed at the text on his phone, but his face looked stiff and resigned. Kagome imagined it was probably how she looked too… when Koga texted or called.

Each time her phone beeped she would feel her heart drop, but not in that exciting kind of way. It was always with dread. She would open her phone, wondering if it would be another odd text, which had happened once more. She was constantly plagued by tormenting thoughts as she swiveled her ring around her finger. The ring still felt foreign to her, like it didn't really belong on her hand. She tried to push it off as pre-wedding jitters, yet even this excuse didn't fully satiate her brain. Not once had they talked about the wedding. Koga would call her fiance when he was feeling flirty, but otherwise, nothing even relating to the wedding had been mentioned. Kagome looked down at her ring and swiveled it again and sighed before looking up at Miroku. They were prepping for another movie night, but this time Inuyasha's presence was noticeably lacking. Miroku hung up the phone and trotted into the living room, happily bouncing down onto the couch besides Sango as he sat down a large bowl of buttered popcorn.

"Inuyasha's at Kikyo's." He said matter-of-factly. Kagome just nodded and forced on a smile.

"Why doesn't she ever join us?" Sango's question was soft. Kagome had been wondering the same thing, since movie night was kind of a couples thing and she was there just to lend Sango moral support. But, she had never been brave enough to ask.

Miroku's eyebrow rose in mild amusement. "If you knew her, you wouldn't ask that." At Sango's confused look Miroku laughed slightly and took a handful of popcorn before continuing. "She doesn't really do these kind of things. She wants to go out. She wants to be seen. Plus, even if she did actually agree to a simple stay-at-home thing like this, she wouldn't want an action movie. She'd want some sappy chick-flick that no one else but her would enjoy."

"Oh, well I still think it's a little odd…" Sango's voice trailed off as her eyes flashed over to Kagome.

"Her loss not ours." Miroku's tone was firm and Kagome got the sneaking suspicion that he wasn't the biggest fan of Inuyasha's long time girlfriend. "Now, how about we get this movie going?" He clapped his hands together childishly and the girls couldn't help but giggle at his silly actions. He hit play and they settled into their usual roles, except this time it was relatively quiet with none of the usual amusing and animated banter.

Kagome couldn't help but think that she missed him. An image of his doggy ears floated into her head and she wished she could touch them again. She barely paid attention to the movie, all of her thoughts on the silver haired half-demon that plagued her mind and her heart. Her phone beeped and she jumped slightly, startled out of her daydreams by Koga's text.

Koga: {I miss you…}

The text was so simple, so innocent. Kagome shook her head of thoughts she knew she shouldn't be having and instead tried to smile down at her phone.

Kagome: {I miss you too. We haven't gotten to talk much. Has work been that busy?}

It was true. Koga and herself had barely messaged. They hadn't even spoken on the phone for the last week. He often missed texting her goodnight, but she never forgot. It was part of her routine. Text him good morning and goodnight, then wait for a response that came less and less. It stung and yet, she was also relieved. She couldn't explain it. She didn't want to explain it. She still wanted her safe plan, the life that was laid out in front of her, predictable. She still wasn't ready to give that vision up. They had shared that vision for so long now, it wasn't easy trying to give something up that you had desperately thought you wanted for so long. But, that was the problem, wasn't it? She thought she wanted it. Maybe, just maybe, she didn't want it in reality. Several minutes later and he finally replied.

Koga: {Yes, it's been very busy. I'm so stressed Kagome. I need you…}

His wandering thoughts made her smile and blush, suddenly she was glad that it was dark in the room and no prying eyes could catch her embarrassed look.

Kagome: {I know, it has been a long time… When do you think you can make it here again?}

This time there was an agonizingly long wait before he finally replied again.

Koga: {I don't know, Kags. I don't know…}

His text trailed off and, she didn't know why, but she got the distinct impression that he didn't really want to come see her, no matter what he had just said. Frowning slightly she hurriedly typed her response.

Kagome: {Do you even want to see me?}

Koga: {OF COURSE! I miss you Kags… I do, I really do…}

She breathed a sigh of relief and toned it down notch. After all, she was probably just misinterpreting his tone.

Kagome: {I know its just been over a month, but I feel like we need to see each other.}

With a deep breath she decided to be as open with him as she could in that moment.

Kagome: {Something feels weird, Koga. You know, we haven't discussed the wedding once. Even fantasied about it. Isn't that a little odd?}

Her heart beat erratically as she waited for a reply. She watched the movie and tapped her fingers anxiously against the arm rest. Sango shot her worried looks but Kagome just smiled gently at her and looked away again. She didn't want to worry her. A whole fifteen minutes later her phone finally beeped and she nearly dropped it in her rush to open the text.

Koga: {Nothings off.}

She stared down at her phone in confusion. His reply was so short. It irritated her. She tried to squelch the anger she could feel rising as she just stared at the screen. That was all he had to say? Really?

Kagome: {That's all you have to say?}

Koga: {What else is there to say?}

Kagome's breaths were coming fast now. She felt like the world was spinning out of control, like she could hardly hold on, she felt like something was just about to break.

Kagome: {There's a million things to say. A million things you could say. I'm hurting, Koga…}

It was involuntary and she cursed herself as soon as she felt it… There were tears falling down her cheeks. Immediately, a concerned Sango was beside her, pulling her into a hug. Kagome tried to stop the tears, but instead they just grew worse. She hiccuped as she tried to hold back her breath, making the tears spill over even more. Her head was dug into Sango's shoulder, getting her nice shirt wet.

"I'm… I… so… so- so- sorry…" She managed to say through her tears. This wasn't normal for her. She couldn't get herself back under control. She felt a reassuring hand placed on her back, Miroku, as Sango's arms tightened around her.

"Shhhh, it'll be ok… It'll be ok…" Sango's voice was soothing and eventually she managed to lean back, smile slightly at her friend, and slide back into the armchair.

Kagome looked up guiltily at the two people carefully watching her. "I'm sorry, I…" She raised her shoulders in confusion. "I don't know why I just started crying like that."

It was quiet for a minute before Sango walked over and placed a hand on Kagome's shoulder.

"Was it Koga?"

Kagome couldn't answer, she could feel the tears pricking her eyes again, yet she still couldn't fully explain to herself why she had started crying so hard. All she knew was that it felt like she had just lost something, something she wouldn't ever be able to get back the way it was before. She nodded at Sango.

"I'll kill him." Kagome looked up at Miroku, his voice was deep and his eyes had a steady determination lingering in them, but the way he had pumped his fist in the air like a pseudo-action hero looked hilarious and a minute later she couldn't stop laughing, Sango quickly joining in. "What?" Miroku looked at them confused, eyes wide, eyebrows raised. "All I did was this?" He pumped his fist dramatically again and dropped his voice an octave repeating, "I'll kill him" in an extremely exaggerated and comical tone. The girls spilled over with laughter and Miroku smiled to himself.

Kagome felt like her emotional state was riding a roller coaster.

"Thanks… a lot Miroku." She said between laughs. Her side splitting from the sheer force of her laughter as Miroku had then gone into a mix between the Pharaoh and robot dance styles. Sango had even ended up on the floor, clutching her side, before an overly-dramatic Miroku had leaned down to sweep her up like some fairy-tale prince.

"I'll save you, my damsel!" His voice was shrill, like a little girl's, as he tossed Sango onto the couch making her laugh even more. It was just as he was sitting back down with her, the room finally devoid of sadness, that the front door opened and slammed shut. The three siting in the room immediately stilled. That could only be Inuyasha, and he sounded… Well, he sounded mad. They could hear his voice, extremely gruff, all the way down the hallway as his footsteps pounded against the poor floor. He entered the living room as if in a daze, his ears swiveling constantly on top of his head as his semi-shocked eyes took in the people around him.

"I forgot you were here." His jaw was set, muscles tight, and Kagome noticed the way his hands were tightly balled into fists. His eyes lingered on her for a moment before he swirled around on the ball of his foot and walked into his room, slamming the door behind him.

The three left in the room stared, wide-eyed, at each other. The atmosphere suddenly somber and stiff.

"I'll… go check on him." Miroku looked warily towards Inuyasha's room before standing up. He bent down quickly to kiss Sango's hand, whispering "Wish me luck, my love", before he disappeared following after the angry Inuyasha.

Sango broke the silence that then invaded the room. "What do you think happened?"

Kagome's heart hurt. It simply hurt, seeing him like that, and she couldn't help but wonder too. "I don't know… He seemed really upset."

Sango stared at her friend for a moment before asking the question Kagome knew had been on her mind. "What did Koga do?"

Kagome glanced down at her phone and sighed deeply before answering. "Nothing, really… He just, thinks nothing is off. He wont accept that something is wrong…" She felt tears pricking her eyes again and took a deep breath to force them back. "He didn't even have anything to say to me, just that nothing was off. I don't think he really cares, that I'm hurting…" Her watery gaze rose up to meet Sango's pained eyes and she kept forcing herself to take deep breaths, determined not to let any more tears fall while she was there.

"Kagome, I know you don't want to consider this… But, do you still love Koga?"

The room seemed to freeze.

Kagome couldn't think, couldn't breathe. It felt like her heart had stopped.

Did she love Koga?

Her brain screamed 'yes!', but her heart was hesitant.

Her heart didn't want to answer the question…

Her heart was in denial and the sudden pain of it, the sudden realization of it, broke something inside of her. She couldn't say it out loud. She couldn't say her deepest fear aloud. Because… if she didn't love Koga, then that meant she couldn't have that future, the future they had planned so carefully, anymore. It may sound silly, she knew that, but she loved the idea of the future they had planned. She liked how predictable it was, she liked knowing that it was going to happen, that the ring on her finger claimed that future to be real. Yet, a deep tugging within her heart spoke the truth, a truth she didn't feel ready to accept. A truth that Sango's question begged her to speak aloud. But, her lips were frozen shut as her world simultaneously fell apart.

Miroku walked back into the room before Kagome had to voice the answer that she didn't want to give. He looked at them, his gaze resigned, before speaking. "I'm not sure what happened. All he said was 'Kikyo' before throwing a picture at the wall…" His voice trailed off as his gaze flashed back towards Inuyasha's room.

Without really knowing what she was doing, Kagome was standing up and walking towards Inuyasha's door. The others didn't stop her. Soon, she stood outside the entrance to the area she had so longed to see. Gently, she knocked on the door. She didn't get an answer, and she didn't expect one, so she just pushed the door open and slid into the room.

"I said I DON'T want to talk, Miroku!" Inuyasha's voice was like daggers. He stood across from her in a giant room. She could see two doors on the right, probably for the bathroom and closet, and the entrance onto what she assumed was the sun porch Miroku had talked about. A large bed took up a good portion of the room, it was covered messily with a large red comforter and black pillows. Glass was scattered against the wall on the far left, and a broken frame lay beside it, a picture just poking out from underneath. She couldn't see the image, but she could spy Inuyasha's silver hair glinting in the photo.

He turned sharply around to look at the intruder and froze, eyes going wide, as he realized it wasn't an obnoxious Miroku standing there.

"Oh…" His voice seemed to loose all steam, all will to argue, at the sight of her and he simply collapsed onto the bed behind him. He was sitting up, hands covering his face as his elbows rested against his knees, his ears hanging dejectedly downward… Overall, he looked like a heartbroken mess. Kagome walked over slowly, not wanting to upset him further by her unwanted presence, and took a seat beside him. She didn't say anything, she just did what came natural. What came natural surprised even her.

She leaned her head against his shoulder, her black hair immediately intermingling with his silver locks.

Inuyasha froze for a minute, before she could feel his body rack in a deep breath. A moment later and she could feel his muscles relax, the tension slowly ebbing away, as he leaned his head to rest on top of hers.

To say she was surprised would be an understatement.

She sucked in a breath, holding it there, making sure this moment was real… Nervous flutters swarmed her and she tried to push them back. This wasn't about her. This was about him. Her friend who was clearly in pain, this was about him, and any and all of her inappropriate emotions needed to be forcibly ignored. She focused for a moment on this thought, stealing herself, before she reached out a hand to lightly grab his. Taking one more deep breath, she began. The once awkward air between them completely diminished.

"What happened?" Her voice was soft. The words were barely audible but she knew he would hear them.

She felt him gulp before answering. "She wants a decision." He moved his hand so his was on top of hers, and laced his fingers through her own. Her breath caught momentarily in her throat before she focused once again on the person who really mattered. Inuyasha.

"About what?"

His grip tightened and he didn't answer for a while. She squeezed his handle lightly, encouragingly, before she felt him release a breath she didn't know he had been holding.

"Marriage."

"Oh…" Her reply was short and breathy, as if that simple word had knocked the breath out of her. She felt him tense beneath her. His other hand came up and twirled around her hair that had mixed in with his, a gorgeous ribbon of black and silver.

"That's what she has wanted for some time, for me to propose, to get married when I graduate…" He sighed and let go of their hair, his hand once again falling to his lap as the other inadvertently squeezed her own a bit tighter. "I've thought about it, I really have… I just…" His voice trailed off, as if it was impossible to say what he knew he needed to. She knew that feeling. She understood that feeling.

"You don't want to marry her."

She felt him stiffen before nodding. The slight movement against her head made her heart flutter un-welcomingly. This was not the time to be having girlish feelings. This was not the time to be excited. She refused to be excited when he was in pain. Still, the position they were in felt intimate, and it was just in that moment that she realized that. If someone who didn't know them saw this, the way his head rested on top of hers which was nestled so comfortably against his shoulder… hands intertwined… they would look like a couple. That fact warmed her heart and she had to force herself to stop thinking such things as a gentle blush rose to her cheeks.

"I know I should want that, and maybe in a few more years I would… But, I can't give that to her now. I can't…"

"Deciding who to marry…" She swiveled the ring, that seemed like a noose, around her other finger subconsciously. "… is a big decision, Inuyasha. Don't rush it, if you don't feel it, don't do it. This is the rest of your life we're talking about."

It was silent for a moment before he pulled back slowly. The hand not holding hers reached up and he gently placed his finger under her chin to pull her face up to look at him. They were eye to eye now. Something they had been trying for weeks to avoid, and it sent a flurry of butterflies throughout her. A fire was ignited by his touch, by his look, by the very atmosphere they were in. She gulped warily, the look in his eyes something she was unaccustomed to seeing from him. The golden orbs seemed to swirl with unasked questions.

"Do you feel it? With him, I mean?" He sounded so innocent when he asked, so sincere, but her eyes went wide at his question. She wanted to pull away, turn her head, avoid his direct question… But she couldn't. He was stronger than her and his finger had her locked in place, staring into his eyes, which begged for a truthful answer. His ears were focused on her. They were locked in their own little sphere, one where she couldn't avoid him any longer and she was forced to confront what had been swirling around her heart.

"I…" She gulped, steadying herself. "I don't know anymore…" Her voice cracked a little bit on the end as she forced herself to openly admit what scared her the most, that maybe the predictable future that she had wanted so much was something, in reality, she didn't want or desire at all.

He stared at her for a long moment, searchingly.

"Is it just me?" His voice was gruff and deep as a different kind of tension separated the space between them. The awkwardness was gone. In that moment, sitting on his bed, a different, forbidden, kind of spark had firmly ignited between them. Even though his question was so unspecific she still knew exactly what he was referring to and her heart skipped a beat because of it. She saw his ears twitch and a blush gently appear on his cheeks. Her own intensified. He had heard her heart. In that moment her mind raced to try and comprehend all that his half-demonic senses could pick up. Could he smell how nervous she was? Could he smell how her body reacted to him? Could he really hear the way her heart would stutter when he was near? When his hand would touch hers? How much… just how much did he perceive? Her eyes searched his questioningly, but she knew she wouldn't find an answer there.

She never left his gaze as she dared herself to answer him truthfully.

"No, it's not just you."

With just those few words the atmosphere became firmly locked in anticipation of something both knew was impossible at that time. Thoughts of Koga tugged at the back of her head and she pulled slightly back from him, releasing his hand, and sliding a bit away from him on the bed. His eyes flashed up at her knowingly as he slide a bit away from her too. Her eyes looked down at her ring, lingering there, not daring to meet his gaze.

"I'm engaged. I… I'm not sure what's happening."

"I know." His voice was rough. She looked up at him and smiled, determined.

"No matter what, Inuyasha, you shouldn't do something that you know you don't want to do. Clearly, if you don't want it then it isn't what you are supposed to do…" It was only then that she realized she was talking just as much to herself as she was to him. "If you want something or someone else, then its clear that what you are already in isn't going to work and that it would have never worked to begin with. I'm not saying it's not going to hurt…" Her eyes flashed to the broken picture on the floor, and she knew that even if he was having mixed feelings, that leaving Kikyo would still hurt because some part of him had truly loved her once. It could, and she feared would, be the same for her. Something with Koga had snapped, broken, and it wasn't something repairable. "Cause it will hurt… and you should take time to feel that hurt. But, if you don't want to marry her, then don't. It's your future, and you deserve to be happy." She smiled up at him even as she felt a tear betray her and slip from her eye as she was forced to realize her own reality. "You deserve to be happy."

He looked at her for a moment before reaching out his thumb to gently wipe away her tear. "You deserve to be happy too, Kagome." His voice was so soft, so caring, it felt like butter. It soothed her, the way he spoke, the way he looked at her, the way he was so gentle… It only continued to reinforce the reality she had been so desperately trying to ignore. She could feel the tears threatening and she stood up, slowly edging backwards to the door.

"I need to go…" She once again noticed the broken glass on the floor and she forced a smile onto her face before looking at him once more. "You should clean that up, don't wanna hurt yourself."

He smiled faintly at her, waving off her advice, as she quickly exited his room and shut the door. Sango was standing there, searchingly analyzing her, before she grabbed her hand and lightly pulled her to the door.

"I think its time to go… I think we need some girl talk." She gave Miroku a knowing look. He simply leaned forward, kissed her forehead, and waved them cheerily goodbye. Kagome smiled despite herself. He really was a good guy.

As soon as they got home Kagome collapsed onto the floor. She knew what she needed to do, and it destroyed her inside. She had loved Koga for so long. She had truly thought he was what she wanted. She thought she wanted the safe, predictable, future. She thought that was what she craved. She thought being engaged to him would make her happy. It was more than just the odd texts and sneaking suspicion that had made this change within her. It wasn't entirely his fault, and it wasn't entirely hers. She was pretty sure that this change would have happened with or without Inuyasha around, too. It was just as soon as the ring, the finality of the ring on her finger, enveloped her that she had realized it wasn't the future she wanted or needed. A big part of her loved Koga, but now she was more in love with the idea of him than the reality of him. Her heart seemed to shatter. Sango sat next to her all night, comforting her, bringing ice cream and chocolate, discussing exactly what was going on within Kagome's head and heart. By the end of the night she knew what she had to do, and with Sango's help, she managed to start.

Kagome: {I need to see you. ASAP. We need to talk, Koga.}

~ Author's Note ~

Hello, everyone! Please review and let me know your thoughts on the new chapter! What do you think will happen? Will Inuyasha leave Kikyo? Will Kagome manage to leave Koga? What do you think will happen next? I hope you are enjoying 'Love in the Time of Tea'.

Please review!

The more reviews, the faster I update. Reviews really give me the energy to write despite by busy working schedule. Thank you so much for reading.

~ FeudalAi