Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha

UPDATE: Hello, all! This might be my last update for a few days. I have a lot of things to do this weekend, and my 21st birthday is on Monday, so, I might not have a chance to update. I just wanted to let you all know that I will be back soon, with more chapters of Forgotten Memories! Thank you so much for your reviews, btw. It really means a lot to me. Thanks!

PS: I really enjoyed writing this chapter!

(}-} FORGOTTEN MEMORIES {-{)

10

Hojo left Oshimoto Industries one week later. Of course, Kagome was sad to see him leave, but she knew it was hopeless to voice her feelings on the matter. Hojo wouldn't listen to her anyway; he'd been so preoccupied with the his new position that he hadn't paid her much attention lately. 'This is what he wants…you have to let him go…'

Much to his surprise, the office had held a small going away party for him on his last day at the company. The staff had put up streamers in the break room, and Kagome had even went and bought him an ice cream cake. Hojo seemed really happy by their enthusiastic wishes and votes of confidence. The only negative person in their midst that day was Kagome.

She kept her distance while he chatted merrily with the people he had worked with for years, observing him with a frown; she still couldn't believe that he would no longer be just around the corner from her everyday. Sure, they still shared an apartment, but they had joined Oshimoto together. When Kagome looked around, all she saw was Hojo.

As Hojo carried on a conversation about Akima's steadily increase in profit, Kagome slipped out of the break room unseen. She hurried into her office, closing the door gently behind her. The room was dark as she walked towards her desk, staggering as she felt a sudden rush of emotions. Trying to be strong, she clutched the edge of the desk, holding on to the last bit of strength she had left. But it was no use, her emotions were too strong, and they overwhelmed her.

Kagome gasped, her eyes watering from the harsh reality of his departure. "He's really leaving…what am I going to do without him?" She whispered sadly. Kagome allowed her tears to come crashing down, sobbing as she grieved for him, and for her.

Suddenly, the sound of a door knob being turned echoed in the room, and Kagome froze, quickly wiping at her eyes. She straightened herself and tried to cool down before whomever it was entered her office. 'Please, not Hojo. He can't see me like this! Please, God, don't let it be him.'

"Kagome?" It was the voice of Inuyasha that called out to her. "Kagome, are you alright?"

She remained still, hoping he would take her silence as a hint and leave. But he didn't. Inuyasha closed the door behind him and flicked on the lights.

Kagome flinched from their intensity and whispered, "Please leave them off."

Inuyasha obeyed her request and switched them back off. "Kagome, what's going on? Why are you hiding out in here?"

She took a deep breath to steady her voice. "I just needed to get away from everyone."

Inuyasha frowned and took a few steps towards her, still staring at her backside. "I see…does Hojo know you're in here?"

Kagome shook her head. "No," she replied with a sniffle. "I didn't want him to see me like this. He's so happy."

Inuyasha kept advancing until he stood directly behind her. "But you're not, Kagome." Scowling at his compassion, Inuyasha added, "You need to talk to Hojo about how you feel. If you don't want him to leave, he needs to know."

"I can't!" Kagome frowned, and added, "You just don't understand."

"Help me understand, Kagome."

She sighed deeply before saying, "Hojo has been waiting so long for a promtion. Ever since high school, he has done his very best here at Oshimoto. No one deserves this more than he does. I can't take that away from him…I just can't! I've already taken away so much. He didn't go to college because of me!" Kagome paused, shaking her head grimly. "Maybe if he had, he would've been better off."

"Kagome…" Inuyasha resisted the urge to touch her, to try and comfort her. Here she was, the woman he was in love with, crying on account of another man. After seeing her this upset, it all became clear to Inuyasha. Painfully crystal clear. She was in love with Hojo, not him.

'What am I doing?' He thought angrily. 'This isn't right…messing around with her life like this. She seems like she really does love this Hojo guy. Can I really, consciously, destroy what they have together?' Inuyasha remained quiet, unsure what to say to her.

The silence in the room was killing Kagome, and she yearned for him to say something, anything, to make her feel better about the situation. Kagome turned around to face him, her brown eyes full of tears. She bit her lip to keep it from trembling as she said, "I don't know what to do, Inuyasha. I don't know what to do…"

Inuyasha's heart burned with desire to comfort her, and he found that he couldn't control himself any longer as he pulled her into his arms. He held onto her gently, forgetting his place in her life. To him, she was his Kagome, and always would be; he had to make her feel better, no matter what the cost. If she scolded him for touching her in such a way, he didn't care. Her body against his felt right; it was what should be.

Kagome's eyes had widened when Inuyasha had tugged her into an embrace. On the verge of slapping him, she was surprised when her anger and grief suddenly disappeared. She stared blankly at the wall as his body heated hers, causing her attention to wander to a more inappropriate place. His scent intoxicated her, and she realized how good it felt to finally be touched by him. When the feeling of complete bliss passed over her body, Kagome closed her eyes and responded to his hug with a deep sigh. She snuggled closer to him, leaning her head onto his chest gently.

Inuyasha's heart hammered fiercely as he thought, 'Is this really happening? Is she…consenting to my embrace?' He stared closely at the top of her head, finding himself wanting to do more than just hold her.

Kagome detected his abnormal heartbeat and glanced up at his face, where she found him gazing intently at her. Startled by his serious expression, her face heated up, and she thought, 'Why is he looking at me like that? I wonder what he's thinking about…'

After noticing Kagome's blush, Inuyasha's affections for her grew. 'Just one kiss wouldn't hurt…right?' he thought hastily, imagining her lush, soft lips against his. Inuyasha's eagerness almost swallowed him whole. 'I've waited this long, dammit! I deserve a kiss!' He swallowed roughly and tried to be patient; he would not force himself on her. "Kagome, I…"

"Yes?" She asked him nervously, her heart now beating just as fast as his. 'What is happening?'

"I-I-just-" He stammered, biting his tongue as he racked his brain, trying to find the right words to say.

Kagome batted her lashes at him expectantly, waiting impatiently for him to finish. "You what?" She breathed.

His hazel eyes watched her closely, the truth forming on the tip of his tongue. As he was on the verge of revealing his affections for her, a knock sounded at the door.

"Kagome? Are you in there?" It was Hojo who called for her; he stood directly outside her office. The two broke away instantly, smoothing their clothes as they eyed each other warily.

"What are we going to do!" Kagome whispered frantically. She cursed herself for telling Inuyasha to shut off the lights earlier. 'This looks so bad…what will Hojo think?' She frowned and knew the answer. 'He'll assume the worst…and he has every right to. Oh, what am I going to say when he finds us like this?'

Kagome's pulse quickened from guilt as the door slowly opened. She swallowed her fears and tried to act calm. If Hojo noticed her guilt, then he would figure her out for sure. Smiling wide as she caught sight of her boyfriend as he wandered into the dark room, Kagome noticed his smile falter as he came towards her. 'Oh no…here it comes…' Kagome thought nervously as she braced herself for the worst.

Thank you so much for reading! If you enjoyed this chapter, please review!