Chapter Six
"So, what do you want to eat?" Inuyasha asked, taking her hand as they entered the amusement park.
"Hmm, dessert," Kagome answered after careful contemplation.
"What about dinner?" he asked with a laugh
"Life is short; when given the choice you should always eat dessert first."
"I can't argue with that. What do you want?"
"Just cotton candy...for now," she answered mischievously.
"As my lady wishes." He steered them toward a cotton candy cart. "Here you go. What now? Do you want to ride the ferris wheel?"
"Um, not yet. Let's wait until the sun goes down a bit more. Besides, I seem to recall you promising stuffed animals."
"I keep my promises. Let's go."
88
"Inuyasha," Kagome laughed. "I can't hold anymore animals."
"Just one more," Inuyasha said picking up the ball and taking careful aim.
"I don't need one more."
"It's not for you,"
"I—huh?"
"It's for her," he nodded at a little girl who'd been watching them and eyeing Kagome's collection enviously. He knocked the target down then carefully selected a shaggy white dog. He walked over to the girl, knelt before her, and offered the dog. She took it hesitantly then hugged it to her chest smiling shyly. "Thank you," she whispered.
"No problem," he replied ruffling her bangs. "You run along now." The girl scampered off and he returned to Kagome. "Where'd all your animals go?" he asked noticing her empty arms.
"I got mobbed by little girls who wanted them."
"You gave them all away?"
"I kept this one," she held up a fluffy white dog, much like the one he'd given away. "I think I'll call him Inu."
"Keh, whatever," Inuyasha scoffed holding back a smile.
"That was really nice of you," Kagome said as they started to walk again. "I guess you like kids then,"
"Of course, don't you?"
"Duh. I'm actually trying to adopt."
"Adopt? Why? Don't you want kids of your own?"
"Yeah, but I haven't met the right guy and I'm not getting any younger. Plus, Shippo is such a cute little guy."
"The brat from the school?"
"He's not a brat," she admonished elbowing him gently. "But I'm being stalled because not only am I single, I'm also human. What about you; why haven't you settled down yet?"
"Don't you know anything about Youkai mating rituals?" Inuyasha asked. She shook her head. "You should learn if you plan on raising one. Youkai's, mates are predestined. They know immediately when they meet them...or they're supposed to" he muttered. "I haven't found her yet, but then I'm hanyou so the process may be different."
"If you know right away why bother dating?"
"A man's got needs," he said with a rakish smirk. "But in all seriousness that would be a rather lonely existence. Haven't you dated guys you had no intention of marrying?"
"Well yes, but...this is a weird conversation to be having while on a date."
"True," Inuyasha laughed ruefully. "Come on, let's go ride the ferris wheel now." They got in line and as they waited he asked about the repairs to the school.
"Truthfully, we don't have enough money in the budget for full repairs," Kagome told him. "We got an electrician and a plumber in to fix the lights and the pipe that Shippo busted, but the the lockers and the water damage will have to wait. I've been trying to think of a way to raise awareness of the school and it's lack of funds, but nothing suitable has come to mind." She sighed. "Will our dating have any effect on your father's decision to donate to the school?" she asked suddenly.
"Probably not, so don't worry. Dad's a pretty fair man," Inuyasha answered.
"I'm not worried," Kagome said. "Quite the opposite, in fact. If this will sway your father I'm fine with it. I have no problem selling my body for donations."
"Selling your body?" Inuyasha repeated with a smirk. He slipped an arm around Kagome's waist. "So, what exactly would a donation get me?"
Kagome laughed and went up onto her toes to kiss his cheek. "That depends on the size of the donation," she purred. She pulled away and stepped forward when the ride attendant called for the next couple.
Inuyasha bared a fang at the pimply young man when he started to help Kagome into the cage. The youth gulped and pulled away leaving Inuyasha to help her in. "That was completely unnecessary," Kagome said as he sat down beside her.
"We're on a date," Inuyasha said, "I don't want another guys hands on you while we're together."
"And what if we're not together?" Kagome asked with a smile.
"Not even then," Inuyasha answered immediately. Kagome smiled widened and she snuggled against him before turning to enjoy the view. Inuyasha wrapped his arm around her shoulders and smiled contentedly. His smile grew when Kagome took took his free hand in hers. He rubbed his cheek over her hair then frowned when he caught the subtle scent of strawberries mixed into Kagome's natural scent. He tensed, strawberry was Kikyo's signature scent. What are you doing? he asked himself. He shouldn't be feeling this happy, this contented with a woman who wasn't Kikyo. He needed Kagome to fall for him, not the other way around.
"What's wrong?" Kagome asked sensing his discomfort.
"Huh? Uh, nothing...it's just...your shampoo," he stuttered.
"Oh, it's strawberries and cream. I usually use unscented shampoo, but I was out and a friend left the strawberry one at my place. Do you not like strawberries."
"I love strawberries," he declared immediately. "I mean...I just like your natural scent. It's amazing."
"Oh," Kagome blushed and tightened her fingers on his. Inwardly, Inuyasha sighed. Good save he thought. Right now I just need to keep my thoughts and feelings for Kagome and Kikyo separate. With that decided he pushed all thoughts of Kikyo aside and tightened his arm around Kagome.
"Lets go around one more time," he said.
"Mmm, okay," she answered snuggling closer.
88
"Inuyasha,"
"Yeah?"
"Can I ask you something?" They were in the car in front of her apartment.
"Of course. Is something bothering you?"
"Well, I keep thinking about what you said before...about how Youkai's mates are predestined. I understand how just waiting for that person would be a lonely existence, but..."
"But?"
"I really like you, Inuyasha," she blurted. "I feel...connected to you, somehow. And, well, if this isn't going anywhere...I'd rather end this now and avoid getting my heart broken." She waited holding her breath for an answer. He suddenly turned off the car plunging them into darkness and making his silence that much more obvious. Kagome sighed unhappily and reached for her seatbelt. His hand covered hers stopping the movement.
"You haven't actually asked me anything," he said. A car drove by and the brief illumination from the headlights showed her that he was staring into the darkness outside the windshield.
"I guess that I'm asking if I'm her, your...mate, because if I'm not..." she trailed off. He was silent again and she strained her eyes against the darkness trying to see his face.
"I'm sorry, Kagome," he said finally. "I shouldn't have said anything. I don't normally bring up the whole mate thing on the first date...as you can see it puts kind of a damper on the relationship."
"Answer my question, Inuyasha."
"I don't know."
She exhaled sharply, "That's the same as saying no, Inuyasha. Stop trying to spare my feelings, you already said, you'd know right away." She shook of his hand, unbuckled her seatbelt, and reached for the door.
"Wait," Inuyasha put a hand on her shoulder. "I said that Youkai's mates are predestined, that Youkai will know right away."
"I heard you the first time," she snapped jerking away from him. "Just let me go, Inuyasha."
"Kagome," he unbuckled his own seatbelt so he could grab her and drag her back. "Kagome, I'm not Youkai, I'm Hanyou."
"What? I don't care, just let me go," her voice was thin and confused. He could smell the tears she was trying to hold back.
"No." He dragged her across the console and slanted her mouth over hers. It was an angry kiss, a desperate kiss. "I feel it too, Kagome," he said when he pulled away. "The connection I feel it. And I don't know what it means, but I'm not letting you go."
Kagome pulled away from him and slumped back into her seat. "Why are you doing this to me?" she asked, no longer trying to hold back the tears. "You said that I'm not your mate—"
"That's not what I said, Kagome."
"You said that Youkai—"
"Goddammit, I said that I'm not Youkai," he yelled. "I'm only half. Hanyou, Kagome, not Youkai."
"I don't know what that means, Inu—"
"What it means is that I don't know what the fuck I'm doing!" he dropped his head to the steering wheel. "No one knows." Kagome didn't answer and she didn't look at him, but she didn't try to leave again either. Inuyasha took this as a good sign. "Because I'm only half my Youkai instincts aren't as strong, and that is what tells Youkai when they've found their mate. And because Hanyou are rare, there's no one to tell me if I'm different. So, I don't know if you're my mate or not Kagome, but I know that this connection that we feel means something. Give this a chance, Kagome. Please?"
She still didn't speak. After a moment Inuyasha started to lift his head from the steering wheel, to say what he didn't know, but he stopped when Kagome's hand covered his. "I—I'm sorry," she said softly. "I just—"
"I know," he interjected quickly, relief evident in his voice. "I understand." He looked at her now, her face was red and streaked with tears and mascara. She sniffled and rubbed her nose with the back of her hand.
"I'm glad it's dark," she said. "I probably look terrible."
"I have excellent night vision," Inuyasha told her. "And your right; you do look terrible, but I don't care." He cupped her face with one hand and leaned over to kiss her. It was a gentle kiss this time. "You should go on in," he said afterwards. "You have to work tomorrow."
"Yeah," she sniffed again. "I guess I'll see you later then..."
"Yeah," he agreed. "Though maybe we should take some time to...think about tonight."
"O-okay." She reached for the door then stopped and turned to him instead. She reached blindly for him and once she'd found him pulled him in for a long sweet kiss. "Goodnight," she said against his lips. Then she got out of the car and went into the building without looking back. Inuyasha sat and waited until the light in her apartment came on before starting the car and driving off.
88
"Lunchtime," Kagome said to herself happily. She'd already set out the sandwich and drink she'd brought from home on her desk.
"Higurashi-san," her assistant's voice came over the intercom. "Takahashi-san is on line one."
"Okay, thank you," Kagome said before picking up the phone. "Hello," she answered picking up her sports drink. She expected to hear Izayoi, instead it was her son.
"Hey,"
"Inuyasha," she jolted spilling a little of her drink. "Darn it," she muttered grabbing a napkin.
"The one and only," he returned. "Have you had lunch yet?"
"I'm about to."
"Wanna have it with me? We could meet somewhere."
"I can't," Kagome said her regret clear. "I have too much to do. I'm just eating a sandwich at my desk. Besides, you said we should take some time to think about what happened yesterday."
"I thought about it all last night," he said. "I want to see you."
"I don't have time today, Inuyasha. I'm sorry."
"Fine," he sighed. "I'll call you later."
"Bye," Kagome hung up and smiling took a bite of her sandwich.
88
"Now what should I do?" Inuyasha asked himself. He'd actually been parked outside of the main office already. He'd decided to call Miroku and see if he was free when his phone rang. He glanced at the caller I.D., Kikyo. "Hello," he answered.
"Inu baby," Kikyo purred. "I miss you. Let's have lunch."
"We just had lunch yesterday," Inuyasha said with a chuckle.
"And I miss you already," Kikyo said. "We've got to make up for the time we lost when I was mad. So, lunch?"
"Uh," Inuyasha glanced at the building where somewhere inside Kagome was eating lunch alone. It didn't feel right to go to lunch with her right after asking and being turned down by Kagome. It made it seem as though Kikyo was the consolation prize. "I can't, sorry. I already made plans with Miroku."
"Are you sure?" Kikyou asked pouting. "You'd have a lot more fun with me."
"Sorry," Inuyasha said again. "I'll call you later."
"Fine," she conceded. "Later lover."
"Mmm hmm." He hung up then dialed Miroku. "Lets have lunch," he said when Miroku picked up. "The usual place. I'll be there in ten." He hung up and tossed the phone into the passenger seat before starting the car and pulling away.
The 'usual place' was an American style pub that he and Miroku had discovered in college. Inuyasha got there first and, after waving at the bartender, snagged their usual booth. A few minutes later a waitress arrived with a bowl of pretzels and a cold beer. "Thanks Sei," Inuyasha said with a smile. "I'll just have this one today, I'm driving."
"Alright, are you ready to order?"
"I'll wait until Roku gets here. Oh, and put lunch on my tab today."
"Okay, I'll be back when Miroku gets here." Sei left and Inuyasha sat back to wait for Miroku. He started when his phone rang suddenly. "Man, I'm popular today," he said before checking the I.D. and answering. "Hey Mom,"
"Hello darling, what are you doing?"
"I'm about to have lunch with Miroku."
"Tell him I said hello. Are you doing anything tonight?" she asked.
"No,"
"Good, there's someone I want you to meet. My friend Ayane's daughter, she's quite beautiful."
"Mom," Inuyasha groaned. "Not another blind date." He heard a laugh and looked up to see Miroku. He waved and Miroku clapped him on the shoulder in greeting.
"Your mate isn't just going to appear in front of you, Inuyasha," Izayoi was saying. "You've got to be active...unless there is some—legitimate—reason why you want to go on a blind date."
Inuyasha groaned again, he knew what she was fishing for. "Actually," he said. "I'm kind of seeing someone right now."
"Someone?" Izayoi asked.
"Kagome," he admitted.
"That's lovely," Izayoi exclaimed. "By the way, your father came back today. You should bring Kagome over for dinner."
"Mom,"
"Not today, of course. Tomorrow or the day after is fine. We need to talk about the donation."
"Right, the donation," Inuyasha said dryly.
"Talk to her and call me back. Love you."
"Love you too," Inuyasha hung up.
Miroku smiled at him knowingly. "I ordered for you," he said. "Cheeseburger with the works. So, Kagome?" he asked. "Don't tell me one of your blind dates finally worked out."
"Not exactly," Inuyasha said sipping his beer. "She's the principal of a school that Dad helped to open. They stopped donating and they're considering starting up again. I met Kagome when went with Mom for a tour."
"Oh, so you met by chance."
"No, Mom planned it. She played me like a fiddle," Inuyasha admitted.
Miroku laughed, "So does that mean that you and Kikyo are done?"
"Of course not," Inuyasha answered. "Kagome might be my mate, but I love Kikyo. One has nothing to do with the other." Miroku raised an eyebrow but wisely decided not to touch that. They had a pleasant lunch their talk ranging from sports to women and eventually Miroku's wedding plans. When they were done they argued, as usual, over whose turn it was to pick up the tab. After a heated debate Miroku declared himself the winner and told Sei to bill Inuyasha. Inuyasha rolled his eyes and winked at Sei.