Faithfully

Journey

Through space and time
Always another show
Wondering where I am
Lost without you
And being apart
Ain't easy on this love affair
Two strangers learn to fall in love again
I get the joy of rediscovering you
Oh, girl, you stand by me
I'm forever yours
Faithfully

Now the guests moved freely about the room, gathering around the dance floor to watch the newly-named couple enjoy their first dance together.

Kagome decided to take a seat at one of the corner tables, grabbing a glass of champagne from one of the black-tuxedo waiters as they walked by with the bubbly liquid in tall glasses fanned out upon silver trays. The priestess swirled her beverage, taking note of how Sango's and Miroku's initials were printed onto the glass in black and lavender print.

When the beginning of the first song vibrated through the room, Kagome groaned audibly and stopped the same waiter as before, taking two glasses this time.

Being faithful was one thing Kagome knew how to do. It just seemed like half of the male population in Tokyo 'forgot' how to remain loyal when the next pretty thing walked by.

With a sigh, Kagome slumped in her chair and downed the second glass of champagne. The sound of someone clearing their throat from behind her made her jump.

"Sorry, didn't mean to startle you."

Kagome watched the man sit down in front of her. "Oh my goodness! Kouga, is that you?"

A dazzling smile glinted in the soft ambient lighting. "The one and only!"

The girl smiled back. "It's been ages, since…" She trailed off, thinking of just how long it had been since she had seen the wolf.

"High school." Kouga finished for her. "You look good, Kagome. I never thought I'd see you again after we graduated and you ran off with the mutt."

Kagome winced. "I didn't 'run off' with him. We've lived in Tokyo this whole time."

Even in the dimly light corner, Kouga still caught the way her face screwed up at the mention of the half-demon. "Well how come I haven't seen you around? It's been five years and you're telling me we wouldn't have run into each other at least once since then?"

Kagome decided it was time to start on her third glass before all the carbonation fizzled out. Yeah, that was why she gulped it down, not because thinking of Inuyasha put her on edge. No way.

"Well, I wasn't supposed to go anywhere without proper…guidance."

The wolf almost snorted, but didn't for her sake. "You're telling me that the puppy had to go with you if you wanted to go somewhere?"

"Not always!" She defended. "I could go to my mom's house to visit, or the grocery store, or Sango's…"

This time Kouga really did snort. "And I always pictured Inuyasha wearing the leash in that relationship, not you. Pun intended."

Kagome felt herself grow hot quickly. "Hey, you don't know the half of it, so butt out!"

Kouga watched her anger die almost as soon as it had risen. "What in the hell did he do to you, Kagome?"

"I don't know what you're talking about." She tried sounding cool and collected.

Kouga gave a single 'ha.' "Yeah right, the Kagome I knew would never let some guy control her like a lovesick kitten. You were more like a tiger. And the Kagome I knew would never snap at someone for just making a joke, even an ignorant one at that."

The girl stared at him before answering. "The Kagome you think you knew is gone. Everyone changes after high school, anyways."

Kouga answered without missing a beat. "I don't think I knew her, I know I did."

"How did you even get here?" Kagome asked, changing the subject.

"I got invited, like anybody else. I'm a member at Sango's gym; some friends know how to stay in touch."

Kagome decided to ignore his last comment.

The waiter walked by again, unambiguously taking a longer route around the corner table at which Kagome sat to try and stay out of her line of sight. Kagome, however, waved him down.

"Ma'am, I'm going to have to ask you to refrain from drinking anymore Champagne." He mumbled, not making eye-contact.

Kagome puffed up like a blowfish. "What are you talking about!?"

The waiter's eyes darted from side to side. "Well, there has to be enough to go around, and we only have enough for everyone to have two glasses. You've already had three so…"

The priestess snatched another glass from his tray. "Go tell the bride you denied her bestfriend a drink and see if she doesn't kick your ass!"

The server fled the scene with his now empty tray tucked closely to his chest. When Kagome turned back to Kouga, she found that he was hiding a fit of laughter under his own flask.

"Where did you get that?"

Kouga gave a wink. "I always stay packin'."

"You can only say that about guns." She said, rolling her eyes.

He didn't deflate a bit. "You sure are cranky tonight. This about Mutt-Face?"

"We aren't together anymore."

Kagome didn't miss the way Kouga choked on his own concoction. "Wha?"

Her silence did the answering for her. "How the hell did that happen?"

She smoothed out her dress, feeling rather uncomfortable discussing such a fresh matter with Kouga. It wasn't that he was a stranger, or that she couldn't talk about it, as much as it was the fact that he wasn't Sango or Ms. Higurashi. Those were the only two people she spoke about it with. Everyone else knew to either stay away from the topic or face her cold shoulder.

The demon didn't take her hint as well as the others. "I don't know why you're acting like I'm some stranger. Hell, we were practically bestfriends in high school."

Kagome only stared at him with a slightly tilted head.

"You don't remember?" Kouga asked, his voice giving away dejection.

"No I guess I don't."