April 19, The Magnolia City Botanical Garden, 11:12 AM
Kagome and Inuyasha walked side by side in silence under the fresh green canopy, dappled sunlight periodically highlighting the rigid, 6-inch gap between them. Other garden visitors flowed around them, babbling and rushing around, chasing children and enjoying the glorious spring morning. Kagome picked up her pace slightly, moving just ahead of Inuyasha.
"I think I know a good spot where we can talk," she said, gesturing with her head toward the left fork of the paved path.
Inuyasha nodded. He almost wished for a cold snap, just to decrease the press of humanity around him.
Ten minutes later, they were ensconced in the Woodland Garden on a low stone bench at the end of a winding side-path. A small stream burbled by the cul-de-sac, and new plants poked their heads above the leaf litter covering the the ground. They could still hear people chattering out on the main path through the Woodland Garden area, but the sound was far away.
"So…" Kagome began. She shifted uncomfortably and looked sideways at Inuyasha, who appeared to intently study the brook as it tumbled along.
He huffed and blew his silvery bangs out of his face. Then he turned to meet her eyes.
Kagome's breath hitched at his expression. Instinctively, she reached up to cup his face. Inuyasha flinched and then leaned into her touch as she ran her thumb over his cheek, his brows furrowed.
"Inuyasha," Kagome whispered. The sadness in his gaze, the care, the hurt, the desire, all tore at her. "I'm sorry. I'm so, so sorry."
He sighed heavily. "Thank you." He brushed his lips across her palm, savoring the sensation. He felt Kagome tense. "But it isn't all your fault."
She frowned and drew her hand away. "But… you said…"
"I know. The truth is, I've liked you from the start. I knew you had a boyfriend when I asked you to come to my brother's New Year's party… And even though I asked you to go as friends, I think somewhere deep down, I knew I wanted more…" he trailed off. Quiet hung for a moment.
"I just wanted to screw you at first," Kagome blurted into the silence. Then cringed.
Inuyasha barked a laugh. "Keh, Figures." He shook his head. "You know, the stereotype is that I'm supposed to see you as a sex object to start, not the other way around."
A smile prickled at the corners of Kagome's mouth. "I guess I got so used to being seen as a sex object that I didn't think anything of seeing a man that way."
Inuyasha snorted. "Serves us men right, I suppose."
"Not you though. You said you didn't see me that way," Kagome offered.
"It's not like I've never been guilty of that though," he shrugged. "I think most guys are at some point. Some of us just outgrow it."
Kagome looked at him sharply. "Are you ragging on Kouga?"
Inuyasha held her gaze steadily. "Well, I don't have much reason to like a guy who's caused you as much pain and stress as he has. I— I care about you. I don't like seeing you hurt."
Kagome swallowed, dropping her eyes to the few inches of stone bench between them. "I don't like seeing you hurt either," she responded softly.
"Then we shouldn't see each other after this."
Kagome's eyes snapped up. "Wh-what?"
"We'll just keep hurting each other if we do." He scooted closer to her on the bench and raised his hand to run his fingers along her cheek. "We care about each other. But you also still care for Kouga too."
"It's not the same," Kagome mumbled, eyelids half closed.
"You're still with him though."
"You said you didn't want me to break up with him for you. That I— I should do it because it's the right thing for me."
"That's still true."
Kagome pulled back abruptly. "Then why are we here like this? What do you want?"
"You should be asking what you want," Inuyasha retorted gently. "I'm here because I wanted you to know how I feel, and I wanted to know how you feel when you're not… well, wasted."
She sighed. "I guess that's fair… I just… I don't really know what I want right now."
He nodded, understanding. "If it's alright… there's one other thing that I want, before we go our separate ways."
Kagome felt his warm fingers lift her chin, and her brown eyes flicked up to meet his golden ones, which were once again filled with a complex array of emotions. Her breath caught.
Inuyasha held her gaze a moment longer as he leaned in and brushed his nose against hers. "This is why it's not all your fault," he breathed. "Neither of us are drunk this time."
The soft press of his lips drew a quiet groan from Kagome. Her conscience rattled that this was wrong, that she couldn't excuse this behavior with being sloshed. This is real cheating, it yammered. Just this once, she thought, and her conscience quieted.
She leaned into him and opened her mouth to meet his questing tongue. Kagome's hands dove into his silvery hair as he pulled her sideways into his lap, her legs stretched the length of the bench. Inuyasha reveled in the taste of her, the way her tongue slid against his. Time pressed on them, and desperation lent a headiness to the kiss.
Kagome pulled back, breaths short and quick. "Inuyasha—I—"
He cut her off with a swift peck on her lips. "Just kiss me for a few minutes… please?"
"But—don't you think—"
He ran a thumb along her cheekbone. "I—I want to memorize you lips."
She nodded mutely.
This time the kisses were slow, gentle, lingering. It was as though they could make time stretch, the seconds made malleable in the press and heat of their lips.
Eventually, the kisses gave way to soft touches, soft breaths fanning each others necks and faces. And then they simply sat, Kagome's head pillowed on Inuyasha's shoulder, and his head leaned against hers.
Finally, Inuyasha spoke. "Can you promise me something?"
"Hmm?" Kagome was extremely comfortable, nearly half-asleep in the warmth of Inuyasha's body.
"If—if you ever break things off with Kouga, don't come find me unless you're sure I'm not just a rebound guy."
Kagome sat up straight, then frowned as she thought about his request. If she was really honest with herself, she wanted to run straight from Kouga into Inuyasha's waiting arms. She hadn't been alone for two years, and so much about her had changed in that time. Who would she be alone? Would she like the person she was?
Finally, she nodded, too afraid that her voice would choke up if she spoke.