Chapter 8

Hours later, when the sky had darkened, speckled with glimmering stars, the Miko and the Hanyou both stood outside on the stoop, waiting on their ride. Under the glow of the moon, InuYasha suddenly recalled the strange moment he'd had the other night while he was staring out Kagome's window, a feeling of unease settling inside him at the memory. He shifted uncomfortably, feeling very aware of the light on his skin all the sudden. Beside him, Kagome was practically abuzz with her enthusiasm, oblivious to his line of thought and bouncing anxiously on the balls of her feet. Her hair was pin straight, flowing down to her waist in an obsidian river, and her curvaceous form on full display in her tight-fitting clothes. He had to admit, she was looking very tasty. Her scent was clean and fresh, cherry blossom and smoky jasmine. He breathed deeply, relishing in it as he held her warm little hand tightly in his own. Intoxicating. Distracting.

He adjusted the hat that Kagome had insisted he wear backwards, almost nervously, looking down at the girl who truly was completely blind to how she affected him so simply, without even trying. A crooked smile tugged at his lips, the tip of a fang hanging over his lip.

Just then, through the trees a pair of bright headlights shone through the darkness as a sleek black car pulled into her driveway. Kagome rolled her eyes, snorting with amusement. Of course, Hinata would drive a fancy sports car, what else? She tugged on his hand, leading the suspicious Hanyou to walk closer to where the car had stopped, engine idling.

"Something doesn't feel right." InuYasha muttered, sensing something that he couldn't define. A low pulsing of an aura, something that felt bound, though he continued to allow himself to be pulled along by her towards the source.

"it's okay, don't worry, these are my friends." She assured him, dismissing his weariness as nerves.

He was uncertain, surprised that Kagome herself hadn't sensed the presence that was unmistakably Yokai, though admittedly it was weak. Picking up his pace, he quickly placed himself between the car and Kagome protectively, a hard look reflected in his eyes. He was ready to face any enemy that threatened them, no matter what. She let go of his hand to grasp the silver handle, pulling open the door and urging him to climb inside. He gave her a sidelong look, skeptical and very much so not wanting to climb into this metal contraption where the strange energy was emanating from.

Her expression read plainly, softness that did its best to reassure him. He still wasn't convinced, but not wanting to mess anything up he climbed onto the soft leather with a frustrated huff, sliding over to make room for her in the small back seat.

Kagome couldn't help but pick up on InuYasha's uneasiness, knowing that this was a new experience and that was bound to happen.

"Well hey there Kagome, Kagome's friend." Hinata's smooth voice greeted them as he turned in the driver's seat to give them both a friendly smile, lip piercings glinting in the low light.

"Hey girl!" Kagome was surprised to see Ayumi in the passenger, practically beaming with happiness

"Hey guys!" Kagome chirped, her hand sliding back into InuYasha's, their fingers lacing together as she gave it a comforting squeeze. "This is InuYasha." She introduced the Hanyou, who when she turned to look had his eyes trained firmly on Hinata, gaze unwavering and intense. She saw the moment when the spikey-haired boy met his look, instantly going still while Kagome and Ayumi watched the exchange in confusion. Beside her, she could feel the Hanyou's muscles straining, body tense as the two men seemed to be locked in a staring contest.

"Nice to meet you." Hinata's voice was smooth and casual, his demeanor changing in an instant, a well-practiced smile on his face.

"Yeah." Came InuYasha's short reply, eyes narrowed at the boy, but he slowly sank back into the seat, relaxing if only slightly.

Hinata turned away, his gaze on the road as he carefully maneuvered back out onto the street, steadily picking up speed.

"Thanks for picking us up Hinata, we definitely appreciated it. It beats the subway, that's for sure." Kagome chuckled nervously, trying to break the tension that hung in the air. She wasn't exactly sure what had just happened, but she knew that she didn't like it, suddenly feeling a bit uneasy. InuYasha could be rash at times, but his instincts were not usually wrong.

"No problem at all." Eye her in his rear view, he gave her a genuine smile.

"You look so cute, Kagome! And InuYasha you look really cool outside of those robes of yours!" Kagome was thankful for Ayumi's natural ability to ease a situation and smiled at the doe-eyed girl brightly.

"Thanks! That dress looks hot on you." She winked, causing a delicate blush to color Ayumi's cheeks.

"t-thanks," she stuttered, "I had to sneak out so my Otosan didn't see." She said with a giggle, "He would've dropped dead!"

Laughing, Kagome couldn't help but be surprised again at Ayumi's growing lack of discipline, though for the whole time she'd known her she'd been as strait-laced as they come, putting school and her parents above anything. To see her now, so blatantly disregarding those things was slightly alarming to Kagome. She told herself that it wasn't her business, she had no right to butt into her life, but she still couldn't help feeling like she should at least comment on it. She fought the urge, shaking her head at herself.

Looking to the Hanyou that still sat beside her stiffly, his eyes trained straight ahead. She wished she could ask him without words, just why was he so on edge? And why was he looking at Hinata like that? The guy was completely harmless, as far as Kagome was concerned, but InuYasha seemed to think otherwise. She could tell that his body was on full alert, ready to pounce at any moment. She squeezed his hand again, wanting him to look at her.

Slowly, he dragged his gaze away from the front seat, his eyes revealing nothing to her searching look. They were endless pools of warm honey; it was easy to get stuck and drown in them. She sighed, grateful that there was soft music playing in the background to cover the noise. Once they could get a moment alone, she would ask him just what the hell had gone on between him and Hinata, but for now all she could do was press close to his side and offer whatever small comfort that her touch could offer. Ayumi chattered to her excitedly while they drove, filling the silence and Kagome was glad for it. InuYasha could've been a cardboard box for how quiet and stone-faced he was. His muscles were tensed, hands curled into fists.

Kagome had a sinking feeling in her gut, and she was beginning to wonder just why the hell she'd ever thought that this was a good idea.

After an agonizingly long car ride with an unresponsive InuYasha beside her, they had finally arrived. Kagome couldn't help but notice how the half-demon waited for Hinata to clamber out of the vehicle before following, never taking his eyes off the boy. She was sure that Hinata noticed, he had to, there was no missing the intensity of the half-demon's amber gaze. But if he did, he didn't comment, face holding that easy smile like usual. But if one were to look hard enough, they would see that it didn't quite reach his eyes. They were black, shaded.

Kagome grabbed the Hanyou's hand nervously, half hoping to hold him back a little just in case. He didn't react other than to give her hand a squeeze, following her up to the entryway of the large angular home, paneled with dark wood with huge windows and a beautifully landscaped lawn. Hinata was in front, Ayumi close behind, wobbling a little bit in the silver heels she wore. The music was thumping loud out onto the street, the heavy bass reverberating throughout Kagome's chest in a pleasant way. Behind curtains, multicolored light could be seen flashing, the shadows of people dancing. Her heart beat fast and she clutched onto the Hanyou's hand, surprisingly nervous. She couldn't imagine how InuYasha was feeling in that moment. He'd had his first ride in a car, and now here they were about to walk into this party. Cars were parked haphazardly along the street, the broad driveway packed full and she knew there had to be at least a hundred people here.

She thought that maybe they'd knock, but to her surprise, Hinata turned the handle without hesitation and breezed through the doorway like he owned the place. She could've rolled her eyes, that was so like him. They followed behind him, almost instantly consumed in the pulsing thrall of bodies as they moved and swayed to the beat that seemed to emanate from everywhere all at once. She cast a worried look to InuYasha, knowing that if it was long to her it was sure to be uncomfortable for him. But his face was composed, looking around with a mixture of awe and trepidation. She held fast to his hand, pulling him along through the living room now turned dancefloor, intending to find a nice secluded spot so she could ask him about what had happened between him and Hinata in the car, why he looked at the teenager with distrust.

Mixed in with the crowd, she saw some faces she knew, a lot that she didn't, but it was impossible to miss the constant feeling of eyes on them. Glancing around, she could see that it was mostly girls, eyeing the tall and undeniably attractive man she had in tow. The feminine interest those looks held were clear, causing Kagome to squeeze his hand tighter, feeling stupidly jealous but also a bit… prideful? This Adonis had chosen her, a plain little girl who grew up on a shrine, and he hadn't even spared a glance in their direction. The thought pleased her inexplicably, she couldn't help but to smile.

Just as they were making some headway, about to reach the backdoor that led outside, they were intercepted.

"Hey! We were looking for you guys!" Eri struggled to shout over the music, her voice barely managing to carry to Kagome's weak human ears, though the girls were a scant three inches apart. Eri's shoulder-length hair was pulled half up, and she had ditched her usual headband for a cute barrette. Her outfit was a simple pair of jean shorts, a black belt cinching her waist paired with a tight striped top with a modest neckline, and of course her sneakers.

Kagome managed a smile even though inwardly she was groaning in dismay, she'd be so close to getting to the bottom of things, but now she doubted they could get away. Yuka came up behind Eri, throwing an arm over her shoulder, a drink held in her free hand and a relaxed smile on her face.

"Where is everyone?" Kagome did her best to yell, leaning in. Pink light bathed them all, casting an aesthetic glow over the entirety of the large room.

"Hojo and Ayumi are outside, we can't find Hinata." Was her reply, Yuka jumping in before Kagome could answer. "Come with us, it's good to see you again InuYasha!"

Kagome cringed, knowing that the girl's yell had to have hurt his sensitive ears. She figured if nothing else it would be good for him to get away from the confines of the dark and smoky home, with its overwhelming sights, smells, and sounds, it must be driving him crazy.

She just nodded, glancing briefly at the half-demon beside her who for his part, just kept looking around, his hold on her hand tight but reassuring. They followed the girls out, onto slick slate tiles that created a small patio area, covered by lattice and supported by columns. There was a long table beneath it, currently being used by a group of teenagers that Kagome didn't really know, most of them either smoking weed or cigarettes, she could tell by the thick, sickly sweet smell that coated the air. She could feel his sigh of relief almost immediately as they crossed the threshold, and she felt a sharp twang of guilt at the thought of him hurting just because of her childish whims. The thought turned sour, and she was suddenly wishing they had stayed in and ate ramen and made out.

But Yuka and Eri led them out into the yard, following the stone path to a back area, where she could see the unnatural light of a pool glowing, people sitting alongside it on the lounge chairs, a few even dipping their feet into the water. Finally, some people she recognized. As they drew closer, she could see Hojo sitting on one of the chairs, his elbows resting on his knees as he laughed at something someone said, a girl she vaguely recognized but couldn't recall the name of. Her hair was a flat black, pin straight and hung down past her shoulder blades, her skin cast pale in the pool lights, her feet submerged in the water. Ayumi sat on the seat behind her, legs crossed with a drink in her hand, laughing easily along with them. There was a boy there she didn't recognize, with a mess of dark hair on his head and shirtless, sitting beside the dark-haired girl.

The four of them approached, Eri and Yuka calling out a very enthusiastic hello the group who all turned their heads, Hojo raising his hand in greeting as he took a sip of his beer.

"Hello, everyone!" Kagome said brightly, pulling InuYasha along to sit on one of the lounge chairs, Eri and Yuka collapsing beside Ayumi in a fit of giggles.

"Yo." She was surprised to hear the Hanyou speak, having not expected him to bother greeting anyone.

"Hey, you must be InuYasha, right? Kagome's boyfriend?" Reo asked, and Kagome was sure her eyes grew as big as dinner plates at his question, her gaze flicking back and forth between the two rapidly while she waited for the Hanyou's answer.

She felt him stiffen, saw him look at her warily for a moment before clearing his throat. "Uh, yeah, I guess."

She could feel her heart plummet with his obvious discomfort, though he hadn't outright disregarded the notion.

"Nice to finally meet you, man." He wore genuine smile, holding his hand out to InuYasha, waiting for him to accept it.

The Hanyou eyed the boy, looking at his hand for a moment before finally reaching out to grasp it. If possible Hojo's smile grew brighter, and he shook InuYasha's hand with vigor, and she was even more surprised to see a small smile on the Hanyou's face, too.

"You too." His voice was confident, if just a little reserved.

"I'm Fuyoko," The dark-haired girl with her feet in the pool chimed, her voice soft and breathy. Her eyes were a clear and beautiful blue, the shock of the color unexpected with her dark hair and pale skin. "I'm not sure if we've met before, but you look familiar."

"And I'm Naoki." The boy next to her spoke up, His eyes shifting from the lapping water to first meet InuYasha's gaze, then hers, their color black and churning like a stormy night. The Hanyou beside her nodded in acknowledgement, and she gave them both a smile, waving a little.

"I'm Kagome!" She chirped, "Good to meet you both."

"Hey, did you guys happen to see Hinata, by chance?" Ayumi asked, worrying her lip between her teeth while she picked at the hem of her dress nervously.

"Noooope." Yuka sang, leaning heavily onto Eri who hiccupped daintily, laughing.

"Geeze how are you already drunk?" the wavy-haired girl muttered, shifting away from the raucous pair.

"He was right in front of us, he just kinda disappeared." Kagome hadn't thought about it at the time but now it seemed a little weird that he'd just run off without even saying anything, especially after the odd moment between him and the half-demon. She hoped that InuYasha hadn't intimidated him, as she knew he had the tendency to come off ready to snap. Hojo's brow furrowed, taking another swig of the beer in his hand, looking off across the yard, back at the house that was pulsing with to the beat of the music.

"I'm sure he's fine," Fuyoko assured Ayumi, twisting to catch her eye. "the social butterfly that he is, I'm sure he just got caught up chatting someone's ear off." Her expression was soft, a gentle hand resting on the girl's knee.

"Yeah, you're probably right." She nodded, offering a small smile as she took a sip of her drink.

"She's never wrong," Naoki added seriously, his tone flat and matter of fact.

Kagome watched the exchange between the three of them, thinking that she really hadn't been paying much attention to her present life, during the seemingly brief interludes that she was here anyway ,if these two people she didn't even know had fully integrated into her friend group, as they were obviously familiar enough. While Kagome was busy watching her friend have a moment, unbeknownst to her beside her the Hanyou, who'd been sitting stiffly was now chatting with the brown eyed boy across from him, his eyes beginning to lose the sheen of mistrust they'd held, though he wasn't exactly smiling. She could feel her heart fluttering in her chest, and she was thinking that maybe she'd underestimated him this whole time. He was a lot more adaptable than she thought.

"Hey man, either of you want a beer?" Hojo asked, setting his empty can on the cold concrete, reaching into a cooler to grab himself another. He offered one to InuYasha, who took it with a curious look on his face, examining it. He looked to her next, his brow quirked and something that seemed like a challenge sparkling in his good-natured eyes.

"Sure, why not." Kagome conceded, reaching out to grasp the cold can. She popped the top, giggling as a bit of foam spilled out. InuYasha watched her, amused, waiting to see what she thought of the drink before he tried his own. Daintily, she took a sip, and he couldn't help but chuckle as her expression soured. The liquid was bitter, foamy and bubbly and she fought not to spit it out, not expecting the flavor that assaulted her.

"Ew!" She sputtered, looking to Hojo incredulously. "you actually like this stuff?"

"You get used to it." the boy chuckled, shaking his head at her with a smile on his lips.

"Here, Kagome, try this!" Eri thrusted her cup in her direction, the liquid inside red and sloshing, almost cresting the rim. "It's sooo good!" Her words slurred a bit, her eyes glazed but sparkling with mirth.

Kagome took the drink, inspecting it. "What's in it?" she asked wearily, giving it a sniff. It smelled like some sort of punch, the strength of it almost masking the sharp underlying sting of alcohol.

"I dunno," the girl looked to be thinking hard for a moment, "there was a bunch of it in the kitchen." She gave a shrug, unconcerned.

Well, a little sip couldn't hurt, she reasoned with herself as her friends laughed and chatted amongst themselves. Throwing caution to the wind, she hesitantly too a sip. It was sweet, almost too sweet, but it wasn't half bad. The alcohol was almost completely hidden in the concoction, only leaving a faint aftertaste that settled on her tongue. She took another gulp, deciding that she liked whatever this was, she could feel a faint warmth spreading through her chest.

"This actually pretty good, Eri." She said, smacking her lips as she passed the cup back.

"Told ya so." The girl smiled, her cheeks flushed from the liquor as it did its works, slurring her words.

They all fell into a comfortable chatter, Kagome taking small sips of the beer Hojo had given her, pressed against InuYasha's side, his warmth radiating into her. The Hanyou and Reo were getting on better than she could have even imagined, and she was surprised that he had warmed up to Hojo so fast and all but shunned Hinata, despite the past she and Reo had. Though now, come to think of it, she wasn't sure if she'd ever brought up the fact that they'd dated for a time, sort of. Not officially, but they went out a few times, though she'd blown him off more often then not, and eventually he'd stopped showing interest. She was glad, admittedly. She hadn't wanted to hurt his feelings… and she was flattered, but… that spark just wasn't there. He was more like a big brother type, though they were the same age he'd always seemed older, more mature. One of the qualities she admired in a man, but she needed more than that. She needed passion, intensity, a connection.

Blushing, her mind flashed to the heated night she and the Hanyou had shared under the light of the moon, limbs intertwined as he made love to her for the first time. It had been so risky, so deliciously thrilling the way they'd copulated out in the open, uncaring of anyone or anything that wasn't in their grasp. Her blood was heating up again at the memory, the feeling settling low her belly. She wanted to feel his hands on her again.

She watched him, the silhouette of his face outlined by the sky, admiring the harsh beauty of him. They hadn't done more than kiss since then, his touches innocent, though lingering. She wanted more, craved the feeling of his rough hands on her body, the way he looked at her with those golden eyes, a fire raging behind them.

She zoned back into Ayumi's gentle hand on her arm, bringing her out of her thoughts and back into the moment. "I'm gonna go look for Hinata, he won't answer his phone." Worry creased her features, her lip caught between her teeth anxiously. Kagome knew that she couldn't let her go alone. Her eyes flicked back to InuYasha, who was deep in conversation with the two human boys, on his second beer now. She doubted he would let her go off alone, but she had to try.

"Hold on, I'll come with." She said softly to Ayumi, before turning to InuYasha, leaning close to his ear to get his attention. "will you be okay here for a few minutes while go with Ayumi?" she didn't say where, but he was far from deaf and definitely not stupid.

His eyes were intense when they finally met hers, searching. But to her surprise, he only nodded. "Hurry back." She gave him a smile, reassuring him and thanking him all at once. She got up, following Ayumi who'd been impatiently waiting by the edge of the grass, and was now walking quickly back the way they'd come, hardly waiting for Kagome to catch up.

But she was still slow in her heels, so after only a moment she was brushing shoulders with the girl, looking at her with a question in her brown eyes. "Are you okay, Ayumi?" She asked softly, not wanting her voice to carry to the group of smoking teenagers they were about to pass on their way to the backdoor.

Ayumi looked over at her, her lip trembling slightly. "I'm fine, it's just not like him not to answer his phone…" She trailed off, and Kagome got the intense impression that there was more she wanted to say but had apparently thought better of and she left it at that. Walking through the smoke cloud that seemed to hang over the patio, Ayumi was the one who reached for the door, sliding it open and stepping through as the heavy music spilled out. Kagome was on her heels, grabbing her hand in an effort to stay together before they were swallowed by the throng of the bodies dancing to the pounding rhythm that seemed to vibrate through her whole body.

Ayumi seemed to know her way around at least, and Kagome let her friend lead the way, doing her best to look around and see if she could see him anywhere. He would definitely stand out; he didn't exactly look like everyone else. The wavy-haired girl led her through an open archway, a large kitchen on the other side with shiny countertops and a large island in the center of the room. Currently, the space was cluttered with different alcohols and she could see a large bowl of that red punch she'd tried earlier sat on the counter. She let go of Ayumi's hand, there were fewer people in here and it was a bit quieter, and her friend seemed to have a mindset similar to her own, cause she walked straight over to the thing, using the serving ladle to fill two of the red solo cups that sat beside it.

They grabbed the drinks and were quickly on their way, continuing their search for Hinata as they giggled to themselves. It was hard to tell who was who in the living room, the flashing colors making it hard to distinguish things sometimes. But here in the kitchen, it was slightly better, the lighting low but bright enough to make out faces.

The girls hooked their elbows together, each of them scanning the room. But again, there was no sign of their friend and they moved past the dining room, where a group of people were playing cards at the massive wooden table in the middle of the room, beer cans and bottles of liquor set haphazardly about the tabletop and the floor, the smell of cigarettes hanging heavy in the air. She vaguely recognized a few of the boys that jeered and hooted as they gambled, some of the more macho boys in her year and a few she knew were in the class above hers. But none of them were Hinata. Inwardly, she sighed, conscious of the fact that InuYasha was by himself with her friends and that made her nervous. She just hoped they would find him quickly and she could get back to her Hanyou.

The long hallway they walked as they passed the dining room opened up to a staircase with a few doors on the opposite wall. It was dark, smoky and she could see a few people hanging out in the corners, leaning against the walls and speaking softly, the burning glow of their cigarettes illuminating them.

Any one of them could've been the onyx-eyed boy they were looking for, but she trusted her instincts that told her to turn and walk up the stairs. Ayumi clutched onto her arm still, and she could feel her soft breaths. They climbed the stairway, even darker than the hallway had been.

All the doors leading off the stairway on the second floor were closed. But she could hear muffled words and even laughter as they passed. The hope of finding Hinata was dwindling, and she wondered if he was behind one of these doors, doing Kami knew what with Kami knew who.

They came to the end of the hallway, the last door and Kagome stopped with a heavy sigh, taking a sip of the drink she still held and leaning against the wall. "Dammit, he must be in one of these rooms…" She cursed, seeing Ayumi's eyes widen at her language, though to Kagome it was tame compared the string of obscenities that she'd learned from InuYasha.

Her head was feeling fuzzy and she was feeling a bit wobbly on her feet, and she was grateful for the support of the wall as she leaned heavily against it.

"Well, we can't exactly barge in, or knock, even…" Ayumi said, her voice unsure as she took her bottom lip between her teeth anxiously. "What should we do?" She asked quietly, and Kagome could tell she was disappointed. Just as she opened her mouth to respond, a low, guttural moan cut her off, coming from behind the very last door. It had her pausing, cheeks heating as the sound was so undeniably sexual. Ayumi was blushing even harder than Kagome, her cheeks as red as a ripe strawberry.

"oh fuck… Hinata… yes…"

The voice that was loud enough to be heard by both girls, and was unmistakably female, and there was not a doubt in her mind as to what was happening on the other side of that door. But there was something more there, an underlying sense that prickled at her Reiki, throwing her center off balance as she was blindsided with the feeling. It wasn't powerful, wasn't malicious in its energy but something just felt wrong. Her stomach flipped uneasily, her heart thumping loudly in her ears.

She looked down at the wavy-haired girl, her mouth open in a silent O of shock. Ayumi's eyes were wide, shiny with unshed tears with her bottom lip quivering. Her plastic cup fell out of numb hands, the red liquid splattering all over the dark, shiny wood of the floors. But she obviously didn't even notice, too focused on the sounds that could still be heard, echoing throughout the hallway.

"Don't stop, that feels so good…"

Kagome couldn't have cared less about the mess, and she quickly ushered her friend away from the door, leading her back down the stairs with an arm around her slim shoulders as her own heartbeat madly in her chest. Tears fell freely from her friend's wide brown eyes, trailing down her cheeks in trails that she hurried to wipe away. Kagome pulled her into the bathroom at the bottom of the stairs, uncaring as they pushed past someone as they were about to walk in, clicking the lock shut behind them as the person protested loudly.

Ayumi was leaned over the sink, knuckles white as the gripped the edges of the counter, she cried softly. Kagome sympathized with her friend more than she could ever know, having felt that same pain many a time before. There was nothing quite like that first heartbreak, and she knew better than anyone how soul-crushing it could feel in the moment.

So, she did her best to comfort the girl the only way she knew how, by just being there and offering her small words of reassurance. After a few minutes, she was calmed down enough and she dabbed at her nose with a tissue delicately. "W-why would he do that to me, Kagome?" She hiccupped as her tears began to dry, lip quivering pitifully. "I thought…" she took a deep breath, closing her eyes. "I thought he liked me, too… I'm so, so stupid." The girl looked so defeated, standing there with her head hung low. Kagome just couldn't stand it, seeing her friend like that. Ayumi was the sweet one, the one that she felt closest to and she hated to see her cry. In all the seven years she'd known the girl she'd never seen her as upset as this, it was disconcerting.

"You are not stupid, Ayumi," Kagome said vehemently, resting her hand gently on her shoulder in a reassuring gesture. She looked up to meet her eyes, a tear falling so perfectly with the motion. "Hinata doesn't know what he's missing, you're a perfect ten." She gave the girl a smile, one that was genuine, and she hoped the girl knew that she'd meant every word.

"you're right." Ayumi dabbled at the smeared mascara under her eyes and the wet tracks on her cheeks with a tissue, erasing all evidence of her meltdown. Kagome sipped on the watered-down drink she was still holding, lightly tossing around the idea of just dumping it down the sink, but she thought it would be a terrible waste. "Let's go, Kagome." Ayumi's voice held a feigned lightness and her eyes seemed dim but, but Kagome just nodded, opening the door and brushing past the people that hovered by, ignoring them. Her friend was close on her heels, careful not to get separated.

The music was still blaring, the lights still flashing, illuminating the fluctuating bodies that they wove through seamlessly on their way to the back door, back to where she knew InuYasha must be getting antsy. The fresh air was a cooling relief to her flushed skin, raising goosebumps on her arms as they walked back towards the glowing light of the pool. She felt a sense of relief seeing the outline of her Hanyou, he turned to lock eyes with her as she walked up, intense gold boring into her own mahogany with a question burning there.

Her gaze flickered to Ayumi beside her, who she could tell was doing her best to pretend that nothing happened, that she was okay when Kagome knew that she was so definitely not. Her eyes were red-rimmed, but she had a small wan smile on her face, one that wasn't very convincing at all. Before the could reach the group, she felt a small hand squeezing her own, stopping her midstride.

"Please don't say anything, about… what happened, okay?" Her voice was small, and she sounded about ten years old. Kagome's eyes softened, nodding immediately.

"Of course."

With that, they walked the rest of the way quickly, Kagome breathing out a small sigh in relief when she was finally by his side again, reveling in his comforting smell.

"Sorry we were gone so long, everything okay?" She snuggled into him, looking between him and her friends, who were all joking, Hojo's cheeks flushed red and she could see at least several beer cans littering the ground around him, and another in his hand. His head was thrown back, laughing at something Fuyoko had said. Yuka now leaned against Ayumi again who sat quietly, Yuka nursing Eri's head in her lap as the girl was seemingly passed out.

InuYasha gave her a small, crooked smile, and he nodded. "You betcha. Ya know, these guys ain't half bad." His arm came to wrap around her shoulders, and he took a sip of his beer. "So, find what you were looking for?" His voice was casual but held an edge that said he knew just exactly what they'd been doing. He didn't seem mad, but rather sounded genuinely curious and she wondered just what he was thinking.

"Well, sort of, I guess…" she said quietly, not wanting the others to hear her as she had promised Ayumi that she wouldn't bring it up. She gave him a pointed look, hoping that he knew that she was trying to tell him they would talk about it later.

He seemed to get the message, giving her a sage nod and turning back to the conversation between Hojo, Fuyoko, and Naoki, and she was beginning to suspect that they were siblings as she looked at them further.

They shared a similar look, a shock of dark hair a pale skin, upturned features that were delicate. They only differed in the fact that Naoki's eyes were a pure, deep onyx, while Fuyoko's were a cool icy blue. The dark-haired girl seemed to be much more open and warm, in strict contrast to the boy who came off as quiet and almost moody.

He seemed well-natured enough, though. She found no malice hidden in his aura and the girls was pure as well. She continued sipping on the watery punch and kept an eye and Ayumi, who'd hardly said a word. She was staring at her phone's screen, the light illuminating her eyes as she frowned down on it. No one seemed to notice, Yuka was barely awake, the liquor she'd been downing having finally caught up with her, her eyes drooping as she sagged against the much smaller, more delicate girl. She didn't seem to notice, and Kagome wondered if this was a common occurrence between them all now.

She was growing bored, her mind drifting away, and she longed for home and her bed, ready to be wrapped in the Hanyou's broad arms, cheeks flushing at the thought of being intimate with him again. She didn't want to say it so plainly, but she wanted him again, badly. Before they had to go back to the Feudal Era were privacy was scarce, and she didn't even want to think about how things would be when they were to get back around their friends. She wondered if things would go back to how they'd been before, when they'd fought all the time and she'd been sad a lot. She hoped that wouldn't happen, she couldn't imagine the thoughtful man that sat beside her and showed his affection so brazenly going back to the Hanyou who seemed so uncaring of her feelings at times.

She shook her head to clear it, not wanting to get stuck on that line of thought and she reminded herself to focus on the here and now. His embrace was warm, he was here with her and that was all that mattered. She killed off the last of the red liquid that sat in the bottom of her cup, setting it on the ground when it was finally empty. She could feel the alcohol warming her blood, and her head was a bit fuzzy, but she felt like she could still think properly, which she was grateful for. It wouldn't do to get sloppy and drunk, not when she had a half-demon to worry about.

"So, uh, we should get going, huh Kagome?" InuYasha prompted, snapping her out of her reverie and back into the pull of his compelling gaze. She nodded, eyes tracing his lips as he spoke, eager to feel them on her skin again. Heat rose in her cheeks, but she ignored it, dragging her eyes away from his mouth to look to Ayumi, who still hadn't looked away from her phone that whole time.

"Do you think you could catch a ride with Hojo, Ayumi? InuYasha and I are going to call a cab." She lied about the last part, knowing that the half-demon could get them home faster if he ran, plus he would enjoy it more, she had a feeling he wasn't a fan of cars.

"Awww, you guys are going?" Hojo whined drunkenly, interjecting as he overheard.

"Yeah, it's getting kinda late…" Kagome trailed off, looking to the Hanyou who nodded in agreement. They rose to stand and Hojo rose with them, clumsily reaching to pat InuYasha on the shoulder in a friendly sort of way, a smile on his face. To her surprise, he didn't stiffen, didn't get defensive at the contact he just gave a small smile in return.

"Well, it was good to finally meet you, man. Next time you're in town we should all hang out again, this was fun." Hojo's voice was genuine, and she found herself smiling watching their interaction.

"Yeah, definitely." The Hanyou replied, nodding at the boy.

Kagome looked back to Ayumi, wanting to make sure that her friend was taken care of before the left. "You gonna be okay getting home?"

She nodded, her eyes flickering away. "yeah, I'll be fine. I can always call myself a cab if I need to."

"Just text me and let me know when you get there, okay?" Kagome said seriously, eyeing her friend to let her know that she meant business. The girl nodded, seeming to understand and she could feel her heart crying out for the girl, knowing that she was hurting and no one except her even knew. And the other two girls that she would normally depend on for something like this were passed out drunk, oblivious to how much Ayumi needed them. She paused, hesitant to leave her even as InuYasha was tugging on her arm.

Ayumi must have noticed how she lingered, how her worry shined clearly in her eyes, because she leveled her gaze at her, a firm look on her face. "I'm fine, really, don't worry about me. I'll text you." She promised, and Kagome felt a little better, seeing the girl's attempt a smile that she could almost believe.

Kagome nodded, unconvinced but unwilling to push her any further, she could only hope that she made it home safe and would get over this heartbreak quickly and that she could be there for her while she did.

"Okay guys, see you later." She waved and she let InuYasha lead her back the way they'd come, quickly through the house and back out into the night through the front door. Alone again, she breathed a silent sigh of relief. He paused beside her, the stark gold of his eyes burning into her as a crooked smile twisted at his lips.

"So? You gonna hop on or what?" He asked her, his rough voice was playful and there was an underlying challenge there.

A massive smile split her face and she could feel her heart swell in her chest as she looked at him, and she leveled her gaze at him with a coy smirk, silently accepting. She clambered onto his back like she'd done a thousand times before on the shard hunt, her slim arms coming up to wrap around his neck and she settled into his warmth, her legs securely fitted around his hips. It felt different than it used to. She reveled in the feel of his muscles flexing beneath his skin, his body hard but still so comforting that she found herself leaning against him completely, holding on tight as he bounded off towards home.

Okay, so here we go! I know you guys are probably thinking like, what the hell? but it'll all make sense soon enough :):) I'm excited about these next few chapters though, so definitely stay tuned. Thanks for reading!