Kagome hadn't been able to keep the tear from falling behind the blindfold. She'd apologized to the wolf demon for letting her down, and then minutes later she heard that some bidder with the number 69 jumped in to play. 'What kind of bidder would willingly pick the paddle number 69?!' she thought. 'Is he some kind of pervert?'

And then she'd scented cologne pass by her. It was hard to discern, but there were woodsy tones to it. It had to have been Number 69 because Ayame was stumbling over her words. Kagome thought she heard them talking; it was too difficult to hear over her racing heartbeat to know for sure. Moments passed, and the scent of cologne returned, stopping before her. 'Why is he just standing there?' she swallowed, feeling a lump form in her throat. 'Is he waiting for Ayame, or –'

He'd touched the back of her hand. It was a featherlight touch, but she felt the soft scrape of a pointed nail when he pulled his hand back. 'Oh. A demon.' She never had a problem with demons, especially since she'd dated a half-demon before, but a man was still a man regardless. 'I guess this is it,' she thought, loosening her grip on the basket and moving her hand out so he could take it. Gently, so gently, the man's hand slid underneath her own, fingers wrapping around her palm with enough firmness to lead her.

He never spoke a word until they approached the stage steps, and then it was a murmured "Steps" near her covered ear to warn her. When it came time to step down, he'd tap the back of her hand, and the pattern became a short rhythm. He'd tap her hand, then she could hear the click of her heels descend next to his shoes. A pause, and then it repeated. He held firm to her hand but never made a move to touch her elsewhere. Kagome gripped the basket in her other hand, allowing herself to be led from the building.

When she felt the heat from the setting sun on her skin, Kagome had to wager that it was likely getting dark. The auction had gone on so long that they'd probably run over their allotted reserved time. 'I should have never gone on stage. Ayame could have ended it before me and saved us both the embarrassment.' The man slowly led her to what she assumed was his car, and she heard beeps as it was remotely unlocked. The door was opened for her with barely a click, and he took care to help her get seated and buckled. The scent of genuine leather hit her nose as she settled into the plush seating. 'Smells like a fancy car. He could remove the blindfold whenever he wants. Why does he keep me wearing it?'

Now that they were in his car and the auction was over, she knew that she could speak…but she wasn't sure if she was capable. Kagome heard the driver side door open and close, feeling the car shift with the new weight being added. Her mouth felt dry as she licked her lips. "T…th-thank you," she whispered, not entirely certain why she was thanking a man she'd never met. For all she knew, he could be someone vile, but… she wasn't getting that impression.

Not when he reached out and patted her hand before starting the ignition and backing out of the parking lot. She could only pick up on the hum of the engine as she sat in silence next to her "date". If there was any sound coming from the radio, she couldn't detect it.

Kagome gripped the basket, finding the motions of a car that she wasn't familiar with, combined with the silence and her lack of sight, unnerving. She had no belongings with her but what was in the basket – a clutch and her phone, sitting out of sight underneath the ingredients. Her phone battery was likely dead if not critically low, she had no money on her to cover a taxi, and her car was parked at her apartment because she'd ridden with Sango to prepare for the event.

The overwhelming feeling of realizing that she was stranded with a complete stranger became too much, and a few more tears spilled down her cheeks. The demon driving must have known because he reached over with his free hand and squeezed hers. 'I wish he'd say something,' she sniffled. 'Anything. I'm starting to feel like a hostage to the nicest kidnapper ever.' "I-I'm s-sorry," she said, taking a shuddering breath.

The hand wrapped around hers gave another squeeze, and this time Kagome squeezed back. If he didn't want to speak yet, then she was going to show him that she understood. Somehow. She hoped that was what he took from that action.

As the ride continued, Kagome tried to find positives in her new predicament. This demon was gentle. They acted like they were courteous of her not being able to see. He tried to comfort her. He saved her from complete embarrassment, even if she didn't earn as much as the woman that went before her. 'And he smells good,' she thought, feeling her cheeks warm. 'It's very relaxing. Almost like I'm outside on my balcony…'

"Home."

Kagome nearly jumped with the basket in her lap. 'He spoke?!' She was too surprised by the sound of his gruff voice to recognize that the car was parked. He let go of her hand, and she blindly reached down to find the seat belt's release. Whether it was her nerves or not knowing what she was looking for with the format of the buckle, it had taken a few attempts before her fingers had pressed in the right spot. She felt the seat belt slide across her chest and wiggled to get it off before the demon opened her door. It had been kind of him to put it on for her, but she wanted to be able to unhook it herself.

Not knowing where he was when the door opened, Kagome felt silly sticking her hand up for him to take, but she wouldn't dare attempt to step out of an unknown car in heels while blindfolded. 'Surely he's gonna take it off soon,' she thought, feeling his hand close around hers. He pulled her up to her feet and out of the way before she heard the car door close. She waited, hoping that she'd finally see who it was that had selected her…but nothing happened. There was a slight tug on her hand, and Kagome took careful steps across what felt like a paved driveway. 'That's a good sign, at least. If by some chance I need to run, I won't trip.'

"Steps." The demon had spoken again, and once more, they repeated their pattern when they exited the stage. The wood beneath her feet never creaked, and given the amount of steps forward before she stopped again, it was a spacious landing.

Kagome heard the sound of keys rattling together as the demon unlocked the door. She felt herself being led through first, brushing past the demon before he entered, closed the door, and turned the lock once more. Aside from the sound of the lock securing, the house was filled with silence. It was a little terrifying, more so when the demon took the basket from her hands and set it aside. Her one connection to the outside world was in that basket, and now she couldn't even hold onto the handle to beat down her rising anxiety –

"Close your eyes. The lights are bright in here."

'Oh good. At least he's being considerate before he –' Kagome stiffened when she felt the demon's fingers touch her hair. He was untying the blindfold. She swallowed, trying not to show how anxious she was feeling. His touch was gentle, careful not to pull, as he slid the material away from her face and ears. Kagome gulped, keeping her eyes closed as he instructed.

"Open your eyes. Slowly." 'Why did his voice sound…pained? Had he gotten a look at her face and regretted his choice? She'd been bought for cheap, and now the guy wanted to make a return. That was just –'

The demon was right. The lights were very bright when she'd seen nothing but dark for too long. Kagome blinked, squinting against the light as she looked at the demon that had won her. 'These lights are so bright, I'm seeing things,' she decided. There was no way that she was seeing her ex. It shouldn't be possible, but the white ears in silver hair wasn't a common feature in town. "Inu…yasha...?"

"Kagome," he breathed.

That tone was all it took to throw her back to their last moments with each other. They'd fought, and it had gotten ugly. Screaming. Crying. Some junk knick knacks that didn't matter had been shattered. Him storming off, leaving her crumpled on the floor, feeling like her heart had been ripped out. 'You're not the same girl. He's not going to hurt you again.' She felt her back straighten, her shoulders lifted, and she gave him the darkest look she could muster.

"I should hit you."

Inuyasha didn't look like he was willing to fight. In fact, his expression never shifted from the look of sadness in his eyes. He placed his arms behind him, bracing himself. "You've got every right t–"

SMACK!

Kagome's palm was throbbing with the force of the slap she delivered to Inuyasha's cheek. A bright red print was quickly blossoming on his skin, but he never made a move to block her. He didn't tell her that she was being silly. He just…looked at her like he expected worse. 'It's what he deserves,' she thought.

"I'm not going to stop you if you want to hit me again," he told her.

She flexed her hand, debating on if it was worth the pain in the other hand. "I should," she glared at him. "But I won't. I thought I'd get more enjoyment out of that than I actually did." She crossed her arms over her chest, feeling increasingly exposed. "Did you get a good look when you kept me blindfolded?"

"I kept you blindfolded because if you attacked me in the car, I didn't want you to die in the wreck we'd have!" He sputtered. "Kagome, what the hell?! I thought you'd be happy that you didn't end up cooking dinner for some bastard that called you cheap!"

"Oh, so cooking dinner for my ex-boyfriend is so much better!"

"Yeah well – I wouldn't be your ex if I hadn't fucked up three years ago!" he yelled, making Kagome take a step backwards. Inuyasha sighed and brushed his hair out of his eyes, trying to calm down. "Why don't…why don't we talk about how we ended up in this spot?" he offered, motioning to the seating in the living room. "The auction, I mean."

Kagome glanced in the general direction, then looked back at Inuyasha. "I don't suppose I have a choice," she muttered, perching on the cushion of the closest arm chair. He sat down at the end of the couch closest to her. 'I've already been humiliated at the auction. Might as well sit on display for my ex with possibly streaky makeup. At least Ayame suggested waterproof eyeliner for the heat of the lights…'

"You've always got a choice, Kagome."

"If I did, I wouldn't be calling you my ex, would I?" she shot back. "You really hurt me, Inuyasha. You didn't give me a choice. You made it for me."

"It wasn't mine to make. I know that now." He stared down at his hands. "Kagome, I'll explain myself, if you're willing to listen. But right now, I have to know how you got roped into a bachelorette auction."

Kagome leaned back, crossing one leg over the other. The way Inuyasha's eyes followed the movement gave her a sense of satisfaction. The hem of the dress crept up her thigh, letting him get a good look at what he missed out on for three years. "Ayame came to me and told me that she was short a bachelorette. The girl that bailed just got engaged, and if I didn't participate there was a chance we might not have made our goal. But you were there, so you saw how I did. The one before me –"

"Didn't make nearly as much as you."

Her brows lowered. "What does that mean? I thought my ending bid was low…?"

"As far as anyone knows…"

"What did you do –"

Inuyasha sighed. "I did enough," was all he said. "When I realized you were up there, I couldn't let it end like that. You deserve to know that you're worth far more than disrespectful comments, and you deserve to have the explanation that I never gave you three years ago."

"I want to know why you were there first." The idea of finally getting a straight answer out of him about the breakup was tempting, but her morbid curiosity wanted to find out why he'd even appeared at the event.

"Our friends dragged me there because I've been more of a homebody since we last saw each other." The half-demon looked away embarrassed. "Koga was the one that gave me that number, insisting that I participate. I didn't plan to; I was going to write a check instead. Then I heard your voice."

Now Kagome was the one looking away. "Great. You got to witness me being humiliated in front of who knows how many people," she groused. Facing her friends again after this afternoon was going to be bad enough, but having her ex there? The same ex that bid, bought, and brought her to his house. Her appetite for dinner was nonexistent at this point. "I suppose you took a great deal of pleasure out of that. You know, watching the crazy bitch of an ex get called a cheap date?" When his face fell, she continued, her voice softer. "You really hurt me, Inuyasha. That stuck with me."

"I lied that night," he said quietly. "I needed you to move on. Find someone better than me, someone that could support you –"

"I had a job, a place to live, and someone that loved me. Or so I thought… I didn't need anything more, Inuyasha. I'm not one of those girls that expects to be bought everything. I've been making my own money. All I wanted was someone that supported my heart –"

"You may not want the world, but you deserve someone that can give it to you if you change your mind," he cut her off. "I couldn't do that back then, and I'm not as well off as people seem to think, but I've –"

"Wait…Inuyasha, what are you talking about?" 'Weren't we just talking about the breakup? What did money have to do with that?'

The half-demon turned back to face her, bracing his elbows on his knees. "I'm talking about why I started that fight three years ago. Kagome… it was never you that was at fault. All the things I said were lies. I hoped that if I could make you hate me, it'd be easier for you to move on to someone better."

"And I fought to keep us together…"

"Which made the screaming match even worse." He frowned. "I'm sorry about smashing those figurines, by the way. The anger got away from me, and when you kept asking what you needed to change about yourself… Kagome, you're perfect to me. You thinking that you could fix things by becoming someone else to make me happy, it was the last straw."

Kagome shifted uncomfortably. "Yeah, I'll say. You told me that you never loved me." She tried to hide the sniffle, but the tears had already rolled down her cheeks. "That memory is the worst," she muttered, wiping them away. At this point, she didn't give a damn if her makeup smudged; she already felt like a disaster in heels.

"I lied."

She gave him an incredulous look. "You've already said that."

Inuyasha frowned. "It tore me up to leave your house that night. I can still hear how you broke down. Kagome…it probably doesn't mean shit now, and I don't have the right to expect anything, but I need you to know that I've never stopped loving you."

The few tears were replaced with a stream of more, and Kagome wasn't even sure why she was crying. Maybe it was seeing him again. It could have something to do with him explaining. What probably pushed her over was what he'd just said. Inuyasha reached for the box of tissues nearby and pressed them into her shaking hands. Kagome ripped a couple from the box and tried to compose herself, but the tears wouldn't stop.

Through her blurry peripheral vision, Inuyasha shifted in his seat, unable to stand her being upset. He never could. Whenever she started to cry, he held her close, even in the days before their relationship began. It had always felt so comforting… 'Fuck it,' she thought, pushing away the box of tissues. 'I don't have the right to ask after I slapped him, but…' Kagome opened her arms. "H…hug..?"

Inuyasha was off the couch before she could think about standing up, pulling her up against his chest in a bone-crushing hug. All of her anger over the years was dissolving with the sobbing she surrendered to, gripping onto the half-demon like a lifeline. He never spoke, only held her and let her get everything out.

"I'm sorry," she gasped for air, realizing to her horror that she'd gotten his shirt and jacket wet. "I slapped the shit out of you earlier, and now I'm crying all over you."

"Don't be," he tried to soothe her. "I earned it. The clothes will wash. It's not a big deal."

Kagome started to reach up to wipe away the last of her tears, nearly jumping in place when she felt his thumb against her cheek. "Where do we go from here?"

"That depends on what you want to do." It felt like Inuyasha was choosing his words carefully. "I want to be a part of your life again, Kagome. If…if you'll allow me? I don't expect us to jump back to where we were. I'd be amazed if you were to ever take me back, to be honest. But I've missed you. If you want to try to be friends again, then we can fix dinner, start catching up. I've got some clothes that will fit that you can put on; I know you'd like a shower…"

She watched him, not sure what to make of his words.

"What I mean is, we don't have to make it a dinner date if we don't want to," he added quickly. "And if none of this is what you want, and you'd rather go back home, I'll drive you. I can give you my number and you can call me if you want, when or if you choose to. I'm giving you the choice, Kagome."

She sniffled, reaching up to rub at her tear-streaked cheeks. Inuyasha looked as nervous as she'd felt, standing there and waiting for her answer. There was a small, petty voice inside that was trying to coax her into telling him that he had made her wait three years for her answer, and so could she. But…she couldn't do it. 'The slap was taking it too far,' she thought. 'Saying something I don't feel wouldn't make anything better.' "You…don't mind if I shower?"

As Kagome stepped out of her dress, she couldn't get the image of Inuyasha's relieved expression out of her mind. Then he'd grinned like the boy she'd started dating years before, telling her he'd be back in a moment. He'd run to his room, probably out of excitement that she wanted to make things right, but more likely fear that she'd sneak off. 'It's like he forgot that he drove us here,' she smiled to herself. Kagome froze, realizing that it had been the first time she'd truly smiled since the auction began. 'I feel like such a bitch. Inuyasha admitted the breakup had been his fault, but I'd still slapped him…'

Asking him earlier if he could unzip her dress had only made the guilt worse.

'There had once been a time when he'd join me.' Kagome stepped under the hot spray of water and rubbed at her face. 'I miss those days…' If she thought hard enough, she could recall the way he'd massage her scalp when he worked the shampoo in her hair, how he'd have to kneel down so she could wash his hair. 'Which led to him kissing my stomach…and then lower…and we'd have to finish showering in cold water.'

As she continued to wash herself, she finally recognized that Inuyasha had moved in the three years they were avoiding each other. It was something people did, but what had her puzzled was that this house was too large for just one person. Three years ago, it wasn't something he'd have been able to afford. Curiosity was getting the better of her, and she wanted to know more, despite not having the right to pry.

'Inuyasha wants us to catch up,' she reasoned, shutting off the water and stepping out of the shower. 'These are things that friends ask each other when they haven't talked in a long time. But what about exes? Is this a bad idea?' Kagome began to towel off, looking up at her reflection in the mirror. Unsure eyes looked back at her at a loss for words. Not that her mirror image would answer, of course.

Inuyasha was listening far too intently to the shower, knowing the minute the water came on and the moment Kagome stepped out. He intended to hop in after her, looking for any excuse to get out of his current clothes.

When she'd asked him if he could unzip her dress, he'd nearly messed up and asked if she needed help washing her back. 'Like the old days,' he thought miserably. Fortunately, he had the sense to catch himself before the words came out. 'Kagome may not want anything, even friendship. I've got to keep myself in check so I don't give her any reason to regret trying.' And it was true; Kagome never specified if she wanted to be friends again. She'd accepted his invitation to stay and have dinner, to talk. That would fulfill her agreement for the auction and satisfy him in the same handful of hours. After she left, it was out of his hands whether she would reach out to him.

He prayed that she would. He'd wait however long it took.

The soft steps made him look up, and Inuyasha felt his breath hitch. Kagome stood in his living room, wearing the too-large T-shirt and shorts that he'd gotten for her. Her hair was still damp and wavy, curling at the ends, and in her hands lay the folded up dress she'd been wearing. "I hope there's still some hot water," she said with uncertainty. "I tried to be quick…"

"There's plenty," he swallowed, standing up from the couch. "I'll go jump in real fast, and then we can get started on dinner. M-make yourself comfortable," he added, pointing out the location of the television and remote before he all but ran to the bathroom.

He'd nearly asked Kagome to make herself at home. Three years later, the words still wanted to fall out so easily like they had once before. Inuyasha shed his clothes in record time, kicking them next to the hamper as he got in the shower. The hot water splashed against his face. He hadn't been trying to ease Kagome's mind when he said there was plenty for both of them to shower; if he had wanted, he could have taken a shower in the other bathroom at the same time.

'Kagome needed to see that I'd be waiting for her when she came out.' So he didn't. Instead, he'd sat on the couch that Kagome had previously occupied, thinking about if he could make any kind of impression on her. Inuyasha had looked around at his house, wondering if it was clean enough.

Now in the shower, he was less worried about the state of his home and more about his appearance. His thoughts, however, kept turning back to Kagome as he lathered his body with soap. 'Was there something to drink besides water that she'd like? Had her tastes changed since they broke up? Was she still working the same job at the movie rental store? Was she really single as the bachelorette auction implied, or had she been with someone and didn't tell them what she was doing so she could help her friend?'

Remembering that he was a fucking adult and could just ask these questions, he scrubbed faster.

'Inuyasha doesn't look like he's changed all that much.' Kagome felt restless simply sitting and decided to look around the living room. His furniture and decorations were moderate, just like she remembered from his apartment. Simple designs that were made for function over any brand or price tag. She was pleased to see that the plants weren't artificial. The framed photos on shelves weren't many, but the faces in them she knew all too well. There was one from Miroku and Sango's wedding, a few others looked to be casual outings or vacations with their shared friend group. 'To think I missed out on those trips,' she thought sadly. Of course, she had been busy with work, but she remembered her friends not disclosing their plans in any detail before they would leave. Then it gradually shifted into them not telling her they were going away at all. It was understandable that they didn't invite her, but deep down…it still hurt. 'Of course I also chose to work more, so I can't really put all of the blame on them.'

Kagome shook her head and tried not to dwell on what she missed with all of their friends. She'd been the last one to join the group, so there was more loyalty to older friendships first and foremost. As she walked around and continued to look at the photos, she saw some with his family. 'At least in the pictures with his mother, he looks more relaxed.' Inuyasha had never been close with Sesshomaru, but there was some kind of respect between them. She was never sure how that respect showed publicly, or even knew if they still talked. Her eyes moved down the line of frames, seeing more with their friends, but one in particular made her stop in her tracks.

'That's…us. Inuyasha still has pictures of me…?'

She tentatively picked up the frame, cradling the dark wood enclosure and staring down at their smiling faces. This one was a significant moment for them. It had been the summer after high school, when their graduating class was gathered at the beach for the traditional senior trip. The photo captured Inuyasha and Kagome, each with their arm around the other, smiling big and holding mocktails.

'This was taken right after Inuyasha asked me to be his girlfriend.' A tear ran down her cheek. 'We'd dated for almost a month before that 'cause he wanted to make it official after we got out of school.'

In her silent trip down memory lane, she never heard Inuyasha approach. "Kagome...?"

She jumped slightly when he placed a hand on her shoulder, forgetting that she was standing in his house. "Inuyasha! Sorry, I –"

"Don't apologize. I called you, but you didn't hear me. I wanted to see if you were al…right…" He looked down at the frame she cradled in her hands. His hair was also damp, creating little wet spots on the t-shirt he wore with his sweatpants. "I…see you found me out," he said, embarrassed.

"I'm just surprised, is all. After what I thought… I just… didn't imagine that you'd keep anything, you know?"

"Did you?" he asked.

Kagome bit her lip. "Yes," she admitted. "I've kept everything in storage containers. I couldn't…"

"I couldn't either."

She carefully placed the frame back in its assigned spot, then turned back to him. "Your house is very nice, by the way. What I've seen so far. It's very you."

Inuyasha smirked. "Why don't you just ask me what you want to ask me."

"I don't know what you're talking about." She crossed her arms over her chest, remembering that she had no bra on. 'Or panties. That blip of a thong I was wearing didn't count even before the shower.' She knew she was going to have to put both the dress and thong back on before she left, but she didn't want to think too deeply about that nightmare.

"You're wondering why such a big house for a single man, aren't you?"

"…"

"Don't act like you weren't curious," he laughed. "It's obvious I'm single. You saw all the photos. Would I really have a picture of my ex-girlfriend up if I – fuck, wait! That didn't come out right! Let me start again…" Inuyasha placed a hand on Kagome's back and steered her back to the couch, motioning to take a seat. "That picture still means a lot to me, Kagome. When I moved in here and began unpacking, I'd been taking out all of the other pictures and setting them up. I almost didn't put it up, but it felt wrong. It took some getting used to, seeing your face again after we broke up, I'll admit it."

Kagome didn't know how to respond to that. A petty part of her hoped that her face made him feel guilty each time he saw it, but it looks like he'd adjusted well enough.

"Since you saw that one, I'm guessing you saw the vacation photos." He looked down at his hands. "It was hard not having you there with us –"

"I never knew," she shrugged. When Inuyasha looked up at her in confusion, she added, "Miroku and Sango never told me anything, any time you guys went off together. It was always 'we've got plans already' or 'we need to take a rain check' if my schedule was open but theirs wasn't. I think after a few of those in a row, they started to be more selective about when I was working so that they wouldn't have to make excuses for not inviting me."

Inuyasha's brows lowered into a frown. "They never told me this. Miroku, that sorry sonofabitch. He knew that I didn't want you to be left out of things, and he still pulled this –"

"They were your friends for longer, Inuyasha. It makes sense and I'm okay with that –"

"Well I'm not!" Inuyasha stood up and started to pace. "When things went down I told them afterwards that no one was going to pick sides! I didn't want that and you didn't deserve it after what I'd done. I told them to make sure that you were taken care of, Kagome! I wanted you to be happy, to have friends you could still hang out with! To not be alone…"

Kagome couldn't take the pacing anymore and rose up to cut him off. She placed her hands on his chest without thinking, and she couldn't help but notice how much firmer and broader he'd become. "I was happy when we were together," she told him softly. "I was going to be alone whether I was by myself or if I was sitting in some restaurant with all of our friends. They're all paired off, haven't you noticed that? So many of the outings were couples-based that I started finding excuses, because it hurt more to see them happy and together than it did to work extra hours. I'm not upset, but deep down I am hurt that they didn't just tell me that they wanted to spend time with you. I guess they thought I resented you."

"Do you?"

"For…a while, I did. That slap was the extent of it." Kagome pulled her hands away and crossed her arms around her middle. "Sometimes I've thought that if I hold myself up high, that if I pretend that I'm doing so much better, that if I ran into you…you'd feel a little of what I felt that night."

Inuyasha pointed behind him to the photo of them on the shelf. "Every time I look at that picture, I get hit with every good memory, and I want to beat my own ass. Every kiss we've ever shared, the way you'd steal my clothes when it got cold, what it felt like to hold you against me…I remember all of it, Kagome. And then I'm reminded of that each day I come home to an empty house, sleep in a big ass bed by myself, and eat meals alone, all because I fucked things up."

'He really has had it rough.' "I'm sorry I slapped you, Inuyasha. I –"

"Don't." Carefully, the half-demon raised his hands and placed them on Kagome's shoulders, like he was afraid she'd step away from his touch. "You had every right. I've had that coming for three years. Though I gotta say, did you keep up with your archery? You've still got a mean swing."

Kagome felt her cheeks heat up at the strange compliment. "I haven't practiced nearly as much since high school. With work and the move, there just hasn't been time or the space to set up for practice sessions."

"You…moved?"

"You sound surprised."

Inuyasha opened his mouth, then closed it. "I mean…yeah, I – I guess I am? Kinda?" He dropped his hands and reached for the basket Kagome had clung to at the auction. "Why don't we go to the kitchen and start dinner? We can keep this conversation going."

Kagome needed a minute to process the large kitchen. The dark wood cabinetry complimented the granite countertops and steel-encased appliances, but she was stunned by the amount of space. She didn't consider herself a gourmet chef by any means, but not having to stress about having to plan out meals with a few feet of allocated space would be heavenly. 'And holiday baking…' It was a miracle she wasn't drooling, but then she was still on guard from when she touched him earlier. 'Big house, big kitchen, big shower, big chest…' She was pretty certain other aspects of Inuyasha were still big, but she really couldn't think about that. She no longer had the luxury of those thoughts.

The half-demon set the basket on the island and began removing the contents. Kagome moved next to him to watch, being as equally clueless about what was inside. "All I remember is a jar of sauce," she admitted sheepishly. There hadn't been time to really pick through the items.

"There's your sauce, I'm guessing your phone and wallet… and I'm seeing some dry pasta and a few odds and ends. Oh, and a dozen potato rolls. You said Ayame approached you at the last possible minute?"

"Yeah, and it seems like she threw together my basket on the drive to the civic center." Kagome dropped her head in her hands, feeling embarrassed. Could this evening get any more humiliating? "You got a cheap date in more ways than one."

"No no, we can make this work," Inuyasha assured her, throwing an arm around her shoulders without thinking. Kagome found herself leaning into him on reflex, enjoying the warmth. He held her for a few moments before he remembered they weren't dating anymore, dropping his arm slowly. "I've got a couple steaks in the fridge. I'll cook those up and we can eat some pasta with it."

Despite missing the familiar touch, Kagome pretended not to notice. "Just like old times, huh? Only it was us splitting a steak with instant noodles."

He grinned. "I've got some of those in the cabinets, if you're really feeling nostalgic."

"Of course you do."

Inuyasha set the ingredients out for Kagome to work with before he moved to the refrigerator. "Feel free to go digging around," he motioned to the cabinets. "There's a pantry through that doorway over there; there should be spices and shit in one of the bins. Pots and pans are in the lower cabinets. Dishes are spread out in the overhead ones. The cutlery and other shit should be in that set of drawers, but if it's not, that means Koga came over and switched it again…"

Kagome let out a snort at that image. "Does this happen a lot?"

"Every damn time I turn my back that asshole moves something!"

She turned, laughing at how indignant Inuyasha sounded, to search the cabinets for a pot to boil water. She could see it clearly in her mind, how Koga would pay him a visit only to upend his entire kitchen the moment Inuyasha left the room. Kagome was so lost in her thoughts that she didn't think before she spoke again. "It must be fun having everyone drop in on you." When she found the pot she wanted, Kagome turned back to see Inuyasha watching her with an unreadable expression.

"I guess?" he finally replied, tearing open the wrapping on the steaks. "I mean, it hasn't been everyone… not until now."

"Inuyasha, I'm sorry. I didn't mean –"

He shook his head with a forced smile. "Why don't you tell me about your move?" Inuyasha was changing the subject. "You mentioned that you moved. Was this recent or...?"

'I bet he wants to know if I moved right after the breakup.' "It was recent. I've only been at my apartment for about eight months," Kagome spoke as she prepared the water for the pasta. "My landlord raised my rent on the house last year, and it was more than I could afford, so I had to leave. Problem was, I couldn't find a place for the same price, so I spent two months bunking with Miroku and Sango until I found my current apartment. It's still higher than what I was paying, but it's the best I could manage. One bedroom, one bath, and a kitchen-seating area. I've got a balcony though!" 'Oh god that sounded pathetic. Why did I add that on like it was the reason I picked the place?!'

"Funny, they never mentioned that you were crashing at their place…"

Kagome winced. "Sorry, I shouldn't have –"

"Not your fault," he cut her off. "I'm gonna grill Miroku in particular the next time I see him. I know this is his doing." Inuyasha moved past Kagome on his way to get a skillet for the steaks. "So…do you like where you're at now?"

She shrugged, trying to swallow the guilt she was feeling. Every time she thought they were trying to act like things were fine, one of them managed to bring up something that reminded them of how awkward the situation really was. They'd been deep in love, and an ugly fight had ended that. Trying to navigate the waters around each other after three years wasn't going to be easy.

"I like it alright. It's not much to look at, but it's in a good place where I can get to work from either direction."

"Either...?"

"I'm still working at the video rental store, but I've also been doing part-time work at the public library, in the children's book section. It's the only way I've been able to cover the rent and utilities." Inuyasha moved to stand next to her at the stove, and Kagome noticed he was frowning again. "Don't give me that look! The cost of living has gone up!"

"Yeah, I know."

"Look, I get that look enough from Grandpa when I get a day off to go visit them at the shrine. He wants me to come do more of the ceremonies for holidays and the like, but I can't afford to lose one of my jobs. He's fine, before you ask. So's Mama and Souta. Mama wishes that we'd talk again." She snorted at the irony of that statement.

Inuyasha added the steaks when the skillet was heated through, then turned and leaned back against the counter by the stove. "So you haven't been working towards your goal at all?"

"The children's books?"

"Yeah."

She shook her head. "No time. When I get a chance to think, I have to keep moving onto something else. I've made notes here and there, but nothing to really show for it. What about you?"

"It's how I was able to buy this house." Inuyasha spread his arms out wide.

Kagome looked up in surprise. "You're kidding!" When Inuyasha shook his head, she let out a squeal. "Oh Inuyasha! That's wonderful! I'm so proud of you!"

He looked down at her, clearly shocked by the reaction. "R-really?"

"Yes! You've talked about wanting to start your own woodworking business ever since you took those classes in high school! The teacher even encouraged you to consider it. It makes me really happy that you've gotten to make something of it with your skills!" As much as she expressed her excitement, Kagome knew that deep down inside, she was also jealous. There was more of a market for quality handcrafted wood pieces than there was for children's books. That market was oversaturated as it was, and getting the attention of a publisher would require an impressive hook.

Inuyasha, on the other hand, appeared to look anything but proud. "It's not that big a deal, Kagome…" He was trying to brush it off as though everyone had a successful start to a small business. "My old man helped me with the initial costs by taking out a second mortgage, and I worked my ass off to make back what I borrowed from him within the first year. That was all I was aiming for. But one client led to another client, and halfway into the second year I'd paid off my parents' remaining mortgage payments. Had to thank them for what they did, you know?"

"That's incredibly sweet, Inu." 'What brought that on? Calling him "Inu" again like…like old times…'

He seemed to notice too. "Kagome, I…"

"What made you feel that you needed to get away from me three years ago?" she asked quickly, not sure she was ready for whatever he was about to say. "You told me that you never stopped…loving m-me…but you never said why the fight started."

"I couldn't support you like I wanted to," he said with a sigh. "I'd just found out that my old man had taken out loans to cover half of my startup costs, and I was working at the bowling alley serving up greasy nachos to fat old men reliving their glory days. Those paychecks were shit, and everything I could earn was going into the startup. I kept trying to run the numbers, to figure out a way where I could have both. I wanted to be able to take you places, Kagome, and not always to some matinee for a couple bucks. I brought this up with my parents, and both of them were disappointed in me for putting the startup first."

Kagome frowned, understanding his reasons a little better. "You were wanting to do right by your father and pay him back for helping you with a large amount of money –"

"That I didn't ask for! I told him I could do it on my own –"

"And if you had, you'd be standing in a rundown apartment like mine, cooking ramen instead of steak!" Kagome nearly shouted. She caught them both by surprise with her outburst. When she continued, her voice dropped to a softer tone. "Your parents believed in you like I did, and they wanted you to see your goals happen. I get that. If you'd have simply told me that was what was going on, I would've understood. We could have worked it out, Inuyasha."

He swallowed. "And instead I blew it all up."

"We're here now. Doesn't that seem like things turned out alright?" Despite the rage she felt when she saw him, Kagome still couldn't shake that she missed him after all this time. Finding out the real reasons for what happened years later didn't make all the pain go away, but it was closure. It meant that they could move forward, however that might be.

When Inuyasha looked up at her again with hope in his eyes, she knew he was thinking much the same.

"Kiss?"

"W-what?" he stammered.

'Oh god I hope I'm not putting my foot in it.' "A kiss?" she asked again. "Like old times, remember? How we'd get into arguments and make up? There was always a kiss." Granted, those kisses usually led to making out on whatever surface they were near…

"A-are you sure? Kagome, I don't want you to do something you're not –"

She didn't wait. Kagome tugged on his T-shirt as she rose up on her toes to meet him in a simple kiss. There was nothing special to it, only lips pressed against lips. Inuyasha put an arm around her waist to hold her against his chest, raising the other to cup her cheek even after they pulled away. "Just like old times," she said, feeling a well of emotion in her chest. "But…even better."

The next morning…

Kagome wasn't a stranger to spending the night at a friend's house, but it was certainly the first time she'd ever spent the night at an ex-boyfriend's house.

Actually, more like ex-ex-boyfriend.

That little kiss she'd asked for turned into many more, nearly burning the steaks and overcooking the pasta. They'd managed to pull themselves apart to eat dinner, continuing to catch up on each other's lives. Then the dinner "date" ran later than it should have. Inuyasha hesitantly asked if he wanted to drive her home, but Kagome asked him if it would be alright to spend the night. She'd wanted to keep their talks going, unable to bring herself to leave and return to her apartment alone. They'd finally reconnected, and she didn't want to let go.

Neither did he.

Somewhere between the glasses of wine he'd poured for them and reminiscing about the last summer movie they'd seen in the theater, Inuyasha had pulled Kagome into his lap and wouldn't let go. She had no complaints until they reached his bedroom. Then it was a fight to get the other's clothes off in record time. The first time had been frantic, a need to reconnect and get the other to release. The second, things had been slower, relearning each of the spots that made their lover beg for more. It was almost a reflection of the first time they'd ever had sex years ago, long before either knew their world would be shaken in the worst way.

Kagome let out a sigh as a muscular arm slid around her waist. She could feel Inuyasha move closer behind her, nuzzling the back of her neck in his sleep. 'He's definitely bigger than he was three years ago,' she mused, dragging a finger along his forearm. 'I guess hauling around wood for his business has paid off in more ways than one.'

The thought of his business made her a little sad. She was happy that he'd reached his dream, but it had cost them their relationship because he didn't want to put her second. They had been kids still, even if they were considered adults. Stupid decisions were bound to happen, but in a way…it might not have been a bad choice to make.

'We were obsessed with each other. How would Inuyasha have been able to focus on his work if he was always trying to focus on me? I didn't want to be his top priority, but he made that choice. The breakup gave both of us some clarity, and I think –'

Inuyasha stirred behind her, dropping a kiss to her neck. "Morning, 'Gome." His words were a lot of mumbling, but she could pick them apart. "What have you been up to?"

If he wasn't aware that she was naked, then he really was still asleep, but Kagome found herself grinning anyway. "Thinking about us," she answered.

"Yeah?"

"Yeah." Kagome wiggled under his arm and turned over to face him, bumping her nose against his. "Us. I was thinking about everything we talked about last night, and how it probably worked out in the best way."

Inuyasha's brows furrowed in confusion. "How so? I made both of us miserable."

"You had the best intentions. The follow-through was absolute garbage, but fate ended up bringing us back together."

He grinned boyishly. "I'll say. Again…and again…and again…"

"As I was saying…" Kagome choked back a laugh, unable to hide her blush. "I think that if your choice hadn't been the cause for us splitting, then it might've been something else. And if it was, what's to say we'd be where we are now? You worked for your dream, you made something of it. You wanted to show me that you could, and you have."

Inuyasha pulled himself up onto one elbow, looking down at her. "So you're saying that we were bound to crash and burn?"

"We were attached at the hip, Inu. I think, in some twisted way, that being apart those three years helped us grow into ourselves. We needed to learn about ourselves as ourselves, without relying on the other. Don't you think that makes a relationship stronger? When two people can complement each other and still be their own person?"

He thought about it for a moment, finally nodding. "Yeah, I suppose so. But what does that make us now?"

Kagome stretched her arms over her head, not caring that the blankets slipped down. "Well I can't speak for you, but I'm thoroughly satisfied," she said with a wink. "From the sounds you were making, you should be too."

"Damn straight," he laughed. Inuyasha traced the expanse of her skin that sat along the edge of the sheet. She watched, biting her lip to control the urge to shiver. He knew she was still ticklish! "Move in with me."

"W-what?"

"I said, move in with me, Kagome."

"You know it's a little late for that post-sex crazy talk."

"I'm fully aware of what I'm asking," he sighed. Kagome wasn't surprised when he laid his head against her chest, and she reached down to massage his ears. "You should move in, Kagome. We can start as roommates, if you want. I've got another bedroom that's just as big, with its own bathroom."

"Inuyasha…" She wasn't sure how to take his request.

"Look…I know we jumped the gun last night. I don't regret it though. It was phenomenal. But I also don't want you to force yourself into a position that you might not want –"

"You do realize that you asked me to move in, which isn't any different –"

He turned onto his stomach, resting his chin on her chest. She continued to rub the fuzzy appendages. "The invitation to move in is separate from anything else that happens between us," he explained. "You told me last night that you believed in me, but I never told you enough that your dreams were just as important. I was too stupid back then to think beyond the present. I want to give you the chance to see your dreams happen too. You can't do that working two jobs to cover your rent. That's why I'm saying move in with me. You can have your own personal space if you want it. I've got a room that you can set up as an office for whatever you need."

"Inuyasha…I…"

"Please, Kagome. I couldn't support you three years ago. Will you let me now? Let me help you make up for all the time you lost?"

She stared at him, feeling a weight on her chest that wasn't him. The offer to move out of that apartment was too good to be true. So was the opportunity to be able to have a dedicated space to work on her book pitches, on her portfolio, on anything she'd need to reach her goals. Inuyasha wanted to give her that.

But was that what she wanted?

He seemed to pick up on that unspoken thought the longer the silence went on. "I know it's a lot to put on you before breakfast. How do you feel about pancakes? I could do waffles instead? Either way there's gonna be bacon and eggs –"

"No it's not that, but that sounds wonderful." Kagome moved to sit up, and Inuyasha joined her. "Everything that you said makes me want to scream 'yes', Inuyasha… but… I don't know if I could be roommates. You think you're the only one that didn't stop being in love three years ago…"

"Kagome…"

"I want everything you're willing to offer, Inuyasha." She let out a squeal when he pulled her across his lap and kissed her deep, murmuring between kisses about how after breakfast they'd start organizing to move her in. She was fairly certain they'd be back in bed before any planning could begin, but she didn't care. Kagome could feel her heart begin to heal the night before, and she looked forward to seeing where things went from here.

In time, of course. Everything else could wait until after breakfast.