13- Anger
Hello everybody! Hope you had been doing great. I´m still struggling to write more than a few words every day so I can share them with you. Again, no smut in this chapter, it was getting too long so I´ll leave it for the next one. Let´s get on with the story.
Disclaimer: I still don´t own Inuyasha, too bad.
Adding a little more crimson, the result was a drastic improvement to the depth of the pupils.
"That´s more like it!" Kagome congratulated herself as she took a step back and examined her work.
It had been months since she had felt like painting. The size of her apartment didn´t help. She had to move the furniture, a low table, a chest of drawers and the folded futon, to a small pile on one side to make room for her easel. Then, leaving all her worries aside, she took her brushes and here she was now, exorcising her demons through the canvas.
"Well, it´s only one demon!"
She had always found great comfort in art. Creating something would definitely take her off her mind her many current problems. She felt she could reach nirvana if she were allowed to paint to her heart´s content.
Sadly, she´d had to leave soon if she wanted to be on time for her date with Hojo. She didn´t need much time to get ready, she had decided that a quick shower and a clean outfit was all she needed, after all, one doesn´t dress up to break off an engagement, even one as loose as hers and Hojo´s.
Taking one last look at the foggy image on the canvas she smiled satisfied and proud of her work. She felt invigorated now, a feeling she had almost forgotten lately. Her body felt lighter and her mind was more focused after letting free her artistic side.
Since Inuyasha left the hospital in the morning, Kagome had been avoiding thinking too much about him and what was going on between them. Now that she had cleared her mind, she knew what she needed to do. Once this date was over, she would be free again. She would follow Sango´s advice and try to get to know Inuyasha better, see where their relationship would take them.
Humming happily after cleaning her brushes, Kagome took off her paint-stained clothes and stepped under the hot drizzle, for once excited about her future.
"Hello aniki, I´m so honored you decided to grace this kitchen with your presence." Inuyasha tried to keep a straight face as he bowed to his older brother.
"You never fail to surprise me, ototo. Are you really hiding from me? Or do you want to help with the dishes?" Sesshomaru calmly asked.
If he was disturbed or annoyed, no one would be the wiser. While Inuyasha did very little to control his emotions, Sesshomaru was the exact opposite. He always tried to hide them behind a mask of perfection which his little brother kept trying to take off of his face.
"Keh! I was just visiting Myoga, that´s all."
Inuyasha just shrugged and dismissed his brother´s inquisitions. The bastard didn´t need to know every little detail of his life. He turned his back to his brother and was about to say goodbye to the old servant when he heard Sesshomaru sniffing his hair.
"You reek of a human female and it´s not Onigumo´s daughter. What are you getting into little brother?"
A sudden wave of rage washed over Inuyasha. Who did this bastard thought he was?
"You stay out of it, Sesshomaru!" Inuyasha turned back to face his brother so fast it almost gave him whiplash. "If you think you have any right to meddle in my life, you don´t. You have never acted as a big brother so fuck off now!"
"Believe me, little brother, I do not wish to get mixed in your liaisons." Sesshomaru had to take a deep breath to control his anger now. "However, we have barely recovered from your small affair with Kikyo. I suggest you be more cautious this time around and leave the company out of your sex life."
The words felt like a punch to his gut, leaving him bent over and gasping for breath. Inuyasha could still remember those days perfectly. On top of losing his child and being rejected by his fiance, he had to deal with Onigumo threatening to sell his shares and end the partnership with the Takahashi family. Sesshomaru was frantic trying to avoid being taken over by a bigger corporation, he went to all lengths to secure Dr. Ikeda´s stock wasn't sold to an outsider. It was weeks of bargaining and negotiations until they finally gave in to the doctor´s demands of more funding for his labs and a new wing for his hospital.
And as usual, Sesshomaru was sure to let Inuyasha know what a disappointment his little brother was, only bringing problems his way. Inuyasha was livid, he wanted to punch his brother´s face. Instead, he swallowed his rage and took a step back.
"It was great seeing you Myoga-jiji. I have to leave now, see you."
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"Welcome Dr. Ikeda, have a seat, please."
The younger doctor bowed respectfully before pulling the chair on the other side of his desk.
"Thank you, Dr. Kimura. As I told you over the phone, it is urgent that you treat my daughter."
Suikotsu smiled, he had been waiting for an opportunity to get closer to Dr. Ikeda, this was the chance he had been waiting for. They had worked together in a few occasions but this time Suikotsu realized he needed to use the old doctor´s influence, and his lab, to keep his current schemes running.
"I´ll be happy to assist you and your daughter. I studied the medical record you sent and we are already looking into her situation."
"Good, she´s waiting outside. You can start right away. I give you a month to get her in decent enough shape. If she´s not ready then, you can have her committed."
"A month?" Suikotsu hadn´t even sat and he was already standing. " That´s not enough time."
"That´s all I´m willing to wait. We have wasted enough time already." Doctor Ikeda too was already on his feet, not wanting to stay another minute in the tiny office. "Also, I would like that girl to be tested ASAP, we need to be ready before they can even think we are doing something."
"I´ll get my associates working on that immediately." Suikotsu walked the older man to the door. " You can send your daughter in now."
The second the brunette entered the room and made eye contact with the doctor, the atmosphere seemed to get charged between them. Kikyo smiled warmly, she got the feeling this was the start of a very important part of her life and the doctor just smiled back at her as if confirming her thoughts.
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Finding an empty spot, Inuyasha parked his car near Kagome´s building and killed the engine. He had debated with himself for the best part of the afternoon whether he should stay away from Kagome or run to her.
After his fortuitous meeting with his brother, his feelings were a chaotic mess. The memories of his mother´s death had been stirred back to life thanks to Kikyo. Talking to Myoga had only served to bring about new questions. Seeking a way to quiet down the turmoil in his head he had thought of Kagome and how calm he had felt with her by his side that very same morning. Then he found himself missing her way too much. He had tried calling her but the call never went through. It probably had to do with that phone of hers
which was an old piece of useless crap.
"I should get her a new one." Thus, he decided to go shopping for a new phone.
His first choice had been a top of the line smartphone like his own, but then he recalled how uncomfortable she was with him buying her new clothes, so he opted for something more humble, like the one he had got for Shippo and Shiori.
The impromptu shopping trip had served to take his mind off the anxiousness he had been feeling all day. Now he just needed to knock on her door and give her the damn thing. Easy, wasn´t it?
He looked up to the window of her apartment and finding it dark, he relived the conversation between Mrs. Higurashi and her daughter.
"Is she really on a date?"
He still couldn´t believe she would be doing it. He knew for a fact she wasn´t involved with anyone, he would have smelled any hint of male on her. This didn´t mean she would be meeting someone new, or that they hadn't seen each other for a while. Inuyasha wasn´t so naive.
Yet, he didn´t think Kagome was that kind of woman. On the contrary, she appeared to be quite inexperienced.
The hanyo let out a sigh. " I shouldn´t be thinking about that. I just came to give her the phone."
"You keep telling yourself that."
That annoying voice again! When will he get rid of it?
He was about to curse that damned voice when he saw a couple walking down the street. It was dark, he couldn´t smell the woman from here. He should get out of the car and make sure.
"Thank you for your frankness Kagome-chan. I wouldn´t have dared take the first step. Honestly, I´m just so confused, I don´t even know what to do with my life."
"Don´t worry Hojo-kun. You will figure it out. You just need to take time for yourself."
Kagome smiled fondly to her now ex-boyfriend. They felt at ease walking down the street together, like old friends.
"This is so much better than trying to force a relationship. I feel I can finally relax around you."
"You know we can remain as friends, don´t you? I´ll always be there for you."
"I would like that very much."
They had arrived at her front door by then and Kagome could feel the man getting fidgety.
"What is it?"
When she got no answer from him and he remained looking at his feet, Kagome insisted.
"Come on Hojo, you know you can trust me."
Finally, he made eye contact.
"I just wanted to ask a favor of you, if you don´t mind."
He was flushed and uncomfortable, she could see that even in the dark sidewalk. She didn´t stop there to ponder on it before they climbed a couple of steps and finally, they were standing at her door, facing each other.
"The thing is I was comfortable with you because you didn´t force me to question my life choices. Because of that, I have been avoiding even thinking about it."
"So, what can I do to help you?" Kagome asked intrigued.
"Would you let me kiss you?" Hojo rushed his request before he lost confidence.
"Oh!" To say she was shocked was an understatement. "I...did not expect that."
Kagome took a moment to evaluate his request. It was just a kiss, a small form of intimacy. Hojo had kissed her a few times before, just a peck on the cheek, that was all. The fierce, unstoppable, raw passion she had shared with Inuyasha could never be compared with those chaste exchanges. This was an opportunity to prove her own feelings too.
"Ok, you may kiss me."
The girl took a deep breath as she felt the male form approach her, she closed her eyes. The moment his mouth came in contact with hers, she was already regretting this experiment. There was nothing there, not even a tiny spark. Hojo´s lips felt cold and apathetic, she felt she was going to be sick if he kept this going. Kagome was about to pull away when she heard a thunderous, menacing growl and felt the weight of Hojo´s body being jerked away from her before a muffled scream escaped the young man´s mouth. Opening her eyes she was shocked to find a long mane of silver hair and the weak shape of a young man´s body being forcefully strangled against a wall by a powerful clawed hand.
"Inuyasha!"
The half-demon could barely hear her over the murderous rage ringing in his ears and the very satisfying gurgling sounds coming from the pathetic human whose life he was about to end.
"Inuyasha, what are you doing?"
The woman was now using her own hands to try and free his victim from his deadly grip. The desperate sounds coming from her mouth finally made it to his ears.
"Please, I beg you, let him go! You are hurting him."
Making a supreme effort, the hanyo released his prey and punch the glass door in frustration. Kagome rushed to make sure the human wasn´t badly hurt, kneeling down next to his scattered frame on the sidewalk.
"Hojo-kun, are you ok?" She fumbled with the lapels of the guy´s shirt, loosening his tie in an attempt to facilitate breathing for him, his breath coming in and out between ragged bursts and cough.
The hanyo, on the other hand, was taking in big, deep puffs of air at a time, trying to control the fury that threatened to take over him. To see the woman helping the other male stand on his feet was not helping. Resentful of her actions, he growled again.
"I´m fine Kagome-chan." His eyes widened in terror at the sight of the half-demon pacing in front them like a caged lion waiting for an opportunity to launch his attack. The fact that the demon seemed to know Kagome and that her body blocking his path made him feel safer "He´s bleeding, I think you should take care of his arm."
Kagome turned with a horrified expression on her face, shifting her attention to the bleeding cut on Inuyasha´s left wrist.
"Oh my God, Inuyasha, you are hurt too! Let me call an ambulance, you both need medical attention."
"I´m fine wench." He managed to speak through greeted teeth. "And he shouldn´t be in too bad a shape, I didn´t use enough force to hurt him."
"It´s true, he just knocked the wind out of my lungs for a moment. I´m not hurt." Hojo offered while Kagome used her own sweater to bandage the injured appendage.
"Actually, I think I need to walk and take some fresh air. You think you can handle him alone?" He asked Kagome more to reassure himself than out of fear for her safety. He could tell the youkai wasn't a threat to her wellbeing.
"Don´t worry Hojo, I trust him. He will never hurt me."
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Ok, I´ll just gonna stop here.
I have the whole scene planned but I didn´t want to make this chapter much longer than the rest. Also, the shorter, the sooner I can update.
Hope to have the next one ready soon.
I love reading your thoughts on it, thank you for reviewing!