InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ A Grudging Loss ❯ Kisses and Frustration ( Chapter 19 )

Ch 19: Kisses and Frustration

 

 

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There will be some adult language in this chapter. Do not read if that offends you.

 

Before this chapter begins I wanted to thank my wonderful betas: Theleb K'aarna and blackdeathmessenger for all of their hard work! And my apologies to my betas, since neither one can stand Evanesence.

 

If you like that band, you might want to play `Bring Me to Life' as you read this chapter.

 

My updates will start every other weekend now--both myself and my betas need some more lead time.

 

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`Ash' was flying down the Santa Monica Freeway with Kagome tightly encircling his back. He loved the rush of speed as he gunned his bike and weaved around the cars that were going too slow. Wind whipped past him and it made him feel alive. He laughed to himself when he drove past a car with a dog sticking his head out the window, the dog's tongue hanging out of its mouth. He knew how the dog felt, the need to feel the wind on his face, the need to experience the momentum of traveling without a windshield blocking the salty marine air.

 

He had just picked up Kagome from the Sunset Shrine and was taking her to `14 Below', the club they would be playing at tonight. As usual, when he arrived, Kagome wasn't ready yet and Souta was eager for motorcycle riding lessons. It had become almost a routine, picking up Kagome who was never ready on time and then giving Souta motorcycle lessons while they waited. The kid was growing on Inuyasha, especially when he gazed up on him with hero worship in his eyes. Inuyasha always felt that he could do no wrong with Souta around, well that was until this evening. After their usual trip around the block in excess of 50 mph. Souta had a gift for `Ash'. The young boy was grinning ear to ear when he gave `Ash' his newest acquisition, Kagome's silky black panties.

 

Inuyasha shouldn't have been embarrassed, but he quickly shoved the offending garment into his jeans pocket as his own cheeks flamed red. He told himself he shouldn't be reacting like this, he had seen plenty of bras and panties over the past two years—both on and off of women. But somehow the knowledge that what he had held in his hand had intimately touched Kagome's ass and other lovely parts was doing something odd to him. He blanched as he tried to get the image of Kagome wearing nothing but satiny black panties out of his mind. Souta had just laughed and told him that he would get `Ash' some more samples. Inuyasha put a stop to it right then and there, telling Souta that he appreciated the effort, but that his sister would not. It was only after he pledged to continue giving him motorbike lessons that the kid relented and promised to not go rifling through Kagome's intimate apparel again.

 

Soon their rushed trip down the freeway ended and `Ash' as forced to slow down on Santa Monica Boulevard. After a few turns they were at their destination. He kicked down the main stand of his motorcycle as he stood up on his bike. He balanced both legs on either side of his bike as he let Kagome shrug out of her helmet, midnight black tresses spilling over her shoulders and down her back. He was amazed at how quickly she had recovered from her broken ribs. Just one week ago she had been in a hospital and couldn't even laugh without her ribcage hurting. After some intense miko healing she seemed to be back to her normal self. She would even start to working out with her team again next week.

 

As she maneuvered off of his bike he stared at her legs and looked at the slight puckering in the fabric of her white shirt below her nipples. He shifted off of the bike as well and glanced at her. He looked from her dainty feet to full hips that were coated in leather shorts to her round breasts in a wife beater to her windswept raven locks that framed her lovely face. Her brown eyes glowed and her pink lips looked like they needed something. He placed his helmet down on his bike and moved toward her like a predator.

 

“Ash?” she asked in surprise as she saw the purposeful intent of his eyes.

 

“Can't help it wench,” he spoke as he closed the distance between them and pulled her close to him. One of his arms encircled her waist, while another held the back of her neck. With a slight nudge, her lips were flush to his and he couldn't help but to massage her lips with his tongue until her lips parted and he dived right into her mouth. He moaned as he tried to dominate her mouth and another hand wandered down her body, caressing her back before his hands massaged her firm ass that was tightly enclosed with buttery black leather. “Damn,” he murmured as he continued to stroke her body with his hands. “I won't be able to touch you for a few hours. Do you know how crazy that drives me, wench?” he asked.

 

One of her hands fisted into his long black hair while the other hand found its way under his red shirt and was touching the planes of his chest. “My name isn't wench, it's Kagome.”

 

He grabbed her as he pulled her close to his pelvis. “Kagome, you drive me crazy…,” was all he could murmur into her lips.

 

Gentle kisses were strewn about his lips and then his cheek before she pulled away from him. She added breathlessly, “I gotta get in there and help them setup before the show. You'll pick me up right?” she said as she stood next to him. His arms drew her in again, encircling her waist and bringing her flush to his body. She put both hands around his neck and then dropped her arms down to his T-shirt. She tried to smooth out the shirt before she gathered the fabric in her hands to pull him close to her. She opened her mouth to his and kissed him deeply once more before she pulled away. As she walked away from him--he could only stare at her ass, which had liquid black leather poured over it. She smiled at him coyly. “Ash?” she asked.

 

“Yeah. I'll pick you up. I'll be here when the band is done playing,” he added. “Wait for me.”

 

“Always,” she smiled at him as she walked into the club and he sighed before putting his motorcycle helmet back on and driving a few blocks away to park his bike. He walked to an alleyway where he knew he couldn't be seen and he took his ring off. The stench of the garbage strewn alley assaulted his senses, but he tried to ignore the rotten smells as he took off his red t-shirt and put on a black shirt with white skulls on it. Then he took off his blue jeans to put on some black denims. Afterwards he proceeded to strap on a black leather belt with silver spikes on it. He took off his ponytail and let his silver hair fall past his shoulders and down his back. Surely she wouldn't be able to recognize him now.

 

He pulled an empty duffle bag out of his backpack and managed to stuff everything in it. At least she wouldn't recognize his backpack since it was hidden in the duffle when he walked into the club. The band had played here many times before he knew a way around from the back and shoved open a heavy metal door that was near an alleyway. His white ears flicked to the right when he overheard someone talking about him.

 

“He should be here soon Kagome.” He overheard as he closed the door behind him. He threw his duffle over his shoulder and smirked as he swaggered toward his group. Everyone else had already assembled and they were already starting to setup their equipment. The first thing that he noticed was Kagome's scent that enticed him and clogged his senses. Then he saw her backside of slick black leather facing him. The subtle interplay of blue and red lights reflected off the leather's surface, showing off her curves. `Damn' he thought as he absentmindedly wondered exactly how she had gotten into her hotpants. `What did she do? Paint them on?'

 

He was probably staring at her lower half a little too long because once she turned around to see him her eyes quickly darted to his to see what he was looking at and then a red-pink blush crept past her cheeks.

 

“What do you expect wench!” he huffed at her. “If you wear something like that expect people to stare!” he said as he made his way over to his guitar which Ginta had already placed on his chrome guitar stand.

 

Kagome's embarrassment quickly morphed into annoyance as she walked right in front of Inuyasha and eyed him.

 

Inuyasha paused as he was adjusting the pegs of his guitar. “Yes?” said Inuyasha dryly as he tried not to breathe in her alluring scent.

 

“I need to ask you a question about that date you took me on,” said Kagome with subdued anger in her eyes.

 

“OK,” mouthed a befuddled Inuyasha.

 

Suddenly Kagome shoved her hand in his face with her index finger pointing at him accusingly. “What was this doing on my bed?” she asked.

 

“Your finger Kagome? What are you talking about?” said Inuyasha in a condescending tone of voice.

 

“Not my finger! Look what's on it!”

 

His eyes stared at her finger more critically this time and he noticed a silver thread that was wrapped around her index finger like a ring.

 

“What is a silver thread doing around your finger?” he murmured.

 

“It's not thread, its hair! A very long strand of silver hair!” exclaimed Kagome. “In fact it looks just like…” Kagome reached out to Inuyasha's hair and plucked out a strand of his hair.

 

“Ouch!” murmured Inuyasha as he put a hand to his head where she had pulled from. “What did you do that for wench?”

 

“Ah ha!” she exclaimed as she wrapped the new strand of hair around her finger. The white-silver color matched the first strand perfectly from the snowy whiteness of one end to the deeper silver color of the root.

 

Inuyasha looked and noted the obvious similarities. It took him a few moments and then a deep red blush crept onto his face. `Shit! It must have happened when I slept in her bed. This is really bad!' he thought.

 

“Again! Why was your hair on my bed, Inuyasha?”

 

Inuyasha looked at her momentarily dazed. He saw her flushed cheeks, her livid, angry eyes that flashed molten umber, her eyebrows that were drawn together and her red lips which were pursed together in a frown. `Damn, she looks sexy when's she's angry,' he thought absentmindedly as he tried to think of a good explanation.

 

“Well…,” Inuyasha began.

 

“Well?” answered Kagome tersely as she folded her arms in front of her which didn't help him concentrate since her arms managed to shove her breasts upward and together.

 

`OK. Go with the truth. Just don't say everything,' thought Inuyasha as he breathed in deeply. “You see…you were pretty drunk and you couldn't even stand up straight. I figured that having you walk in the front door would get you into trouble…” Inuyasha looked up at Kagome to gauge her reaction. He noticed that her face held a look of surprise. “I then tried to find your room. I found a dark room with a pink bed and a red bra on the chair and I figured it was your room.”

 

“You saw my bra?!” asked Kagome askance as her hands were momentarily pulled from a folding position and made their ways to her hips.

 

“Oi. It helped me to identify your room.”

 

Kagome leaned forward and folded her arms back in front of her. The redness of her cheeks intensified.

 

“So I opened the window to your room and brought you in and placed you on your bed. No one saw us enter the house and you didn't get in trouble,” said Inuyasha in a rather pleased tone.

 

“Is that all that happened?” asked Kagome.

 

“Oi,” murmured Inuyasha as he started to scratch the back of his neck.

 

Kagome's hands drifted from her hips and fell down to her side. She no longer seemed defensive. Now she seemed almost subdued. “So you were just trying to keep me from getting into trouble?” she asked.

 

“Feh, that and I figured they'd never let me near your house again,” added Inuyasha truthfully.

 

Kagome cocked her head and seemed to consider his words. “You didn't take advantage of the situation, did you?”

 

“Who me?” asked Inuyasha as his hand pressed against his chest in a manner of feigned innocence. He quickly decided that hanging around Miroku had some benefits since he had learned from the master about the arts of subterfuge.

 

Kagome raised an eyebrow. “OK. You're off the hook,” she stated. Inuyasha let out a breath of relief. “But!” Suddenly Kagome was pointing at his chest. He felt her index finger pressing in against him and he looked again at her flushed face and the way her wet lips moved. He really didn't know what she was saying next. He only nodded wordlessly as he watched her body press in closer to his—her warm breath misting over him as she spoke.

 

“…and you got that!?” pestered Kagome as Inuyasha came out of his haze.

 

“Oi!” murmured Inuyasha as he watched Kagome turn around and make her way to the synthesizer they always set up for her. Inuyasha briefly wondered what he had just agreed to as a goofy grin spread across his face. He was watching Kagome's backside. Her long fingers were pressing against the keyboard, caressing the keys like a lover and he wondered what it would be like if her hands were roaming over his body instead. He looked again at her hips firmly contained in slick black leather that was rocking back and forth to her own internal beat.

 

Déjà vu overcame him. It was the same feeling when he had been cradling her form next to him in her bed. The feeling of pleasurable torture, the undeniable need to have her body flush next to his and the sinking feeling that it was something he couldn't do with her—not now. That was until he told her the truth... If he told her the truth, how would she react? He supposed that ever since Myoga had told him that he no longer needed to spy on the USC team that he could simply give up on being Ash and just be himself around her. But now she wanted `Ash', she loved `Ash'. And where did it leave him? Could he ever tell her the truth? Could he ever get her to see him as he really was?

 

He sighed. He loved her. He lusted after her. He wanted her. How on earth was he going to resolve this?

 

“Inuyasha!” He turned quickly to see Ginta trying to get his attention. “If you're done daydreaming we need to get this show on the road.”

 

“Oi,” mouthed Inuyasha as he finished tuning up his guitar. “Have you done a sound check first?”

 

“Yes,” said Ginta dryly. “That was what I was telling you just a moment ago.”

 

Inuyasha quickly finished adjusting the pegs of his Fender Stratocaster guitar, then strummed it a few times to make sure that everything was tuned, before he walked up to the head mike and introduced the band. He eyed Kagome and when she nodded back to him she started to play her synthesizer.

 

Her hands fingered the keyboard lightly, tinkling the keys gently as piano music started to stream over the speakers. Hakkaku started to lightly tap his drums to the beat, providing a staccato rhythm. Kagome's breathless voice began to pour over the speakers, blending with the piano and the light drum beats. Inuyasha was momentarily taken aback as he let her voice take over his mind. The words she sang were perfectly in key and were drawn out as if in sadness.

 

After her first verse she drew out one more word over the count of two beats and then Inuyasha, Koga and Ginta strummed their guitars. Drum beats slammed down hard as the music reached a crescendo and the group started their next verse. Inuyasha loved the way the song would flow from here on out. He would sing a line and then in quick succession Kagome would sing her line, their voices blending in a harsh rhythm. To him it felt like sex--as if he was pumping into her and she was pushing back against him. It was electric. If only their bodies could blend together as easily as their voices.

 

(Wake me up) He sang loudly and abruptly
Wake me up inside. She echoed softly and seductively.
(I can't wake up)
Wake me up inside.
(Save me!) He cried out.
Call my name and save me from the dark.
(Wake me up)
Bid my blood to run.
(I can't wake up)
Before I come undone.
(Save me) He nearly screamed.
Save me from the nothing I've become. She sang as her voice trailed behind his.

 

Her voice hummed as the guitars strummed and belted out heavy riffs.

 

Now that I know what I'm without,
You can't just leave me... She sang as if sobbing in pain.

 

Inuyasha continued strumming on his guitar as he sung every other line. His eyes centered right on Kagome's back. He looked at her hips that swayed from side to side and the way her foot tapped to the beat of the music. She seemed lost in the music, her voice long and lingering over every note. He wondered if she was so enraptured that she wouldn't notice him if he was right behind her. He started to move towards her as she sang her next line.

 

Bring me to life. She murmured.
(I've been living a lie.
There's nothing inside) He almost hissed his lines as he sang sadly and harshly.
Bring me to life. She echoed again as her voice drew out the words softly like a butterfly dancing on the breeze.

 

Soon he was right behind her. The lights on the stage reflected red, blue and white on her undulating hips. He imagined holding them like a lover as he slammed his own hips against her. The round shiny leather moved as she danced and the reflected lights moved over her like a caress.

 

He continued to strum his guitar, though he wasn't playing as heavily as he had just been a few moments ago. For a few brief seconds he let go of his guitar and let it hang uselessly by his side. Kagome's body moved with the music, her fingers dancing on the keyboard and her eyes closed as if in deep meditation. If he did this right she would never notice. His hands moved of their own accord in an hourglass motion around her curves. The audience seemed to hoot louder at his actions. He smirked and then backed away from Kagome, wishing that he could have gotten closer.

 

(Without a thought He belted out his words in quick succession.
Without a voice
Without a soul
Don't let me die here.
There must be something more).
Bring me to life. Her voice drifted into the air.

 

The music pulled him as his fingers strummed against his guitar in an unrelenting pace. He felt an internal anger and he tried to focus enough while playing to realize what it was. He was angry that he couldn't touch her, he was upset that she didn't know who he really was, frustrated that his deception was keeping them apart, hurt that his love for her would remain unrequited unless he told her the whole story and as his fingers slammed against his guitar to play a harsh riff he realized a final truth. It was his own fault. There was no one to blame but himself. He was the one who had lied to her--he was the one who had pretended to be someone else. Sesshoumaru and Myoga had thrust him into his role. But he had played along willingly and now he was paying for it.

 

Bring me to life. She sang again softly.
(I've been living a lie. There's nothing inside) His words were shouted bitterly into the air.
Bring me to life. Her voice effortlessly drew out her words, echoing his.

 

The song finished with Kagome tinkling the synthesizer, the gentle rhythm of a piano falling over the speakers. The guitars had ceased their playing and only the gentle beat of the drums crested with the piano music.

 

As the music trailed off Inuyasha actually noticed the crowd in front of him for the first time. He had been staring at Kagome so intently that he had almost forgotten the crowd that surrounded the stage.

 

They were enthralled, they were screaming, they wanted an encore and this was only their first song of the evening! He smiled at the band and started to play their next song. They could always reprise this song again after they were done with their playlist.

 

The next few songs fell as easily from his lips as the previous ones. He lost himself in his music in order to forget why he had been upset.

 

He loved singing, he loved the feel of the guitar under his hands, he loved the way his voice blended with Kagome's, he loved seeing her hips move with the beat of the music and he loved the way it felt to live off the electricity of the crowd, the rhythms, the music. Music brought him to life. It had a life of its own. He never knew how much he missed playing until he was there on stage, feeling the music throbbing through him. It wasn't as good as sex, but just as necessary. In fact the only other thing that could come close to this feeling was playing sports in a crowded stadium and hearing the crowd screaming for his team.

 

By the time they were done he was sweating happily. Forty-five minutes had passed, though it felt like it was a little over five minutes. It always seemed that way when he was on stage. Inuyasha turned to look around at his band mates. Everyone was smiling. They were right on tonight. Everything had flowed perfectly and smoothly. They quickly packed their equipment so that the next band could take the stage.

 

He led Kagome away from the stage by pressing his hand into the small of her back when they almost ran into a middle-aged man. His black hair was medium length and was pulled back into a short pony-tail. He was wearing khaki pants and a pale blue dress shirt with its sleeves pulled back to his forearms. The man flashed a business card at Inuyasha and waved it in his face.

 

“Oi, can I help you?” asked Inuyasha in annoyance.

 

“Well, actually I hope that I can help you,” the man added. “Your band's, `Immortal Sin', isn't it? You play professionally, the crowd loves you and your on stage dynamics,” he added as he was sizing up Kagome. Inuyasha growled as the man swallowed and then continued. “As I was saying your on stage dynamics are electric. I would like to setup your band to play at my club, `the House of Blues' on the Sunset Strip.”

 

Inuyasha just gaped as he swiped the business card and read it intently. The fine print read:
House of Blues
8430 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood, CA 90069
Jim Johnson, Stage Manager

 

“Oi. Ginta!” he called out. “There's someone here who needs to talk to you.”

 

“Eh?” questioned the man from the House of Blues.

 

Inuyasha scratched his neck. “Oi. Ginta handles all of our bookings. He's been elected our manager. I've never been good with contracts and stuff. That's all his job.”

 

Ginta strolled over to Inuyasha and Kagome. His eyes showed how curious he was when Inuyasha waved a business card in front of him and told him that the `House of Blues' wanted them to play there.

 

Inuyasha led Kagome away from the negotiation, but her feet seemed locked in place. He needed to grab her arm and pull her away to get her away from the lecherous manager and business talk that simply gave him headaches.

 

“Don't you want to stay and find out what happens?” asked Kagome, her voice belying excitement.

 

“Ah, not really,” answered Inuyasha. “That's Ginta's job.”

 

“But, but…it's the House of Blues! That's the gig bands would pay to play at. Many famous rock bands get their start there.”

 

Inuyasha just shrugged. “It would be nice to get some notice for our music. But we're all busy with college. And you and me are in a very demanding college sport. I always planned on playing on a national demonic team after college. Maybe I'll still play in a band to keep up my skills. But I don't think that's where I'm heading.”

 

“Oh,” whispered Kagome with a note of disappointment in her voice. “I always wanted to make a living playing or singing after college.”

 

Inuyasha sniffed and then stiffened as the scent of plastic permeated the air. `Oh no, she's here,' he thought. It corrupted the beautiful scent of Kagome. He tried to breathe in deeply near Kagome's hair one last time to get that annoying scent away from his senses before red eyes glared at him.

 

“Is that your bitch!?” yelled Yura as her blood red eyes fumed in anger against the miko standing next to Inuyasha.

 

Kagome could only look at Yura in complete bewilderment. “Bitch? Inuyasha's? Inuyasha what is she talking about?” asked Kagome as she looked back at him.

 

“Oh, don't you lie to me you whore!” spat Yura. “I smell him all over you?”

 

A startled Kagome looked back at Yura. “Smell who on me?”

 

“Inuyasha!” Yura yelled as she lunged towards Kagome. “You slut!”

 

Inuyasha quickly intervened as he grabbed Yura's arms and held them in an unbreakable steel grip. “Don't you ever threaten her, Yura! You'll only regret it,” he promised in harsh tones. Inuyasha was not holding her gently and just as quickly as he had grabbed her--Yura was shoved away. “We're over Yura. Get out of here!”

 

Yura only cried as she gripped her wrists in pain. “You lousy prick!” she yelled. “I was just a fuck to you.” She turned to Kagome whose eyes were still wide with fear and surprise. “He's a player girl. Cut your losses while you still can.” Then with what little dignity Yura had left, she pulled herself up and walked out the door.

 

“What was that about Inuyasha? She said that she smelled you all over me?” asked Kagome in confusion.

 

“Huh?” Inuyasha ran his fingers through his bangs. “She could have only smelled trace amounts of me on you, right? I touched your shoulders and your back. I think she said it out of jealously.”

 

“Oh, well. Then that is that,” murmured Kagome as she shifted uncomfortably. “I need to go. Ash will be picking me up soon.”

 

“Uh, Kagome!” Inuyasha blurted out as he grabbed her shoulder again. “I called Ash and it will be another hour before he gets here. So I told him that I'd look after you. Can I buy you a drink while we wait?”

 

“Well, OK. As long as Ash doesn't mind,” added Kagome.

 

“He won't mind,” smiled Inuyasha as he led them to the bar. “What do you want to drink, Kagome?”

 

“Oh, I'm not yet 21, Inuyasha. So just get me a coke.”

 

“They know me here. I can get you whatever you want,” added Inuyasha.

 

Kagome quirked an eyebrow at him. “After what happened last time I think I'll just have a coke.”

 

Inuyasha winced and then tooled his features. “Hey, Mike. One Sapporo beer and one coke,” yelled Inuyasha over the crowd at the bar. Soon two drinks were placed in front of him and Inuyasha lead Kagome over to a quieter and more secluded area. The bar had a nice outdoor seating area where you could see the ocean and smell the sea breeze. It also had the added benefit of being quiet enough that you could actually hear what the person next to you was saying. Inuyasha placed the two drinks on a table on the veranda.

 

“Um, I wanted to explain Yura to you Kagome,” said Inuyasha in a voice that was almost pleading.

 

Kagome waved her hand in front of her in a dismissal fashion. “You don't have to explain anything to me Inuyasha. What you do with a woman or a demoness for that matter is your own business.”

 

“No, I,” Inuyasha paused and looked over at her with eyes that seemed to be begging her. “I need to tell you what's going on. Will you please listen?”

 

Kagome was only momentarily taken aback. “OK. Inuyasha. Tell me what's on your mind.”

 

Inuyasha ran his fingers through his bangs again in frustration as he took a sip of his beer and then peered over the rim of the glass bottle to look at Kagome.

 

“I…I…,” was all he could get out, his words tuck in his throat.

 

Kagome peered at him critically and then moved to her purse to get out a small brush. “I don't know what you are trying to tell me Inuyasha. But since the cat has your tongue, just sit in front of me and I'll brush your hair.”

 

“Brush my hair?” asked Inuyasha in some confusion.

 

“Yes. It's a mess. How often do you comb it? Don't you use detangler?”

 

“Detangler?” Inuyasha asked in utter confusion.

 

“Never mind,” said Kagome as she positioned a chair in front of her and motioned for him to sit down in front of her with his back to her.

 

Kagome started to gently brush his hair as Inuyasha sighed pleasantly. His ears would flick from side to side as she would hold a large lock of his hair and then started to brush out tangles. She laughed as she did it. “You know, I'm going to have to brush Ash's hair as well tonight. His hair is always such a mess,” said Kagome as Inuyasha momentarily stiffened under her brush. “Are you OK?” asked Kagome.

 

“Oh, fine. You just pulled at a tangle. That's all,” said Inuyasha to cover some of his nervousness. “Um, I wanted to tell you about me and the team.”

 

“Go on,” added Kagome as she took yet another lock of his hair and tried to brush out the tangles embedded within it.

 

“When I started my Freshman year at UCLA, I was a pariah,” started Inuyasha.

 

“Why's that?” asked Kagome as she continued to brush.

 

“Oi, I'm a half-breed, Kagome. I'm not the only half-demon at an all-demon University, but you can imagine how I was treated.”

 

“I never thought,” murmured Kagome as she continued trying to massage a mass of tangled hair into being straight. “Why would anyone treat you differently?”

 

Inuyasha smiled slowly at her words. “Not everyone's like you Kagome. Being a half-breed made me a lower class citizen on campus. The teacher's graded me harsher, the students would either ignore me or do everything in their power to let me know that I wasn't wanted.”

 

“That's horrible,” added Kagome with genuine disdain.

 

Inuyasha smiled silently to himself again. Just hearing Kagome's words seemed to make the past somewhat more bearable. “Feh. I was Inuyasha the half-breed. Something my brother was also quite fond of reminding everyone.”

 

“Even your brother?” asked Kagome in surprise.

 

“Oh he was the ring leader,” murmured Inuyasha as he closed his eyes and let the gentle tugging of his hair calm him. “Him and Jaken did everything they could to make my life a living hell. So I decided to get back at him.”

 

“How?” asked Kagome.

 

“Feh, I threatened to join the all-demonic UCLA team. My brother scoffed at the idea. No half-breed had ever made it to the team before. But I was determined. I gave it all I had and it certainly helped that I had been sparring with my brother since I was a child. I had ample practice on how to fight other demons.”

 

“So they let you on the team?” asked Kagome who certainly knew the outcome.

 

“Some of the board was against having me on the team. After all, I was a half-breed. But Coach Myoga was able to show them footage of how I fought and they relented. They want a winning team and that is more important than who is on it. So anyways,” Inuyasha continued. “I was now part of the team. Teachers began treating me better and so did the students. Then I became such a good player that I moved up and was placed on Sesshoumaru's team. You should have seen the look on his face when he found out that I was being placed on his team. His team was the Class `A' team. The team that was for the `best of the best'.”

 

“Yes, I know,” added Kagome as she continued to brush.

 

“Everyone started to treat me so differently then. I was no longer an outcast. Talent scouts for the national teams, you know, post-college—started to talk to me. Everyone wanted to be my friend and the girls…,” Inuyasha's voice started to trail off.

 

“Um, the girls?” asked Kagome somewhat shakily.

 

“Um, yeah, the girls. I had my own group of fangirls,” said Inuyasha sheepishly.

 

“Oh, I know what you mean,” added Kagome with a laugh. “I had the same problems you had.”

 

Inuyasha stiffened again. `She has a fanclub, too?' he thought. A quick pang of jealously racked through him. Inuyasha briefly remembered what Miroku had told him about guys that were after Kagome and his mouth seemed really dry.

 

“Um, Kagome,” asked Inuyasha.

 

“Yes, Inuyasha,” answered Kagome.

 

“These guys, did they?”

 

“Did they what?” asked Kagome.

 

“Did they try to hit on you?” asked Inuyasha as he tried to do his best to not sound jealous.

 

Kagome stopped brushing his hair for a moment and then started brushing again. “Yes, I mean. I was a nobody on campus at first. I think I enjoyed the anonymity. Then once I joined the team, everyone noticed me. The recruiters for the national teams kept on calling me and my fellow students wouldn't leave me alone. Thank the Kamis that I had Sango and Miroku there to help guide me. I think I would have made some serious mistakes if they had not been there for me.”

 

“You didn't answer my question, Kagome…”

 

“Oh, well I did in a round-about way. Yes, they hit on me--a lot.”

 

Inuyasha couldn't help but to growl this time.

 

“What are you growling about? You sound just like Ash, you know,” said Kagome and then she stopped brushing his hair for a moment. She then sighed. “You two cousins, you're so much alike that you could be twins, I swear.”

 

“We get that a lot,” answered Inuyasha as he took a deep breath of air to calm himself. `Did she think for a second that we could be the same person?' he thought, almost allowing panic to take over. “Um, so they were hitting on you…” Inuyasha added in an attempt to get her to talk about the one subject that both infuriated him and held his intense curiosity.

 

“Yeah, but I wasn't interested. I almost went out with Hojo, simply because he's so dense that he can't take `no' for an answer. But I was waiting for someone,” she answered.

 

“Waiting for who?” asked Inuyasha. He actually knew what the answer was, since Kagome had told Ash this same information when she had been in a drunken stupor. He just wanted her to admit it to him.

 

Kagome swallowed. “So you said that you had a fangirl club as well, what happened with them?”

 

“Oi, don't even try to change the subject, Kagome,” said Inuyasha as he turned in his chair to look at her. His golden eyes looked directly into her brown eyes and she suddenly found it difficult to breathe. “You were waiting…”

 

“I was waiting…I was waiting for you…Inuyasha,” Kagome confessed as she swallowed. “But it doesn't matter anymore. Really.” She tried to turn his head around as she tried to brush his hair again.

 

Inuyasha grabbed her hand that held the brush and then slowly leaned in toward her face as he twisted in his seat. “But it does matter. That's what I've been trying to tell you.” He pulled at her hand and then moved another of his arms around her back so that he was even closer. His breath misted over her lips. “Kagome,” he murmured. “I can't stop thinking about you. You're driving me crazy.” Soon his hungry lips crashed down on hers as he pulled her soft body next to his. The brush in her hand dropped to the floor as Inuyasha tugged her arm around his neck. His tongue sucked on her lower lip and her mouth quickly parted open in an `O'. Without a pause he moved his tongue within her mouth as her own gingerly responded. He had done this before, but he had been Ash and all of his senses had been deadened. This was so much sweeter. He could smell her wonderful cherry blossom scent wrapping around him and he could taste the jasmine sweetness of her mouth. Her scent was so addicting and alluring. She really had no idea what she was doing to him. The erotic dreams he repeatedly had of her entered his thoughts as he kissed her. `Kami,' was all he could think as he imagined doing much more than kissing her, though he knew that would be too much too soon. His arms tightened around her neck and back drawing her as close to him as he could.

 

Then as suddenly as the passionate kiss started, it stopped. “No,” cried out Kagome as she pushed back against his chest. She looked at him, her face flustered with red on her cheeks and her lovely lips were swollen. “No, this isn't right Inuyasha. I'm dating your cousin.” She drew away from him and tried to reach down and pick up her brush.

 

Inuyasha gently grabbed her hand again to pull her closer to him. “Kagome, he won't mind, he…”

 

Kagome's eyes stormed angrily. “What do you mean he won't mind? You just made a pass at his girlfriend!”

 

“He'll understand. I mean, we're practically twins,” Inuyasha added desperately.

 

Kagome only glared at him, grabbed her brush and purse to storm off.

 

Inuyasha could only slouch in his chair alone. Then he smiled wryly to stand up. `I guess it's time for Ash to show up,' he thought. He made his way quickly to the backstage dressing room and took his duffle bag out. He quickly put on a different T-shirt and blue jeans. He even ruffled up his hair to make it a little messy before he put it back into a ponytail. Then he tugged the silver ring off of his necklace and put it on his finger. Suddenly the pungent odors of club disappeared and the ringing sounds that assaulted his ears were deadened. He pulled at his ponytail to make sure that it was black. He even tugged briefly at his all too human ears to make sure that the transformation was complete. Inuyasha sighed as he slung his duffle bag over his shoulders and made his way to the back door of the club. He needed to tell Kagome the truth and he needed to tell her soon--he couldn't go on with her this way.

 

Soon he had made his way to his silver and red Kawasaki motorcycle that he had parked a few blocks away and then he made quite a show of revving his engine as he picked her up. He noticed her downcast face as he looked at her. So he stopped his motorcycle, kicked down the kickstand and walked on up to her.

 

“What's wrong, Kagome?” he asked as he tipped her chin up to look at him. He then noticed tears welling in the corner of her eyes.

 

“I don't know, Ash, I…,” murmured Kagome as her mouth quivered.

 

Inuyasha then couldn't help but to continue what he had started on the veranda of the club. His lips quickly found hers and pressed up against hers. His mouth opened wider and one of his fingers traced down her neck as she breathed in and opened her mouth at the same time. This time he found no resistance as he passionately probed and sucked at her mouth. It wasn't as sweet when he was Ash, but at least she wasn't stopping him like she had before. Some tears had fallen down her cheeks and he wiped them away with his thumbs before kissing the corners of her eyes. Her breathing slowed and she hiccupped.

 

He looked her directly in the eyes, his soft violet eyes boring into her brown pools. “It was Inuyasha wasn't it?” he asked softly.

 

Kagome looked up at him, both shocked and perplexed before she nodded.

 

Inuyasha, who was now in his `Ash' persona only smiled down at her lovingly. “Don't let him bother you. He's practically my twin. He couldn't help but to be attracted to you,” he murmured as he stroked her cheeks.

 

“But aren't you upset?” she asked without truly defining to Ash what he should be upset about.

 

Ash kissed her nose. “Never Kagome,” he added playfully. He handed her his spare helmet and he stepped back onto his bike. He kicked up his kickstand and steadied it with both feet before he motioned for her to sit behind him.

 

“Ash?” she asked meekly.

 

“What Kagome,” he answered in a sly smile.

 

“Please tell Inuyasha…?” she asked timidly.

 

“Tell him what?”

 

“Please, tell him to stay away from me,” Inuyasha's breath hitched in his throat and he felt a sinking sensation.

 

“What?” he murmured.

 

“Tell your cousin to stay away from me. It's not right, it's not...” Her eyes looked at him with a silent plea. “Please talk to him, will you?”

 

He could only swallow and nod. Her arms encircled his waist and her warm breath misted over his human ears causing his own body to react. A tingling sensation pooled in his abdomen as he sighed as if in defeat.

 

`She's going to be the death of me,' was all he could think as his motorcycle sped away into the harsh, cool night.

 

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Next Chapter: Things are starting to heat up and this story is moving towards its crescendo…something everyone has been anticipating is going to happen… See you in two weeks…

 

Please read and review. It inspires me to write more chapters!

 

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Author's Notes:

#1: I'm looking for a solo love song for Inuyasha to sing to Kagome. I need a simple love song, not an apologetic one. I've already rejected 'Faraway' from Nickelback (which I like, but it's too apologetic.) I need a pure love song that has no regrets in it. Any recommendations?

#2: And I bet you thought I had forgotten about Yura, didn't you?

#3: I've been asked how many chapters this story will be. Currently I have all of the chapters mapped out to Chapter 25 (which is an epilogue)--so 25 Chapters plus or minus a few.

#4: I recommend playing `Bring Me to Life by Evanescence while reading this chapter. You can download it on youtube or iTunes.

#5: My sister broke her rib during a gymnastics accident (and her experience is reflected in Kagome's injury in the last chapter). She was actually back in gym practice one week after breaking one rib, though she wasn't able to do cartwheels, etc. until about 4 weeks after the accident. I figured that with accelerated miko healing that she could be working out again in a week and actually fight in a game in two weeks.

#6: Yes, that's the real address of the `House of Blues' on the Sunset Strip and Jim Johnson is a name I made up. I have no idea if they even have a stage manager there. I have been to clubs on the Sunset Strip, but not the House of Blues. I was too broke in college to go to a place that had a cover of $30-50+! Gah!

 

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Reader Reviews:

TiffanyM: Ah well, the updating every week has been hard, so it will be bi-monthly from now on out. But neverfear—this story will get finished.

Hedanicree: I love reading your reviews. Thanks so much! Yes, you picked up on the foreshadowing and does Kaede know? You'll find out in the next chapter. Will Inuyasha's life be in the toilet by the end of the story? Well, the story is called `A Grudging Loss'. Both Inuyasha and Kagome will suffer a `grudging loss' by the time this story is done. But they will also have a gain—which I think will be a little surprising…

Blackdeathmessenger: Thanks for the wonderful edits for the last chapter. Sorry that the time schedule has been too quick. I hope that a bi-monthly posting will be more manageable.

Saikoubi-Megami: Thanks and you'll need to pack tissues in two chapters…sorry the angst increases in every chapter from now on…

Arishimo: I'm glad that you find my story original. It just grew out of my college experience and reading too much Inuyasha.

Sofiakalaughable: Again, the tissues will need to be broken out in 2 more chapters. Angst will only start increasing from here on out…

Midnightsilver: There should be lots of tears in 2-3 more chapters…Sorry…