InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Before The Fall: A Prologue of Sorts ❯ Scene Six, Part Two (or Resolutions and Realizations) ( Chapter 12 )

Disclaimer: I do not, have not, nor will I ever own Inuyasha & Co. (sad as that may be), that honor belongs to Rumiko Takahashi. Furthermore, I do profess that I am making no money from this, only getting hours of enjoyment.

They walked to her dorm in near silence.

Kagome focused on the walk, determined not to urge him to talk about it. Although the wait for the rain had been comfortable, she knew it wouldn't last. Inuyasha was sneaking looks at her, confused by her calm demeanor.

Once there, she climbed a few stairs before turning to look at him. Hair made soft and wavy from the rain and haloed by the light behind her, he was entranced. It was also confusing.

“We need to talk.”

“Seems like all we do...” He scowled turning away.

“Still.” Her voice was resolute. “This isn't working…”

“What is `this'?”

“I thought you might know.” She teased lightly before sighing. “Inuyasha…”

“Kagome?” a male voice called out. Two heads swiveled to discover the identity of the intruder.

“Hojo?” she frowned, perplexed. He jogged up to her, smiling widely. “What are you doing here?”

“Came to visit my cousin. I went to some party tonight hoping I'd see you there but the rain seems to have driven everyone off…” his eyes flicked to Inuyasha but his smile never faltered.

“Sorry! Hojo this is Inuyasha, Inuyasha this is Hojo…”

“Her boyfriend.” Hojo finished holding out his hand. Inuyasha stared at it - and him- like it was diseased before turning his eyes to Kagome who was blushing.

“Ex-boyfriend.” She corrected, giving said ex an irritated look. Hojo scratched the back of his head, still smiling.

“Semantics. That was actually part of why I wanted to see you…” he took her hand in his, brown eyes gazing up at her. Limpid brown and fierce gold: both were asking different questions, wanting different answers. Kagome was at a loss for words.

“Hojo…” she started, extracting her hand from his. “I'm kind of busy right now, Inuyasha and I were in the middle of something.”

“I'm sure he won't mind. You two are just friends, right?” he smiled assuredly.

“Yeah but…”

“No.” Inuyasha replied, folding his arms over his chest. Kagome arched a brow at him, annoyed. He gave her an obstinate glare.

“I don't know what's going on here, but I came all this way to let you know how I feel…” Hojo frowned, eyes darting between them again. Inuyasha growled lowly and Kagome looked daggers at him before turning back to Hojo.

“I don't know if that's such a good idea…”

“Please, Kagome. For old times' sake?”

“…okay.” she agreed reluctantly after a few moments.

“What!” Inuyasha yelled causing her to jump. Sighing, she handed him her key.

“Please, just wait for me in my room, I'll be up soon.” He didn't move. “Please.”

Inuyasha was torn. On one hand he wanted to demand that ignore this idiot and finish what they had started, dragging her forcibly if need be. Pretty sure that wouldn't go over well, he wanted to storm off to prove a point. But then she'd be alone with Hobo and might invite him up to her room. No.

“Fine. But if you're not up there in 10 minutes, I'm coming to get you.” Her muttered looking pointedly at Hojo. Biting her tongue, Kagome motioned for him to follow her.

“So, that guy is your boyfriend?” Hojo asked as they walked along the damp grass.

“It's complicated.” She dodged before deflecting his attention. “So what was it you wanted to talk to me about?”

“About us.” He stopped and gathered her hands in his. “I never stopped loving you Kagome.”

“Hojo…”

“Let me finish. I know you said before that you didn't want to marry me and that you wanted to go to college. I let you go knowing that you'd see what I already knew - that this is no place for a sweet girl like you.” He smiled understandingly. “Your place is back home, with me and your family and all of your friends…”

Kagome was sure her face was a picture of repulsion. The idea of going back there to live was making her stomach roll violently. Realizing he was still talking, she turned her attention back to him.

“…I mean you've gotten yourself mixed up with a hanyou. Really Kagome. I'm willing to forgive you and overlook this. It's not too late.”

Why does everyone think they know what I need? And furthermore, why is everyone letting me do things? The feeling of anger boiling up inside her was becoming all too familiar. “Inuyasha is a great friend and I'm lucky to have him in my life.” she corrected. As he opened his mouth she shook her head. She'd heard enough. “While I appreciate you coming all the way up here to let me know that you would still consider me, I decline. I left home - and you- for a reason. I came here three years ago and I've met people I couldn't have dreamt of meeting, done things I could dream of doing. I'm not the same person I was in high school…and you still are.”

“But Kagome…” he lowered his voice, moving closer. “I was your first. That means something…”

“Yes Hojo, that I was young and foolish.” she snapped before regaining her composure. “You don't love me, you don't even know me. You never did.”

“I knew you.” he replied dropping her hands, anger creeping into his tone. “I  knew you when you were a sweet, caring girl. Not some demon loving whore…” No sooner was the word out of his mouth than she had smacked him in it.

“Go home. And never come here again.” she said evenly before walking away. Hojo, who was holding his cheek in surprise, took a step to follow her and then thought better of it. His cell phone rang and Ayami's number flashed across the display. The image of her adoration filled eyes acted as a buoy to his wounded pride and he managed to answer with a smile.

Seething, Kagome made her way to her room. She'd spent her entire teen years with Hojo; everyone thought they'd get married someday. She was supposedly lucky, he was considered quite a catch. For someone who had spent most of their formative years being the subject of such scandal, it was a big deal. Thinking back to the summer that she'd morphed from her gawky youth to someone quite decent looking, she smirked at the suddenly positive reaction of the same kids she'd gone to school with all her life. Was it so surprising that after years of being ridiculed and outcast that she had tried so hard to keep up the appearance that she fit in? Yet she'd always known that there was more to life than the shallow things that interested her friends and she wanted to know what it was. So she left. 

Inuyasha stood as she entered.

She was glad she had.

 “Don't say anything.” she commanded. “I'm so tired of being angry. So tired of everyone treating me like a child`s toy.” Her eyes focused on him. “You want to run from what Kikyo did to you straight into the arms of other women. And that's your right. I know I told you I'd wait and some part of me will always be…because I believe what I said over a month ago, we belong together. But I can't play the fool. I'm going to live and I'm going to date…I need affection too Inuyasha, even if it can`t be from you.” She didn't break eye contact as she approached him. “So I'm asking - no, telling you the same thing you told me… I need my friend. I need you to understand.”

Inuyasha wanted to argue with her, to demand that she see no one else…but he couldn't. He knew logically that it was unreasonable to ask her to wait and looking into her sad gray eyes he knew that he couldn't. So he nodded and gathered her into a hug.

“I'm sorry…” he whispered into her hair. “I'm sorry…” I'm not ready…

“I know.” she replied deciding to give in and enjoy the feel of his arms around her, even if it wasn't real.

Walking home with his hands deep in his pockets, Inuyasha tried to catch up to the events of the tumultuous day. Why did I kiss her? he contemplated, confused. Cause you wanted to, idiot…he growled at the mocking voice in his head. But it was right. The idea of her on a date with anyone else was crazy making, let alone one of the school's biggest playboys. Then she'd yelled at him and looked so…beautiful. So for once, he'd just acted. And it was incredible…unlike anything else he`d experienced. Kikyo…the one kiss they'd shared had been reverent and reserved; at the feel of his fang she'd recoiled as if he'd bitten her. Bringing to mind Kagome's whimper at the same feel, he decided to admit to himself that he was more attracted to Kagome than Kikyo.

But I love Kikyo…I think. He'd give anything to help her, to save her, but she didn't want his assistance. Seeing her with Suikotsu tonight had just confirmed it. A fifth year medical student from a wealthy family, he was also a grade A asshole. Why didn't seeing them together affect him as much as Bankotsu or Koga touching Kagome? Shouldn't it have? The more he realized how badly she treated others, the more he wondered if the gentle wounded girl he'd fallen in love with was still there, under all the armor she encased herself in. He stopped walking as his brain clarified what had been rattling around for weeks: You don't want to be with Kikyo, you want to be with Kagome…

Well, shit.

A/N: Thank you guys for all your reviews, they make me do a happy dance (which looks remarkably like the Snoopy dance).

ThisIsMeSmiling: Sesshomaru will possibly pop up in a short chapter but no Naraku. Though he would shake things up a bit…