InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Cheating Fate ❯ A Friendly Face ( Chapter 4 )

[ T - Teen: Not suitable for readers under 13 ]

As InuYasha drove home, it was clear to him that this wasn’t going to be an ordinary internship. The person responsible for this thought was the woman from his past. Kagome Higurashi. She puzzled him. She had changed so much since the last time he had seen her. She seemed to have matured faster than any of the other college girls he knew and she didn’t even go to college. Yet that was the same reason he couldn’t seem to get her off his mind know.

She also seemed a little apprehensive too. Something that didn’t seem to fit the Kagome he once knew. She couldn’t possibly still be livid about what happen their senior year, could she? It had been over three years. Had it wounded her pride so much as for her to still be holding a grudge against him? He had been stupid back then. Not caring who it hurt as long as he had been free to do as he pleased.

However, he had changed or so he would like to believe. He no longer chased after every beautiful girl he saw. He no longer had the desire to hookup every Friday and Saturday night. His only concern anymore was on becoming a doctor. She of all people should be able to see that he no longer wanted to be the player that he had been. She who had been able to see the good in everyone. Why hadn’t she been able to see the good intention that he was striving for now?

She had changed too, he supposed. Not just because she had given up her dream of becoming a doctor as she had once told him. He could tell by the way she walked. She held her head high around the other nurses and doctors. As if she had something to prove to them. The Kagome he once knew would have never have given up on a dream. Especially the one that had her up all night studying for exams. Hoping to maintain her straight A average to be awarded a full scholarship.

Why had she deprived herself of what she worked so hard for? Why had she given it all up? To become a --a janitor? This wasn’t the Kagome he knew. The one who he had befriended, dated, and at one point even loved. This was someone walking around in Kagome’s form. Someone who hadn’t cared how her life turned out. This someone was not Kagome Higurashi.

He didn’t know what had happened to her to make her this way, but he knew that it would be him that would bring her back to her former self. He didn’t care if it took all summer. He would bring the innocence back to Kagome’s eyes.

InuYasha cut off the engine as he steeped out of his car. He sighed as he walked up the stairs of the apartment building, then started searching his pockets for his key. He shared his apartment with one of his college buddies. Miroku Houshi.

Miroku was a ladies man and he liked to party. That was mainly why he had originally hung out with him, but over time he began to grow on him. However, unlike InuYasha, who had outgrown partying and hookups, Miroku always seemed to be having some girl over or was either at a party or having one himself.

“HeyInoYesha! Ye’rebak.” Miroku incoherently greeted him as he walked in, closing the door behind him. The place was a wreck. Trash was littering the floors and the dirty dishes were sky high.

“Damn it, Miroku! Don’t tell me you had another party!” InuYasha shouted. He had told Miroku that since it was his first day at the new internship that didn’t want the apartment to look like hell when he got back. And that meant no parties. He hadn’t felt like cleaning when he got home that night.

Miroku laughed drunkenly. “Luk InoYesha. It wasssn’tno beegdeal.” Miroku slurred. InuYasha rolled his eyes. Miroku was wasted. Again. Which meant InuYasha would have to stay up into the night cleaning.

“Get out of here you stinking drunk.” InuYasha said as he pushed him toward his room. “You’re going to have one major hangover in the morning. So you might as well sleep it off now.” As Miroku gladly went into his bedroom, InuYasha looked around the room and sighed. This would take up his whole evening. Miroku had probably tried to have the party early so that by the time InuYasha got back, he’d have everyone gone. However, the pervert didn’t consider the fact that he might be too drunk to clean up.

InuYasha sighed again as he grabbed a trash bag out of the pantry and started picking up empty beer cans. He guessed he should be grateful that all the partiers had left. As he picked up a another empty beet can, he stumbled upon a lone earring. It must have belong to one of the girls who had attended the party, but to InuYasha, it just made him remember another night. A night that he hadn’t thought about in years. The night he met Kagome Higurashi.

InuYasha took another swig of his beer as he glanced around the crowed room. He was at another party. The first, but certainly not the last one, of the year. It was to start off his senior year of high school and it was the best way InuYasha knew how. When the word spread around earlier that week about starting off the school year in style, InuYasha was the first one to say he’d be there. Therefore, once everyone knew he was going everyone else was sure to follow suit.

It was a becoming party. That was for sure, but it wasn’t considered one until everyone was good and wasted. InuYasha had had his experience with parties and he knew that when you were drunk enough you were free of self-consciousness, which meant that you were ready to try anything. And InuYasha loved that feeling.

However, in addition to being drunk, a good party had to have hot girls. No party was complete without them. How much fun would a party be if there weren’t any?

None. That’s what.

InuYasha swallowed and felt the bitter taste run down his throat, and then scooped out the horde of people. Almost all the girls there were dancing the music, that was so loud that it had the room vibrating, but there was one girl that caught InuYasha’s eye instantly.

She looked a little awkward out there, as if she barely ever came to parties, but InuYasha thought it suited her. How her long raven hair fell down her back and the way she moved her hips shyly to the upbeat music. InuYasha couldn’t help but stare at her for a moment before making his way toward her.

On his way to her, he was stopped by his friend Bankotsu, the host of the party. “Hey InuYasha! Just the man I wanted to see!” he greeted and InuYasha could smell the alcohol on his breath. Bankotsu put his arm around InuYasha shoulders and leaned against him. “Tell me what you think of the party man?”

It was a good thing InuYasha had abnormally good hearing, otherwise he wouldn’t have heard what Bankotsu had said over the music. He smirked over at his friend. “This parties not half bad, Bankotsu. You certainly invited enough people.” he remarked loudly as people weaved around them.

Bankotsu laughed. “I didn’t invite all these people. They just heard the news and showed up. Plus they knew it was going to be a party because you said you’d be here.” he replied losing his footing for a moment against InuYasha, but quickly regaining it back. “So you drunk enough to do something drastic yet?”

InuYasha took one last drink of his beer before tossing the empty can on the floor. “I’ve only had two beers so far. Give me another half hour and I’ll be ready to party.” InuYasha replied. There was no way InuYasha wasn’t drunk enough to do something yet. He didn’t even have a girl for after the party yet.

“Alright man.” Bankotsu said as he removed his arm around InuYasha. “I’ll see you later then.” Then he disappeared into the mass of people. InuYasha’s attention went back to the girl he had been watching, but she wasn’t there anymore. InuYasha cursed to himself as he walked into the dancing crowd, where he had last seen the girl.

He looked around to see if he could find her, but she was nowhere in sight. Of course it would have helped if everyone would stop moving around. He sighed in defeat and then happened to glance at the floor, where he found a lone loop earring. “Hold on Koga! I have to find it first!” InuYasha heard someone yell before he was bumped into. He lurched forward and almost fell on his face, but at the last second caught himself.

“Would you mind watching where you’re goin--” he stared to shout when he came face to face with the girl he had been looking for.

He must have an awed expression on his face because the girl blushed and hastily said, “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to just run into you.” InuYasha could tell she was embarrassed as she tried to explain. “You see I lost one of my earrings and I was coming back to the spot where I think I might have lost it. I guess I was in such a rush that I didn’t see you there.”

InuYasha couldn’t help the smirk that came to his face. This girl was cute when she was flustered.

He turned around and bent down to pick up the earring. Then faced her once more. “This the earring you’re looking for?” he asked and her face lit up. InuYasha didn’t know why but her smile was contagious.

“Oh my gosh, yes!” she exclaimed as she took it from his out stretched hand. “Thank you so much! I thought I’d surely lost it for good.” She smiled at him again and InuYasha suddenly felt unsure of himself. Which unnerved him considerably.

He scratched the back of his head as he replied, “I-it was nothing.”

She looked as if she were about to say something more, but some else called for her. “Kagome! Let’s get a move on!” She looked over her shoulder, “I’m coming, Koga!” she yelled and then looked back at him. “Well, thank you again for finding this.” Then she turned around and walked to toward the exit.

InuYasha watched her leave before saying to himself, “So her name’s Kagome, huh?” The name suited her. “It’s just a shame that she was with the wimp of a wolf Koga. We could have had a good time.” He then shrugged the girl out of his mind. It was a party. There was no time to ponder of one girl when there were a lot more to go around. He went over and grabbed another beer off the table, when a girl, dressed in barely anything at all, came up to him and started kissing his neck. ‘See,’ he told himself, ‘plenty of girls to go around.’ But, as the night went on, no matter how drunk he made himself. He couldn’t seem to get the girl named Kagome out of his mind.

Kagome slipped on the yellow dress she had promised her mother that she’d wear. Her mother had bought it for her when they were shopping one day. Her mother spotted it and thought Kagome would look gorgeous in it. Besides, even if her mother thought her hunch had been correct, Kagome still didn’t feel like herself. She never wore dresses. She normally wore sweats or her work scrubs. There was no need to dress up when you had a toddler running around.

Kagome sighed as she walked over the her vanity. Not only did she have to wear a dress, she had to put on makeup. Something else she didn’t do regularly. She grabbed the eye shadow container and was about to apply it when Ami ran into the room with a big smile on her face. “Wow! Mommy looks pretty!” she exclaimed as she gave her mother’s leg a hug.

Kagome smiled down at her daughter, and then patted her on the head. “Are you excited about Grandma coming over to watch you?” she asked. Trying to make her daughter excited about spending the evening with her grandmother instead of her. It would be the first time in over six months since she left her daughter’s side and Kagome couldn’t say she was looking forward to it.

Ami looked up at her mother with a confused and hurt expression on her face. “Why aren’t you staying too, Mommy?” she asked and Kagome felt like calling the whole date off just so her daughter could be her happy self again. Nevertheless, her mother would never go for it. She’d say something along the lines of “She’ll have me with her.” and “Don’t you think she’s needs a father? How can she get one if you never go on a date?”

She didn’t see what the big deal was. Ami was doing fine without a father figure in he life. Why did her mother seem to think that it was so important for her to have one? She herself had grown up without hers for most of her childhood years, she didn’t see why Ami needed one so badly either.

Then again, maybe she was just be selfish. Maybe the thought of sharing her daughter’s love with anyone else after having Ami’s full attention since the day she was born, terrified her.

“Well, honey, Mommy’s going to be out on a date tonight and Grandma’s babysitting you.” she said as she picked Ami up and sat down on the end of her bed with her. “You’ll be having so much fun you won’t even know I’m gone.”

“I will to know you’re gone, Mommy.” Ami said. She didn’t say anything for a moment , but then she must have thought of something she wanted to ask. “What’s a date?”

Kagome suppressed a giggle at how innocent her daughter was. “A date, sweetie, is when two people who like each other go out and do something together. Such as dinner or go and watch a movie.” Kagome explained as best she could. “Something both of them would enjoy.”

Ami seemed to smile at her explanation. “Who are you going on a date with Mommy?” she asked bounced up and down excitedly in her mother’s lap.

A smile spread across Kagome’s face at her daughter’s giddiness. ‘At least one of us is.’ “Well, Grandma said his name is Hojo Pancho. Grandma said he’s a very charming young man.” she said as she rubbed her nose against Ami’s in an Eskimo kiss.

Ami giggled loudly and Kagome filled her cheeks with air, then let Ami pop them with her hands. She let the air escape overly dramatically. Which caused Ami to laugh even more. She leaned over and kissed her mother on the cheek. “I love you Mommy.”

Kagome kissed her on the forehead. “I love you too, sweetie.” she replied. “What is it sweetie?” she asked when Ami stared at her.

“Is your date going to be my daddy?” she asked harmlessly. Kagome blinked at her, and then sighed. She didn’t know what to tell her daughter. She guessed that he could one day be her step-father. If they really hit it off, but Kagome doubted it. The odds of going out on one date for the first time in the six months and coming out with a potential father for her baby girl was unlikely. She looked into her daughter’s eyes and knew she neither wanted to get her hopes up nor slash them to bits.

Kagome lifted Ami off her lap and placed her on the ground. “I guess we’ll have to wait and see, now won’t we?” she said as she offered Ami a smile. Ami happily offered one back. “Now why don’t you go play while Mommy gets pretty for her date?”

“Can I help Mommy get ready?” Ami asked as she started climbing onto the vanity. “I want to put on the stuff that makes mouths red Mommy!” Kagome laughed again at her daughter as she helped her up on to the vanity. Ami sat down and grabbed one of Kagome’s reddest shades of lipstick. “Can I put it on you Mommy?”

“Of course you can honey.” Kagome said as she leaned forward so Ami could draw on her face. Sure to leave red stains. Even after she’d wash it off, but if it made her daughter happy then she gladly go on her date with red stains on her face.

She felt Ami started on her lips then move upwards to her cheek. When she finished coloring it in, she moved to the over side. She was about to move up to her forward when the doorbell rang. Ami instantly dropped the lipstick and jumped off the vanity. “I’ll get it Mommy!” she exclaimed and took off toward the living room.

“Ami wait a minute! You don’t know who it is!” she called as she jogged behind her. Ami reached out and grabbed the doorknob and then swung the door open. Kagome grabbed the door before it slammed into the wall. “Oh hi Mom. “ Kagome greeted, but her mother stared at her with wide eyes.

“Oh my. What happened to you, dear?” Kagome’s mother asked as she walked into the house. Kagome shut the door behind her with a sigh.

“Doesn’t Mommy look beautiful Grandma?” Ami said as she tugged on her grandmother’s knee length skirt. Mrs. Higurashi looked down at her granddaughter then back up her daughter and smiled.

“Did you help Mommy put on her makeup?” she asked as she picked up Ami, who nodded vigorously. “Well, I think as beautiful as Mommy looks, she needs to go and finish getting ready because her dates going to be hear any minute now.”

Kagome’s eyes widen with realization. She placed both hands on her cheeks and flushed. “Oh my gosh, you’re right!” she exclaimed and dashed back to her bedroom, leaving a laughed mother behind her.

Kagome hurriedly scrubbed off all the red lipstick that did stain her cheeks a little, but not where it would be embarrassing. She swiped the mascara wand over her eyelashes, and then applied brown eyeliner, to bring out her eyes. Finally she applied clear lip-gloss onto her pink-stained lips. It’d been awhile she last put makeup on and she had to admit, it made her feel like a teenager again.

The doorbell rang once again and a moment later her mother appeared in her doorway. “Hojo’s arrived dear.” she said with a smile. “You look gorgeous.” Kagome blushed at the compliment, but thanked her mother nonetheless. “Look, I know you’re nervous and you‘d rather stay home tonight, but just relax and have a good time. You deserve it, sweetheart.”

Kagome relaxed and embraced her mother. “Thanks Mom. You’re the best.” she said as she walked into the living room where Hojo was playing with Ami and her toys on the floor. When he saw Kagome enter the room, he immediately jumped off the ground.

“Kagome it’s a pleasure to meet you. I’m Hojo Pancho.” he said as held out his hand. Kagome complied by taking it. “The pleasure’s all mine, Mr. Pancho.” she said and nearly went red in the face when he brought her hand to his lips and kissed the back of it.

“Please, call me Hojo.” he told her as he let go of the hand. “You have a lovely home, Kagome.” Kagome blushed some more, though some of it was from embarrassment, as she looked around the room that was scatter with toddler toys. Her house was a wreck . How could anyone consider her house a lovely home? Clearly this guy was trying to win brownie points with her mother. Kagome sighed to herself. ’Well, you knew this wasn’t going to be unadulterated night.’

“Are you ready Kagome?” Hojo asked and Kagome couldn’t do anything but nod. “Alright then, we’ll see you guys later on tonight.” he said to her mother and daughter before offering Kagome his arm. Which, not wanting to be rude, she took. As they approached his car, Kagome felt as if she had left apart of her inside. Apart of her that she loved dearly. Kagome sighed and shrugged it off. Might as well get this over with.

The restaurant they dined at was cozy, which Kagome was grateful for. She knew she wouldn’t have felt comfortable in an expensive five star restaurant. This place seemed like a very common diner. Not too inexpensive but also not too overly priced. It was moderate.

When they were seated, Hojo leaned forward and said, “I hope you’ll like the food here. I’ve only ate here once before, but I must say the foods delicious.”

Kagome smiled politely. “Well, seeing as I don’t go out much I’ll have to take your word for it.” she replied, then opened up her menu. Glazing over all the choices she had. It’d been awhile since she’d had a hamburger and fries. Of course, it seemed appropriate for her to get an original dish on such an original date. “I guess I’ll get the classic hamburger and fries.”

“It does sound good,” Hojo agreed and took a look at the menu himself. “but I think I’ll get the grilled chicken sandwich.” When he was sure that both he and Kagome were throw deciding what they wanted, he signaled for the waitress’s attention.

The waitress, who was wearing a red and black checkered apron and had frizzy graying hair, walked over to them as she pulled out her pad of paper. “What can I do you? Would you like to start out with drinks or do you think we’re ready to order?” she asked as she chewed on the gum in her mouth.

“Um, I think we’re ready to order.” Hojo answered. “I’ll have the grilled chicken sandwich with a side of fries. A coke to drink and she’ll have the classic hamburger and fires with . . . Uh--”

“Water would be fine.” Kagome told the waitress. She nodded as she hurriedly wrote down the orders. Kagome sighed as the waitress walked away. She hated it when she couldn’t speak for herself. It made her feel as though she couldn’t do anything. It was a silly thing to think, but ever since she had Ami she’s always felt as if she had to strong and independent for her daughter.

“So, Kagome,” Hojo started. “you’re daughter’s a very cute little girl. She takes after you.” Kagome smiled uneasily at the compliment. She didn’t know what to say to it.

“Um, thank you, but she takes after her father more than me.” Kagome said sadly as the thought of InuYasha came to her mind. There was so many ways Ami took after her father. Little things that made Kagome’s heart wrench. Like how she loved Ramen more than any other food and how when she got her way she’d have his same smirk. A smirk she hadn’t known resembles his so well until she’d saw it earlier that day.

Hojo seemed very nervous all of a sudden. “Kagome, if you don’t mind me asking, how did you meet Ami’s father?” he asked and Kagome looked at him curiously. Why did he want to know? Was it just so they’d have something to talk about? Or was it because he just wanted to know how close they had been?

“We went to high school together.” Kagome smiled at the fond memories. “I was a straight A student and he was partying jock. The kind of person that you can’t help but find yourself falling for and I guess once he was interested in me I couldn’t help but give in.”

Hojo stared at her intently. “Did you love him?” he asked and Kagome blushed. Why was this so important? It’d been ages since she’d talked about her long, dead relationship with InuYasha. Why was he so interested?

“. . . At one point I did.” she answered softly. Personally, she didn’t know when she stopped. If she ever had, . . . But that didn’t meant that she willingly take him back. He’d hurt her deeply when he left her. Something that she feared would never completely heal. “Although, it could have just been puppy love.” she added with a laugh.

Somewhere between her thoughts, the waitress had brought out their drinks. Hojo took a drink of his, and then said, “Well, I think you’re a very brave woman for raising your daughter alone. This guy probably dumped you when he found out. He sounds like the type.”

Kagome didn’t know why, but she felt as though she had to defend InuYasha since he wasn’t there to defend himself. “Actually I never told him.” she testily. Hojo seemed to sift nervously in his seat. He looked as though he were going to ask why, but Kagome cut him off by excusing herself to the lady’s room.

On her way to the restroom, Kagome accidentally bumped into someone who had tried to get around her. “Oh, I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to run you over.” she said to the guy she stumbled in to.

“Think nothing of it.” he said and Kagome was certain his voice was familiar. She peered closer had his tan face and then realization hit her.

“Koga? Is that you?” she asked with excitement in her voice. Koga had been one of her best friends in high school. It’d been years since the last time she had seen him.

He seemed to recognize her as well and smiled eagerly at her. “Kagome Higurashi!” he exclaimed as he brought her into a quick embrace. “How’ve been? I see you’re not pregnant anymore. Everything went well I hope?”

She nodded enthusiastically. “Yes. I had a healthy baby girl. Her name’s Ami.” Kagome told him proudly. “Wow. It’s been what . . . Almost three years since I last saw you! You should have kept in to touch with me.”

“Sorry, but school’s been difficult. I have one more semester left and then I’ll be a qualified technician.” Koga replied. “Anyway, are you here with someone?”

Kagome suddenly remembered she had come there with Hojo. “Oh um, yeah. Out on a blind date.” she said doubtful smile. “You here alone?”

“Yeah, I just came in to get an order to go.” Koga answered. “Didn’t want the sit in here alone. Thought I’d take it home. Save some of my dignity.” Kagome smiled. At this rate everyone from her past was sure to come back. First InuYasha and now Koga. Though she had to admit running into Koga had been much better than InuYasha. “Well, I guess I’ll let you get back to your date. Wouldn’t want to keep the lucky guy waiting.”

Kagome’s smiled grew wider. “Alright. I was nice seeing you again, Koga.” she said as she hugged him on last time. When she withdrew Koga grabbed a napkin and pen, then started writing down something.

“Here.” he said as he tore a part of the napkin off. “It’s my number. If you ever need to talk or if things don’t work out with this guy . . . Give me a call.” Kagome took the napkin and stared at it. Maybe calling Koga sometime soon wouldn’t be a bad thing.

“Of course I’ll call you!” Kagome exclaimed. “Three years is way too long a time to be away from a close friend.” Koga grasped Kagome’s hand and Kagome felt her face flush.

“I mean it, Kagome.” Koga said gently. “I didn’t have the guts to ask you out in high school, but I’ll be damned if I let you get away again. So if things don’t work out between you and you’re date tonight, then give me a cal.” Kagome nodded slowly not talking her eyes away from Koga’s. He let go of her hand and smiled. “Hope to talk to you later Kagome.”

Kagome watched him leave and her heart pounding. Koga just asked her out. Should she give Koga a chance? He’s certainly been there for her during high school. She looked down at the napkin in her hand before tucking it into her shoe. ‘Maybe I will give Koga a call.’ she thought as she made her way back to Hojo.