InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Demon Sense ❯ A Man Between Them ( Chapter 4 )

Disclaimer: I do not own any characters in this story. These characters are from InuYasha, created and owned by Rumiko Takahashi.

 

 

 

Demon Sense

By Ender_kb

 

Chapter 4: A Man Between Them

 

Kagome kept trying to undo everything InuYasha was doing. He was trying to leave and she didn't want him to. They had been through so much together in such a small amount of time, how was she just supposed to just forget about it? How was she supposed to know that he was going to be fine when she didn't?

 

“InuYasha,” she said forcefully as she pulled out another pair of his jeans from his bag, “you can't leave. You're safer here. How many times do I need to tell you? I can protect you.”

 

That didn't seem like the best thing to say once she saw his reaction.

 

“Protect me?” he said after he paused stuffing his back with the few clothes he had, “Kagome, I don't need protection. I've learned to avoid these things when I was little. My bro- There were always people that knew of my existence and have always tried to end it. It was rare, but it happened. I always had to be cautious. Nothing's changed, Kagome.”

 

“InuYasha, I'm sorry,” she said softly, “I just want to help. I want to know that I can get ahold of you somehow to at least find out that you're still…still.”

 

Something in InuYasha's demeanor changed right then. He went to Kagome and placed his hands on her shoulders while she hid her eyes from him.

 

“Kagome, I'll be okay. I'll make sure I find a way to contact you. Okay?” he said reassuringly.

 

“InuYasha?”

 

“Ya?” he said, hunching to try and see her face. She was quiet for a moment.

 

“Why were you sorry you kissed me?” she whispered.

 

“Uh…I…” InuYasha stammered.

 

There was a long pause, then Kagome lifted her head to reveal the tiny pools at the bottom of her eyes.

 

“I didn't think you wanted me to. I didn't get permission. I thought you'd be mad at me for it, so I apologized.” He finally answered, looking into the pleading eyes of the young woman in front of him.

 

“So, you wanted to, then?”

 

“…” InuYasha sighed as his cheeks became pink and looked at the floor. That was the answer she had been waiting for. She got onto her tippy toes and placed a short chaste kiss on InuYasha's lips. His eyes were wide and face flushed when she looked at him afterwards. He cleared his throat.

 

“I should be going.” He finally said nervously. He grabbed his bag finally packed after hours when it should have only taken minutes.

 

“InuYasha, I want you to contact me as soon as you find a place.” She said with that tone he knew he couldn't mess with.

 

“I will.” He flashed his sweetest, yet arrogant smile and disappeared from the shed.

 

Kagome looked at the open trap door hoping that maybe he'd come back to say he'd changed his mind. After a minute had passed she knew it would not happen. She straightened up the cot and decided that if anyone asked she would say it had been for her quiet naps, away from the busy house. She thought of InuYasha and couldn't keep back the few tears that had escaped from fear that she would never hear from him again.

 

~

 

“Kagome! You're going to be late!” Sota yelled up the stairs at his sister.

 

“I know! When did you turn into mom?” She said as she flew down the stairs.

 

“When mom started doing on-call duties at the nursing home.” He replied.

 

“That was rhetorical, dummy.” Kagome grabbed a quick breakfast, “What about you?”

 

“Grandpa's taking me to school.”

 

“Sometimes I wish our schools were on the same side of town.” She cried as she ran out the door.

 

Kagome had missed her bus to the campus and ended up having to walk. She was alone with her thoughts, which she was hoping wouldn't happen. It had been days since InuYasha had left and still nothing. Not a word, a phone call, a letter, nothing. She was worried, but the D.A. hadn't contacted her about finally capturing their demon so she knew that hadn't been the case.

 

A car horn awoke her from her thoughts. She stopped and looked to her left.

 

`Oh No! Not him again.' She thought as she waved.

 

Koutatsu pulled his car over and rolled the window down.

 

“Hey Kagome! You wanna ride? You might be late for art class.” Kagome didn't want to get into the car with this man, but she also didn't want her art teacher looking down on her for being late. She reluctantly got into the vehicle.

 

“Thanks, Koutatsu.” She said.

 

“It's no problem. So what have you been up to lately? I don't see ya around campus too much, just in class.”

 

“Well, my mom's been put on-call so I've had to watch my little brother lately.”

 

“Oh, I see.”

 

There was silence for a bit and Kagome could see from the corner of her eye that Koutatsu kept glancing at her. This was making her completely uncomfortable. He finally spoke up after awhile.

 

“So there's a party over at Hiten's house. I thought maybe you'd like to go.” He asked, a little shifty eyed.

 

`Hiten? I haven't thought of him in a long time. He's a cool guy. I wouldn't mind going to a party there. Wait. Koutatsu asked if I wanted to go. Does that mean he wants me to go with him?' Kagome looked at Koutatsu fully for the first time since she got into the car. His knuckles were white from the tightening grip upon the steering wheel.

 

“Uh…I'll have to…let my boyfriend know. He might want to go too.” She said frightened at what she had just said. `Boyfriend? I don't even have a boyfriend.'

 

“Oh…” Koutatsu replied. Kagome didn't think he meant to sound so disappointed. “You have a boyfriend?”

 

“Yeah, just.” She said quickly and firmly, “Oh, here we are. We better hurry.”

 

As soon as Koutatsu had stopped the car she got out and jogged to the classroom. Hopefully he wouldn't catch up to her until she was already in the room. She didn't make eye contact with him throughout the entire class and dodged him as much as she could after class was over without making it look obvious.

 

She ran into her friends at the food court by pure luck.

 

“Our class was cancelled. Can you believe that?” Ayumi exclaimed, “We were supposed to have a quiz today.”

 

“Don't sound so disappointed. You act like you wanted to take it. I just can't believe that we're already taking quizzes in the first week of school. I heard that some classes are already giving exams. Can you believe that?!” Yuka said in disbelief.

 

“I'm just glad we get a break. This is the busiest week I've had in my whole life. I might have time to go home and take a nap.” Eri said with a yawn.

 

“I heard that Hiten's having a party. Are you guys gonna go?” Kagome asked.

 

“Oh, yeah. I'd go anywhere Hiten is.” Yaka said with closed eyes.

 

“Ya, he is so dreamy.” Eri said afterward.

 

“I might go as long as my homework is finished.” Ayumi said with her nose stuck in a book.

 

“Ayumi, this isn't high school.” Yuka said pushing the book onto the table so she could see her face.

 

“All the more reason to make sure that it's done. As you said, `This isn't high school.' It's college.” She defended. Eri just rolled her eyes.

 

“I need to be headed off to my class. I doubt that I'll be as lucky as you guys. I'll call you later about the party okay? See ya!” Kagome waved as she walked off to her class.

 

~

 

When Kagome got home after all her classes that day she heard the phone ring.

 

“Hello?” she answered.

 

“Kagome? It's Ayumi.”

 

“Hey Ayumi. What's up?”

 

“We ran into Koutatsu after you left in the food court. He looked really upset and distraught. He said something about you having a boyfriend?” Ayumi asked concerned.

 

“Well, about that-“

 

“Kagome, I don't want to butt into your business. I'm just worried. Koutatsu's unstable. Just be careful.”

 

“What do you mean?”

 

Kagome could hear Ayumi sigh through the telephone, “I've been hearing things about him from other people in my classes. I know he's got a thing for you so just stay alert when you're around him, okay?”

 

“Okay, Ayumi.”

 

“I gotta go though; lots of work to do. Yuka's gonna call you later about party info, okay? Bye!”

 

“Ya, bye.” Kagome said confused. `That was weird.'

 

Yuka did call Kagome later and found out that the party was going to be this Saturday night at nine o'clock. Kagome thought that there was probably going to be alcohol there because Hiten had always been into the stuff, even in high school. There was no way she was going to have any of it. What was she going to tell Koutatsu when she showed up with no one? She concluded that she would figure that out when the time came.

 

Kagome dropped her book bag off in her bedroom, said hello to her family and went straight to the art studio. She had started this routine ever since InuYasha had left. She had hoped that he would have stopped by and given her a clue that he was still around. She went into the shed, then into the art room and, just like every other day this week since he had left, she found no sign of him.

 

She sat on the cot and rested her head upon her hand thinking of what he could be doing. Where he could be. Who he may be with.

 

She decided to rearrange her art studio and pulled a few easels around. She grabbed one that was in the corner and turned it around to come face to face with the one person she longed for. Only, he was on canvas. She had almost forgotten about this painting. It felt like so long ago.

 

`InuYasha's place.' She thought, `Always.'

 

~

 

Saturday had come slowly. Kagome constantly thought of InuYasha. This caused all time to slow down and her heart ached more and more each day that passed. It was time for her to get ready for the party and the only thought that she really had was that she wished InuYasha were here. Maybe he could have gone with her. No, that would've been an insane suggestion if she would have said it to him. It would have been too dangerous for him.

 

“Alright mom, I'm going.” She said after she had gotten ready.

 

“What dear?”

 

“I said I'm going,” Kagome repeated while poking here head into the kitchen where her mother sat.

 

“Oh, where are you going?” she asked confused.

 

“Mom, I told you twice already. I'm going to a party at Hiten's place.”

 

“Oh. I forgot. So who's all going to be there? Will there be alcohol at this party? What time will you be back?”

 

“Whoa mom, calm down. I'm going with Eri, Yuka, and Ayumi. I don't know if there's going to be alcohol, but I promise I won't have any of it and I should be back at midnight. Okay?” she said in a breathless voice.

 

“Alright, I trust you dear. Have fun.” Kagome's mom replied, looking back down at the newspaper she was reading.

 

Kagome waited outside of the temple gates for her friends to show. While she was waiting she kept thinking of what she would say if she ran into Koutatsu. A few minutes passed when she finally heard the chattering of her three friends.

 

“Hey Kagome!” they yelled.

 

They walked to the bus stop, then arrived at Hiten's house. There were more people there than Kagome had expected. She didn't think that Hiten had gotten popular so quickly. Loud music was banging throughout the house. Kagome and her friends were squeezing through crowds of people; some drinking, some dancing, some just acting plain weird. They were trying to find Hiten so they could say hi to be polite.

 

Kagome finally saw him so they chatted with him a bit. An hour had passed by and the group of girls were dancing and having a blast. Many guys came up to them to dance with them. They didn't brush them off, but didn't encourage them either.

 

Eventually, Eri and Yuka were off with two guys dancing by themselves. Ayumi had decided to take a break and sat down somewhere out of sight. Kagome decided to look through the crowd of people to see if she could find anyone else she knew.

 

She almost gave up looking when someone caught her eye that she almost forgot she was trying to avoid. It was too late; he had seen her and knew that she saw him.

 

“Hi Koutatsu.” She said trying not to sound disappointed.

 

“Hey, I'm glad you made it. So, uh…where's your boyfriend?”

 

`Eep! I almost forgot.' Kagome was freaking out, but hid it well, “He couldn't make it; business stuff.”

 

“Oh really? Where's he work?”

 

`Oh God, when will it end?' She smacked her forehead in her mind, “Out of town.”

 

“I see. You want something to drink?”

 

“Uh, sure.” Kagome said hesitantly. `Whew, please no more questions.'

 

Koutatsu had not gotten a foot away from here when she lost him in the crowd. She stayed put, but pondered if she should just ditch him. She decided against it. That just wasn't her at all, no matter how much she disliked someone. He returned with some drinks and went into a less crowded room so they could chat without yelling.

 

Kagome checked that her drink was non-alcoholic before she drank it. As she took her first drink she prayed that someone would come to her rescue.

 

`I sure hope I won't be stuck with him all night.' She thought while looking through the crowd. They talked mostly of art since that was what they both had in common. Kagome went through three drinks before she started getting lightheaded and thought it was from lack of fresh air and quietness.

 

She leaned back on the couch she was sitting on to try and clear her head. This was a big mistake. As soon as she had done this Koutatsu made his move. He leaned in and tried to kiss her.

 

“What are you doing?” she exclaimed as she turned her head away.

 

“I just wanted to kiss you. I thought it might help you to relax. You're starting to look a little tense.” He defended.

 

“I'm sorry Koutatsu, but I don't like you like that. I think I should go find my friends.” Kagome moved here hand from her aching head to the arm of the couch to help her stand. Koutatsu's hand impeded her from doing so.

 

“Don't go. We were having so much fun.”

 

“No. I'm not feeling too well. I think I'm going to go home.” Koutatsu's grip on her wrist tightened as she said this.

 

“I'm not done with you yet.” He said quietly and darkly, but Kagome caught it even through the loud noise.

 

“Oh I think you are!” a voice called from across the room. He stood at the edge of the crowd, but was clearly visible. He had spoken so loudly that he had caught the attention of quite a bit of people in the room. Kagome's eyes enlarged quickly.

 

“InuYasha?” she couldn't believe her eyes, especially since it looked like there were two of him. He had distracted Koutatsu long enough for her to get up and clumsily walk over to InuYasha.

 

“What are you doing here?” Kagome asked him quietly, rubbing her throbbing head.

 

“Apparently to save you from this creep.” He stated, not taking his eyes off of the young man still sitting on the couch. InuYasha was about to walk over to the man and show him some manners, but was stopped when Kagome started falling before him. He caught her swiftly.

 

“Kagome!? What's wrong?” he asked.

 

“I…feel dizzy. I…” Kagome tried to speak more, but all the lights went out.

 

~

 

Kagome awoke groggy and found herself lying in her art studio. Her head was still aching, but on the whole she felt better. She sat up slowly from the cot afraid that she may get dizzy. She sat still for a moment.

 

“InuYasha?” Kagome heard no movement.

 

She stood up steadily and placed a hand on the wall. She walked slowly toward the hanging drop cloth and pushed it aside so she could see the rest of the studio. She saw InuYasha standing in front of an easel.

 

“This is good.” He spoke softly.

 

“Thank you.” Kagome replied, not knowing exactly what he was looking at. Her eyes fell upon his silver hair and felt an urge to run her hands through it. InuYasha stepped aside and looked toward Kagome. Their eyes met and then Kagome's gaze slid to the painting. It was the painting she had done of him. Her cheeks grew warm, but tried her best not to look embarrassed.

 

“What happened?” she finally asked.

 

“Well, I have reason to believe that you had a little too much to drink tonight.” He said with his head turned away, clearly in disappointment.

 

Kagome could not smile, although she wanted to, but the situation that had just occurred was too serious. She chose to set InuYasha straight so he would not think badly of her.

 

“InuYasha, I didn't have any alcohol. I was drinking soda all night.” Kagome shut her eyes and leaned her head against the wall.

 

InuYasha's eyebrows furrowed with thought. She had no reason to lie to him and she was sure that he knew that and trusted her. She hoped.

 

“Someone must have…put something in your drink then. That guy you were talking to?” he looked at her in question and had a spark of jealousy in his eye.

 

“I would never expect anyone to do anything so horrible, but I have been hearing things about him.”

 

“So why were you talking to him then?”

 

“He was talking to me, I was just being polite. He's never stopped bugging me since high school. I don't really like him, InuYasha.” She looked into his eyes once he met hers and made sure her look was of determination and reassurance.

 

“Well, I think it's about time to not talk to him; whether or not it's polite.”

 

“I think so too.” She finally thought it was appropriate to allow a small smile. InuYasha smirked in return.

 

“How did you find me anyway?” she asked as she slid down the wall to sit upon the floor. InuYasha walked over to her and did the same.

 

“I came back to let you know I was okay and you weren't in your room when I looked in the window. I checked the studio and you weren't there either. I decided that maybe your mom would recognize me so I knocked on the front door. She said that you were at a party so I said that I was supposed to go too, but I forgot how to get there. She told me so I went.”

 

“InuYasha, what if someone had recognized you?”

 

“I would have dealt with it.”

 

“You are so wreckless sometimes.” Kagome commented shaking her head.

 

“Hey, you should be glad that I came when I did, otherwise that guy would have had his way with you!” he exclaimed.

 

“Yeah, you're right. I should be grateful.” Kagome spoke softly then placed her hand around his. He looked at her then looked away quickly then she leaned her head upon his shoulder. They sat in comfortable silence while they basked in each other's company. InuYasha had found his way back home, but for how long?

 

 

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~

 

 

There ya have it. The House of Inu will make an appearance in the next chapter. Why is this significant? I'm sure some of you already have your own ideas and I think you may be right. You will only find out by reading the next chapter.

 

Please review; it makes me a better writer.

 

Ender