InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Do I Know You From Somewhere? ❯ Not Possible...But Starting to Be. ( Chapter 2 )

(a/n: Thanks for pointing out the mistake about Kagome's last name. ^_^. And thanks to everyone who reviewed! I never expected so many people to be interested in this fic, since there are so many other good ones out there. I'm sorry about the long chapter wait, but I had an IB oral and a few exams, so I was pretty busy. But hey, this chapter is worth the wait!)

>^<

Chapter Two: Not Possible...But Starting to Be.

>^<

The Past

" He did what?!" Sango broke her cool exterior as she leapt up and slammed her hands on the table. Kagome jumped slightly, but then her heart resumed to its normal, slow pace. She sighed and nodded, moving her hands dismissively as she spoke.

" It really doesn't matter, Sango. I've made up my mind." But even as she said the words, they weren't true to her. The doubt and anxiety continued to scratch her, and she knew soon there would be nothing left.

" So...You're going to leave?"

"...Yes." Sango's eyes flickered doubtfully, and she leaned over the table, frowning.

" Kagome, you are younger than I am. I'm worried about you. Such a decision shouldn't be put--"

" I'm fine," Kagome said, cutting in. But it was more to reassure herself then her friend. " My life isn't here. It was never meant to be. And Inuyasha...he..."

Truth be told, he had never directly admitted to being in love with her. That haunting shadow of Kikyo was always with him. He had told her that she was not his former love, but sometimes when he looked at her, she couldn't help but to wonder who he was looking at. Yet yesterday...when he blurted out his supposed feelings (obviously under the influence of drugs), Kagome realized that Kikyo had left him...and she had taken her place.

She had been avoiding him since yesterday, feeling confused about her own feelings regarding him and a bit in shock. The answer to her problems had been so definite before. Inuyasha didn't really need her...or so she thought. There was always the possibility of putting her own feelings aside, but if what Inuyasha felt was true, how could she leave him?

" Kagome, Inuyasha is in love with you," Sango broke in as she got up from the floor. " You may leave him, but you both will be miserable."

" Whoever said that I'm in love with him?" Kagome cried out, but she supposed that she had always known she was in love with the hanyou.

" That sounds just like me, when I denied my feelings toward Miroku." Sango had been married to the priest for three months, not that it changed his lecherous ways. And Sango continued to beat him senselessly.

" A love-hate relationship," Kagome muttered, getting up as well. She stretched out her arms, remembering how Inuyasha had despised her when they first met. For her, the feeling was mutual. How had it turned to love? She had to break it, and fast. Whatever feelings Inuyasha felt had to be destroyed. " Sango, is Miroku around?"

" He should be exorcizing a demon nearby." Sango didn't even look up from the armor she was crafting. " But Kagome...please don't take our advice on this." Now she lifted her head to reveal worried dark eyes. " Listen to yourself, or you'll deeply regret it."

>^<

November 15, 2002

4:23 p.m.

Kagome's Apartment in Ropongi Hills

For the first time in weeks, Reika had managed to ensnare Kagome to listen to her news. But even as she began to speak, Kagome continued to type in her laptop and give a sad dramatization of listening. It was not until Reika said that she was leaving that Kagome stopped nodding.

"You can't be serious!"

Reika shrugged, but didn't seem nearly as distraught as Kagome was.

" I got the job overseas. But don't look so sad! I'm not leaving for a month!"

` " How am I supposed to find someone decent to room with me in that much time?" Kagome asked, slamming her laptop shut. She hoped she could convince Reika to stay, but soon the haunting of someone trying to do the same to her emerged. "Actually, never mind. There's a high demand for housing in Japan. I'll find someone, no problem!"

"Thanks Kagome!" Reika hugged her roommate, and it took everything Kagome had to hug her back. After, Reika sat back down on the couch next tp Kagome and grinned.

"What?" Kagome questioned, not liking the look she was receiving.

"Nakamura."

At the mentioning of that name, Kagome shuddered. Her boss of two weeks so far had been nothing but a pest, and that was putting the situation lightly. Everyday he pestered her on the stories she worked on, and the only articles he felt that she was fit to write were ads for Sunday Shrines. It was amazing how he could find over twenty flaws in a 200 word article. That man aggravated Kagome so much that she couldn't even look at him.

"What about him?"

Reika winked, and then began to fiddle with the wires on Kagome's laptop. "He's very good looking. I heard that he's one of Japan's wealthiest men."

"So?" To be honest, Kagome had never directly looked at Tsutomu. There was a vague image in her head of a man in his early twenties, messy hair that fell over his eyes...basically, a man like every other salary man. Or maybe she was making it all up. But there was something about him, when she had first met him in the elevator. That look he had given her almost caused her to cry out, but she didn't know why.

"Kagome, you look pale. Are you catching something?"

"I....I need to get some sleep." Hastily she got up, not caring that she tipped over Reika's tea sitting on the table. She needed to sleep. She needed to dream. She needed to see him again.

>^<

November 16, 2002

10:27 a.m.

Tokyo Press Building, Floor 19

"This is absolutely....Well, I don't understand why....alright, fine." Tsutomu slammed down the phone and hissed, " Bastard." He was seething worse than ever when a knock interrupted his hateful thoughts. Kagome didn't wait for him to let her in, and once inside, she threw a manila folder on his desk.

"It's done."

They stared at each other for a few moments before Tsutomu grabbed the folder and leafed through it. As he read, he muttered comments to himself, accompanied by the seldom swear.

"Is my work that bad?" Kagome asked sarcastically when Tsutomu flung her folder behind him. Papers scattered, some drifted down slowly in a lazy dance. Meanwhile, Tsutomu was clutching the sides of his desk and appearing slightly crazed. When Kagome put her hand on his shoulder, he seemed to snap to reality. Dusting off his suit, he acted as if nothing had happened.

Tsutomu sat in his desk and began to type on his computer , but stopped when he noticed Kagome still standing in his office.

"You may leave now," he said coldly before continuing to type. Kagome made an irritated sound.

"What just happened here?" she asked, pointing to the mayhem of papers around them. Tsutomu paused and gave Kagome a cold glare that she failed to acknowledge.

"Nothing."

"Liar."

Deciding to ignore her, Tsutomu resumed working but couldn't help being bothered by her standing near him with that look on her face. He had managed to type out a sentence before having to shout at Kagome to leave. But she didn't move.

"The company is broke, alright?"

Victory was not the correct word for Kagome to grasp. Instead, she felt like an idiot having pried into such a tremendous cause. It was a fact that the company was under Tsutomu entirely, which was strange considering that he was only a few years older than she was. If the company was sunk, than so was he.

"Tokyo Press is the bestselling paper in Japan!" Kagome protested, feeling sorry for Tsutomu, and not believing the news herself. "Maybe you're .... exaggerating?"

Tsutomu gave a look that could have hardened mercury. Silent, he pointed to the door. Kagome, though, was not going to give up that easily.

"I can help you!" she offered. "You just need a story that would grab readers attention."

"I hardly think I should be taking advice from someone who has been working in this business for less than a month."

Repressing the urge to throw a paperweight at him, Kagome gave a tense smile and continued.

"Why don't you let me do a story on the new exhibit at the museum?"

Tsutomu made an odd face, and then seemed to have yet another internal struggle with himself. Kagome never thought that she was entirely on the side of sanity, but Tsutomu was starting to seem far off the edge. She decided to wait patiently, but when ten minutes passed without him saying anything, she slammed her hands on his desk. Tsutomu jumped and then growled.

"What the hell do you think you're doing?!" he demanded, trying to push Kagome's hands off of his desk.

"Just give me an answer, that's all I want!"

"...Fine. But on one exception."

"Alright..."

"I'm coming with you."

Kagome smiled and stood up straight. "Great." Yet inside, she was screaming and planning to burn her boss in effigy. Obviously, he never trusted her with this assignment but she would manage with him following her around constantly. Over the years, she had learned to work with people she didn't particularly like. A pang suddenly hit her as the remembrance of her first love emerged.

"Inuyasha..." she whispered, clutching the front of her blouse.

"What was that?"

Kagome stiffened and turned around slowly to see Tsutomu giving her another one of his demeaning looks.

"N-nothing! Ha ha ha!"

His look never faltered. Leaning back in his chair, he gave orders to Kagome to meet him the next morning at the National Museum and from there, they would discuss which exhibit would be the focus of the paper.

" I have a feeling that we'll find something important there..." Tsutomu muttered, running his hands through his hair. " And I think it'll either ruin me, or put Tokyo Press back at the tops."

>^<

The Past

"Miroku?"

It was dark out, and although Kagome tried to be brave, she couldn't help but to wonder what sort of demon may be lurking nearby. Usually if she was out, she had a companion with her, but today she had been foolish enough to pretend that she had no need for anyone. Sango had offered to accompany her, yet Kagome decided to take everyone's advice to heart and think, for once.

Nearby, a creature howled. Kagome failed to tell whether it was demon or animal, but either way, she had no desire to run into it. Inside, she cursed Inuyasha. If he hadn't blocked the well, then she would have no need to find Miroku and ask for his help to remove everything that was piled up.

And it didn't help that she couldn't see a single thing.

Fumbling through the blackness, Kagome decided to concentrate on her plan once she had gotten home. The well would have to be boarded up, with something that would prevent Inuyasha from coming through. But what? The man was persistent, and his strength had increased over the years. There was most likely nothing which would prevent his claws from tearing open the gateway to time, and once more into her life. Kagome wondered about titanium metal, but doubted she could afford it.

Stopping, Kagome tried not to acknowledge the plan which had been slithering through her mind like a wraith. Yet now, it seemed the only choice. The emotions that Inuyasha had not felt in five hundred years would -no, must- be destroyed. Fingers grasping a chain around her neck, she attempted to prevent tears from overcoming her destination. But the darkness and now a blurred vision left her venerable, and weak. The thought of him coming to protect her suddenly emerged, and she shook her head free of all negative thoughts. He had done enough for her; it was time for the both of them to forget and move on.

Now continuing at her vivid pace, Kagome found herself in the heart of the woods. Unable to discern how she had arrived there, Kagome turned to go back, but was surprised when a figure blocked her path. In the dim moonlight, the only thing she could distinguish was snowy hair.

" Inuyasha....is that you?" Kagome asked, taking a nervous step backward. Something told her to run, but she couldn't. She was immobilized. The darkness remained silent and as if consuming her. Then, a soft voice. She knew this voice. In a moment, it could become malevolent and make one feel as if blood was trickling down their back.

"...No."

And from the black, he stepped out.

Sesshoumaru.

>^<

November 17

8:30 a.m.

National Museum of Japan, Tokyo

"Late."

Tsutomu tapped his watch impatiently and glared at Kagome. She glared at him with equal viciousness and they remained like that for a few minutes before the museum coordinator cleared his throat.

"Mr. Nakamura and Ms..."

"Higurashi."

"Yes, the museum will be closed today so you will be able to work in peace. I must say that it's an honor to work for you, Mr. Nakamura," stuttered the man before giving a deep bow. Kagome thought that if he bowed any lower, his back would break. Tsutomu, though, barely acknowledged this respect and waved his hand dismissively.

"Thank you, you may leave now."

Once the man was out of site, Kagome, acting entirely on reflex, kicked Tsutomu in the leg. When he shouted out, she nearly shouted herself, now coming to the realization that she had kicked her boss.

"What the hell is wrong with you?!" Tsutomu shouted before letting out a series of swears. Kagome could feel her anger begin to rise and she started to shout at him herself.

"How could you be so inconsiderate to that man? If he had bowed any lower, he could have been hurt!"

Ignoring her complaints, Tsutomu rubbed his leg one last time and began to walk into the museum. Kagome's eyes burned holes into his back, but he failed to notice.

"Of all the stupid..." she muttered before following him.

The museum truly was isolated; the only two souls wandering through the vacant halls were them. Tsutomu paused at some artifacts, but shook his head almost mournfully. Kagome offered some fabrics from India, or statues from Thailand, but Tsutomu dismissed them. After five fruitless hours, Kagome was fed up.

"What are you looking for?" she demanded, taking a break near some dinosaur skeletons. "We've circled this place countless times!"

Tsutomu, tired himself, leaned against a model triceratops and sighed deeply.

"I don't know...I act purely on instinct. When I see it, I'll know."

As he remained brooding against the prehistoric animal, Kagome wondered whether Reika was right about him being handsome. His face seemed to have a permanent scowl, and his hair was messy, as she had remembered. Tilting over, Kagome tried to see his eyes, but failed. Instead, Tsutomu looked up and frowned.

"What are you doing?"

"Stretching?"

He shook his head in pity, and began to walk out of the dinosaur exhibit. Kagome sighed before following, all the while wondering how she always managed to make a fool out of herself when she was with him. Maybe because he was her boss. Or maybe because he could never learn to lighten up. If he wasn't so uptight, arrogant, and mean then she would have no reason to...

Kagome suddenly stopped, her heart beating too rapidly for her to take another step. It couldn't be...could it? The way he acted, the way he spoke...exactly like him. But souls...they were the same, but the person was completely different. It wasn't possible. Kagome was nothing like Kikyo. So Tsutomu couldn't be...

"Hurry up, will you? I think I found something!"

Forcing herself to move out of curiosity, Kagome made her way toward Tsutomu. His appearance as well was akin to him. How could she have not noticed it before? He was a splitting duplicate of Inuyasha when he was human during the full moon. That messy hair, scowling lips...and eyes...That was one thing she was unsure of. Now running, Kagome directly smashed against Tsutomu.

"What is with you?" he asked. Not waiting for an answer, he pointed to a painting of a priestess holding a crystal. "That is the Shikon Shard. It's exactly what I've been looking for!"

In watching his excited state, Kagome could feel her head spinning. This was becoming too strange, too coincidental. Everything was happening too fast, adding up at an incredible pace. First his attitude, then his appearance, now this bizarre infatuation with the Shikon Shard? There was only one last thing that could confirm her suspicions.

"Tsutomu."

When he looked at her, she suddenly felt her legs grow weak. Those eyes. Sharp, defiant...violet. No one she knew in Japan had violet eyes. Not like this. Overwhelmed, Kagome tried to prevent herself from falling but did anyway.

>^<

(a/n: Reviews? If you would like me to email you an update for every chapter, just put *yes* in your review. Thanks!)