InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Enlightenment ❯ Chapter 5 ( Chapter 5 )

[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]

Chapter Six

“What are you doing?” asked Inuyasha as he watched Tai from the corner of his eye.

It was a typical day at Kagome's house watching Tai. Tai had spent exactly a week with Kagome, and him as well. He'd come over every morning to watch Tai before Kagome left for work, then when Kagome came home she'd cook them dinner and he'd go back home. At least he didn't have to worry about what he'd have for dinner every night, because he was always invited to stay and eat. He and Kagome hadn't fought in a long time, which was a good thing. The tension was always present though it felt as if it was pushed back behind current issues or activities while they were with their son. Although there were minor arguments, but then again that was normal for them. Then he'd go home, or sometimes meet up with Miroku somewhere since Sango is still obviously disgusted by him. They'd go to bars, but for now, he'd sworn off women for a while. That is until he got his life back on track which involved getting his position back in his father's company.

“Trying to read Teddy's mind...” answered Tai in deep concentration.

Inuyasha rolled his eyes. Tai was a weird kid, amusingly- weird that is. Maybe he gets it from Kagome? He recalled the first day he had brought Tai to Kagome's house and they had fallen asleep on Tai's bed. Kagome had just come home and she had watched them cuddled together on the bed with this warm look in her eyes. He had his eyes half closed but enough to see her expression. Just that day Tai had been afraid that he wouldn't be able to see her because she had started working. He noticed that Tai would just stop talking at the mention of `work'. He knew just as well as Kagome, that the reason for that was him. His negligence caused Tai to think that his parents would undoubtedly leave him just to go to work. Tai had been slightly disappointed when he found out that it was him making breakfast and not Kagome. Not that he blamed the kid. He was lucky that Kagome never went to work so she could raise Tai.

“Daddy?”

“Hmm?”

“Mommy wanted me to ask you something...”

“What is it?” he asked facing Tai.

“I forgot...” he said still not breaking eye contact with his bear.

“Oh for the...” grumbled Inuyasha.

“Oh I remember now. Thanks Teddy,” he said before turning around to momentarily face Inuyasha. “Mommy wants to know if you can come over tomorrow night because she's going to this party.”

“Party?” this had Inuyasha quirking an eyebrow.

Damn. Kagome knew he hated parties. But she never missed an occasion where she can persuade him to go with her after the arguments. It surprised him that since they weren't married anymore she'd want him to go with her. But then again it's not like she was able to find a date since the only thing she did was go to work and come straight home everyday. He sighed. Maybe just this last time he'd go and it's not like he'd been able to go out all that much anyway. It would be nice to get out after a long time of spending his evenings doing absolutely nothing.

He also thought about the possible awkwardness of being alone with Kagome. She wouldn't have asked Tai to ask him to go if she hadn't considered their situation right? Kagome must've been desperate to ask him to go with her. He knew that most of the galas she often attended required her to bring a date. But he'd need to find a babysitter for Tai.

“I'm home!” yelled Kagome as she closed the front door.

“Mommy!” squealed Tai as he forgot about his mind- reading game with his bear and ran to greet Kagome.

After Tai's ranting, Inuyasha ended up helping Kagome in the kitchen while Tai had a rematch with his bear. Kagome was tossing a salad while he prepared the table. As usual, she was humming. She had taken her blazer off and now wore a white blouse with her hair pinned up. Weren't divorced men supposed to hate their ex-wives and not find them attractive? He shook his head and cleared his throat. She was acting more and more at ease while he was around. He figured that ignoring their past issues with each other was really working its magic on them. Though their `relationship' was strained, they were able to treat each other like an old acquaintance which really helped keep the civility at a comfortable level.

“Ugh...Tai told me about-”

“Oh that's right! So? Would you be able to? That is if you don't already have plans for tomorrow night. I know it's really short notice-”

“No it's fine. I have nothing to do anyway. And besides...who else would you ask anyway?” blushed Inuyasha as he finished laying out the plates.

“Thanks. I really appreciate it,” smiled Kagome.

~*~

The following evening . . .

Inuyasha was brushing his hair in the washroom with a few difficulties. Kagome always did the brushing for him but his hair was getting harder and harder to maintain these days. He growled at the knots in his hair and the numerous tangles. That was when he heard the phone. That was probably Kagome. He ran out of the washroom and into his bedroom to answer the phone.

“Hello?”

“Daddy, mommy says to come over right now because she's leaving soon,” said Tai.

“Keh! Like she'd leave without me. Tell her I'm on my way.”

Inuyasha hung up the phone and growled. Damn that woman was going to be the end of him. He had hired Kaede, Kagome's neighbor, to watch Tai for the evening. Why didn't Kagome just ask Kaede? Why did he have to? Her house smelled like herbs... Kagome wouldn't listen to him when he had told her that Kaede was a bit of an odd ball. Of course she simply ignored him. He decided to leave his tie and jacket off and put it on once he reached Kagome's house since she was in a hurry. She was always rushing him when he was trying to look good. He threw on his pants and his good white shirt on and quickly checked his reflection in the mirror one last time. With another growl, he grabbed his car keys and dashed downstairs, and out the door.

He tossed his jacket in the back seat as his tie was loosely wrapped around his neck. He pulled out of his driveway and headed to Kagome's house.

“Daddy!” cried Tai attaching himself on Inuyasha's legs shortly after he stepped into the house.

“I just saw you this afternoon,” snorted Inuyasha tossing him up in the air and catching him.

Tai laughed as Inuyasha continued to throw him up in the air. He stopped when he remembered that he might have already wrinkled his shirt.

“Inuyasha! Is that you!” cried Kagome from her bedroom.

“Yeah!” What the hell? Wasn't she ready yet? He thought that she would've been ready by the time he got here. “What's with making me hurry over here wench!”

No answer. Inuyasha growled and plopped down on the couch beside Tai. Tai crawled over on his lap and started chatting away about Teddy not having any brain activities as the reason why he couldn't read his mind.

“Mommy is really excited about this party. She bought a new dress and everything!”

Inuaysha quirked an eyebrow at his son. And Kagome tells HIM not to feed Tai too many sweets? He heard Kagome's foot steps down the stairs as he brushed Tai off his lap to stand up. “What took you so-”

He had to stop himself from continuing his sentence. Kagome was descending down the stairs with the most elegant but alluring black dress he had ever seen. Her hair was in an updo, something different since she always left her hair down. He had to hand it to her, Kagome always knew how to dress up especially for parties. She was always so breathtaking that he had to force himself to tear his eyes away from her and pretend it had no effect on him whatsoever.

“I thought you said you weren't doing anything tonight,” Kagome frowned as she noticed that he was wearing one of his best shirts and black slack pants. She also noticed the tie that was wrapped loosely around his neck. Maybe he came from a meeting? No that couldn't be it. As far as she knew he was still unemployed. Maybe he decided that he couldn't watch Tai tonight after all?

“Mommy can I come too?” squealed Tai.

“I told you Tai. You are going to stay here with-” Kagome was cut off by a sudden knock on the door.

“Oh that's probably Kaede. I'll get it,” said Inuyasha walking casually to the door.

“What would Kaede be doing here?” asked Kagome a bit puzzled. “Oh that's probably-!”

Inuyasha opened the door and was surprised to find a man standing outside. He was wearing a black suit and had his hair up on a ponytail. Inuyasha let the man's scent waft his sensitive nose as he identified him to be a wolf demon.

“Is Kagome ready?” he asked with a smirk.

He already didn't like this guy. His cocky smile and relaxed stance just screamed… well he didn't know what it screamed to him. But he was going to tell this guy to piss off because they were about to leave. “The hell -!”

“Kouga! I'm sorry! I was expecting you to be here so soon,” cried Kagome pushing Inuyasha behind her and inviting Kouga into the house by opening the door wider for him to step inside.

Tai ran up to Inuyasha and hid behind his legs shyly. Inuyasha looked down at his son who now looked like the shyest little boy in the world when he was far from it. He was also really confused. Who was this guy? Was he a limo driver? Did Kagome get a limo? Though he hadn't known Kagome to be such an extravagant person, ever.

“Oh Kouga, this is my son Tai,” said Kagome smiling down at Tai who was still hiding behind Inuyasha's legs.

“Hey kid,” smiled the man named Kouga whose arm was now around Kagome's waist.

Inuyasha growled. Damn limo driver. What the fuck did he think he was doing! Maybe he was one of Kagome's friends? She had always been too friendly for his liking when it came to other males. He didn't like those blue eyes... Limo drivers didn't usually get out of the limo and knock on the door do they? Inuyasha casually glanced out the window but noted that there wasn't a limo waiting outside. His frown deepened as an affect of his confusion.

“And this is my-” Kagome paused. “This is his father Inuyasha.”

Kouga nodded at him, which only made him think what a stuck up bastard this guy was for a limo driver. And where the fuck was Kaede anyway?

“Kouga is the chairman of the company that I was designing a room for. He was kind enough to invite me tonight as his date,” smiled Kagome.

Inuyasha stood frozen with shock while the other half of him was dying of embarassment. Why did he assume that Kagome had invited him tonight to be her date! Well mainly because they always went together whenever there were parties and who else would she ask? Was she already seeing him? Isn't it a little too soon to be already dating again?

“DATE?” he spat out.

“Yeah. Didn't Tai tell you that I needed you to babysit tonight?” asked Kagome.

“Kagome we better go. It's getting late,” Kouga cut in.

“Oh you go on ahead in the car and I'll be right out,” she promised.

Kouga took one last look at Tai and smiled and then at Inuyasha who just growled at him. He growled back showing off his fangs at the corner of his mouth. Good thing Kagome hadn't noticed.

“Keh” he spat out before he could think of a smart thing to say. He pretended not to care or else it'll be obvious that he got the wrong idea about tonight.

“I'm not seeing him! He just asked me to accompany him to a party and-” she had to stop before she exploded at him. “He just invited me to the party partly because his partners like my design okay?”

“What do I care?” Inuyasha shrugged his shoulders and casually plopped down on the couch. He didn't want Kagome to see how embarrassed he was for getting the wrong idea. He felt so foolish for even thinking that.

A knock brought Inuyasha out of his thoughts. Both he and Kagome turned their heads to the open door where Kaede stood.

“I'm sorry I'm late. I had something on the stove and-” she tried to explain.

Inuyasha noticed the confused look on Kagome's face and decided that he should put an end to it before he could be furthermore embarrassed. “Change of plans. Thanks for coming but we're fine.”

Inuyasha rushed up to Kaede and ushered her to the direction of her house before she could say anything more.

“What was that about? Were you planning on going out tonight as well? Look I'm sorry I didn't really make sure if you were okay about tonight-” asked Kagome who was still looked slightly confused.

“Look I said it was nothing alright so just go already.”

“ ...Okay...” Kagome heard Kouga honk his car horn from outside. “Thanks again for watching Tai tonight. Now remember not to let Tai stay up past his bedtime and make sure he turns off the faucet off before he goes to sleep! I'll see you two later,” she said bending down to kiss Tai on the cheek. “And thanks for coming on such short notice,” she said kissing him on the cheek as well before running out the door.

He watched as she opened the car door and got in the car with the wolf demon. He continued to watch until they had driven away before closing the door.

“Tai! Why didn't you tell me she wanted me to watch you?” he yelled.

“I forgot. Are you mad at me daddy?” Tai pouted.

Inuyasha sighed. It was always the pout. Damnit. This kid knew him too well. He just couldn't resist that face sometimes. “No I'm not mad.”

Tai smiled at him. “Come on daddy. I saw mommy put some ice cream in the fridge. I can't reach it but I know you can.”

Inuyasha rolled his eyes and carried Tai to the kitchen. At least there was some ice cream. Yeah he knew it might be a little too stereotypically feminine, but he sometimes ate ice cream when he was pissed or depressed. Okay, it was his comfort food. He pulled the freezer door open and took out the gallon of ice cream and set it on the counter and let Tai sit beside it with his feet dangling from the edge. He grabbed two spoons out of a drawer and handed one to Tai.

Geeez. Why was he so... so... Maybe the embarrassment hadn't gone away yet, but he just felt like ripping Kouga apart as his only comforting thought. Was he jealous? No. That couldn't be it. He didn't care that's he was going with another man whether she called it a date or not. He just felt entirely embarrassed about the whole situation what he almost said or did right before Kouga knocked. It was also partially because Kagome had managed to embarrass him without even knowing it. Yeah. That was it. He glanced at the clock. He forgot to ask her what time she'd be home. He frowned. If she didn't come home tonight he was going to give her a piece of his mind in the morning. He looked towards Tai to see that he was on the phone.

“Tai? Who are you talking to?” he asked.

“The phone was ringing so I answered it,” he said covering the speaker to reply. “Okay could you hold on? Here daddy. This man wants to talk to you,” he said handing Inuyasha the phone.

Inuyasha was puzzled as to whom it might be on the other end of the line. “Hello?” As the seconds ticked by, his facial impression had gone from annoyance to anger, to shock, and then back to anger. “It what?!”