InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Fruit of the Forbidden ❯ Chapter Six ( Chapter 6 )

Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha or any other characters associated with it. This story is a work of fiction and is rated for language, scenes of sexual acts including an incest theme and violence. This chapter also has underage drinking. Please do not read if you are underage or offended by the above contents.

 

 

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Terrance tapped impatiently on his desk as he waited for the phone to connect. Four rings… five rings… six rings… God damn it… why isn't he answering? There was a click as the line connected.

 

“Yes?” the familiar, cold voice asked.

 

“I was supposed to get the test results back yesterday. Why have I still not received an answer?” Terrance demanded angrily, stilling up in his chair.

 

“Ah, if it isn't Mr. Oliver, what can I do for you?”

 

That son-of-a-bitch… “I want to know the test results. I've been doing this long enough to know you don't need more than a day to go over it.”

 

“What was the applicants' name again?”

 

Bastard is just trying to piss me off. “You know who I'm talking about, Inuyasha Higurashi.”

 

“Ah yes… of course. Hold on a moment.” Chewing on his lip, Terrance tapped his fingers against his desk, shaking his leg restlessly. After nearly a minute of silence, the man continued. “Okay, I have his file here…”

 

“And?” Terrance asked when it became apparent the other wasn't going to continue.

 

“Well, he certainly is an interesting one. His scores are high enough.”

 

“Then he is accepted?” He couldn't hide the excitement in his voice. Silence answered him.

 

“It did receive a seal of approval from my superiors.” Terrance smiled, leaning back in his chair.

 

“Then my payment?”

 

“The usual amount will be deposited to your account after a recruiter has spoken to him.”

 

“When can I expect that?”

 

“Soon,” the man answered. Before Terrance could say anything else, the line went dead. Placing the phone back on its base, Terrance took a deep breath. I'll pay off any debts here and go on vacation… I haven't been to Germany or Italy…

 

********************************************

 

Kouga looked over as the classroom door opened. Standing from his seated position on a desk, he faced the newcomer. “I was wondering if you would come.” Kikyo didn't say anything as she moved inside the room, closing the door behind her. She folded her hands in front of her as she waited for him to continue.

 

“I've been thinking lately about this little thing we have going on and I really think it's about time to end it.” Her eyes widened as look of shock appeared on her face.

 

“What, why?” she asked, worry in her voice. “Did I do something wrong? I promise I won't do it again if you give me another chance!”

 

“No, it's nothing like that,” he said waving his hands in front of him. You never had a chance to begin with.

 

“Then what is it?”

 

“Kagome is the one I'm dating. What we are doing is wrong.” Besides, come tomorrow, Kagome will finally start doing the things I've been using you for.

 

“But… I don't understand… Weren't you the one who suggested we do this?!”

 

“Yes, and I'm sorry but I can't do this anymore.” He started walking to the door.

 

“Please don't… I love you!” she cried taking a step towards him. He sidestepped her.

 

“I don't love you. I'm sorry. It was fun while it lasted though, right?” he asked as he passed her, smiling. Opening the door, he glanced over his shoulder. “See you around.”

 

Closing the door, he took a deep breath, feeling refreshed. With that out of the way, he could focus solely on the party tomorrow. Even though Kikyo was supposed to be there too, he didn't think she would cause any trouble. After all, she was a passive person. Minus in bed of course, it's like she's a completely different person. I'm sure she'll make a nice wife for someone… or toy… whichever.

 

With a cheerful spring in his step, he headed down the hall.

 

********************************************

 

“Okay, I'll see you tomorrow then,” Kagome said, waving to Sango as she headed towards the entrance of the school. It felt weird going home alone. Usually she had Sango or Inuyasha when he wasn't at his club meeting with Miroku. It can't be helped since Sango wants to go to Miroku's. Sango had filled her in last night over the phone about her agreement with Miroku. Sango was the last person she expected to do that. Then again, I said I would do the same thing with Kouga…

 

Thinking about the party tomorrow, she was still worried about the tensions at home. Inuyasha wasn't talking to their parents and other than a few attempts by their mother; they weren't doing much to relieve anything. Even though she had tried to pry information out of Inuyasha, he simply shook his head and said it was just a minor argument. Minor my ass; they haven't talked for two days now. It was depressing to think the awkward cloud that would hover over their birthday tomorrow.

 

Still thinking things over, she almost missed Kikyo by the gate. It wasn't until she almost passed her that she noticed the girl leaning against the brick wall surrounding the school grounds.

 

“Kikyo?” she asked, surprised at the anguish on her friends face.

 

“Kagome… I think we need to talk.”

 

“Okay, yeah sure. Want to go get some coffee or something?” Kikyo shook her head.

 

“I've done something terrible Kagome.” By the sound of her voice, something was obviously weighing down on her. Even Kagome felt uncomfortable by the aura the girl radiated from her.

 

“I'm sure it's nothing that can't be corrected. Maybe I can help you out,” she said, giving her a comforting smile. Kikyo shook her head.

 

“No… I don't think so. You… are going to hate me…” Kagome tilted her head to the side as he smile slowly faded.

 

“Hate you? Why do you think I would hate you?” Kikyo shifted anxiously in front of her, playing with the bottom edge of her skirt.

 

“I love Kouga…” Kikyo said on the verge of tears. Kagome didn't know how to respond. Each time she tried to say something, the words caught in her throat. As she floundered for words, Kikyo continued, her voice sounding more regretful as she went on. “I was stupid, so stupid. Even though I knew you were dating him, I confessed anyways. I-I was so happy when he paid attention to me, when he called me…” She choked on her words, tears finally flowing.

 

“I… What are you trying to tell me?” Kagome asked as an uncomfortable feeling gripped her stomach.

 

“I slept with Kouga!” she burst out amongst sobs. The revelation hit her like a physical blow. Stunned, Kagome shook her head, stepping away from the weeping girl.

 

“W-what are you saying? No… You're lying… Kouga would never do that!” She believed in Kouga, believed that he would be faithful to her. He was popular with the girls, yes, but he wasn't the type of guy to try to get as many girls as he could. He just wasn't! He's not! Don't believe her! Even still, the seeds of doubt had already been sown.

 

“It's true! I've been meeting him in hotels whenever he calls. I… even bought your birthday gift for him!” Kagome felt nauseous as she covered her mouth with a hand, still shaking her head. “It's true… I have the receipt for it here.” Kikyo held out her hand, a slip of paper hanging between her index finger and thumb.

 

Kagome stared at it, repulsed. She wanted to push it away, to run from the weeping girl and forget everything. Yet she stood firm, pressed by her desire to know the truth. Slowly, she felt herself reach for the paper the girl was holding. It felt heavy as lead in her hands. Was paper always this heavy?

 

“I… I'm sorry,” Kikyo sobbed as she rushed passed Kagome. She didn't stop her. Instead, she stared down at the paper in her hand, the world seemingly frozen around her.

 

When she returned home, hours had passed. She hadn't been aware of time as she wandered the streets, the receipt clenched tightly in her hand. Kagome hadn't read it yet, something prevented her. Some part of her was still holding onto hope that this entire situation was some sort of joke. Everything felt like some corny drama show on TV. Things like this didn't happen in real life, certainly not for someone like her.

 

Opening the front door, she felt numb. Her eyes burned from the tears that threatened to escape as the shock faded, the reality of the situation sinking in. She failed to notice the empty house as she moved up to her room. Closing the door behind her, she fell atop her bed. Grabbing the pillow she wrapped herself around it, holding it close to her chest as the tears overwhelmed her.

 

********************************************

 

Inuyasha was a little pissed that Miroku skipped the club meeting, but then again, he didn't really blame him. It was a fairly obvious choice. Either he could sit around with a bunch of nerds talking about the latest anime episode and hentai games or go with his girlfriend and do something sexual in nature. Miroku had never come out and said it, but he dropped enough hints trying to make Inuyasha jealous that an idiot could figure it out. Well he'll regret it when I tell him Jin brought the rare collector's edition of Boom Flower complete with never-before-seen footage. Just the thought was enough to brighten his day a little.

 

Sighing, he headed off towards the school gates. It was getting late and Miroku wasn't around so he decided to skip the usual routine of hanging out with the club as they went to grab ramen. He was tempted to get ramen anyways, but without Miroku, it just wouldn't be the same.

 

Inuyasha decided to take the long way home knowing it would add an extra ten minutes to his trip. Even though he had decided to head home earlier than he usually did, the thought of being in the same house as his parents didn't bode well with him. He was still fuming at how they always sidestepped his questions. Simply saying he couldn't without reason…

 

He was lost in thought when a man approached him from behind. He didn't notice him until he was nearly right atop him. Frightened, he spun around, backing away quickly. The man held his hands out in front of him, a wide smile on his face. Even with his kind face, Inuyasha still felt intimidated by the man who easily stood a head and a half above him.

 

“Sorry if I scared you Inuyasha,” the man said in heavily accented Japanese. His pronunciation wasn't terrible, but it wasn't the easiest to understand either. If Inuyasha had to guess, the man was American.

 

“How do you know my name?” Inuyasha said, giving the man a suspicious look. Even though he was still frightened, he kept his voice firm and his expression one of caution, not fear.

 

“I'm sorry, how rude of me. My name is Rex, a friend of Terrance. I believe you know him?”

 

Inuyasha was still suspicious of the man. He was obviously using a fake name and made no efforts to hide the fact he was doing so. After everything weird that had happened after meeting with Terrance, he was beginning to wonder if Terrance was his real name.

 

Seeing that Inuyasha was still suspicious, the man's smile widened. “You don't have to worry about me. I'm perfectly harmless. I only want to talk.”

 

“Well?” The man's smile never faltered at his harsh tone. It was weird. The longer he spoke to the man, the more inclined he felt to trust him.

 

“I was hoping we could discuss it over dinner, how does ramen sound? You love ramen, don't you?”

 

Neither of them said anything on the way to the shop, nor did they speak until after both had been served their food and had finished eating it. Sighing in content, Rex leaned back in his chair, patting his stomach.

 

“Really, I love coming to this country, such wonderful food.”

 

“So what did you want to talk to me about?” Inuyasha said, immediately reverting back to his suspicious state. Rex frowned.

 

“I really wish you would trust me more. I mean no harm, honest.”

 

“You really think I would suddenly trust a man I've never seen before who knows my name and what I like to eat? Even if you did treat me…” Rex smiled.

 

“I work for the same people Terrance does.” Inuyasha frowned.

 

“You work for the school?”

 

“Ah… not exactly,” Rex said, scratching his chin. He paused as he watched one of the workers pass by from the corner of his eyes. Leaning forward, his voice was a whisper. “I actually work for the United States government.” Letting it sink in, Rex leaned back in his chair, and looking at Inuyasha as if studying his reaction.

 

After several seconds, Inuyasha started to laugh. First, it was something he tried to contain and after a couple seconds, he couldn't hold it any longer and started laughing aloud. “Really? The United States… here? What are you, some sort of spy or something?”

 

“Of course not, that's ridiculous,” Rex said, waving it aside with his hand. “There is a lot more to a government than spies and politicians.”

 

“So Rex is your real name?” Inuyasha said with a raised eyebrow.

 

“No.” His honest took Inuyasha by surprise, causing him to hesitate.

 

“Only spies use fake names.”

 

“I have no one name. None are false, but none are real.”

 

“Sounds like a spy to me. So what do you know about me? What do you want?” Rex leaned forward again, staring at Inuyasha with a serious look.

 

“I know a lot about you.”

 

“Why? Are you some sort of stalker?” Rex laughed, shaking his head.

 

“Me? No, of course not!” His expression suddenly turned solemn. “My friends are. My job is only to memorize what they collect.” Inuyasha felt uncomfortable as he shifted in his seat.

 

“Why? How?”

 

“The how is not important. The why is simply to get to know and understand you and inevitably, decide if you are right for Us.” A thousand questions ran through Inuyasha's mind, but he only asked one.

 

“Am I?”

 

Slowly, a smile crept over Rex's face. “If you weren't, we wouldn't be having this conversation.”

 

It was then that Rex began explaining everything to the wide eyed Inuyasha. About how Inuyasha was special and how he was needed. Then, he told him about the town of Aura.

 

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When Inuyasha finally stumbled home, it was nearly midnight. The past several hours had passed in a blink. At first, Inuyasha hadn't believed anything he had been hearing. It was too much to believe. A government funded town populated with the brightest minds the world had to offer, constantly pushing science forward. It wasn't so much the fact that it existed, it was that Rex wanted him to go there. Train under the best brains the world would never know. He was being recruited.

 

Inuyasha didn't know what to say, which seemed perfectly fine to Rex who quickly paid their bill and left the small shop with him.

 

“Take your time and think long and hard. There is no rush. This is not for everyone. You will be helping the world from the shadows. No one but the people around you will know of your existence. All your inventions and research will never be accredited to you and a normal life is impossible. It's hard to get invited inside, but once you are, it's even harder to get out. Don't worry about contacting me. When the time comes and you've made your decision, I will find you.”

 

Rex's voice echoed in his mind as he unlocked the door and stepped inside, locking it behind him. Immediately, all thoughts of today's events were pushed aside as he looked into the dark house. This late, he was expecting another round with his parents, but the house was eerily silent.

 

Being as quiet as he could, he slipped his shoes off and crept inside. His chest suddenly began to burn as he realized he had been holding his breath. Releasing it, he took a moment to steady his breathing before continuing up the stairs and into his room. He paused slightly before Kagome's closed door, the weight of the impending decision returning once more.

 

I know I wanted to get away… but permanently? A couple of years were all he truly wanted. He could sort out his feelings without her influence. Perhaps even start a normal, healthy relationship with someone. Then, once things were under control, he would return a new man able to be a real brother Kagome deserved.

 

Moving into his room, he closed the door. Moving to his bed, he collapsed onto it. Almost instantly, his mind began to wander as he drifted to sleep, not a single thought about the importance of the coming day.

 

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Something had happened to Kagome, it was obvious at how she acted. In a way, she was like him, good at concealing her troubles. As expected from his twin. However, he had been doing it longer than she had and was easily able to recognize how she stared off into space during breakfast.

 

Their parents were gone. A note on the kitchen table simply stated that an emergency had turned up and the two had left the country and would be back soon. Mom had quickly scrawled a quick apology at how they would be missing their birthdays and wished them both lots of love, promising they would give them both their gifts upon their return. They had left some money so they could celebrate with friends.

 

It both pissed him off and at the same time, was a bit of a relief. They had been acting strange recently, suddenly going out on trips, going berserk about his college plans. But as far as he could see, there wasn't any way he was going to figure out anything since his parents kept whatever it was a tight secret.

 

He focused back on Kagome. Whatever his parents were doing was their business. Kagome was in trouble now and he would do anything he could to help her out.

 

“Something wrong?” he asked, trying to act casual before taking a bite of toast.

 

“Huh? What?” she asked, suddenly snapping back to reality. Yep, something is definitely wrong.

 

“You are staring off into space. Usually that means you are thinking about something.”

 

She smiled. “Yeah, sorry, I didn't get much sleep last night.”

 

“Oh?” Inuyasha asked, raising an eyebrow. He tried to keep everything nonchalant. It was one of Kagome's weaknesses he had learned over the years. The less he seemed to care about something they were talking about, the more likely it was for her to let something slip.”Bad dreams?”

 

“Don't I wish,” she mumbled before taking a sip of her coffee. Another sure sign that something was wrong: she wasn't eating anything. As much as Inuyasha didn't like it, he let the subject drop. While he wanted to know, Kagome wasn't at the point where she wanted to talk about it. Instead, he changed the direction of the conversation.

 

“So, what you get me?”

 

“Huh?'

 

“Birthday today? Come on, don't tell me you forgot?” he asked with a fake smile.

 

She glared over at him. “Forget? Me? Aren't you confusing me with yourself?”

 

“I remembered this time,” Inuyasha said, puffing his chest out proudly. It was nice to see her laughing. He always felt a sense of accomplishment when he was able to make her forget her worries, if only for a little while. They continued talking, her laughter echoing through the empty house. All the while, his fake smile never once wavered. Who is going to make her laugh her troubles away when I'm gone? The answer came more quickly than he cared for, who the answer was even more unwanted. Kouga would.

 

As much as the man unsettled him, he made Kagome happy in ways he never could. For the first time he realized just how unfair life was. Kagome would always have someone special in her life to make her happy, with or without Inuyasha. Without Kagome, Inuyasha had nothing.

 

Inuyasha had always been a firm believer in universal balance. For every good in the universe, there had to be an equal amount of evil to balance it. He had been granted a great gift of intelligence, one that could very well make countless people happy. To balance this gift, did he have to sacrifice his own happiness?

 

Seeing Kagome's smiling face, hearing her laughter, he knew that she was a strong woman. No matter what life threw at her, no matter how far she stumbled, she would always adapt, always stand back up on her own. He wasn't like that. He was falling and he couldn't see the bottom. He needed help to get back on his feet. Rex was reaching into the pit where Inuyasha had fallen into, hand extended. All that was left for Inuyasha was for him to take it.

 

********************************************

 

“I must say, this is an awesome ending to the week. First, yesterday happened, and today is the party! What makes it even better is that your parents aren't going to be there!” Miroku said cheerfully. “Not that I don't like your parents or anything…”

 

“What happened yesterday?” Kagome asked, looking over at Sango as her face reddened.

 

“N-nothing,” Sango said quickly. Kagome eyed her suspiciously but didn't press farther.

 

“No beer if that's what you're thinking,” Inuyasha said, ignoring what was happening over with the girls, instead focusing on his friend.

 

“Why not Inuyasha? A little alcohol never killed anyone,” Kouga said, slapping Inuyasha on the shoulder, grasping it as he shook him a little. Inuyasha looked over at the hand, trying to keep the disgust off his face. Even though he was surrounded by friends, he couldn't help but think his birthday was already ruined. Every second Kouga was around seemed to remind him why he disliked the guy.

 

One thing he did notice, Kagome wasn't hanging all over Kouga, like she normally did. In fact, it was almost like she was avoiding him. His theory fell apart when she did get close to him as it looked like everything was fine, but he was watching her out of the corner of his eye. There was definitely something going on.

 

Kikyo was absent. She had always been more of Kagome's friend then his, but it was a little disturbing when it became apparent that she didn't care. She was a silent presence, but it was a presence that couldn't be missed, not by Kagome.

 

They argued a little more, Inuyasha firm in his stance that there would be no breaking into his parents alcohol stash and both Miroku and Kouga pressuring him otherwise. Sango backed him of course, but much to both Sango and Inuyasha's surprise, Kagome jumped on the other boys' side, saying it was a special occasion and a little wasn't going to hurt. Seeing that her friend was saying it was fine, Sango reluctantly switched sides, leaving the betrayed feeling Inuyasha the odd one out.

 

Even though it was supposed to be a birthday party, it didn't feel any different than any other day they hung out. They went to their favorite karaoke place. Dinner was, at Inuyasha's persistence, his favorite ramen shop. It wasn't until they returned back to the house did the real `party' start.

 

Inuyasha was never a fan of anything alcohol. He hated the taste and how it made his throat dry. He could never understand why people would want to waste time drinking something that only made them thirsty. However, it didn't seem to stop anyone else in the house. After raiding their parents room, Kagome returned with several different types of bottles. Inuyasha was no expert at the stuff, but by the looks on the others' faces, it was the expensive ones.

 

Everyone, Sango included, was quick to begin, each filling their glasses and cheering Kagome and his birthday before downing their glasses. Kagome smiled, raising her glass in acknowledgement before downing hers. She winced as she swallowed it, setting the glass down hard against the living room table at the same time.

 

“Uh, are you sure this is okay? Mom and Dad are going to flip when they find out.” Kagome gave him a hard stare before filling up her glass again. Picking it off the table, she pushed it towards him. He shook his head. He figured the last person at this party to be drinking was him, especially something this hard.

 

“Come on Inuyasha, don't be a pussy.” Hearing Kagome call him that was a surprise, and obviously he wasn't the only one. All three of the others were looking over at Kagome with surprised looks on their faces. Under her hard gaze, he slowly reached out and took the glass from her. Holding it to his lips, he emptied it into his mouth and immediately swallowed, closing his eyes as the liquid burned down his throat. His eyes watered, but he managed to prevent himself from coughing. Several seconds after he swallowed it, he was able to take another breath.

 

Kouga laughed as he refilled his glass while Miroku congratulated him. Inuyasha didn't feel like being congratulated. The stuff tasted disgusting. However, Kagome's smile was more than worth the agony the action had caused to his poor throat and taste buds.

 

Inuyasha watched as the night progressed. To his surprise, Kagome was keeping up with Kouga who was downing shots faster than anyone else. Of course, Inuyasha wasn't immune as Kagome made sure he was a part of it, whether he wanted to be or not. Filling her glass again, she shoved it at him. Swallowing it, he winced and looked over at Kagome, studying her as she took the glass and refilled it for herself. Unlike the others who seemed to get happier as time progressed, she seemed to be getting more depressed.

 

After the first hour, things were getting bad for Inuyasha. For the first time in his life, he swore he could feel the rotation of the Earth and his body wasn't working quite the way he wanted it too. Kouga seemed to be doing fine and Miroku and Sango seemed to be getting more and more intimate with each drink. Knowing that he wouldn't be able to last much longer, he clapped his hands loudly, getting the laughing bunch to focus on him. Beside him, he felt Kagome's glare which caused him to shift uncomfortably.

 

“Maybe it's time to open gifts now,” he said with a smile, trying to hold his body still.

 

“Right, good idea,” Miroku said, smiling as he pulled away from Sango's grip and stood up. “I'll get mine.”

 

“Get mine too!” Sango said slumping down into the spot Miroku had just been sitting in. Inuyasha stood up and slowly walked towards his parents' room. He just knew that tomorrow morning was going to be bad.

 

The door swung open easier than Inuyasha had thought, causing him to stumble inside, nearly landing face-first into the carpet. Regaining his balance, he shook his head and walked towards the closet where he had hidden his sisters gift. Once inside, he reached up, patting the above shelving trying to find the familiar box. After several seconds of patting, he frowned, looking at his dust caked hand. I swear I left it here…

 

Moving along the shelf, he patted some more, unable to see what he was hitting as he moved. His hand slapped the top shelf with more desperation in each passing moment as his heart raced, the adrenaline clearing his head temporarily. After nearly a minute in his panicked state, his hand rested on a familiar shaped box. Sighing in relief, he pulled the box forward and out. Looking down at his hand covered in dust, he wrinkled his nose, hitting it against his side in an effort to free the dust from his hand. He stopped in mid-swing, his eyes focusing on the ground next to him. An old looking photograph was lying next to his feet. As he was pulling the box from the shelf, he must have pulled it off as well. Sighing, he reached down, picking the small photo up and reaching up to put it back on the shelf. Just before he set it down, he hesitated, instead pulling the photo closer to his face so he could examine it. The adrenaline rush had passed, causing the alcohol to begin clouding his mind again. The photo had long begun to fade and with his eyesight not at 100 percent, it was difficult to make everything out. Shrugging, he shoved the photo in his jean pocket and left the closet, making sure to kill the lights on his way back to the living room.

 

The others were waiting for him to return. Entering the living room, Inuyasha immediately noticed that Kagome hadn't moved from her spot. Frowning, he slid the box into his pocket. Hopefully she doesn't say anything and I'll just give it to her later… It would be embarrassing to give her something like that in front of everyone.

 

Taking his seat, he was given his gift by Miroku while Sango gave hers to Kagome. Together, they slowly began opening them. Inside Inuyasha's was a box taped up with duct tape. Frowning, he glanced up at Miroku, a large smile on his face. Something about this tells me I'm not going to like it when I open it… Peeling the tape back, he opened the box in a way that allowed light in so he could see but keep it hidden from everyone else. I knew it… Inside were several DVD cases on top of a computer game. While he didn't see the titles, he didn't have too. Miroku wasn't the sort of person to give his friend blockbuster movie DVD's. No, these were of a different nature.

 

“Trust me, you'll love them!” Miroku said, beaming.

 

“What did you get?” Sango ask, giving the box a curious look. “Miroku was completely hush-hush about it.”

 

“Uh…” Inuyasha started, not sure what to say.

 

Beside Sango, Miroku placed his hand on her shoulder. “It's not a gift a man should share with a lady.” Sango frowned, giving Miroku a suspicious look, but didn't say anything more.

 

Looking over to his side, Inuyasha watched as Kagome finished un-wrapping her gift from Sango. Inside the wrapping paper was a bag. What perplexed Inuyasha was why Kagome was so happy about it. In fact, ecstatic was a better term. It was a shock considering how gloomy she had been just a moment before. The odd thing was, it looked similar to some of the others Kagome owned.

 

Inuyasha tuned out their conversation. The high pitched, rapid talking was causing his head to hurt. Instead, he focused on the box in his lap. It wasn't that he was disappointed in his gift, after all, it was from Miroku, but he wished he had gotten something he could be as excited for as Kagome. There is always her gift. She usually gives me something I really need.

 

Before Inuyasha could say anything, Kouga stood up. “Kagome, can you come with me? I have your gift but…” He looked uncomfortable. Kagome's face darkened slightly. Everyone else probably didn't notice it, but Inuyasha had been living around her long enough to know the look.

 

“Yeah, sure,” she said, putting the bag aside and standing up. Together, the two walked towards the front door. Inuyasha was amazed at how easily they moved. After all he drank, which sadly wasn't a lot, moving in a completely controlled manner escaped him.

 

 

“How romantic…” Sango said softly as she sighed. “Something a little someone could pick up on.”

 

“Eh?” Miroku said, looking up from pouring himself and Sango another glass.

 

Shaking her head, Sango took the offered glass from Miroku. “Never mind.”

 

Though he put on a smile, pretending to pay attention to their jokes, Inuyasha's mind was elsewhere. He kept wondering what was happening just outside the house. But more importantly than that, he wanted to give Kagome her present.

 

********************************************

 

Kagome crossed her arms over her chest as Kouga closed the door behind him. It wasn't that cold outside, but the breeze made it slightly uncomfortable. The tense atmosphere that had settled between the two didn't help.

 

“I uh… didn't feel comfortable giving this to you in front of everyone,” Kouga said softly as he reached into his pocket and pulled out a box. “Happy birthday Kagome.”

 

After a slight pause, Kagome reached out and took the box. Her heart was racing. She already knew what was inside. She had looked over the receipt earlier. Still, even as she stared down at the soft box, she hoped, prayed that it wasn't it. She wished with all her might that this entire thing had been a setup by Kikyo to separate them.

 

Heart beating against her chest, mind fuzzy from all the alcohol she had forced herself to consume, she slowly parted the lid. She gasped, tears falling from her eyes as she looked down at the locket resting inside. The pain was unbearable. All hope that this was a misunderstanding gone. There was no longer any doubt about Kikyo and her story. This was the same locket as on the receipt.

 

Kouga smiled as he relaxed, misunderstanding her reaction. “I-I was a little worried you wouldn't like it but—“ He stopped as Kagome thrust the locket towards his chest, her free hand over her mouth. Looking down in confusion, he shook his head. “What's wrong? You don't like it?”

 

Kagome shook her head slowly. “Of course I do, it's beautiful.”

 

“Then why?” he asked, searching her face for answers.

 

“Because you didn't buy it for me!” she yelled, half in a sob as the tears poured down her face. He looked stunned. “This entire time…” He worked his mouth, but no words exited. “I loved you! Why? Why wasn't that enough? Why couldn't you love me?”

 

“Kagome, what are you talking about? I do love you!”

 

“Then why did you sleep with her?” She threw the box at him, causing him to flinch as he struggled to catch it. “She was one of my friends! You think I wouldn't find out!?”

 

Kouga's expression darkened. “She told you?”

 

“Don't try to make it sound as if it is her fault!”

 

“Kagome, I—“

 

“No, I don't want to hear it,” Kagome said, shaking her head. “Just leave.”

 

“But—“

 

“You've done enough to ruin my birthday, leave!”

 

“If you would—“

 

“Leave now or I will get Inuyasha and have him make you leave!”

 

Kouga clenched his fists. For a second, Kagome was frightened he was going to hit her. Unconsciously, she took a step back.

 

“Fine,” he said in a firm voice. “But before I go, I should let you know why I did it; because you are a terrible fuck!” He stepped forward in an intimidating manner, moving in so that she pressed herself against the house, eyes wide in fear. “Maybe this is a good thing,” he said in a low voice. “Now I can get someone who can actually excite me. After all, you were only good the first time.” Her lips quivered as the tears streamed down. He backed away, a thin smile on his face. “I'll see you at school then!” he said cheerfully as he moved down the stairs towards the gate.

 

Slowly, she moved down the side of the house until she was sitting, trying her best to wipe the tears from her face. It wasn't fair, the entire thing wasn't fair! Why am I the only one hurt? Why am I devastated yet he can happily walk away? Pulling her legs up to her chest, she buried her face in them and sobbed.

 

********************************************

 

(The following section has incest in it. Also, I feel it is necessary to warn that it has a slight non-consent feel to it. However, it is NOT rape. Please do not read if you are uncomfortable with either.)

Inuyasha knew something was wrong the moment the front door slammed. Looking over, he briefly caught sight of Kagome as she rushed passed the living room and up the stairs. Getting to his feet, he moved towards the hallway.

 

“Kagome?” he asked, looking up just as she disappeared around the corner of the upstairs. Seconds later, there was another slam as her door closed. A sinking feeling hit his stomach. Something really bad just happened. Turning around, he looked over at Sango and Miroku who were now standing, eyeing him curiously as if he knew what was happening.

 

“What happened?” Miroku asked.

 

“I don't know, but maybe it would be best to call it a night.”

 

“Maybe I should go talk to her,” Sango said, stumbling forward. Inuyasha shook his head, stopping her. Maybe after you're sober…

 

“I'll talk to her. Miroku, why don't you make sure Sango get's home safely? I'll clean up here.”

 

“Uh… Okay,” he said, moving forward. Inuyasha watched as the two awkwardly put their shoes on and headed outside. He watched them until they reached the gate before closing the door. He really didn't like the idea of both of them stumbling around drunk in the night, but seeing what had upset Kagome was higher on his list of priorities. As he climbed the steps, his mind worked over various reasons. Judging by the sudden absence of Kouga and the fact Kagome was like this meant that they had gotten into a terrible argument or worse, they had broken up. The thought of them breaking up brought a surge of happiness, which he quickly squelched, disgusted with his thoughts.

 

Standing before her door, he listened silently, hearing the sounds of faint sobs coming from inside. Taking a deep breath and licking his now dry lips, he gently rapped his knuckle against her door. “Kagome, are you okay?”

 

A series of sniffles and deep breaths followed before she answered. “Yeah, I'm fine.” While she had tried her best, it was obvious from the tone of her voice that she wasn't.

 

“You mind if I come in?” There was a brief moment of silence as he waited for her answer. His lungs began to burn as he held his breath, his heartbeat pounding in his head.

 

Suddenly, the door opened slowly and Kagome's face appeared before him. Her eyes were red from crying. A mix of emotions ran through him, the strongest being anger. He still didn't know what had happened, but he did know that he wanted nothing more than the chance to pummel Kouga.

 

“Hey… It's okay…” he cooed softly, wrapping his arms around her, pulling her into him tightly. She immediately began sobbing again. After awhile, he felt his shirt dampen slightly, but he didn't move, letting Kagome cry to her hearts' content.

 

Inuyasha didn't know how long she cried. Five minutes, ten, it didn't matter, he held her all the same, the feeling of helplessness overwhelming him. Slowly, her tears stopped, the sobbing turning to sniffles before she fell silent all together.

 

“I'm okay now,” she said, voice muffled slightly as she spoke into his chest. Gently, he released his grip around her, letting her back away. He felt a twinge of disappointment, but quickly brought his focus back to Kagome. Her eyes were still a little red, but overall, she looked better.

 

“You sure?” he asked, concern in his voice.

 

She nodded, giving him a genuine smile. “Yeah, I'm sure.” Moving back to her bed, she quickly sat back on it. Inuyasha stood by the door, unsure what to do next until she looked over at him, tapping the bed beside her. Hesitantly, he moved over to the bed. From the look on her face as he sat down, it was obvious she was a little disappointed he had chosen to sit so far away.

 

“I still haven't given you your gift yet,” she said happily, scooting off the bed and reaching for something under her bed.

 

“Kagome, you don't have to force yourself.”

 

“I'm not!” she said, pulling a large box from under her bed and wrestling it onto the bed. Inuyasha grabbed onto it to help her steady it. “There, go ahead and open it.”

 

Inuyasha stared at her over the box. It was completely apparent that she was forcing herself to appear cheerful. However much he wanted too, he had no idea how to breach the subject of what had happened earlier with her. Maybe I should have let Sango talk to her… It was too late now. Instead of worrying about it, he focused on his gift. Licking his lips, he began to unwrap it. On the other side, Kagome shifted towards the middle of her bed, changing to a cross-legged position as she watched him open it in excitement.

 

When the last of the wrapping paper was off, he looked on the box in amazement. “Kagome this—“

 

“Don't say you don't like it!” she said, laughing nervously. “I know you needed one and Miroku helped me pick it out so blame him if it's bad.”

 

He shook his head quickly. “No, I love it, thanks!” He looked over the laptop box, glancing over its specs. It isn't cheap, that's for sure. He looked back up at Kagome who was smiling expectantly. A thin smile crept across his lips. Just like a kid…

 

“I guess I could give you your gift…” Her smile widened as he reached into his pocket.

 

“You really went all out this year didn't you” she teased, watching him struggle to pull the box out of his pocket.

 

“Hey, some great things come out of small packages,” he said, finally freeing the box from the pocket and handing it to her. Her smiled faltered as she stared down at the box. Fear pulsing through him, Inuyasha shifted anxiously. “I-is something wrong?”

 

“Huh? No, I wonder what you got me?” she said with a nervous chuckle. Gently, she opened the box and stared down into it, eyes widening. To his dismay, tears began to form in her eyes.

 

“Ah, if you don't like it I can take it back and get something else—“

 

She shook her head quickly. “No, no this is perfect,” she said as a tear ran down her face. Laughing, she quickly wiped it from her face. “God, what am I doing, crying like this?” Pulling the necklace from the box, she held it up to the light. “It's beautiful!” She paused. “You mind?” she asked, holding it out to him. Heart pounding, he took it from her as she rotated so her back was to him. Unhooking the chain, he lowered it down around her neck, squinting as he tried to hook it back up. It was a difficult process with his hands shaking as they were, but after several tries, he managed to connect it. Once he was sure it would stay, he quickly retreated as Kagome moved back around to face him, a smile on her face as she held her head high.

 

“Well, how do I look?” she asked, taking a deep breath.

 

“Beautiful,” Inuyasha said, his breath almost catching in his throat. Kagome blushed, her smile widening. Though he was farther away than he had been a moment ago, Inuyasha's heart failed to slow from its rapid pace it had taken when he had put the necklace on. Calm down, I need to focus.

 

Slowly, her smile disappeared as she looked down. “I only wish others thought that way,” she whispered. Seeing an opportunity, Inuyasha pressed forward.

 

“You want to tell me what happened?” For a moment, he thought she was going to shake her head, instead, she took an unsteady breath.

 

“Kouga and I… broke up.”

 

Yes! The thought came before he could stop it. “Why?” he asked, moving the laptop aside and placing it on the floor beside the bed.

 

“I found—“ She looked up at him in surprise, as if suddenly remembering who he was. Shaking her head, she tried to brush it aside. “Really, it doesn't matter.”

 

“Don't say that Kagome. It does matter.”

 

She continued shaking her head. “Really Inuyasha, I'll be fine. I just need a couple of days to sort through my feelings.” He frowned.

 

“Kagome, you can talk to me about anything.”

 

“Oh? Like you tell me everything,” she shot back. He was taken aback at the anger in her voice. Her eyes widened slightly. “Sorry, I didn't mean it like that. It's just… I feel like we have been growing distant lately. I'm not clueless; I know something has been troubling you but every time I try and help, you push me away.”

 

“No I don't!” Kagome gave him a hard look. He shifted anxiously under her gaze. “I mean, I don't mean too. It's just…” He drifted off, looking up at her. Their eyes met, causing his stomach to twist in anticipation. He looked away quickly. “I can't talk about it.”

 

Kagome sighed, letting her shoulders sag. They both sat in silence for a long time, neither of them looking at one another. Finally, Kagome broke the silence. “I found out Kouga was cheating on me.” Inuyasha looked over at her quickly, shocked. It didn't take long for the shock to be replaced by anger.

 

“He did?”

 

“Yeah, but now that I think about it, it doesn't really matter. I guess those two sleazebags were meant for one another,” she looked up at the ceiling. Now that Inuyasha knew the reason, he wasn't going to press for any details. They were unimportant.

 

“Want me to kick the shit out of him?” Inuyasha asked as a smile crossed his lips. Kagome looked down at him, a smile on her face as well.

 

“I think we both know that is impossible coming from you.”

 

“I think I could give him a run for his money,” Inuyasha said, flexing. Kagome laughed, pushing him so he fell backwards on her bed. Sitting back up, Kagome's smile was gone. They sat in silence. “Why did you tell me?” he asked suddenly. For a moment, he could have sworn that she would never tell him until he shared what was bothering him.

 

She smiled. “Because you're my brother and I know that you would tell me if you could. Whatever it is that's bothering you, know that I will always be here to support you, okay?”

 

“I love you,” he said softly. She smiled again.

 

“I love you too.”

 

Of course she had misunderstood the meaning behind his words. Any other time, it would have been easy for him to stop there. Life would continue on like it always had. Tonight was different however. Maybe it was the effect of the alcohol, maybe it was how Kagome had shown her vulnerable side or perhaps it was just the inevitability of years of pent up feelings slowly wearing down his defenses. Like pressing down on the breaks of a speeding car and finding they were out, it felt that nothing could stop him now.

 

“No Kagome, I mean I really love you.” She gave him an odd look, her smile turning to one of confusion.

 

“I really love you too.”

 

She doesn't get it yet! There is still time to stop! But he couldn't stop. Not today. Moving forward, he leaned in. Her body tensed as his lips found hers. Time seemed to stop for him as neither of them moved. Only when his lungs burned for air did he separate. Kagome stared at him, eyes wide in disbelief as she finally caught her breath.

 

“W-what—“ He cut her off with another kiss, his desire overwhelming his reason. This time, his tongue aggressively pushed its way inside her mouth. While she was still stunned from his sudden kiss, her mind was beginning to catch up. He felt her hands against his chest, with effort; she managed to push him away.

 

It was true that he wasn't the most athletic guy, certainly not a match for someone like Kouga. However, there would always be the gap between a normal man and woman. It seemed like a blur to him. After some struggle, he had Kagome on her back, his legs between hers. It wasn't quite clear to him how he had managed to hold her still while he undid his pants and hers. She was saying something, but his mind was clouded. His entire body moved like it was on autopilot, his desires at the wheel.

 

Time seemed to freeze the instant he felt himself inside her. It had been difficult without the proper foreplay to prepare her. Only after he was inside did his reason return. Horrified, he looked down at where he and his sister were now connected. He had done something he could never take back. Slowly, his eyes moved up her body to meet hers. It wasn't the look he was expecting. Instead of the anger and fear he had expected, she had an expression of confusion, maybe betrayal, but no hate. She just simply gazed up at him, her body still.

 

He wanted to say something, apologize, but he couldn't form words. Nothing he said would ever be enough. He had betrayed her in a way that he could never in his entire life atone for. Tears clouded his vision as he began to move. There was absolute silence as he gently repeated his thrusting motions. He couldn't stop anything now more than he could stop the tears from flowing. If he was hurting her, she didn't show it, not that he could see much through his tears. Still, being as gentle as he could was the only thing he could do now.

 

Time was completely lost to him. It seemed to stretch on for hours. As he had felt countless times before, the familiar pressure began building inside him. He broke the silence that had fallen with a sharp gasp as he pushed into her one last time, his cock twitching as he released inside her.

 

His body began to shake as his orgasm faded. Suddenly, everything seemed impossibly heavy, causing him to sink down onto Kagome. He wanted to run, to run from the house and continue running until he couldn't run any longer. But no matter how hard he tried, his body wouldn't obey him. The physical and emotional drain on him was too much. He tried fighting the coming sleep, but it was a losing battle. Within minutes, he had drifted off to sleep.

 

********************************************

 

Done! Sorry about the wait, but I needed a small break to deal with work and finals. Got a new laptop with Vista and new Word 2007, can't say it's as bad as I thought. I was perfectly happy with my Windows XP, but I've been running Vista for a week now and nothing bad has happened.

 

I know this was a mean place to end the chapter, but a little cliff hanger never hurt anyone! Like I warned before, it was a little non-consent, yes, but I felt it was a necessary start due to the nature of everything. Next chapter will make some things a little clearer with Kagome's input.

 

I have also decided to cut out the Miroku/Sango focus in the story. They will still be there, but nothing in detail. Sorry, but I want to start moving this story towards its end. I have more ideas that I want to do.

 

I'm glad I took the short break though. It allowed me to get away and come back with a fresh look at it. Unfortunately, it also meant that I forgot some things about what I wrote in previous chapters, so I hope everything is consistent.

 

Anyways, I hope everyone enjoyed this chapter! Thanks for everyone who took the time to review. Until next time.

 

*Edit: Ha! I take that back, one thing that bothers me with Word 2007 is the spacing. Sometimes it looks like I skipped a space and other times it looks like I double-spaced. Anyways, I fixed some obvious errors.