InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Go Home Kagome ❯ Departures ( Chapter 3 )

Three

 

Nov 2003:

 

Ian Dunlap was the walking ideal for the world's worst boyfriend. He was attractive, smart, witty and the perfect specimen for producing all those grandchild Kagome's mother no doubt dreamed about. He was tall and slender with short spiky black hair and wore the hippest pair of tiny round glasses. The man had a million watt smile and when he spoke to you it felt as if the whole world was hanging off your every breath.

 

With a resume like that, charm and sophistication dripping from his every pore, was there any doubt he'd turn out to be the scum of the earth?

 

Kagome met the young archaeology grad student in the Publix up the street from her apartment. While her English was perfect there were still some ingredients in American recipes she didn't recognize. Boog told her it was her turn to shop and left the list on the counter. Kagome paced the aisles of the store searching in vain for something called grits. What the hell is a grit? Sounds like something a parakeet would eat. It can't be the same thing?

 

Her cart (or buggy as she learned to call it in time) bumped into that of stranger's. She apologized and he turned on that famous smile. She was momentarily taken in and asked for helping locating the grits. Ian helped her find them and then a week later help Boog and Kagome eat them with a side of eggs and toast.

 

Ian asked Kagome to a late night showing of The Rocky Horror Picture Show. She declined, much to Boog's dismay.

It turned out that the show had a permanent home in the theater and Ian asked her once a week for two months before she finally gave in. She hated the movie and was traumatized for a week afterwards. Ian sent flowers, begged her forgiveness for choosing such a crass event and talked her into a lighter evening of dinner at The Mellow Mushroom and swing dancing at a nearby club.

 

They dated for two and a half months. Kagome liked him and he made her feel normal. There were no arguments. Once at a bar a man hit on her and Ian stepped between them. He politely interceded and then it was over. No fist fights, threats of death or posturing. He had no zombie ex-girlfriend and when he came over he knocked on the door or rang the doorbell. No climbing through windows or hiding on the roof. Then he did something else Inuyasha had never dared. He touched her breast.

 

At first she was shocked. Then she dismissed it. Ian was a pervy normal guy, no more no less. In fact it Inuyasha was the unusual one because he never tried anything past the very occasional kiss or embrace. She told herself that he behaved that way because his true feelings lay with Kikyo or that he respected her too much to see her as a sexual object. Deep down she knew the truth. Inuyasha felt that as a hanyou he was less than a man. He believed his touch would defile her. Kagome had never been able to find the right words to tell him he was wrong. She'd tried but he always turned away or fled out the nearest open window.

 

After much reflection Kagome decided to embrace normality. She liked Ian and wanted him. And what was normal about a twenty two year old virgin anyway?

 

So she spent the night with Ian and he never spoke to her again.

 

After Boog found out, she egged his car. She said, “Who knew an egg would sound like a gunshot when it hit a car body?” Luckily she was an avid runner and was long gone when the police showed up.

 

Kagome first felt she'd done something wrong, that she wasn't good. Boog knew better and explained he is the worst kind of guy who will say or do anything to get what he wants. She did some asking around and learned Kagome merely was one of his legions. Kagome felt used and betrayed. Later she realized she'd betrayed herself. She'd given too much of herself way too soon.

 

Then Souta's letter arrived on her birthday. She was hungry for home and devoured every word. When she unfolded the last page a silver swatch of hair fell into her lap. She held it to her face, breathed in Inuyasha's scent and cried. What have I done? If there was ever any hope for us have I thrown it all away?

 

A funny thought struck her. Well could be worse. Had it been Koga then the world really would have come to an end. She smiled sniffed then broke back down into great heaving sobs.

 

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2005: Kagome sipped her tea as she watched Boog wait for to answer the question.

 

“I don't think Ian and Inuyasha are even from the same planet.” She closed her eyes and entertained a fantasy where Ian was ripped apart by Inuyasha's claws. But she could too easily see him turn to her when he was finished, his eyes burning with pain and unanswered questions.

 

But then wasn't he the one who gave up on himself? She'd always given him the benefit of the doubt. Her mother was right. It's time to get on with her life.

 

“Earth to Kagome…Come in Kagome!”

 

She looked up and saw Boog leaning towards her. “You haven't heard a word I've said. Someday I've got to come to Tokyo and meet this guy. He's not visited, called or written in three freaking years and he has this grip on you!

 

Kagome's hand froze and she dropped the ice tea glass. It fell to the tiled porch and shattered.

 

“Awww shit.” moaned Boog. “Now we're gonna have to clean that up.”

 

She raced along the other side of the patio to retrieve the broom.

 

WWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW

 

Kagome slung her heavy carry on bag into the overhead compartment. Please, she pray in silence, don't loose my luggage. I couldn't bear to live out of this crummy little bag for long.

 

She climbed into the tiny airplane seat and stowed her purse between her feet. She glanced at her immediate neighbor, a large middle aged black woman and gave a polite smile and nod. She had so much to consider before the plane touched down at their final destination, she hoped the woman would allow her think in peace. The woman smiled back then continued to gaze out of the tiny thick paned window.

 

Everyone was seated and ready when the pilot made an announcement.

 

“Folks I am sorry to say we are tenth in line for the runway and it maybe a good half hour before takeoff. Please relax, sit back and forgive us this minor inconvenience.”

 

Damn. If her plane was late her mother would be so worried. Oh well it can't be helped. She stared straight ahead and wondered what the movie would be. She was still cramped from the flight to Chicago and was now facing a 13 hour flight home to Tokyo.

 

She ground her teeth as someone came on the intercom and repeated the pilot's message in Japanese.

 

Okay Kagome, forget the stupid plane. What are you going to do about Inuyasha? Her head swam with the memory of when he found out about the scholarship.

 

WWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW

 

May 2002:

 

“Kagome, you've known about this for months and you didn't even tell me?” His voice was accusing and abrasive.

 

“Tell you what Inuyasha?” she asked innocently.

 

“You're leaving.” He sat back on his haunches on her bedroom floor. She was on her small twin bed with her legs tucked up under her.

 

“You're leaving and I had to hear it from Souta. Why didn't you tell me?” He frowned and the last of the daylight glinted off his sharp canines.

 

“I didn't…know how.” She said with simple honesty.

 

“It's easy.” He mocked her by moving his head from side to side as he spoke like a wood puppet.

 

“Inuyasha” he said in a high falsetto, “I am going away for three years, but I'm too much of a selfish bitch to tell you.”

 

She threw a bed pillow at him and he ducked it easily.

 

“It's not like that.”

 

“So are ya ever coming back? This America place is pretty popular I don't know if I can trust you to return here.”

 

She gazed on him and felt the beginnings of hope flutter inside her chest. “We've found, restored and destroyed the Shikon no Tama, why do you care? You've no use for me anymore.”

 

His face softened as he fell back on haunches and rocked thoughtfully. “Yeah but I don't wanna see ya get hurt.”

 

“Then don't call me ugly names! Besides, I managed quite well on my own at the University.” She shot back.

 

“Yeah but if ya needed me I could have come to you. This time you will be so far away. Who knows what could happen over there.”

 

Kagome took a deep breath. Well hell, it's now or never.

 

“Do you care about me Inuyasha?” There. It was out. Just one little one syllable word was it would take to make or break her world.

 

He actually sat there and thought about it; then answered, “Yes”.

 

Finally! Now that's a start. “Do you love me?” She looked him straight in the eye holding his golden gaze.

 

He glanced away and Kagome's heart broke “I don't know.” he whispered.

 

“Well then what reason do I have to stay here?” She laid down on her bed facing the wall with her back to him.

 

“I can't wait on you forever Inuyasha.”

 

Silence.

 

“Is this because of Kikyo?” She glanced over her shoulder expecting to see he was gone, but he was still seated on her floor.

 

“No” he growled low in his throat. “You know damned well what this is about.”

 

“Maybe I don't. I'm not a mind reader.”

 

“No you're human and I ain't human.”

“Kikyo was as human as I am today.”

 

“Yeah and I screwed that up didn't I? Kagome, this is pointless. I can't trust myself to be with you.”

 

She rolled over and saw his head hung over his knees and his hair brushed the floor.

 

“That's a crock and you know it. I can't count the times my life has been in your hands. But if this is how you feel than so be it. I have to go on with my life Inuyasha. I want to share it with you but I can't do that without your cooperation.”

 

“Why can't things stay like they are?”

 

She sat up. “Because they just can't! I don't know how to make you understand.”

 

He whispered so softly she almost missed it. “Kagome, I'm so sorry.”