InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Heart's Landfill ❯ Doubt ( Chapter 48 )

A/N: As always, all characters will be walking that fine line called OOCness!! Sorry for the long wait once again, but I totally have a good excuse. My laptop that I bought last year is currently in the shop and I'm not supposed to get it back for another 4 to 6 weeks. So, writing and updating has been a little difficult. Thankfully, my wonderful beta keeps back ups of my chapters, isn't she fabulous?!? Anyway this is another long one, so enjoy!! And thanks to all of you out there that voted for this fic. Your votes helped it win Best Drama for the year of 2008, Best Drama 4th Quarter, and 3rd place Best Lemon!! Seriously, if Simonkal of Inuy wasn't flattered before, she sure is now (bows). As usual, to my wonderful beta, Neko, thank you, thank you, thank you!!

Disclaimer: I do not claim ownership to anyone with the exception of Nya, Nola, Dinshu (RIP?), Gage, Takira, Dr. Aikio, Maki, and Moki. All others belong to the wonderful Rumiko Takahashi!!

Chapter 48:

Doubt

Leaning back in the plush, leather back chair, Kouga stared at the television without seeing it as he took a sip from his glass.

When he'd started looking for Kagome, he never would've thought it was going to lead to him shooting one of his best-friends or killing him the moment he got back to Kyoto. He hadn't thought that he'd be ordering the rape of a woman, whom he didn't know existed a month ago, or that he'd have to order the murder of his partner in crime, for lack of a better description.

No, he'd thought that he'd locate her whereabouts, and go to her. She'd see him, they'd talk, and then she'd forgive him. That was the way it had always been. That's the way he planned on it going this time, but this…

He took another sip from his glass.

If nothing else, this proved that nothing ever came easy to him. Everything he wanted, he had to fight and scrape for. Everything that he held dear to him, he had to kill and steal for, and still…

He jingled the ice in his glass and laughed to himself.

“I have a wife in Kyoto that I can hardly stand to look at, let alone be around. I have a woman that I lust after, dream about even when I'm awake and I can't touch her. I'm the head of one of the most feared syndicates in Asia, yet I'm still surrounded by idiots and buffoons. I have more money and power than I've ever had in my life, and still I'm miserable,” he hissed angrily.

Standing to his feet, Kouga stepped over to the bar of the hotel room he'd moved to after Dinshu's disastrous attempted rape failed, and poured himself another glass of bourbon.

Staring down at it, he frowned to himself, hating that nothing worked out for him. Hating that even in the position of power that he was in, he still felt like he was nothing…a nobody…a fucking commoner.

Reaching down into the pocket of his cream cashmere coat, he pulled out the picture he'd taken from Kagome's office and stared at it as he gnawed at his bottom lip.

He knew he had treated her bad when they were together, he knew that. He knew that he took her for granted, played with her feelings as if she was a toy for his entertainment alone, and acted like nothing less than a chauvinistic pig. And he knew…he knew that in truth, he probably didn't deserve her.

But…but she'd understand, wouldn't she? She'd understand that the last time he was with her was the last time that he could actually remember being happy. She'd understand that even though in the eyes of the law he was married… She'd understand that to him it meant nothing. She'd understand that even though Ayame was supposed to come first, she never would as long as she, Kagome, was alive and breathing. She'd understand…she'd understand that he was sorry for the things he'd done to her, and she'd forgive him, wouldn't she? She'd come back to him, right?

Running his clawed thumb over the glossy picture as she smiled back at him, he whispered, “She'll understand. She'll understand because she always understands and she forgives.”

Sensing the arrival of the two demons he'd been waiting on, Kouga slid the picture back into the pocket of his coat, and downed the rest of his drink in one gulp in hopes of quieting his despondent thoughts.

Turning away from the bar, he watched as two dark, smoke filled forms slowly began to take shape, a few feet away from him. As the transformation completed, he questioned, “Is it done?”

“Yes,” Moki replied.

“And Kagome?”

“She is fine,” Maki advised his voice raspy and low, almost gruff.

Kouga sighed in relief and leaned back against the bar. “Did Dinshu hurt her at all?”

“When we got there he'd already knocked her unconscious,” Maki started.

“Other than that, she is fine,” Moki finished.

Grinding his teeth together, the wolf youkai hissed coldly, “Which of you killed him?”

The brothers looked at each other knowingly before turning their attention back to Kouga, whom was patiently awaiting an answer.

“Well, which of you do I need to thank?” he questioned again while eying the two of them quizzically.

“Neither,” the demons stated in unison.

Kouga stared at them, his blue eyes narrowed slightly. “Explain.”

“The hanyou killed him.”

Kouga's head tilted slightly to the right as he took his time cogitating over what he'd just heard. In all the time that he'd been looking for Kagome, he hadn't heard one thing about a fucking hanyou. So, exactly who was this bastard?

“Hanyou? You mean half-demon as in half-breed?” Kouga queried evenly.

“Yes,” Moki confirmed.

Kouga pushed up off the bar and stepped closer to the brothers. “Who is this hanyou, and why would he intervene? Was he with my woman?”

Maki stared at Kouga, his gaze bored and uninterested.

Moki's expression was copy of his brother's.

“What the fuck! Who the hell is this guy? How the fuck did a fucking half-breed kill Din? Why the hell is he with my fucking woman?” Kouga bellowed irately, his temper starting to get the best of him.

“The hanyou walked in and caught Dinshu attempting to kidnap the woman. They fought, and he tossed him off the 50th story balcony,” Moki advised matter-of-factly.

“Are you sure Din's dead?” the crime bosses queried, his eyes glaring daggers into Maki's face. Turning his attention to Moki, he finished, “Just because he fell, doesn't mean his body won't regenerate.”

“I assure you, he is no longer of this world,” Maki intoned.

Kouga stared at the two demons before him, his mind running a mile a second. Din's dead? That hanyou… That fucker, he killed Din? A fucking hanyou killed Din?

Pushing his thoughts to the back of his mind, he snarled at the demons, his fists clenching and releasing, and his breathing increasing with each second that passed. “You two fuckers stood there…and let a fucking mutt kill Din?!” he questioned incredulously.

The bat demons looked at each other, and then back at Kouga as they replied in unison, “You ordered his death, did you not?”

Kouga turned away and stalked towards the door of the room. No, he wasn't mad that Din was dead. The fucker deserved it for forgetting his place! But what pissed him off was that a pathetic little fuck of a half-demon did it! The same fucker that apparently was shacking up with his fucking woman! That's…that's what dug under his skin and had him absolutely livid at the moment!

Turning on them, Kouga snarled through clenched teeth, “Who in the fuck is he? What kind of fucking demon is he mixed with?”

“Dog,” Maki declared, before continuing, “His name is Takahashi Inuyasha.”

Kouga stared at the younger of the twins dubiously. “Takahashi…Inuyasha, the fucking suit that owns half of fucking Tokyo?” he questioned rhetorically. “That bastard… That…pathetic excuse for a… That prick is with my woman! That fucker killed Din?” he roared in disbelief.

“Why do you seem so surprised?” Moki asked, his tone impassive. “Did you not think that whomever she was with would seek to protect her?”

Kouga growled violently as he stepped swiftly up to the bar, grabbed the glass he'd been drinking from, and threw it furiously at Moki!

The demon's form dissolved in the spot where the glass would've connected and reformed within milliseconds. His expression still blank, Moki blinked lethargically, his charcoal black eyes glistening as if they were silently taunting the wolf demon.

Kouga stared at Moki, his mind racing with thoughts he couldn't control. He needed to get grounded again. He needed time to think, to come up with a new fool-proof plan. He needed to start over, damn it!

After running his hand down his face, he reached back and ran his claws quickly through his long black ponytail as he closed his eyes and willed himself to calm down.

“Are they mated?“ the wolf demon growled, not actually wanting to know that answer, but knowing that if he went after a youkai's mate-even if she was just a human woman-he'd be doing more than just breaking a fucking law; he'd be basically opening up the gates of hell, and even he wasn't that stupid to willingly do such a thing!

The bat demons were quiet for a long moment before they replied, “No.”

Looking from one brother to the other, he snapped cantankerously, “Good! Now just…just go back to Kyoto, both of you! I'll talk to you both when I get there! Just…just get out of my fucking sight!”

As the demons dissolved and began to drift through the tiny cracks in the window that they'd entered, Kouga stalked towards his bags that were sitting by the door. Picking up one and then the other, he spared just a moment to open the door before he stepped out into the hallway.

He hadn't planned on going home empty handed or without at least talking to Kagome, but with Dinshu's death, he needed to let things cool down a little. Not to mention, he still needed to deal with that fucking traitor, Ginta. And now more than ever, he definitely needed to come up with a way to get Kagome away from that bastard half-breed, even if it meant he'd have to snatch her succulent ass off the side of the street!

To hell with what he hadn't wanted to do!

Things had changed, the moment he learned that she was involved with a prick that was strong enough to overpower a full fucking demon!

She's with a fucking half-breed! A fucking half-breed!

He growled low as he sat his bags down and punched the button for the elevator, his face set in such a deep scowl that his forehead and temples started to hurt. “That's fine. That's perfectly fine,” he mumbled as the elevator dinged and he picked his bags up and stepped on. “It'll just make it that much easier for me to get rid of him!”

Simonkal of Inuy

His face was a mask of pent up anger as he stared at Ashton, who was racing back and forth across Sesshomaru's expansive backyard.

After he and Kagome had told the police officers their individual stories and after the paramedics had given them both a thorough once-over, he'd made quick work of getting her as far away from his building as he could.

He'd thought about heading to a hotel, but as they climbed into his car and he started to drive, he decided quite quickly that should there be another attempt to get to her, it would be best to be around his brother.

No, he honestly didn't want to carry this type of drama to Sesshomaru's doorstep, especially with the twins there, but he honestly couldn't think of another solitary place where he could take her and damn near guarantee her safety.

As he used his key to gain entrance to the Mansion, he didn't find it necessarily weird that his brother was standing at the top of the stairs seemingly waiting on him either. Of course, he didn't ask any questions, which he rarely ever did. He just turned on his heels and started back down the hall towards his son's bedroom.

After that, the hanyou took Kagome to his old room, which was at the opposite end of the house from the master suite. Once he was sure she was comfortable enough, he excused himself by saying that he needed to take Ashton outside.

That was an almost two hours ago.

Now, he could see tell-tale signs of the sun beginning to crest in the east and smell the morning dew starting to lay thick over the grass that laced the yard before him, and still he couldn't make himself move from where he sat.

He wanted to go up to bed to just be close to her. He wanted to breathe her in, and feel her warm arms wrapped lovingly around his chest. He wanted to inhale the scent of her hair, her skin, her breath, but damn it-

Damn it…damn it he was pissed off!

He shook his head, rubbed his hands together wearily and stared up at the indigo sky above him as he closed his eyes and inhaled in an attempt clear his muddled mind.

“He climbed into bed with me, and I thought he was Inuyasha at first, but then… He touched me, but…but I stopped him. I…I realized that it wasn't-”

That was the crux of his problem, wasn't it? Her words to the police officers… Sure, she eventually figured out that it wasn't him, but how could she have actually confused his touch with that goddamn animal's?

He wasn't that bitch Kouga! What he had with her… What they shared was supposed to mean something! It…It was… Fuck, she was supposed to know the difference between him and another fucking man! She was supposed to fucking know!

“Is there a reason why you're out here, and Kagome is inside?” a gentle voice questioned from the doorway.

Glancing over his shoulder at Rin who was wrapped in a thick plush white robe, Inuyasha smirked half-heartedly and turned his attention back to the dog that finally seemed to be calming down.

“Why aren't you still sleeping?”

“The moment I gave birth to Takira and Gage, I stopped sleeping through the night, so it's nothing new,” she replied as she stepped up behind him and took a seat on the steps right next to him. Laying her head on his shoulder, Rin scrunched up her shoulders and shivered as if she was cold. “Do you want to talk about it?”

Wrapping his arm around her shoulder, Inuyasha squeezed her forearm gently and pulled her a little closer as he retorted, “Not really, no.”

Rin was quiet for a moment before she spoke again, “That's a beautiful animal, Lover. What's his name?”

“Ashton”

“I like that. Did you name him?”

“Nah, Kagome did.”

It was quiet for another long moment before either spoke again and Inuyasha couldn't help but to wonder if Sesshomaru had sent her down here because he knew if he needed to talk, she would be the only one he talked to.

“My mate said that he smelled your blood, Inuyasha. What happened?”

The hanyou sighed and removed his arm from around her. He didn't want to worry her, but he knew that he couldn't lie to her either. Sighing heavily, he started slowly, “Someone broke into my place and I ended up fighting the guy.”

“Really? Was anyone hurt?”

Inuyasha gnawed on his lower lip as he thought over her question. “Well, Kagome got a bump on the head, but she's fine otherwise; I got a couple of scratches on my chest, and…” He swallowed and finished, “…and the guy is dead.”

Rin gasped and turned towards him. “Dead?”

“Yeah, dead. It couldn't be helped; it was either me or him.”

Rin chewed on the inside of her jaw as she stared out at the forest lining her backyard. “Kagome saw this?”

“Some of it.”

“She must be more than a little traumatized after witnessing something like that.”

Traumatized? Inuyasha thought as he eyed Rin curiously. He hadn't actually thought of it like that, but he supposed that seeing someone die or rather get tossed off a 50th story balcony could be rather jarring.

“I should go talk to her,” Rin stated quickly as she attempted to stand up, but was stopped by the sound of her brother-in-laws voice and a firm grip on her wrist.

“No, let her sleep.”

“Lover, she probably needs companionship or just to talk or cry even.”

He shook his head, and replied snappily, “She's going home tomorrow. She'll have all the companionship she needs then.” There it was, the second possible reason for his anger.

Rin stared at him as if she didn't know who she was looking at, before sitting back down beside him. “What's the matter with you?”

“Nothing's wrong with me,” he intoned as if he honestly hadn't a clue as to what she was going on about.

Reaching up, Rin slapped him lovingly on the back of his head. “What's wrong with you, Inuyasha? She's probably up there crying her eyes out!”

“Feh, please. She's not crying.”

“That's beside the point!” Rin snapped as she turned her attention away from him and towards the black chow that was trotting towards them. “If I were in her shoes, I don't think I'd be able to let Sesshomaru leave my side. I would need to know that he was physically there and if he wasn't-”

“She didn't ask me to stay with her!” he snapped, cutting her off. Snorting out something caught between a laugh and a growl, he sneered, “The first thing she said to me was that she wanted to go home to Kyoto.” He glanced at Rin, his eyes holding every ounce of emotion that he was feeling internally. “You wouldn't have said that. You…you…you would never even think of running from Sesshomaru or me, but she...Kagome…”

“Of course, I wouldn't. I wouldn't have anywhere else to go. Sesshomaru, you, Gage, and Takira, you guys are all I have. So no, I'd never run from you. But that doesn't mean that sometimes I don't consider it.” Noticing that he wasn't looking at her, Rin reached up and grabbed his chin. Turning his face towards her, she finished, “Lover, are you sure you're not thinking about this too much? Have you talked to Kagome about this? Maybe she has a reason for wanting to go home.”

Inuyasha rolled his eyes and ran his hand down his face as he totally dismissed Rin's statements altogether and blurted, “Feh, you and Sesshomaru are mates, that's totally different from me and Kagome's situation.”

“How's it different, Inuyasha? I know that I'll live out the rest my life with him, and you and Kagome haven't decided yet?” Rin questioned irritably, since it was clear to her that at this point her dearly loved brother-in-law was practicing selective listening.

Inuyasha kissed his teeth and snapped brusquely, “You'd know the difference between Sesshomaru's touch and another person's touch wouldn't you? I mean you can tell the difference in the way I touch you and the way he touches you, can't you?”

Okay, so he hadn't meant to ask that, but the cat was out of the bag, he couldn't really take it back now. Rolling his eyes, the hanyou turned away and reached for Ashton's collar in order to pull the dog closer to him. He could tell from the look on Rin's face that she thought he'd just lost his everlasting mind, so he started to stand up, but stopped at the sound of her reply.

“In the right situation, I don't think I could.”

Inuyasha stared at her, a skeptical scowl on his face. “Whatever,” he hissed frivolously.

“No, I wouldn't be able to tell. For instance, if I were in a dark room and I thought I was there with Sesshomaru why would I expect it to be someone else? Even if the room wasn't dark, if your brother and I were out somewhere and someone tall and slim like your brother walked up behind me and put their arms around my waist or my shoulders why should I think that it's anyone else?”

“Feh, that's stupid! How can you not know the person that you're mated too and have been sleeping with for a little more than five years?”

Rin stood to her feet. “Inuyasha, I'm not a youkai and I'm damn sure not a hanyou. I don't have heightened senses of touch, smell or sound. I'm human and so is Kagome. Maybe you need to take that into account before you cause problems where there are none.”

The hanyou stared at Rin as she knelt down and patted Ashton's head before running her fingers through his fur repeatedly while she talked to the animal in a whiny voice that she used a little too often on his nephews.

The longer he sat there watching her, it seemed like the more pissed off he became. He couldn't honestly say why that was, but it just… The whole fucking situation, Kagome wanting to go home and the fact that she'd allowed some fucker to touch her…to touch what was his, was pissing him the fuck off more with every second that trickled by.

He was livid that she didn't just outright know that she was in bed with someone that wasn't him, and he was upset… Well, hurt, that after he risked his life to protect her, the first thing out of her fucking mouth was, “I want to go home.”

Did she not think that he was capable of protecting her? Hadn't she seen that much? Did she not think that he'd worry about her every second that she was gone? Didn't she think…didn't she know that he'd almost lost his mind when he realized that she was wrapped up in that comforter? Didn't she understand what him killing for her meant? Fuck, didn't she understand anything? Or was she really that fucking stupid?

“Forget it!” he snapped, standing abruptly to his feet.

“Inuyasha, why are you so stressed about this?” Rin queried urgently, gripping his much larger hand in her own. “You protected her. You saved her from a fate that is best left unknown. Yet you're angry, upset, and…” She stepped closer to him, turned his face towards her and finished, “You seem so hurt…heartbroken. What aren't you telling me?”

“If you know that I protected her then why doesn't she know that? Why does she want to go home?” he spat as if he'd just eaten a piece of rotten fruit.

Rin stared at him, her eyes filled with empathy. “Lover, maybe her reason for wanting to go home has nothing to do with you. Maybe she just wants to be around her blood relatives.”

“I'm…” Inuyasha growled, his fist balling up so tight that his claws dug into the skin of his hands. “I fucking protected her, Rin! Me! Not her family! And she wants to run to them?” His eyes narrowed dangerously and his teeth clenched as he hissed, “I'm the only family she needs. Why doesn't she realize that?”

At this point, he was talking the truth of his heart, but his mind wasn't fully recognizing everything that he was saying.

Rin smiled ruefully up at him as she stepped closer to him. “Lover, you're not her family. She's just your girlfriend.” She stepped closer to him as he eyed her closely. Lifting her hand, she placed it gently on the side of his cheek and asked earnestly, “By the way you're acting one would think that your mate was attempting to leave you, Inuyasha. Is…is she your mate? Have you chosen her?”

Refusing to even give thought to that question, the hanyou shook his head and shoved his hands in his pockets. “That has nothing to do with anything. How the hell can she just want to leave me like that?”

“From what you've told me, she's not saying she wants to leave you; she's just saying that she wants to visit her family and honestly, Lover, I don't see anything wrong with that. Especially after what she's been through.”

The hanyou's entire body seemed to deflate just a little as he hung his head. He knew she was right. Kagome wasn't really trying to leave him-at least he hoped she wasn't-she simply needed to be with her mother, but…but still… Even knowing that, he just…just couldn't fathom not being with her. He didn't know how to entertain the thought of not having her next to him or at least within driving distance of him.

“Inuyasha, maybe you shouldn't be fighting this as much as you are. Maybe you should let her go and use the time to figure out what it is you expect from this relationship,” Rin offered.

The hanyou bit down on the inside of his jaw as he stared down at her. He didn't want to have this conversation with her because honestly he wasn't really sure exactly why he was feeling what he was. He couldn't rightfully pinpoint exactly what part of the night upset him most and even as he cogitated over it now, he just…

Takahashi stepped away from Rin and towards the railing of the patio. Gripping the rails tightly, he hissed, “I feel like I'm losing my mind, Rin. I can barely think straight when she's around, but when she's gone, I feel like I'm fucking drowning.” He raised his head and stared up at the brightening sky above. “When I walked in and I noticed that that bastard was trying to take her from me, I lost it. I…I…It took everything in me to not totally gut his fucking ass!” He sighed and lowered his head as he finished, “Sometimes I hate her for how weak she makes me feel, but then I…I love that feeling just as much. She…she drives me crazy and crawls so far under my skin that at times I feel her as if she was a part of me.”

Inuyasha gripped his chest and glanced back at his sister-in-law. “Even now, I feel her as if she was right here with me; as if I was laying in bed next to her.”

“Lover-“ she started to say but he cut her off with a shake of his head.

“No, maybe you're right. Maybe I need her to leave just as badly as she wants to leave. Maybe that will be best for the both of us.”

Rin shot him a soft empathetic look that he absolutely loathed, but he found it almost impossible to do anything about it. She stepped quickly towards him, snaked her arms around his neck, and pulled him into a tight hug as she whispered softly, “It sounds like you're falling in love, Inuyasha, and for real this time.”

As he hugged her back, his mind still reeling, he couldn't really find a response for that, because falling in love was just not one of the answers he'd been entertaining as a reason for why he felt the way he did.

Falling in love? Is this what it really feels like? Is losing your fucking mind a sign of falling in love? If it is…If this is what it really feels like, I see why demon's only seriously do it once?

Simonkal of Inuy

Sunrays forced their way between her closed eyelids causing her to groan and cover her eyes with her forearm in an attempt to hold onto the sleep that she had clumsily found sometime in the early morning hours.

Stretching out her hand, she reached for the warm body that was always next to her as of lately, but found nothing.

Her eyes opened slowly and she turned and looked towards the opposite side of the bed. It was untouched as if he'd never lain next to her.

Sitting up, she stretched her arms over head and yawned as she stared around the room that she remembered him telling her was his room from when he was younger.

The room was easily two times bigger than her own bedroom with walls painted passion red, and a plush oak queen size bed that sat so far off the floor that it required steps. The bed sat in the middle of the room accompanied by two nightstands, and the walls were bare with the exception of a picture of a beautiful ferocious white dog that appeared to be racing through the clouds.

She didn't know why, but it reminded her of a Feudal Fairytale; a story that her grandfather had told to her and her brother on one to many nights.

It was about a magical demon dog that could morph into a man at will. He supposedly ruled the western portion of Japan for centuries during a time when demon's ruled the four corners of the earth, and humans were enslaved and killed at will. Anyway, he was said to be a different type of ruler-one that was not only feared, but also respected by all. Sadly though, one night after a ferocious battle, he attempted to save his love interest-a human Princess-and his son, who was being held captive by his enemies. On that faithful night and because he dared to love a human in a time when that was not looked upon kindly, he was slain.

Love stories never end well, do they, she questioned to herself as she spared another moment to stare up at the work of art.

Pushing the heavy black and gold striped duvet off of her, Kagome stepped down out of the bed and pulled on a pair of sweat pants that she'd discarded a few hours earlier and made her way quickly towards the door.

She knew where they were, and if for that reason alone she desperately needed to find him.

Running her hands through her mussed hair as she opened the bedroom door and stepped into the hallway, she stopped short as she came eye to eye with Sesshomaru.

“Uhm, sorry, I…”

He scowled down at her and took a hesitant step back as he eyed her curiously. “You're not going to start leaking again are you?”

Kagome blushed and looked at everything but him before glancing back and affirming, “No. I'm…I'm looking for Inuyasha.” She gnawed on her lip before he responded and added with a bow, “I'm so sorry about that. I'm…I'm sorry for everything that I've done to you and in front of you that may have seemed less than admirable.”

“Apology accepted,” the demon stated as he stepped towards her and started down the stairs ahead of her. Noticing that she wasn't following, he added, “He's in the dining room with his lover.”

“His lover?” Kagome questioned unable to keep the confusion she was feeling out of her voice.

“Yes, his lover, my mate, Rin.”

“They're lovers?” she questioned, her voice laced with incredulity.

“Perhaps you should ask the both of them about that. I stopped asking questions awhile ago.”

As he reached the bottom step, Sesshomaru stopped and turned towards her, his face unreadable. “How are you feeling, Higurashi?” Before she could answer, he finished, “Perhaps I should have asked you that in the beginning.”

Kagome blushed and bowed again. “I'm fine. I…I just need Inuyasha.”

Sesshomaru stared at her for a long moment before he turned and started through the foyer and down another long hallway.

As they turned another corner, Kagome could hear a woman laughing and she tried to strain her hearing to listen in, but her attempt was cut off when a black blur zipped past Sesshomaru and almost tackled her.

“I assume he's yours,” the dog demon stated without stopping as she paused to pat Ashton's head lightly.

“Yes, he's mine. I hope you don't mind him being here.”

“I had no say-so in the matter,” he replied coolly as he disappeared around another corner.

Running to catch up with him, Kagome stopped short as she stepped into a brightly lit kitchen that was massive by anyone's comparison. The room was absolutely beautiful, lined with rich oak cabinets accented by golden knobs, a large crystal chandelier that hung over a marble island and the floors were laced with a version of marble tile that she hadn't seen before.

“Kagome, you're up,” Rin stated cheerily as she stepped away from Inuyasha who had yet to turn and acknowledge her.

Tearing her attention away from the back of his head, she smiled and greeted her with a bow, “Good morning, Rin. You have a beautiful home.”

“Please, it's not mine. Their mother designed this; I just married into it,” she replied stepping up to her and giving her a hug.

Have a seat next to Inuyasha, I'm cooking breakfast this morning so you'll have to suffer through it,” Rin grinned as she stepped up to Sesshomaru and slipped her arm around his waist while he slowly sipped a fresh cup of coffee.

Taking a seat next to Inuyasha, she smiled and declared, “I'm sure whatever you fix will be delicious.”

Rin said something back to her, but she didn't hear her because her attention turned to Inuyasha who was sitting there staring into a cup of dark black coffee as if he was trying to ignore her.

Leaning over in her seat she kissed his cheek lightly and whispered, “I missed you this morning. Why didn't you come to bed?”

The hanyou tapped a claw on the marble counter top but still didn't look at her nor did he answer her.

“Inuyasha?”

He sighed and glanced at Rin before daring a look at her. “How you feeling?”

Kagome stared at him, her eyes narrowed. “What's your problem, Takahashi?”

He shook his head and questioned again, “How are you feeling?”

“I would feel much better if you explain to me why you didn't come to bed.”

The hanyou sighed lightly as he fingered the handle of his mugs. “I wasn't really tired. Besides, since you're going home, you'll have to get used to sleeping without me anyway, right?”

Before Kagome could allow his response to soak in, Rin interrupted quickly as if she was trying to stave off an argument, “Kagome would you care for some coffee, tea or juice?”

She tore her eyes away from Inuyasha. “Juice, please.”

The hanyou stood to his feet and yawned tiredly as he stretched his arms over his head. Grabbing his coffee cup, he stated quickly, “Well, I'm going to go call Nya so she can make your travel arrangements. I'll see if she can get you on the earliest flight possible.” Turning his attention to Rin, he stated, his voice softening, “Call me when breakfast is ready, I'll be outside with Ashton.”

Turning away from his retreating back, Kagome stared from Sesshomaru, who was skimming through the morning paper to Rin, whom was looking at her with an apologetic expression on her face.

“Don't worry about him,” Rin advised cutting into her thoughts. “He's never been a morning person.”

Kagome knew that was crap, because in all the time that she'd been with him, he was never in a bad mood in the morning. Forcing a smile, she stated, “Well, maybe I should go talk to him.”

“Maybe you should,” Sesshomaru interjected absently as he picked up his cup of coffee and started out the kitchen with his newspaper. “That's generally what `the girlfriend' does, is it not?”

Kagome rolled her eyes at him before turning her attention back to Rin.

“Don't pay him any mind, he's always like that,” Rin offered in defense of her husband's snide remark.

Yeah, sure he is, Kagome thought sarcastically as she stared down into her glass of juice trying to figure out exactly how she got mixed with these Takahashi's in the first place.

Rin stared at her for a long moment before she spoke softly, “They're really not that bad. You just have to know how to train them.” Turning away, she finished, “They are dog demons after all.”

Kagome stared at the young woman's back as she cracked a few eggs in a bowl and started seasoning it. She didn't know what it was about Rin, but from the moment she'd met her at the office, she been comfortable with her. Of course, they'd never hung out or anything like that, but there was an air about her that was just welcoming.

“So I hear that you plan on heading back home to Kyoto.”

Shaking off her thoughts, Kagome retorted, “Yeah, but only for a little while.”

“I see,” Rin offered. “Will Inuyasha be going with you?”

Kagome blinked, her mouth opening and closing like a caught fish. No, she hadn't thought about Inuyasha going with her, or how he would feel about her leaving. Quite honestly, she hadn't given herself time to even entertain the thought.

”Uhm, no, we haven't discussed that,” she replied softly.

“I see,” Rin replied pouring the egg batter into a cast iron skillet.

The silence dragged on between the two women before Kagome swallowed convulsively and said, “I know you owe no allegiance to me, Rin, but if I ask you a question would you answer me honestly?”

Rin turned to face her, a pair of scissors in her hand that she was using to cut into a pack of imported sausage. “I only owe allegiance to my mate, Kagome, but I generally don't make it a habit of lying.”

“I'm sorry, I didn't mean to offend you, I-“

Laughing, Rin interrupted, “Think nothing of it. What do you want to know?” She grinned mischievously and finished, “…if Inuyasha is seeing someone else?”

Kagome blushed. “No, I wanted to know if he's spoken to you about why he's upset. I know him not being a morning person has nothing to do with it. I…I wanted to know if maybe he talked to you, because holding his tongue isn't really one of his specialties, regardless of the situation.”

Rin frowned thoughtfully before she answered, “Yes, he talked to me about it.”

Noticing that the woman had no plans of continuing, Kagome asked, “Well, does it have something to do with me? Did I do something wrong?”

Stepping towards the island that Kagome was sitting at, Rin set the scissors down on the counter and leaned forward as she began softly, her eyes holding a twinkle as if she knew something that Kagome didn't, “Well, I'll tell you this. Sometimes the things one says in the heat of the moment can leave a truly bitter taste in one's mouth.”

What? Kagome thought, one eyebrow raised slightly higher than the other. What the hell is she talking about?

“I think the two of you need to talk before you leave for Kyoto,” Rin clarified with a wink.

Kagome stared at Rin for a long moment before she nodded in understanding and stood to her feet, her glass of juice in her hand. “Thanks, Rin, I think I'll have that talk with him now.”

“Oh, Kagome, give him a hug; that always seems to get him to open up to me.”

Taking another sip from her glass, Kagome set it down on the counter and smiled in acknowledgment of Rin's advice, knowing that if Inuyasha didn't step down off his high horse the only thing he was going to get was a slap across the face.

Hell, after what she'd been through in the past few hours, she was the only one that should've had an attitude. After all, wasn't she the one that was almost kidnapped, wasn't she the one that was practically molested, and wasn't she the one that had to sit there and watch her boyfriend toss someone over a balcony?

So, if he knew what was good for him, he would check his attitude at the door and talk to her about whatever was bothering him, before she just happened to catch an attitude of her own.

Traversing through the massive house, she quickly found the door that led to the patio and the backyard where he and Ashton were.

Stepping onto the porch, she immediately noticed him sitting with his back to her staring out into the forest that surrounded the massive yard.

Shuffling closer to him, she stepped down on the top step and sat down right next to him, her shoulder touching his. Sighing lightly since he still hadn't acknowledged her, Kagome stated softly as she stared at Ashton who was happily chasing his tail, “Takahashi, if I didn't say it before, I want to say it now. Thank you for coming back when you did. Thank you for…for always saving me; for taking care of me when you don't have to.”

He glanced down at her, his lips turned up slightly at the corners. His eyes told her that he wanted to keep that transparent wall up between them in order to hold onto whatever had him peeved. But as his arm shifted and he wrapped it around her, pulling her into his side, she knew that whatever it was that he was upset about, he'd probably just let it go.

The hanyou sighed lightly and leaned his head down against hers, rubbing the side of his head against hers. He couldn't explain how just her being close to him could disarm him in such away, but it did, and he was thankful because of it.

“Have I told you just how much I hate you?” he whispered softly, his tone saying the exact opposite.

“No, not today you haven't,” she retorted, her tone gentle and soothing.

Staring down at her, Inuyasha pushed his thoughts to the back of his mind as he pulled her a little closer and sighed. “There weren't any more flights available today to Kyoto, so I had Nya commission a private jet that Sesshomaru and Rin use; it should be ready by 3 this afternoon.”

Kagome pushed back away from him, her eyes narrowed quizzically. “Inuyasha, when I said I wanted to go home, I didn't mean today.”

“Well you didn't really say not today either, did you?”

“If I didn't know any better I would think that maybe you're trying to get rid of me,” Kagome quipped mildly. Noticing the way he looked away from her, she continued as she laid her head against his shoulder and closed her eyes, “Last night when he was trying to attack me, I kept trying to remember the sound of my brother's laughter and I couldn't. I also tried to remember the length of my mother's hair and the feel of her hands, but for the life of me, I just couldn't remember.”

The hanyou glanced down at her, but didn't attempt to interrupt her as she continued.

“The only thing I could remember was the color of your eyes, the feel of your hands, and the sound of your voice, Inuyasha. You…you've consumed so much of my life…my time that I felt guilty. I feel guilty because I couldn't remember the things that I should have been able to remember about them. They're my family. I was like a second mother my brother, and my mother is like one of my best friends and I couldn't remember the tiniest most insignificant things about them.”

Takahashi ran his hand down his face and inhaled deeply. He understood now. He understood that maybe Rin was right; her wanting to go home didn't mean she was leaving him. She just needed to reconnect with the only family she'd ever known.

All of a sudden he felt really stupid for being angry with her before…for doubting her and allowing his thoughts to run away from him.

What kind of man would he be if he even attempted to stand between her and her family? What kind of fool was he to have even considered making her choose between them and him, and he'd considered it.

Takahashi licked his lips and closed his eyes as he spoke softly, “I'm not going to lie to you, I don't want you to go, but…but I do understand why you need to. Not, that you're asking my permission, which you don't have to, but I think you should go.”

Kagome glanced up at him and smiled as his words from earlier that morning spun through her head. “Inuyasha, is that why you were so standoffish this morning?”

He didn't respond, so she took that as a yes.

“Inuyasha, why don't you come with me? Why don't you come home with me?”

Takahashi smiled as he snorted out something that sounded like a laugh or possibly a cough. “Maybe next time. Besides, I still need to finish my statement to the cops, and make sure that the repairs go as planned to my place. Not to mention, I have work that I've been neglecting over the past few weeks.”

Kagome knew he was making up excuses, because if he really wanted to go with her, he'd shuck his duties at work like he normally did, and make Nya or Rin oversee the repairs to his condo. However, she wouldn't call him on his line of crap, because he more than likely had a reason for not wanting to come with her.

“Well if you change your mind, you'll know where I am.”

“Damn wench, how long are you planning on being gone, because you're acting like you're not coming back or something.”

“I'm not sure; maybe two or three weeks.” She could tell that he didn't seem to like that too much, but like she said before, he was going to know where she was.

They were quiet for a moment before he spoke again, his voice holding no sign of joking, “Kagome, last night when that guy, Dinshu got in bed with you; how…how did you realize it wasn't me?”

Several minutes passed before she grabbed his hand, interlacing her fingers with his. “I…I was afraid of him. Even before he tried to attack me when he was trying to act as if he were you, I was afraid of him.” She sighed lightly and finished, “I've never doubted your touch or been afraid of you and last night, I was, or at least I was afraid of the idea of you. So, that's how I knew.”

The hanyou stared at her for a long moment before he leaned in and kissed her lightly on the temple. “The next time you let another man touch you like that, Wench, you and I are going to have serious problems.”

“Inuyasha, I didn't know. I tried to stop him. I…I-“ she tried to defend herself sensing the seriousness in his words, but he cut her off.

“I know you did everything you could do, but if I didn't say what I just said, it would eat at me and cause problems between us. I'm a selfish man, Kagome. I don't share very well and I don't plan on learning how too. If you're with me then I need you to be with me.” He pushed back and stared down at her as he finished, “I don't want to have to worry about who you're with, what you're doing, or whether I can trust you. I need to know that you know me, I need to know that I can trust you with something as important as my heart, and something as trivial as my wallet.”

Kagome shook her head and replied, “Takahashi, I would never betray you in such a way. Not willingly, anyway. I don't know what this is that we have or where it's going, but I like it, and I want to hold on to it for as long as you let me. So the last thing that I'd even consider doing is anything that would jeopardize that.” Her voice was just above a whisper but holding enough sincerity that he'd know that she meant every word she said.

Staring up at him, a contrite look on her face, Kagome leaned forward, kissed him softly, slowly, once, twice, and three times then stated, “I understand what you need from me, Inuyasha, but I need those same things from you.”

Running the backs of his knuckles down her cheek tenderly, Inuyasha smiled genuinely, his eyes softening tellingly, but he didn't respond, because his answer was not one that he could tell her. He'd have to show her, and he would do that.

“Breakfast!” they both heard Rin shout, which caused them to look away from one another as Kagome's stomach growled loudly.

Chuckling, the hanyou stood to his feet, pulling her up behind him. “Well, let's get you something to eat, and then we need to get you packed.”

Slipping her fingers into his, Kagome smiled softly and declared quietly, “Are you sure you don't want to come with me?”

The hanyou squeezed her hand, but didn't reply verbally as they continued over the threshold and into his brother's home.

Until Next Time…(I told you guys it was long!! Anyway, your .02 cents is greatly appreciated!!)

Next Chapter: Gone, Baby Gone

Acknowledgements:

Lilsweetpea011 ~ Deipurple ~ Tueske ~ Little Red ~ Silverwolfhalfbeast ~ Kagomerocks241 ~ Henjin ~ Meru ~ Loulou4729 ~ Mynera ~ Niiicko ~ Angel-up-above-heaven ~ Miss_Marilyn69 ~ Ai Kisugi ~