InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Hearts in Denial ❯ Absence Makes the Heart Grow Fonder ( Chapter 1 )

Title: Hearts in Denial

Summary: Kagome Higurashi always carried a heated torch for InuYasha WindScar, yet she never gave into her desire, in fear that she would break her friend Kikyo's heart. InuYasha has always had feelings for Kagome. His problem: he's afraid that telling her how he feels will ruin their friendship. Now, after a horrible incident leaves Kagome paralyzed and mute, he finds he may have to forget his own fears in order to help Kagome with her own.

Pairings Kag/Inu/Kikyo triangle well sort of just have to wait and see, Mir/Sango, maybe by some Sess/Rin flirting.

Disclaimer: I don't own InuYasha, so can we just move on with the story?

Rated: R for language and sexual content, need I say more?

Chapter 1: Absence Makes the Heart Grow Fonder

By Tainted InuShemeeko

Inuyasha's dress shoes clicked on the sidewalk as he made his way to Shikon General where Kagome Higurashi worked as an RN, nurse. Sometimes he didn't know where she got the nerve to be a nurse, having to deal with sick people and or watching people die right before your eyes, but some how she managed and he was pretty sure she would make it through today as well. Inuyasha mumbled under his breath.

"Who does Kikyo think she is? I've told her a thousand times that there's nothing between us and there never will be. I mean there hasn't been anything between us since high school."

He then sighed as he undid his tie. Today had been hell at the office; sometimes he could swear that Sesshomaru was trying to kill him. Especially when he knew that InuYasha hated being in the meetings in person. Too many of the women in the meetings wanted to rub his dog ears; it was to damn annoying.

"Hope Kagome doesn't mind me coming by and seeing her."

Inuyasha glanced down at his watch and then at Shikon General.

"Kagome works from six to six fifteen, so she should be getting off soon."

Just as Inuyasha reached the doors to the entrance the sound of a siren broke the serenity of the calm evening. Twenty seconds later an ambulance pulled around the circle and then pulled to the ER doors. Another fifteen seconds later another ambulance followed the first.

InuYasha winced as a voice spoke over the loud speaker.

"All available staff are needed in the ER, all available staff are needed in the ER."

InuYasha shook his head as he leaned against the wall.

`Damn it looks like it's going to be at late one for Kagome.'

That's when he saw his friend Miroku Hoshi coming down the hallway. He groaned when Miroku spotted him.

`Oh, great and the questioning and endless torture begins.'

There was no way for Miroku to hide the large grin that was now on his face.

"Why, InuYasha, what a surprise to see you here, I was sure you said that you hated hospitals, yet here you stand my friend."

A low growl came from InuYasha, one that Miroku knew that was directed at him.

"So could it be that you have finally come to your senses and are ready to tell Kagome how you really feel?"

InuYasha's golden orbs narrowed as he continued to glare at his friend.

"No, I'm not and even if I was, I sure as hell wouldn't be telling you about it. What the hell are you doing here and dressed like that anyway?"

Miroku did his best to cover up how upset he was by InuYasha's words. InuYasha, on the other hand, just smirked as he waited for him to reply.

"Why, InuYasha, I'm hurt at your lack of faith in me. I am here out of the goodness of my heart to help those who are reaching out for Kami in their time of need, for I could ask for no nobler deed."

InuYasha chuckled lightly as he looked up at the expression on his best friends face.

"Your grandfather made you come today, huh?"

Miroku sighed and hung his head in defeat.

"Once again, InuYasha, you are right on all accounts. It doesn't matter how hard I try, I can't get away from him. It's almost like he has a tracking device on me, and just the other day Grandfather cleansed me of a demon, or so he said, even after nothing happened."

This time InuYasha's chuckle turned into a laugh as he tried to speak.

"Here I thought Kagome's grandfather was bad…when he tried to cleanse…me from their house…my freshmen year. That old men's spiritual powers aren't anything compared to your Grandfather's powers. So how bad did it hurt?"

Miroku's face remained calm as he slowly prepared to answer InuYasha's question.

"It really wasn't all that bad, expect for the static shock I got every time I touched a woman."

After hearing this InuYasha cracked having to excuse himself and walked outside, Miroku following behind him with a frown on his face.

"Heeeheehee, you…got shocked…every time…you…hahahaha…tried…to touch…a…woman, for how long?"

Miroku sighed as he prepared to answer his friend's question.

"It took one whole week."

This only made InuYasha laugh harder.

"One whole week hahaha, I bet Sango loved that one."

Miroku rubbed the back of his head as he looked at InuYasha.

"Uh, well actually she wasn't that upset about it."

InuYasha couldn't get over this new information that Miroku had just given to him.

"What'd you mean your own fiancée wasn't upset about you not being able to kiss her or have sex? Man, Miroku that's got to be the cruelest thing I've heard of, then again she was probably just happy that you couldn't grope her for a week."

Miroku shook his head as he held his hands in the air.

"Every time I'm trying to have a serious discussion about what's going on in my life, you always end up pointing fun at me."

InuYasha was at first taken by surprise, by the seriousness in his friend's voice.

"Hey listen, Miroku I was only playing around. I didn't mean anything by it; hope there's no hard feel…ings."

A low growl came from within InuYasha has he looked at the smile that was now plastered on Miroku's face.

"Why you little…you were being serious on purpose. I ought to pound you into the ground."

Miroku continued to grin at InuYasha as he patted his friend on the back.

"As much as I would love to be pounded into the ground, I must decline. Sango is waiting for me at home."

He then took off in the direction of his cobalt Dodge Durango, Miroku then quickly yelled over his shoulder.

"Good luck with Kagome, and remember don't do something that I would do."

InuYasha eyebrow twitched as he took in the true meaning of what Miroku had just said.

"It's supposed to be, don't do something you wouldn't do, you stinking pervert. There's no way in hell I'd do something that you would do."

After getting his temper back under control, InuYasha headed back into the hospital.

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FOUR HOURS LATER

It was now going on ten thirty and InuYasha had fallen asleep leaning up against the wall, on the main floor of the hospital. A few seconds later, InuYasha heard someone calling his name out in surprise.

"InuYasha?"

InuYasha's ears twitched and his head snapped up at the sound of his name. He blinked his golden orbs trying to wipe the sleep from them.

"Oh, hey, Kagome…"

His tongue lulled out of his mouth as he yawned.

"So are you ready to go or what?"

Kagome was surprised by what InuYasha had just asked her, when she then quickly asked him her question.

"InuYasha, how long have you been waiting for me?"

InuYasha stared at her for a moment and then asked.

"Does it really matter how long I've been here waiting for you?"

"Yes, InuYasha it does matter."

InuYasha couldn't help the irritation that was building up toward Kagome. Why was it that she had to be so damn demanding, she would have made a great lawyer alas she had chosen to be a nurse instead.

"Feh, fine if you really want to know I've been here since six fifteen. That's the time you usually get off, then all those ambulances came in and I figured they would need you."

Kagome was taken by surprise by InuYasha's confession. She just couldn't believe it. Why would he have been waiting so long for her to get off work?

"InuYasha, why would you come here and wait for me? You hate hospitals; it was everything I could do to get you in here for a rabies shot when that stray dog bit you."

InuYasha's cheeks flushed at Kagome's mentioning of the situation. His brother Sesshomaru still wouldn't let it go.

"Feh, so what, I need a reason to come and visit my best friend at the place of her work?"

Once again it was Kagome's turn to be surprised.

"Well no, it's not that, it's just…"

She never got a chance to finish her sentence before InuYasha interrupted her.

"Sango called me and told me about what happened between you and Kouga. I just wanted to stop by and see how you were holding up. So am I going to walk you to your car or are we going to stand here all night?"

Kagome smiled as InuYasha took her hand and led her out the automatic doors. It didn't matter, however, their lives changed. Their friendship always seemed like it would remain the same as it had been in high school, except for the tiny fact that, the two of them had hidden feelings for each other.

Halfway to her hunter green Volkswagen, Kagome decided to break the silence with her gentle voice.

"So how are things at the office for you?"

InuYasha's response was simple.

"Do you really want to know?"

Kagome only nodded her head.

"Yes, I really want to know how your day was."

InuYasha looked over at Kagome, as if he really believed what she was saying. Then he said,

"Fine, you want to know what my day was like. It was hell."

At this Kagome raised an eyebrow at InuYasha.

"Really, how so, what happened?"

InuYasha shivered at the memory.

"First, there was the damn meeting this morning. Sesshomaru knows how much I hate sitting in on those damn things. This Yuka woman kept trying to pet my fucking ears again, I swear the next time she makes a move toward me, I'm tying her to a chair."

InuYasha then noticed the blush on Kagome's face.

"What, what is it?"

It then came to him in a flash.

"Hell no, don't tell me you know that wench."

"Well, you see InuYasha, Yuka and I had classes together, I'm surprised that you've forgotten who she was."

InuYasha thought about for a while and then answered.

"Fuck, she's the one that use to chase me through the halls every day."

Kagome nodded her head as she smiled at him.

"Yep, that's the one."

Hearing this cause InuYasha to slap a clawed hand up against his face, after a few seconds he sat up and looked over at Kagome, as she pulled out of the parking lot.

"Anyway, I guess the part of my day that sucked the most was the custody case I had to deal with this afternoon. I mean how can parents fight over their own kid? I don't think I could if it was my kid, I'd have to let him or her stay with the parent that they wanted to stay with. I mean their happiness is all that I would wish for."

Kagome smiled as she remembered the soft spot he had for kids. He never liked it when people mistreated a child. Even though he was twenty-four years, it still remained the same.

"I wouldn't worry so much about it, InuYasha, I'm sure you do what you think is in the best interest of the child."

InuYasha loosened his tie has he glanced over at Kagome. Only one thing ran through his mind; he hoped Kagome was right. InuYasha cleared his throat before asking,

"Um…hey Kagome how would you like to have dinner with me."

At first Kagome was taken by surprise as she stared over at InuYasha. Had he just asked her out on a date? No, of course not, he had asked if she would like to have dinner with him, not go out with him. InuYasha's ear's twitched as he heard the thumping sound of Kagome's heart in her chest.

"Uh, are you all right Kagome? Did I say something wrong?"

Kagome just shook her head no as she answered InuYasha.

"Of course not silly, you just took me by surprise is all. Besides, don't you think it's a little late to be going out to dinner?"

InuYasha just smirked at Kagome's response, before he answered her with a grin on his face.

"Who said anything about going out to eat? All I asked was if you would like to have dinner with me. I can cook you know, and I'm not talking about Ramen."

Kagome giggled at hearing this, as she raised an eyebrow at InuYasha.

"Really, so what's on the menu?"

InuYasha smirked over at Kagome as he answered her question.

"Oh I don't know, I was thinking about whipping up some oden. But if you think it's too late for dinner then…"

InuYasha never got a chance to finish his sentence before Kagome interrupted him.

"You're making oden for dinner?"

InuYasha couldn't help but smirk at her once again.

"Well yeah, that's what I had thought about making, but like I said if you think it's too late for dinner then forget it."

`Hook line and sinker, now all I got to do is reel her in. That way the two of us can spend a Friday night catching up.'

Kagome's voice broke through his thoughts as she spoke.

"InuYasha, do you know how long it's been since I've had oden? I said it was too late to go out for dinner, I never said anything about cooking dinner."

The minute she flashed him that soft trademark smile, InuYasha couldn't help but smile back at her.

"Well, we're here."

Kagome brought her Volkswagen to a soft stop in front of her apartment. Her brown eyes caught sight of InuYasha's red Mustang Coupe GT, ten parking spots down.

"Um, InuYasha did get Miroku to drop you off at the hospital?"

InuYasha shook his head as he shut the passenger's door.

"Nah, I got off work came home and then decided to come and see you. Is there something wrong with that?"

Kagome smiled as she looked over at InuYasha.

"No there's nothing wrong with it, it's just that Shikon General is four miles from here."

She made her way to her apartment door and inserted her key to unlock it, with InuYasha following close behind her. Kagome then walked to the kitchen and wet a rag to wipe off her table. InuYasha smirked as he responded to what Kagome had just said.

"I'm half demon remember, four miles is nothing compared to what a mile is to yo…u."

He was greeted by a wet rag slamming into his face. InuYasha looked at the stern look on Kagome' face as the young woman placed her hands on her head.

"You were saying, InuYasha?"

InuYasha grabbed a towel and wiped off his wet face.

"I was saying that you should go get a shower."

She giggled as she headed off to get a shower.

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Forty-Five Minutes Later

Both InuYasha and Kagome sat at the table enjoying conversation and the Oden that InuYasha had made. Kagome chewed and swallowed before she spoke again.

"So how's Sesshomaru doing, is he seeing anyone I mean? It's been a year and a half since the break up between him and Kagura."

InuYasha growled at the mention of his brother's name.

"Do we really have to talk about him now? I mean, I am trying to eat."

Kagome's eyes widened at InuYasha's reaction.

"Oh, so I'm guessing he's found someone?"

"Keh, yeah I don't think they're going out yet though. They're pretty much still in the whole flirting stage. I swear it's sickening, and weird I've never seen his eyes light up the way the do when Rin walks into his office."

Kagome took some time to process everything that InuYasha had just said. She then stood up and started to clear the table.

"So her name is Rin?"

InuYasha nodded as he picked up his plate and followed her into the kitchen.

"Yeah, she's Sesshomaru's new law assistant. She's smart, too; I think that's one of the things that attracted my brother to her. She's got a kind heart too."

InuYasha then changed the subject as soon as he could.

"S…oooo Kagome, your twenty-fourth birthday is coming up soon, how about you come to dinner with your four best friends?"

Kagome thought about it for a bit before she answered him.

"I don't know I'm sure you and Kikyo don't want to be in the same room together."

InuYasha couldn't believe what he was hearing. How could she think like that?

"Kagome, why would you think like that? Just because things are over between Kikyo and I, doesn't mean we're going to stop being your friend. Besides it was Sango and Kikyo's idea, Miroku and I are just coming because Sango is making us."

He then winked at her as he headed toward the door. She just smiled back at him.

"Yep see you Saturday, InuYasha, have a good night."

Once he was gone, Kagome sagged into the couch. What a day today had been. She was pretty sure InuYasha was going to ask how her day had been today. Boy had she been glad when he hadn't. After all, having to deal with two drive by shooting victims was not the way she planned to spend her evening. The oldest victim had been sixteen-year-old Hiten Rodma; the youngest had been an eight year old by the name of Shippo Toba. The good news was that both of them would live through their injuries. Hiten, however, was still in the ICU.

One thought ran through her mind as she headed toward her bedroom.

"Please let tomorrow and Saturday be better then today was."

However, she would never know that her twenty-fourth birthday was going to change her life as she knew it forever, for nothing would ever be the same again.

(A/N: Ok so here we have a new story thanks to the fact that I did something stupid. I shall never, not save my stories on disk ever again. I hope you all will review and I hope I did not disappoint anyone

Ja ne!

Tainted InuShemeeko)

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