InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Jewel Shard's Bail Bonds ❯ New school, and Memories ( Chapter 3 )

Chapter Three:

Special thanks to my amazing beta for her mad Betaing skills Inubaka you rock!

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The first day of college in a real university with professors lecturing to auditorium-sized class rooms had Kagome so excited she could hardly contain it. She had barely slept the night before and when she had woken up that morning Kouga was at her door with flowers, coffee and a Danish. She was a little surprised he had shown up unannounced since they’d only been seeing each other for a week, but Kouga had made it a habit of seeing her at least once a day some way or another.

They’d met a couple times that week over coffee before work. One day she’d missed her first bus and couldn’t meet him that morning, so that after noon he came and took her to lunch, much to her protesting. She had made plans with Sango and Miroku to try a little Chinese food place nearby but Kouga wouldn’t take no for an answer and took her to some five star restaurant down town. The other night they had gone on another date and he had taken her to dinner and a movie. It was nice, and they had a good time, but when she told him her work schedule was changing he got a little upset.

So, he tried talking her into let him pick her up and drive her to school everyday, but she had declined but he had given her the saddest puppy eyes she’d ever seen. She had agreed if they had plans he could pick her up from school but there was no need to drive her there since she only lived a ten minute bus ride away. This brought her to this morning, as Kouga stood in the doorway, wearing gray slacks and a blue button up shirt that made his eyes sparkle.
“Morning beautiful,” he said strolling into her apartment, she had to put her foot down now before this got out of control.
“Kouga, I told you, you don’t have to drive me to school, I’m a big girl I can take care of myself.” she said pouting a little.

Kouga came over to her until he was a hands breath away,
“It’s just that I wanted to see you and it’s a special day it’s your first day at the university.” he said huskily into her ear. There was something about the way he said things that could send her into shivers, but she shook herself because she had to stay strong.

“Kouga, I can’t be dependent on you. We’ve only been seeing each other for a week! I’m trying to learn to be independent , but I can’t do that if you keep babying me.”
He wrapped his arms around her waist,
“I’ll be better I promise,” he said bring her to his lips enveloping her in a kiss, she felt her knees weaken. ‘Gods he was such a good kisser.’ They broke apart a few passionate minutes later and Kagome was out of breath,
“You’re terrible you know that?” she said playfully hitting his arm.
“I know,” he grinned wolfishly.

Twenty minutes later, Kagome was standing outside of the university, and she watched as students bustled by in a rush to get to their classes. She tried to take it all in, and she took her time getting to her first class. It was a little bit smaller than she was expecting, there were only fifty seats and pretty empty, save for some who had come in early like her. Class wouldn’t start for another fifteen minutes, so she sat down and took in the decorations. It was an English class, so of course there were pictures of classic authors decorating the walls, like Mark Twain, William Shakespeare, and Robert Frost that looked down at her from their lofty portraits. At the front of the room, there was a white board with a small wooden podium in front of it.

Five minutes before the class started a rush of students filed in, filling the empty seats. Kagome took out her textbook and prepared for the professor, who had followed the group of students in. She was of average height, and looked to be of Japanese decent with her short black hair pulled in a small bun. She had beautiful violet eyes, but had a very stern face. She didn’t look like the type you would want to mess with. When she set her bag down the entire class went silent and watched her with rapt attention.
“Good Morning Class,” she said in quick clipped tones, “My name is Professor Kagura Oogami, but I can be referred to as Professor or Professor Oogami. I do not like to be referred to by my first name unless you know me personally.” she finished watching the class, glaring to make sure they got the point.
‘I was right,’ Kagome thought, ‘She isn’t someone you would want to mess with.’

Professor Oogami ran her class straight to the point, and by the end of, Kagome had already written an introductory paper about herself, ‘Who I am’, the classic essay professor’s liked to give out to acess your writing ability from the start. She had homework as well; she was going to have to write a paper, which was called ‘Why English is Important’. She sighed pulling her yellow bag over her shoulder as she exited the class she thought,
‘Well it looks like university is going to be harder than community college.’

After English, she had biology, which seemed easy enough, but she had more homework for that night, which was reading the first chapter of her textbook. The Professor seemed tame enough; he was a mousey haired main, who was slightly balding with coke bottle glasses. While introducing himself he had a stuttered slightly, which made some of Kagome’s classmates giggle. She left the class feeling confident, because she was pretty good at science and didn’t think it would be a problem.

Her last class for that day was American History, and she was on time however, she got lost on her way and ended up being five minutes late to class. She found the class and swung open the door the Professor was already addressing the class he stopped mid-sentence to regard Kagome, she noticed he had long white blond hair that went to his mid back with an impassive face. He looked a little peeved that Kagome was late.
“As I was saying,” he drawled, “Punctuality is very important to me and your success in this class.” he glared at Kagome as she took a seat near front, next to a girl with wavy brown hair and round brown eyes.
“Don’t worry I heard he does that to everyone. He even made a girl over there cry before class started.” she whispered behind her hand nodding to a girl a few seats away from them with a tear stained face.
“Oh, that makes me feel a little better,” Kagome admitted, “I’m Kagome by the way.”
“My name is Rin,” she said merrily forgetting to whisper.
“And I am Professor Sesshomaru Takahashi, nice to meet you both now may we return to my lecture?” he said smoothly making both girls turn bright red with embarrassment.
“Y-yes,” Rin stammered turning even brighter red, as Professor Takahashi raised a brow at her then returned to the front of the class.

The class went by rather quickly and Professor Takahashi overloaded them with homework, three chapters of reading in their textbook and answering the essay questions for each chapter due at the next class later that week.
“That wasn’t so bad,” Rin said happily besides Kagome.
“Compared to what?” Kagome said incredulously.
“Compared to a root canal?” Rin supplied helpfully.
“I guess,” Kagome said dismally thinking of all the homework she had to do.
‘Well that’s what I get for wishing for homework.’ she thought sadly.
“At least the Professors cute, not some old guy.” Rin continued.
“Ya, if you like tall and handsome with beautiful hair,” Kagome joked.
“Oh, and believe me I do.” Rin said with enthusiasm.
Kagome laughed, “He kind of reminds me of someone but I’m not sure who,” she thought of it for a moment but no one in particular came to mind.
‘Oh well,’ she thought ‘I’ll remember eventually.’
“Hmm, well are you hungry?” Rin said pulling her backpack around to the front so she could fish out her wallet as they approached the cafeteria, before she could answer however her phone rang.
“Hold that thought,” she said to Rin, digging for her phone in her pockets. She pulled it out and looked at the number, and she saw it was Sango,
“Hey Sango, what’s up?” Rin’s face flashed an expression Kagome couldn’t decipher.
“Sorry to do this to you Kagome, but could you come into work tonight some things came up that I got to take care of and I’m the only one that’s supposed to be in tonight, I know its last minute notice.” she said pleadingly,.
“Sure, I don’t mind but you owe me one!” she joked.
“Thanks a million Kagome, you’re a life saver!”
“No problem, I just got out of class and I’ll be there in maybe thirty to forty five minutes I have to ride the trolley there.”
“No problem, see you then.”

As Kagome went to hang up the phone, she swore she heard Miroku’s voice, ‘Something urgent with Miroku. I’ll get to the bottom of this eventually,’ she thought.
“Who was that?” Rin said sweetly,
“Oh my Co-worker Sango, I have to go in and cover her shift”
“Oh where do you work?” She said in a suspiciously casual way,
“Jewel Shard’s Bail Bonds down town,”
“Really! You know, I live a few blocks from there it’s on my way home if you’d like a ride to work,” she said excitedly.
“Oh no, I don’t want to be a bother,” Kagome said waving her hands.
“Buy me a milkshake, and we’ll call it even.” Rin said holding out her pinky.

Kagome took her pinky in hers and the pair of them pumped their arms up and down in a pinky handshake. They got in line at the cafeteria where Kagome bought each of them a milkshake. They headed to the student parking lot, she saw that Rin had a cute little Honda with faded green paint. Her interior was covered with cherry seat covers, and the dash had a fuzzy dash cover with cherries, and hanging from the rear view mirror was a pair of crystal cherries.
“Cute car,” Kagome commented.
“Thanks,” she said, “I bought it for like five grand at this great used car dealership downtown.”
“Really, that sounds like a great deal!” Kagome’s wheels were turning if she saved up some money every week for a couple years she could eventually have her own car. She sighed though, because it was going to take awhile.

They arrived down town in less time than Kagome thought, and Rin promised to give Kagome rides to work from school as long as she bought her dinner, and Kagome thought it was fair since she didn’t think the tiny girl ate much. She couldn’t of have been more than a hundred pounds at five foot one. When she walked into Jewel Shard’s her suspicions were confirmed, when Miroku came out of the break room, as she was heading to her desk. Kagome made a face at Sango as to say, ‘I know what you’re up to,’ and she returned it with a look that said ‘it’s not what you think.’ Miroku stood by looking from one woman to the other.
“Am I missing something here?”
“No, nothing.” Kagome and Sango said in unison, Kagome mouthed to Sango ‘We’ll talk later,’ as her and Miroku headed out the door.

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Miroku screeched out of the parking lot adjacent to Jewel Shard’s Bail bond, and Sango had to hold onto the dashboard to steady herself.
“Do you have to drive like a maniac?” she said desperately.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” he said with a grin that melted Sango’s heart. If he wasn’t such a damn pervert, she would’ve considered going out with him, since he’d been asking her out daily since the day they met. She remembered the first time she’d met him, and how he had gotten down on one knee took her hand in his and said ‘Will you bear my child?’ and so she slapped him straight across the face, and that began a three year relationship of cat and mouse.

He had asked her out countless times, but she had turned him down every time. She’d seen his way with woman, and she knew he was a pervert and womanizer. And she definitely wasn’t looking to get her heart broken.
“You don’t need to give me the cold shoulder, I’ll slow down if it bothers you that much,” he said looking concerned and lowering his speed considerably. She laughed quietly to herself that hadn’t been her intent but she didn’t mind the effect.
“Thank you,” she said happily.
“Anything for you Sango, my love.”
“Pervert.”
“You know you love me,” She blushed a little, and hoped he didn’t notice, ‘Why does he always get a reaction out of me?’
“How do you think Kagome’s doing? I feel bad leaving her all alone,” she said quickly changing the subject.
“She’ll be fine; she’s more than proved herself at being capable of handling the phones, besides she has both our cell phone numbers if anything comes up. And Inuyasha needs us right now he hasn’t been into the office in a week and I’m starting to really worry about him.”
“You’re right,” Sango said resolutely, Kagome was very efficient, and Sango couldn’t believe she’d never done this before. She was so organized and friendly to everyone who met her. She was the complete opposite of their last receptionist Kikyo, with her blank face and cold demeanor; she wasn’t exactly a joy to work with. She didn’t know why Inuyasha kept going back to her every time. He’d been left off worse for the wear every time and this time they were afraid he’d actually snapped. It was so bad Inuyasha wasn’t even answering his phone anymore.

The pulled up to his townhouse near the beach, and saw Inuyasha’s car was parked at a crooked angle. Miroku parked his car on the street and they walked up to the front door. They went to knock but it pushed open easily, both exchanging worried glances before entering. When they entered they were greeted by destruction. There were deep parallel scratches along the entrance way and a small table lay in ruin, and when they walked into the living room, they saw the flat screen television was in half and the sliding glass door facing the ocean had a gaping hole through it with bar stools in tatters just outside of it. The black sofa was broken down the middle and Sango could see a hint of silver peaking over the back of it. She moved around to get a better look and saw Inuyasha sprawled across the broken couch with an empty vodka bottle held loosely in his hand, his silver hair unfurled behind him like a banner.
“Inuyasha?” she gasped.
“Yeah, what.” he snapped, his were eyes closed as he started clutching the bottle tighter.
“What happened, where have you been? It’s been a week since you’ve been in the office.” she said cautiously.
“Doesn’t concern you wench,” he snarled, Sango stepped back breaking an empty liquor bottle.
“Inuyasha, you don’t need to talk to Sango like that, she didn’t do this to you.” Miroku said coming to crouch near Inuyasha. Nobody could pay her enough to approach Inuyasha when he was like this, and she admired Miroku’s courage. Inuyasha could kill him before he had the chance to move.
“I’ll talk to anyone, anyway I want,” Inuyasha said sitting up and glaring at the pair of them. Miroku stood once more but didn’t move away.
“Is this about Kikyo?” Miroku said with crossed arm, Sango had a feeling this was about her.
“I said it was none of your business!” Inuyasha roared, standing toe to toe with Miroku, who didn’t flinch for a second. They’d been friends for years and Miroku trusted Inuyasha with his life, and Sango didn’t think he would ever hurt him.
“Fine Inuyasha, don’t tell us, waste away in your townhouse. I and Sango will continue the hunt on our own.”

Now he had him, the hunt was Inuyasha’s life, and he couldn’t keep him still once you mentioned it, he would pace around any moment asking them if they had any new leads which luckily they did. Ones they’d been saving to get him out of this funk.
“It is about Kikyo,” he said just above a whisper.
Miroku stopped pretending to walk to the door to look at Inuyasha.
‘Now were getting somewhere.’ Sango thought as Miroku chanced a glance at Sango and gave her a triumphant grin.
“Go on,” Miroku prompted turning back to Inuyasha.
“It’s over, she’s met someone new. I’ve lost her once more because I didn’t save her last time, that this is my punishment. If I had been there that day none of this would be happening, so I deserve this,” he spoke softly with his head down looking at them through his bangs, his triangle ears were flat back on his head.

Sango hadn’t know Inuyasha very long, and she’d only been working for Jewel Shards for about three years now, but after working there six months she had walked in on Inuyasha and discovered one of his secrets. She learned he was a Hanyou, and when she learned his secret, Inuyasha initiated her into the hunt. It was a personal quest he’d been focused on for nearly five hundred years.

A year after that, Kikyo had come to work for Jewel Shards. And that had been the beginning of the end for the Inuyasha she had gotten to know. He was never very friendly before but once he started dating Kikyo, he became extremely withdrawn, and he wouldn’t go places with Miroku and her like he used to. He ate lunch in his office with Kikyo and only did things with her. Then the first break up had happened he was a mess for days, but he hadn’t destroyed his apartment like he had this time but he was in a similar state.

A few days later, they got back together. He was never the same again, because he would shout for no reason, and was prone to fits of violence and every couple of months they would break up again. A few months ago, Kikyo quit, and Inuyasha was devastated and promised to hold her job for her and he had for a while, until Miroku and herself had demanded he hire someone new. Then he hired Kagome, that same day Kikyo had broken up with him again. As far as she knew, Kikyo had never seen anyone else while they were broken up, so this had to be serious this may be the end of them.
“I’m so sorry Inu,” Miroku said, and Sango had nearly forgotten where she was while thinking about the past.
“Keh, not a big deal, now what was this about the hunt?” he said in a business like tone. Inuyasha was back to himself as they went over the details of their news lead in the hunt.

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The engine hummed beneath his careful driving, and he had to admit it felt good to be behind the wheel of his baby once more. The last week seemed like some type of terrible waking nightmare. He was tortured with imagined images of Kikyo in the throws of passion with a faceless dark haired man.
‘If I ever catch the scent of that guy I will gut him like a fish,’ he thought angrily, revving his engine, which covered the growl that escaped his throat. He needed to calm down that’s why he was driving to the office; Sango had suggested he get out of the house and get some paperwork done to take his mind off his problems. How mindless paperwork could take his mind of Kikyo he had no idea, but he was more than happy to leave the desolation he had created in his own home, and it would cost quite a lot to repair the damage. In between drinking and sulking, he’d gone into fits of rage tearing the place apart. Now he was forced to stay in a hotel room until the damage was repaired. He had wanted to stay at the office on the black leather couch but Sango and Miroku had insisted he get a hotel room.
“Meddling bastards,” he mumbled to himself, “Wish they’d mind their own business,.”
‘But that’s not true.’ he reminded himself. It was true he was angry, more than angry, he was livid to see the two of them in his living room this afternoon. The audacity that they would interfere with his life when he wanted to just be left alone. If they hadn’t come to him he probably would have been just that alone.

He spent most of his life alone, carrying his personal burdens searching for her, and carrying out the hunt. Until five years ago, when he first opened up Jewel Shard Bail Bond’s, a young guy about twenty years old with short black hair and a little ponytail had strolled in looking for a job. At first he told the guy to fuck off, he didn’t need help, but he was persistent and wouldn’t leave him alone so he gave him the job. Miroku ended up being a welcome ally when he found out he was a Hanyou he had taken it rather well, so he’d been the closest thing he had to a best friend ever since. Then a couple years ago, Sango had come to work for him. That’s when the lecherous side of Miroku had come to the foreground, and he’d seen him hit on woman before with his ‘will you bear my child’ line, but when Sango slapped him across the face that first time he could tell it was different. The last three years he had watch his friend try and fail to woo Sango to no avail. ‘Smart girl.’ Inuyasha thought, because Miroku was his friend but he was an undeniable pervert.

Inuyasha pulled into the parking lot of Jewel Shard’s, and saw Sango’s black jeep was parked a few feet away.
‘Not back yet?’ He had gone to the hotel first before coming here. He thought for sure they would have beaten him there. Then he remembered this was Miroku, and he had Sango all to himself in his car. So he was probably trying to pull something lecherous now that he had her alone.

He sighed, closing his car door, ‘it’s not like I haven’t warned her.’ He walked to the front door of the building, fiddling with his keys to unlock the lock when his nose was assaulted by a smell similar to spring flowers and it took him back to five hundred years ago to a woman he had love more than life.
“Kikyo,” he whispered.
“No, I’m Kagome.” Kagome was standing in the entrance to the doorway staring at Inuyasha as if he had grown a second head.
Torn from his happy memories he glared at the girl,
“What are you doing here?”
“I work here remember?” she said with her hands on her hips and a defiant glare.
“I know that wench. Why are you here this late on a Monday?” he replied angrily. he wasn’t in the mood for this.
“Sango had a personal emergency so I was covering for her, and don’t call me wench.” she glared,
“I’ll call you what I like,” He grouched.
“That’s harassment, I could sue,” she said raising her voice.
“Do you want to keep your job? If you do, I suggest not threatening your boss,” He glared at her.
“Yeah,” she mumbled under her breath.
“That’s what I thought wench,” He said triumphantly.

She glared at him with fire in her brown eyes but gave no reply as he went into his office slamming his door. ‘Damn wench talking back to me, I blame this on Sango and Miroku, if they didn’t mouth of to me I’d get more respect!’ he thought angrily. ‘She does look cute when she’s mad though…what’s wrong with me! I must have drunken to much this week. I’m thinking about the receptionist, and she’s practically a child, plus I’ve already found ‘her’ reincarnation and that is Kikyo I don’t need anyone other than her.’ he thought concluding his internal monologue.

‘Now to business,’ he shuffled through paperwork on his desk not really seeing any of it, because that scent that had hypnotized him was wafting into his office. Was it coming from that girl? But, how could she smell just like her, she couldn’t be her he was positive Kikyo was the one.
‘But what if she’s not’, he thought. He shook his head, ‘Get it together Inuyasha you’re loosing it.’ He stood up pacing back and forth, and then he noticed something he had been too distracted to see before, his office was clean. All the ramen cups were missing and his files looked like they were in order even the wanted posters were posted neatly on a corkboard along his desk. He sat down in his chair, and opened a drawer the notepads pencils pen sticky notes were all in order. ‘Who the hell cleaned my office?’ A musical voice lifted to his ears. Kagome was singing in the front office to herself.

Inuyasha leaned against the door listening to her sweet voice caress his ears. He was transported to the last time he saw ‘her’ waiting for him in a field of flowers. Wearing the red and white hakama of a miko her long ebony locks loose around her shoulders singing to the spring air. He moved across the field and gathered her up in his arms.
“Inuyasha,” she whispers.
“I’m here now, and I won’t let you go Kikyo.”
“Kikyo?”
“Yes love, I have you Kikyo.”
“I’m not Kikyo,” she says confused.
Inuyasha’s vision cleared and he looked down at the receptionist, her face the perfect look of confusion as her head cocked to the side.
“I’m Kagome,” she said slowly, “Who’s Kikyo?”
He took his arms from around her, ‘How did I end up like this? First, I was having a memory then I have the receptionist in my arms.’
“Of course you’re not Kikyo,” he said harshly, “Kikyo was pretty, you’re not pretty at all, in fact you’re ugly.”
He saw her face contort holding back tears,
“Why would you say that?” he could smell the salt from her tears as she ran out the front door.
‘Good job Baka why did you do that? It’s not her fault you thought you saw the woman you loved.’
“WHAT DID YOU DO!!” As Inuyasha was ripped from his thoughts as a very irate Sango stomped in.
“Nothing!” he bellowed, he’d never seen Sango this mad.
“You did something to make Kagome cry!” she looked like she could set him ablaze with her angry stare.
“It’s not my fault she can’t take the truth,” he said huffily trying to avoid Sango glares.
“You… I’m gonna kill…” She stopped short when Miroku put his hand on her shoulder; Inuyasha hadn’t even seen him come in.
“Go talk to her” he said calmly.
She nodded at him then turned to Inuyasha,
“We’ll finish this later.”
Inuyasha gulped but put on a brave face, so she wouldn’t know he was terrified,
“Keh,” he said as she walked out the door. Inuyasha and Miroku stood staring at each other in silence for a few minutes before Miroku spoke up.
“What happened?”
“Nothing.”
“Don’t lie to me Inuyasha, Kagome wouldn’t cry over nothing.”
“I thought I saw Kikyo again, here, and I kind of was holding Kagome and then I told her she was ugly.”
“I know Kikyo and Kagome look similar, but how could you make that mistake?” Miroku said looking confused,
“Not Kikyo Hidaka, My Kikyo from the feudal era. I was having a memory of her and before I knew it Kagome was in my arms.” He looked away feeling embarrassed.
Miroku regarded him with his hand on his chin
“Do you think Kagome could be her?”
“NO!” He bellowed, “I found her and that’s Kikyo Hidaka.” he wasn’t sure who he was trying to convince more himself of Miroku.
“If you say so Inuyasha,” Miroku said heading to the door.
Miroku left, leaving him standing alone in the middle of the office. ‘She is not Her Reincarnation, I know she’s not.’ he thought desperately, and he couldn’t be wrong because it would be too painful to lose her twice.


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

Kagome sat back down at her desk, ‘I can’t believe he called me wench!’ she fumed, ‘and after I cleaned his office for him. Well he doesn’t know I cleaned his office, but still. I haven’t seen him since last Friday when he gave me a ride; I wonder where he’s been.’
She looked back at the closed door, she’d asked about Inuyasha several times since then and both Sango and Miroku made a habit of dancing around the subject, or completely ignoring her when she asked. Eventually she had just given up; if they didn’t want to tell her then she didn’t want to know.
‘But still.’ she looked back at the closed door again, ‘He was acting so strange. Why did he call me Kikyo? And who the heck is Kikyo?’ the name sounded familiar, like from a memory, but when she tried to grasp at it, it slipped through her fingers.

She sighed, and then looked at her blank computer screen. It had been dead since she gotten here, no calls, nothing. It looked like it was going to be a long night. ‘I could start my homework,’ she thought looking down at her yellow school bag. It didn’t sound very appealing. So she let her eyes wander around the room, and noticed there was a dust broom leaned up against a filing cabinet next to Miroku’s desk.
‘I could dust,’ it was tempting, and she found a soothing calm in cleaning, because she could escape herself in mindless repetitive motion. ‘I could listen to my music player too.’ and she resolved to do just that.

She rummaged in her bag for the small portable player; she retrieved it shortly and placed the white earphones in her ears. She shifted through her play lists and found her favorite movie soundtrack, ‘Moulin Rouge’. She started the play list, picked up the dust broom, and began dusting around the room, picking up papers on Miroku’s desk and dusting underneath. Then she went around the outside of the monitor on his small table lamp, and then did the same to Sango’s. Two songs in, she was halfway through dusting the room and her favorite song came on the one she couldn’t help but sing along to.

“Never knew I could feel like this,
Like I’ve never seen the sky before,
Want to vanish inside your kiss,
Everyday I love you more and more,
Listen to my heart can you hear it sing?
Telling me to give you everything,
Seasons may change, winter to spring,
But I love you until the end of time”

As she finished the first chorus she noticed Inuyasha standing in the doorway to his office, and she had completely forgotten he was there while she was dusting the room. His eyes had that faraway look they had when he had first arrived and as she opened her mouth to say something, Inuyasha strode over to her and gathered her up in his arms.
“Inuyasha?” she said quietly not sure what was going on.
“I’m here now, I won’t let you go Kikyo.” he said caressingly ‘Who’s Kikyo?’
“Kikyo?” she said feeling even more confused.
“Yes love, I have you now Kikyo.” ‘What’s going on he looks like he’s going to kiss me. ‘
“I’m not Kikyo,” she said turning her head to the side regarding Inuyasha.
His eyes cleared then as if he saw her for the first time.
“I’m Kagome,” she said slowly, “Who’s Kikyo?”

He stepped away from her like she was diseased, and had come up and wrapped her arms around him,
“Of course you’re not Kikyo,” he grouched, “Kikyo, was pretty you’re not pretty at all, in fact you’re ugly.”
‘Why would he say that, why does it hurt so bad to hear him say that.’
“Why would you say that?” she glared at him then ran to the door, tears streaming down her face.
Within two strides of the door she ran into Sango and Miroku.
“Kagome what’s wrong?” Sango said hands on Kagome’s shoulders,
“In-Inuyasha,” she balled.
That’s all Sango needed to hear before she ran into the office. She could hear her yelling at him as Miroku led her over to his car and had her sit in the passenger seat. She sobbed into her hands for few minutes, because she didn’t understand why it hurt so bad to hear Inuyasha call her unattractive. And why did she care what he thought? Her sobbing quieted and Miroku watched her thoughtfully.
“What happened?” he said soothingly.
“I don’t really know. He came out of his office with this far away look on his face and before I knew it he was holding me in his arms calling me Kikyo, who’s Kikyo?”
Miroku opened his mouth to reply, when the volume of Sango’s voice reached them outside,
“I’ll be right back,”
He left her alone until Sango came back outside looking extremely disgruntled.
“Come on Kagome I’m taking you home,” she said flinging open the passenger side of Miroku’s car. Kagome opened her mouth to protest but the fire in Sango’s eyes kept her from doing so.
She climbed into the passenger side of Sango’s jeep. Then Sango sped out of the parking lot. They traveled mostly in silence, except for the occasional directions Kagome was giving. When Sango had regained her composure, she spoke,
“I’m so sorry Kagome this is all my fault.”
“It’s not your fault. You didn’t know Inuyasha would come to the office tonight and act crazy.”
“Not that, I’m the one who told Inuyasha to come to the office tonight, you see he just broke up with his girlfriend and I thought there would be sparks between you to but apparently there was only an explosion.”
“But you know I’m seeing Kouga, I mean were not exclusive or anything, why would you think of me?”
“I guess I just thought you guys would go good together. You seem like his type.”
“Oh,” Kagome said blushing a little.
“Let me make it up to you, I’ll take you out to lunch this Saturday you have it off right?” She said resolutely.
“Yeah that sounds like fun and maybe we can do some shopping too!” Kagome added.
“Yeah that sounds great!” Sango cheered.

Kagome could feel her spirit lifting higher at the prospect of a day out at the mall shopping. She chatted the rest of the way home with Sango amicably, but her mind kept drifting back to that moment in Inuyasha arms something about it felt so right, but she shook the thought away obviously Inuyasha didn’t feel the same way.