InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ LOVE LIFE ❯ Breaking What's Fixed ( Chapter 12 )

[A/N]

 

Yume: Well, it's been about…too long since I updated this puppy.

 

CF: tsk tsk tsk. Shame shame, Yume-sama!

 

Yume: It's not my fault you went on vacation without telling me!

 

CF: (laughs weakly before hiding)

 

Yume: Anyways, no doubt a lot of people sort of…forgot about what happened last time. So as usual:

 

RECAP!

 

In the last chapter, Kagome comes back to Inuyasha's dorm and the boy finds himself having a sort of “pillow talk” with the girl. What started out as a conversation about Sesshomaru quickly turns into a discussion over Inuyasha's relationship with Kikyo, in which he seriously begins to question. Meanwhile, Sesshomaru decides to resolve the whole engagement to Kagura once and for all. Now all she needs to do is get the contract to end it all and meet at the rendezvous point.

 

[Disclaimer]: This year, and the year after. I will still remain…Inuyasha-less.

 

~ @ ~

 

LOVE LIFE

By: Youkai Yume

 

Chapter 12: Breaking What's Fixed

 

 

 

The sun rose at a much earlier time than usual. Well, it was early to Kagome as she blinked away the last traces of sleep, succumbing to the morning light. She squinted around the room, resting her eyes upon the curtained window with a few rays peeking through and yawned. Regretfully, the girl sat up. A frown etched on her lips when she glanced at the clock, realizing how late it was. English class was about to start soon, and she was far too tired to deem herself ready.

 

Her lack of energy had to be due to the fact that she had trouble sleeping the night before. She had been ever since the day everything broke between her and Sesshomaru. Despite the comforting words that Inuyasha had consoled with her the other night, Kagome found herself unable to escape from the memory of HIM. His golden eyes still haunted her at night. The touch of his skin upon hers whispered throughout her entire being. She missed the warmth of his body wrapped in hers every time she woke up in bed alone.

 

But she knew things couldn't go back to the way they were. Not after…everything. The thought alone brought a burning sensation back to her eyelids, and she bit her lip in an effort to stop the tears from coming.

 

“Oi! Kagome-chan!” A gruff voice called out from behind the door. “You awake? I made waffles! Chocolate-chipped, just how you like `em!” Inuyasha tried to tempt her from the other side. Kagome let out a weak chuckle and rubbed at her eyes furiously. She couldn't let him see her all depressed for she knew he would worry. Besides, he was already fussing over her.

 

“I'm coming! Just let me wash up first,” she answered, kicking her blanket off.

 

“Hurry up! If you don't, I won't guarantee you that there will be any left!”

 

“You wouldn't!”

 

“You know I would! Faster than Miroku would jump on girls.”

 

“Fudgicals,” the girl bounded into the bathroom, and in record time, she was out and ready dressed in a pink, hooded sweater and jeans. When she entered the kitchen, the sweet aroma of chocolate-chipped waffles wafted into her nose. Needless to say, it succeeded greatly in watering her mouth and bringing a rumble to her stomach. Inuyasha, who was sitting at the table, grinned teasingly at her while she blushed in embarrassment, placing a hand on her tummy.

 

“How many stacks?” He questioned, holding up a plate of waffles for her.

 

She smiled, taking a seat beside him, and took the plate from his hands. After the first bite, she sighed thankfully and took another. “You certainly do make the best waffles, Inu-kun!” She cooed, licking her lips. Inuyasha felt a certain sense of pride well within himself. The boy might not have many talents, but he excelled when it came to cooking. He just might not always have the…freshest ingredients.

 

He could tell that with each bite that the worrisome lines on her face seemed to fade a little bit more, and he was ready to shove waffles down her throat all day if it made her happy. Alas, Kagome was beginning to get full and after she was done, she pushed back her virtually clean plate and sighed in contentment.

 

“So, what do you want to do today?” Inuyasha asked, gulping down the last drops of his orange juice.

 

“Hmm, well. I have English class in about half an hour, but that's about it.”

 

“Wanna do something?”

 

She shrugged. “Maybe…”

 

The boy frowned when he saw her sapphire eyes daze off again in a certain direction. Inuyasha tilted his head to the side in confusion before looking in the same spot she was. Amber eyes narrowed when he saw what she was looking at. It was the coat hanger…she was staring at the coat that was on it. He recognized it immediately as his brother's. `He must have left it here from last time. Dammit.'

 

Inuyasha had to get her mind off of Sesshomaru for now. He couldn't stand it when she was all sad and moping.

“Hey! I know!” He announced loudly so as to snap her attention back on him. “Let's hit the movies!”

 

Kagome stared at him with curious eyes. “Movies? With the others too?”

 

His face fell momentarily, a strange feeling akin to disappointment when he heard her say this. Still, he refrained from scowling. “I was just thinking it could just be us, but if you want we can invite them.”

 

“Oh, no,” She admitted, shaking her head. “I just didn't think…I guess I'm used to thinking of all of us like a group.” A light giggle escaped her lips, “But to be honest, I do think we need to spend some more time together as best friends. We haven't been doing that for a while. I miss my roomie,” Kagome pouted.

 

Inuyasha blushed at her cute expression, actually a bit touched at her words and turned his head the other way to hide the red on his cheeks. “Y-Yeah, we'll watch any movie you want and everything.”

 

“Anything?” Kagome said wryly.

 

“But no chick flicks!” He retorted, crossing his arms as if that was that.

 

“Aw…okay then, Harry Potter!” she piped.

 

“Harry Pott—“

 

“You said anything!”

 

“…Fine.” He huffed, scratching already unkempt hair.

 

“Okay then!” Kagome smiled sweetly, “It's a date!”

 

Much sputtering ensued, as Inuyasha looked back at the girl with wide amber eyes, his face redder than ever. Upon gazing at her bright smirk, he concluded that she was only joking. `Duh, of course she was joking, ya dope. Like she'd actually consider dating…' He mentally smacked himself, getting rid of all of his wandering thoughts. Why was he thinking such things? It's Kagome! She's still hung up on Sesshomaru, and if his brother thought he had any feelings for her, he'd be dead within seconds. `Besides, I have a girlfriend! Remember Kikyo?'

 

His thoughts were interrupted (thankfully) by the sound of Kagome's scraping chair. He watched as she gathered up her bag and headed for the door. “Class ends in about two hours. I'll need to come back here to drop off my books and then we can head out.”

 

“Great,” he muttered, staring after her. She gave him a weak smile and opened the door. He saw her look sadly at the coat rack once more before leaving. A heavy sigh escaped his lips. There was a certain feeling of guilt in the pit of his stomach, though he knew not why. Still, it wouldn't leave him, and he ended up thinking of both the sapphire-eyed girl that lived with him, and his brother that she had grown to love. `Sesshomaru…fix this up already…' He thought, `Hurry before I mess something up…'

 

~ @ ~

 

He counted the seconds that went by. Tick. Tock. Tick. Tock. It went on relentlessly, seemingly forever in their consistent shifts on the face of his watch. Unconsciously, he tapped his finger impatiently on the table, the sound coming out in an almost rhythmic tune with the ticking of the seconds. Golden eyes shifted from side to side, looking for any sign of someone who might look like they were searching for him.

 

Damn. She was late. Thirty minutes and twenty-two seconds to be exact and counting. Had this woman no courtesy? SHE was the one who said to meet HER in front of the stupid café. It was common sense that if SHE invited HIM, that SHE should be the one waiting, not the other way around. The boy was more than sure now why he wouldn't want to marry her anyway.

 

Albeit, he had never seen her, so he wasn't sure WHO he was waiting for. But then again, it's not that hard to find someone with silver hair. Sesshomaru hated to admit it, but he did stick out like a sore thumb in a crowd.

 

“Waiting for me?” A feminine voice interrupted is thoughts, and he found himself looking up at presumably Kagura. He had been so preoccupied with his inner ramblings that he had failed to realize she had finally arrived.

 

Sesshomaru felt a little twinge in his chest at the sight of her. Of course, in his eyes, no one will ever be more beautiful than his Kagome, but to everyone else on the outside, and especially to Kagome, she doesn't even compare to this Kagura woman. She had a body to match that sultry voice of hers and her ruby red lips contrasted well with her porcelain skin as well as bright crimson eyes. Her short hair was worn in a ponytail, and Sesshomaru noticed that most guys that were passing by did a double take just to check her out.

 

`God, Kagome must've felt so bad…' He thought, frowning. It wouldn't surprise him if the girl compared herself to this woman at first sight, and he could tell now how she could possibly assume what she did. It's official; his shitty feelings had just gone shittier.

 

Kagura lifted an eyebrow when she realized he was sort of ignoring her and occupying his gaze to his feet. She huffed and placed her hands on her hips impatiently.

 

“Perhaps I'm mistaken? You are Sesshomaru Taiyoukai, are you not? If you aren't, then please tell me so I don't have to waste my time!” She said, her voice a bit edgy. A slight scoff came out of the boy in front of her.

 

“My, aren't we all high-strung this morning?” He glanced back up at her, the usual cold and expressionless mask slipping back on. “Yes, I am he. And I can only assume that you are Kagura Takera,” Sesshomaru nodded curtly at her, and motioned to the seat across from him.

 

She hesitated for a second before sitting, arms and legs crossed as she snapped at the waiter to bring out a lemon iced tea. He observed her through narrow eyes as she got herself comfortable.

 

“So, you're the guy that I'm going to marry,” She drawled looking him up and down and smirking.

 

“WAS going to marry,” Sesshomaru corrected her promptly, his figure stiff. “Let us not forget that we are here to break off this engagement once and for all.”

 

“I haven't forgotten,” She glared, lips pursed at his sudden coldness. She was not used to people being difficult with her in such a calm matter, and she had to admit, Sesshomaru unnerved her a bit.

 

“Did you do it?” He questioned, getting straight to the point. She paused a bit when her drink came out and took a deep sip. A smirk graced her ruby red lips before she pulled out of her purse a neatly folded piece of paper. It was a contract signed by both Western Lands Company and Shikon Corporation in agreement to join in marriage.

 

Kagura sat back against her chair, watching as Sesshomaru took the paper into his hands carefully to examine it. “Is it…genuine?” He asked, looking it over thoroughly. She could hear a bit of doubt and at the same time awe in his voice. Kagura scoffed.

 

“Of course it is. I told you I'd get it, didn't I?”

 

“But how? I've tried to do so before, believe me, but my father kept it well-protected.”

 

“Look, I have my connections, alright?” She snapped, but this earned nothing but a raised eyebrow from the young man across the table. She sighed, aggravated. “If you MUST know, I'm very close with my father's personal assistant.”

 

A thin smirk played across Sesshomaru's lips, golden eyes narrowing slightly in amusement. “You had an affair with him,” He suggested bluntly. Kagura didn't look at him, her eyes remaining closed, yet a small smile was on her face as well. He hit it right on the mark. “Is he YOUR secret lover? The reason why you want to break off the engagement?”

 

“Pffft. Please,” She waved the notion aside with her hand, “It was just a fling that I had last year. It was before I met up with my Hiten, so I have absolutely no guilt, whatsoever,” Kagura nodded with confidence. “I'm not above blackmail. That guy knew exactly where my father keeps everything. He files it after all. All I had to do was threaten to not sing like a little bird to my father, saying that he “took advantage” of me last year and the deed was done.” She tapped on the piece of paper to emphasize her point. “Little bastard knew that father would have fired him or do much worse had he found out. He'd take my word over anyone's any day.”

 

“Daddy's little girl, aren't you?” Sesshomaru teased, quite satisfied with the result of Kagura's rather…interesting life indeed. Not to mention, the woman sure seemed like a perfect manipulator. He had been seeing a lot of those people these days. He growled when one came into particular. A pair of crimson eyes flashed in his mind. Naraku…one of the top people he wanted to wrangle… He glanced up at Kagura who seemed to be quite relaxed now. She prodded the waiter next to her to bring her something to munch on along with her tea. Hmmm…when he looked at her, he couldn't help but have a sense of familiarity. Perhaps it was her deep red eyes. In a way, Kagura reminded him a lot of Naraku. He wasn't sure why, but they did seem to look alike. Not to mention, they sort of acted the same way as well: manipulative.

 

Oh well, if it got him what he wanted, and that was to end this whole fiasco so that he could finally patch things up with Kagome, then by all means, he had no qualms about it.

 

“I'll look over this first before I confirm it and sign,” Sesshomaru stated matter-of-factly. Kagura shrugged, looking dully at him as he read it over carefully. After all, you had to pay attention to the fine print.

 

~ @ ~

 

`Let's see what I got for my workload this week,' Kagome mused. 30-page essay on the persuasion and writing techniques presented in some of DuBois's works, read 200 pages by Friday…and a couple of other things that she failed to remember at the moment due to the fact that her brain was already hurting. She let out a heavy sigh as she left class and headed for her dorm to drop off everything, her footsteps coming off like plodding sounds.

 

It had only been two hours of productive learning for her, and already she was exhausted. Kagome dreaded the thought of having to start on the assignments and let out a soft groan. Oh well, if it helped her take her minds of a certain someone who she missed terribly yet at the same time hated, then she was all for it.

 

Once she was inside her dorm, Kagome threw her books haphazardly on her bed and went through her closet to find something more comfortable and breezy to wear, seeing as it was getting sort of hot now. As she pillaged through her clothes, she didn't hear her roommate as he stepped into her room to observe her.

 

“It's a jungle in there,” Inuyasha commented so suddenly that it made her jump slightly. Kagome glanced backwards at the boy, who had his trademark grin on his features.

 

“Your stalking skills are improving I see,” Kagome remarked before returning to her search, pulling out a periwinkle blue tank top that had a little bunny dubbed “Mashi Maru” with a toilet plunger on its head.

 

“I was hoping you'd notice.”

 

“I didn't know you were home,” she said, finding a cute beige colored skirt that went to about her knees to go with her top, “The dorm was empty when I got here, so I assumed you went out. I was just going to wait until you headed back so we could go together.”

 

“Actually, I just went down to the local 7-eleven to pick up the latest issue of Shonen Jump,” Inuyasha replied, picking up the thick manga magazine to show her, “and a few sodas. Just got back.” The girl eyed the book with a raised eyebrow and smirked.

 

“You're still reading those? Wow, you never change, do you, Inu-kun?”

 

“Hey, Naruto's coming to a crucial point, and I wanna know what happens!” The boy defended, holding the Shonen Jump to his chest protectively.

 

“And all this time, I thought you were just in it for the Dragonball Z.”

 

“Nah, the T.V. series is already enough for me.”

 

Kagome let out a small laugh before glancing back down at the clothes clutched in her arms, then back at Inuyasha. He stared back at her with curious amber eyes, observing her every move. She felt a light blush coming onto her cheeks and without saying a word, quietly got up and moved to her bathroom.

 

“Where ya goin'?” He asked stupidly, still watching her. Kagome gave him an annoyed glance and a raised eyebrow.

 

“To change. Preferably in a place where you can't see.”

 

“Aw! C'mon! What do you think I am, some hentai?” Inuyasha said incredulously, “We're friends, right? More to the point, we're ROOMIES! Don't I get entitled to see you take off your clothes?” He poked fun at her.

 

Kagome gave him an indignant look before closing the bathroom door shut, “And you said you weren't a hentai.”

 

“Oh, that last part about the clothes…didn't come out right.”

 

“Duh,” he heard her mutter on the other side.

 

“Still! No fair, I'd let you watch me while I change…” He pouted, putting on his cutesy pleading voice, “It's completely innocent.”

 

“I'm sure that's what you say to all the girls,” She stepped out in her much more comfortable outfit, the annoyed look on her face fading some. Inuyasha stared at her as she moved across the room to pick up her purse, and for a brief moment, he felt something lodge in his throat.

 

“You look…pretty,” He said dumbly before he realized the words escaped from his mouth. She smiled sweetly at him.

 

“I didn't ask, but arigato for the compliment,” she tugged at his hand when he remained glued to his seat on the bed. “Now let's go. I've been dying to see the new Harry Potter movie.”

 

And as the boy was being dragged towards the doorway, he couldn't help but let out an exasperated groan.

 

~ @ ~

 

The Cineplex was fairly empty that day, and that meant that no long line had to be overcome in order to buy tickets. The pair of them found however, that the showing wasn't for another hour, so they both decided to lounge around nearby until it was time.

 

On their way, they passed the same bookstore that they had all gone not too long ago where they met their professor in. Inuyasha could tell that it reminded her of the little time she spent with Sesshomaru before everything went wrong, for he could see the sad look in her eyes as she glanced at the store. He quickly veered her away from the place and led her to the local arcade, where he pleaded with her to come in with him.

 

She hesitantly agreed, and once she did, the boy coaxed her into playing a variety of games with him. From air hockey, to Street Fighter, Pac-man, and just at Kagome's special request…Dance Dance Revolution… Ugh, damn he sucked at that game. How can she keep up with all of those arrows? They all go by like a blur, and the music was deafening… And that stupid machine! Why did it have to insult him while he struggled to keep up? He knew he sucked, dammit! He didn't need some programmed voice to rub it in.

 

Needless to say, Inuyasha had promptly lost to Kagome in the second round and kept a sour face when she poked fun at him for attempting to hit the arrows halfway through the game by sitting on the platform and pounding his fists on the flashing lights. Keep laughing…he'll even the score.

 

But despite his little hissy fits, Inuyasha found that it was quite worth it to see Kagome smile. He glanced over at his watch as Kagome picked out her prize over at where you cash in your winning tickets. About twenty minutes until the movie came on.

 

“Hey, Kagome! Maybe we should head back and find good seats and get some food at the concession stand,” he suggested as she came over him with a respectable size teddy bear.

 

“What?! Are you kidding me, I'm not paying for those overpriced snacks!” Kagome bit back, “I'm going over to the little thrift shop across the street to get my munchies and drinks.”

 

“But they don't allow you to bring food and drink…” Inuyasha trailed off as Kagome waved her finger and “tsk'd” him a bit.

 

“That's what these things are for,” Kagome smirked while giving her bag a pat. “Just wait here. I'll be right back. Oh, but I can't promise you popcorn. Soda and candy only,” she added.

 

“Fine. M& M's and a can of coke please.”

 

“Can do.”

 

Inuyasha watched as the girl went off on her own, taking a seat on a nearby bench to wait. A little part of him wanted to go with her, but he thought better of it. Just getting to spend all this time with his best friend got his feelings all tied up and twisted. He wasn't sure what to make of them, except that he was…well…happy. The happiest he'd been in a long time, and although he had always enjoyed Kagome's company, it seemed he appreciated her being there with him a lot more lately.

 

He sighed a bit, leaning back against the bench. It would be a good idea just to stop thinking altogether now. Inuyasha allowed himself to enjoy the warm sunlight on his skin for a while, before a looming shadow blocked it off from him.

 

“Wow, that was sure fast, Kagome,” he commented, opening his eyes to the figure looking down at him. He froze as amber eyes locked with deep chocolate brown ones, recognizing at once that although she bore a striking resemblance to her, the girl in front of him was most definitely NOT Kagome. He swallowed, unable to form any words.

 

“Hello, Inuyasha,” the soft, feminine voice greeted, a weak smile playing upon her lips. Tucking ebony locks behind her ear, the girl wordlessly took a seat beside the dumbfounded boy, who hadn't taken his eyes off of her the entire time. After a long awkward silence, Inuyasha collected himself and averted his eyes from her, a sad look coming over amber depths.

 

“…Kikyo…it's been a while.”

 

“Yes, it has,” came the reply. “How have you been?”

 

“Miserable,” Inuyasha spat back bitterly, perhaps too fast for his own liking, but he didn't care at the moment. “You?”

 

Kikyo glanced at him sadly before looking at her feet. “I'm sorry for making you feel that way. It was not my intention,” she admitted quietly.

 

“Then just what was your intention? What were you trying to tell me when you didn't give me so much as a phone call? Didn't write, didn't e-mail me at all about how things were. So tell me, how is England?” He said sarcastically. She frowned at his remark.

 

“It was quite wonderful, and I quite enjoy my stay there.”

 

“Obviously,” Inuyasha scoffed. Staring off at some random sign to avoid contact with her eyes. He heard her let out an exasperated sigh.

 

“Inuyasha…I won't be staying here long. I'm only here for a visit…”

 

“…Kikyo, why did you come back?” His voice came out soft and hurt, and for a moment, the girl felt her heart twinge with guilt. “If you were having such a great time in Europe, why did you come back?”

 

“To see you,” She said honestly. “Didn't you miss me?”

 

“Of course I did!” Inuyasha blurted, turning to her with eyes wide and disbelieving. “Do you know how many nights I stayed up just thinking about what you're doing? I know it sounds cheesy, but it's true!”

 

An even bigger stab of guilt shot at her, knowing that somewhere in the back of her mind that his sentiments were very much undeserved.

 

“…Did you miss me?” He inquired.

 

“I thought about you,” Kikyo said slowly. “I've been thinking about you a lot actually, and I've come to…” The words seemed to become choked in her throat, and he could see the strain starting to leak through her impassive face as she fought to keep control. “The truth is, Inuyasha, I came here to speak with you.”

 

“Couldn't you do that over a weekly phone call?”

 

She shook her head firmly. “I felt that what I needed to say had to be in person. If I told you over the phone, I feel as if I'm taking the coward's way out. I was going to go to your dorm and wait for you there so that we could talk, but I spotted you and my cousin out by the arcade and I decided to get it over with now.” Kikyo's voice was cool and composed once more, giving Inuyasha the sense of foreboding. He remained silent, waiting for her to continue.

 

“Gomenasai,” She whispered softly. “I truly am sorry for not contacting you for the past three years. And I wish that I can say for my excuse that it was the fact that I was busy, or that I forgot, or just didn't have the time…” At this point she could no longer look at him. Inuyasha could feel the familiar lump in his throat. “Actually…that's sort of a white lie.

 

“In the beginning, it really was because I was busy and that my studies in England kept me well occupied. But then I got your first letter,” Kikyo's hands wrung in her lap. Inuyasha frowned at this.

 

“What? My penmanship isn't THAT bad. I'm pretty sure it was legible,” he said indignantly.

 

“No, it wasn't that. It's just…when I read it, I realized, how completely different we are.”

 

“So what if we are?!” Inuyasha stood up quickly, “It's those differences that make us love each other, right? Opposites attract!”

 

“Inuyasha, let me finish,” Kikyo replied calmly. “You see, it was precisely the fact that I was busy that made me realize how different we are.”

 

He blinked back at her, confused. “Okay, now I'm lost.”

 

“When I read your letter, you asked me how I was doing and that you missed me. You tell me that you've done nothing but think about me, and that life after high school has been nothing but uneventful without me.”

 

“…Is that a problem?” He narrowed his eyes in inquiry. Surely, she wouldn't want to look down on the fact that he missed and loved her. Her lips thinned quite a bit.

 

“Actually, in a way it is. Tell me, Inuyasha, what have you done since we graduated?” The question in itself was vague, and threw the amber eyed boy completely off. He raised an eyebrow and scratched his head while he stared down at her.

 

“What have I been…Taking classes, hanging out? I don't know what do you want me to say? And how is this irrelevant to anything?”

 

“But that's just it. You don't know.”

 

He blinked at her, purely still confused. Kikyo sighed.

 

“Inuyasha, I left Japan for a reason, and that was to study abroad, to make something of myself and fulfill my goals and dreams. I have worked very hard to achieve those goals and in the process explore my career possibilities. What about you?”

 

Inuyasha gulped. He didn't like where this conversation was going.

 

“Inuyasha, you don't have a clue with what you want to do with your life, and you don't have any sense of direction, no future goals or anything. What are you going to do?”

 

“Hey!” He started defensively. “I'm not completely useless, I got into Tokyo U, didn't I?”

 

“On your own? Inuyasha, you wouldn't have gotten in if your father wasn't such an important person.” Her voice became hardened with each word that came out of her mouth, forcing herself to look away from Inuyasha's hurtful gaze. “…What will happen to us in the future? If we continue to stay together, and possibly even get married, what will our future be like? I don't want to come home everyday to someone who's just there on the coach when I get back from work.”

 

“Listen, you're thinking waaay ahead. What are you so worried about? The future isn't decided.”

 

“See? That's exactly what I'm talking about!” Kikyo stood up as well. “You don't plan, you don't care. I care, Inuyasha! I don't want to be with someone who's just living life for the heck of it.”

 

At these words, the boy seemed to stiffen; his eyes flashing with several emotions that couldn't quite be defined. “…If I hadn't known any better, I'd say you think you're too good for me,” He said finally, his voice becoming impassive. Much to his displeasure, Kikyo didn't deny it nor did she confirm it. She did far worse. She looked away, and said nothing.

 

Inuyasha felt like someone was twisting his heart. But he didn't want to show her how much of a blow she had dealt him. So he settled on a grim scowl.

 

“You do, don't you?” He spat bitterly.

 

“…I don't think this is going to work,” she said finally, her voice barely a whisper and even though her words were cold and heartless earlier, he could tell she truly regretted this. Inuyasha couldn't believe his ears. It wasn't true. It CAN'T be true. Oh god…why did his whole body ache so much? For the first time in a long while, Inuyasha felt like crying…

 

“It can work. It's working,” Inuyasha let his anger slide away, “I can change, you'll see. I'll study harder, and become a doctor, or something—ANYTHING you want! Just please don't say it's over…” He was pleading with her now, his voice cracking with each word and the girl could do nothing but stare back with mournful eyes.

 

“I'm sorry.” And it was done.

 

“So this is it? It's just going to end like this? Just like this, so suddenly?!”

 

“It wasn't so sudden, really,” Kikyo began slowly, her deep brown eyes locking with his amber ones again. “Even if it wasn't about this, the long distance did account for something.”

 

“That doesn't matter, Sesshomaru and Kagome were apart for three years long distance!”

 

“Yes, and look at them now,” She countered. Inuyasha flinched at this. “Their relationship went down the drain, Sesshomaru obviously couldn't wait and got himself engaged to another woman.”

 

“That wasn't his choice and you know it! He doesn't care about anyone but her, and Kagome feels the same way about him even now and…wait, how did you know?”

 

“I called Sango when I came back in town to find you and she told me,” was her calm answer. “But that's not the point. What I mean to say is…there's nothing I can say that can make this any better. I've thought about taking alternatives, I really did. But I just can't shake the feeling off of me. After many months of deliberating the problem, I decided…that this is for the best.” Kikyo sighed, staring at her hands in her lap while she shifted on the spot. “I never wanted to hurt you.”

 

“Tch, yeah? For someone who didn't want to hurt me you sure did a hell of a job,” Inuyasha growled, his anger coming back. He didn't want to be here, he just…had to get away, away from Kikyo and her pitying eyes.

 

“I'm sorry. Truly I am,” Kikyo said softly, and sensing that her presence was more than unwanted, she began to leave.

 

“Just tell me something,” Inuyasha's gruff voice made her pause for a second to look back at him. “Did you ever care about me?”

 

A sad smile graced the young woman's lips, and for a second, a tender gaze was set in her brown irises. “Yes, I have…and still do very much. And I do not regret the time we have spent together,” her words held such honesty that Inuyasha found that he couldn't be too angry with her. Their eyes locked for one last time. “Goodbye, Inuyasha. And thank you.”

 

He watched her walk away…to where he could only guess. All he knew that it was away from him, and he felt his heart shattering once more. `Goodbye, Kikyo,' he thought sadly.

 

~ @ ~

 

She had watched the entire scene, temporarily forgetting the numbing cold of the soda cans in her hands. Kikyo had come back…since when did that happen? At first, Kagome had thought that it was a good thing, and that Inuyasha could finally have a happy reunion with his much-missed girlfriend. Apparently she was wrong. VERY wrong.

 

The whole thing had been very painful to watch. Just seeing her best friend's heart break as the sadness and complete torment flashed across his amber eyes was enough to make her depressed. She hated seeing him this way, and her cousin…God, how could Kikyo be so cruel? Was that how the girl really felt?

`I had always known that Kikyo had high standards, but this is ridiculous!' Kagome thought, a frown on her lips. `Seems there's a lot of that going around lately,' A sadistic voice added in her head. The girl's own sapphire eyes dimmed with sorrow. `I wasn't good enough for him either…' Seshomaru must have felt that way too, for he had picked someone far more beautiful and rich than she could ever be. Promise or no, Kagome couldn't blame him for picking that Kagura woman over her. After all, she was everything she wasn't.

 

Kagome shook her head. `Enough with your own pity party!' She chided herself; `Inuyahsa needs you right now!' Her face was set in that of determination as she saw her own cousin walk off, leaving one very broken boy on the bench.

 

Taking a deep breath, she took a step forward from the spot that she stood and approached him. Inuyasha seemed so immersed in his own sadness that he didn't notice when she was standing directly in front of him. It wasn't until she placed a tentative hand on his shoulder did he look up.

 

“Kagome…” He called out her name, his voice cracked under the weight of his torment. Sapphire eyes looked down at him with compassion. He bit his lower lip. “Kikyo…she…”

 

“Shhh,” She whispered, “I know.”

 

It didn't take much more than that. Before she knew it, Inuyasha had wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her in a tight embrace. She was pulled in between his legs, standing as he buried his head in her stomach. She sighed, running fingers through his messy silver hair sympathetically. It surprised her to see him like this.

 

The boy was usually so brash and confident in his cocky behavior that it seemed strange seeing the emotional side of him. He hung desperately to her, and Kagome swore she could hear him stifle back a sniffle. After all, it had always been his firm belief that boys don't cry.

 

Still, all she could do was offer him comfort, just as he had done the same to her when she had been distraught in the same manner. It was her turn to be the supportive best friend.

 

“I don't understand…” his gruff voice reached her ears despite them being muffled into her clothes. She rubbed her hand up and down his back soothingly like that of a child.

 

“There's a lot of things that are messed up around here lately, but…Inuyasha…I understand how you feel.” And truly, she did. She understood exactly how it felt when you thought the one person you loved more than anything else loved you back, only to find out in one moment that it was all a lie. Oh, she knew all too well. It had hurt like hell when she confronted Sesshomaru about it. It had hurt even more when he tried to deny it, and it was like dying when she finally broke and struck—actually struck his flawless face. And only god knew how much it really hurt when she ran through that door and Sesshomaru looked truly and utterly sorry.

 

However, she couldn't forget that one instance when he said it—that it was true that he was engaged to Kagura. But what is done is done, and can't be erased. Looking down on Inuyasha now, she knew exactly what he felt.

 

After a few moments, he pulled away from Kagome, rubbing at his eyes so that there was barely any trace of his emotional outburst.

 

“Feeling better?” She inquired.

 

“Not really,” Inuyasha admitted, looking up at her with deep amber orbs. “Is it supposed to hurt this much?”

 

Kagome frowned, nodding slowly. A bitter laugh escaped his lips.

 

“This sucks. If this is the way you felt when my brother broke your heart, then you know what? Screw the explanations, he deserves to rot, along with Kikyo of course.” he joked. Kagome knew somewhere in the back of her mind that he didn't mean what he said, that he was only joking to numb the pain. And she smiled slightly.

 

“…Yeah.” She took a seat next to him on the bench, sighing heavily. “You know…we don't have to go to the movies if you don't feel like it anymore,” Kagome said softly. “We could always give the tickets away.

 

“…But, we paid good money for those…” He said dejectedly, glancing at her. She raised an eyebrow at him.

 

“You mean I paid good money for those. And for the snacks no less, which…oh, I forgot, here's your coke and M & M's,” She replied, tossing him the drink and candy. Inuyasha gave her a small smile despite his sad expression.

 

“Thanks…You know…we could still go if you want.”

 

“It's okay. You need some space and I completely understand. Besides, you can make it up to me by taking me to see Harry Potter some other time,” she winked, and he nodded at her.

 

She was so understanding, so kind and compassionate towards him in a way that he had never experienced with anyone that it was now more than ever that he was grateful to have the girl as a friend.

 

“Thanks, `Gome,” he whispered, watching her movements as she stood up. His eyes fell upon the darkened stains on her blouse, and a blush colored his cheeks slightly. “Uh…and sorry about that…” Inuyasha mumbled, pointing to the watermarks on her shirt. She looked down at her clothes and giggled.

 

“I'll be sure to send you my dry cleaning bill.” A kind smile played on her lips and she motioned for him to stand up. “Come on. Let's go home.”

 

He stood up wordlessly and followed her as the trudged back to their dormitories, neither one saying much of anything. Kagome didn't know what to say exactly to make him feel better. At the moment, all she really could think about was how mad she was at her cousin. How dare Kikyo dump Inuyasha for such a stupid reason? Because she felt she was SMARTER and BETTER than he was? They may be family, but she didn't have to go easy on her. `I'll have to talk to her later,' Kagome decided.

 

As they were walking, both in their own little worlds, Kagome found herself thinking less and less about Kikyo and more and more on Sesshomaru. `Great, not this again.' But she knew eventually that her thoughts would always lead back to the silver-haired prince.

 

It was futile. She couldn't forget about him and she knew it. She missed him. Missed his voice, his touch, his kisses and tender gaze. Just the very thought of him made her mad with longing and regret. Kagome knew she should be angry at him for betraying her the way he did…yet she couldn't find it within herself to be upset with him.

 

The night where she saw him look at her with such pained eyes wouldn't leave her. And she felt guilty…guilty because she was the one that made him look like that.

 

She was so indulged in her thoughts about him, that she could have sworn somewhere in her deluded mind that she heard his voice. Deep and velvet smooth that brought shivers down her spine. It had been so long since she last heard him speak… Oh great, it was getting louder and louder as she kept walking. It was almost as if he was right there.

 

“Hey, is that Sesshomaru?” Inuyasha's words cut through her train of thought, and Kagome's head snapped up instantly.

 

`Sesshomaru?' She wasn't hallucinating, it was really him…and he was nearby. For that one instance Kagome forgot all of her feelings of hurt and betrayal towards him. All she wanted to do at the moment was to run into his arms and forgive and forget. Perhaps she had been mistaken; perhaps he still did love her. Oh, so many things she wanted to believe.

 

Unconsciously, her pace began to pick up, causing Inuyasha to jog in order to keep up with her. Sapphire eyes scanned the area for signs of him. It was so strange how as much as she wanted to avoid him before, it seemed like the furthest thing from her mind.

 

“Where?” Kagome gasped. Inuyasha stopped in his tracks and she looked back at him in curiosity. The boy's face was blanched white and he looked like he had seen a ghost. “Inuyasha?” She followed his gaze to where he was staring, but before she could turn around completely, his firm hand on her shoulder hauled her away and he began walking again. “Hey—Inuyasha!!!”

 

“My mistake, just thought I saw something but it most definitely was NOT—“

 

“Inuyasha! What's the matter with you? Let me go!” She threw her head back the other way, and what she saw made her heart stop completely.

 

`No, no, no…' The voice inside her screamed, and she felt tears welling up in her eyes. The aching in her chest had come back ten fold, and it was like her heart was shattering all over again.

 

“Kagome…that isn't what it looks like,” Inuyasha's voice said to her softly, almost desperately. But she couldn't hear him, or anything else for that matter. All she could focus on was the scene before her. She couldn't hold back the sob that escaped her lips.

 

~ @ ~

 

“Would you sign the damn contract already?” Kagura said exasperatedly, watching as he flipped through the pages time and time again. He had read and reread the document countless times, surely he could see that it was authentic?

 

“It just seems…a little too easy,” the young man said, looking up from the papers to lock his golden gaze with her crimson one. “Didn't our fathers think we would try something like this?”

 

“Well, I'm not too much into this sort of thing, but I believe that's all there is to it. Look, what do you have to lose by signing it? If it doesn't work, it would be like we never did anything, and who knows? What if it does work? Both of us will be free to be with whomever we wish.”

 

Sesshomaru bit his lower lip slightly. Kagura did have a point…and if it really was authentic, there was nothing in the contract that would jeopardize his position…so…

 

“My fate is sealed then,” He mumbled impassively, taking out his pen and signing in impressive cursive onto the dotted line next to Kagura's own signature. The woman across the table gave a satisfied smirk and finished off the rest of her iced tea.

 

“Finally, that's over with,” she sighed, taking back the document into her purse. Sesshomaru eyed it warily.

 

“Please don't lose that,” He said nonchalantly, earning a raised eyebrow.

 

“I may not be the most responsible of people, but I SWEAR that this is the one thing I won't lose.”

 

“You'd better not, or I'll come back and make you regret it,” Sesshomaru threatened. Kagura let out an amused laugh, crimson eyes twinkling.

 

“If I had known you were so intent on trying to get rid of me…” She leaned towards him some, ruby red lips pursed in thought, and Sesshomaru suddenly felt very uncomfortable under her intense gaze. “But really, if this doesn't work, then what will you do? Would you still consent to the marriage?”

 

“Would you?” He threw back, and she paused for a second.

 

“I don't know. I might not have a choice…” Kagura thought sadly.

 

“I wouldn't,” Sesshomaru answered confidently. The woman across the table was rather surprised at this.

“Really? Aren't there…consequences?”

 

“There are,” he ran slender fingers through silver locks, gazing at the sky. “At the risk of refusing such an engagement, I run the risk of having my title and inheritance taken from me and ultimately disowned from the family name. I'm pretty sure there's a lot more that I can list that my father can do to me, but it's not too important.”

 

Her smile widened when she hear this, and something crossed her irises…something like amazement and understanding. “And you don't mind? Is this girl of yours worth it?”

 

“She is worth everything,” Sesshomaru said without hesitation, his voice final.

 

“Hm. Wow, love bit you in the ass hard, didn't it? It's a shame really…if I weren't in love with Hiten, and under different circumstances, I think I might not have minded being married to someone as handsome as yourself,” she said with a slight smirk. Sesshomaru however, didn't feel the same way.

 

“Flattery will get you no where. Besides, the feeling isn't mutual.”

 

Kagura sighed, nodding a bit. “Tell me…” She leaned in even closer so that they were only mere inches apart. “Who is it that makes you burn with such a passion? That you care so much about that you would throw everything away for…even though it might never be meant to be?”

 

Somewhere in her dark depths, he knew she already knew the answer. She just enjoyed being coy. Before he could answer her, a strangled cry caught his ears. He froze for a moment, unsure if he recognized the voice, and anxiety built within his chest for some unknown reason. It wasn't until he heard an all too familiar voice call out his name that his whole world seemed to stop.

 

“Sesshomaru…?”

 

`Kagome!' His head whipped around, and he stood from his seat, the chair falling behind him with a clatter onto the ground. In a wild moment, golden eyes met with sapphire, but it was not a happy reunion. Sesshomaru had never wanted to see that expression on that face again…he swore that he would die before he'd be the cause of those tears streaking down those rosy cheeks.

And yet, here he was once more, staring into the eyes of the one girl he loved more than anything, and she had the same look as the night that she found about his secret…

 

“Kagome…” He reached out to her, taking a step forward. To his torment, she took one step back. The tears fell one by one. And the look in her blue orbs…if he had thought he hurt her before, it was nothing compared to how she looked now. “Kagome!” `This isn't what it seems, I only love you! Don't run!' He wanted to say these things so badly.

 

But she took another step back, and another. His brother, beside her tried to stop her as well, but before any of them could do a thing to change her mind, Kagome had already turned her heel and ran. Away from the scene…away from him…What was fixed was now broken.

 

“KAGOME!” Sesshomaru cried out desperately, taking off after her with Inuyasha close behind.

 

Crimson eyes watched in mild confusion as the two silver-haired men took off after the crying girl. Kagura sat back against her seat, thinking about the name that Sesshomaru had ushered again and again. She looked awfully familiar, and a flash of the image of the student she met when she first came to Tokyo U. In the dormitories…with that obnoxiously rude friend of hers…

 

`Kagome, was it?' She smiled, getting up to leave, but not before placing a nice tip and paying for her drink. `Well, Sesshomaru, I guess that answers my question earlier.'

 

End Chapter

 

~ @ ~

 

Yume: (bows head in shame) I'M SOOOO SORRY! Such a long while since I last updated. I am now, and forever will be a procrastinator, and that's BAD!

 

CF: DON'T FOLLOW OUR EXAMPLE FOLKS!

 

Yume: Okay, a more Inuyasha/Kikyo oriented chapter with plenty of love squares or triangles…whatever geometric shape to go around. And of course, the Sessho/Kagome angst…

 

CF: It's just drama after drama, eh? Gotta love CF's soap operas!

 

Yume: In the next chapter! In the shadows, Naraku is ready to trap Kagome now that she's the most vulnerable. Will Sesshomaru and Inuyasha get to her in time? And can their relationship ever be fixed, or is it broken beyond repair? Is this the last we've seen of Kagura?

 

CF: @_@ It's like twenty questions! (gets dizzy)

 

Yume: THANK YOU FOR ALL OF YOUR REVIEWS! I'd still like to know if you got any comments, suggestions, questions, the like. So READ AND REVIEW! No flames please.