InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Phony Digits ❯ Spilt Milk ( Chapter 16 )

[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]

Disclaimer: InuYasha is the property of Rumiko Takahashi. I have nothing.

Chapter Sixteen: Spilt Milk

"Knock, Knock!" Sango called out as she opened the front door of Kagome's home without actually knocking and peeked her head inside.

"Come in!" Came Kagome's voice from the back of the house.

"Ooh...smells good in here. What are we having?" Sango asked as she made her way to the kitchen.

"Spaghetti and meatballs."

"Brava! Delizioso!" Sango said in an unconvincing, and borderline offensive Italian accent before kissing her fingertips. "I brought wine." she said, holding up the bottle in her hand and waggling her eyebrows.

The smile that was previously on Kagome's face evaporated instantly. "You have bad news…" she said grimly.

Sango furrowed her brow. "What would make you think that?" she asked, almost too innocently.

"Wine?" Kagome questioned, taking the bottle from Sango's hands. "You always try to get me drunk when you have bad news to tell me."

"I promise you I don't have bad news."

"Well...I have a feeling it's something I'm not going to like…" Kagome said, eyeing her friend suspiciously

"Well…"

"Hey, Sango!" a shirtless Souta interrupted as he came strutting into the kitchen. "It's been a while." he said as he pulled out a chair and sat down at the table, stretching his arms over his head and flexing his biceps in a way that he believed would come off as nonchalant. "Looks like life's been treating you well." He looked her up and down, blatantly checking her out.

Sango rolled her eyes at him. "Yeah, you too. Congrats on your balls finally dropping."

"Ew! Stop it you two!" Kagome scolded. "Sango, you were about to say something before Souta rudely interrupted." She gave her brother a pointed look.

"Oh." she said with a wave of her hand. "It can wait until after dinner... I do have some good news on the roommate situation, though. I talked to my brother and he may have found your new roommate already."

"Oh yeah?" Kagome said as before tasting the marinara sauce from a large wooden spoon.

Sango nodded as she took a seat at the dining table. "Yeah. He said he knows of several people that might be interested. He mentioned one girl in particular that he's going to talk to about it. He said she's really nice and down to earth, and he thinks she's similar to you, personality wise."

"That's great!" Kagome said enthusiastically as she plated up the spaghetti.

"He still needs to talk to her about it, but he said he will let me know when he gets an answer and he seems to think she'll be all for it."

"You're moving out, Kagome?" Souta asked.

She nodded. "Well, I just decided this morning so I haven't told mom yet, but yeah. I figured it's about time, anyway." she said as she carried the plated spaghetti on the table, sitting it before her brother and Sango.

"Mama mia! That's-a spicy meat-a-ball!" Souta said in an even more cartoonish and theatrical Italian accent than Sango had previously used.

Kagome rolled her eyes. "Sango, would you like to trade brothers? I think you and Souta have more in common."

"No thanks." Sango said. "He's all yours."

The three of them ate their dinner, carrying on only light conversation. After dinner was over, Souta excused himself to his room, leaving the two women alone.

"So, anyway…" Kagome began immediately after her brother's departure. "What I wanted to talk to you about…" She pulled her phone from her pocket.

"Let me stop you right there." Sango interrupted and Kagome gave her a look of confusion. "Kagome, I…" she paused to take a deep breath. "I already know about the text from InuYasha."

"Wha...how?"

"I was there when he sent it."

Kagome sat silent for a few moments, allowing the information to sink in. "Well...is it...I mean, obviously you aren't seeing him...are you?" she asked hesitantly.

"No." Sango shook her head . "No. Nothing like that. Actually, it all started because, after I met Miroku at the diner, when I ruined my phone, he bought me a new one as a gift and I went to his apartment to pay him back for the new phone and…" she went on to tell Kagome the whole story of how she had an unplanned dinner with Miroku and InuYasha, then lunch at the diner earlier today.

"I just don't understand why you didn't tell me." Kagome said dejectedly. "You know I wouldn't have been mad at you."

"I know...I'm sorry. To be honest, Kagome, I don't know why I didn't tell you either. I just didn't really even think about it until you called me today when I was with them."

"So...what do you think about him?"

"About who, InuYasha?" Sango asked.

Kagome nodded.

Sango shrugged. "He's hard to read."

"No, I mean, without being too analytical. I'm not asking you to profile him, I just want to know...if you think he's worth my time."

Sango took in a deep breath and released it slowly, looking contemplative. "I think he's worth a second chance." she said as she grabbed the bottle of wine a poured another glass for herself and topped off Kagome's. "A slow and cautious second chance."

Kagome smiled. "Thanks. Your opinion means alot to me." she said sincerely. "So...what about Miroku?"

The corners of Sango's mouth turned up in an almost imperceivable smile as she brought her wine glass to she lips and took a sip. "He's...intriguing." she said with a shrug.

"So he's hot, then." Kagome interpreted.

"I'm being serious! He really is intriguing!" she defended. "The fact that he's hot is just a bonus…" she mumbled under her breath.

Kagome let out a chuckle. "That's what I thought."

<<>>

Kagome's mother returned home from her date, and after she turned in for the night and Sango headed home, Kagome bundled up and headed outside to the back porch, to make a phone call that was both exciting and nerve-racking at once.

She dialed InuYasha's number, and the phone rang several times. She pulled the phone from her ear to look at the time on the display and saw that it was after midnight. Maybe he's asleep…

"Hello?" InuYasha's hoarse and groggy voice came across the line.

She quickly brought the phone back to her ear. "Um...hi, InuYasha, it's Kagome."

"Huh? Oh!" InuYasha said before clearing his throat. "Sorry, I was just…uh..."

"I woke you, didn't I? I'm sorry. I didn't even look at the time before I called."

"No, it's okay. It's fine. I wasn't asleep."

Well, that was an obvious lie, but she would let it slide. "Okay, so what did you need to talk to me about?" she asked, a little more curtly than intended.

"Oh, right, umm…I've just been thinking lately about...the way I handled things…" He paused to clear his throat again. "Sorry, I actually was asleep when you called, I don't know why I lied."

"It's okay." Kagome said. "Please continue."

"Well, in hindsight, I can see how you might have assumed the wrong thing. I wasn't completely honest with you about what was going on and it made me come off kind of rude, but I promise it wasn't my intention to offend you. I've never been that great with words and I think sometimes I forget that people can't read my mind. I'd really like the opportunity to explain everything if you'd let me, because I...I really miss talking to you and I'd like it if we could at least start over with a clean slate. Do you think that would be possible?"

He sounded very rehearsed, as if he had previously written and memorized his little spiel. She actually found it sort of endearing, but before she fell for any of his lines, she needed to know one thing...

"It could be possible, but can I ask you something first?" she questioned.

"Uh...yeah, sure."

"What made you suddenly decide to apologize and explain yourself now, after all this time has passed?"

There was an extended stretch of silence as he contemplated his answer.

"Honestly?" he said before taking in and slowly releasing a deep breath. "Well...I ran into my ex-girlfriend a couple days ago, and she was with someone new and...she was really happy and...I don't know...she just had her shit together I guess, and it got me to thinking…"

"Got you to thinking?" Kagome interrupted. "Got you thinking what? That since she's moved on you should call your backup because you don't have a chance with her anymore?"

"No, Kagome, that's not it." InuYasha quickly interjected. This was the reason he preplanned what he was going to say. Because every time he tried to improvise he ended up pissing someone off.

"Are you certain that's not it? Because that sure is how it sounds to me."

"I'm sure," he tried to assure her. "Listen, I-"

"If you were really sorry then you should have apologized to me two weeks ago." she cut him off again.

"I know. I should have and I'm sorry that I didn't. I felt really bad about…"

"Apparently you didn't feel bad enough to apologize."

"Can you shut up for two seconds and let me finish?" he snapped, finding himself at the end of his patience after the third interruption.

He was answered with silence that had him immediately regretting his harsh and impetuous words. He pulled the phone away from his face, checking to see if she is she had hung up on him. The call was still connected. "Are you still there?" he asked contritely.

"You know what, InuYasha," she finally spoke, her voice eerily calm. "whatever it is...I forgive you."

The relief that InuYasha felt at those words quickly died with the next.

"but I think it'd be best if we went our separate ways."

"That's not what I want, Kagome. I'm sorry I snapped at you, I just want to clear the air with you so that maybe we can start over, but you kept interrupting me."

"I don't want to start over, InuYasha. I'm sorry, but I've got enough on my plate as it is. I'm really not interested in starting a relationship right now with someone as difficult as you." She was trying so hard to be mature, but that last little barb just sort of slipped out.

"Keh! Right, because you aren't difficult at all…" he said, his tone dripping with sarcasm. He then heard the tell-tale tri-tone of the call disconnecting. "Goddammit!" He drew his arm back, preparing to throw the phone into the brick wall and smash it into a million pieces, but he stopped himself. What if she changed her mind and tried to call him back? He'd need to keep his phone intact just in case.

Yeah, right. Like she's going to call me again after that…

He wasn't sure why he even wanted her to...

But still, he wanted her to.

<<>>

How dare he! Kagome fumed internally. Stupid jerk!

She took a seat in one of the aluminum chairs on the back patio, and leaned her head back to look at the stars and calm down. Despite it being a crystal clear night, she could only see a sparse few stars through the smog and light pollution of the city. She wondered what it would be like to live in a rural setting. Or maybe moving to a remote island in the South Pacific and living in one of those little huts that sit in the ocean on stilts. She thought she would like that. She wasn't sure why, seeing as how she'd only ever lived in a big city, but suddenly the sound of anything different sounded appealing to her. Well, actually, she did know why she was feeling like this. It was the restlessness creeping up on her again. She did this every time that something didn't go as planned. She had always been the type to get what she wanted. Not that she was ever handed everything she wanted on a silver platter like some spoiled brat. No, not by a long shot. She had always been the type to get what she wanted through hard work and persistence. That probably contributed to her struggle in her romantic relationships. If a guy wasn't everything she wanted, she would move on without a second thought. No compromise. No 'wait and see'. She would passively reject them, making up excuses or dodging their calls until they finally gave up and moved on. Anything to keep from having to confront them and tell them no to their face. It wasn't until recently that her eyes were opened to just how rude and selfish that behavior was.

The only man she had ever confronted face-to-face, was the man she had just so boldly rejected for a second time a few minutes ago. What was it about him that made her feel so passionate and confident? What was it about him that made her so...crazy?

She had earned her independence, and she prided herself in it. She didn't need a man to lead a fulfilling life, and she certainly didn't need InuYasha...

…but dammit she wanted him, and she didn't know why. And she hated that she wanted the jerk, and she hated that she didn't know why she wanted the jerk... It was messing with her entire life.

Why couldn't the person she wanted be the person she always thought she wanted?

...and not some arrogant punk still stuck on his ex-girlfriend...

She let out a loud sigh as she leaned forward with her elbows on her knees, resting her face against her palms.

"What are you doing?"

Kagome sat up with a gasp, whipping around to find her brother standing behind her.

"What are you doing out here? You better not have been smoking! You were weren't you?! I knew I smelled smoke!" she scolded him as she stood and grabbed him by the collar, pulling his shirt against her nose and smelling with an audible sniff.

"Jesus. Is it crazy out here or is it just me?" Souta said. "The smoke you smell is coming from the neighbors."

"Oh. Sorry." Kagome said sheepishly. "I'm just sort of wound up I guess."

"So you didn't answer my question. What are you doing out here?" he asked again.

She shrugged before retaking her seat. "Being introspective."

Souta pulled up another chair and took a seat next to her. "I hope that doesn't mean you're in one of your 'I'm gonna fly to Oregon and climb Mt. Hood' moods."

"I was thinking more along the lines of moving to Malaysia and living in an overwater bungalow actually." she said with a mirthless chuckle.

"Hey...now that's not a half bad idea. I might even come with you."

"How will we make money?"

"We can sell seashells down by the shesore...dammit!"

Kagome burst into giggles.

"That was going to be a good one and I screwed it up." he said with a chuckle.

Their laughter gave way to silence as the two of them leaned their heads back in their chairs to gaze at what few stars they could see.

"I bet you can see all the stars up in the Adirondacks." Kagome said after several minutes of companionable silence.

"You sure as hell aren't dragging me into the mountains."

"Why not?"

"Hmm...let's see." he started, his tone facetious. "Rattlesnakes, wolves, bears!" He counted off on his fingers.

She smiled. "I know someone who once fought a bear with their bare hands."

He turned slowly to look at her. "Please tell me it was Sango."

She let out an amused snort. "No, sorry, not Sango."

"Then...is it the person you're sitting out here brooding about?"

"Yep." she said simply and Souta nodded in reply.

"He actual sounds kinda awesome."

"You men are won over too easily." she said. "You can pummel a bear and still be a huge jerk."

"Ah." Souta said. "Dare I ask?"

Kagome shook her head in the negative. "I wouldn't even know what to tell you, bud." She sighed and relaxed into her chair. "This is nice. We never hang out like this anymore."

"It'd be nicer if I wasn't freezing my balls off."

"Ew! Stop talking about your balls!"

Souta chuckled at his sister's discomfort. "I love ya, sis."

"Love you, too, you little twerp."

<<>>

A/N: Umm...hopefully there aren't any huge glaring mistakes here. I can't really remember what I've written and haven't had the time to go back and re-read the story.

Okay, so real quick, spring and summer are super duper busy for me so updates will probably continue to be slow. I'll do my best.

Thanks for reading!

Have a glorious day,

-SW