InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Soul Therapy ❯ Chapter Eighteen ( Chapter 18 )

Title: Soul Therapy

 

Author: dolphingirl0113

 

Chapter: Eighteen

 

Rating: PG-13 (for language and, at times, sexual implications)

 

Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha.

 

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Work was always an easy outlet for frustration, and an easy way to forget what was bothering her. So Kagome threw herself into working for the next few days as though her very life depended on getting as many patients in and out the door as possible. But distraction only did the trick for so long, and at the end of the day, when she would return to her apartment, she would end up thinking about how lonely she was without Inuyasha's company, and wonder what he was doing.

 

Kagome found it harder and harder to not feel guilty about the way she had treated him that evening at the coffee shop, and she was frequently tempted to pick up the phone and call, the only thing stopping her being the fact that she had declared she would not initiate any contact between them again, and that it was all up to him.

 

Had she been wrong? Was she being unreasonable to expect him to make a choice, and stick with it to the end?

 

But then Kagome would think of the way he had kissed her, and how he had repeatedly said that he loved her, and she would become angry. A man didn't just say and do those things to a woman and then not follow through.

 

“Damn it,” she cursed softly as she nicked her finger spreading cream cheese on a bagel in the staff room at the clinic during another of her crazy days at work. Setting the offensive utensil on the table, she walked over and pulled a box of band-aids from a cabinet.

 

“Are you alright, Kagome?” Sango had a look of concern on her face as she watched her friend move about the room, pulling apart the small bandage and putting it over the tip of her finger.

 

“Yeah, fine, why do you ask?”

 

“You've just seemed really, um, distracted lately. Are you sure nothing's on your mind?”

 

“Why would anything be on my mind?”

 

Sango sighed in frustration and stood up, deciding to take the direct approach. “Because you haven't been yourself since you and Inuyasha had that fight at the coffee shop last week, and I know you better then to think that wouldn't be bothering you right now.”

 

Kagome sighed in defeat and leaned against the table, her arms behind her back. “He hasn't called me, Sango. Is that a bad sign? Should I call him?”

 

“You said you told him to call you when he's ready, right?”

 

“Yeah, something like that.”

 

“Then maybe he just isn't ready yet.”

 

“But what if he's changed his mind? What if, after our fight, he's decided it isn't worth it to be with me, and he'd rather just stay married to Kikyou?”

 

Sango put a hand on her friend's shoulder comfortingly. “Kagome, you have nothing to worry about. I saw the way he was looking at you, and I could totally see that he is in love with you. No guy would turn away from that.”

 

“Unless that guy wants to avoid unnecessary conflict,” Kagome muttered in reply just as Miroku walked into the room with a water bottle in hand, full of some strange purple liquid.

 

“What the hell is that?” Sango asked incredulously, making a face as he took a long swig.

 

“Protein shake.”

 

“What?”

 

“It's a protein shake. I'm trying to lose weight.”

 

Kagome and Sango both laughed, but it was Kagome who spoke first. “Why do you need to lose weight, Miroku? You're in great shape.”

 

He smiled and set the water bottle down. “Let me rephrase; I'm trying to change all the fat in my body to muscle, and the container this stuff came in guarantees that if I drink two eight ounce servings a day, within a month I'll start noticing a difference.”

 

Sango picked up the water bottle and sniffed, making a face as she set it back down and walked away. “You know these things never work, right?”

 

“Actually, Kouga tried it and said it worked great, so I'm giving it a try.”

 

“Kouga?” Kagome laughed again. “Why on earth would he need this? Isn't he like the former track star from his private school?”

 

Miroku nodded. “Yeah, he was actually named the fastest man in Tokyo once during his freshman year in college. Last I heard he still creams everyone in the occasional marathon.”

 

Rolling her eyes, Kagome decided to return to her bagel project. “Bringing me back to my first question; why would he need to use that protein stuff?”

 

“I don't know,” Miroku shrugged and took another swig before heading back out the door, “But if he says it works I'll believe him.”

 

Sango waited until he was out the door before laughing. “Do you realize what this means?”

 

Kagome shrugged her shoulders and sat down at the table with her cream-cheese loaded bagel. “That we work with losers?”

 

“That too, but I mean besides that.” Kagome shook her head, and Sango chuckled. “It means that he actually listens to me, and he wants to impress me.”

 

“Come again?”

 

“Remember our date?”

 

“So you're calling it a date now?”

 

“Whatever,” Sango waved her hands carelessly, unaware of the concession she had just made, but Kagome smirked, having no intention of letting her friend forget it.

 

“Okay, so what happened on your date?”

 

Sango giggled again. “While his grandfather was in the restroom, I noticed an old friend from high school. Do you remember Jake?”

 

“The football player?” Kagome recalled a young man with bulging muscles, wavy blonde hair, and an ego through the roof. Sango had secretly eyed the guy for two years before finally getting up the guts to ask him out. They had dated for a few months before things cooled off and they decided to just be friends.

 

“Yeah, that's him. Anyway, he comes into the restaurant with this woman, who I find out is his fiancée. He recognizes me, and gives me a hug. Miroku actually seemed jealous, even though Jake was obviously with the other woman.”

 

Sango was talking like a high school gossip girl, and Kagome was finding it difficult to follow the story through her high-pitched rambling, but somehow managed to grasp the gist of the situation.

 

“So, Miroku was jealous, I still don't see how that has anything to do with the protein shake he just brought in here.”

 

“I'm getting to that.” Taking a deep breath, she flipped her long brown ponytail over her shoulder. “After Jake and his fiancée went to sit at their table, Miroku asked me how I knew him, and I was honest, saying we dated a few times. Then he made the comment that I must like guys who work out, and I said it certainly is a plus. And now he's drinking a protein shake to get more muscle mass.”

 

“Wow,” having been able to finish her bagel over the course of their conversation, Kagome rose to throw away the paper towel it had been sitting on, a smile on her face. “I think, amidst the jarbled mess that is what you just told me, I managed to discern two things: Miroku was jealous, and is now getting into shape to impress you.”

 

“Yeah.”

 

They stared at each other for a few seconds before Kagome laughed, breaking the silence. “Well, it's about time you figured out that he likes you! I've only been trying to get you guys together for the past two years!”

 

Sango blushed. “We're not together, and I never said I even want to date him.”

 

“Please, you like him just as much as he likes you, admit it.”

 

“Well,” Sango was on the verge of a confession when the door opened and Ayame walked into the room with a serious expression.

 

“Kagome, your next patient is here.”

 

“I know, I was on my way out. Why, is there a problem?”

 

The redhead looked slightly nervous. “Well, I thought maybe you'd want to be prepared for this one.” She handed Kagome the chart, still looking tense.

 

One glance at the name was all it took for Kagome to feel her stomach drop. Damn it, she forgot that he was still her patient! “Is he in an exam room?”

 

“No, he's out on one of the tables, because he says that's what you guys do now.”

 

Kagome nodded and swallowed, glancing at Sango, who was giving her a sympathetic look. She walked over and touched Kagome's arm lightly.

 

“Don't worry about it, Kag, maybe this is a good thing. Maybe he hasn't called you yet because he remembered he would be seeing you in the clinic.”

 

Nodding, Kagome took the chart, unsure of why she felt so nervous. It was just Inuyasha, after all. But images of the last time she had seen him flared up in her mind, and Kagome couldn't resist the slight stain on her cheeks as she opened the door, and froze.

 

Inuyasha was there, alright, but not dressed for therapy. In fact, he looked like therapy was the last thing on his mind.

 

He wore black dress slacks and a black suede jacket, accented by a red undershirt, complete with shiny black dress shoes. His hair looked like it had been combed with great care, falling about his face and down his back and framing his beautiful amber eyes, at that moment full of hope. He was standing beside one of the exam tables, still with crutches under his arms, and in his hands was a large bouquet of red roses, just like the ones he had sent her before.

 

Kagome didn't know what to say or do, and so she did what any girl in her situation would: she gaped like an idiot, at least until Miroku, Sango, Kouga, and Ayame started laughing off to one side. Then she looked away and blushed.

 

“Inuyasha, what is all this?”

 

For once he looked extremely unsure of himself, and that fact alone was enough to completely melt her heart. But what he said next absolutely threw her over the edge of the waterfall of emotions in her chest at that moment.

 

“I guess this is my way of apologizing for, um, well, whatever I've been doing lately, and whatever I'm going to do in the future.” He sighed. “Kagome, look, this is not exactly the kind of problem I ever expected to deal with. When Kikyou and I got married, I thought that was the end of it, that I wouldn't have to play the dating game again, and that I wouldn't fall for someone while I was still married to someone else. So, I guess what I'm trying to say is you're going to just need some patience with me through all of this.”

 

Inuyasha went silent, staring at her intently like a lost little boy looking for approval, and Kagome gave it to him in the only form she knew; she swiftly and silently went up and wrapped her arms around his waist, resting her head against his chest, her form fitting his body perfectly so that his chin could rest on the top of her head.

 

“Oh Inuyasha, I'm sorry too,” she whispered, completely ignoring the fact that everyone in the entire clinic was watching them at that moment.

 

“For what?”

 

“I should have known better then to be so upset. If you were the usual boyfriend it would be okay to be upset over stupid things, but you're not, you're married to my cousin.” Kagome swallowed. “And, I was wrong to make such a big deal about what you said at the coffee shop. So I'll say it again; I'm sorry.”

 

They stood in silence for several minutes, just enjoying each other's company, Kagome soaking in his smell, which was fresh with a hint of after shave, and realizing how deeply she had truly fallen in love with the man.

 

Someone elsewhere in the room coughed uncomfortably, and the moment was ruined as the pair sprang apart, realizing what they were doing in front of dozens of people.

 

“Um,” Inuyasha's cheeks were stained pink as he held out the roses, “These are for you.”

 

“Thanks,” Kagome took them and smelled the buds dramatically, much like she had done with Hojo when he had brought flowers, only this time she had no intention of just putting the bouquet in the back room in a vase. “You know, you're not dressed for a therapy session, Inuyasha.”

 

He laughed at that, his amber eyes dancing in a way that Kagome swore was just for her. “Well, I was hoping I could pull you out of work today and take you to dinner.”

 

“Dinner?”

 

“Yeah, I have reservations at six o' clock for two at Roses.”

 

“Roses?” Kagome thought about the fancy restaurant on the west side of the city, the one she had only been to once, during an annual fundraiser for the clinic. She had only gone because at that point she didn't have to pay for any of the food. “Inuyasha, I don't think I can afford that.”

 

“Keh, neither can I, but I think it won't kill us for just one night, will it?

 

Kagome couldn't stop the incredibly stupid smile from spreading across her face as she nodded. “Okay, so will you pick me up or am I meeting you there?”

 

“I'll pick you up, of course. Although,” He rubbed the back of his head as best he could with crutches, “I'll need directions.”

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

Two hours of work at the clinic, a long bath, forty minutes of wearing curlers, and twenty minutes of make-up later Kagome found herself waiting patiently on her couch, her hands in her lap, her legs crossed. The doorbell rang, and she felt her heart leap in excitement and anticipation, for a moment forgetting that the man on the other side was married and that their relationship was tied to all kinds of complications. For tonight, it would just be a date with her and Inuyasha.

 

“Coming,” she called out, before standing up and walking over to her full-length mirror, twirling and surveying her image critically one last time, thanking fate for the fact that, because of all the fundraisers Sesshoumaru held, she had a closet full of formal dresses to choose from for times just like this.

 

The gown was spun of a deep blue satin, with straps that came up, circled her neck like a collar, and then fell down her back loosely. The fabric hugged her curves loosely, but just enough that it would leave any man intrigued, and sparkled with tiny amounts of glitter Kagome had applied herself earlier that evening.

 

The curlers had done their job, she noted with satisfaction, her hair falling about her shoulders in elegant, full curls and held in place by what she considered almost an embarrassingly large amount of hair spray, and her face was accented by a soft blush, a hint of mascara, silver eyeliner, and deep burgundy lip gloss.

 

Nodding in approval, she picked up her small purse and walked to the door, a beaming smile on her face as she turned the knob to find Inuyasha standing before her, a handsome half-smile on his face. His eyes grew wide as they saw her, and Kagome beamed in pleasure at his obvious approval of her appearance.

 

“Ready to go?” she asked, looping her arm through his as best as she could with his crutches in the way.

 

“Yeah,” he smiled and turned, and she was forced to let go while he made his way slowly down the stairs to the parking lot, but she didn't care. Crutches or not, she was with Inuyasha tonight, and she was going to have fun.

 

Roses was just like she remembered it, made up like an old Victorian era house with wooden floors, small mahogany tables covered in white table cloths, and large windows that stretched from the floor to the ceiling, overlooking a beautiful inner garden complete with an impressive fountain and flowers of all kinds.

 

“When we're done eating,” Kagome commented after they had been seated at a table for two, “We'll have to go for a walk out there. It looks beautiful in the moonlight.”

 

Inuyasha nodded, knowing that was his cue to say something like `Not as beautiful as you', but deciding not to. He loved Kagome, but then he wasn't exactly the type to make sappy comments like that. He never had been.

 

She was beautiful, though. In fact, he could hardly take his eyes off of her to drive the car on the way to the restaurant, and now wanted to possessively put his arms around her whenever a passing waiter or young man eyed her appreciatively.

 

It was strange. Kikyou had always gone for the seductive look, her evening gowns always either deep red or black. She would look just as stunning, but in a different way. Her beauty would make others fall to their knees in awe. With Kagome, he felt like he could touch her, like she was human.

 

Shaking his head, Inuyasha swore mentally as he picked up his menu, promising himself not to think about Kikyou while out with Kagome. There was just no sense in comparing the two. They were completely different people.

 

“So, what are you having?”

 

Inuyasha shrugged, trying to look casual as he gazed at the incredible prices next to the entrees. “Oh I don't know, you?”

 

“I'll probably just have a salad.”

 

“Don't tell me you're that kind of girl.”

 

“What do you mean?” Kagome looked up from her menu and saw the playful glint in his eyes as he spoke.

 

“You know, the kind that only ever orders a salad or fruit because she doesn't want to look like a pig in front of her date.”

 

Kagome grinned. “I have no problem looking like a big, sir, I was just noting that the tossed green salad is the price of two hamburgers at a regular restaurant.”

 

“So?”

 

“So, I would like to still have a checking account tomorrow morning.”

 

“Kagome, I told you we were going to live a little tonight, didn't I? So live a little! I'm paying for dinner, and I want you to get anything you want.”

 

“Really?” She glanced at him incredulously, though she knew she sounded excited.

 

“Yeah, really, now tell me what you really want.”

 

“I want the beef mignonettes, with a bowl of their French onion soup to start. And I would love to have the crab and artichoke dip as an appetizer.”

 

Inuyasha smiled, pleased that her eyes were alight with excitement, but at the same time had to bite back a groan as he noticed she had single-handedly selected the three most expensive items on the menu.

 

“Okay, it's yours,” he choked out, his wallet already hurting in his back pocket, anticipating the moment when he would pull out his credit card at the end of the evening.

 

“So what are you going to get?”

 

“Steak.”

 

Kagome chuckled. “Steak? Okay, what kind? They have three different steaks listed on the menu.”

 

“Really?” he glanced again, only recognizing one, the rib eye.

 

“Yeah, there's the rib eye, the halibut steak, and the filet mignon.”

 

Inuyasha made a face. “I definitely don't want the fish.”

 

“Okay, then do you want the filet or the rib eye?”

 

“I don't know, what's the difference?” Kagome gave him a surprised stare, and Inuyasha found himself blushing slightly. “What? I don't usually come to restaurants like these. Medical students just live off of pizza and coffee.”

 

Kagome chuckled. “Okay, um, the filet is, well, lighter, I guess, and usually smaller.”

 

“Then I want the rib eye.”

 

“Alright, and are you going to want soup or salad with it?”

 

Inuyasha groaned. “How the hell should I know? And why are you asking me, isn't that the server's job?”

 

Kagome grinned as she set her menu down. “I can't help it, I was a waitress in college to help pay for tuition.”

 

“Really?” He put down his menu as well, preparing for an evening of conversation.

 

“Yeah, that's how I first met Miroku, actually. Sango and I were working in this little American restaurant that serves burgers and stuff right down the street from our dormitory, and one day this guy walks in, takes one look at me, and asks me to bear his child.”

 

Inuyasha blinked in surprise. “What did you say to that?”

 

Kagome shrugged. “I did the only thing that made sense; I whacked him over the head with my tray and then asked him if he'd like anything to drink.”

 

The rest of the evening went by smoothly, without any moments of tension or unease. It was like the night at the coffee shop had been completely forgotten, and they were back to being easy in each others company again.

 

Once the bill was paid, and Inuyasha felt like he could move after the shock of seeing the tab, they went out into the gardens, just like Kagome had wanted at the beginning of the night.

 

“I have an idea,” she said suddenly, and unexpectedly took Inuyasha's crutches and leaned them against a bench. Thinking she meant to sit down, Inuyasha started to move toward the stone seat, only to have Kagome pull him back with her arm, nearly causing him to lose his balance.

 

“What are you doing? I thought you wanted to go for a walk.”

 

“I do,” She replied, looping her arm through his despite the fact that he was leaning heavily against her for support. “But I also want to walk WITH you, and not just next to you. Since you can't do that on your own, I'll just have to help you.”

 

Inuyasha thought his heart was going to turn to mush at what she said. “We won't move very fast.”

 

“I don't care, so long as you're with me.”

 

For the first time in his life, Inuyasha actually wanted to cry for joy. Looking down at the beautiful woman beside him, her arm looped happily through his, her dark hair framing her face like a delicate halo, he wondered again how he had stumbled onto such an angel. And, more importantly, why she was so willing to put up with him.

 

They started to move, and it was a slow process, each step barely moving them a foot, but Kagome didn't seem to mind at all, chattering away as though everything was completely normal, and Inuyasha found himself falling under her spell, forgetting, for the first time since the accident, that he had a handicap.

 

“I love walking at night. Outside of walking in the rain, it's one of my favorite things to do.”

 

“Walking in the rain?”

 

“Yeah, don't you ever walk in the rain?”

 

“No, with hair like mine it's kind of annoying to have to undo the tangles.”

 

Kagome giggled. “You know, you're the first guy I've ever met who actually made a comment about his hair.”

 

“What can I say, I have a feminine streak I guess.”

 

“And that's just fine with me.”

 

They walked in silence for a while, just taking in the garden and the sound of the fountain to their left, circling it once before heading back to where they had left Inuyasha's crutches.

 

“What made you want to be a doctor?” Kagome asked finally.

 

“I don't know, a lot of things, I guess.”

 

“Like what?”

 

“Like the usual, I wanted to help people.”

 

“There are lots of careers where you can do that. Why did you decide to be a doctor?”

 

Inuyasha sighed. “I guess because when Kikyou and I got married we promised ourselves we would have successful careers, and I decided that being a doctor was just about as successful as I could get. And, surprisingly enough, I really liked it once I started medical school.”

 

Kagome nodded, silently brooding, and Inuaysha could have kicked himself for realizing he had mentioned Kikyou. He hadn't meant to bring her into the conversation, or the evening for that matter.

 

The drive home was silent, but not in an unpleasant way, just silent. And Kagome found that she liked it that way. Sometimes, conversation just wasn't necessary.

 

He walked her to her door, and Kagome invited him in for a cup of coffee, which he readily accepted, walking into her apartment with that usual look of curiosity anyone has when surveying an unfamiliar home. Kagome was just grateful she had cleaned the living room the day before.

 

Inuyasha gratefully sank into the white couch in the center of the room, noting the two recliners on either side. A small television was set up directly in front of him, along with a small glass coffee table within reaching distance, but not so close that he was bumping up against it.

 

The whole apartment was bright and cheerful, even at night, and it probably had something to do with the fact that there were windows reaching from the floor to the ceiling along one entire wall, covered loosely in transparent white curtains, moonlight currently pouring in and making the plush white carpet seem to glow.

 

The front door opened into the living room itself, and then off to the side was a small kitchen, complete with a small table, though there was also one on the modest balcony overlooking a small swimming pool. And then, down a small hallway there were three doors, which Inuyasha assumed were probably Kagome's bedroom, a bathroom, and an office.

 

“It's a nice place you've got,” he commented, not sure what else to say as he listened to the woman moving about in the kitchen, boiling some water to make tea.

 

“Yeah, I still can't believe I got this place, you know? I was looking for a place, and the woman who used to live here got engaged to this guy in America, and was so excited to move away with him that she took the first offer available, which was me. I paid way less then it's worth, but hey, whatever works, right?”

 

“Right, I would have done it, if I had the chance.” Inuyasha looked around at some of the various paintings on the walls, noting the pictures of Kagome's family scattered on the various bookshelves lining the far wall, behind the television.

 

“Do you like sugar in your tea?” She asked, the sound of a spoon clattering in a glass telling him that she did.

 

“No thanks.”

 

“Okay,” she appeared a few seconds later with two mugs and handed him one before curling up, as best she could in her dress, on the couch beside him. After taking a few sips of the hot liquid, she looked up and smiled at him. “I had a great time tonight.”

 

“Me too.”

 

“And I'm glad we went out, I think we needed it.”

 

“Yeah,” Inuyasha suddenly had a far off look, and Kagome furrowed her brow in confusion.

 

“Where are you?” She asked, only partially teasing him. He blinked and looked back at her with a smile that didn't quite reach his eyes.

 

“Just thinking.”

 

“About?”

 

“A lot of things.”

 

“Us?”

 

“Yeah, and, well,” he hesitated, “Kikyou.”

 

“Oh.”

 

“Not in that way,” he hastened to assure her, “Just, in the sense that I don't know where to go from here, you know? I mean, I guess the whole idea of asking for a divorce is just, well, complicated.”

 

“I know,” Kagome leaned against the back of the couch with a sigh. “How were things between the two of you when you first got home? I mean, you have been living with her for the past week since you got back, right?”

 

He winced at the underlying implication. “I've been sleeping on the couch,” he found himself saying automatically. “And things haven't been that great. I guess we both thought that being apart would make us realize that we still loved each other, but it didn't. I only realized how much I care for you, and she, well, had a similar experience with Naraku.”

 

Kagome opened her eyes in surprise. “Did you, um, catch them doing something at your house?”

 

“No.”

 

“Then how do you-”

 

“I could smell his cologne on the couch in the living room when I went to sleep.”

 

“Oh, I'm sorry.”

 

Inuyasha gave her a strange look. “For what? It's not like I love her that way any more. In fact, I was somewhat surprised that it didn't even make me angry, just sad.”

 

“Sad?”

 

“Yeah, that it's over, kind of like a person would feel after breaking up a long-term relationship. Although,” he blushed, “I wouldn't know how that feels either. I've only ever dated Kikyou.”

 

Kagome nodded, but chose to remain silent. Honestly, she didn't really know what to say.

 

Finally, after several minutes of silence, she set her cup down on the coffee table and leaned back against Inuyasha's solid form, feeling him shift his weight against the arm of the couch so that he could support her without falling over. She felt his arm go around her shoulders, and sighed again.

 

“So where do we go from here?” she whispered, and she could feel him shrug.

 

“I don't know; I ask Kikyou for a divorce, I guess.”

 

“Do you want me to be with you?”

 

“No, that should be between the two of us. I think that, even though she feels the same way about the whole situation, it still bothers her a little that we're, um, kind of together.”

 

Kagome giggled. “I never thought I'd end up with Kikyou's ex.” Inuyasha chuckled too, and their eyes met.

 

Silence, tense and full of promise, filled the room, and from some invisible force Kagome felt herself pulled toward him, pressing her lips gently against his. At first, it was soft and sweet, but suddenly it was like the dam broke, and he was flipping her over so that she was underneath him, somewhat, his mouth hungrily taking her own.

 

It felt just like that day on the kitchen floor, like the timing was right, and Kagome was ready.

 

She ran her fingers through his long silver hair, marveling at how soft it felt against her skin, letting it fall against her cheeks as she wrapped her arms around her neck and pushed herself against him in silent surrender.

 

“Kagome,” he whispered, almost like a whimper, and pulled back slightly, causing Kagome to remember what they had decided, about taking it slow. But suddenly, she didn't care, and she smiled up at him, a sweet smile that melted his heart for the thousandth time since he'd met her.

 

“Yes, Inuyasha,” was all she said, and he understood, lowering his head, both of them knowing that, from that moment on, they had sealed an invisible contract to support one another, no matter what happened in the days to come.