InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Strike a Pose ❯ The Past Comes Knocking ( Chapter 16 )

Chapter 16: The Past Comes Knocking.

Sesshoumaru opened the apartment door on a Sunday morning and raised a brow at the woman stood there.

Around the same age as Kagome she was scantily dressed in a scoop necked black shirt, with a leather jacket, a tight black miniskirt with red fishnet tights and black stiletto boots. Her hair was cut short to her chin and she had an ornate comb settled into the black tresses. She turned red eyes to stare at him.

“Where's Kagome?” she asked shortly.

“Who are you?” he asked.

“Yura” she answered in clipped tones “please just can I see Kagome?”

“Oh hell no!” Kikyo announced appearing at Sesshoumaru's side.

“Nice to see you again too, Kikyo” Yura commented acerbically.

“What do want?” Kikyo demanded folding her arms across her chest.

“I just need to speak to Kagome” Yura replied levelly.

“And why would I let you do that?” Kikyo glared at her “You're the reason she almost got kicked out of school.”

“I resent that” Yura bit out “you can't blame that entirely on me.”

“What's going on?” Kagome asked as she came upon the group of people gathered around the front door. “Yura?”

“Kagome” the girl sounded relieved “can we talk, it's important?”

“Um... sure” Kagome nodded and grabbed her jacket.

“Kagome!” Kikyo grabbed her elbow.

Kagome shook her off “It's fine Kikyo, I'll be right back.”

And with that both Kagome and the unknown woman left.

“Who was she?” Inuyasha, who had up until that moment been eating his way through a huge tub of popcorn, wandered blithely into the conversation.

Kikyo sighed and moved away to sit on the sofa.

“Before HG designs really took off we went to a public school, the same school. But we fell in with very different gangs. I got along pretty well with the music types, but Kagome, with her bad temper and mean right hook, became friends with the `criminals', Yura was the one who encouraged her to hand around with them. They weren't exactly bad; after all we were quite young, around thirteen. But one of the guys in Kagome's group of friends was seventeen and trouble”

Sesshoumaru raised a brow “His name?”

“Gin” Kikyo sighed “he was a kid with a bad childhood and he was the toughest person in the school, got into plenty of fights”

“You have mentioned him before” Sesshoumaru pointed out “I believe he nearly killed Hojo?”

“Ah, yes” Kikyo nodded “Gin was very protective of Kagome and Hojo liking her didn't sit well with him at all. He nearly beat the poor kid to death.”

“What happened to nearly get her chucked out of school?” Inuyasha asked.

“Gin had a girlfriend by the name of Shima” Kikyo wrinkled her nose “she was sixteen and a total bitch. I think she was probably jealous of how protective Gin was of Kagome and she started a fight. Kagome tried not to fight back, but when she was punched in the face it was the last straw. They both got sent to the office and Shima got expelled, it wasn't the first time she had done something like that, and Kagome got suspended. Kagome was forbidden from even talking to them again and three months later HG designs took off, we moved here and Kagome grew up.”

“So it wasn't Kagome's fault” Inuyasha said.

“No, but those people are bad for her” Kikyo shook her head “I don't like it”

“What happened to Gin?” Inuyasha asked.

“He got arrested” Kikyo shrugged “I think for assault.”

“Wow” Inuyasha said “I never would have thought Kagome would be like that.”

“She wasn't, only with them” Kikyo shrugged “she's always been too innocent for her own good, she believed they weren't really bad people.”

“Sounds like Kagome” Inuyasha snorted “too innocent for her own good.”

***

Kagome led Yura to the nearby park and cut to the chase.

“What do you want?”

“No hello? How have you been?” Yura asked flippantly only to receive an angry glare.

“I won't ask you again” Kagome folded her arms.

“I miss you, it's no fun without your incurably innocent worldview” Yura sighed.

“Get to the point Yuka.”

“It's... Gin” she pulled the comb from her hair and rubbed her thumb over the intricate pattern on it “He's out of prison, he asked me to tell you.”

“So?” Kagome asked running a hand through her hair in frustration.

“He'd like to see you” Yuka shrugged.

Kagome stiffened and looked away towards her apartment building. “I can't.”

“He just wants to see you” Yuka protested “Why won't you?”

“Because I'm happy now” Kagome shrugged “you'll always be my friend, I'll always love you but I need you to let me go for my sake.”

Yuka looked down at her comb and spoke softly “I know” biting her lip she continued “but, just this once, to say goodbye won't you go and see him?” she pressed a piece of paper into Kagome's palm.

Kagome smiled and stepped forward hugging Yuka tightly. A moment later Yuka wrapped her arms around Kagome and leant her head on her shoulder.

“Sayonara, Yuka-chan” Kagome whispered as she pulled away and began to walk from her past.

“Will you see him?”

“I don't know” Kagome's voice drifted back to the girl and Yuka sighed.

“Sayonara, Kagome-chan. Have a good life.”

***

As soon as Kagome got inside the door she was pounced upon by Kikyo.

“What happened? Kagome, how could you go with her?” Kikyo demanded

“We said goodbye properly” Kagome pulled her jacket off and removed her shoes. “That's it”

“If you think I'm going to believe that then you're wrong” Kikyo bit out

Kagome turned on her twin “Don't you trust me enough to make my own decisions?”

“Not when it involves these people, with them you're your own worst enemy” Kikyo retaliated

“I'm glad I have your support, thanks” Kagome bit out mordantly as she pushed past her sister and ran up the stairs. Sesshoumaru watched her go but the flare in her Miko powers warned him that trying to go after her was probably a bad idea.

“Damn” Kikyo ran a hand over her face. “I could have handled that better”

The silence was all the agreement she needed and she turned to flop onto the sofa next to Inuyasha.

“What do we do now?” Inuyasha asked the room in general.

There was a collective sigh. They had no idea.

***

Sesshoumaru slid the door to the bathroom open. He knew he probably shouldn't be ding this. In fact, he definitely knew he shouldn't be doing this. But it was hard, his more primal half was screaming at him to comfort the girl, and though he was loathe to admit it he wanted to help her.

Damn that girl and her inescapable ability to endear herself to everyone.

Kagome was oblivious to her company as she allowed her muscles to unwind in the hot water of the spacious bath. She barely registered the sound of clothes hitting the floor until suddenly she had been joined in the water.

She squeaked like a startled Meer cat and tried to escape him. He cocked an eyebrow and held her in place as the bath water attempted to escape the tub.

“Why are you in the bath with me?” she demanded as she finally stopped struggling and relaxed back against his broad chest. The bath tub seemed to shrink with him inside it.

“You were taking too long.” He replied “if I am to wash my hair then I need to do it now, else it will not dry in time for sleep.”

“You know, as far as excuses go that was pretty crappy.”

“Hn” he agreed as he took the soap and began to work the cricks out of her back.

Her head lolled back almost instantly “No touching” she complained half heartedly.

He smirked at the lack of conviction in her words “I assure you I will keep this completely platonic.”

She frowned when he said that, did she really want platonic?

“You need to stop being so stressed” he reprimanded as he worked out another knot. “it can cause illness”

“Huh?”

“A person such as you who is hostile, time pressured and competitive is far more likely to end up with some kind of coronary failure.”

She gave him a completely bemused look over her shoulder. “Where do you get all this stuff?”

“I read”

“Sometimes I think you read too much.” She rolled her eyes.

“I think it is you who reads too little.”

She growled at him and he growled back, his was much more impressive and she knew it.

“You're pouting aren't you?” he asked

“No” she said petulantly.

“I believe you” he sniggered.

“Smug bastard” she griped.

“But you still love me.”

“No, you love yourself, there's no room for me in that relationship.”

At that there was a knock on the door.

“Kagome?” Kikyo called “who are you talking to?”

This seemed to snap Kagome back to her senses and she abruptly realised she was still naked in a bath with a perverted demon. Great.

Squeaking once more she grabbed her towel and fled his clutches.

He watched her go with a small smile; at least she wasn't as horrifyingly depressed.

Plus, he really hadn't minded the view she had gifted him with as she had stepped from the tub.

***

The cafe that had been written down on Yuka's piece of paper was a small cosy affair. The air was saturated with the scent of coffee and there were no chairs, only sofas and beanbags. Kagome entered the cafe tentatively and cast her gaze around to find him. When she laid eyes on him she had to grin.

Gin was the same as always. Sam slightly too long grey hair that fell into his purple eyes, same tight jeans low on his hips, same diamond in his ear and same easily flirtatious attitude. As she laid eyes on him he was flirting with the waitress, in a laid back manner of course. Gin was so laid back he was almost horizontal, unless of course someone ignited his temper. Then he was a demon.

“Kagome!” he smiled when he saw her, his purple eyes lighting up as he observed her closely.

~Hey Gin” she sat down opposite him and offered a nervous smile.

“Don't look at me like that” he admonished “I'm not your headmaster and I'm not about to tell you off.”

“I guess.”

“How are you?” he asked.

“I'm good” she shrugged “you?”

“Considering everything, I'm getting better” he grinned hugely “I just got a job in a tattoo parlour.”

“Seriously?” she smiled “good for you.”

“Yeah I start work tomorrow” he sighed softly “I hear from Yuka that you got your act together.”

“Yeah” she admitted softly, looking down at her lap where her fingers were twisting due to stress. Maybe Sesshoumaru was right about that stress thing; she was beginning to feel nauseous.

“I'm happy for you” he shook his head “you were always too innocent to hang around with someone like me.”

“It didn't matter” she shook her head.

“Not to you, but to your mother, sister and the headmaster it did” he smiled “It mattered to me too. I think if you'd hung around with us for much longer your unwavering loyalty would have got you in some of the same trouble we got in. I never would've wished for that.”

Kagome smiled sincerely “I know.”

“Who was the guy at your apartment?” he asked smirking slightly “Yuka said he had great hair, like mine only longer.”

“Yeah, that'd be Sesshoumaru” Kagome smiled.

“Ah” he grinned wider “My little girl is all grown up and flirting with boys!”

“Oh, shut it you!” Kagome grumbled.

“On a serious note” he was sombre “do you like him?”

“Um... yeah I guess.”

“Does he make you happy?”

“Yeah.”

“Does he hate Hojo?”

Kagome giggled “Yeah.”

“Then I approve.”

“Why thank you.” she nodded her head and glanced serrupticiously at her watch.

“That was about as subtle as a bull” Gin noted and she blushed “are you not supposed to be here?”

“Not really.”

“Then I shall not keep you” he stood and she mimicked the movement. Pulling her to him he hugged her tightly and she hugged him back. “this is the last time I'll initiate contact, if you want to see me in the future then it's up to you.”

She nodded jerkily and whispered “Sayonara, Gin. I'm glad you're changing for the better.”

“Sayonara, imouto” he replied softly and watched her leave morosely. It was hard to watch, but Kagome didn't need him anymore and he had to let his little sister grow up and live without him. Sad but true.

***

Kagome was ambushed on her way into the apartment by Sesshoumaru who trapped her against the door and began sniffing her frantically.

“Wha—”

“Why do you smell of tears and an unknown male?” he queried his golden eyes boring into her own, they were darker than usual and flickering between golden and red.

“I—” she attempted but Sesshoumaru's eyes flashed red and his mouth crashed down across hers kissing her frantically, as if he was afraid she would disappear on him and she responded in kind, giving him the reassurance he seemed to crave from her.

A clawed hand slid down her side to cup her buttocks before he moulded her thigh and pulled her leg around his, crushing her form to his. She groaned as his caws found their way under her shirt to tease her stomach with whispering caresses. Her left hand knotted in his silky hair and he groaned as her other hand began to trace the tip of one ear.

Suddenly she was slumped on her own, leaning on the wall, panting as she tried to recover her wits. Sesshoumaru was across the hallway, leaning his forehead on the wall.

“What happened?” he repeated.

“I said goodbye to Gin” she said gazing intently at the potted plant.

“I see” he nodded and bent down to rest his forehead against hers, her eyes widened in shock. “Do you love him as a woman loves a man?”

“He's my brother” she murmured.

“Good” he breathed before brushing his lips over hers in a teasing caress, tender unlike his desperation moments ago. He pulled away and smirked as she touched her lips with her hand. “I'm glad”

***

Gin stepped out of the coffee shop and waved goodbye to the owner, who saluted the young man.

Grinning he stepped out onto the street and watched as a beautiful woman stepped out into the street and pulled her phone from the purse on her shoulder. She was so busy checking her messages she missed the car that was about to hit her.

“Watch out!” Gin yelled throwing himself at her and pulling them back onto the pavement.

“Huh?” she blinked as she looked down at the human male wrapped around her body, his violet eyes stared back at her; amused.

“I just saved your life and all you can say is huh?” he asked cockily

She narrowed her red eyes at him “I didn't need a human to save me.”

“Well excuse me.” he picked himself up off the floor. “Next time I won't save your life.”

She tossed her hair and looked at him carefully “You are a strange human.”

“I prefer Gin”

She smirked “And it's Kagura.”

A/N: I don't own Inuyasha. I like Gin, he's smexy, but he's also important! All will be revealed if you keep reading and review!