InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ The Ad ❯ Dead Tide ( Chapter 26 )

Chapter 26: Dead Tides

The room was perfectly still. The only indication of the passage of time was the heavy tic-toc of the kitchen clock. No one dared to move or speak, knowing that when the silence was broken, so would the dam. The old man stared nervously at his granddaughter, his mouth too dry to speak, even if he had any idea what to say. Inu Yasha was a different story. He was relatively calm, given the situation as he planned his next move. Though, as the tension increased, so did his frustration, knowing he had no way around the subject.

"I'm waiting." Kagome pressed, her voice sounding foreign in the familiar room. She stood firmly at the entrance with her hands shaking, refusing to believe that she heard right.

"Love, what did you hear?" Inu Yasha asked cautiously, trying to gather some information.

"Enough…hopefully everything…" Her voice was a broken whisper. "Tell me it wasn't true."

"It's not as bad as it seems!" Keiji jumped in, gaining his granddaughter's confused glare.

"Did you fake an illness to get me to marry?"

"I only did what I thought was best for you!" Keiji defended himself.

"You manipulated me…played with my emotions…and Souta's. You strung both of your grandchildren along to do things we didn't want to, so you could get to meddle in our lives. It didn't bother you to see me miserable and crying? It didn't bother you to see Souta stressed out so he could complete his training before your death, so that it wouldn't be necessary to get a non-Higurashi priest at the shrine? Didn't anything bother you?" Each accusation was followed with her stepping closer to her grandfather, her voice rising with her anger, until she was right in front of him, her index finger poking his chest.

"It wasn't as bad as you make it seem! You didn't have so much time to be miserable! You got distracted with Inu Yasha right away, and Souta needed a strong push in the right direction!"

"Just because I wasn't crying all the time, it doesn't mean that I wasn't suffering. If I put up with Inu Yasha in the beginning, it was because of you!"

"And now, you are a happily married woman! So my plan did work."

"Are you listening to yourself, jii-chan? Are you aware of how little sense you're making? Why Inu Yasha?"

"It was foreseen by a Celestial Matchmaker, and they never make mistakes." Keiji declared proudly.

"Even the heavens make mistakes, jii-chan!" Kagome was screaming loud enough for Inu Yasha to crash his ears against his skull. He was happy he wasn't the target of her current anger, so he stayed quiet, avoiding any sudden movements.

"How dare you decide to pick my husband for me? What nerve! This isn't feudal Japan! And using emotional blackmail…I don't know you!" Kagome began to shake with anger and betrayal, while Keiji became defensive.

"Don't go all innocent on me, child. You enjoyed that relationship quite well. Let's not forget the nights you didn't come home…and the nights he spent in your room!" Keiji accused. "For someone who was so worried for my health, you definitely didn't show it! You wouldn't even move back in here when your sick old jii-chan asked you to!"

"I can't believe you!" Tears began to roll down her cheek, but she failed to notice. Keiji took a step back realizing the extent of what he had said.

"Kagome…" Inu Yasha took a step forward, with all the intentions of comforting his wife.

"Don't you dare touch me!" She turned towards him with all her anger redirected at him. He took a step back, surprised at her reaction. Hadn't she just blamed everything on her grandfather?

"I didn't do anything!" He complained.

"That's the problem! Why didn't you tell me?" Kagome demanded.

"You said it yourself; you would never have given me the time of day otherwise!"

Kagome's eyes widen as her mouth fell open in shock. "You knew from the start?" His silence was all the confirmation she needed. "Damn it, Inu Yasha! Why didn't you tell me later?"

"We only had a few more months…"

"The money? This has all been about the money!"

"Yes-No…I mean…"

"You used me. You lied to me. You are just as bad as him." She said pointing to her grandfather, her tears turning into sob.

"No…I love you." Inu Yasha didn't understand the sting in his cheek until he saw her hand lower.

"Don't…I asked you not to lie to me. I opened up to you…I confided my fears with you, and knowing all that, you still lied to me. You proved every single fear I have ever had about relationships and intimacy right!"

"Kagome…" He tried to step towards her, but she retreated.

"I can't talk to you…I can't…" The sobs became choked words as she ran from the kitchen, and the Shrine, Inu Yasha, quick on her heals, but she managed to lose him in a crowed of tourists.

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Saying that Sango was surprised to find her best friend crying on her doorstep is a bit of an understatement. She rushed Kagome into the apartment, made her drink a double giant cup of hot cocoa as the young miko told her everything that had happened. Now, Kagome was napping in Sango's bed, while the said girl paced her living room. There were too many people that needed to be killed. She couldn't decide which of the two she would kill first, knowing she would probably leave it to fate. The problem is the list had a tentative third.

Kagome had mentioned that Inu Yasha had accused Keiji of placing the ad. If that was true, and the ad had not been a blunder by some intern, then there was only one person who could have done Keiji's dirty work for him. And, if she was right, he would pay dearly. She heard her front door open. "Speak of the devil." She grumbled as Miroku came into view.

"Tell me you weren't so stupid to have done what I think you did!" Sango didn't waist anytime to get to the point. She knew this was the best way to get information out of Miroku.

"Don't tell me I forgot to put the toilet seat down again?" He tried to joke, but his girlfriend's angry glare sucked all the humor out of him. He wasn't sure what he did, but he knew he was in deep trouble.

"Tell me you weren't involved in Higurashi-sama's scheme to get Kagome to marry Inu Yasha!" Her boyfriend's eyes widen in surprise as he stumbled on what to say. For a second she hoped that reaction was due to shock and indignation, and not guilt.

"Huh?" He finally managed with his lungs suddenly void of air. If she let him live, he would kill those two. They were too much trouble.

"Kagome came home from her honeymoon today, and overheard her new husband and her grandfather talking about how Higurashi-sama had faked his illness and arranged for the ad to be placed in the paper. You said it was an inept intern! Tell me that the inept inter wasn't you!" Sango hid the plea in her voice well, but Miroku knew her eyes too well. He wanted to lie…to make her happy, but he looked into her honest and loving chocolate eyes again.

"A Celestial Matchmaker put them together! How was I supposed to argue with that?" Miroku defended.

"I can't believe you would stoop so low as to deceive your best friend!"

"It wasn't my idea to lie about Higurashi-sama's health, but he swore me to silence!" Miroku protested.

"No wonder it was so easy for you to lie to her about our relationship…You are just a born liar! What else have you been lying about?"

"Nothing, I swear! I even told Inu Yasha he should tell Kagome the truth since he wasn't bound!"

"You knew that he knew?" Sango was unable to hide her shock. "Why didn't you say anything?"

"I promised I wouldn't say a word!"

"There a few promises in this world that need to be broken!" Sango protested. "Your loyalty to Kagome should not have been one of them! I can't believe you let this happen to her! Do you know how heartbroken she is? Inu Yasha made her believe that he loved her."

"He does!" Miroku protested. "Do you think I would let her be with a man that didn't appreciate her?"

"If he did, why didn't he tell her the truth?"

"Because, he's been afraid of losing her since before he had her. Inu Yasha has grown up a lot these past few months, but he still has the same insecurities as before."

"And Kagome? What about her insecurities?"

"Is she ok? I didn't mean for her to get hurt…when Keiji told me his plan…though crazy, he guarantied me Kagome would never find out!"

"As a businessman and a lawyer, you should know that there are no guarantees in life. Now, get out."

"But…Sango…"

"I never realized how deceitful and undermining you are. I'm not sure I can trust you…Get out of my house." Sango was firmed, and held her tears as her boyfriend lowered his head in shame and left. She collapsed on the couch and let the tears fall, she didn't notice Kagome's presence until her friend had wrapped a blanket around her. "You heard?" Kagome nodded as she took the seat next to her friend. "Men are scum." She nodded again as the two cried together for a long time.

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Inu Yasha had turned back and grabbed his car as he raced around the city looking for Kagome. He wasn't sure where to look. He tried the park, where she had taken him stargazing. He tried Miroku's, but he wasn't home. He wanted to try Sango's, since that's where she had gone when she discovered the truth about Hojo, but he didn't know where she lived. Instead, he tried his apartment, hoping she would go home. Sadly, he realized, she probably didn't consider it home anymore. He raced into his apartment, calling out for her. He checked the bedroom and the bathroom without any luck. He walked defeated towards the kitchen table, where he moped, trying to think of where she would go.

He wasn't sure how much time had passed when his phone rang. He jumped up, grabbing the receiver and answering, "Kagome?"

"No, she doesn't want to talk to either one of us at the moment!" An angry voice replied.

"Miroku…do you know where she is?"

"I warned you to tell her from the beginning! Did you listen? No! Now, look at the mess you've made!"

"I'm not in the mood for lecture!" He growled lowly as his eyes bleed crimson. He could tell his mate was troubled. He needed to comfort her. He needed her to accept him again. "Where is she?"

"I think she's at Sango's, but I don't think you should go…You see, Sango wasn't too happy with me, so imagine how mad she is with you!"

"What do you mean she wasn't too happy with you?"

"She kicked me out of her house."

"For placing the ad?"

"And for not telling anyone that you knew…If I lose her, I will kill both you and Higurashi-sama personally."

"You should have thought of that before you got involved in this whole mess."

"Ditto! From what I hear, we're both in the same mess!" Inu Yasha growled in response, but realized he was saying the truth.

"Where does your bitch live?"

"If you're going to go, you better leave your dominating macho dog side at home!" Miroku warned.

"Where?" The inu hanyou growled: So much for reasoning with a youkai.

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The days passed slowly as Kagome buried herself in her friend's warm blanket. Inu Yasha had showed up that first day with flowers, but Sango had been good at keeping him at bay, especially after the incident with the shredder. That Monday, Kagome had been too tired to get out of bed, opting to call in sick. She did get some sleep, but woke up with her stomach in shambles. The following Tuesday was the same thing, but by Wednesday, she was too determined to return to work to care if she was still a bit queasy. She hadn't gone to see a doctor, since she figured it was stress. After all, she was having trouble sleeping, eating and staying calm. Her period was late, so she was overly emotional. Not that Sunday's revelations hadn't hurt her emotional stability. It was just that everything was happening at once.

She had been prepared to see him in her lobby on Wednesday. Sango had warned her that he had been there every day. After being told that she wasn't coming in, he would either try her cell phone or go to Sango's apartment, and knock until she had the energy to yell at him to leave. She never opened the door, but hearing her voice as confirmation that she was still alive kept Inu Yasha moving. His brother had been too absorbed with his upcoming marriage to actually notice the difference, thinking Inu Yasha's dark circles and distractions were due to an energetic woman at home. The truth was Inu Yasha couldn't sleep. Everything reminded him of her, and since they had been gone two weeks, her scent had washed away from his house. He couldn't find comfort anywhere. Now, she was walking towards him, looking just as tired and decayed as he.

"The mark…" he reasoned as he allowed himself the luxury of inhaling her scent. There was something different in it, but he didn't have time to consider what it could be.

"What are you doing here?" Her voice was cold and distant, and her eyes were missing their usual spark.

"I wanted to see you…to talk to you." He moved towards her, but she backed away.

"There is nothing left to say…I'm having the prenup checked out today. I want an annulment."

"Kagome…" His voice was cracked as pain and shock warped his handsome features.

"Don't worry. The condition says that you need to marry for love. I did. So you won't lose your money."

"Kagome…" He grabbed her arm as she tried to walk past him.

"Let go of me, or I'll call security."

"No…Kagome, you have to know that I love you."

"If there is something I know for sure about you, is that you are a great liar." As she spoke, the mark on her neck lightened in color, and Inu Yasha saw his aura dissipate slightly from her neck: She was rejecting him. He lost all strength in his hand as his wife pulled away from him. She made it to the elevator without crying, but as soon as the doors closed, the dams opened.

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Work hadn't been easy. Sango had warned the secretaries not to ask questions or make comments, but Kagome could feel them whispering behind her back. She didn't care much, but it didn't help. Then, there was the way her body reacted every time she was reminded of him. If she smelled black coffee, the way he used to like it, or the smell of his aftershave, she would end up getting reacquainted with her breakfast in the woman's lavatory. If she saw a man walk by in a red shirt/tie combo, her eyes would swell with tears. When she saw his car parked by the entrance of her building, she would become even more tired and drained.

Things had gotten to a new low by Friday, when someone was heating up a cup of Ramen. A good whiff of the beef flavored noodles, and Kagome lost it. She didn't remember much, but from what she was told, it was a miracle she hadn't hit her head on the counter when she fainted. She had gone home early, right after putting in a request to be transferred somewhere far. She needed space, and Japan had too many reminders of him. Ayame had walked up to her office to have a quick chat with her earlier that week, and warned her that her reactions were normal.

"Mating is serious business. The bond will fight you. It won't allow itself to be broken easily, and until it is, you will find yourself having strange physical reactions. The easiest way out is trying to solve things with Inu Yasha…trying to break a bond, even a preliminary one, can be dangerous if not deadly." The red head had explained, but Kagome just nodded and promised to be careful.

She had already realized she couldn't annul the marriage. She had been tempted more than once to throw caution to the wind and tell Sesshomaru everything. But that wasn't her. She still loved the idiot bastard, and she couldn't bring herself to hurt him. No, she needed distance and time. Her wounds would heal; though, she doubted she would ever love again, much less forgive him.

The situation with her grandfather wasn't any better. He sent messages through Souta, who had forgiven him almost immediately, too relieved by the news that his grandfather wasn't dying to care about anything else. He was angry for what he had done to Kagome, but he also felt that was something the two needed to work out on their own. The old man didn't see it this way, and was fasting, hoping the god's tree would make his granddaughter's anger disappear. Without Kagome by his side, he had lost his sparkle, making him age years overnight. She felt guilty, but she couldn't bring herself to talk to him. She wasn't ready for where that conversation would lead. She knew that if they made peace, the conversation that would follow would involve Inu Yasha, and she wasn't ready to deal with that subject yet.

Kagome was asleep when Sango got home that Friday. She knew that her friend was having a tough time of her own. She was getting use to the larger responsibilities of her new job, the bigger office, the not sharing an office with her best friend, hating her boyfriend, and plotting the most efficient way to kill three men without getting caught. Sango was exhausted by the end of the week, but seeing her friend sleeping peacefully made her feel better. Kagome had been staying with Sango, since the day she found out the truth. It had been good for the girls, but Kagome was beginning to feel claustrophobic. It wasn't sharing an apartment with Sango. It was Japan within itself. She could feel her husband everywhere, and after what Ayame had told her, she was more determined to leave than ever.

Someone pressed the doorbell and held to the button. Sango cursed as Kagome jumped from the bed. Startled and scared. Sango rushed to the door to find no one there. She turned to the side, noticing someone had taped the doorbell button down. "Those stupid brats! I should sue their parents!" She complained as ripped the tape off. She was about to step inside when she heard a small,

"Meow." She looked down to see an adorable two tailed kitten with a big red bow around her neck. She picked her up and was happy to see that the cat took an immediate liking to her as she rubbed her head against her new master's neck.

"She's adorable." Kagome smiled as she approached the two. She had to grab on to the wall for balance as she suddenly became lightheaded.

"Kagome!" Sango rushed to her side, but Kagome shook her head.

"I didn't eat much today…that's all."

"Are you still throwing up?" Sango demanded.

"Not as much…"

"I want you to go to the doctor."

"Ayame said it was normal."

"I'm sure they have something to help you keep your food down. Kagome, you can't keep going on like this. It's not healthy."

"I know, but…"

"No buts, you make an appointment right now."

"I can't they're close. Then you go Monday morning as a walk in!"

"I'll go Tuesday…I have to be in court on Monday."

"Not looking like that, you're not! How can a jury or judge take you seriously?"

"Play the sympathy angle?" Kagome suggested.

"That only works for the victims. I'll go as long as you go to the doctor."

"Fine…is she a gift from Miroku?" Sango smiled, knowing she had won. She looked down at the ribbon around the kitten's neck and pulled out a small card.

"All it says is `I'm sorry.'"

"Are you going to forgive him?"

"Yeah…but I'm going to let his sweat it out a few more days. He deserves a good punishment."

"I'm glad-not the punishment, but that you two are going to work everything out. You have the real thing."

"So do you and Inu Yasha…Kagome, maybe it's time you sat down and had a talk with him."

"No, Sango…he never loved me."

"You don't believe that!" Her friend protested as she walked towards the kitchen. They continued talking as Sango poured cream into a saucer for the kitten.

"It's the only explanation to his actions."

"You mean his following you, so he could talk to you."

"He's worried about the money."

"If that was true, he would have left you alone after you guaranteed him the divorce wasn't going to cost him a cent of his inheritance."

"He can't admit he lost…Sango, I told him my greatest fear was of giving myself to a man that would turn around and leave me the minute he got what he wanted, and that's exactly what he did!" Kagome protested banging her fist on the kitchen counter.

"No, you left him. He's been following you for an entire week like a lost puppy."

"So, stalking me is going to earn my forgiveness?"

"I'm sure he would have tried flowers, but you shredded those in front of him, remember? Last Sunday? He came here, and when I finally got him to leave he asked me to give you the flowers. You came out of the room, took them, shredded them, and then retreated into the bedroom. Speaking of which, you owe me a new shredder."

"How was I supposed to know that putting flowers in a shredder would ruin the blades?"

"Maybe because it's a paper shredder not a flower or all purpose shredder. Couldn't you be more like a normal person and just throw them in the trash?"

"The shredder made a better point." Kagome shrugged.

"Look Kagome, you and I have seen many divorces that could have been avoided if the couple just put some effort into their marriage. Divorce is as serious as marriage; you can't just do either on a whim."

"I didn't. I married Inu Yasha because I love him. I'm divorcing him because he lied about loving me. If he hadn't said a thing about love…then I wouldn't be as hurt, because at least he would have been honest with me. He wasn't."

"I believe everything Miroku said…I think he does love you, but doesn't know how to show it, or how to prove it. He doesn't understand the trust behind it…he was afraid of losing you."

"I don't agree…but it doesn't matter, I'll be gone soon anyway."

"What is that suppose to mean?"

"I put in for a temporary transfer. I need some space."

"I have had enough with you, Kagome!" Sango suddenly snapped, causing the kitten eating by her side to recoil a bit. "You do this every single time! You can't run forever, Kagome."

"What are you rambling about?"

"Hojo. Have you talked to him since it happened?"

"Can you blame me? I'm not ready to make my peace. He kept a vital peace of information from me, just like Inu Yasha."

"It's been two months, and you waited until he got tired of calling and begging. Now, you are doing the same with your husband and grandfather. You are avoiding the situation because you are too scared to trust them again."

"That's not it!"

"No? Then why are you running? Why don't you sit Inu Yasha down and talk to him? Clear the air, so you can both move on."

"Because I'm scared! What if I fall for his lies again?"

"What if they aren't lies?"

"Sango…I can't." The young woman sobbed and walked away from her friend and her cat before locking herself in the shower. There, she cried until the hot water turned cold, raining on her back.

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"You wanted to see me?" Miroku asked as he took a seat in front of his silver haired companion. They were in the outdoor glass patio of the café by the park. They would have gone somewhere closer to work, but didn't want to risk running into the girls.

"I didn't know who else to call."

"Kagome said you stopped waiting for her in the building, but that she sees your car outside all the time."

"I had to stop…your security guard wouldn't let me in…I can't believe you would give wards that strong to a novice." Inu Yasha complained.

"I had to. I am treading on very thing ice. I can't afford to anger Sango or Kagome anymore than they already are."

"How are things with Sango?"

"Bad. She bumped into my mother, and they got talking…now, everyone hates me."

"I'm sure your father will cut you some slack."

"Nope, you see, dad made the mistake of not fully agreeing with her anger, so now, she has cut him off, completely."

"Completely?"

"She won't even kiss him. So until they make up, he is going to grill me."

"I'm sorry things got this out of hand."

"Don't be. We all knew the risks, and we all decided to go along with it."

"I got the paperwork from your office today…she couldn't get an annulment." Their tone never lost their severity. To them, they were at a funeral.

"No, so she wants to go for a divorce."

"The prenup…" Inu Yasha began to protest.

"She figures that you can't use it without revealing that the marriage was of convenience."

"I don't want to lose her." Inu Yasha protested…unsure what to do.

"The way I see it Inu Yasha, you can keep your money, or you can keep Kagome. Which one will keep your bed warmer at night?" Miroku asked with a raised eyebrow.

"It's been over a week…"

"She's still just as mad…she looks just as shitty as you." Inu Yasha turned a concerned look at the young businessman, who wasn't his normally energetic self. "She has the same luggage under her eyes…tired and lethargic half the time, and let's not mention that stomach virus she caught…though she says its stress."

"Rejecting a bond is hard…physically and emotionally. I can imagine is taking it's toll on her."

"Maybe New York will help."

"New York?" Inu Yasha asked as his companion stood to leave.

"Oh, haven't you heard? She has requested a transfer, and on Monday she received offer in New York for six months. She hasn't officially accepted it, yet, but when she does, she will leave immediately. I would dare say that she will be in America by the end of the month.

Inu Yasha went pale as his whole world became black. She couldn't leave…could she?

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Kagome was walking through the park without aim. She had gone to the doctor during her lunch hour to pick up her test results. She hadn't gone back to work…she should call, but that seemed like too much trouble. Her whole world was crumbling down. All she wanted was something for the nausea; instead, she got the news that would change her life forever. She couldn't go to New York; it wasn't advisable for her health or the situation. She looked up surprised to find herself in the old playground her father use to take her. She sat down on one of the empty swings as she stared at the deserted park. "Daddy," she sobbed, "what do I do?"

The swing squealed beneath her as the memory of her father invaded her senses. He had pushed her on that very swing until she had gone so high she thought she was going to flip over. She screamed, begging him to stop. Scared of falling off, but he had laughed and said, "Never settle Kagome. Be brave and go for what you want." She never asked her father to stop ever again. She also never flipped over the swing, but those were the lessons a five year old could understand. Now, at almost twenty-five, she couldn't make sense of anything.

"Kagome?" She heard a worried familiar voice. She looked up, surprise to find Kagura kneeling over her. "Honey, are you okay?" Kagome shook her head.

"What has my idiot brother done this time?" Sesshomaru asked impatiently, surprised when Kagome shrugged and began to cry. Her scent was different, but not unfamiliar. Any demon could identify it, and it scared the all-mighty Lord of the Western Lands. What had his brother done?

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Sorry for taking so long in the update department, but I've been really busy at work. Also, I got kicked off ff.net. I was surprised to find you guys complaining that you couldn't get in, and when I try to log in, it says that I'm no longer an active member. But, I'm not mad. They were in their rights; I just wished they'd email me telling me what exactly they didn't like. I know I was in the grey area, but if I know where they draw the line, I could try to repost with something that is less offensive to them. Either way, rated R should be for age 18 + from what they say, so the grey area should be a little greyer. Any ways, at least I still have mm.org and aff.net.

Hopefully I won't be so long with the next and final chapter. Epilogue? Maybe. Meche said she was going to write a chapter where she analyzed the story. I can't wait to see if she does; that will be interesting. Putting to end the endless argument if this story is about something more than sex!