InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ The Pages of My Life ❯ Memories ( Chapter 16 )

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

A/N: Yay another update for you! And I'm quite pleased about the time frame I got this one out in hehe. Not too long of a wait right? Just to let everyone know the timeframe of this chapter is over a few days. I've got some things I want to start accomplishing soon so I'm trying not to get hung up describing every single morning and night, and since these are week days most of the scenes are work scenes. I do a lot of those you've probably realized but it's one of the themes this story is about. After you graduate relationships become more difficult because you don't automatically have similar schedules and your job or college or both affect every relationship you have a lot more than you think, especially a budding romance. *gets off soap box* hehe. I know I promised the double date scene in it last chapter buuut…it was already at 17 pages so I decided to save it for the next update! This one's fun though don't worry :D

Well I'm a bit sad to report I have no review thank you's for this chapter…:( Oh well better luck next time right? So if you have the time pretty please review? It'll only take a second and I would REALLY appreciate the feedback. *gives the readers the best puppy dog eyes I can manage*

Until next time! JA! Laurell~

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Some how I managed to balance all my bags and books well enough to unlock my bedroom door and basically spill inside once it was open. I kicked it shut letting my things drop where they will and fell into my soft down comforter with a sigh. I loved this comforter, it was a silly thing to like so much but I did, partly because it was a graduation gift from my family. A lot of girls got cars and things for their dorm rooms, but no, I just had to go to America.

`Oh well…' I thought rolling over onto my back to stare at the ceiling. `No use complaining about it now.' I could see everything reflected like a fish eye lens in the dome glass light covering that was dark and hollow inside at the moment. A warped version of my bed stretched out to the sides of it, the distorted version of myself lying in it stared back at me. I shook my head lightly and flicked the light on and with a quick flash the reflection was vaporized.

I changed into some pajama pants, kicking my heels into the corner where they would sit until tomorrow afternoon, and pulled my hair up into a sloppy pony tail just to keep it out of my face. I had class until late tomorrow which meant I wouldn't be going into work until the afternoon. Probably right around the time Inuyasha would be getting off, and that would be another night I wouldn't see him this week.

I scolded myself for my thoughts automatically turning to him instead of the work I had due tomorrow. But for once decided not to be too hard on myself and flipped open my phone pressing his number. A picture came up of him making some sort of ridiculous face because he didn't want me to take the picture at all, and I giggled remembering that afternoon.

His voice machine came on, I sighed clicking the phone shut; he was probably out running or still at work. “Looks like another evening at home…” I muttered. But the more I thought about it I decided it probably wasn't such a bad thing. After having that option being out and taking it for the last two weeks, spending this one at home in solitude actually sounded all right.

I clicked on the TV finding some trashy reality show to watch and thoroughly enjoy and grabbed a bowl pouring myself some cereal, the perfect dinner as far as I was concerned. Maybe I just needed to relax and give both Inuyasha and myself some time and more credit. I crossed my legs sitting up Indian style and turned up the volume, `I don't think this will be such a bad night after all…'

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When my phone was vibrating on my table back home with Kagome's call I was only halfway to my goal of utter destruction of my calves. If I didn't know how I should be dealing with something the most obvious answer with me had always been to ignore it and create a distraction so I wouldn't have to worry about it anymore. Thus I was on my third lap around the lake and my lungs felt like they were on fire. But I wasn't thinking about Kagome, I wasn't thinking about my dead mother, and I certainly wasn't thinking about the vibrant color blood is against a white mat.

My body kept moving, my feet pounding hard against the asphalt but my mind was hundreds of miles away and no matter how fast I ran this year around I couldn't stop the memories from rising to the surface.

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It didn't make sense how a child so young could remember so much, I've never understood that about myself. It would have been so much simpler if I had forgotten but that wasn't what was meant for me. All of her motions, the way she smelled, the way she tucked her hair behind her hair when she ate and the way she held me so tightly some nights. None of it ever faded anymore than their words did.

They didn't bother to whisper, they didn't think I could understand and at the time I didn't. Someone came for me but I had never met them before…there was no comfort, no reassurance. They ignored me, speaking around me, about me, never once to me. I learned what the word hate could truly mean that day, when I met my family for my first and for many of them, last time.

So when I was pushed into another room to wait I didn't mind. I curled up under a table making my body as small as I could, hoping with everything I had that they wouldn't find me. That I would wake up in my own bed and this would only be a nightmare to haunt me for the rest of my life…but not my reality. But that never came, and the screaming got louder and louder. I clamped my tiny hands over my ears crying and sniffling for so many reasons my little body didn't understand. I cried because I missed her, and because they didn't.

“Why can't the father come for him? He's his child, why should her mistakes become our burdens?” A voice shot through and I whimpered my eyes shooting open. There were more hushed words with one being repeated in particular.

`Bastard.'

I didn't know what that meant, but I would learn that quickly too. I knew my father like you'd know the prince in a fairy tale. He was the wonderful man my mother talked up and boasted to me. But I never knew him, had never even seen him. I saw his money; it was all around us in the walls that sheltered me and the expensive gifts he sent to me. But he was no where to be found. Mom cried often and when I look back I know why now.

All I knew is he was no more my family than the group of vultures screaming about me were. Mom was family, someone that loved you, that made you warm and feel safe near, and she would be the only person in my life I thought of as family.

Eventually they grew tired of bickering amongst themselves one or two yelled to me trying to coax me out from under the table. But I just scrunched up tighter, keeping my face down and trying to block out their voices. I could hear footsteps entering the room and I crumpled terrified they were going to forcibly pull me out this time. I held my breath when someone leant down crouching right next to my hiding place.

“Poor boy…” It was a woman who spoke, and I looked up slowly from how softly she had said it, not like all the others had talked to me. Her voice was kind and had funny twirls on it I hadn't heard before. She was a pretty woman, who looked much younger and out of place in such an awful house with the rest of those people, and she reached out to wipe at my tears.

I shamefully rubbed them off my face with my sleeves knowing boys shouldn't cry like I was.

“You look hungry… Would you like me to make you something?” I might have even said yes but didn't have the chance.

“If he were hungry he would speak.” A voice snapped from the other room. “Leave him be Ruby, don't you have work to start in the dining room?” The woman gave me one long mournful look before briskly rising to her feet murmuring an apology and leaving me again. I hung my head back down, more dedicated to my silence than before.

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After more time had passed several people had begun arriving, people in fancy suits and with brief cases. One woman in particular made me want to cower back against the wall, her hair was tied up in a tight bun and the way she stared right at me upon entering the room scared me. Her heels announced her presence as they clipped the floor when she appeared.

I listened intently this time when I heard mention of my father, my curiosity getting the best of me, and that little bubble of hope rising to my chest. That he was the man my mother spoke so highly of, who loved me more than anything just like she did. That he would arrive and rescue me from this hell any minute and we would start a new life together, and he would miss mom just as much.

Most of the legal jargon they were using in the conversation I ease dropped on I didn't understand a bit. I must have been crouched there listening for thirty minutes trying to absorb every detail about my father they dropped. But then the arguing got worse, and I wished so badly I had never paid attention to it at all because of what I heard next. It would be a statement that would haunt me for a long time, and in the end the one that decided one of the worst decisions of my life four years later.

“We don't want him!”

“Neither does his father!”

None of them wanted me, the only one who ever did was my mother, and now she was dead. The only person in the world I cared about was dead, and she was never coming back.

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Two days later it was like I had been sucked under into a nightmare. It was finally decided one of my wealthy aunt's would take me back with her and attempt to raise me to be civil despite the `scandal' as they put it. I still had no idea what they were talking about but she was more than happy to fill me in and tell me every detail of the story and exactly how she felt about my mother and her choices.

I hated the woman with a blind rage, and when she spoke I felt like I was going to boil over. But I still refused to respond to her in any sort of way. I had personally taken a sort of vow of silence refusing to let any of them have insight into what I was feeling. And she took this as the go ahead to say whatever she pleased about the woman I had loved.

She was a vicious evil creature, but her weapon was so powerful because it was the truth and I was tired of being lied to. Just a poor six year old little boy who had realized he had to grow up now, because no one would ever hold the wool over his eyes again. So I listened and I learned the whole story, and it made sense.

My mother had fallen madly in love with a married man, and against her better judgments she bought the sweet whispers he left her with and became his mistress. “She was beautiful, I'll give her that. Izayoi was always the lucky one; we knew she would never need a career, just to find some rich twit to want her as another trophy on his mantle. She wasted everything she had on that devil of a man.” That would be my father she was referring to, my aunt continued to stare out the windows of the lush car we were riding in not caring a bit of the trauma this could inflict on an already doomed to be very disturbed child.

“She was careless…and thus you have come to exist Inuyasha. Naturally he never left his family, he never had any intention to, and Izayoi was just too dense and blind to realize this. He paid for you both and hid his skeletons well though; I never said he wasn't cunning.” She points out as if she might have offended me at some point. “He has another life, another family Inuyasha. So that's why he doesn't want you, there's just no room. And that's why we have come to be stuck with each other.” At least she was being up front about her mutual disgust of me. “Your mother was nothing but a disgrace to this family, and you're just the proof of that. It's an unfortunate life for you ahead I'm afraid.” She murmured giving me a condemning look. As if I didn't already understand that. I should have just died with my mother in the accident, six year olds really shouldn't think these types of things may I point out.

My aunt didn't speak to me much after that, ever again really. Not that either of us minded. The day I arrived at her estate she began interviewing nannies. The one she choose was an older woman who was quite short and had sweet squinted eyes behind thin glass frames. She might have been beautiful when she was younger, but I couldn't tell for sure. I suppose she choose her for that reason, over the many young beautiful woman that came for the job, my vain aunt not wishing to be done up by anyone surrounding her.

The elaborate three story house crawled with servants; it moved and breathed all its cells dressed in crisp black and white uniforms. I knew from the moment the nanny arrived if I played my cards right I'd never have to see my aunt again, or at least I hoped so.

She lived in the room next to me to serve my every want and need. And regardless of her being necessary to avoiding my aunt I was determined to not make any friends and scare her into distance, to be left in peace. When she first came to me, as with all the other's, I wanted to hate her. But I couldn't…my mother had raised me better. Because despite her stiff joints and obvious discomfort at doing so, the first thing she did was drop to her knee's wrapping me in a tight embrace.

"I'm so sorry my dear child." She said softly and I was stunned. All the spiteful things I had cued on my tongue died on my lips tumbling out of them instead in a pathetic whimper. I didn't move or make another single sound after; I just stared at the walls behind her not having a clue what to do.

When she pulled back she held my shoulders gently looking at me up and down. “You're so skinny boy, when was the last time you ate?” She stared in confusion. I shrugged not able to speak and even if I could I had no better answer.

“Come then.” She reached for me again and I scrambled back quickly away from the hand she had extended for me. “Ok...” She said quietly backing away from me a bit at seeing my startled face. “Why don't we start with this. My name is Kaede, what's yours?”

“….Inuyasha.” It was the first word I had spoken in four days.

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“Hey! Inuyasha!” Miroku and I both turned to see Sango pushing through the crowd around the elevator and walking towards us.

“Well hello gorgeous!” Miroku cat called which I shoved him for. Sango rolled her eyes ignoring him.

“Hey Sango, how's it going?”

“Good, half way through the day so far,” She giggled with a shrug.

“Would you care to grace us with your presence for lunch?” Miroku asked dramatically.

“Sure, but only if you'll stop freaking talking like that. For the last time Miroku it doesn't work on me.” I laughed at his shocked expression that quickly turned into a pout and some angry grumbling behind us in line.

“You look down again, what's up?” She elbowed me lightly, jarring my attention back to her giving me a worried look.

“Just lack of sleep.”

“Yea and he's been a real asshole because of it.” Miroku quipped, I raised my fist up glaring at him and he backed up quickly already used to my abuse.

“Well you look pretty awful.”

“Gee thanks Sango. With friends like you two who needs enemies honestly?!” I muttered crossing my arms irately.

“Aw, I'm your friend?” She teased, my response being the usual `keh' of `I'm annoyed and not dignifying that with a response'.

“I think he's just missing his girl friend.” Miroku whispered and Sango's eyes lit up.

“You have a girl friend?!” She squeaked in a way too high voice. “That's adorable! What's she like?” My jaw dropped as I stared at the pair of them eagerly awaiting their info.

“My love life is none of your businesses!” I sputtered. Sango gave me a pouty look before turning to Miroku.

“So what do you know then?” She asked and with one look in her big doe eyes he spilled everything.

“Well her name is Kagome and she works in an office we do pick ups from. Get this! They met because he knocked her unconscious and gave her a concussion! Then saved her at the hospital and-” I effectively cut off his blabbering mouth with an elbow to the stomach, Miroku wheezed and doubled over clutching it.

“You two fight like an old married couple,” Sango laughed immune to the death glare I was giving her. “Would you relax Inuyasha? Don't kill him already I was just curious.” She wrapped an arm over his back leaning down. “You ok down there?”

“I'm feeling a lot better…” Miroku croaked reaching a hand up to rub a certain area of her skirt. Sango's eyes narrowed to slits and she promptly straightened and shoved him over.

“Yea, he's fine.”

“You two fight like an old married couple.” I mocked back in a high voice, she raised an eyebrow at me and I quieted down not really wanting to piss her off too much.

“You're both idiots, why am I friends with you again?” She huffed raising her hands up dramatically and sighing.

“You know you like us.” A still barely able to speak Miroku grinned. Sango rolled her eyes again, a motion she seemed to do a lot around Miroku. At least we had finally arrived at the counter to order. After getting our food we searched through the busy tables finding and open one and sat down still having thirty minutes to eat. An hour just wasn't enough with the amount of people packed into downtown, I thought dully.

Last night I really hadn't slept at all. I was so out of it after my run I spent most of the night just laying in bed and staring. Nothing was working and I probably would have killed for a Klonopin. Miroku and Sango chatted a bit while I ate in silence but I was thankful he had stopped hitting on her for a whole millisecond. But of course I had to think that and jinxed it.

“So…what are you up to this weekend Sango? I have a special opening reserved just for you Friday night...” Miroku stretched out the last syllable as if he was offering her something of actual value. Sango snorted in a very un-lady like manner and stabbed a piece of lettuce from her salad extra hard while I started making gagging motions next to her.

“For the last time Miroku, I am not going out with you.”

“I just don't get it…” He mused to himself looking quite perplexed down at his lunch.

“What's to get? You're a pervert and she doesn't like you.” I managed to say while taking a bite of my burger.

“Inu don't talk with your mouth full. Jeeze, you don't do that around Kagome do you?” Sango scolded, I shrugged taking another bite. Miroku across the table was looking particularly crestfallen.

“Oh it's not that bad Miroku, all the other tellers like you down stairs! Katie is dying for you to ask her out, I swear it's all she talks about. Why don't you take her instead?” She offered quite graciously really I thought.

“Maybe…” Miroku mumbled lost in thought now. He didn't notice the small sigh Sango let out next to me at the table, or the way she had looked down after he said that. But I had, and I almost wished I hadn't.

“I've got to get back downstairs, thanks for eating with me.” Sango stood up scooting her chair back and picking up what was left of her salad.

“Same time, same place tomorrow?” I offered with a grin and she nodded smiling a little more.

“Cya, bye Miroku.” She watched him for a moment but after no response turned jerkily and let her long legs carry her elsewhere. I had noticed Sango really was quite pretty, I could see why Miroku had a thing for her, despite his lack of being able to show it well AT ALL. But she still wasn't really my type.

“Did Sango leave?” Miroku asked suddenly looking up for the first time. I nodded giving him a bored look. “I just don't get that girl, I guess she really doesn't like me huh?”

I groaned rolling my eyes. “You're an idiot Miroku.” I muttered.

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“What do you two think you're doing?” I sputtered walking in to find Eri in David's office, both of them leaned back in their chairs and staring out the window doing anything but working obviously. Eri leaned back in her chair to tilt her neck up at me and give me a lopsided grin.

“It's a rainy day; you know what that means…” She trailed off turning back to the window. I sighed dramatically and dropped the file I was carrying onto David's desk pulling up a chair next to them. Our office building sat right by the road of a rather sharp curve people we're always tending to take too fast for their own good. And on rainy days where the road was slick, watching the car crashes were some of the best entertainment you'd get all week. That's what everyone seemed to think at least, it was a morbid sort of fascination if you asked me but they were mostly just people skidding into the grass on the other side or rear ending each other, nothing major.

A car skidded hydroplaning sharply but the frightened driver managed to get it back under control before veering off the road at the past minute.

“Damn,” David muttered.

“You two are sick and deranged? You know this?” They both made similar shrugging motions not taking their eyes off the street. I reached over across the piles on Dave's desk pulling my file into my lap and taking out the power of attorney that needed signing, draping it over his keyboard so he wouldn't forget.

“I need that back by 3 Dave.” A hand stuck up from the back of his chair waving me off.

Muttering curses to the hallway I stalked back downstairs to sulk at my desk for awhile wondering while I pulled my hair out when the rest of the people I worked with were relaxing. I didn't even realize I had said it out loud until someone responded.

“Because you hold yourself to a higher standard than most people, you actually strive to do a job to the best of your abilities despite your opinion on it. It's a rare quality these days.” I blushed looking up to find the leading partner of the firm leaning in my door way. He was a nice man, the kind I actually enjoyed working for despite not seeing him much. He didn't dumb me down by whistling at me or calling me pet names, nor did he expect me to make his golfing appointments on his calendar or fetch him coffee. The respect he sent my way was doubled back at him. He smirked faintly over his glasses. He was probably in his forties or fifties but didn't seem it in the least.

“Thank you sir.” I stuttered a slight blush coming to my cheeks from the rich compliment.

“I'm just being honest. Don't think I don't notice you Kagome.” I blinked a few times not responding and he was gone again just as suddenly as he appeared. Puffing out my chest a bit I dedicated the conversation to memory that way I could excitedly reenact it for Inuyasha later. He'll be proud, I thought with a giggle.

My moment of peace and happiness was soon shattered though as a horn blared and the sound of crunching metal shook through the office, a cheer erupted upstairs and I sighed laying my head on my desk.

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My heels clicked sharply beneath me on the smooth marble floor of the bank Inuyasha worked at as I walked in excitingly. Last night had meant another Inu less evening and when Eri had been handed something to deliver to the downtown office I had just about beat her with my clipboard to get to it first. Yesterday and Today Inuyasha hadn't even done the pick up's for my side of town because they had been short staffed, so I was more than excited to be surprising him with a quick visit and my office none the wiser.

I had been inside the bank a few times for the office but the grandeur of the building still looked like something that would have been more at home in the renaissance era than the edge of downtown. Glancing around I made my way over to the teller's to finish my business before pleasure.

A girl with a high pony tail and bits of her bangs layered to frame the edges of her face greeted me smiling sweetly.

“How can I help you?”

“I needed to drop off these payments.” I explained handing her the cloth bag which she quickly unzipped and began clicking away on her keyboard. I glanced around the room some more waiting for her to finish silently. Looking back to the girl I discreetly tried to figure out how old she was, she didn't look much older than me. `Maybe she goes to school around here?' I peeked at her silver name tag which read `Sango' in capital letters and I smiled softly, it seemed to fit her.

“Here you are, all finished.” Sango interrupted me to tuck my receipts back into the bag and hand it over the counter again.

“Thank you,” I hesitated wondering if I should ask her. “Excuse me by the way but…do you possibly know where the mail room is?” Sango laughed and if it had been in any other tone I might have been embarrassed thinking she was laughing at me, but it was lighthearted and she shook her head a little like it was some sort of inside joke.

“Do I.” She muttered rolling her eyes. “Mind me asking who you're looking for there?” She inquired with a playful smile.

“Um…my boyfriend, Inuyasha.” I stammered my cheeks flushing a little still not used to calling him that, but he was insisting now a days. Her eyes lit up at his name.

“You must be Kagome! Well of course look at you, that makes perfect sense!”

“Yes, I am.” I giggled shyly but secretly loving the fact Inuyasha had apparently been talking about me.

“I'm a friend of his, Sango Hara.” She extended her hand over the counter which I shook happily.

“Kagome Higurashi, it's nice to meet you.”

“I'm about to be on break actually, want me to take you up there?” She hopped down off the high seat grabbing something out of a drawer and stuffing it in her pants pocket.

“Yeah that would be perfect, thanks.”

“No problem, I was going to go say hi to them anyway. Hold on just a second.” She said signaling me holding up her pointer finger, her long pony tail disappearing behind a closing door in a quick second. I held my hands together in front of me looking out for where she would appear again. Spotting her exiting out another door tucked farther away from the teller counter she paused waiting for me to walk over and join her.

“Ya they're up on the 8th floor so come on this way.” Sango waved me over while starting out towards a set of escalators. I hadn't noticed quite how tall she was out from behind her desk but it was very apparent now. I couldn't help but also see what a pretty figure she had, she was tall like I had said but not too much so, with very soft curves accented by a pair of black pin strip dress slacks and a dark turtle neck. Her skin looked a shade lighter than mine but barely. She was the kind of girl who probably didn't need to wear a bit of makeup and she hardly was other than a soft dusting of eye shadow and lip gloss.

I hurried up to walk next to her realizing I had fallen behind while admiring her outfit.

“So how do you know Inuyasha? Just meet him wandering around here?” I asked making polite conversation as we stepped up on the escalator.

“Yea I guess so. He showed up at my counter one day and we struck up a conversation. I got to originally know him through his boss, Miroku. He's the resident flirt around here and is constantly down at the teller's wooing the different new girls. Apparently I'm his new target but that won't be happening.” She laughed lightly looking off up towards our destination.

“Oh I've heard of him! Haven't met him though.”

“Lucky.” She joked. “Nah he's nice, and a cute guy but he knows it, and he's too sly for my type. I only met Inuyasha probably a week or so ago, but we all eat lunch together pretty often. Its fun hanging out with Miroku and Inuyasha together though, they're very strange friends.”

“Ah, cool.” I smiled and nodded following behind her steps off the escalator and down a hallway, slightly jealous she was probably spending more time with my boyfriend than I was right about now. She flashed her ID card to the security guard waiting nearby and told him I was her guest, he nodded and we walked on to wait in a lobby surrounded by four elevator doors.

“The elevators start on this floor because you have to have an employee access card to go up from here, or be with one.” She explained noticing my curious stare.

“Makes sense.” I laughed lightly not really sure what else to say, shifting on my feet while we waited. One of the elevators rang arriving at our floor.

“So do you go to school around here?”

“Yea, full time college student, part time workaholic.” I joked…kinda. “Are you a student too?”

“That's debatable.” She giggled leaning her head down and fiddling with her bangs. “I go to school at night but only part-time because I'm working full-time right now. You know how it goes, gotta pay the bills.” She shrugged. I debated asking if she had applied for financial aid to help but didn't want to seem rude so I just smiled politely and nodded as the elevator doors opened.

The floor I was expecting would have been bustling with energy. Phones going off, people rushing about, stacks of papers everywhere, I guess something more similar to my office. So when I was greeted by eerie calm and quiet I was a bit taken aback.

“Where are they?” I asked the empty rows of desks and cubicles, but Sango answered.

“Back there.” She pointed with a giggle motioning for me to duck down and follow with her. She put a finger up to her lips telling me to stay silent. Creeping down with her and feeling damn stupid but having fun at the same time we tiptoed around to the back of the offices peeking in at the only occupied corner. Sango and I both just about lost it at the sight before us.

One of the guys had apparently fallen asleep and had been duct taped to his chair by the group of them. The freight elevator in the back of their floor was being kept open by one guy, while the others silently pushed him into it. Struggling to stay quiet to see the end of whatever they were doing Sango and I walked into their office silently while Miroku stepped back out of the elevator, Inuyasha followed after pressing one of the buttons.

Once the doors had closed on the poor sleeping boy in the elevator they all erupted in cheers and laughs, high fiveing each other in a typical frat boy fashion.

“What floor did you send him to this time?”

“Twenty-third!” More laughter and congratulations on a job well done went around while Sango and I stood there staring in disbelief laughing with them unnoticed.

“I told Keith to stop falling asleep here.” Miroku boasted with a cocky grin.

“Oh my god,” I finally said through my laughter. “Are they always like this?” I asked Sango who was holding one hand over her forehead her shoulders shaking from laughter.

“What the hell do you think you're doing?” She blurted out through her laughter. The entire group spun around to lock in on their intruders looking like a group of seven year olds that had just been caught with a broken vase. Inuyasha's eyes widened to the size of saucers seeing Sango and then me.

“Kagome!” He finally yelled as if having realized I was really there, his eyes lit up as he pushed past Miroku to give me a quick hug. “What are you doing here?” He asked with a confused grin.

“I came to surprise you, mission accomplished.” I giggled.

“So I finally get to meet you huh!” Miroku said happily walking up to me and extending his arms for a hug. Inuyasha quickly pushed me behind him shaking his head no and glaring; Miroku pouted and crossed his arms where he stood.

“You don't have to be so pushy about it Inu jeeze.”

“He has good reason; poor girl doesn't need to be groped by the likes of you!” Sango interjected from besides us.

“Sango…you know I wouldn't do that, I only live to grab you inappropriately.” He said with a huge grin reaching his hand down which she quickly slapped away.

“Don't even try it, or I'll beat you senseless with one of these boxes.” She warned stepping away from him.

“No love for me today.” Miroku sighed hanging his head. Inuyasha rolled his eyes turning back around to me, and taking my hand to lead me away from the others.

I spun around to talk to him surprised to find him kissing me instead. He pulled back swiftly though and I fluttered my eyes open smirking at him.

“What?” He said innocently.

“You stole that one.”

“Mhmm…But I only take what I need promise.” He gave me a huge grin and I rolled my eyes at the line.

“Get a room!” Miroku shouted over to us, an “OW! What was that for?” immediately following.

“It's great to see you, did you get the afternoon off?”

“No I had to come deliver some things and met Sango here. She's really nice.” I whispered covering my mouth with my hand.

“Yea, she's pretty cool. I would have mentioned her to you sooner but we haven't been able to see each other all week. She seems like the type of person you'd get along with though.” I had to smile at this. Even when he was meeting other girls he was thinking of me, and she was really pretty too.

“I know I haven't seen you in forever!” I teased poking him in the chest back away from me. “What's going on with that?”

“I know I know…” He groaned rubbing a hand lazily through his bangs. “I've just been caught up with some bullshit. I promise we'll go out tomorrow night though!”

“Promise, promise?” I looked up at him with some doubts.

“Promise.” He grinned threading his fingers through mine to pull me closer again. “Forgive me?” He whispered hovering above me and giving me puppy dog eyes, and how could I not?

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“So what are you doing Friday night?” Miroku's standard question he had been asking just about every lunch this week inevitably struck. I sighed and turned my gaze out to the window.

“Not going out with you.” Sango replied with a sweet smile to him.

“I wasn't going to ask that.” He pointed out quickly giving her a dull look. “Sango I was just curious, it deeply offends me you think I'm only interested in dating you and not being a friend.” Sango muttered something quietly but Miroku didn't seem to notice it or ignored it all together. I eyed them wearily spearing another bite of my lunch. “I was actually asking because Inuyasha is looking for someone to go on a double date with.”

“I am N-” It had to be some sort of revenge as Miroku harshly slammed down on my foot under the table. I squinted an eye painfully and dropped my fork.

“He was just saying the other day how he'd like for Kagome to make more girl friends around here. And you two got along great Sango! We'd could all go and just hang out, strictly as just friends of course.”

“Of course.” Sango repeated mocking him. I meanwhile was burning a hole through Miroku's head with my eyes vowing my vengeance.

“Isn't that right Inuyasha?” I grinded my teeth ready to bark every expletive I could think of at him but only got my foot stomped on again and the only thing that came out was a painful yelp before I gave up and laid my head on the cool metal table.

“Oh for the love of- You stop lying and kicking him and you stop that whimpering! FINE Miroku fine already! I'll go hang out with you STRICTLY as friends tomorrow because I would like to go out with Inuyasha and Kagome. But no funny stuff and they have to come along, I trust you alone about as far as I can throw you.”

“That's probably pretty far actually.” I mumbled to the table top, I couldn't see Sango's glare.

“Really?!” Miroku cried in disbelief but quickly recovered. “I mean…well of course Sango, I'll pick you up at eight then.”

“I'll drive myself and meet you all there.” She hastily interrupted him. Miroku sighed but nodded.

“That good for you Inu?” He asked poking me with the handle end of his fork.

“As if it really matters.” I moaned into the table.

“He said that's perfect.” Miroku smiled.

“…ow.” I mumbled despondently. Now how was I going to explain this to Kagome?

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I rubbed my forehead carefully with the back of the hand that was holding my cigarette, the other being occupied by a report that for the life of me I couldn't get to balance today. Staring through the same pages of numbers I had been blankly looking at for the last ten minutes I finally gave up taking one last sharp drag off the nub of a cigarette I had left and flicking it into the bushes. Brushing off my pants with a wistful sigh I stepped back into the chilly over air conditioned office. Rubbing one temple as I walked I kept my gaze locked on the columns and rows of my spreadsheet accidentally bumping into Eri in the filing room.

“What are you doing?” I asked looking her up and down as she was crouched in the very far corner of the room with a few files in her arms.

“Psh!” She shushed me quickly putting a finger up to her lips and glaring at me. “Pretending to be working on something and hiding from Pat.”

“And why are you doing this?” I leaned in whispering back.

“She's on another rampage that the cleaning crew is stealing all the muffins and is insisting I do inventory of the snacks when I'm done filing.” She muttered pouting. “How come I get all the weird jobs like this and you don't?” I chuckled rolling my eyes.

“Because I don't pretend to be working?” Eri glared at me then leaned in and sniffed me.

“What the?!” I reeled back away from her intrusion staring at her like she had gone insane.

“You've been smoking!” She hissed.

“Uh…uh…Oh Pat there you are!” I yelled down almost two hallways to our office manager who's eyes lit up at seeing Eri attempting to crouch behind me.

“Eri! I've been looking for you, I've got a project for you, come to my office!” She shouted disappearing in one of the many doors. I smiled guiltily backing out of the room slowly, from Eri's stare looking like she about wanted to rip my arms off and beat me with them. `Sorry' I mouthed taking off to hide in my own office now.

Sitting down I slipped my glasses back up the bridge of my nose and flipped through the work paper file to the report I was trying to balance for the millionth time it seemed and was happy to have the distraction when I recognized the buzzing noise of my cell phone on vibrate.

“Hey!” I said excitedly to Inuyasha's incoming call giddy about our date planned for that night. Finally I was going to be able to see him again after nearly a week of us both being too busy. It was strange; he hadn't been in my life for that long even but five days without him already left me feeling out of place.

“Hey Kagome, listen…I know I promised a date with just the two of us tonight…”

“Oh god,” I groaned. “Don't back out on me now!-”

“No, no give me a chance here. We're still going except it uh…won't be just the two of us, if that's ok with you I mean!”

“Huh? Confused, what?”

“My buddy I work with, Miroku you remember him right? Well he wants to go on a double date with us. Sango agreed to finally go out with him after his months of begging-” There was a sudden `ouf!' noise and some yelling in the background and I pushed the phone closer to my ear.

“Inuyasha?”

“Yea here sorry, he kicked me. Anyway she agreed to go if I was there and brought you along for safety reasons - you freaking kick me again and I'm taking your foot off Miroku!” I laughed thinking it over, I wanted to see Inuyasha and hanging out with Miroku and Sango actually sounded kinda nice. The shy inner voice inside me was terrified of the prospect of meeting even more new friends; just having Inuyasha had been so different. But the side of me that his voice brought out had already decided.

“That sounds great.” I agreed, deciding to try to not be such a shut in besides for my boyfriend.

“Miroku is more in debt to you than you realize,” Inuyasha laughed.

“Good, then I'll make him repay me some night by not letting him make you work late.” Inuyasha laughed and I leaned my head into my palm grinning like a Cheshire cat, genuinely excited for tonight now. “Well I'll call you when I get off work, shouldn't be more than an hour but um…” My thoughts were distracted by the sight of Eri booking it down the hallway and sliding into my office shutting the door and pinning herself against it looking frantically around the room. “I…better go.” I laughed saying a quick goodbye and hung up the phone.

“Now what the hell is your problem?”

“She's lost her mind Kagome! She's like inventing and using her own freaking alphabet in there and trying to get me to! I can't help it I'm not on crack and don't understand a word she's saying!!” I collapsed on my desktop with a fit of laughter as Eri barricaded the door with a chair, and they say office work is boring.

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A/N: aww poor little Inu-chan :(