InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Waiting at a Coffee Shop ❯ Friends or more? ( Chapter 2 )

Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha, it was created by Rumiko Takahashi. This fanfic means no harm to the anime or manga, and we make no money writing it.

 

Written by Bulma the Babe, beta'd by StarbearerTM

Kagome sat in the small side office of the theater, finishing up the numerical reports for the evening. The show had gone fairly well. It wasn't one of their best but not their worst by any means. Her pencil flew across the paper with relative ease, but her mind was not totally focused on the task. She was accustomed to such work it became automatic.

Most of the performers had finished changing and were heading out. Kagome glanced at her watch and sighed. It was not really late but she'd had a long day and was tired. She finished calculating the final set of numbers, saved the document and turned her laptop off.

`Finally.' She thought to herself with a smile.

She grabbed her bag and her coat and was about to leave when two voices caught her attention. She made her way down the hallway to the stage door and saw that it was cracked open. As she peaked out the door, she saw Inuyasha and Miroku laughing and joking.

She'd been working for Inuyasha's theater group for over two years and had gotten to know Inuyasha and Miroku fairly well. They occasionally hung out along with Miroku's wife Sango.

The smile on Inuyasha's face was something she'd come to appreciate. During the first few months she'd worked with him, he had never smiled. They had argued constantly. To this day, she never really understood why he'd disliked her so much. Asking questions had gotten her nothing but snide comments and the cold shoulder. She'd dropped the subject entirely and over time, they had developed a friendship. Although they still argued from time but it was more for fun now than anything serious. Inuyasha definitely seemed happier now than he had in a long time. Lately, they had actually spent a lot of time together.

While Kagome was not exactly sure what that meant, but she was not going to complain. Since then she had come to terms with how much she adored Inuyasha long ago, even if he was completely oblivious to it. She could only hope that their friendship would be more someday, but for now, she would settle for just having him as a friend.

Kagome stepped out the door as Inuyasha lit up a cigarette. It wasn't something he did often, mostly after shows or the few times she had seen him drink. Around his head drifted a wreath of smoke, lost against his white hair.

"Hey guys,” she greeted them with a smile. As she met Inuyasha's eyes and he nodded at her. There was something about his eyes that intrigued whenever he looked at her. They seemed to become a more intense gold color, if that was possible. Kagome was not sure what it meant but if she weren't careful, she'd end up staring into his eyes all night.

"I heard that you did a blessing this morning," Miroku commented, breaking Kagome's attention away from Inuyasha. She looked at Miroku, surprised.

"Oh? How'd you hear that?" Kagome wondered, her brow lifted in suspicion.

Miroku shrugged. "Master Hara mentioned it when I stopped by the temple earlier. Said that a couple had called around trying to find someone to bless their child. Master Hara had to decline given the circumstances. Had I been there when they called I would have done it but he didn't even ask me. He just turned them down."

Kagome shook her head. "He's so old-fashioned and stuck in the old ways like most of the people around here."

"Circumstances?” Inuyasha asked curiously, taking another drag off his cigarette. The tip flared cherry red with his inhalation.

Miroku winced slightly and Kagome met his eyes. "The baby was hanyou,” she said softly, knowing that the topic was a touchy subject at best.

Inuyasha threw the cigarette down and stomped it out with a scowl. He ground it under the heel of his shoe violently. "God forbid someone should desecrate their temple's name by giving a hanyou child a blessing. What a prick,” he said angrily.

Miroku nodded. "He may have taught me all I know Inuyasha, but obviously I don't share his feelings. I'm friends with you after all,” he said the last part to try to lighten the mood and got a slight smile for his efforts.

"Kami only knows why...” Inuyasha muttered turning his attention back to Kagome. "Did it go well?"

Kagome nodded. "It did. It was a beautiful ceremony. The baby was adorable. What are you guys up to tonight anyway?"

"Video games, pizza, probably a movie or two,” Miroku said. "Sango is on a job so it's either hang with him or sit at home alone."

"You make that sound like a bad thing,” Inuyasha scoffed.

Miroku laughed. "Don't get me wrong Inuyasha, but I'd much rather spend time with Sango."

Inuyasha rolled his eyes. "What about you?” he asked Kagome.

She shrugged, "Not sure. Probably going to bed early. I have to catch up with a few things at the shrine in the morning."

"Want to hang out with us?” Miroku suggested his dark blue eyes sincere. He was always the negotiator and barometer of their emotional states, and guardian of their happiness at times. Always available to talk to when Inuyasha needed to diffuse his temper or spar.

Kagome considered it for a moment. "Sorry. I had better take a rain check. I really do need to get up early," She said apologetically, reaching into her purse to get her car keys before remembering that she had actually taken the subway from the shrine. She winced as the glanced at her watch. Sighing she remembered she hated taking the subway at night.

As if reading her mind, Inuyasha looked at her with a shake of his head. "There's no way you're riding the subway at 9 at night by yourself. I'll go with ya,” he offered.

"I'm fine. Besides, you and Marko had plans remember?” Kagome protested.

"I'll go rent a couple movies and meet you back at my place,” Miroku suggested to Inuyasha. The hanyou nodded in agreement. "It's settled then."

"I'm fine really,” Kagome muttered.

Inuyasha nudged her with his elbow slightly, "Don't argue with me wench, we're going."

Miroku laughed, his blue eyes twinkling merrily. "And you wonder why you're single Inuyasha. ` Wench'?" He shook his head as he starts walking the opposite way, towards the parking lot.

Inuyasha flipped him off before walking with Kagome toward the subway station.

***

They rode the subway, chatting occasionally. Other patrons were few and far between sitting sparsely in the train car. None of them spared Kagome or inuyasha a second glance, much to the miko's relief. Inuyasha seemed a bit nervous around her and she had to wonder what that was all about. He seemed as if he wanted to say something but could not figure out how.

"Anything wrong?” she asked quietly, as they made their way out of the subway terminal and towards her apartment. He walked with his hands stuffed deep into his pants pockets, eyes turned down, and attention turned inward.

Inuyasha sighed. "No, just thinking."

"Don't hurt yourself,” she joked.

Inuyasha scowled but did not comment for a minute. She could tell from that distant look in his eyes that he seemed to be looking for the right words to say. Often times he blurted out the first thing that came to mind, and it was part of his charm and his downfall.

"Do you...like me Kagome?” He asked after a few moments. She was not sure she had heard his words correctly even though her heart skipped a beat. Often times she suspected he had strong feelings, but never dared hope that he would put words to them. They were always so comfortable as friends she suspected he would suppress any feelings for fear of ruining what they had. However, she felt so comfortable with him; part of her guessed that if they did go to the next level, it would be as natural as breathing.

Kagome blinked at him, meeting his troubled gaze. Her voice was clear and concise as she repeated the words, "Like you? Do you mean as in `like you' like you, or “LIKE you', like you?"

Inuyasha nodded, his gold eyes set in determination. This surety pushed Kagome's heart to pound so fiercely she was sure it would leap out of her chest. A lump formed in her throat, rendering speech nearly impossible.

"Yeah. I mean, I was thinkin' maybe we could hang out sometime, you know just you and me? I mean if you don't want to or anything I understand..."

Tension dissipated at his suggestion. Just as she had hoped, it felt right, and good. No pressure, just a gentle nudge towards another deepening of their feelings. As long as they took it slow, she was sure they would be all right.

Kagome grinned as they stopped in front of her apartment building. "How about tomorrow?” she asked. "I should be home in the afternoon. You have my spare key, so you could let yourself in if I'm not home,” she offered, butterflies fluttering through her stomach.

'As in a date?' She thought, with a smile.

Inuyasha's nervousness seemed to have eased for the moment. "Sounds good," he agreed. "You sure you don't mind. I mean, I know you're a miko and everything and well I'm--"

Frustration filled her at these words. He should know better, the idiot. Just who was he friends with for this time that he would even THINK her capable of not looking past their differences. It hurt and it was insulting. Yet a small part of her knew why he put up that wall. He was testing to see if she really was serious or not. Something must have really burned him to resort to such a statement.

"A hanyou? Inuyasha, you think I care?” she cut him off almost angrily. "I like you the way you are ok?"

Inuyasha smiled slightly at this, walking her up to her door. Whenever she got so angry, he knew that she was covering up some gentle admission. Arguing was one of their modes of communication, and was comfortable. This showed that she really was on the same wavelength, as he had dared hope.

'She likes me the way I am?' he thought to himself, his spirits lifting.

Inuyasha cleared his throat as she unlocked her door. "Sweet dreams Kagome."

Kagome smiled back, leaning toward him to give him a hug, which he accepted awkwardly. Somehow, their hands felt as if they were all thumbs, worried about shattering a delicate state in their relationship despite how natural a progression it felt. Giggling she quipped, "Goodnight dog-boy."

Before Inuyasha could respond, she kissed his cheek and disappeared into her apartment, leaving Inuyasha just a little shocked at her boldness. The sound of the door clicking shut snapped him back to reality. He stood for a full minute, his mind processing just what happened. Kagome… kissed him. Kagome Higurashi KISSED him.

The light floral scent of Kagome's shampoo as well as the scent of her lingered in the hallway and he took a breath to calm his nerves. Yes, it was true. He felt the warmth of her lips still present on his cheek, all the evidence he needed with her smell wrapping around him.

He smiled to himself and shook his head, making his way down the stairs and out of the apartment. 'She likes me...'.

All the way back to Miroku's house, Inuyasha could not help but look forward to what the next day would bring.