For Life: For Love: Chapter [5/?]

[Hitomi Lei]

Disclaimer: I still don?t own Inuyasha. Ignore any errors in spelling or grammar as I don?t really have a beta for this story yet. Also thanks goes to all the people who encouraged me to write this story.


AN: Sorry it?s been so long?Oh and if your wondering about the time line?as best I can count Kagome?s been gone for a month and a week.



Chapter 5: Finally Cornered

This love has taken its toll on me
She said Goodbye too many times before
And her heart is breaking in front of me
I have no choice cause I won't say goodbye anymore

I'll fix these broken things
Repair you?re broken wings
And make sure everything's alright
My pressure on her hips
Sinking my fingertips
Into every inch of you
Cause I know that's what you want me to do

--This Love, Maroon 5

Long shadows fell on the wall in a testament that the noon hour had come and gone. A few pots sat on the stove, cheerfully bubbling away. Dinner would be ready in a few minutes and after that it would be time for Rei to take his bath. Sango bit her lip and looked over at the clock handing cheerfully in the corner of her kitchen. It was one of those digital clocks that told you exactly what time it was in blinking red numbers. Miroku hated that clock. He liked the one that Kagome and Inuyasha had that chimed the hour. He said this digital one had no soul. Sango had never cared much about clocks one way or another. A clock was a clock, a simple time keeping device that was a necessity in daily life. But she was beginning to hate that little blinking clock with its red flashes, warning her that her husband would be home in exactly 19 minutes and 30 seconds.

And Inuyasha would be coming with him. For the last three weeks it was the same thing every night. Inuyasha came over and tried to convince her to give up Kagome?s location while Miroku just silently sat beside her so she couldn?t get up and leave the room. He never let Inuyasha yell or scream at her like that first night, but he didn?t help her any either. She tired everything to get them to leave her alone, for the first few nights she hadn?t said a word, just ignored them both, but when Inuyasha started to refuse to leave at night she?d had to break down and at least converse with him. She told him that Kagome was fine and happy, but of course that only encouraged him to badger her more about her cousin?s location.

Sango started making Miroku sleep on the couch, thinking by withholding certain?favors? from her husband he would tell Inuyasha to leave her alone to get back in her good graces. But all Miroku did was drag his pillow behind him as he left the room.

Sango was at the end of her rope. She missed her husband; they rarely talked anymore because of all this mess. Plus something Inuyasha had said the night before made her nervous.

?I know that you have an aunt that lives in Kyoto. I know that she?s elderly and so I looked through Kagome?s old photo journals and found some pictures of an old woman dressed like a miko. All I have to do now if find out how many shrines in Kyoto have elderly mikos serving in them and I?ll find her. Any don?t you make it a little easier on me and just tell me where she is??

He was so close to finding her, but Sango still didn?t want to tell. Sure it would only take Inuyasha?s private investigator about a week to hunt down Kaede, but at least that was a week that Kagome could take to prepare her self.

Sango cut her eyes toward the phone. She hadn?t dared to call her cousin in three weeks because she was afraid that Inuyasha was somehow waiting for her to make that call so that he could find Kagome by tracing the number. But someone had to warn her that he was close to finding her. She bit her lip again and reached for the phone.

The clock on the wall warned her that she only had 7 minutes and 37 seconds to make the call.


~*~*~*~*~*~

?Moshi Moshi, this is the Sunshine Temple of Kyoto, Kagome speaking, how can I help you?? She tried, she really did, to make her voice sound cheerful. After all, what would people think if the person answering the phone at a place called Sunshine sounded like a rain-cloud? But she didn?t quite pull it off. Kagome could tell by the way the man on the other end of the line responded that he was wondering if he had the wrong number. He ended up just saying good-bye without ever telling her why he?d called. She stared at the phone for a moment before hanging it up slowly.

What was wrong with her? It had been almost a month and a half since she left, surly she should be able to sleep by now without missing his arms around her? Surly she should be able to eat without getting sick? She had a child that depended on her now, she had to move on.

Kagome smiled at the thought of the seven year old who was now living with her until the adoption was finalized. Aunt Kaede had been shocked when she?d announced she was going to adopt but she had been unable to sway Kagome from the idea.

This was her way of showing Inuyasha that she didn?t need him. She could have a child without him; she could have a fulfilled life without him. She could be a whole woman and start her own family without him?.she could be happy without him.

Or she?d die trying.

At least that had been the idea behind adopting at first, then she?d met the little orphan and refused to leave without him. Shippou needed her, and right now Kagome needed to be needed.


?Kagome?? She was broken from her thoughts by the small reedy voice of the object of her contemplation. Kagome looked toward the voice and saw bright orange hair peeking out from behind the doorway. She smiled at the small kitsune and motioned for him to come into her room. When he?d made himself comfortable beside her on the bed, Kagome reached over and ruffled his hair.

?What do you want to do now, squirt? It?s still early in the day and I think the shrine will survive if we leave for a few hours.? He frowned a little at being called ?squirt? but quickly forgot about it. Was she offering to let him pick the day?s activity?

?Anything I want?? He asked just to make sure that she was serious. Kagome tilted her head to the side and thought about it.

?This is it! She?s going to take the offer back.?

?Well, we can go anywhere you want as long as it?s not Disney World or the Zoo. I?m coming down with a cold or something and I really don?t feel up to a long train ride or walking around a lot. I?m really sorry if one of those is something you wanted to do. I promise that by next week I?ll be up to such a major outing.? The seven year old blinked at her. She was sorry because she didn?t feel up to taking him to Disney World? All he?d been hoping for was a trip to the park and maybe if he was good, some ice cream.

?That?s okay, all I really wanted to do was go to the park anyway. You can sit on one of those wooden benches while I play, or you could swing.? He patted her hand to let her know he wasn?t disappointed and he was rewarded with a gentle smile. He was really beginning to like that smile.

?I know what will really make you feel better.? He declared as he grabbed her hand and began to pull her out of her bedroom.

?And what?s that.? She let herself be pulled out and down the stairs with a soft grin. He was such a sweet kid. Kagome was so happy she?d found him that day. Shippou made her life so much brighter and she could feel her heart slowly beginning to heal.

?Ice-cream.?



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


Kagome leaned her head against the chain that held up the swing and sighed. Shippou was climbing up the slide for what must have been the one hundredth time and she wondered when the joy of the simple ride would get old to him. In two years, or three? Did the slide ever get old? Could one tire of the sweaty palms and weightless rush of feelings going down the slide gave?

The last time she?d enjoyed a slide had been years ago, so long that she couldn?t really remember?

Gosh, but she felt so old?

?He?s a very energetic child; you must have a hard time keeping up with him.? Kagome looked up to see that another woman had joined her on the swings. A very pregnant woman. She smiled politely and turned her eyes back to Shippou. He?d come down the slide while she?d been zoned out and was now standing in line to go again.

?Yes, he?s very energetic. I?ve only had him for a few days and already I?m wishing for even a fraction of his energy.? Kagome glanced back over at the woman just in time to see her wince and place and hand to her swollen stomach.

?Are you okay?? she asked worriedly. The woman waved her concern away with a smile and a laugh as she straightened back up.

?I?m fine; my kids were just playing soccer some of my organs. So you?ve only had that little guy for a few days, huh? Adoption?? she waited for Kagome?s nod of affirmation before continuing, ?My husband and I thought about adopting but when we found out I was carrying triplets?well we decided to hold off for a little while.? She patted the swell of her belly in mock frustration and grinned over at Kagome. Kagome found herself liking this young woman very much and she took a closer look at her. She had long auburn hair tied up on either side of her head in pig-tails and her eyes were a startling emerald color. She was pretty and although her hair style was a little young, it somehow fit this woman perfectly.

?Triplets, wow! When are you due?? She asked, naturally curious about anything to do with children and birth. She?d missed Rei?s birth and it looked like she would miss Sango?s next child too.

?I?m due in about three months, although I look like I?m about to pop! My husband teases me about how slow I?ve become, but I tell him that we can?t all be speed demons.? She waved her hands around in an animated fashion and Kagome couldn?t help but laugh.

?Men just don?t understand what it?s like! When my cousin was pregnant with her first child her husband refused to go out and find her a watermelon at 3:30 in the morning one time. It wasn?t pretty.? She could laugh about it now, but at the time when Sango had called her bawling about that watermelon, Kagome had been less than pleased. Kagome glanced down at her watch and saw that it was almost dinner time. She stood up to call Shippou over so they could head home, but found the woman grasping her hand.

?Wait before you go I?d like to know your name. My husband and I just moved here so he could train for the Olympics and I don?t know very many people yet. I?d like to have you as a friend. My name?s Ayame by the way.? Kagome smiled down at the younger woman.

?I haven?t been here long either and could use a few friends my age. I?m---?

?Kagome?!?? Kagome knew that voice but she just couldn?t place it. Kagome turned to see a young man with long brown hair pulled up into a pony tail approaching them. He was grinning from ear to ear and something in her memory clicked.

?Kouga?? She and Ayame spoke at the same time and then looked at each other.

?You know my husband??

?You?re married to Kouga?? Again they spoke at the same time and both had to laugh. By this time Kouga had arrived at his wife?s side and stood staring at Kagome with surprised eyes, as if she was the last person he?d ever expect to meet on the street. It irritated Kagome just a little, but she let the feeling fade. She was just too tired to stay angry for long.

?What are you doing here Kagome? Last I heard Inuyasha was keeping you close to Tokyo.? His question and statement were innocent enough, but Kagome felt the knife in her heart give a sharp twist. Something of her pain must have showed on her face because Ayame reached out and patted her hand.

?Don?t ask her that Kouga, I don?t think she wants to talk about it.?

?No, its okay?It?s just that Inuyasha and I?aren?t together anymore.? Kagome looked over at the slide to find Shippou and completely missed the look of worried shock on Kouga?s face. He opened his mouth to say something, but his wife elbowed him and sent him a look.

?So how do you know each other?? She asked before her husband said anything stupid to cause her new-found friend more pain.

?We graduated high school together. I haven?t seen Kagome since she left for college in America.? Kouga answered for them both, leaving out that Kagome hadn?t really finished high school or graduated with him before disappearing overseas. But he did look at her with some old hurt in his eyes because she never said good-bye.

?Oh! You went to school in America? How was it?? Ayame thought it was a harmless enough question, but Kagome?s smile turned tight lipped. That question just reminded her of how much she was beginning to regret ever coming back to her native shores. In America everything was simple; she couldn?t say the same for Japan anymore.

?It was?nice. I?m sorry but I must be getting home now. If you want to stop by for a visit some time Ayame-san I?d love to have you. Just come to the Sunshine Temple and ask for me.? She waved at the confused couple and called for Shippou before they could say anything else.

?Do you think she doesn?t know?? Ayame asked her husband as he helped her stand up, ?I mean, why would she want to leave her mate like that??

?I don?t know Inuyasha was always a huge jerk during high school. That?s why Kagome ran off to America in the first place. I bet that piece of dog-shit has done something to make her run away again, but this is more serious than in high school. Kagome is very close to losing it. Maybe you should go by and check on her tomorrow while I?m at the gym.?

?No, I have a bad feeling about this, maybe we can both go over for a visit after dinner tonight.? Ayame watched as the last of her new friend disappeared around the corner and took her husbands hand. She looked up into his eyes and saw just how worried he was for Kagome. She wondered if maybe there had been something between the two in high school, but she didn?t ask. Kouga was all hers now, so things like that didn?t bother her one bit.

?Okay, just as soon as we feed you and the monsters we?ll go pay her a visit.?



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



?Sunshine Temple, this is Kagome speaking.? Sango immediately heard how tired Kagome sounded and she worried her lip. Maybe this wasn?t a good time to tell her everything.


?Kagome, this is Sango.?

?Oh hi, Sango! It?s wonderful to hear from you, it?s been such a long time.? Some of her weariness seemed to fade away and she almost sounded like her old self again. ?You?ll never guess who I met today in the park.?

?I?m sorry about that; it?s been kind of?hectic here?.?

?Is the baby okay? Has anything happened to Rei?? Kagome picked up on the hesitation in her voice and was afraid that this was one of ?those? calls. She couldn?t help feeling a tiny pinch of fear in her heart every time she picked up the phone and heard Sango?s voice echoing over the line. It had been that way since the night of Inuyasha?s accident all those years ago.

?No, it?s nothing like that. Everyone is okay. ? Sango made sure to stress the 'everyone' part so that Kagome would know that Inuyasha was included in that statement. If the younger woman caught on she gave no indication, ?Tell me who you met.?

?Oh, I met Kouga from high-school and his wife. She?s having triplets in about three months.? Sango looked at the clock and saw that she only had three more minutes.

?Kagome, I have something important to tell you.?

?Sango, can I tell you something?? They both spoke at once then laughed nervously as a strange kind of tension filled the phone line. There was a stretch of dead air while they both waited for someone to speak and break the sudden awkwardness. Sango glanced at the horrible time keeping device that had become the bane of her existence in one short afternoon and knew she had no more time to dawdle. If that red blinking menace was right she only had seconds before her husband walked through the door.

?Kagome, Inuyasha is very close to finding you. I haven?t told him where you are but he?s tracked you to one of the temples in Kyoto, it?s only a matter of days before he shows up.? Her voice was urgent as she hurried to impart her message in the short amount of time she had left. Part of her wished Inuyasha and Miroku would catch her talking to Kagome, then maybe this whole horrible ordeal could end.

?But he can?t find me, I?m not ready yet?I?m not ready yet! I-I-I?M NOT READY YET!? Sango had to hold the phone away from her ear and felt her stomach clench with dread. Maybe she?d made a mistake in warning her.

?Kagome, Kagome listen to me, it?ll be okay. Inuyasha, he?s changed since you?ve left, maybe---?

?NO! You don?t understand! I?m not ready! I haven?t learned how to stop loving him yet! If he comes now I-I- I?ll?NO! I-He can?t come?.He can?t find me yet! Maybe not ever!? She was sobbing loudly over the phone now and Sango could hear the voice of a child somewhere in the background asking if Kagome was alright in a panicky voice.

?Kagome! Please just calm down!? But her begging was all for naught. On the other end of the phone she heard a clatter and with a sinking heart she knew that Kagome had dropped the phone, but she still desperately called out to her cousin, hoping against hope that somehow her voice would be heard over Kagome?s sobs.

?KAGOME! KAGOME!? Sango herself was sobbing now, and she was so caught up in trying reach her cousin that she never heard her husband or friend enter the house. She only realized that she wasn?t alone anymore when the phone was ripped out of her grasp. The look on Inuyasha?s face when he heard Kagome?s sobs coming over the line finally and complete broke the pregnant woman?s heart and she threw herself into her husband?s chest sobbing loud enough to rival Kagome?s wails of agony.

?Please, make it stop!? she begged Miroku as he wrapped his arms around her trembling form. ?Please just make is all stop!?

Behind her Sango heard the sound of her cordless phone being crush against the floor. She clutched tighter to her husband and tried to block out the sound.







T.B.C


I?m so sorry that this wasn?t out on Monday last week, but as most of you know I had a death in my family, then a weeks worth of exams and studying for finals that are coming up faster than ever.

I know you all might have assumed that Kouga was going to be Kagome?s new lover interest, and I?m sorry to disappoint you. Kouga will only be fulfilling the roll of friend-older brother in this story because I think I?ve already got enough of a love triangle going on between Inuyasha-Kagome-Kikyou to add wolf-boy into the mix.

In my head this chapter looked differently, but I?m reasonably proud with the outcome. In the next chapter our couple reunites, or at least Inuyasha tries to reunite?.

I know you?ve all been looking forward to the next chapter and I?ll try not to make you wait too long. I?m going to be gone to Arizona for a week starting Friday so you should see a new chapter in this and TWTHE (maybe more than one since I plan on spending my 23 hour car drive wisely) by the 19th. But be forewarned that my college finals start right after that so you might to hear from me for a while. But I?m always going to be coming back, I promise!


Hitomi Lei

[Winged~Trinity]

that was so good!!!i wondered when this chapter was coming. it was great, can't wait for the next one.

ps.i love the world through his eyes also!ur a great writer.

[Lara Winner]

I think I'm about to start sobbing too. OMG poor Kagome. I love the Kouga/Ayame pairing and throwing Shippou intio the mix is going to get very interesting where Inuyasha is concerned. I will be eagerly awaiting more!

*hugs*

[wj]

Great chapter! Have fun in Arizona but please update as soon as you get back. You won't leave poor Kagome sobbing for very long, I hope.

wj

[Eden]

And the plot thickens again, . . .

Didn't realize that Inuyasha was that close to finding Kagome. Wow.

I love how you brought Shippo into the mix. He's a great character who helps lighten Kagome's mood. Likewise for your introduction of Kouga and Ayame. They may help Kagome realize some things she didn't notice before, like with the whole mating thing.

Lovely continuation, can't wait till next time!

~Eden