October 21, 2005

He couldn't stop thinking about her.

It was odd, really, being obsessed with a scraggly looking girl in flying pig pajama bottoms that he'd met one peculiar night at a bar named Kozy. He was though, and fully aware of it, too. Inuyasha had always been of a gregarious sort, never hesitating to ask out a girl or approach someone who happened to be particularly pugnacious. He also had a steadfast ability to repress any hurtful words clawing their way out of his throat, which earned him a prodigious number of faithful friends. One of these friends was Miroku, specifically his closest buddy and most trusted companion.

They were sitting at a small corner table in Café KoKo, hidden by a counter from the rest of the customers. It seemed to be a busy Monday as most of the regulars had arrived seeking refuge from the rain showering the streets. A fountain stood outside, it's fancy display of water spraying into the courtyard invisible against the rain. Inuyasha sipped his latte, his eyes screwed shut in aggravation as Miroku pondered his story. Then, slowly the discussion of last night's curious events took place.

"Well, do you want to find her?"

"I think she might be the one, Miroku!" Hearing this, the prominent lech rolled his eyes and set to work on his frappacino, sighing contentedly as it slid down his throat. "I really mean it, man!" Inuyasha growled.

"Listen, kid – "

"I told you to stop calling me that…" he grumbled.

" – I don't wanna be rude, but – "

"Then don't."

"Would you stop interrupting?" Miroku hissed, his eyes narrowing into dangerously small slits.

"Alright, alright!"

"Anyways, I really don't think this chick is any different than the others."

"She is, Miroku! I'm telling you, she is…she's absolutely…" he paused, his eyes faraway. "…Amazing."

"What is?"

"The girl, you idiot! The girl!"

"Right. But so was Kikyo."

Inuyasha cringed, sending his best friend a frosty look. "Don't mix her into this. That girl has nothing to do with her."

"Well, she looks a bit like her, doesn't she? And hey, just for future references, so I don't have to call her "That Girl" all the time – what's her name?"

"It's – "

There was a short silence as Inuyasha fought to remember until finally Miroku threw his hands up in frustration. "Dear God, man! You don't even remember her freakin' name!"

"She never told me," Inuyasha protested in his defense. "What does it matter anyways?"

"It matters because now you'll never find her! Can you at least give me a description?"

"Well, it was kind of dark, so…"

Miroku sighed, patting his friend on the shoulder. "It's hopeless, man. Tokyo is gigantic."

"No! No, it isn't! I need to find her," Inuyasha pleaded.

After a slight moment of consideration, Miroku gave in. "Alright, just tell me what you know, and I'll see what I can do."

"She's not too tall, maybe 5'4" or so, but she did seem to be slouching a bit. Didn't smell too great – a little like garbage actually – and, um, well, you know about the pajamas. Her hair was black and real tangled at that. She was pretty skinny, but not exactly bony, and um, I think that's it."

"Wow…"

Inuyasha blinked. "What?"

"You just described half the girl in the whole wide freakin' city, kid."

"Stop. Calling. Me. That." Inuyasha growled threateningly.

"Listen, there's really nothing I can do! I mean if you at least knew her name…"

"I can recognize her! If you gave me a picture or something – "

"Yeah, okay," Miroku sighed, "but we got nothing."

"I just…I…" He slumped in his seat, running a discouraged hand through his hair. "I just wish I could get a lead."

"Well, keep your eyes open! If it's meant to be, it's meant to be."

xXx

Kagome woke up in hell. Well, actually, the hangover wasn't nearly as bad as it usually got, which would explain her half-conscious state last night. And though her head still hurt, at least nothing terribly bad had happened. Sango had given her the whole story, and she was at least partially aware of the events that took place anyways..

Apparently her best friend had walked out of the bathroom to find her slumped over a bar stool conversing with an extremely good-looking young man and was kind enough not to interrupt anything. At this point in the story, Kagome directed an irritated glare at her. Sango had then gone off on her own to dance, keeping an eye on Kagome of course the entire time. Then, sometime throughout the evening, Kagome had dragged a very reluctant looking man into the center of the dance floor. When the young man, whoever he was, had finally begun to relax, the music was nearly over. Several people left then – it was pretty late already – but the majority of the crowd stayed and Kagome and the "Mystery Man" didn't stop dancing. Halfway through a fast song, Kagome threw up and fainted, leaving the Mystery Man with her drooping body. He's picked her up, bridal style, and carried her out the door, an insanely uncomfortable look on his face.

Kagome grimaced at this part of the story and buried her face in her hands. "Don't worry," Sango assured her. "He seemed rather smitten with you until you puked all over him and the dance floor."

Kagome responded with a glower and a groan.

"Anyways," Sango continued, "I followed the both of you outside and dutifully took you home as I had promised."

"Thanks, I guess," she sighed tiredly.

"You up for some coffee?"

"Yeah, the usual. Just let me grab my purse and we'll be off to Café KoKo."

"Um, Kagome?"

"Yeah?"

"You might wanna shower and change out of those PJ's first. You still smell like vomit."

xXx

They ordered vanilla lattes and sat down at a corner booth to talk; Sango was all too eager about the situation.

"Who do you think he was?" she whispered, an excited spark lighting up her eyes.

"I don't care," Kagome replied, taking a long sip of her drink and following it up with a satisfied sigh.

"Oh, come on! He was cute!"

"You barely saw him," Kagome accused.

"I saw he was cute," her best friend fired back, pausing to nibble at a blueberry muffin. "Besides, he was really nice about you puking on his shirt. No complaints whatsoever! He seemed like a really sweet guy."

"There are plenty of gentlemen in the world," Kagome said. "And…I'm not ready yet."

Sango glanced at her sympathetically before staring intently at her muffin. "You're right, I'm sorry. It's just…you're my best friend, and I can't stand seeing you so depressed. But, you're right. It's still too soon."

"It's alright," Kagome assured her. "I know you're just trying to help."

"You have something on your chin by the way. Looks a bit like latte."

She stuffed a hand into her pocket, groping about for a handkerchief. "Hmmm, I think I put it in the wash."

"Oh, I found one in your pajama pocket. Slipped it in your jeans – check in the left one."

"Got it!" Kagome froze, staring intently at the handkerchief. "Weird…"

"What is it?"

"I don't remember owning this," she frowned.

"Maybe the Mystery Man?"

"Wait a minute…" Her forehead crinkled in thought. "That might actually be it! I remember something like that. I was crying…he told me to keep it…I just can't remember why…"

"You got snot all over it?" Sango suggested.

"Oh, be quiet. That's what they're for, isn't it?"

She shrugged and sat back in her chair. "Anyways, stop staring at that handkerchief and use it already. But watch that bottom corner – it's got a red stain on it."

"I don't think that's a stain, Sango."

"Then what?"

"I think it's needlework. Really fine stitching."

Sango gazed down at it, pondering. "What does it say?"

"I.T."

"I…T…?"

"Yup."

"Like…it?"

"No, the letters are in caps."

"So…like…it?"

Kagome laughed. "Stop. I think it's someone's initials."

"Well, we'll deal with it later. It's time now for my morning newspaper and you should be off to work! I cancelled all your past appointments, but you'll still need to call a couple clients."

"Alright. Thanks, Sango!"

"Anytime." After receiving a final encouraging smile, she was off.

xXx

Inuyasha couldn't believe his luck.

He was absolutely positive it was her and was so excited about it, he jumped up and slapped Miroku enthusiastically on the back. "Awesome advice, Miroku! I think I just found the one."

In response, Miroku scowled at him and began tenderly rubbing the spot where Inuyasha's hand had connected with his back. "Yeah, yeah." In a split second, however, he perked up. "You go ahead. I got my own fish to fry."

"Is it that other girl again? The one that's rejected you like…twenty times?"

"Her name is Sango! And yes, it's her. I'll catch you later, 'kay?"

"Alright then." Inuyasha ambled away, keeping a close eye on the girl as she approached the door and headed out into the rain. Suddenly getting an idea, Inuyasha sped up, quickly unbuckling his umbrella as he left the café and unfurling it in the rain. It created a pleasant bridge above his head and he quickly searched for the girl, trying to be inconspicuous against the colored buildings along the street. Finally, he spotted her sitting against a small fountain in the plaza, her hair pulled back and a book in one hand. The other held a pink and purple umbrella, which he hadn't remembered seeing. Abandoning his plan of offering her a shelter from the rain, he approached her shyly and struggled to think of another.

She glanced up at him as he sat down next to her, but returned all to eagerly to her book. "Nice weather, eh?" he managed.

This time she didn't bother looking up. "I suppose."

"Look, I'm not really good with words, but would you like to – "

"If you're asking me out, I'm not interested."

He blinked, taken aback by her blunt reply. "Well, why not?"

"I have a boyfriend," she said, an uncomfortable look on her face before she added a quiet, "sorry."

There was something about the way she said it that made him stare at her. She looked up then, straight into his eyes. "I'm sorry," she repeated. He blinked, utterly confused, and yet somehow aware that she wasn't apologizing for having a boyfriend. There was something else in those eyes - a sharp pain that begged for forgiveness and the steady terror of being rejected. A long silence ensued as the pair gazed at each other. The girl was studying him intently, her chocolate brown eyes roaming across his face as though memorizing every line and curve.

Finally, she broke the stare and turned away, fumbling with her books as she rose, almost too quickly, from her seat. Inuyasha rose with her, a curious expression on his face as though he were in a trance. In this light she looked more than ever like Kikyo.

"I have to go," the girl mumbled.

He turned to the side and stared as she left, her umbrella forgotten. The wind began to grow stronger, but he stayed put, watching her attentively, too transfixed to look away. Finally, he was forced to stop as her figure disappeared in the rain.

An hour later Kikyo stumbled into the safety of her own apartment, and slipped the chocolate brown contacts out of her eyes. Then, slowly, like a wilted flower too tired to stay upright, she slumped to the floor and began to cry.