Chapter 3: SAU

Well things are going swimmingly. Right? Wrong. Just when I was warming up to the idea of Inuyasha and me the universe threw me a ball that I fumbled. My past decided to catch up and the doubts and fears that I buried are now staring me down. What's the result? Inuyasha and I broke up. And right before Christmas.

"Who knew that planning a Christmas ball for this man would be so horrible?" Sango said. "It's Christmas for crying out loud."

"I know." Kagome muttered.

"How are things with you and Inuyasha?"

"They aren't. We broke up." She said.

"I'm sorry to hear."

"Me too." She muttered.

---Flashback---

"Inuyasha, why are you making a big deal out of this?"

"How am I supposed to take that my girlfriend wrote of all men because her last boyfriend beat and rape her?" he yelled. "And on top of it, he's calling you now to reconcile."

"It's not like I'm running to renew the flame." Kagome shouted back. "Am I supposed to turn off my phone?"

"How did he get your number?"

"I'm a business woman. I'm listed." She said. "You think I sought him out and called him up?"

"No but I would have liked to know-"

"Well you know now."

"Only because I walked in on the end of rather nasty phone call."

"Did you even plan to tell me?"

"No."

"Why? Secrets kill."

"It's not a secret. It's just not public information."

"You're my girlfriend."

"It's not like its affecting me. I'm not sexually repressed or-"

"Excuse me!" he yelled in his native tongue. "I had to fight to get you to go out with me. And all because some bastard decided to rape his girlfriend."

"Just drop it. It doesn't have anything to do with us."

"It doesn't? then maybe there shouldn't be an us."

"You're breaking up with me because I was raped."

"I'm not depraved or stupid. You kept something important from me. How can I trust you not to keep anything else from me? If you got pregnant, would you keep that from me?"

"We have to be doing something to get pregnant." She said icily.

"Right." He said. "I thought that if I was patient we would move along nicely but you keep putting roadblocks. I'm tired of fighting for you. For this. For us."

"I never thought you'd be the one to end this." She said. "I always expected I'd grow tired and-"

"See, you still have it in the back of your head that it won't work out." He said running a hand through is hair. "Well don't worry. You were right. It hasn't worked and it won't. Sorry I wasted my time. Have a nice life." He said and walked out slamming the door. Kagome stared at the door with wide and surprised eyes. The radio that had been eclipsed by their yelling rang out clearly now Jessica Simpson's 'When you told me'.

­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­One doesn't mean anything to me

Come show the meaning of complete

Where did our love go wrong?

Once we were so strong

How can I go on?

Dammit. Kagome glared at the radio and then took it up and flung it across the room. It fell but instead of dying, it continued to pour out the words of the song. At least it's not the Fuji's 'strumming my pain' she said to herself.

When you told me you love me did you know it would take me the rest of my life;

To get over the feeling I know when a dream didn't turn our right;

When you let me believe that, you were incomplete without me by your side;

How could I know, that you would go, that you would run, baby I thought you were the one?

The tears the held at bay slipped out now mocking her state. She had fought him but deep inside she always felt that maybe he would be the one to heal her heart, to stay with her for life.

--End flashback—

She looked at her papers and saw nothing but a blurred mess of white and black as the tears threatened to fall again.

Why can't I just leave it all behind?

The song kept playing in her head and she remembered why she hated love songs. They made you remember and dwell on hurts that were best forgotten or as the song said 'left behind'.

I felt passion so bright that I was blind

But you can't completely forget something that touched you so deeply. He touched her on a level that nobody ever had. And mostly because she left herself open. She didn't' expect that he could make her grow to love him. She wasn't even sure it was love but she felt it deeply and she missed him. It didn't help that her old boyfriend wouldn't leave her alone.

Then something made me weak

Talking in my sleep

Baby I'm in so deep

And you know I believed

She almost snapped the pencil in two that a song she barely knew had ingrained itself so deeply in her subconscious. It cut her to the core. She remembered the night in the club when he held her and they danced, alone in their own world. She wondered if it happened there.

When you told me you love me did you know it would take me the rest of my life

To get over the feeling I know when a dream didn't turn our right

She could feel Sango looking at her.

When you let me believe that, you were incomplete without me by your side

How could I know, that you would go, that you would run, baby I thought you were the one?

She heard her get up and walk to her and felt the hand on her shoulder. She trembled.

Your lips, your face, something that time just can't erase

My heart could break all over again

"Sango?" she said her voice thick with tears.

"Yeah, Kags?"

"I can hardly believe it but I miss him."

"I know."

"No. You don't."

"When Miroku-"

"But he always comes back. Inuyasha isn't coming back."

"You don't know that. He could-"

"You didn't see his face. I betrayed his trust. I kept something from me when he kept nothing from me."

When you told me you love me did you know it would take me the rest of my life

To get over the feeling I know when a dream didn't turn our right…

"It felt so good being with him. I had convinced myself that I could be by myself but when I was with him I felt – whole."

"But-"

"He didn't even make it seem like he wanted me to feel that way. He came to me showed me that he needed me. And now-"

"Maybe you two can still be friends." Kagome snorted through the tears.

"Cliché fallback? Better friend than nothing?"

"Yeah?"

"I don't want to be near him if I can't have with him what you have with Miroku."

When you let me believe that you were incomplete without me by your side

How could I know, that you go, that run, baby I thought you were the one?

"Then go get him."

"No." Kagome said hugging her knees. "He deserves someone who can love him without a second thought. All I do is second-guess him and myself."

"Then I'll help you move on."

"Can you get rid of my past too?"

"The event or the person?"

"The person." Kagome said. "He keeps calling."

"I'll see what I can do. Just stop crying."

"Okay." Kagome laughed. "You know what Inuyasha yelled at me the first time he saw me cry. He had the cutest look on his face when he panicked. How am I going to do this?"

"Plan the Christmas ball and them take a holiday. You haven't taken one of those in years."

"You're right." She said. "I'll do just that." She said. He computer beeped and she looked at it. "Oh no."

"What?"

"The entertainment fell through."

"So what are we gonna do?" Sango said.

"I don't know." Kagome said pulling at her hair. She stilled then started to bang her head on the desk.

"Kags-"

"I know exactly what to do but it's not gonna help with my recovery."

"What?"

"Inuyasha knows a lot of entertainers who are dying to make some money for the Christmas."

"Are they any good?"

"Very."

"Damn." Sango said. "Wait-I can do the arrangements."

"Could you?" Kagome said relief flooding her face.

"I'll do it know." She left the office and phoned Inuyasha.

"Hello?"

"Hey Inuyasha, it's Sango."

"If you called to talk about Kagome-"

"No. This is business. We're planning a Christmas ball for the Nakamura's and the people for the entertainment cancelled. Can you recommend anybody?"

"A few." He said. "Doesn't Kagome usually do this?"

"Thought you didn't want to talk about her." Sango said cheekily.

"I don't." he said.

"Well she would've called but given that you guys just broke up-"

"I see your point." He said. "Is she there now?"

"You wanna talk to her?" Sango yelped when she felt a slap on her arm and she glared at the now present Kagome.

"If she will accept the call." He said.

"One second." She turned and handed the phone to Kagome who pushed it back.

"The point of you calling him was so I wouldn't have to talk to him." She whispered.

"Yes, well plans change."

"But-"

"You know you want to."

"Fine. I'll take it in here." She said pointing to her office.

She sat down and took a breath before picking up the phone. "H-hello?"

"Hi."

"How are you?" she and cleared her throat nervously.

"Probably the same as you." He said after a bout of silence.

"How so?"

"I miss you." He said and then sighed. "And I feel stupid for breaking up with you."

"Well, you should." Kagome said.

"I'm sorry." He said. Kagome hoped that he would offer to try again but he didn't. "I'll send the groups over and you pick the one you want. It was good talking to you."

"Same here." She said enjoying his voice even if it was distorted by the telephone. "I guess I'll see you around?" she said in hopes of a yes.

"Unfortunately, I'm going back to Sicily."

"When?"

"Now." He said. "I guess I should have called and told you." He said a bit shakily.

"Yeah. You should've. Thanks for the help with this thing." She sighed. "Goodbye." He said the same and hung up.

She looked at her calendar and sighed. It said December twenty-third. "Christmas sucks." She said. Everything terrible happened at Christmas. Her first boyfriend moved to a different country at Christmas. The second one died of cancer on Christmas day. Her dad left her mom the day before Christmas. Her third boyfriend – well she found him all cozy with her best friend on Christmas morning. And her fourth, the one just before Inuyasha….

---Flashback---

"Naraku?" she called. "You here?"

"I'm out back." He called. She walked out to find him surrounded by a bunch of his friends.

"I thought this was supposed to be just us."

"It is." He smiled. "They'll leave in a minute."

"Okay." She smiled and took her seat beside him. "Introduce me." She said scooping up a beer and drinking as the introductions were made.

It was near midnight when his friends left and Kagome was drunk. Sure she could walk and talk but she was not altogether right. "I think I'll stay here tonight." She giggled as he kissed her neck.

"Really?" he smiled. "My night just got a whole lot better." He said and kissed her roughly. She giggled and responded then pushed him back.

"I'm sleeping in the spare room." She said and walked off.

"Don't tease me Kagome." He said.

"I'm not, Naraku." She said. "I'm too drunk to drive myself home and you're too drunk to drive me. I can trust you not to push anything right?"

"Of course." He said. She kissed on the cheek and got changed. She brushed her teeth and headed to bed. She would later wish she hadn't gotten thirsty in the night.

"You're still up?"

"Yeah." Naraku said a beer in hand. "Hard to sleep with my beautiful girl right next door."

"Poor baby." She teased. "I'm just gonna get myself some water and get out of your hair." She hummed as she walked to the kitchen. She poured the glass of water and drank gratefully. She turned to find Naraku right behind her.

"I want you." He said and she smiled.

"I'm glad and very soon, you'll have me."

"Tonight." He said putting a hand around her waist.

"I'm too tired tonight. Plus this isn't very romantic."

"Kagome." He groaned and pushed her up against the counter. "I need you."

"That's sweet but I have an exam in the morning and after that stupid bout of drunkenness I need all the sleep I can get."

"It's always something with you." He said and glared. "Always something to postpone what we know is gonna happen whether you like it or not."

"What?" she said scared for the first time. "Naraku, let me go."

"No." He said pressed her more into the counter. She pushed at him but he wouldn't budge. He kissed her roughly and for once Kagome was repulsed by him.

"No." she said and pushed at him. The beer he had, he flung it across the room and pulled back to yell at her.

"You are such a little tease." He said and looked malevolently at her. Kagome ran for the steps but he grabbed her and threw her on the ground.

"Please don't do this, Naraku." She whispered to him. "I promise, tomorrow, just please don't do this to me."

"I'm sorry." He said then ripped her clothes. She fought tooth and nail and of course that made him angry. "You stupid little tease. You bitch." He slapped her then and continued to hit her as he spread her legs and raped her. When he was through he laughed as she crawled to the phone. He grabbed another beer and told her to get cleaned up. Then he said 'merry Christmas.'

---end Flashback--

She had called Sango who called the police and had him arrested. Not that it had mattered. The evidence was stacked against her. The lawyer had made it look like rough sex gone wrong even though she had internal bleeding, broken ribs on both side, a concussion and a broken arm. The fact that she had gotten drunk then stayed the night supported his claim that it was all a big misunderstanding. He got away scotch free. Well not exactly. Sango had gotten some people passing through to rough him up and scare him enough to leave Tokyo.

"Now this. The one that could be-well, the one had dumped her two days before that special time of year." She said twirling her hair. "I hate Christmas."

"Maybe I can change your mind." A woman said.

"I'm sorry we're-" she did a double take. "I-Izayoi?"

"Yes. I'm here on behalf of my idiotic son." She said taking a seat.

"Which one?"

"The one on his way back to Sicily now."

"So he doesn't know you're here."

"No. You're the best thing that's happened to him. You accept him for what and who he is."

"Look, I appreciate what-"

"I had to fight for Toga. Sesshomaru's mother was a witch about it but I won. You don't have to fight another woman for Toga's son."

"Izay-"

"Don't give him up. He followed you here. He followed his heart and it got broken. Follow him."

"I can't. I have a ball to execute in two days."

"I saw that wonderful team you brought to plan his wedding and give him his dream garden. Delegate. Come home with me."

"I couldn't."

"You know you want to. You love him."

"Yes she does but unfortunately, she's staying here with me." A voice she hated said.

"What is this? Give Kagome a heart attack day?" she said though very nervous at the gun he had pointed at them.

"Kagome?"

"This is my ex-boyfriend. He's part of the reason Inuyasha and I broke up."

"How so?" she said strangely unperturbed by Naraku or the gun.

"He raped me, almost killed me and just when I got my life where I wanted it, he calls and messes everything up."

"You raped this girl?" she said with all the fury and indignation of mother earth. "Such a pity. I was planning to excuse this intrusion but you've made terrible mistake in trying to detain us."

"What did she say?" he said. Izayoi had spoken to him in her native language.

"Izayoi, please-" she said ignoring Naraku.

"Don't worry dear, my husband will be here shortly."

"But he has a gun. I don't want-"

"Don't worry, Kagome," Toga said from behind Naraku who spun around to point the gun at the large man. "I'm capable of handling this man." Faster than Kagome could follow, Toga had the gun and Naraku was on the ground.

"Shall we go?" Kagome was too stunned to do anything but follow them. She called Sango and told her the plans. Sango cheered and Kagome got on a plane bound for Sicily. It wasn't until she saw the landmass that she started to put up a protest.

"It's a bit late to turn around now." Toga said.

"I can't do this."

"It'll be fine. At least spend Christmas with us."

"Okay." Kagome said and nervously drank some of the water offered. She choked and decided not to chance dying before she arrived.

Kagome sat nervously hoping she wasn't noticed. "Trying to look small won't hide you." Izayoi said. "I learned the hard way. These men can smell their women miles away. He'll know you're here."

"I wanna go home." She said almost crying. "He doesn't need me anymore."

"Kagome, he'll love that you followed him."

"But-"

"No more second thoughts, he's here." She said and fairly floated out of the room. Kagome panicked and backed up against the closest wall and hoped he would notice, and then she'd slip out. She watched him come in and she breathed at the sight of him. She hadn't seen him in weeks and it was too long. He shrugged out of his jacket, a scowl on his face.

"Mo-" he stopped suddenly and Kagome knew he realized someone else was there even though he wasn't looking at her. He sniffed and she closed her eyes and wished to be invisible. She heard him approach her and then heard him stop before her. She dared not open her eyes. When he didn't say anything she peeked and he had a smug smile on his face.

Forever in your eyes…

"Hi." She said.

"What are you doing here?"

"Leaving actually." She made to move but he caged her with his hands. "This is all your parents fault." She blurted out. "There I was planning the ball when in walks your mom and she start talking about me following you. So I'm refusing then Naraku walks in and points a gun at us and then your father just knocks him out and now I'm here and I'm trying to leave but-"

"Gun?"

"Uh-what?" she said completely flustered.

"Naraku and gun."

"My ex-boyfriend the one that-"

"Oh." He said. "My father took care of him?"

"Yeah."

"Good."

"Now back to why you're here."

"Because your parents-"

"You wanted to come?" he asked.

"A little." She said.

"And you like me?" he said.

"Maybe." She whispered.

Eyes like fire…

"Maybe?" he smiled. "You know it's been one song after the other and I swear they were trying to tell me something."

Burn desire as we dance away into the night…

"Songs?" she said.

"Yes. Even now, in my mind, I'm hearing a song and maybe I'm going crazy but I think it's okay as long as I get to kiss you right now." He leaned in to kiss her a she leaned up but then she stopped him.

This attraction feels of passion it's just too strong for us to try and fight

Each moment we're together I just never want to end 'cause I can never feel this way again…

"What-What song are you hearing now?" he looked at her confused.

"Why?"

"I need to know if is the same song I'm hearing in my head."

"How about we sign the next line together."

'Cause nothing else has ever felt so right

To feel your body lying next to mine

As the rhythm of your heat beats through me all thru the night

I never thought I'd ever realize a love that felt so close to paradise

Boy I could spend my whole life living forever in your eyes…

"Maybe we're both crazy." She said an smiled when they whispered the song to each other a stolen here and there. "I've been hearing the songs too."

"It's a sign then?" he said. She tangled her hand in his hair subsequently loosing it of its confinement.

"Maybe." She said and smiled.

Lips so tender I surrender…

"What's with this 'maybe'?" he said frowning slightly. "Can I have a 'yes' or a 'no'?"

"May-" he cut her off with a kiss.

"Will you marry me?" he said.

"When?"

"Now."

"Impossible. But I could fit you in for Christmas morning."

"It's a date."

Everything I have is yours alone…

She marched down the aisle on Christmas morning with her friend smiling at her and a sweating Inuyasha wishing she'd hurry down the aisle.

'Cause when you touch me

She took his hand and he kissed it before they turned to the minister. They kept looking at each other until finally the minister told them to face each other. They smiled giddily.

All that I see, are feelings that my heart has never known…

He led her to his garden where he kissed her. "You made this for me. And then you didn't even love me. And yet it says so much about your heart."

"Who said I made it for you?"

"It doesn't matter, as long as I can see you in it whenever I want."

"That I can agree to."

Your all I ever dreamed of, your my every fantasy

Whoever thought an angel could bring heaven here to me…

"I love you." She said looking up at him as he moved to cover her with his body.

"I think that's the first time you've ever said that to me."

"It is." She said. "And I mean it."

Your the one my heart beats for,

Your my everything and more

It's a burning love I can't seem to ignore

'Cause all the things I feel inside….

"I'd make a long speech I think your hearing that same song. I mean every word of that too." She said and touched his face.

"I'm glad to hear it. And I love you too." He said kissing her neck. "And now I have you as my wife so I can touch you anywhere I like."

"Same here." She said fingering his ear. "And I like the advantage." She giggled when he licked her neck.

Are too strong for me to hide

Baby, I need you by my side

If I could live forever in your eyes

"Maybe when your brother comes back we can compare love stories and songs." She joked and kissed him with all the love she felt for him.

So here I am married to the sexiest man there is and I'm spoiled rotten. He spoils me. I spoil him and he's still working on breaking my chocolate addiction. I fell in love with a plethora of love songs to act as a soundtrack to my life. Sango laughs at me but I'm planning her wedding now. That's' a whole other story as well as Sesshomaru and Rin. Maybe one day we'll tell you how it goes. I need to get back to Inuyasha's choice of addiction substitution. If he keeps it up, I could get addicted to those kisses of his…

Forever in your eyes…