CHAPTER 1:TRY

Ever wonder 'bout what he's doing, how it all turned to lies?

Sometimes I think that it's better to never ask 'why?'

Funny how the heart can be deceiving more than just a couple times…

Why do we fall in love so easy, even when it's not right?

Ever worry that it might be ruined, and does it make you wanna cry?

When you're out there doing what you're doing are you just getting by?

~ P!nk~

There are those in life who are great judges of character, who within a glance or a word will know a person's truest nature. Maybe it's an instinctual reaction to the unseen aura that surrounds every living thing, or it could be that look in their eyes, truly the windows to the soul. Whatever it was Kagome didn't have it. She was a terrible judge of character, well, of male character anyway.

She had fallen for him fast, and at the time it felt as if everything was finally falling into place for her, she'd done her time, weathered her storms and she thought that he was the safe haven to help her with any storms in the future.

Yet, that feeling of fulfillment and contentment didn't last, the gears in their machine didn't fit and were slipping, it was only a matter of time before it imploded around her. She knew this yet she continued to try and make it work, refusing to lose what had anchored her through her toughest days.

How much longer could she do this? How many times was she going to let him take a knife to her heart with his actions? Kagome was less and less sure of why she even stayed with the man that once cared for her heart with each passing week.

It was clear that she was afloat, no longer attached to his safe harbor, that seemed to have more reefs and jagged rocks than she remembered when they first met. She twisted her hair between her fingers, her mind filtering through desperately trying to cling to a reason that she was staying with someone so familiar to her, yet now a stranger.

It has to be the sex. The bitter thought brought a sour taste to her mouth, the frown marring her features deepening for a minute. Sighing Kagome twisted back to the bar. Still no sign of Koga since he'd ran off to talk to that skimpily dressed blonde.

She flinched when a hand reached across the bar and took her glass, the bartender gave her a knowing smile as he handed her another drink. Managing a smile of thanks she took the glass that felt cool against her agonizing skin, who ever said heartache was just in the heart was a damn fool. The fact that love seemed a foreign word between her and Koga anymore didn't seem to stop her body from reacting to her emotional pain. She could feel the sting throughout, in the way her chest clenched, the way her skin tightened, the churning of her stomach, and the way her soul was thrashing around inside.

Oh sure she looked calm on the outside as she downed the jack with just a splash of coke, but she was being burned to death by the loss of what little of a relationship she seemed capable of keeping with any male.

An arm snaked around her hips, she fought back the cringe; she'd be damn if she let him see how badly he repulsed her in that moment. Who the hell did he think he was to flirt with that stupid bitch when he came here with her? God, this is why she had been warned not to deal with youkai, they were all a bunch of pussy chasing bastards.

"Where'd you run off too, babe?" Kagome rolled her eyes at how Koga practically purred the words in her ear, a move that in the beginning had sent a thrill through her, but now just made her feel cheap.

"I was in the way of your little reunion so I came in here," she said over the music, maneuvering her way out of his touch, just to have him grab her arm. "Let go, Koga."

"No, you're going to tell me what the fuck is wrong with you. I brought you here so I could –"

"So you could what? Flirt with other girls?" She jerked her arm out of his grasp, slipping her hand into his coat pocket taking out a napkin. "To get your next fuck's number? Fuck off, Koga. I'll find my own way home." She said ripping the napkin apart and tossing it aside.

"Now look here you little bitch," Koga snapped his features turning slightly more animalistic, more like the wolf his body demonized. "I am a demon and I will develop my pack the way I see fit."

"Oh please, stop using your wolf instincts as an excuse for being a man whore. I'm not the kind of girl who is going to share a man with other females. We're done here, just leave me alone. I don't want some wolf-boy sniffing around me anymore." Kagome turned back to the bar figuring she needed another drink, sighing when she noticed that the bartender who was at the far end of the bar but luckily he had just turned towards her.

The look of shock and fear that crossed his face startled her, her body tensing as he started rushing towards her. Rage seemed to surround her as Koga's aura flared out violently behind her, Koga always hated when she stood her ground but this was new, even for him. Kagome slowly turned around only to have his hand slash across her face in a painful slap that sent her stumbling back against the bar as another jolt of pain shot her body upwards making her cry out.

"You bitch! No female refuses me, especially a weak stupid human like you!" Koga snarled as he stalked towards where she had fallen. Her face stung fiercely, but she refused to touch the sensitive skin, not wanting to show him how badly he'd hurt her. She had too much pride.

"Damn, Koga. I'm letting you go so that you can behave like the animal you are, without me, and you're upset? Pathetic." Kagome coughed out spitting the blood from her mouth as she slowly staggered to her feet. Tact wasn't always her strong suit, fanning his flames was not what she needed right now, but it seemed all she could do.

"You are mine." He growled as he grabbed her by the neck lifting her off the ground so that they were eye to eye.

"Never! Never will I belong to the likes of you!" Kagome choked back her fear as she tried to force him to release his grip on her when a clawed hand grabbed the demon's wrist. Koga growled more as his head jerked towards the demon clad in black. No, Kagome thought as her vision tunneled, Koga's hand tightening around her throat, this guy is only half.

"Release me. This doesn't involve you, mutt." Koga snapped, his grip tightening on Kagome's neck until she gasped, she felt the halter top that he'd insist she wear start to give away. The hanyou merely smirked, his silver ears swiveling towards the sound but his eyes stayed trained on the wolf-demon.

"You lose your temper in here then yes it involves me you stupid wolf." The hanyou snapped squeezing the demon's wrists till Kagome heard popping as she was released from his grasp. Koga snarled his eyes rolling around in anguish as the young bouncer continued to crush the demon's wrist.

Kagome crumpled to the floor, the unexpected release and the off balance way she landed on her heels making her fall. Coughing, she rubbed her ankle before trying to tug what was left of her shirt together, trying to salvage what little dignity she had left. She should consider herself lucky that she could breath and that it didn't appear that he hadn't crushed her windpipe.

Something wet trailed down her collarbone, touching it she glared at the blood on her fingertips. Kagome knew she should have trimmed that bastard's claws in his sleep, or maybe she should have just smothered him at this rate. She was going to kill that mangy, good for nothing, flea bitten wolf….

"Hey you," the bouncer said jerking Kagome from her thoughts her eyes flickering up to the hanyou's face, who seemed to be glowering at her. What did he want; couldn't he see she was plotting murder here?

"Come with me, wench." He barked as he and the bartender with the ponytail pushed the still pissed off Koga towards a side door near the edge of the bar.

Kagome muttered a string of curses as she reluctantly staggered to her feet the best she could while she attempted to tie the straps that Koga tore on her top back together, not really wanting to add public indecency to her growing list of problems tonight. Following slowly behind the group, they passed through the metal door, Kagome gingerly touched her neck, grimacing in pain. Once through the threshold the door slammed shut behind her making her jump, her startled gasp getting lost in the resounding echo in the narrow hall. Up ahead she could see them struggling to push the youkai into a small room.

Kagome edged up to the door frame as silver headed hanyou and the dark headed barkeep forced the demon into spell binding restraints. Koga was shouting out obscenities in his rage, his eyes flashing with demon power. The hanyou slightly shoved the barkeep towards the door.

"I got this. You go handle her, Miroku." The half demon snapped jerking his head towards Kagome, his words causing her to flinch then immediately bristle. The man called Miroku looked over and gave her the same smile he had given her earlier at the bar before walking to the door and closing the door effectively blocking Kagome's view of Koga or the bouncer. He gently guided her into what appeared to be a small break room a few doors down.

"In here, uh…I'm sorry I didn't catch your name," He smiled apologetically as he scratched the back of his head.

"It's Kagome," she whispered as she slowly sat in the chair that he offered her. Her throat felt as raw as her emotions at the moment. A sudden shiver shook her frame, her hands subconsciously rubbing her arms attempting to warm herself up as goose bumps spread across her body.

"Ah, well, Kagome, I'm Miroku," he smiled slightly; her shivering did not go unnoticed by him. "Can I get you anything to drink? Maybe a jacket?"

"What?" Kagome asked turning deep red, the chill seeming to set deeper into her skin as another shiver worked its way from her shoulders to her legs. She glared at Miroku before sighing. "Water and a-a jacket would be nice."

Miroku nodded before turning to the refrigerator and grabbing her water and tossing it to her. She easily caught it and smiled her thanks before unscrewing the top and taking a tentative sip. Any buzz she had earlier had quickly dissipated with the shot of adrenaline in her system draining everything else away until she just felt empty.

"Well, um, I'm just gonna go see about that jacket now," Miroku said walking down a short hallway beside the vending machines.

Kagome sighed setting the water on the table before tugging at the short black skirt that Koga had somehow convinced her to wear tonight. Now she would kill for her favorite jeans and sweatshirt, she groaned putting her head in her hands. What had possessed her to try and change herself so much for one loser that she couldn't even stand? She had convinced herself she wanted to be with him, that she needed him. Kagome had somewhere along the way convince herself that if she turned more into what was socially liked then she would be happier. What a fool she was, she scoffed as she wiped the tears from her eyes.

"Hey, Kagome, I found a hoodie Inuyasha keeps around here," he trailed off as her rounded the corner, stopping when he caught her wiping tears away.

"Hey, you alright? That guy didn't hurt you did he?" Miroku said jerking a chair next to hers as he threw the hoodie around her shoulders leaving an arm laying it loosely around her, as his eyes checked her neck.

"Nothing but my pride, I'm fine really." Kagome said jerking her arms through the dark hoodie pulling the edges around her as if they could somehow shield her, as she removed her feet from her high heels. Footsteps coming down the hall made them both look up as the bouncer came to the door's threshold, his long silver hair flowing around his shoulders. He looked pointedly at Miroku before jerking his thumb for him to leave.

"But, Inuyasha, don't you think I should stay? I am better at…" Miroku trailed off at the look he received.

"Out!" The bouncer growled, revealing the temper lurking below. Now that Kagome looked at him she could see the anger swirling around in his golden eyes. Miroku gave Kagome a reassuring smile before slowly leaving the room, but not before whispering something to the hanyou that made him jerk slightly as Miroku patted the guy's shoulder before leaving. The bouncer watched the guy leave for a moment before grabbing door and slamming it closed, making Kagome jump some of her water spilling on the table.

"What the Hell were you thinking?" He barked at her making her recoil, tears suddenly pinpricking her eyes. Don't you dare cry, Kagome, not now. "Do you know what could have happened if a pissed off demon was unleashed in a packed bar? My god, how stupid can you be?"

"I, I," A tongue-tied Kagome leaned away from him as he braced his arms on the table across from her.

He slammed his fists creating dents in the table as he growled, "You fucking humans are so damn selfish. So stupid and pathetic you don't care what you do."

"I care." Kagome muttered meekly, wiping at the traitorous tears that dared make a break down her cheeks.

"What?" His ears swiveling quickly as if trying to catch her words, any other time she might be tempted to touch them.

"I do care." She cared a lot for other people, but ultimately she needed to care about herself too.

"Then why the fuck would you pull a stunt like this? You get off on it or something?"

"How dare you."

"Feh, what was that wench?"

"Did I stutter? I said, how….dare…you. You're part of this great race that has all this extraordinary power, and what do you do with that power? You try and intimidate a weak human, so you tell me who the pathetic one, me or you? I mean my god, you're towering over me the same way that dick headed wolf was. So excuse me for being selfish in wanting a man to want me for me not as someone's bitch to bear multiple litters of pups." She snapped crossing her arms turning in her chair so she could ignore the fuming bouncer. All she wanted was to go home was that too much to ask? To be in her favorite chair, eating ramen and reading her favorite book, she sighed pulling her knees up to her chests as the bouncer barked and yelled about something.

"Now look here, Stupid!" The dog demon barked.

"I'd say I'm far from stupid. What I did might not have been logical, and poorly executed by at my core I was right." Kagome refused to look at him, she needed to focus, as she was very close to angry crying and that would be bad.

The scraping of a chair against the floor brought her eyes back to him, as he pulled a chair up in front of hers, sitting down, he reached for her chin. Her legs dropped back to the floor, her cheeks reddening. His touch was gentle, the exact opposite of how he had sounded a few seconds ago.

"Being right ain't the same as bein' smart, wench." He'd lost some of the edge in his voice, it was still gruff but he didn't sound as angry as he slowly angled her face in such a way that he could get a better look at the darkening marks on her neck, a frown appeared on his face.

"Fine, then tell me how you would have handle him. Would you just roll over and take it? And stop calling me wench, my name is Kagome." She asked quirking an eyebrow at him; he dropped his hand from her chin baring his teeth at if she'd burned him.

"Well I wouldn't have done that!" He snapped, she noticed he was rubbing the hand that touched her.

"Your temper says otherwise, Dog-Boy…" Kagome mumbled as she pushed her hair back behind her ear. The bouncer's ears swiveled, his eyes narrowing to mere slits. She could tell he had more insults waiting as he opened his mouth again but was cut off when Miroku popped his head in.

"Inuyasha, the cops and EMT are here and they're ready to take Miss Kagome's and your statement."

Kagome sighed; it was going to be a long night.