DISCLAIMER: Sadly, I don not own Inuyasha. I just like playing with them.

Relinquished Destiny

Ch. 12

By: Lara Winner

Kagome had thought she understood all there was to know about boys. Having grown up in a the shrine with her little brother and her Grandfather and then having spent two years in the company of an overbearing hanyou and a perverted monk, she had thought she had seen everything. However, the male need to torment and subjugate weaker beings was still a concept Kagome could not grasp.

The pitifully annoyed cries coming from Buyo was a steady contradiction to the chuckles and giggles coming from Souta and Inasho. Having pleaded mercy herself, Kagome was now watching as the boy’s attention was now focused on their new victim.

The overweight cat was being held by its front paws and lifted so it balanced on its back legs and between the loud meows and laughter, Inasho tugged the cat forward making it walk through the hastily arranged matchbox cars while making the sound effects of explosions.

"And here he comes! No! Oh the horror! Oh the humanity! The fifty ton Buyo is back and he’s destroying everything in his way!"

Kagome watched Inasho’s antics with one delicate brow arched in amusement. But when Souta fired a foam dart at the cat’s stomach she felt the need to draw the line. "Uh.... guys? Don’t you think that’s a little mean."

"Aw relax Sis,"Souta grinned as he reached out and scratched Buyo’s exposed flabby tummy. "That didn’t hurt, did it boy?"

Once again the helpless cat let out a pleading meow but still appeared too lazy to try and bite or claw his attackers. As a matter of fact, Kagome couldn’t recall a time when Buyo was violent or aggressive. Although she had to admit that it would make the whole scene even funnier if the passive cat would snap and bite both boys for being so cruel. The poor thing didn’t need to play Godzilla with them.

"All right that’s enough. No more torturing my cat." She ordered, holding her arms out in a silent request for the miserable animal.

After a glance between both Souta and herself, reluctantly but wisely, Inasho conceded to her request, muttering to the cat, "You lucked out pal."

Safe, Buyo purred and snuggled into Kagome=s arms while nuzzling her chin in his way of saying thank you. Absently she rubbed his ears, shaking her head helplessly as similar memories flooded her thoughts.

This was another scene that was eerily familiar to her precious memories of Inuyasha. Countless times she’d caught the dog-demon playing with Buyo, holding him upright by his front paws and sometimes by the hind legs dangling him head first above the ground. Usually she would scold him and it would give the cat a few moments peace until Inuyasha’s boredom returned with a vengeance.

Even now Inasho’s expression was a near replica of the face in her mind and Kagome’s heart lurched in her chest. The pain was still there. Though, not nearly as intense as it had been, the heartache still remained buried under the surface and it peaked at moments like this, when she was faced with Inasho just being himself.

For the first time she finally understood what Inuyasha was feeling when he compared Kikyo and herself. How do you make a choice when the heart is divided? Though she barely knew Inasho she was already drawn to him, seeing past the visage of a stranger and right into the heart of a boy she deeply cared for. But the soul he possessed did not erase Inuyasha from her mind and now, more than ever she was left to her memories trying to piece together just where the past fit in with the present.

It wasn’t as if she could brush this off. Though she may have been granted a second chance it was far from the way she had fantasized her fairy tale to end. She had awoken her hanyou and he was supposed to love her and they should have defeated the evil villain together and lived happily ever after. A simple ending to a simple story.

Yeah right…

There was nothing simple about the past, the future, and certainly not about the present. Inasho would never understand why her eyes still held that tiny, almost unnoticeable shadow of hurt in their depths. He would never believe her if she told the tale of Inuyasha. Perhaps, even now, to call it a reality seemed incomprehensible. But Kagome new it was real. Her emotions were real and the sweet ache in her chest was telling her that while the past may be gone her wounds would not follow suit for a long time.

And while they remained, so did the guilt. A part of her was ashamed at how easily her emotions seemed to transfer from the hanyou to human. Granted it was hard to look at Inasho without seeing Inuyasha but should she have opened herself that quickly? Did that make her feelings any less true? Didn’t that classify as betrayal of Inuyasha memory?

And was that fair to Inasho?

Kagome almost winced. Was that the soul reason behind this attraction? When she looked at Inasho did she see a normal teenager like herself or did she see a troubled boy only borrowing his human form for as long as the new moon would allow?

To be honest, Kagome didn’t have an answer. At what point was she supposed to separate her feelings, considering she barely recognized the twisted muddle they had become? The last thing in the world that she wanted to happen was to hurt Inasho in any way, but in truth she was afraid to search her soul too deeply for the answers that could lay her guilt to rest.

A hand waved right in front of her face and Kagome flinched, leaning back and blinking as she was jolted back to the present. Inasho frowned impatiently.

"Ya know, I’m getting tired of you zoning out on me. What the hell are you always daydreaming about?"

Kagome stuttered a lame apology but Inasho merely brushed her off, rising to his feet. "It’s getting late I have to get home before my folks freak."

"Don’t go!" Souta whined, latching himself onto the older boys arm with both of his own. "You said you would teach me some English remember?"

"I didn’t forget." He amended, trying to tug his arm free. "Next time kiddo."

It took Inasho the flight of stairs and almost to the front door before he managed to get Souta to release him. After many promises to return and a pinkie swear to seal the deal, finally Souta muttered a goodbye and ran back up the stairs to his room. As his heavy footsteps faded away Kagome lifted the book bag lying on the floor beside her own, turned to Inasho and grinned.

"Are you so sure I’m going to invite you back again?"

There was nonchalant and down right arrogant air about him as he shrugged, "Yup."

Kagome’s eyes widened. "Oh really?"

"As a matter of fact I know you will." He smirked, folding his arms across his chest and looked down at her with a determined gleam in his eye.

"Name one good reason why I should?" She countered, not bothering to hide her irritation. It started as teasing but as seemed to be the case of late, the sparks were starting to fly as was her heart at the intense way Inasho was watching her.

"Well let’s see... there is the project we have to finish and," his grin grew even wider, "Souta isn’t going to leave you alone till you do."

With a huff she shoved the backpack none too gently against his chest. "And what if I don’t?"

"Omph!" He grunted, wincing while clutching at the heavy bag as not to drop it. "Damn it! That hurt."

Kagome rolled her eyes. "Oh poor baby."

Inasho’s lips curled in a sneer. "I’m warning you. Don’t be a smart ass."

"Warning me?" She echoed with an exasperated laugh. "And what are you going to do about it?"

Inasho opened his mouth to reply but instead of the sharp comeback she was expecting, he paused and appeared to be on the verge of blushing. There was a wicked gleam in his eye that did not go unnoticed and Kagome’s heart nearly jumped out of her chest as it started to pound in furious rhythm. Absently holding her breath, she waited form him to say something...

Anything?

He was not going to speak his mind and the realization fueled Kagome=s irritation even further. AI knew you were all bark and no bite. You know you really have some nerve. You just assume the world revolves around you. I’d hate to be around when you get your reality check."

In seconds Inasho’s expression changed, almost becoming dangerous. Violet eyes flashed and the pale pink of his cheeks grew darker as anger came to life, blazing in his fixed gaze. "Feh! Is this supposed to hurt my feelings? You know, I don’t understand you. One minute you seem normal and then the next you go completely freakin’ psycho on me. Do you have like… I dunno, constant PMS or something?"

Along with anger there was also amusement in Inasho’s gaze. However Kagome anger reached warning level as she sputtered, "You…you.."

"What’s the matter? Trying to think of something intelligent to say? Take your time, I understand it’s difficult."

Like a rubber band pulled to tight, with a decided snap Kagome’s anger broke free. A hard shove set Inasho with his back against the wall and no means of escaping the violent female standing before him. Leaning up, nearly standing on her toes, she closed the distance between them as she hissed, "You are a selfish, arrogant, conceited, immature, overbearing, miserable, Jerk!"

If she were to back up she would have found the way Inasho was clutching his book bag against his chest in a defensive stance quite funny. But Kagome’s face was mere inches from his own and those wide violet eyes of his were softening slightly with a grudging look of admiration. Perhaps giving him a taste of his own medicine was the only way to win his respect. It had worked with Inuyasha-

Kagome almost shook her head to dispel the thought. This was different and now was as good a time as any to consciously stop making these pointless comparisons. She refused to live in the past, not when there was no place for her there or in her precious dog-demon’s heart.

To her amazement it hardly took any effort to clear her mind. All she had to do was realize exactly how close she was to Inasho, how warm his breath felt as it brushed her cheek, and how incredibly mesmerizing his eyes could be with their flecks of blue amidst the deep purple.

Was it getting harder to breathe?

The sudden rush of giddy warmth that tingled from her stomach all the way up to her flushed face was answer enough and unconsciously she licked her lips in nervous habit. The heat of their stare was paused for a mere second as Inasho’s eyes dropped to follow the innocently seductive movement. He swallowed hard, the only action that gave her any clue as to what was going on behind his neutral expression.

Part of her mind observed their position and warned that this was silly, only hormones and nothing more. But another part of her mind, a much louder part, was excitedly awaiting what was going to happen next. Her heart was pounding, her hands trembled and she wasn’t sure if it was her imagination or if their faces really were getting closer…

"Kagome, honey, can you come here for a minute?"

Ms. Higurashi’s call from the kitchen had the effect of ice water pouring down her spine. Kagome jerked back and blushed, and through the corner of her eye saw Inasho do the same. Her voice was embarrassingly breathless and she called, "Coming Mom."

Damn! My luck couldn’t have lasted a few more minutes…

Not meeting her eyes, Inasho slung the backpack over his shoulder. "Uh, I guess I better get going."

Kagome nodded, "Okay."

Inasho turned to the door and was about to twist the doorknob when he suddenly paused and asked, "I almost forgot, are you going to the game Monday?"

The fact that he could have asked her this first period Monday morning did not escape Kagome’s attention but she overlooked the fact and grinned "Probably. Aki won’t let me live it down if I miss her first game of the year."

In the blink of an eye his usual casually aloof expression was back on his face. "Yuka and I are going so I guess I’ll see you there."

"When did you two hook up?" She blurted out, only thinking better of it when it was too late to call back. All she could do was hope her voice sounded curious and nothing more.

This time it was Inasho’s turn to blush. "Ah..well.. it.. its not really like that.. I mean she pretty cool and all but-"

"So you don’t like her then?" Kagome asked, internally struggling with the conflicting feelings of hope and the desire to tear Yuka’s hair out for starting this mess.

"Hey! I didn’t say that so don’t go putting words in my mouth!" He glowered, blushing even darker. "Just lay of the inquisition. Ask Yuka about it, not me.

Before Kagome could reply the call of her name and the impatience in her Mother’s tone demanded the conversation be put on hold. She sighed, "You better go. I’ll se you later."

With a nod and grunt that Kagome assumed was goodbye, Inasho was out the door leaving her to try and figure out just what to make of everything that had happened in the course of the night.

There was definitely another side to Inasho Sigai and now, more so than ever, she was determined to see it more often. The only thing that made her uneasy was what had happened moments ago. Did they really almost kiss? And if so then what the hell was she supposed to think now? It was all so confusing, almost too confusing. Trudging to the kitchen, she realized that only one thing was clear.

It was time she had a talk with Yuka.

Tbc…  

A.N.- Hehehehe….

Can I hear somebody say cat fight?

Actually, don’t get your hopes up because so far it’s a sweet little talk their going to have, ya know, the kind you have you best friend is trying to take your guy…

Sorry about the weeks of disappearance. Like it says in my bio, the internet is evil and I’m at the mercy of friends until I get connected again. I truly appreciate all of the support you guys have given me and I want you to know that every review I get means more than I could ever say. So from the bottom of my heart I thank you for putting up with me and my late updates.

*Hugs* Thanks for taking the time to read! Luv ya guys!!!! *_*