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

Relinquished Destiny

Ch. 6

By: Lara Winner

Kagome’s face was still red with embarrassment as she flopped down in her reserved cafeteria seat. Her five friends barely paused their conversation and her blush deepened as she realized they were discussing the reason for her discomfort.

"Did you check out the new guy? I think he’s hot." Jori giggled, her eyes sparkling with excitement. "There’s something about that grunge/punk skater-boy look that melts me." She sighed dreamily.

Aki arched a brow skeptically. "Every boy you see ‘melts you’ Jori. I don’t get what’s so great about his looks. He’s just your average guy."

"Okay, am I like the only one who hasn’t seen the new kid yet?" Eri nearly shrieked from her seat beside Kagome.

"He’s in my language class." Ayumi offered quietly. "I think he’s kind of scary looking." Having said her peace, she promptly returned her attention to her magazine entitled, ‘Top 100 hunks of Anime.’

"I really have to get a look at this guy." Eri muttered.

"Really girls," Yuka snickered. "You’re acting so juvenile about this. He’s just a boy and he’ll eventually become a man and as we all know, men are dogs."

Kagome almost fell out of her chair at Yuka’s innocent comparison but her friend wasn’t finished.

"It doesn’t matter how good looking he is. Appearances are deceiving and underneath that bad-boy attitude he’s just a puppy waiting to be trained." Twirling a lock of her long hair about her finger, Yuka smirked.

Kagome wanted to laugh… and cry. Aki merely rolled her eyes as she teased, "Just because you’ve dated every guy in our grade doesn’t make you an expert on the opposite sex."

Yuka glowered. "And I bet none of you will ever get the guts to talk to him."

"Oh I wouldn’t be so sure about that." Jori piped up, jumping in the conversation with a conniving grin. "Kagome gets to sit next to skater-boy in history."

"Oh really?" Eri inquired. "So what do you think of the new kid Kagome?"

A heated blush stained her cheeks as Kagome remembered the embarrassing incident that took place earlier that morning…

"Inuyasha?"

The name escaped her lips and Kagome was unaware she had spoken out loud. That was until the striking boy turned his head sharply and gave her a purely annoyed glare.

"My name is Inasho Sigai. Get it right."

His cutting words stung and Kagome turned away, her heart doing summersaults in her chest…

Humiliating.

Absolutely humiliating.

"Yoo hoo! Earth to Kagome!"

A hand waving in front of Kagome’s face brought her back to the conversation and she blinked, then bristled under the amused stares of her friends.

"Oh gosh Kagome, you like him don’t you?"

Kagome gaped. "No, of course not." The protest was automatic but not quite convincing.

"Yes you do. Look at you, you’re blushing. How cute."

Kagome growled. "I am not!"

"Kagome’s got a crush…"

"Shut up!" Anger, brought on by confusion and embarrassment made her insist, "This isn’t funny you guys. I don’t like him and I could never like him. The guy is arrogant, insensitive, rude and…and…." She paused trying to think up an appropriate excuse. After a moment she shrugged, saying lamely, "…and he’s so not my type."

Yuka eyed Kagome curiously. "Well then what is your type? Perhaps someone more like Houjou?"

"Huh?" Kagome frowned. "What does he have to do with this?"

Returning her attention to inspecting her crimson polished nails, Yuka sighed with complete disinterest. "He likes you and he makes it disgustingly obvious and heads up ‘cuz he’s heading this way now."

A quick glance over Kagome’s shoulder confirmed Yuka’s warning and Kagome inwardly groaned. Sure enough there he was, making his way through the crowded cafeteria and heading right for their table. Poor Houjou. His persistence was the very last thing she needed to deal with now. However, Kagome knew she couldn’t turn the boy away.

The sound of footsteps alerted his nearness. "Uh..Hi..Kagome."

"Hey Houjou…" She trailed off unable to summon a smidgen of enthusiasm at his presence. Judging by the beaming smile on her companions faces, she knew she would get no help there. Once again they were all eyeing the scene and waiting for Kagome to invite him to sit.

When no invitation was forth coming, Eri took over graciously. " Here have a seat. I’ll just move over one." She smiled, nearly pulling Houjou down into her empty chair.

Kagome sent a glare at Eri for her sneakiness at getting Houjou to sit beside her, but Eri continued smiling innocently. Everyone seemed to be intent on where this was going. Kagome realized it would be up to her to break the stifling silence that suddenly descended upon the table.

"Um..so..uh.. was there something you wanted Houjou?" She asked awkwardly.

She had spoken to him, therefore he perked up under her attention. "Yes. I wanted to give you his." He held up a small gift bag. "Happy Birthday Kagome."

Houjou’s expression seemed earnest. Reluctantly Kagome took the bag and a feeling of deja` vu assailed her. She peeked inside, fairly certain she knew what the gift would be. But instead if a hand held massager, Houjou gave her a patchouli scented candle and jasmine incense sticks. It was a sweet gift. With a smile Kagome lifted the candle and breathed deeply. This was a much better gift than the massager.

"Thank you Houjou."

He seemed pleased with himself for gaining her approval. His large brown eyes glowed with pride and his handsome face was filled with elation. Kagome studied him for a moment. He was quite handsome with his tall lean build, short wavy auburn hair and his gorgeous smile. But even tough he looked as if he stepped out of a magazine and was sweet enough to deserve a medal, Kagome realized that something wasn’t there. That spark that she’d felt the first time she looked in Inuyasha’s eyes was mysteriously missing and her heart would settle for nothing less.

This realization haunted her thoughts for the rest of the school day and even her bike ride home. Houjou’s obvious affection should have made her happy. He was such a logical match for her but reason didn’t dictate the heartstrings, she admitted sadly. She couldn’t make herself feel something that wasn’t there.

Which led her back to the boy that had stolen her heart. And ever since that morning, where there were thoughts in Inuyasha there were thoughts of Inasho.

Could they really be the same person?

Once again Kagome’s heart was doing flips in her chest. Inasho’s face, his deep amethyst eyes, even his gruff voice were the exact replicas of Inuyasha on the first new moon of the month. This boy was an almost flawless recreation of the hanyou in his human form. Was it simply a coincidence? Or were her memories real? If so then Kaimi cryptic words had come true. She had changed the course of destiny all the way around.

If she had once been the reincarnation of Kikyo then it could every well be that Inasho was the reincarnation of Inuyasha. But that would mean Inuyasha became human with Kikyo. A part of Kagome’s heart ached as she realized all the tortured images she had of them came true. He had made the ultimate sacrifice for Kikyo and in turn their souls joined. Of course it wouldn’t end there. He would have kissed Kikyo like she’d seen him do, and that tender love would be there, growing between them. And he would have touched Kikyo with the passionate reverence of someone deeply in love. And Kikyo would have given him a child, perhaps a little boy with Kiyo’s compassion and Inuyasha’s temper…

Secure in the sanctuary of her room Kagome sprawled out on her bed, buried her face in her pillow and for the first time since she returned to her time, she cried. The tears came freely, releasing the strain of heartache she’d kept inside. It felt good to finally face her loss and she poured her soul into the tears she shed. She cried for Kikyo and for Inuyasha, she cried for her lost friends that she would never see again and she cried for the loss of a love that she’d had wanted more than anything.

But in the bottom of her heart a little spark of hope flared to life and in it’s faint flicker the pieces of Kagome’s shattered heart began to heal with the knowledge that destiny was not yet through with her.

Tbc…  

A.N.- Oh boy… *dodges sharp heavy objects thrown by disgruntled readers* I’m sorry it took me so long to post this chapter, I really am. And I am cruel for that teaser. Don’t worry. You’re gonna get to meet Inasho soon enough. Next chapter is pretty important and may even be a bit confusing but I intend to have it out A.S.A.P. Now that Kagome’s even more confused than ever things start to get complicated.

So welcome to the real world where youkai come in the form of textbooks and the scariest thing you can face is talking on the phone for the first time to the boy you love…

*Hugs* Thanks for reading! Luv ya guys!!!! *_*