The Better Man

Chapter Twelve


Kagome climbed out her car grabbing her books, Eri came running up to her. She sighed when she saw the girl. Her weekend had been horrible, this wasn't a way to start out her week. After she'd stepped out the shower Saturday night she'd felt a presence outside her window. It was the fire youkai, she couldn't remember his name. That guy had said something about protection until he knew she'd be safe. She felt like pointing out that she'd had been the one to save his so called team. But instead she'd climbed into bed and tried to read. Sunday was a family day but that presence hadn't left the damn yard. For a minute she had been tempted to ask him in for dinner. The whole time she walked around her room she felt his eyes burning holes in her through the window. Finally she had walked over to it and flipped her finger at the tree she'd sensed him in. Then she'd closed her blinds.

"Hey Kagome. I wanna talk to you." Eri looked mad as hell.

"Fine but I need to head to class." She started walking and let the girl follow.

"I thought you told me that you and Shuichi weren't an item."

"I did and I meant it." What had that pretty boy said now? She saw Keiko and Kuwabara standing at the door waiting on her.

"Thats not how he makes it sound. He told me that he was very serious about you and that he plans to ask you to go steady."

Kagome groaned, she was going to purify that ass for bringing her into his female problems. The two smiled at her as she stopped in front of them. "I'm sorry Eri, I'm not sure what to tell you. I have no interest in Shuichi what-so-ever. Actually," Kagome smiled at her. "Me and Kuwabara have started dating." She latched her arm around his giving him a squeeze. "He asked me to go steady this weekend and I accepted."

"Are you serious?" She looked up at the boy with a confused look on her face. "You would pick him over Shuichi?"

Kagome felt like slapping the girl for the insult. "Yes, your Shuichi might be pretty but he's sorely lacking in other departments. I assure you Kuwabara here more than meets my requirements if you know what I mean. Can't get enough of him." She winked at the girl.

"Um okay, if you aren't going to go with Shuichi then I guess it's okay."

"No, go after him all you want. I have the man I want, like I said before he's all yours." She smiled until the girl was out of view. Then she sighed in relief.

"Oh my, I think he's going to faint." Keiko started laughing at the look on Kuwabara's face.

Kagome released his arm, "Sorry, I wanted her off my case. I'm going to kill that friend of yours. Someone needs to tell him to handle his own girl problems and not to drag me into them. Why don't he just tell her she's annoying or that he's gay."

"Sorry she's bothering you." Keiko waved her hand in front of the boy's face. "Earth to Kuwabara. You shocked him I think."

"I'm fine. That could have gone better."

"Yeah sorry I used you for a cover up. Hope it doesn't cause any problems between you and Yukina." She didn't want to cause a fight.

"Nah don't worry about it. She must be really dense to fall for it though."

Kagome saw the teacher walking towards them to unlock the door. "Why wouldn't she? It was the truth. Your friend may be pretty but he isn't my type. I would prefer you over him." She laughed and walked inside when his face turned beet red.

The phone rang and she raced to go answer it, Souta beat her to it. "Here it's your new boyfriend."

"Jerk," She snatched it out his hands. "Hello."

"Hey Kagome." It was Yusuke.

"Hi." What did he want?

"Keiko wants to know if you feel up to coming by and having dinner with us?"

"What time?"

"In about an hour and if you come I promise we will make Hiei stay outside."

"Deal." She said.

"Great, I'll tell Kuwabara to swing by and pick you up on his way over." The line went dead.

"Okay." She ran back upstairs to take a quick shower and change.


Kagome helped Keiko clear the table and put the clean dishes away. She wasn't sure if she wanted to just yell at her friend or strangle her. Not only had Kuwabara picked her up but Yusuke had lied. Not only was Hiei invited inside he had dinner with them along with Kurama/Shuichi. They hadn't commented on the other day yet but kept giving her stares throughout dinner. She was just waiting for it to happen.

"Mind if I ask you something?" They were alone in the kitchen when Keiko asked.

Kagome felt herself stiffen her temper up. "Go ahead?"

"Did you really travel back and forth between time?"

"Yes."

"Wow, that must have been exciting. What was it like?"

Kagome lost her temper finally. "If you really wanna know it was terrifying. I spent too many months too count trying not get killed. All for a man that used me and then discarded me in the end." She felt a tear slide down her cheek and angrily wiped it away.

"I'm sorry." Keiko wasn't sure what to say.

"No I am, you didn't do it. Sorry, I shouldn't have yelled at you." She took a deep breath trying to calm her frayed nerves. "Still a little upset about it I guess. It still bothers me sometimes."

"Wanna talk about it?"

"Depends, my shattered love life no. But if you have any other questions I might feel up to answering them." Kagome took the cup of hot tea she offered and sat down at the table. "What would you like to know?"

"What did that girl mean when she said your soul was now complete?" Yusuke asked from the doorway.

"So much for girl talk." Keiko yelled.

"Hey we're interested also." Kuwabara came into the kitchen and sat down in the chair next to Kagome. "So how did you end up without a whole soul?"

"I was the reincarnation of Kikyo. A witch used her ashes and soil from her grave to bring her back, sort of. Her soul was already reincarnated into me. She kidnapped me and forced my soul to leave my body. Somehow I was able to call it back but Kikyo ran off before I got it all. So for a good while I was walking around with some of it missing."

"So you have it all back now?" Keiko saw Hiei and Kurama standing in the doorway.

"Yes, I got it back when Kikyo went to hell. Any more questions?"

"Do you always sleep in the nude?" The small man commented from the doorway.

Please read and review