Irreplaceable

Sorry for the delay in this chapter ~

Please see the first chapter for the disclaimer. ^^

~

With a soft click, the door closed behind him. With a few shakes, he closed his umbrella and placed it against the coat hanger. Slipping off his black pea coat and hanging it up, Inuyasha noticed how quiet the apartment was.

Taking a few steps, he stepped down into the den, noting that the television was on but no sound came from it. A dull light from the kitchen caught his attention and he walked over, only to be startled by Kikyou who sat at the table, a drink in one hand and a cigarette in the other.

“Kikyou, why are you sitting in the dark?” He questioned, his nose wrinkling at the putrid smoke that clogged the small area.

The woman spoke of took a long drag on the white wrapped nicotine before flicking a few of the ashes into a glass tray. She looked to him, her dark eyes rather hazy and clouded over. She left out a ring of smoke. “About time you got home Inuyasha, I was beginning to wonder.”

“Are you okay? You rarely smoke… or drink.” He eyed her suspiciously, pondering why she was acting so strange all of a sudden.

“So, how is she?”

Inuyasha blinked a few times, confused. “Who?”

Kikyou glared at him from over her glass that she had raised to her lips. “Don’t play stupid with me Inuyasha. You don’t think I know where you have been going for the past week?” She set her drink down on the table roughly. “You’ve been going to see that Kagome.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about!”

She snorted, brushing a strand of black hair out of her face. “Please, you are an awful liar Inuyasha. You have been since we were kids.” She smirked, watching the expressions play out on his face. “I bet you couldn’t even knock on the door, could you?”

Inuyasha let out an angry huff, his violet eyes flashing. He turned from her only to yank open the refrigerator door. The scrapping sound of Kikyou’s chair was heard as she stood, with a few light steps, she pulled Inuyasha out of the fridge and slammed the door shut.

She pushed him against the appliance, pressing her body into his. “I know you still love her.” She dragged her fingers through his thick maim of black hair, catching the ends and tugging on them. “The only question is… why are you with me?” She ground her hips against his, running her tongue over his lips.

The smirk still in place on her face, she stepped back to turn and walk out of the kitchen. Inuyasha stood in the place she had left him for a while, struggling to control the surge of sensations that rushed through his veins. “That’s why.” His voice heavy and husky.


~


Kagome groaned, pulling a soft pillow over her face as warm yellow sunlight poured in through the window by her bed. She silently cursed as the voice in the back of her head started up about how she needed to get out of bed.

With a sigh, Kagome rolled over. “I do need to stop moping… life is going to continue on either way.” She sat up, yanking the covers off simultaneously. Setting her feet on the pink rug, she wiggled her toes before standing up.

Running a hand through her raven tresses, she glanced out her window. It was a gorgeous spring day, the plant life was blooming and the sky was clear with the occasional puffy white cloud lolling by.

Too bad her mood did not match it. As she moved around to get an outfit together, she thought over the past couple of weeks and discovered how bleak her outlook on life had become.

She wondered briefly about all the things she had use to want to do, or become. But now, she only thought if she even felt like getting out of bed everyday or should she hide herself away forever.

Kagome shook her head, deciding it was foolish to think like that. Love comes and goes and the pain in her chest every time she thought of one particular male was proof how wonderful love could be at one moment and how awful it could be the next.

She laid out what she was going to wear before heading to the bathroom for a quick shower.

~

Ms. Higurashi looked up suddenly from her place in front of the stove to the sound of footsteps. She was surprised to see Kagome up and fully dressed. She gave her daughter a pleasant smile. “Good Morning Kagome.”

“Morning Mom.” Kagome returned the smile and though it did not reach all the way up to her eyes as it use to, her mother could tell her mood was significantly brighter than it had been over the past month.

Kagome took a seat at the table, looking around and wondering where her younger brother Souta and her grandfather were. “Souta decided to start his day early and went over to a friend’s house and Jii-chan is meditating.” Her mother answered her unasked question, setting a warm meal down for her.

Ms. Higurashi took a seat across from Kagome, a cup of hot green tea in her hand. “Do you have any plans for today Kagome?”

Kagome scooped a few bits of rice into her mouth, chewing thoughtfully. “Not yet, I might call Ayumi and the others to see what they are up to.” She watched as her mother nodded before finishing off the rest of her meal.

Once she was done, Kagome stood, thanking her mother before grabbing the cordless phone off the hook. She punched in a number, placing the phone to her ear as it rang. Buyo, the family’s overweight cat, slinked between Kagome’s legs, brushing his body against her with quiet purrs.

She giggled softly, hearing a breathy hello over the receiver of the phone as well. “Hey Ayumi!” She went to play with the twirled cord of the phone before realizing she had the cordless. “Yeah, I’m fine, how are you?”

Kagome gave a couple of nods. “Oh! I’m so sorry; I must be making you late.” She bit her lip, listening to Ayumi. “Are you sure it won’t be a problem?” A brief smile fitted her lips.

“Great! I’ll meet you at the train station then!” She paused. “Okay, Good-bye.” She pushed off the button, putting the phone back on the charger before peeking around the corner. “Mom, I’m going out with Ayumi for a bit!”

“Alright Kagome, have fun, and don’t forget to take your money and cell phone please.”

She quickly ran over to where her shoes were by the door, only to turn around and run back upstairs to retrieve her cell and a small purse. She practically flew back down the stairs and tossed on her sandals in the process. “Bye Mom!”

Kagome power walked through the shrine her family owned and lived on. She waved to Jii-chan who was out back meditating under the God Tree and she slowed her pace slightly, the ancient tree catching her attention. Something about it called to her but she was on a time limit.

Shaking her head lightly, she rushed down the many steps from the shrine and onto the sidewalk, taking a right and continuing up her street. She may live on a shrine but she was not fair from downtown at all.

The farther Kagome went, the more and more crowded it became until she was in a swarm of people, nudging and pushing people lightly to make it to the subway. It took her less than fifteen minutes, give or take a few and she prided herself because it usually took around twenty-five minutes.

As usual the subway was jam packed with people and she pulled her rail pass from her purse, sliding it through the machine and the bars unlocked. She practically spun around in a circle, trying to spot Ayumi’s black hair but then again, everyone had black hair in Japan minus the foreigners.

After a few moments of making herself dizzy, she sighed but a flash of platinum blonde hair snagged her attention. She knew this hair and without thinking much, she pushed her way through the crowd but the head started to move and it only increased her pace.

“Kagome! Kagome-chan! Oi!” For the umpteenth time in the past two minutes, Kagome spun around, catching Ayumi jumping up and down and waving her hand. She glanced back but the head was gone.

“Coming Ayumi!” She responded with a wave of her own as she headed in the direction of her friend. Perhaps another day, but did she want to face him?

~

Excuse the awkward glance of a Japanese subway station. I know that is quite a crowded place and you do use rail passes since most Japanese either ride a bike or use public transportation. Besides that, it as a bit of my own American influence of subways with the bars you put money in and they unlock and spin as you pass through them.

So who was the person Kagome saw? I’m sure it’s an easy guess. Peculiar situation of Inuyasha and Kikyou; more will be discussed about them in chapters to come and we might see another appearance of the “mystery” blonde person.

This was more of an introduction chapter for Kikyou and a filler for Kagome as she begins to move out of the shell she’s incased herself in.

Also, I want to thank EVERYONE who reviewed!!! - InuyashasGypsyGurl, kookookitty, XxSangoxX and Megan.

Ja ne for now!