The Nerd

DISCLAIMER: I don’t own Inuyasha or any of the characters within the series. They all belong to Rumiko Takahashi.

AN: Thank you to all who have reviewed. Sorry for the delay in posting (although the chapter has been done for a few days) I have been really busy with a new job. I went from 16 hours a week to 32 or more and it has been hard to get adjusted in the household. I’m still kind of torn about this chapter. It isn’t as good as I had hoped for but I didn’t want to delay this any more. Oh and before I forget, to Ryokomaru - I'm not sure where to find the song, I think it was one that was in one of her movies and not one that she actually sang. My bad on that one. Anyway, I hope you enjoy this chapter.

Chapter 8

Complications

Sango and Miroku were already seated when they arrived. Of course they were playing along with the plan and were both setting on the same side of the booth so that Kagome and Inuyasha could set together like boyfriend and girl friend. After setting down Kikyo wasted no time in coming over to their table to flirt with Inuyasha. Kagome had to give him credit. He didn’t let her get to him like last time and it was a relief. After trying several times to get Kikyo’s attention to order, Sango finally gave up and announced that they were only meeting there so they could go somewhere better since it was Kagome’s birthday. Kagome’s eyes shot open wide.

“You know I don’t celebrate that anymore.” She hissed between clenched teeth. Sango just smiled widely.

“Well you have a new boyfriend now and 3 years of ignoring it is quite enough in my book.” Sango said snidely.

“You haven’t celebrated your birthday in 3 years? How old are you exactly? 28? 35? Come on tell us which it is. I’m guessing 3...” Kikyo started to chuckle making Kagome feel even worse.

“That’s enough Kikyo. Don’t you have other customers?” Inuyasha said harshly as he stared at the table. Kikyo looked at him and blinked in surprise. He never spoke like that to her before.

“I was just poking fun Inu.” She pouted and put her hand on his shoulder but he didn’t even look at her.

“Yeah well I don’t think now is the time.” Inuyasha glanced over at Kagome. She just stared at her hands on the table with a sad look. Kikyo looked over at Kagome and snorted un-lady like then walked away. “How about we meet you guys at that Italian restaurant a few blocks over?” He looked at Miroku and Sango for support. They nodded in silence and stood to leave. His golden eyes followed them as they walked out. Once he was sure they were gone he put his arm over her shoulders and pulled her closer to him. “Why didn’t you tell me it was your birthday? I had to find out from busy body Sango.” He asked softly as he stroked her cheek with his finger.

“It has no meaning for me anymore.” She turned and smiled at him brightly. “This way I never know how old I am with out taking out my drivers license.” She grinned widely but he could see that the smile didn’t reach her eyes. She was hiding from him again and it pissed him off because she acted like she didn’t trust him enough to confide in him like a good friend would. But he didn’t say anything more. Instead he reached into his pocket and pulled out a box wrapped in pretty blue shiny paper and a silver bow. Her eyes lit up like a child’s. “Ohhh....pretty paper.” She giggled musically. He had to smile back at her as he handed it to her. It took less then a second to rip off the paper and flip the top open. He chuckled at her excitement. It reminded him of an over active child. She stopped suddenly and the smile fell from her face.

She looked up at him with sorrow in her eyes. “This is...is really beautiful.” She choked back a sob and lunged at him wrapping her arms tightly around his neck. He hugged her back warmly then pushed her back. She brushed the tears from her eyes as she pulled the item from the box. The silver chain sparkled brightly in the reflection of the lights but the pinkish round pendant that was attached seemed to glow on its own.

“Here let me put it on you.” He took the chain from her and looped it around her neck to clasp it tightly. She turned and looked at him with a smile. He admired the way the necklace glowed against her soft skin and the way her eyes sparkled like they did when he first met her. All the sadness seemed to have drained from her soul as she fondled the pendant affectionately.

“Thank you.” She whispered and brushed another tear away. He rubbed his thumb over her cheek as he stared into her eyes. He felt drawn into her smoky gray eyes as he leaned forward slowly. Kagome didn’t even think about it as she leaned toward him as if it was natural. Just before their lips met someone cleared their throat breaking the magic of the moment.

“Are you two going to order?” Kikyo said hotly. They both blushed. Inuyasha looked up at her and shook his head while Kagome found a chip of missing paint on the wall next to her interesting.

“No, we’re going somewhere to meet our friends.” He stood up and Kikyo stepped over the table to wipe it down in a huff. Her eyes glanced over at Kagome and saw the necklace. Immediately she recognized it.

“Hey isn’t that the necklace your mother gave you?” She exclaimed.

“Yeah so what of it?” He shot back. Kikyo put her hands on her hips and glared at him.

“She told you to give it to someone you really care about.” She snapped angrily.

“I do really care about Kagome. You got a problem with that?” He snapped back as his own anger began to grow. Kikyo stepped back placing her hand over her heart as if slapped.

“No...I...just hate to see you waste such a wonderful gift is all.” She confessed. Kagome frowned and closed her eyes holding back her own anger. ‘How could he love that bitch? Who could be so cruel?’ She asked herself but shook it off when Inuyasha spoke.

“It’s mine to do with as I please so back off Kikyo. You made your choice a long time ago so live with it alright.” He glared at her for a moment waiting for her to say something but she only looked at him with hurt evident in her eyes. “I gotta pee.” He announced then turned back to Kagome. “You can wait in the car if you want.” His voice was softer this time. She looked up at him and smiled weakly.

“I have to go too.” She replied as she slid out and followed him toward the bathrooms. She half expected Kikyo to follow her in and wasn’t disappointed.

“Give it back.” Kikyo hissed at her. Kagome looked at her as if she lost her mind.

“I wouldn’t think of insulting him like that.” Kagome placed a hand over the pendant protectively. Then a thought hit her. “You’re just jealous because he gave it to me instead of you.” She smiled inwardly at the look of hatred in Kikyo’s eyes.

“He’ll never stay with you. I know him better then anyone and when he’s done playing with you he’ll drop you back in the gutter where he found you. He has always been mine and I can take him away at any time.” Kikyo insisted.

“I don’t think you know him as well as you think.” Kagome replied cooly as she closed the door to the toilet she went into. The room became silent and Kagome figured that Kikyo was either waiting for her come out or had given up for now. When she opened the door after flushing she made ready for any attack but found the restroom empty besides herself. With a smile of triumph she washed her hands quickly and went out the door to find Inuyasha before he became bored from waiting.

As she stepped out she wasn’t quite prepared for what she saw. Just outside the bathroom door stood Inuyasha and Kikyo in a heated embrace. Kagome blinked a couple of times as Kikyo’s earlier words rang through her head. Her heart pinched with a pain she hadn’t felt in 3 long years. Images of seeing the one she loved in the arms of another flashed through her mind like a torrent of forgotten nightmares. The bathroom door shutting and hitting her in the shoulders slightly snapped her out of her daze and caught the attention of Inuyasha. He looked up at her startled then looked back down at Kikyo as if confused. Kagome’s feet were moving before she even registered what she was doing. The blood pumping through her aching heard pounded like a base drum in her mind as she flew from the restaurant. She faintly heard her name being called from behind as she peeled out of the parking lot as fast as her car could go. By then it was too late. Her mind was already over whelmed by her pain.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Sango and Miroku sat outside the restaurant waiting patiently for what seemed like half the night for the others and were surprised to see Inuyasha come running up to them out of breath. Sango looked around blinking. “Where’s Kagome?” She asked hastily already feeling the worse of the answers as they began to fill her mind.

“I...don’t....know...” Inuyasha panted out between breaths. “We...stopped to....go...bathroom....” He took several deep breaths to help calm his breathing. “And things got screwed up.” He admitted as he looked at her with fear in his eyes. “What the hell happened to her?” He asked heatedly. Sango looked at him as if he was crazy.

“You tell me, you were the one with her.” She snapped back. He shook his head in aggravation.

“I mean 3 years ago. She freaked out and ran because she saw something stupid.” He exclaimed still trying to catch his breath from his quick run there hoping she went there looking for Sango. Said girl glared at him with narrowed eyes.

“What did she see exactly?” Sango crossed her arms over her chest and glared at him even harder. Inuyasha’s face heated up as red as the shirt he was wearing at the thought of what happened between him and Kikyo. He was shocked at first but it was like a dream come true. He couldn’t resist kissing her since it was what he had dreamed of for so long. Although now he couldn’t even remember what it was like. When he saw the look of betrayal cross Kagome’s face then her eyes went blank. It scared him so bad he panicked and froze in his spot long enough for her to run from him. He didn’t want to admit it but he knew deep down it was because of him.

“Well...when she came out of the bathroom she saw Kikyo kissing me.” He looked down at the ground with his hands in his pockets feeling ashamed and embarrassed at the gasp from Sango.

“Well that explains it.” She said as if they should know the answer.

“Explains what?” Miroku asked confused. “So he was kissed by another girl. big deal. I thought this whole thing made up so he could get that girl. Now it looks like the plan worked.” He stated blandly but was smacked on the back of the head. “What the hell was that for?” He snapped in pain as he rubbed his sore head where Sango hit him with her fist. She glared at him.

“Men!” She hissed. “That is why she snapped. 3 years ago, the guy she was in love with went off to neck with some other girl on her birthday while he was on a date with her.” Sango smacked him again for good measure. Miroku cringed away when she raised her hand again but she turned her angry eyes on Inuyasha.

“Fuck.” He whispered softly knowing all too well what it had done to her. Knowing the reason now made his guilt even worse because he knew her pain. He had been through it time and time again with Kikyo. “I should have pushed Kikyo away.” He said dryly.

“Yeah you should have even if she wasn’t s fragile as she is because that is the right thing to do when you are on a date with someone else. This whole week has been fucked up for her and I don’t know if she can pull herself out of it now. I told her it was a bad idea but she wouldn’t listen to me. She insisted you were different. She said you were more sensitive.” Sango said with pain in her voice that made him feel even worse. She wanted to hit him so bad and make him hurt like he made Kagome hurt but she couldn’t bring herself to that level. No he needed to suffer with the guilt of it. Instead she pulled out her cell phone and began to call anyone she could think of.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

An hour had passed and the three were now setting in Miroku’s car outside her apartment waiting to see if anyone called seeing her. They came there hoping she was there but her car wasn’t so they knew she had gone elsewhere. Sango was about to give up hope and just go break down the door to make sure she wasn’t hiding when her cell phone rang. It was Bankutso from the club. Hope filled her as she answered it quickly. “Ban, I hope you have some good news.” She said quickly.

“Well hello to you too doll.” He chuckled a bit at her frustrated growl. “Yeah she’s here but there’s someone with her.” He said stiffly.

“Who?” She asked already dreading the answer.

“Koga.” He replied. She didn’t even say anything as she shut the phone and looked at Miroku with fear in her eyes.

“The club now.” She snapped. Miroku looked at her with a raised eyebrow.

“Why the hurry? She’s safe now right? Their her relatives, surely they will take care of her.” He said as he pulled out onto the road. Inuyasha sat in the back seat silently listening to them curious why Sango was so uptight.

“No they won’t if she throws a fit because she is their boss. She’s there with Koga. This is bad. Really bad. We have to get her away from him before he talks her into doing something she is going to regret.” Now Inuyasha was interested in the conversation. Miroku started to question her again but Inuyasha interrupted him.

“Just drive damn it. We have to get there as quick as possible. That ass hole hurt her before and he’ll do it again.” He put his hands on his face as he tried to calm his nerves. Just the thought of some other guy being near her was setting his nerves on fire like nothing he ever felt before. He needed to be there to protect her.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Sango ran to the door of the club as fast as she could in heels. Jakutso was standing there with a worried look on his face. “Glad you could make it here so quick.” He said nervously.

“Where is she?” Sango asked as calmly as she could. Jak looked at Inuyasha who was rather agitated and Miroku then back at Sango.

“She’s up on the second level with that jerk and his pack. She already threatened to fire all of us, give up school and run the place herself. Not that she couldn’t do it but considering her condition right now, I don’t believe she is thinking straight. She’s pretty drunk.” Jak went on as he eyed Inuyasha again with a frown. “Aren’t you the guy...” He started but Sango cut him off mid sentence.

“Never mind that, if we get them separated you get that jerk out of here.” She ordered getting Jak’s attention. He looked at her and nodded.

“Mike will follow you and stay back until you get them apart.” Jak motioned for the large bouncer from the first night they came there. The massive man took a stance behind Jak making him look short. Sango didn’t waste any time with more planning as she walked quickly into the crowded club and shoved her way through toward the VIP sections. The guys followed her with out saying anything. Both wondering just what was going to happen. She suddenly stopped with her eyes glued toward the upper levels. She turned suddenly and looked at them seriously.

“Look I don’t want you guys to get hurt so here’s what we are going to do.” She began but Inuyasha already saw what she was looking at. Kagome was setting on some guys lap in the upper floor balcony. There were two other guys with them and all of them looked like they were pretty drunk.

“We can take them.” He said confidently. She glanced up there then shook her head.

“No, Koga is a third degree black belt. His dad owns a dojo or something down town. I don’t want to get you guys hurt. Let the bouncers take them out.” She insisted and had to physically stop Inuyasha from just going up there. “Listen damn it.” She hissed. “I know those guys. They look like their stupid but they really aren’t. I’ll go up there and get her to come down to the dance floor. You guys wait over on the other side and stay hidden until I get her near you. Inuyasha, you keep her from going after them when they take Koga out.” Inuyasha didn’t like the idea of her going up there by herself but nodded.

Miroku watched as she climbed the stairs swaying her hips back and forth. A pull on his sleeve brought him back to what they needed to do right now. They walked quickly through the crowd keeping an eye on Kagome to make sure she didn’t spot them until they reached the other side. They waited with baited breath as Sango leaned over and hugged Kagome then each of the guys in turn. One guy with white spiked hair pulled Sango down into his lap making them all laugh. Inuyasha raised an eyebrow at the growl that came from Miroku’s throat. His usual calm expression was now a heated glare. His teeth were gritted and his fist were clamped tightly at his sides. “Calm down man. She is only playing along with them.” Inuyasha placed a hand on his friend’s shoulder to calm him.

“I know, it’s just hard.” Miroku admitted.

“I know how you feel.” Inuyasha’s golden eyes looked up at Kagome forlornly.

“So you care about the fair Kagome more then you want to admit hmmm?” Miroku poked fun at him but Inuyasha looked at him seriously making him stop.

“Yeah I care. Just leave it at that.” Inuyasha said grimly. Miroku didn’t make a reply as his eyes followed the girls as they began to make their way toward the stairs.