[One-Shot] Don't Leave
Title: Don't Leave
Author: kryss_delrhei
Fandom: Inuyasha
Type: Anime/Manga
Characters/Pairing: Inuyasha/Kagome
Word Count: 2,000
Genre: Romance
Rating: G
Warning: Alternate Universe
Summary: Kagome is about to get married when she meets Inuyasha after 10 years.
Disclaimer: I do not own InuYasha nor the characters, just borrowing them from Rumiko Takahashi for a little while.
Prompt: love_bingo : Old Flame ( Card 1: Vertical Fill)
--
“What’s with that face?” Ayumi annoying prodded Kagome’s cheek, bringing attention back to the fact that her bridesmaids were determined to take her out on the town tonight. A bachelorette party was one thing not on her list of ‘Last Hurrahs’ before she tied the knot, not that she was someone who was against fun - no, on the contrary, fun was her middle name.
And yet, staring at herself in the mirror, dressed up in her most comfortable jeans and a black tank-top with ‘Bride-to-be’ spelled out in rhinestones that sparkled strangely artificial in the dim light, it all made herself feel foreign and distant.
Ayumi held out the white sash the girls had encouraged her to wear, giving her one of her largest grins in the process, “C’mon, Kagome, it’ll be fun.”
“You need to loosen up,” another one of her bridesmaids offered, sending her a calm smile, “It’s less than a week before the wedding, and if you don’t do something to relieve all of that tense…”
Her voice trailed off as Kagome yanked the sash from Ayumi’s hands and slipped it over head, “All right, let’s go, we don’t have all night.”
Kagome turned away from the mirror and grabbed her purse, tossing a look at her bridesmaids, who seemed a little stunned with her sudden change of mood. “Well? Are you all coming?” Kagome pressed, opening her bedroom door, as to which all the girls started in motion, the joyful conversations once again abuzz.
-
The wedding was nearly days away, and it wasn’t that she did not want to get married, because she absolutely did. There was more-or-less a feeling of emptiness that seemed to have grown larger the closer the date came to becoming a reality.
Kagome breathed heavily, pushing damp hair behind her ear as she plopped down onto the comfortable leather seat of their booth. Four bars and two dance clubs down, Kagome could feel the ache in her feet begin to set in as she laughed with the girls, her façade near perfect. She was having fun, but this wasn’t how she had wanted to spend her night out.
“That bartender is pretty hot!” Ayumi exclaimed loudly, trying to make herself heard over the thumping beat of the music.
“Which one?” one of the girls asked, just as enthusiastic as Ayumi.
Ayumi motioned with her head, a sly smile curling her delicate lips, “The one that’s on this end, you see him?” She beamed, groaning in the back of her throat, “He looks so yummy, I could just die!”
Kagome inhaled sharpely, before slipping back out of the booth, “I’m going to go get me a drink.”
Ayumi laughed, “That’s right, go have fun!” she slapped Kagome on the hip and gave her a mischievous wink, “But I know you’re really going to talk to that bartender.”
Kagome feigned a smile and fixed her sash, heading around the dance floor to the stretch of bar, the blue lights underneath the counter, illuminated the bottles of liquor.
“Can I get a Stoli and cranberry?” She leaned on the bar, waiting on her cocktail, her feet throbbing, only making her want to sit down again. Kagome slipped easily onto the barstool, crossing her legs as she waited, glancing around.
“You always did prefer Stoli vodka to anything else,” the voice was low, but still loud enough over the music that she could hear it, causing every fiber in her being to become rattled. Kagome stared at the dark haired male seated next to her, nursing his own glass of liquor, her heart racing.
She cleared her throat, the bartender placing her drink in front of her, as she paid, she swiveled the barstool to stare at him, her composure slipping into the mask she always wore now, “Never thought I’d see you again.”
“It’s been rough,” he chuckled, his violet eyes distant.
Kagome nodded, her lips a thin line as she tapped her nails lightly on the bar, “You left me at the altar, Inuyasha,” she said, the emptiness in her stomach unsettled as she grabbed her cocktail, sipping heavily on it.
“And you moved on,” he motioned to her attire, which she gave a shrug to.
“Maybe he won’t leave me standing there like an idiot,” she sighed, turning to rest her elbows on the bar, before she inhaled again, “Look, I don’t want to dig up the past. I got over my anger toward you a long time ago.”
“You did?” Inuyasha raised a brow, before he snorted, “It’s okay if you had stayed mad at me, I deserved it.”
To change the subject, Kagome cleared her throat, the obvious tension building, “How is your mother?”
With a faraway look, Inuyasha downed the last of his alcohol, “She died.”
“Oh,” she said lamely, glancing away, an even more sickening feeling overtook her as she licked her lips, feeling the weight of that simple statement hit her hard, “I’m sorry to hear… I… I wish I had known.”
“Thanks… it wouldn’t have made much of a difference,” Inuyasha straightened his back, allowing the bartender to fill his glass. He motioned to her outfit with a nod of his head, “So you’re engaged, huh?”
The topic change back to her was a little unnerving, but she allowed it. “Yeah,” Kagome puckered her lips, the awkward situation with an ex was a little more difficult than she had imagined. Even more-so with one who she had been engaged to herself, when they still had been freshmen in college and drunk on love.
She cupped her glass in her hands, eyes adverted from Inuyasha as much as she could. Kagome pushed the thoughts of the past back into their little box that she hide in the back of her mind, hoping that she wouldn’t feel any repercussions later when she was out of his company.
“When’s the wedding?” He asked, leaning toward her in the same way he had always done and it only caused the sickening feeling to double as she was forced to meet his gaze. For all she knew he had only leaned in to hear her better when she answered his question, but even after years of not seeing him, she could feel the tug of her body that was drawn to him.
Ironic how first love usually stayed with someone.
“Saturday,” she mumbled, pushing her hair behind her ear.
For some reason, she had forgotten why she was here, why she was still having this conversation with him. But still she couldn’t seem to move away.
Out of the corner of her eye, she watched as he leaned away, violet eyes as dark as his expression. He, again, downed the last of the amber liquid in his glass before he spoke, “Oh, soon then.” She nodded her head, but she doubted he needed anymore reassurance.
Inuyasha’s brows furrowed as he concentrated, “You love him?”
Kagome’s heart skipped a beat and she could feel the chill bumps raise along her arms. She hesitanty licked her lips, now realizing that Inuyasha was watching her so very closely. With a slow nod and shallow exhale, she said, “Of course.”
“That’s good,” he agreed, slipping off the barstool, hand reaching for his wallet in his back pocket.
Kagome watched him, her honey brown gaze catching in all the features of Inuyasha’s face and the way that he carried himself. He was still the same as she remembered, his boyish charm still ever present even after ten years. His ebony hair was long, pulled back into a loose braid. Her eyes caught the logo on his and she couldn’t help but laugh.
He turned to her, anger there but dying as it turned into confusion, “What is it?”
Kagome’s laughter caught in her throat as the tears prickled at the edges of her eyes. She fanned her face, trying not to let the errant tears betray the sad sickness she felt on the inside, “It’s just that… that shirt…”
Inuyasha raised a brow, glancing to the t-shirt that he’d thrown on probably on carelessly unobservant to what he was actually wearing. The realization of what he was wearing seemed as shock to him as well. “Oh,” was all he could say.
Kagome felt fate was laying the irony on especially thick tonight. She shrugged, “I wouldn’t think you’d keep a shirt that I gave you. Just surprised me, that’s all.”
This time, she could visibly see the hesitation in his stance as he shoved his hands into his faded jean pockets. He gave a shrug, before turning away, “You should go back to your friends. They look a bit curious about what’s taking you so long.”
“Don’t change the subject,” she said, grabbing his arm to stop him.
He turned wide violet eyes toward her, and she could only believe she mirrored his expression. Her bottom lip tremble as she tried to find the words, the sickness still swimming in her gut. She watched quietly as he covered her hand with his own, the warmth enough to scald her.
Kagome swallowed hard again.
“Kagome,” he said.
And she realized it was the first time he’d said her name since he’d started the interaction between them. She was afraid of why her heart was fluttering in her chest so fast, afraid of the sudden ache of loneliness in her soul, afraid of the way she got so lightheaded staring at him.
For a second, she could remember when it had been fresh and new and the love was so real. But the remembrance of the abandonment he’d caused when he’d left her standing there and reality came crashing down. Even after ten years, she still couldn’t get over that feeling.
“Sorry,” she said, trying to pull her hand away, but he held on fast.
“Just let me have this moment and then I’ll be out of your hair.” His eyes were serious and the emotions dancing around them made her pause, as he hesitantly pulled her in a hug. “I’d never thought you’d be in my arms again,” his voice was soft and warm on her skin.
It was like the loud music and the bar and the wedding and the ten long years… meant nothing. “Inuyasha…” she whispered, feeling the emotion she’d pushed back bubble to right under the surface.
And just like that, he was pulling away, all contact gone, and his gaze was different. For a second he had been more than an old flame, and the emptiness of that dug deep into her core.
“Good luck on the wedding,” Inuyasha smiled, violet eyes far as he shoved his hands back into his pockets.
With a sad smile, she wiped at the tears that spilled down her cheeks, “Goodbye, Inuyasha.”
That was all it took.
He was gone, side-stepping through the crowd, heading off toward the door.
She sat at the bar, her Stoli and cranberry forgotten on the counter.
Kagome fiddled with the white ‘Bride-to-be’ sash she wore, inhaling past all her emotion.
And then she was sliding off the barstool, the sash falling to the ground as she chased after the only man she had ever cared about so deep he marred her soul.
The rush of cold air on her body sent chills down her spine as she looked down the sidewalk, spotting Inuyasha’s retreating form. Kagome swallowed back the fear and stood tall, her voice loud, “It’s not goodbye, Inuyasha!”
He stopped, turning to face her slowly, brows raised in confusion, “Kagome?”
She ran to him and he caught her with open arms, pulling her tightly to his chest. There she buried her face into the t-shirt she’d given him so long ago, her hands fisted into the material to make sure this time he didn’t leave, “Don’t leave this time,” she whispered.
“Not this time. Not again.” Her answer was all she needed as he tightened his hold on her, speaking softly into her hair, “You are mine.”
Author: kryss_delrhei
Fandom: Inuyasha
Type: Anime/Manga
Characters/Pairing: Inuyasha/Kagome
Word Count: 2,000
Genre: Romance
Rating: G
Warning: Alternate Universe
Summary: Kagome is about to get married when she meets Inuyasha after 10 years.
Disclaimer: I do not own InuYasha nor the characters, just borrowing them from Rumiko Takahashi for a little while.
Prompt: love_bingo : Old Flame ( Card 1: Vertical Fill)
--
“What’s with that face?” Ayumi annoying prodded Kagome’s cheek, bringing attention back to the fact that her bridesmaids were determined to take her out on the town tonight. A bachelorette party was one thing not on her list of ‘Last Hurrahs’ before she tied the knot, not that she was someone who was against fun - no, on the contrary, fun was her middle name.
And yet, staring at herself in the mirror, dressed up in her most comfortable jeans and a black tank-top with ‘Bride-to-be’ spelled out in rhinestones that sparkled strangely artificial in the dim light, it all made herself feel foreign and distant.
Ayumi held out the white sash the girls had encouraged her to wear, giving her one of her largest grins in the process, “C’mon, Kagome, it’ll be fun.”
“You need to loosen up,” another one of her bridesmaids offered, sending her a calm smile, “It’s less than a week before the wedding, and if you don’t do something to relieve all of that tense…”
Her voice trailed off as Kagome yanked the sash from Ayumi’s hands and slipped it over head, “All right, let’s go, we don’t have all night.”
Kagome turned away from the mirror and grabbed her purse, tossing a look at her bridesmaids, who seemed a little stunned with her sudden change of mood. “Well? Are you all coming?” Kagome pressed, opening her bedroom door, as to which all the girls started in motion, the joyful conversations once again abuzz.
-
The wedding was nearly days away, and it wasn’t that she did not want to get married, because she absolutely did. There was more-or-less a feeling of emptiness that seemed to have grown larger the closer the date came to becoming a reality.
Kagome breathed heavily, pushing damp hair behind her ear as she plopped down onto the comfortable leather seat of their booth. Four bars and two dance clubs down, Kagome could feel the ache in her feet begin to set in as she laughed with the girls, her façade near perfect. She was having fun, but this wasn’t how she had wanted to spend her night out.
“That bartender is pretty hot!” Ayumi exclaimed loudly, trying to make herself heard over the thumping beat of the music.
“Which one?” one of the girls asked, just as enthusiastic as Ayumi.
Ayumi motioned with her head, a sly smile curling her delicate lips, “The one that’s on this end, you see him?” She beamed, groaning in the back of her throat, “He looks so yummy, I could just die!”
Kagome inhaled sharpely, before slipping back out of the booth, “I’m going to go get me a drink.”
Ayumi laughed, “That’s right, go have fun!” she slapped Kagome on the hip and gave her a mischievous wink, “But I know you’re really going to talk to that bartender.”
Kagome feigned a smile and fixed her sash, heading around the dance floor to the stretch of bar, the blue lights underneath the counter, illuminated the bottles of liquor.
“Can I get a Stoli and cranberry?” She leaned on the bar, waiting on her cocktail, her feet throbbing, only making her want to sit down again. Kagome slipped easily onto the barstool, crossing her legs as she waited, glancing around.
“You always did prefer Stoli vodka to anything else,” the voice was low, but still loud enough over the music that she could hear it, causing every fiber in her being to become rattled. Kagome stared at the dark haired male seated next to her, nursing his own glass of liquor, her heart racing.
She cleared her throat, the bartender placing her drink in front of her, as she paid, she swiveled the barstool to stare at him, her composure slipping into the mask she always wore now, “Never thought I’d see you again.”
“It’s been rough,” he chuckled, his violet eyes distant.
Kagome nodded, her lips a thin line as she tapped her nails lightly on the bar, “You left me at the altar, Inuyasha,” she said, the emptiness in her stomach unsettled as she grabbed her cocktail, sipping heavily on it.
“And you moved on,” he motioned to her attire, which she gave a shrug to.
“Maybe he won’t leave me standing there like an idiot,” she sighed, turning to rest her elbows on the bar, before she inhaled again, “Look, I don’t want to dig up the past. I got over my anger toward you a long time ago.”
“You did?” Inuyasha raised a brow, before he snorted, “It’s okay if you had stayed mad at me, I deserved it.”
To change the subject, Kagome cleared her throat, the obvious tension building, “How is your mother?”
With a faraway look, Inuyasha downed the last of his alcohol, “She died.”
“Oh,” she said lamely, glancing away, an even more sickening feeling overtook her as she licked her lips, feeling the weight of that simple statement hit her hard, “I’m sorry to hear… I… I wish I had known.”
“Thanks… it wouldn’t have made much of a difference,” Inuyasha straightened his back, allowing the bartender to fill his glass. He motioned to her outfit with a nod of his head, “So you’re engaged, huh?”
The topic change back to her was a little unnerving, but she allowed it. “Yeah,” Kagome puckered her lips, the awkward situation with an ex was a little more difficult than she had imagined. Even more-so with one who she had been engaged to herself, when they still had been freshmen in college and drunk on love.
She cupped her glass in her hands, eyes adverted from Inuyasha as much as she could. Kagome pushed the thoughts of the past back into their little box that she hide in the back of her mind, hoping that she wouldn’t feel any repercussions later when she was out of his company.
“When’s the wedding?” He asked, leaning toward her in the same way he had always done and it only caused the sickening feeling to double as she was forced to meet his gaze. For all she knew he had only leaned in to hear her better when she answered his question, but even after years of not seeing him, she could feel the tug of her body that was drawn to him.
Ironic how first love usually stayed with someone.
“Saturday,” she mumbled, pushing her hair behind her ear.
For some reason, she had forgotten why she was here, why she was still having this conversation with him. But still she couldn’t seem to move away.
Out of the corner of her eye, she watched as he leaned away, violet eyes as dark as his expression. He, again, downed the last of the amber liquid in his glass before he spoke, “Oh, soon then.” She nodded her head, but she doubted he needed anymore reassurance.
Inuyasha’s brows furrowed as he concentrated, “You love him?”
Kagome’s heart skipped a beat and she could feel the chill bumps raise along her arms. She hesitanty licked her lips, now realizing that Inuyasha was watching her so very closely. With a slow nod and shallow exhale, she said, “Of course.”
“That’s good,” he agreed, slipping off the barstool, hand reaching for his wallet in his back pocket.
Kagome watched him, her honey brown gaze catching in all the features of Inuyasha’s face and the way that he carried himself. He was still the same as she remembered, his boyish charm still ever present even after ten years. His ebony hair was long, pulled back into a loose braid. Her eyes caught the logo on his and she couldn’t help but laugh.
He turned to her, anger there but dying as it turned into confusion, “What is it?”
Kagome’s laughter caught in her throat as the tears prickled at the edges of her eyes. She fanned her face, trying not to let the errant tears betray the sad sickness she felt on the inside, “It’s just that… that shirt…”
Inuyasha raised a brow, glancing to the t-shirt that he’d thrown on probably on carelessly unobservant to what he was actually wearing. The realization of what he was wearing seemed as shock to him as well. “Oh,” was all he could say.
Kagome felt fate was laying the irony on especially thick tonight. She shrugged, “I wouldn’t think you’d keep a shirt that I gave you. Just surprised me, that’s all.”
This time, she could visibly see the hesitation in his stance as he shoved his hands into his faded jean pockets. He gave a shrug, before turning away, “You should go back to your friends. They look a bit curious about what’s taking you so long.”
“Don’t change the subject,” she said, grabbing his arm to stop him.
He turned wide violet eyes toward her, and she could only believe she mirrored his expression. Her bottom lip tremble as she tried to find the words, the sickness still swimming in her gut. She watched quietly as he covered her hand with his own, the warmth enough to scald her.
Kagome swallowed hard again.
“Kagome,” he said.
And she realized it was the first time he’d said her name since he’d started the interaction between them. She was afraid of why her heart was fluttering in her chest so fast, afraid of the sudden ache of loneliness in her soul, afraid of the way she got so lightheaded staring at him.
For a second, she could remember when it had been fresh and new and the love was so real. But the remembrance of the abandonment he’d caused when he’d left her standing there and reality came crashing down. Even after ten years, she still couldn’t get over that feeling.
“Sorry,” she said, trying to pull her hand away, but he held on fast.
“Just let me have this moment and then I’ll be out of your hair.” His eyes were serious and the emotions dancing around them made her pause, as he hesitantly pulled her in a hug. “I’d never thought you’d be in my arms again,” his voice was soft and warm on her skin.
It was like the loud music and the bar and the wedding and the ten long years… meant nothing. “Inuyasha…” she whispered, feeling the emotion she’d pushed back bubble to right under the surface.
And just like that, he was pulling away, all contact gone, and his gaze was different. For a second he had been more than an old flame, and the emptiness of that dug deep into her core.
“Good luck on the wedding,” Inuyasha smiled, violet eyes far as he shoved his hands back into his pockets.
With a sad smile, she wiped at the tears that spilled down her cheeks, “Goodbye, Inuyasha.”
That was all it took.
He was gone, side-stepping through the crowd, heading off toward the door.
She sat at the bar, her Stoli and cranberry forgotten on the counter.
Kagome fiddled with the white ‘Bride-to-be’ sash she wore, inhaling past all her emotion.
And then she was sliding off the barstool, the sash falling to the ground as she chased after the only man she had ever cared about so deep he marred her soul.
The rush of cold air on her body sent chills down her spine as she looked down the sidewalk, spotting Inuyasha’s retreating form. Kagome swallowed back the fear and stood tall, her voice loud, “It’s not goodbye, Inuyasha!”
He stopped, turning to face her slowly, brows raised in confusion, “Kagome?”
She ran to him and he caught her with open arms, pulling her tightly to his chest. There she buried her face into the t-shirt she’d given him so long ago, her hands fisted into the material to make sure this time he didn’t leave, “Don’t leave this time,” she whispered.
“Not this time. Not again.” Her answer was all she needed as he tightened his hold on her, speaking softly into her hair, “You are mine.”