InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Beautiful Disaster ❯ Maintenance Needed ( Chapter 3 )

[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]

Beautiful Disaster

Chapter 3: Maintenance Needed
This one begins a bit slow... please forgive me.

The air outside was crisp and cool; refreshing. A glance up revealed a crystal clear sky, and the stars reflected brightly from windshields of passing cars. Wispy grey clouds scattered the sky in the distance, only enhancing the beauty and mystery of the night. Neon glowed eerily in the distance, and cars zoomed up and down the streets, headlights blindingly bright. The glow from amid the bar snuck out the gap of the open door, and the sound of clanking glass, drunken slurs, and background music seeped into the street.

Inside, the atmosphere was clouded with smoke and smelled strongly of beer. Most people ended up getting so drunk by the end of the night that more of their drink would end up on the floor then in their gut. But right now, none of that mattered to Inuyasha or Kagome.

Staring into his eyes, she felt like she was in a trance; his hand's comforting gesture not helping matters as it ran from her hip, up the side of her body and back down. She wanted to back off - he was being kind - nothing more. But the way his eyes burned her from the inside out was all too tempting for her. He didn't acknowledge her as she wrapped her arm around his shoulders to hug him back. His mind was clouded over too much to notice.

`What's happening to me? I… she… am I ready for this again?' he thought with a scowl. `I might not ever be ready, but… I want this to go farther than a friendship. She… she helped me find myself when no one else could. I might be rushing into this but… I lost nearly six months of my life trying to dig a hole I could cower in, but now… there's a light at the end of the tunnel again. And all because she choked on her drink…' He smirked, trying to focus on Kagome; distracted by the wandering eyes of the `couple' behind them.

“Stop gawking,” he said with a chuckle, wiping the stupid grins from their faces, causing Sango to blush. “You should be looking at each other like that, not us.”

Again Sango blushed, this time turning away from Miroku to hide her embarrassment. To hell with first impressions, he was a decent guy who she did feel a connection with. So his hand made a slip-up. `It happens to everyone, right?' she thought forgivingly. Miroku's mind had wandered somewhere… else as his eyes wandered up and down her body, favoring some parts that she would probably slap him for staring at. She didn't have to know that.

Another thought haunted his mind as he glanced back up at Kagome, seated comfortably in Inuyasha's lap. `I hope you're ready for this, Inuyasha. Then again… it's about time you found her.'

Inuyasha focused again on Kagome and held her as he stood up, setting her on her feet. He cleared his throat, looking at Miroku as he spoke. “Well, I think we should call it a night.” Kagome looked up, noticing the blush on his cheeks before he pulled his arm from around her waist. “Do you need a ride, or-

“I'll take her home,” Sango offered happily, glancing back at Miroku before grabbing Kagome's wrist and pulling her toward the door. “See ya tomorrow,” she tossed back over her shoulder as she tried pushing her friend out the door. Kagome was resisting, trying to look back at Inuyasha.

“I'll be there to pick you up around noon, okay?” he called, waving slightly as Sango managed to inch her closer and closer to the door.

“Yeah,” she called back. “See you tomorrow,” she managed before the door of the bar was slammed in her face. Sango stood before her, out of breath. “What was that for?” she shouted incredulously, eyes wide.

“You are so falling for him. And if the look he gives you is any indicator, he's got it worse than you do,” she stated, leading Kagome to her car in the parking lot across the street. “Miroku explained everything to me. Inuyasha, apparently, hasn't been this open or happy since the incident. He said it's like a completely different personality - and that you are the cause.”

“Come on, Sango, you can't be serious. I've only known the guy for two days.”

“Don't you believe in love at first sight?” she asked, raising an eyebrow. “Sometimes all it takes is a day or two.”

She hesitated, and didn't say anything. `Maybe… just maybe,' she thought. Taciturn during the car ride home, she thought through all the possibilities as she prepared for bed. Sango didn't get another word out of her that night, and that alone, confirmed that Kagome had taken the time to consider the question.

`You know I'm right,' she thought with a smirk as Kagome retreated into her bedroom, lying awake in bed to consider things between her and Inuyasha. As she drifted off, a final thought crossed her mind.

`I'll take things as they come… I'll follow his lead. It's his choice.' She slept peacefully that night, floating on cloud nine with Inuyasha filling her unconscious mind.

---------------beautiful-disaster---------------

Kagome was pulled from her sleep by the shrill squawking of her alarm clock, resting on the nightstand at her head. `7:30? Why did I want to get up so early?' she blankly wondered, squinting around the room, view blurred from the remnants of sleep that clouded her mind. She rolled under the covers, the plush comforter only half covering her legs, feet hanging out - exposed. Blinking to clear her vision, she heard muffled voices coming from the living room. `7:30 on a Saturday morning and Sango's already watching TV?' She stirred under the covers once more, stretching her legs and arms, before flopping out and shuffling to her bathroom. `The shower should wake me up…'

She found it refreshing to have the warm water cascading down her body, muscles loosening under its warm caress, soothing the ache that had built up throughout the week. `Let all the tension go…' she thought, fingers massaging her scalp as she let the water run down her face, washing away the leftover make-up she had worn in a vain attempt to hide the bags under her eyes.

When she stepped out, she wrapped herself in a white fluffy towel; staring at herself in the mirror as if in a trance. Her fingers ran across her eyes, down her cheeks, to massage her neck… For the first time in months she felt refreshed and rejuvenated. She dripped on the old wooden floor as she moved across her bedroom to get dressed, dropping the towel as she stared into her closet; stumbling back across the room to rummage through drawers for her undergarments. When she emerged from the bedroom, Sango didn't glance up; munching noisily from the bowl of popcorn that sat beside her on the couch. `What a breakfast,' Kagome thought, opening random cabinets in the kitchen for something that could be considered edible breakfast food.

She sighed in defeat, lightly stomping back down the hall to the bathroom to comb out her hair. Water droplets splattered the room as she shook the extra moisture from her hair. She gathered it up, wrapping her raven tresses in a loose bun, some curly tendrils framing her face. She put on some black mascara, but nothing else was needed.

When she made it back to the kitchen, the clock above the microwave read 9:12. `Three more hours…' She moved to sit beside Sango, pulling the bowl of popcorn into her lap and eating a handful. “Re-runs of Friends?” she asked, not taking her eyes from the screen.

“Yep,” Sango replied, reaching over for another handful of popcorn. They made it through the current episode and another, their third interrupted by loud rapping on the door.

“I'll get it,” Kagome offered, setting the bowl down as she casually strolled to the door, unthinkingly turning the locks and pulling it open.

“Good morning,” his velvety voice greeted, facial features hidden in his silhouette, the sun glaringly bright behind him.

“H… Hey,” she said back, a little surprised that he was standing there. “What happened to noon?”

“I brought breakfast,” he said with a grin, holding up two paper bags labeled with the golden arches. “Considering the predicament you were in for breakfast yesterday, I couldn't resist. You mind if I come in?”

“Sure…” she said, opening the door wider for him, pointing out the kitchen.

“Thanks. Hey Sango,” he greeted, making his way through the living room. “You want some breakfast?” he asked from behind her with a smirk, glancing at the half-eaten bowl of popcorn.

“Nah, I'm good,” she said emotionlessly, holding a handful of popcorn up to show him. Kagome came to stand beside him in the kitchen, burrowing into the bags of food on the table.

“How much of this do you plan on eating? This is enough for an army.”

“Whatever you don't eat.”

“That's not healthy.”

“And what gave you the idea that I'm a health nut?” he asked, glancing at her over his shoulder as he tore his vision away from the TV in the distance. Kagome looked back at him, unconsciously allowing her eyes to roam across his chiseled chest, clearly visible through his t-shirt.

“You don't seem like the type to live off of junk food,” she replied, turning away blushing when her eyes traveled a bit lower. She pulled out some hash browns and an Egg McMuffin, setting them on the table before crossing the kitchen and opening the fridge. “Want some orange juice?” she offered cheerfully.

“Sure, thanks,” he said, bringing both bags over to the table and pulling out a chair; legs scraping painfully across the wooden floor. He sat down when she approached the table, two full glasses in hand. He smiled as they both began to eat in companionable silence.

---------------beautiful-disaster---------------

They had left the house at about 11:15, figuring that it was better to fix the car sooner than later. Inuyasha hadn't been rummaging through the engine for twenty minutes before going around to slide into the driver's seat. Kagome handed him the keys. He held them still - hesitating - before turning them. The engine huffed and puffed, but finally came to life nonetheless, their seats shaking under them as the car growled. “That should do,” he said, holding the steering wheel, staring at the silver pony emblem in the middle. He climbed out and slammed the hood closed, the car shaking from the action.

Kagome got out of the passenger's seat and came to stand in front of him. “Than-

“ring…ring…ring…”

She held up her hand, silently asking him to wait as she pulled her phone from her pocket. Staring at the caller ID, her brows furrowed before she flipped the phone open. “What is it, Souta?” Her eyes widened after a moment of listening, and she grabbed for the keys dangling from Inuyasha's fingers. “What hospital is she in?” Again there was silence for a moment, and Inuyasha focused intently after hearing the word hospital. “Okay… yeah… okay, I'll be there. Bye.” Flipping her phone closed, she once again grabbed for the keys. Inuyasha pulled them away from her, raising his eyebrows.

“You don't expect me to just let you go without an explanation, do you?”

”I was hoping you would. Will you just give me my keys? I've got to get somewhere.”

”Where and why?”

She sighed and drooped her shoulders in defeat. “The community hospital in Brooklyn… my mom is sick.”

“Let me take you,” he offered. “I've got nothing better to do, you know that,” he said with a smile.

“I'd really rather just do this alone… besides, my car works now thanks to you,” she said on a happier note, trying to pluck the keys from his grasp again. He evaded her easily, holding the keys behind his back, looking down at her with a frown.

“Just let me drive… you owe me that much. You never have to let me in your car again if I can drive,” he said, raising his shoulders and puffing out his chest to look more intimidating. “I could just knock these parts loose again…” he threatened playfully, reaching for the latch on the hood.

Kagome nearly growled in frustration, fists clenched tightly at her sides. “Fine. Drive,” she said pointing directly at the driver's seat. He smiled triumphantly as he returned to his `rightful' place in the driver's seat, starting the car and zooming off as soon as Kagome was safely seated with the door closed.

They were quiet for most of the car ride - Kagome was fuming, tempted to yell at the top of her lungs - but she had more self control then that. As they pulled into the parking lot, Inuyasha glanced over at Kagome, currently preoccupied with her fingernails. “So what's wrong with her? Is it anything serious?” he asked with understanding in his voice.

She exhaled as if she'd been holding a breath for twenty minutes. The salt of her tears hit his nose before he noticed them with his eyes, glistening brightly. She'd apparently been holding these tears back for awhile, now. “She's had cancer for a couple years now. Two years ago she had a surgery to get rid of all the cancer cells. Until now… we thought it worked. Apparently my brother Souta was over at the house when she started coughing up a lot of blood.” She began to sob openly into her hands, turning away from Inuyasha.

He pulled into a spot and turned the engine off. “Hey… It's okay, I know how you feel,” he soothed, reaching over to rest his hand on her shoulder comfortingly. She flinched away from his touch.

“You don't have any idea,” she wailed through her tears as she glared back at him with puffy red eyes. “You don't have any idea. My dad died when I was about ten, and mom has been in and out of hospitals for years.”

He cleared his throat, wishing not to pursue the argument but continuing anyway. “My dad died of lung cancer because he smoked,” he started, glancing back at her. “That's probably the way I'll go if I keep up with the bar business,” he said with a pitiful smirk. “I've only ever seen the poor bastard in pictures. He died when I was still an infant. Mother…” this one was apparently more difficult for him to get out. “Mother was around until a few years ago… she… she…”

“Don't, if it's too hard. I get your point,” Kagome said, calming down a bit, leaning into his touch, his hand squeezing her shoulder lightly. “You have Kikyou, too…”

“Keh, forget about it,” he said, brushing the last comment off his shoulder, trying desperately to keep her name from flooding his thoughts. It was easier if he thought of Kagome instead. He reached for the door handle and got out. “I'm sure she'll be fine,” he said as he came around to open her door and they walked in together.

Approaching the front desk, Kagome stepped forward to ask where to find her mother. “Mitsuko Higurashi?”

The receptionist typed the name into the computer, scrolling down before looking up at them through her thickly-rimmed glasses. “Mrs. Higurashi is on the third floor, room 296A. She was just released from the ER. Visitors can stay until 8:00, unless you are immediate family… then you can stay overnight,” the frumpy woman said from behind the desk, pointing them towards the directory.

“Thank you,” Kagome said gratefully, pulling Inuyasha along as she bolted towards the directory and up the stairs. When they landed on the third floor, Kagome was winded, leaning over to rest her hands on her knees, taking in shallow breaths. Inuyasha rubbed her back soothingly to try and calm her.

“Deep breaths,” he suggested, helping her stand straight before he led her down the hall, arm around her back to steady her. As they passed various rooms, Inuyasha was overwhelmed with different smells; medications, gasses, blood. It was overwhelming, making his thought process go fuzzy before he was pulled back into the present by her voice.

“Here,” she said, stopping outside the pale blue door marked 296A, hesitating as she grabbed for the handle.

“It'll be fine,” Inuyasha comforted, placing his hand over hers and turning the knob with her. Inuyasha stood behind Kagome as they entered the tiny room, already occupied by two people: a teenage boy and Kagome's mother, lying motionlessly in the flat hospital bed.

“Kagome!” the boy greeted, rubbing sleep from his eyes before standing up to give her a warm hug. He looked about eighteen or nineteen to Inuyasha, who watched the exchange silently. Souta went on to tell Kagome their mother's current situation, and about himself. Apparently, they hadn't seen each other for a couple of months.

“Who's the guy?” he asked out of the blue, glancing up at Inuyasha, who stood about three inches taller than him.

Suddenly remembering that she wasn't there alone, Kagome turned to smile at Inuyasha. “This is Inuyasha. He just helped me fix my car… and then he blackmailed me into letting him drive. Inuyasha, this is Souta, my little brother.” They exchanged some hellos and information, before Kagome's attention was drawn to her mother. “How long has she been out?” she asked no one in particular.

“She got out of the ER half an hour ago. Been sleeping ever since.”

Kagome pulled a chair up to the bedside, watching her mother intently, listening closely to her labored breathing. Inuyasha also pulled a chair up beside Kagome's, sitting down to rest his hand on top of hers, settled comfortably on the arm rest. She looked at him with a small smile before turning back to her mother, sleeping calmly.

Souta sat against the wall and watched the others, noticing the caring gestures that they themselves didn't notice, like when his thumb began to stroke the back of her hand, or when she eventually laced her fingers with his. At about four o' clock, Kagome finally dozed off, fully leaning onto Inuyasha's shoulder. From Souta's vantage point, Inuyasha didn't mind - actually enjoyed her warmth, pulling her closer and nuzzling into her hair.

Mrs. Higurashi stirred a few times, but never awoke through the day, and doctors came in for routine check-ups every hour or so. Inuyasha himself nearly fell into a peaceful sleep before his ears twitched, focusing on wheezing coming from the bed, growing stronger with every moment. He opened his eyes to notice the woman on the bed had her eyes open in thin cracks, staring intently at him and Kagome, breathing roughly through her mouth. “Ka… gome…” she rasped out, limply reaching out for her sleeping daughter.

Inuyasha turned to look at the sleeping girl beside him, still leaning fully on him. He nudged her gently, running his hand down her cheek to wake her. “Kagome… Kagome,” he whispered softly, trying to get her attention when her brows furrowed and she blinked sleepily, yawning while stretching her arms.

“Kagome...” her mother tried again, easily gaining her daughter's attention. By now Souta was up too, standing on the opposite side of the hospital bed.

“Mom!” she choked, shooting up to stand beside her mother, smoothing the woman's short black hair out of her face. “How are you… how are you feeling… do you need-

“I'm fine Kagome,” she said with a light chuckle, dismissing her concerns with a wave of her hand. “It just got hard to breathe again is all…” she said, voice hoarse. “And who is this?” she asked, acknowledging Inuyasha standing silently behind her.

“Oh,” she started, pulling him forward gently, “This is my friend Inuyasha. I met him the other night. He helped me fix my car…”

“Just friends? What a shame… I'm not going to live to see my grandchildren, am I Kagome?” she asked teasingly.

“Sure you will,” she said shakily, blushing, turning away from Inuyasha. “But that can wait a few years, can't it?” she asked, laughing uncomfortably. Turning back to him, blush still very prominent on her cheeks, she introduced them formally. “Inuyasha - Mitsuko. Mom - Inuyasha.”

“Nice to meet you Ma'am,” he greeted in a friendly manner, blush also visible on his cheeks, reaching out for her hand.

“Nice to meet you, Inuyasha.” As he bent over to shake her hand, she noticed his silver doggy ears, twitching playfully on the top of his head. “I've got to say you've got the most adorable ears…”

“Keh, what is it with your family and my ears?” he asked amusedly, glancing over his shoulder at Kagome.

“Like mother like daughter, I guess,” she answered happily, reaching for an ear as a doctor entered the room, clearing his throat to calm the commotion. They all looked up at him, a gruff looking man that stood nearly half a foot taller than Inuyasha. His white coat gapped in the front, not big enough for his girth. He continued to tell them that Mrs. Higurashi's condition had stabilized, and if things remained calm, she could go home in a few days.

“Are you all immediate family?” he asked questioningly, eyeing Inuyasha's ears in suspicion. He tried to tell the truth, but Mrs. Higurashi beat him to it.

“Yes, they are. Don't worry about me… thank you, doctor,” she replied dismissingly. He left without another word. Then she turned to Kagome and Inuyasha, looking deeply into his eyes. “Do you two plan on spending the night?”

“We can't,” Kagome spoke up. “Inuyasha has to be at the bar by seven o' clock. We should probably get going.”

“Don't worry about me, Kagome. I can just call Miroku to cancel. My job won't be in jeopardy because of one no-show. We can stay if you want to,” he said shrugging his shoulders.

“Are you sure? What about Miroku and Kai? Doesn't that mean they won't get paid either?”

“Yeah, I'm sure. Miroku will understand, and Kai can rot in hell for all I care,” he said nonchalantly, heading for the door. “I'll go call Miroku.”

“If you're sure…” she said as he softly closed the door behind him.

---------------beautiful-disaster---------------

As the sun had set, the clouds had rolled back in, thick and dark, promising rain in the coming hours. Mrs. Higurashi was once again sleeping; wheezing softly from the stiff hospital bed. Souta was sleeping against the wall behind Inuyasha and Kagome, who were still seated beside the bed. Inuyasha noticed when her eyelids started to droop.

“You should get some sleep,” he suggested, positioning himself so she could lean on him comfortably. She shook her head in denial, blinking her eyes rapidly, pushing her tiredness aside, sitting up straight in the lumpy chair.

“I'm fine, really.”

“You've been resisting sleep for the last hour,” he reasoned with her quietly. “Don't worry… if anything happens, I'll wake you up. I'm used to being up all night. Just get some rest,” he commanded gently, pulling her against his shoulder, the crook of her neck molding against it perfectly. She let out a big yawn and blinked a few more times before resting the weight of her head on his shoulder. She closed her eyes and stayed quiet for a moment, allowing him to think she had fallen asleep.

“Thank you,” she muttered almost inaudibly, his advanced hearing the only reason he could pick up her softly uttered words. She repositioned herself so more of her weight rested on him. `So warm…'

“Anytime,” he replied softly, pushing her hair behind her ear, leaning his head onto hers. “Just get some sleep.”

And as Kagome drifted off into the night, letting her dreams take over, the rain began to fall.

---------------beautiful-disaster---------------

The grating of the blinds being pulled open dragged Kagome from her dreams, nearly being blinded by the light that filtered through the hospital-room window. Souta was up, as was her mother, both holding trays piled with un-appetizing looking food. Then her headrest shifted, causing her to shoot up, startled. “Hey look who's finally awake,” Souta teased, poking her in the side.

“Hey!” she protested, glaring fiercely at him. A hand on her shoulder calmed her fury, drawing her attention to Inuyasha. His eyes burned with the intensity of a summer fire, flickering wildly, sparks warming her from within.

“Good morning,” he said, holding up a tray of food with various fruit cups, yogurts, and bagels. “Breakfast?”

“That's not hospital food,” she announced, picking up a yogurt and a spoon. “You have to stop doing stuff for me… I'm in too much debt as it is.”

“Your mother gave me the money, wench. Said you wouldn't be satisfied with the stuff they have here.”

“Oh,” she said, glancing over at her mother who smiled genuinely at her. “Thanks, mom.”

“I might've paid, but Inuyasha's the one who picked it up,” she said happily, smiling at him, passing the baton off again. Kagome turned back to him.

“Thank you, too.”

“No problem. So are you gonna eat it, or what?” She took a spoonful of her yogurt as he took a huge bite from a bagel, chewing it awkwardly.

“Learn some table manners, mister,” she said, poking at his cheeks as he chewed. He spewed some tiny bits of it at her, causing her to flinch back squealing. “Watch it!” she squeaked as he grabbed for her waist, trying to pull her into his lap. He succeeded, though she fought back, flailing in his grasp. He picked up his bagel and shoved it into her open mouth, quieting her protests. He chuckled openly at her, and Mrs. Higurashi and Souta laughed quietly, Souta pointing a finger at her.

“I think Inuyasha won that round, sis,” he sniggered behind his hand. She glared back, trying to free her arms from Inuyasha's gentle grasp; to no avail. She looked back at him pleadingly, caught off guard by the soft look in his eyes.

`Just friends… we're just friends,' she thought desperately, trying to look away, trapped by his disciplining stare. He pulled the bagel from her mouth, taking another bite from it, looking away as if nothing had happened. `How does he do that?'

“Aw, gross! It's soggy!” he sputtered around the bite of bagel in his mouth, grudgingly swallowing the bite.

“That's what you get for shoving it in my mouth, idiot,” she said slyly, snaking her arm behind his head to grab for an ear. A knock sounded at the door and she stopped suddenly. He snapped his head toward the doctor who entered the room.

He had some good and bad news to deliver. The good news was that Mrs. Higurashi was better this morning - nothing had worsened and her breathing had calmed down. The bad news was that she had to stay the week - they wanted do some testing - see how far the cancer had spread again. He left them to ponder his information.

“I can stay,” Souta volunteered first, glancing down at his frail mother. Kagome wanted to stay, too. After all… she was jobless and had all the time in the world. But then there was the issue of Inuyasha.

“We've got to leave today,” she started, looking back at Inuyasha. “You've got to work tonight, and I need to look for a job.” She glanced down at her mother pitifully, then up at Souta. “Call us if anything else happens, alright?”

“Sure thing,” he answered as she gathered her things. She approached him with open arms, squeezing him tightly in a hug.

“It was good to see you again, squirt,” she joked, looking up at the man he had become, standing nearly three inches taller than her. He patted her back before releasing her, allowing her to wander to the side of the hospital bed.

“Bye mom… I'll be back as soon as I can,” she promised, leaning down to catch her mother in a gentle embrace. “Get better, okay?” she asked, staring into her mother's eyes pleadingly.

“Don't worry about me Kagome, you worry too much,” the woman replied, giving her daughter a reassuring smile. Inuyasha watched silently from behind them, amazed at the closeness of this family, though they hadn't seen each other in a few months. `I don't even know what it feels like to have a family anymore…'

“It was nice to meet you, Inuyasha,” Mrs. Higurashi said happily, waving a hand at him from the bed. “Don't let this be the last time I see him, Kagome…”

“Haha… sure mom,” she said as a new blush crept up her face, trying desperately to avoid Inuyasha's gaze. She didn't see, but his blush was just as dark as hers when they said their final goodbyes and left.

They drove back to Kagome's apartment discussing her tight-knit family. Eventually they got onto the topic of Inuyasha's family, obviously an uncomfortable subject change for him, his body stiffening at the mention of it. “Well… all I've got left is a bastard of a brother since mom died. He's some giant business tycoon and couldn't care less about me. Honestly, the feelings are mutual.”

“How can you feel that way about family…? I couldn't imagine.”

“Yeah… I wish I could say that we're as close as you and your brother. Unfortunately, he'd probably kill me before he hugged me,” he admitted as he pulled into the parking lot. They dropped the subject when he stopped the car, handing her the keys.

“Will you be at the bar tonight?” he asked hopefully as he stepped out of the car.

“Well yeah… don't tell me you're going to walk back in this weather,” she said staring up at the sky, light water droplets splattering her face, falling from the ominous black clouds hanging overhead. “You can just stay here until the storm subsides. Let me be the generous one for once.”

“Whatever…” he shrugged, following her into the house. The first thing Kagome did was plop down on the couch and grab the remote.

“Nothing like a movie on a stormy day, right?” she asked, patting the cushion beside her. “Want some popcorn?” she asked as she stood up to drag her feet into the kitchen.

“I'm good,” he answered from the living room, watching her as she rummaged through multiple cupboards. “Where's Sango?”

“Who knows… probably at work. Don't tell me that lard ate the last of the popcorn, too,” she muttered to herself, slamming the cupboards closed before she stood on tip-toe to scan the top of the fridge. “Ah-ha! Found it.” Glancing up at her guest for the first time, she pointed to some shelves beside the TV. “You can pick a movie…”

He gave the rack of movies a once-over, and pulled out `The American President'. “This okay?” he asked, holding the box up for her to see.

“Sure, that's one of my favorites,” she said happily as she scurried from the kitchen, grabbing a big bowl and the bag of popcorn from the microwave. She dumped it into the bowl and returned to her place on the couch, Inuyasha occupying the seat next to her now as the movie started. Every once in awhile he would take a handful of the buttery-crunchy goodness, crunching quietly as they watched the screen intently.

About halfway through, Kagome's eyelids began drooping and she leaned closer to him. He stood and repositioned himself, this time with his feet on the couch too, nearly touching Kagome. She looked over at him a couple of times with weary eyes, wondering to herself if he would mind if she laid down with him. `No reason not to try,' she reasoned with herself, slowly lying down in front of him. He stretched his legs so they reached the end of the couch, and she leaned back against him when she almost rolled forward off the couch. “Sorry `bout that,” she said as she looked over her shoulder at him. He held her by the shoulder, scooting back to give her more space.

“No problem. You have enough room?”

“Yep, I'm fine,” she answered through a yawn, resting her head on the thin pillow under his arm. He too, found his lids to be getting heavy, eyes burning as he tried to focus on the movie playing across the screen. The rain picked up, nearly drowning out the sound coming from the TV, lulling Kagome to sleep. Inuyasha followed her lead, stretching out completely, leaning his head on the pillow. Subconsciously, his hand found the junction of her waist, and he pulled her closer before following her into a mid-day slumber.

---------------beautiful-disaster---------------

A/N:

Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha.

A warning for next time: Kai will be there. That should be saying enough... but if not, there's another phone call from Souta. Our happy moment is up:(

Until next time - grilledbamboo

- 19 -