InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Beneath the Skin ❯ Wanna ride? ( Chapter 2 )

A/N: Yippee…another chapter! We're having such a blast writing this fic and thank y'all so much for your reviews!

Constructive feedback is totally welcome, in fact, we're begging for it! So please, let us know what you think! Can't wait to hear from you!

Scherezade & YoukaiMusashi (jesse_ryuu@hotmail.com)

Oh and Inu and the gang still do not belong to us! Only to Rumiko Takahashi.

 

 

Wordlessly a red-faced Kagome took the black leather jacket from Inuyasha's hands. He had tossed it casually over a chair soon after entering the room and it had remained there, forgotten, until now. Kagome slipped her arms into the jacket's sleeves, folding them up so that she could free her hands. She marveled at how surprisingly buttery soft the leather felt, as her fingers struggled with the zipper at the front. She wasn't aware of it, but she was shaking slightly. Kagome felt disconnected, lonely, and incomplete. And suddenly very cold.

 

Inuyasha sighed, and gently but firmly clasped his hand around Kagome's fist, which was currently clutching the front of his jacket tightly, as if she didn't quite know what to do with it. He gently tugged her fingers away from the zipper and then let it go. Kagome stared, mesmerized, by Inuyasha's hand. She could still see the dried blood on his palm, but not a trace of his wounds. Kagome did not dare look into Inuyasha's eyes. She did not know what to do with the jacket…what to do with herself for that matter. For a moment, Kagome believed that she had slipped into a parallel universe and that the last few hours hadn't happened…that none of this was real. The movement of Inuyasha's hand as he silently zipped up the jacket for her was all Kagome could focus on to cling to sanity. Inuyasha's hand was real, the jacket around her felt real enough…warm and comforting. Though she was still wrapped up in her own thoughts, Kagome was slowly but surely making her return to reality. And reality included the awareness of the dried blood that still crusted her skin.

 

Kagome wrinkled her nose as she rubbed her hands together in a futile attempt to rid them of the brown stains. She was so absorbed in her task that she didn't notice Inuyasha leave the room only to return moments later with damp paper towels. His own hands now clean, Inuyasha busied himself with gently wiping away traces of his blood from Kagome's skin.

 

As he continued his ministrations, Inuyasha looked down at Kagome's face and tried to retreat behind the emotionless façade that his elder half brother, Sesshomoru was so adept at. The idea that Kagome might see him as an animal…a miserable half-breed, was something that tore through his heart and left it feeling raw. For some reason, he couldn't stomach the possibility that this woman, this miko, be repulsed by him. And yet, hadn't Inuyasha just proven himself to be a `mindless animal' just now, by losing control of his own temper, his own blood? Inuyasha was shaken by how he had almost lost himself to his demon side, the rage within. Had all of his training, all the years spent strengthening his willpower meant nothing in the end? Inuyasha's self doubts and insecurities were clawing at the back of his mind and he felt physically ill. He was once again a little hanyou boy, at the mercy of his cruel grandfather, being reminded that he was nothing but a `mistake' a `dishonorable blight on the family name.'

 

Inuyasha swallowed as he tried to hide how shaken he felt. Kagome looked up and was startled to see his beautiful amber eyes looking so lost and empty as he replayed old hurts in his mind.

 

“Inuyasha?” Kagome's voice gently broke through the cloud of past memories.

He looked down at her hands and was mildly surprised not only to see that all traces of blood were gone but that he had been idly rubbing her delicate fingers with his own.

 

"Come on, wench." Inuyasha said brusquely, all traces of vulnerability now gone.

 

`His moods are so unpredictable.' Kagome thought as her gaze slowly traveled from his eyes, to his lips, and then down to her own form wrapped in his jacket.

 

The jacket had fit Inuyasha perfectly - accentuating his masculine physique, giving him just the right air of cool rebelliousness. On her, however, the jacket was too large. It hung past her hips to fall just above her knees, the sleeves completely hiding her hands. Kagome was practically swimming in the material, and yet… it seemed to embrace her in a warm hug… she didn't feel cold anymore. She caught a vague scent - wild, yet soothing - mingled with the smell of leather.

 

'Inuyasha's scent,' Kagome thought vaguely, and almost smiled.

 

Inuyasha became impatient; apparently she was too lost in her thoughts to hear him, so he grabbed her hand and pulled her towards the door. "I said come on! You do want to go home, don't you?" He growled. Kagome stared at his hand clasping hers and nodded.

 

"But...it's late and I need to call home. They'll come and pick me up. I could - I could give you a ride if you want..."

 

As weird as the thought was, Kagome found these words more surreal than everything that had just happened a few minutes ago. Before today, if anyone had told her that she would one day be offering Inuyasha Takahashi anything - let alone a ride somewhere - she would have rolled her eyes and laughed.

 

"Keh. I can get home just fine. I'll take you to your place. No need to call for a fancy limo, I can get us there faster. Besides, you don't look too well. I'll make sure you get home safely."

 

"I don't look too well? You - you say this to me after what you just went through? Would it kill you to accept my help, Inuyasha? And whatever makes you think I need you to see me home safely? Besides, I've never seen you drive."

 

It was true, Inuyasha had always just shown up at school. Kagome had never seen him around any car parked in the student lot. `Perhaps his older half brother dropped him off before going to the Takahashi company?', She thought. But somehow that didn't quite fit...

 

Inuyasha rolled his eyes. "'Course you've never seen me drive. I ride, kitten. Wanna ride with me?" He smiled at her and Kagome felt herself blush. Inuyasha took note of her rosy cheeks and wisely held in his laughter. After all that had happened between them…after the way they had touched each other…she was still capable of blushing because of suggestive words. God, how he wanted this woman!

 

"Inuyasha..." She started uncertainly as he continued to tug at her hand. Kagome found herself rushing to keep up with his large strides as they made their way outside the building to the student parking lot. He obviously could see much better in the dark than her, judging by the way his steps never faltered as they traveled over a cobblestone walkway.

 

"Check it out." He said, as he suddenly stopped and made a motion with his head towards a very large, black motorcycle. "That's our ride, kitten. 2004 Honda VTX 1800N, in case you're wondering."

 

Kagome's eyes widened. "I...I've never..."

 

"Keh. I figured that much. Have you ever felt the wind stroking your hair, the feeling of being completely free, if only for an instant?" He asked her. Kagome stared at him uncertainly. This was dangerous. Her mind screamed. This was crazy. She reasoned. This was...absolutely thrilling and new and so very much like Inuyasha...

 

"Free..." She mouthed the word, and a smile touched the corners of her lips.

 

Inuyasha smiled too, and squeezed her hand reassuringly. "Trust me. You'll love it."

 

"But...I've never been on a motorcycle before..."

 

"Scared, huh? Can't blame you. Pretty, little kitten, who always rides on the comfy velvet seats of her limo as she sips imported mineral water. Keh!"

 

Kagome glared at him. Truth to be told, she preferred old fashioned walking or riding a bicycle, for getting where she wanted to go. Apparently, it was fine for Kagome to act like that while she was a child, but ever since her 15th birthday, her mother had insisted that Kagome have the family limo take her everywhere. Of course, Kagome complied… just to make her mother happy. Kagome didn't mind it, not usually… but she sometimes felt so... restricted.

 

And she did not drink imported mineral water! There was a natural spring not far from her house and Kagome always filled her water bottle from it. Though it sounded silly to say so, the water there was so fresh and clean, drinking from it made her feel as if her whole soul was being cleansed. Not that she felt the need to tell Inuyasha that…especially not when she sounded like a cheesy bottled water ad.

 

Kagome let go of his hand. "I'm not scared!" She said, chin lifted high. "It's just so...."

 

"Cool?" Inuyasha said, grinning arrogantly.

 

"I was going to say dangerous." Kagome replied, hands on her hips - well, what she assumed was her hips, since the large jacket she was wearing made it so hard to judge.

 

Inuyasha rolled his eyes. "Could you just trust me? You are safe. I mean...err...it's safe! The motorcycle - it's safe. Besides, you won't be riding it. I'll ride, you sit behind me, and try not to leave any pieces of your body on the road."

 

Inuyasha chuckled at Kagome's shocked expression. When she realized he was just teasing her, she frowned at him. "Honestly, you are just so, so..."

 

"Charming?"

 

"Irritating!"

 

Inuyasha shrugged. "Yeah, I know. Charmingly irritating."

 

“Whatever. You're lucky that I'm not wearing a skirt today.” Kagome mumbled in resignation as she looked again at the bike.

 

Inuyasha, who had been in the process of unlocking his helmet from the bike turned to her and said, “Keh, I'd say that I'm unlucky then.”

 

Kagome sputtered as she looked up at him, an embarrassed flush once again coloring her face. “I'm going to pretend that I didn't hear you say that just now. Really, what is it with you men? You like it when the girl you're with shows herself off to everyone around y-“

 

Her words were cut off as Inuyasha ducked his head and used his fingers to pull her chin up so that their eyes were level. She was surprised to see the intensity…the possessiveness that burned in his amber gaze, the firm way he held her face immobile, the heat in his low throated growl.

 

“We're taking this slow, agreed? But let's get one thing straight. Nobody, but nobody, will have the right to look at you…touch you…other than me. If you're going to be my bitch, you have to know that I don't share!”

 

“Who says I want to be shared?!” Kagome shot back, angry at what she thought he was assuming. As she processed the rest of his statement, she couldn't help the shocked tears that filled her eyes as she whispered, “And who gave you the right to call me…call me…names?”

 

The look of panic on Inuyasha's face was almost enough to keep Kagome's tears at bay. Almost, but not quite, and for a third time that day, Kagome found herself crying in Inuyasha's arms.

 

“Kitten…kitten…please don't cry, I wasn't trying to insult you.” Inuyasha began in a soothing voice.

 

Kagome would have none of it. This was it, the last straw. In one day, her emotions for Inuyasha had been completely reversed; her previous notions about what was proper behavior had been turned on their head; her very idea of who she believed herself to be had been rocked by her reactions to him.

 

Now she was being held by a man that her body desperately desired…a man who had just insulted her!

 

Kagome twisted sharply in his embrace and brought her elbow up to ram him in the stomach and was satisfied to hear his grunt of surprise. “Oh, and I suppose I was just imagining things when you called me a…a…bi- female dog?” she hissed through her tears.

 

Inuyasha's arms only tightened around her as she continued to struggle. “Kitten…I'm half youkai…do you know what kind?”

 

“Inu youkai…what does that have anything to do with -”

 

Inuyasha grunted in satisfaction as Kagome went limp in his arms, the fight suddenly drained from her.

 

“Kitten, do you get it now? An inu youkai male will refer to his woman as a bitch…it's not an insult. Fuck, it's considered a term of respect…of commitment.”

As Inuyasha spoke, he couldn't resist burying his face in the crook of her neck…her skin was so warm, so inviting, and she smelled so delicious.

 

Kagome tilted her head to give him better access and murmured, “I feel really foolish. And really tired. I'm sorry, Inuyasha.”

 

They stayed there for a few more minutes until Inuyasha registered the slight increase in wind. Again, the feeling of rightness…the feeling of warmth that came from standing so close to Kagome, was hard to disengage from.

Reluctantly he dropped his arms, “Kitten, let's get you home.”

 

+++++++++++++

 

Kagome's first motorcycle ride was, to put it bluntly, out of this world. She surprised herself by giggling several times as the wind whipped Inuyasha's silver tresses to caress her face. And Inuyasha's soft laughter, which she could just barely hear above the wind through the helmet that he had placed on her head, in response to her own giddiness increased her lightheartedness.

 

Inuyasha had been right. She absolutely loved “the ride”. Kagome couldn't remember ever feeling so free before. She had been locked in a gilded cage for far too long and hadn't even realized it.

 

Kagome clung to Inuyasha's waist like her life depended on it, pretty much believing this to be so when the bike started and gradually picked up speed. It was too dark outside for Kagome to actually see evidence of how fast they were going, so she closed her eyes and allowed herself to simply feel. Her death grip on Inuyasha had slowly relaxed as Kagome savored the heat of his body against her front, and the incredible sensation of flying as they rushed to meet the wind. Kagome pressed her breasts to his back, smiling like a little girl, knowing, indeed, that she was safe. Safe with him.

 

Before today, Kagome would never have thought that she would ever find herself on a motorcycle, let alone on a motorcycle with Inuyasha Takahashi. Then again, she would never in a million years have imagined any of the day's events, where he was concerned.

 

The rush of adrenaline and freedom Kagome felt with him, riding with Inuyasha, riding with the wind, washed away her worries for the time being. She decided to ignore her utter disbelief of what had taken place between them, the persistent little voice that told her she should sit down calmly and analyze the situation properly, for now.

 

Eventually, Kagome knew that she would have to try and clear her head of all impure thoughts, of all the alien and overwhelming feelings Inuyasha had awakened in her. She would need to take a step back from the situation so that she could find some explanation for her actions…for Inuyasha's actions. Kagome had been shocked by the depths of the hanyou's pain -and her automatic response to it. Why had she felt so protective of him in that moment? Why had her aura refused to abandon his youki? And when their energies had finally separated, why had she felt so - empty?

 

Kagome believed there was an explanation to everything. Explanations usually came with knowledge.

 

You really don't know shit about me, do you?

 

No, she really didn't. And she had to know why her protective miko instincts hadn't kicked in when Inuyasha had...changed. Why hadn't she felt threatened? Instead of feeling afraid, Kagome had wanted to comfort him, make his pain go away. Why?

 

Kagome recalled his words about Kikyou.

 

If you believed I could do that to her, to anyone...why...why the fuck are you here, Kagome?

 

Why indeed? Because Kagome didn't really believe he would force himself on a girl. She didn't think he was an animal. Since moving to Tokyo, Kagome had come to understand the character and motivations of her cousin, Kikyou, much better than she had as a child. As a result, Kagome had learned that most of what came from the older girl's mouth could not be believed. Now more than ever, it seemed that Kikyou and Inuyasha had something against one another. Kagome had to be honest with herself; Kikyou's words had initially made her doubt Inuyasha's integrity...and now she felt ashamed for that. Kagome's negative assumption about his character had hurt him. But the pain she had sensed within Inuyasha was enormous, almost tangible. It seemed as if her words had triggered something deeper inside of him…some past hurt…

 

Kagome needed time, time to think… she always thought every single thing through, darn it! She grimaced - it was obvious that her brain had taken a mini holiday this evening…the minute she and Inuyasha had found themselves alone with each other. And yet...it had felt right. Thoughts hadn't mattered. All that mattered was Inuyasha's touch, his kisses, his protective, warm, passionate embrace...it had felt more than right.

 

Kagome wanted to carefully ponder her responses to him, why being with Inuyasha

made her feel complete. She had known this the second he had parted from her...because she hadn't realized until then that she had felt empty her whole life. And it didn't make sense in Kagome's practical mind. Why she had let him get so close to her in the first place when she had never allowed anyone else to do so?

 

Kagome had to deal with her new feelings for him. Physical attraction, why yes, she had never doubted that. But...things had changed now.

 

But as the motorcycle again picked up speed, Kagome squealed as felt overwhelmed by a carefree, almost childish joy. The thinking part of her brain went silent. All Kagome needed to know for the moment was that she was happy, that she was free, that she was with Inuyasha and that she...that she...loved - being with him.

 

The thought of being lost, of losing herself in this impossibly handsome, irritating, mysterious hanyou, crossed her mind for a second as the wind played with her hair and pulled at her clothing, as the bike made a dangerous turn and her body adjusted to the movement. Rather than feeling panicked at the idea she found it soothing - in an unsettling way. Kagome rolled her eyes at the contradictory thought.

 

When they finally came to an abrupt stop in front of her home, Kagome had to bite her tongue to resist the urge to beg Inuyasha for another ride. Inuyasha helped her get off the motorcycle, taking her smaller hand in his. Kagome giggled again as she lost her balance, the heady feeling of freedom still clinging to her. She suddenly realized much to her embarrassment, however, that she would have fallen if Inuyasha hadn't caught her in his strong arms. What had she been thinking? Nothing, of course. Her mind had stopped functioning the moment Inuyasha's lips had touched hers earlier that evening.

 

Kagome found herself blushing as she shyly looked up at Inuyasha through her eyelashes, only to meet his amused golden gaze. The hanyou chuckled softly before he helped her remove the helmet he had insisted she wear.

 

Kagome didn't know if he was laughing because she had been feeling so drunk, intoxicated by the freedom she had never experienced before, that she had lost her balance and almost fallen...or if he was laughing because she was blushing again, hopelessly lost again in his eyes, her heart pounding so loudly she was positive he could hear it.

 

"Careful, kitten. Shit, you're one clumsy bitch." He smirked, showing a bit of fang. Kagome stood up straight in his arms and glared at him.

 

"I am not clumsy! I was just..."

 

"...about to fall on your pretty face." Inuyasha finished for her.

 

Kagome let go of him. "Would you stop putting words into my mouth? Do you have any idea how annoying that is?" She snapped.

 

Inuyasha, however, wrapped his right arm about her waist and pulled her closer. "You're awfully cute when you get annoyed with me, you know." He whispered. "And I like your hair like that." He lifted his left hand and ran his long, elegant fingers through her tussled ebony mane.

 

"Stop that..." Kagome said in a tiny voice that completely lacked conviction. There it was again, the feeling of losing herself...of being lost...and loving it...she mentally kicked herself. How frustrating!

 

"Stop what, kitten?" Inuyasha said, his fingers still running through her dark tresses, almost as if he wasn't fully aware that he was doing it.

 

"You...you're teasing me!" Kagome exclaimed, and was outraged when he laughed heartily at her statement.

 

"Kitten, I'm just telling you the truth." Inuyasha whispered, his face leaning closer to hers. Kagome held her breath. She had to pull away. She had to. But she couldn't.

 

In a desperate attempt to cling to sanity, Kagome turned her face to one side and Inuyasha's lips landed on her cheek. Her knees turned to jelly, though, when she felt Inuyasha run his tongue slowly across her skin.

 

Inuyasha moved his face and cupped her chin in his hand. "I was merely trying to give you a kiss goodnight, kitten. You won't let me?" He asked, and actually pouted.

 

"I - you - you said we should take things...slow." Kagome managed.

Inuyasha nodded, and quickly leaned over and pressed his lips briefly to hers.

 

"Night, kitten. Sweet dreams." He whispered, as a claw caressed her cheek. His arm abandoned her waist. Suddenly, Inuyasha's previous words echoed in Kagome's ears.

 

Nobody, but nobody, will have the right to look at you…touch you…other than me.

 

And she knew only too well what she had answered, when he'd said that he didn't 'share'...

Why had she said that? That she didn't want to be shared? Had she agreed to be his 'bitch'? This thought did not shock or anger her...it actually made her feel warm all over.

 

`I'm his bitch. He wants me to be his bitch. His…girl.' Kagome thought, smiling inwardly. She'd never say the word 'bitch' aloud though, but it felt nice...now that she knew it wasn't an insult. It was...a compliment...

 

`Inuyasha's bitch...' Great, now she was blushing again...

 

Kagome shocked herself further when she grabbed Inuyasha's arm, and spoke in a quiet voice. "Wait."

 

Inuyasha didn't say anything, he just stopped and glanced at her hand gripping his arm and looked into her eyes.

 

"Just a kiss goodnight?" Kagome asked slowly.

 

"No more, no less." Inuyasha replied.

 

Kagome swallowed and nodded. "Okay..." She said softly, and her eyes fluttered closed.

 

Inuyasha allowed himself a satisfied smirk and leaned over again, this time applying pressure when his lips touched hers. Kagome parted her lips, granting him access, and Inuyasha's tongue caressed hers lovingly, his mouth opening wider as he deepened the kiss, his hands clasping Kagome's face. Her skin felt hot under his fingertips.

 

Kagome sighed blissfully as her tongue lapped at his. She actually surprised him and herself when she sucked on his tongue lusciously, releasing it, and then licking his fangs, as Inuyasha in turn explored and learned her warm sweet mouth all over again.

 

They parted for breath and stared into each others' eyes for what seemed an eternity. The only sounds in the night were their hard breathing, and Kagome's frantic heartbeats in Inuyasha's ears. The scent of her arousal hit him full force, assaulting his senses.

 

`Slow...slow...' Inuyasha chanted in his head, reminding himself of his words to her.

 

Inuyasha sighed and planted a gentle kiss on Kagome's forehead before releasing her from his embrace.

 

The inu hanyou got on his bike, gave her a seductive smile and was off at such an incredible speed that made Kagome's eyes widen. She briefly wondered if they had been riding so dangerously fast. Kagome slowly shook her head, unaware of the slightly amused yet tender smile that touched the corners of her lips, as she embraced herself and sharply inhaled the woodsy, leathery scent of Inuyasha's jacket. The tips of Kagome's fingers grazed the leather with lingering strokes, and she closed her eyes for a moment, savoring the texture and drowning in the safety of Inuyasha's scent.

 

With a sigh, Kagome keyed in her access code at the front gate so that she could begin the trek up the drive that led to her house. Kagome was so caught up in her own thoughts that she soon found herself entering her home and shutting the door behind her. She almost called out a greeting, but the house had the heavy yet comfortable silence of a family home that had tucked in for the night.

 

Kagome leaned her back against the front door, shut her eyes, and licked her lips, suddenly longing to feel Inuyasha's mouth on hers again...reassuringly soft and at the same time hard and persistent, the pressure of his lips on hers and the movements of his tongue inside her mouth driving her to a state of sweet insanity...

 

'Stop it. Kagome. Open your eyes. Slowly. That's it. Good.'

 

Kagome instantly obeyed the sane portion of her mind, grateful to again hear that voice in her head, as tiny and insecure as it sounded, and her hand rose to her chest, where her heart was beating so rapidly it seemed it would burst.

 

She took a deep breath, forced her mind to erase any thoughts of Inuyasha and of the entire confusing, eventful evening. With a sigh, Kagome slowly headed for her room, her feet carrying her upstairs without her even being aware of it.

 

Instead of collapsing on her soft, pink bed like she had originally meant to, Kagome stood in the center of her room unsure of what to do next. As much as she was determined to clearly think everything through, Kagome felt tired, messy, and so very…sore.

 

Kagome blushed prettily. Her breasts ached with the memory of Inuyasha's caresses. She was certain her lips looked swollen - they definitely felt that way - and when she touched them, they tingled deliciously. As for her panties, Kagome's blush deepened, as she acknowledged that her release had rendered them beyond salvation. Wearily, Kagome rubbed her eyes. She had been brought to tears not once but three times in the past few hours. The vain thought that she would definitely not like her reflection in the mirror at the moment, filtered through her head and caused Kagome to chuckle. To be concerned about her appearance of all things…

 

Out of curiosity, Kagome padded away from her comfortable bed towards her connecting bathroom. She hesitantly looked at the mirrored wall in front of her, but then sighed in relief. The image was of a petite woman dwarfed by an overly large leather jacket, with messy dark hair, and a blush dusting her cheeks. Her lips were indeed a little swollen, but there was no trace of her tears. In fact, her brown eyes actually glowed...with an emotion Kagome didn't recognize. She frowned slightly at this, as she leaned closer to the mirror to stare into her reflection's gaze... Had she imagined that strange, blissful and vaguely remote look?

 

"You definitely need some rest." Kagome pointed an accusing finger at her image as her reflection scowled back at her. She laughed when she realized she was lecturing herself, shook her head again in disbelief, and glanced at the huge, inviting bathtub.

 

Yes, Kagome definitely needed some rest. But a nice, hot bath didn't sound half bad... except she'd have to get out of her clothes. And this meant that she was going to have to take off Inuyasha's jacket at some point...

 

"Baka..." Kagome murmured, unsure if she was referring to herself or to Inuyasha, as she stripped and threw her clothes into the nearby hamper. She once again picked up the leather jacket and caressed the buttery soft material before burying her nose into it and inhaling deeply. The scent was masculine… utterly masculine… utterly Inuyasha. Kagome let out an exasperated sigh, furious at her actions, before throwing the jacket across the large bathroom. She was immediately sorry when she saw the jacket lying on the marble floor, abandoned and looking quite lonely. For a brief, insane moment it seemed like the jacket was actually scowling at her for handling it so rudely.

 

"You are just a stupid jacket!" She said pointedly. "So stay there! Jackets do not scowl and they do not look lonely!"

 

Kagome listened to her own words and resisted the urge to scream. "And I'm going crazy. I'm going completely insane!" She again glared at the jacket.

 

'I'm glaring at a jacket. I actually told a jacket to stay where it was. I'm speaking to a stupid jacket! I'm proclaiming my insanity aloud in my own bathroom.'

 

God! Kagome ran her fingers through her messy hair compulsively and rolled her eyes at her own immature, if not disturbing behavior. She had been talking to a freaking jacket. Great, just great.

 

Kagome let the tub fill as she absentmindedly poured in one of her calming bath oils before sinking down in the hot, fragrant water. She sighed happily and closed her eyes.

 

"What am I going to do with you, Inuyasha?" Kagome whispered. "What am I going to do with myself?"

 

Her eyes opened and she glared at the ceiling. "You irritating, arrogant..." Kagome struggled for words. "...rude, stubborn...gorgeous man..."

 

She gave out a cry of frustration at her own words. Kagome sank her head into the water and came out again, hair plastered to her cheeks and back.

 

"I need to get some sleep..." Kagome muttered. "This is...this is not me talking! Not me thinking! I'm not thinking...I haven't been thinking at all tonight! And I'd better start doing just that...tomorrow."

 

She finished her bath and without even realizing what she was doing, she wrapped herself in the jacket she had thrown across the bathroom floor instead of grabbing her fluffy, pink towel. Her eyes widened when she looked down at herself.

 

"Darn it!"

 

Kagome felt like screaming again. What the hell was wrong with her? She quickly shrugged out of the jacket. Thankfully, the leather had not been ruined by the water, but the soft, fabric inner lining was now wet. Kagome wrapped her towel around her body, murmuring the words 'stupid, stupid' like a mantra as she dried herself quickly and stepped out into her room.

 

She grabbed the jacket roughly by the collar and tossed it onto a chair by the bed. Kagome then sat down on her bed, her chin on her palm, and glared at it, almost waiting for the cursed thing to speak to her.

 

Of course the jacket didn't speak. But she could hear its owner's husky, sexy voice in her head and there was nothing Kagome could do to silence it.

 

I ride, kitten. Wanna ride with me?

 

She rolled her eyes and with a loud, exasperated sigh, flopped back onto her bed.

A good night's sleep. That's exactly what she needed. Talking to a jacket was a sure sign that all was not well with her mental health.

 

Kagome was knew that she should dry her hair, comb it, brush her teeth, change into her nightgown...but she was so exhausted, her mind simply couldn't deal with these simple rituals. Her eyes closed and sleep claimed her.

 

Kagome dreamed of Inuyasha.

 

The inu hanyou was laying on his side on Kagome's pink bed, his cheek resting on his palm, as he leaned on his elbow and cockily smiled down at her. His long, wild hair enveloped both of them like a silky cloak of silver moonlight. Inuyasha wore nothing but his sexy smirk. And when Kagome looked down at herself, she discovered she was wearing Inuyasha's leather jacket, quite naked under it, too. Her hair was wet, and her head was lying on his lean, muscular chest, her ear pressed to his heart, the sound of his heartbeats loud and soothing. Kagome felt comfortable, she felt safe, she felt...at home.

 

All they did in her dream was talk.

 

At times, their conversation was punctuated by the rich baritone of Inuyasha's carefree laughter. And his eyes…. his golden, luminous eyes glowed as if lit by some inner happiness. Kagome wondered, even in her sleep, if this had been how his beautiful eyes had looked when he'd laughed freely along with her as they rode together on his bike. They talked, they laughed, they smiled, they stared at each other. They embraced, they kissed sweetly every now and then, they explored each other's faces with lips and fingers.

 

And just before Kagome woke up the next morning, she felt Inuyasha's soft lips on her eyelids, and heard his words in her dream:

 

Sweet dreams, kitten.

 

+++++++++++

A/N: So *sorry* everyone…you've asked all the right questions about what the heck is going on between Inuyasha, Kagome, and Kikyou… and this chapter doesn't really answer any of them.

::The authors nervously look around:: But we promise, background information is on its way!

::Scherezade hides behind YoukaiMusashi:: Response to reviewer comments to come soon!

 

Thank you again for reading - you really have no idea how much we BOTH appreciate it when people take the time to read and give us feedback! It's great working with one another…but reviewer responses help get us sooooooo excited!

 

::YoukaiMusashi pulls Scherezade out from behind her and both do the happy reviewer dance::