InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Choices, Choices... ❯ New Friends ( Chapter 11 )

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InuyashaFanFiction: black_fairy119

deviantART: no1sangel, luvtodraw, Cali2007, inusessy, hottyruby, Ailionora, dinjzie.

FanFiction: LittleFoxDemon

 

Replies - MediaMiner:

unistar- yes, Kagome and Sesshoumaru make a great match! But you are correct, it is Inuyasha's turn! He's had some stuff going on and feels bad that he hadn't seen her in so long. I'm glad you like the story… And I'm so happy that you comment so often! ^_^

Iceberg60- LOL You're right, in a way. I didn't mean for Sesshoumaru to come off so ruthless, because we know he has compassion. But I did make him a tad bit mean. He's actually good for Kagome - he makes her try new things. But so are the others. Yes, unfortunately, I'm a fan of all three shippings (although SessKag is my fave), so it's hard for me to write her feelings sometimes, and often I feel bad for the other 2 guys when I'm writing her with one of them, lol. Thank you so much for the lovely compliments! I will keep writing as long as you all comment and spread the news about this story!

xcuteanimegurlx- Thanks so much! Oh, I'm so glad you found it! XD Yeah, I like that she's more modern than in other stories. But don't get me wrong, she's not a player, because she doesn't intend on hurting anyone! She's just testing the waters, to see who she's most compatible with. Yay! A Kouga/Kags fan! ^_^ Kouga deserves more love, lol. I'm glad you're enjoying, see you next chapter!

buzzk97- XD You always crack me up! Please… DON'T refrain from dancing! I know how you feel - I do the same thing when either one of my fave stories is updated or a new volume of one of the manga I read comes out! So I'm just as much a dork. ^_^ Thanks for the birthday wishes - I didn't get a lot, but my husband got me a TOMTOM (a navigation unit for my car), and that was great! I always wanted one! Ooh, I'm glad you liked the chappie, but I'm even more happy that you're starting to come to the dark side (Sesshoumaru's, that is, lol). I'll make you forget all about that flea-bag… Oh, sorry - I was channeling Inuyasha for a second -.-; MUAHAHAHA!!!!! I dunno… you'll just have to see, won't you? Oh, please, no weeping. The threats, bribes, and psychotic laughing, I can handle. But no weeping.

theblackangels- Thanks for the birthday wishes! Haha, Inuyasha is always getting himself in trouble, huh?

foxtale3- Thank you so much! I think so, too. I hate when people assume he's this heartless, ruthless creature. He just prefers not to flaunt his weaknesses (although what good does it do? Naraku keeps abducting Rin…) like Inuyasha does. Thanks so much! Wow, I'm so flattered! I have a few I watch for as well, but I subscribe to them, otherwise I'll forget to check up on them, lol. I'm glad you're enjoying, and continue to enjoy. I know you're putting a lot of time into this, despite the fact that there is no guarantee who she winds up with. So, thanks for reading! I hope you're ok with this chapter, even though there's no Kouga in it, LOL.

 

 

A/N: Wild Turkey = Whiskey. Strong stuff… (***) = dream/flashback plzkthanx. Sorry it took so long to get out, but I am working on two other stories as well (1 hasn't been submitted yet). I'll try my best to get the next one out a little quicker. You guys are the best fans ever! Keep spreading the word of Choices and remember, reviews are love! :3

 

This chapter is dedicated to one of my favorite people and artists, Lilliane. She's not only a good friend, but a faithful (yet rabid) reader of Choices. She recently drew me some giftart (as a bribe, I might add) and even though I promised her I would have this done last week, I couldn't because my husband had the flu. So this is for my patient (somewhat) and avid fan, Lilli - AKA luvtodraw (on deviantART). BTW, sorry there's not too much Sesshy in this, my dear. But at least I made him kick Inuyasha's ass for you. XD

 

 

Choices, Choices…

Chapter 11: New Friends

 

 

 

 

Sesshoumaru had awoken early - the morning rays of orange, red, and pink were just beginning to show through the seafoam green curtains. He knew Kagome would not have to be up for at least an hour. He would let her sleep. Becoming more aware as he returned from unconsciousness, he found that he had not moved during his slumber. That was odd, because usually he tossed and turned. One with such a long life has many memories to plague them when their eyes close.

 

He turned to Kagome. She was still asleep, and had barely moved herself. But the way she had moved made his heart jump just a little. Instead of just her hand on his person, she had snuggled close. Her arm was thrown over him, her fingers gently curving with his ribs. Now that he was conscious of it, he also felt her leg, bent and light, over his own. Sesshoumaru smirked. He had never, ever, stayed in a woman's bed. He had many lovers over the centuries, but he usually invited them to his own home, then promptly kicked them out.

 

But with the coming of Rin eleven years ago, he had stopped all debauchery - well, those that had to do with the flesh, at least. He would not have the whores and gold-diggers that he usually kept the company of traipsing around in front of Rin. It was bad enough that the world's women - both youkai and ningen - had become such a demoralized, weak breed. No - Rin would be strong, and she would not settle for just anyone.

 

Due to his rather… corrupt company, he had had no lovers in those eleven years. He would not allow them in his house, and no woman's bed - that he had seen as of yet - was worth his presence. Until Kagome.

 

He watched her sleeping figure. Her delicate form was wrapped gingerly around him, yet she was barely there - she was such a fragile creature, in both body and mind. Yet her soul was strong. She was a fighter, yet did not seem ruined by today's society. And that made her worthy. He reached for a stray lock of her hair. It slid through his clawed fingers like liquid.

 

He sighed. For once, he was content, and did not wish to leave the bed, even if it wasn't his. He could skip classes today - he could always threaten a classmate into giving him notes - but Kagome couldn't. No, scratch that. She wouldn't, because he would not allow it. It would be his fault, and that wouldn't do. He knew that if he told her he wanted to stay with her, she would most likely want to stay as well.

 

Sesshoumaru recalled - briefly - the memory of the one time he had shared a bed with a woman. She had been youkai, for in those times, he would not have dared to be with a human. She had been beautiful: her shockingly pink hair had been curly and short - just past her ears - and her emerald green eyes had made him feel like his heart could melt a little in her presence. Of course, her sweet personality had attracted him, and her beauty had been somewhat of a bonus.

 

*****

 

He had run into her when he was coming to America - for the second time - on a boat. They each had a cabin on the ship, and each was pretending to be an aristocrat of some sort. To the humans, she looked like a blonde woman, her eyes still enchantingly green. She turned down many rich men as he watched her in the dining hall for the upper class. They had locked eyes, and neither had given way.

 

Eventually, another suitor approached her, but she did not break her stare with Sesshoumaru as she kindly dismissed the gentleman caller. She looked glamorous to the human men - a huge hoop skirt ballooned the impossibly intricate pink and white dress, and her corset pushed her breasts out of the top while holding her waist in, making it incredibly tiny. But Sesshoumaru did not care for the American customs of women: they showed too much skin and he was still used to the Japanese custom of hiding almost every piece of flesh. To show her skin would be flirtatious. But in this case, this woman was simply playing by American rules.

 

Sesshoumaru was dressed spectacularly. He had adapted well to the human man's ideas of dress code. He didn't care for the `fashion' of the western women - the corsets and difficult, ballooning dresses were complicated and he had received many assaults on his person for ruining such expensive clothing. He liked the idea of suits, however. They were comfortable, and the better tailored, the more it showed his status in society. Here, a tuxedo was required. So he wore one, and blended with almost every other young, rich man in the room.

 

But a few things separated him from the others. The first thing women noticed was his long, black hair. It was not uncommon for men to have long hair, and he was keeping it black at the time with the spell, but his hair was exceedingly long; to his knees. The second thing that set him apart were his eyes. Their golden brown color - at that time, controlled by his youki - received gasps from both men and women alike. And the third were his accessories. His shoes were obviously expensive, as were the violet gemstones he used as cufflinks.

 

When the woman had rid herself of her newest suitor, she got up, reaching for her scotch, and walked towards him, never breaking contact. There was something about a sensual stare that captivated one's self. And the fact that she was making the first move should have been clue number one. But her alluring looks and confidant carriage drew him, and he thought to see where this was going.

 

She smirk-smiled, effectively bringing his attention to her perfectly delectable-looking lips. She sat next to him at the table he had been occupying, and introduced herself. He told her the name he was using at the time, and they chatted. It was pleasant conversation, but each knew where it was headed. He found out that she was from the tropical islands of Fiji, and had left to find her calling. He could tell she wasn't a high-level youkai. Her youki wasn't very strong under the weight of concealment.

 

It would have been appalling to the humans to have left with each other, and so she wrote down her cabin number with her red lipstick onto a napkin, slid it to him, and excused herself. It was at the same time that many men were leaving their womanly companions to retire to a room where they became inebriated, smoked tobacco, and shared blatantly false stories. Sesshoumaru cared not for this custom, and never joined them, so it wasn't anything obvious when he simply left. Already, the wretched smell of tobacco smoke permeated the air, and he wished to rid himself of it.

 

He went outside first, the cool air of the Atlantic filling his nostrils. He breathed in large gulps of it, clearing his mind. Then he followed the directions to the she-demon's quarters.

 

It was large and very much like his own rented room; richly furnished, with all the comforts of a home. Her handmaidens had undressed her, and now she wore a kimono, made of fine silk - from Japan, likely. He recognized the meaning of the pattern, and offhandedly wondered if she did, since their languages and cultures were quite different. It was a brilliant red, with large, white birds - cranes - and shoots of bright green bamboo adorning it, and spun gold adorned the details. He strode confidently to her, and took her in his arms.

 

They shared wild passion, and it lasted well into the night. She made love with such confidence and knowledge, and that should have been his second clue. Exhausted and content, they fell asleep in her bed.

 

The next morning, he awoke to find her staring at him with a smile playing across her lips. He had enjoyed it, and now he remembered wondering why he had never stayed in a woman's bed before. They ate breakfast with more pleasant conversation - by now, demons of the world were getting used to eating human food, and there was no other way of feeding when one was on a gigantic ship.

 

They dressed - Sesshoumaru still in his tuxedo shirt and pants - and he left, with a promise to see her again tonight in the parlor. He went back to his own cabin, showered, dressed, and later had lunch.

 

When it was time to meet the woman in the dining room again, he found her hurriedly sitting at a table. Had she just arrived? He allowed her a rare smile, and she smiled widely in return, although she seemed nervous, as if she was afraid that he had seen something as she cast about. He instantly went to the table she had found, and she seemed to calm down. And again, they ate and enjoyed conversation.

 

Once again, she left as the men retired to the adjoining room. And Sesshoumaru left though another door, enjoying the increasingly cooler air as they neared even colder waters. After a short time, he rejoined the gorgeous youkai in her room. They shared another night of passion, and when they were satiated, decided to feed on each other, a ritual that both satisfied their inner demons and showed adoration for one another.

 

On the other hand, it began the myth of the vampire, as handmaidens or servicemen often forgot to knock when their Lords or Ladies were with a lover, and found them drinking the blood of said lover with long fangs and their appearance changed. Of course, servants were in their own class, and shared stories of their masters' escapades. When they discovered that the ones that had been bitten were now doing the same, the fairly tale had been borne.

 

When they had finished feeding, they retired to her bed, neither ready to sleep but unsure of the others' intentions. It was not very late yet. As they sat in silence, Sesshoumaru was pleased and surprised when she showed interest in his work. But then she began to show interest in his assets as well. Suspicious, he told her what he thought was safe to tell, and her interest grew. Eventually, she brought up the subject of a youkai union, and that was where Sesshoumaru snapped.

 

At any other time, it might have been an option. But after just feeding on one another, and then her interest in his wealth, she now brings up marriage? Angry, Sesshoumaru stalked away to his own room, both surprised and not that she did not come after him.

 

An hour later, a mighty collision with an iceberg shook the great ship, and Sesshoumaru was alarmed to find out that the `unsinkable' ship he had chosen was sinking. And in the middle of the Atlantic, at that. Grabbing what he knew he must have, Sesshoumaru - clutching Jaken by his clothes - flew up amidst the panic of the humans. He never saw the youkai woman again, and suspected she was among the passengers that survived in the boats, as the upper class was foolishly evacuated first.

 

Later, he found out that most of the passengers had died, and the ship - an iceberg had been its' downfall - had sunk to the bottom of the frigid ocean. He had transformed into his true form as a gigantic white dog when it was safe, and flew all night to New York, making his home in what is now Manhattan. He still owns a penthouse there, and goes back often.

 

*****

 

The experience with the youkai woman - the only one he had ever shared a bed with - had left him with a sour taste in his mouth, and even more weary of females. Even though that had been over a century ago, he was still cautious with women and now, he was especially weary of youkai women. Then, at some point, he began to take human women as lovers, and although some had other intentions in mind, some did not - they simply adored him. Of course, the fact that he did not seem to age posed a problem, and he could not stay with a human woman for more than five years. Their lives were short and fleeting, and now that he had accepted this woman - and, for the first time, told a human about his heritage - what would he do? The fact that his brother - who knew nothing of his recent affinity for human women - was interested in the same girl made it even more difficult.

 

He felt like he didn't need a barrier around himself when he was with Kagome; her peaceful nature calmed him. He gently pushed a tendril of hair off her shoulder, and then resolved himself to get out of bed. He gingerly picked up her arm, placing it on her hip. Then, he slipped away from her, letting her leg drop to the bed. Slowly, as to not wake the girl, Sesshoumaru slinked out of bed.

 

With one last look at the woman in bed, he threw on his khakis and let himself out, making sure the door would still be accessible. He quickly ran to his car - as to avoid what the kids these days called `the walk of shame' - and back, relieved that no one he knew had seen him.

 

Back in Kagome's bedroom, he entered the bathroom and rinsed off in the shower quickly. After all, he had taken a shower last night… He smirked, remembering the many times and places they had made love last night, the shower being one of them. But then again, they had gone at it again on her bed afterwards, so he really wasn't as pristine as he preferred.

 

With his body clean and refreshed once again, he dried off and dressed quickly in a dark blue button up shirt, and a pair of black slacks, opting to not wear any underwear rather than wear his dirty boxer-briefs. He grabbed one of Kagome's many ponytail holders and made a low tail. When he felt he was ready, Sesshoumaru opened the door… and was face to face with Kagome.

 

She was adorable in her morning dishevel. Her hair was everywhere, her eyes were half-closed, and she was wriggling… wait, what? Sesshoumaru looked at her peculiarly, but she didn't bother to explain. She pushed her way past, moved him out of the bathroom, and closed the door.

 

“Please don't listen!” she called out after the door was shut.

 

He scowled at the door, as if he could burn a hole through it and into the girl behind it. But as he was walking into the kitchen, his sensitive hearing picked up the reason she was dancing and irate - she had just awoken and needed to use the restroom. He chuckled, and decided he could stay a little longer.

 

Sesshoumaru guessed Kagome was a coffee girl; he checked the refrigerator, and found a container of creamer, confirming his suspicions. Sesshoumaru had never made coffee before - Jaken had always done it, but never well, and Rin made it now. How hard could it be?

 

Kagome tried to wash quickly, but was sluggish to start. But soon, the warm water refreshed her and she finished swiftly. She dressed in a denim skirt and a babydoll tee, with the name of one of her favorite bands, `The Police'. She had a vintage tee that she had bought a few years ago, but when The Police recently reunited and went on tour, she bought a new shirt at the concert, putting away the old one, so as not to ruin it. So now, she wore the new one, and slipped on a pair of flip-flops.

 

She quickly pushed her hair into a messy bun, applied some lip gloss, and left her room, assuming she could just grab her messenger bag and go. But she was surprised to find that Sesshoumaru was still in her home - and making coffee! No, strike that. He had attempted to make coffee, but had failed. He had failed hard.

 

She couldn't help herself. A snort, then a few giggles. Before long, Kagome was outright laughing, doubled over herself. He scowled at her. How dare she! Did she know the trials he had to go through for this? Had she any idea that this was below him, that his servant usually made his… No. No, she wouldn't know. Because he had not told her of his extravagant life. His many enterprises, his homes in foreign countries, his impossible wealth. Silently forgiving her for her rudeness, he turned back to the machine. It was sputtering coffee grinds, and the water was boiling, but not making the coffee. What had he done wrong?

 

In a matter of seconds, many things happened. First, there was the smell of burnt coffee - not a pleasant scent. Sesshoumaru caught it seconds before Kagome did, so she was puzzled by his actions at first. He raced to the outlet, unplugging the machine. Then, the water boiled over, spilling steaming hot water all over the counter. And finally, some of the boiling water made it into the area of the machine where the ground coffee were located, and it spilled both wet coffee grinds a some coffee into the glass container.

 

Kagome could no longer hold it in when she heard Sesshoumaru release a dejected sigh.

 

“Making coffee, dear? How sweet,” Kagome said in a mock-nice sarcastic tone. Sesshoumaru turned to glare at her, but it only served to humor her more. “Jeez, Sesshoumaru. You'd think you never made coffee before…”

 

He raised a finger in defense of himself and opened his mouth to speak, but decided against it. Anyways, she had decided to keep speaking.

 

“This machine was old, anyways. You probably just didn't know how to use it. You probably buy your coffee at Starbucks…” She reached for a rag and mopped at the cooling water on the counter. He stepped back, allowing her to continue. “I'll just get some at the kitchen on campus,” she said, making a face at the end.

 

Sesshoumaru was mostly angry at himself, but he felt his mood lighten in her presence. She should have been angry, upset, or at least out for money to replace her now-ruined machine. But Kagome asked for nothing. She was even trying to now usher him out along with herself, leaving the mess for later.

 

“C'mon. My treat,” she grinned, locking the door behind her.

 

When she spun around to join him, he pinned her against the wall, and she instantly felt the electricity jolt through her body when she saw the look in his eyes. It had been the same look he had given her last night, that predatory glare. She swallowed hard, her palms gripping for purchase on the flat wall, but they could only sit flat against the wall.

 

He drew close, his body pressing against hers. He stared, making her drown in the golden-colored waves that were his natural eyes. They were so luminous, she thought she might have been imagining it. And then his lips were on hers, swiftly stealing a kiss. She whimpered, and it almost dissolved his determination to go to class. So he tore himself away, allowing her some breathing room.

 

When she was again able to open her eyes and look at him, he was grinning - a look she had never seen on him. He must find it very amusing that she was so flustered. She had no idea, the moral fight he was struggling within himself.

 

“Good morning,” he said, bringing her out of her stupor. He began putting in his contacts, allowing his eyes to take on a more natural, brown color.

 

And then Kagome realized that perhaps he was just happy. After all, she had not expected him to stay. She had expected him to slink out in the middle of the night, and then refuse to speak to her at work. And if he had stayed, she had expected him to wake early, and drive home to shower. But instead, he had stayed, showered, dressed - where had those clothes come from? - and then attempted to make her coffee.

 

In this realization, Kagome had slowly begun to smile, and it widened a little with every second she tried to work out what had happened. So she decided that for once, she shouldn't care if the guy left after she slept with him. Because if she didn't care, she couldn't get hurt, right? Smirking, Kagome answered him.

 

“Good morning yourself,” she said.

 

He took her arm, leading her down the stairs.

 

“Thanks, by the way,” she said suddenly as they were in the elevator.

 

Stunned, Sesshoumaru whipped his face towards hers. “For what?” He assumed she meant last night.

 

“For trying,” she said in a tone that suggested that he was being `silly'.

 

He realized she meant the coffee, and he snorted in his amusement. “You're welcome.” Then, he closed his eyes, concentrated, and willed his youki to mask his obviously youkai qualities.

 

Kagome was amazed - even though she had seen Kouga do the same - as she watched his hair turn from its' brilliant moonlit shade to a duller, platinum blonde. She was saddened by it; his silver hair was much lovelier. He knew she was watching, so he purposefully parted his lips, and willed his fangs to recede. She gasped, watching as his claws as well, grew short into blunt, small nails. He smirked to himself, realizing she preferred his natural looks.

 

They walked together to the cafeteria, where many students milled about, attempting to all get their morning jolt. Kagome bought two coffees, and the couple prepared their coffee together. They didn't speak, but both were comfortable with the silence between them. When they were satisfied, Sesshoumaru felt it was time to leave for his first class. He kissed her temple, thanked her, and left.

 

There was no promise to call, no sweet words, and no plans made for the future. And Kagome grinned. She was fine with that.

 

----------------------------------------------------------------- -

 

Kagome thought she was going to have a peaceful week. At first, it was. She hadn't heard from Kouga, and she had just had a wonderful time with Sesshoumaru. Her Monday classes had just ended, and she was on her way home. Just her luck, Inuyasha was sitting on the stoop of the dorm.

 

“Hey there,” he said, grinning.

 

She was happy to see him - really, she was. It's just that… so much had been happening lately. She realized now why people were monogamous. It was just too much of a pain to deal with more than one man. She should probably make up her mind soon. Or at the very least, stop seeing one of them. This whole `seeing three guys at once' thing was not for her, and she didn't know how others did it.

 

“Hey yourself,” she responded. A weak smile played across her lips, but didn't reach her eyes.

 

Inuyasha frowned. He could tell something was bothering her. “What's up, Kagome?”

 

“Huh?” she said intelligently. She had been thinking about whether she wanted to go straight to bed after homework or if she actually could muster the strength to eat.

 

He scowled at her. She had the decency to look abashed.

 

“N-nothing, Inuyasha,” she said before noticing his scowl deepen. “I'm just…” She sighed. “I'm just tired, that's all.”

 

“Oh,” was all he said, feeling bad now for his assault.

 

Kagome reached for the door, letting herself and Inuyasha in the building. It was unlocked; during the night, it was only accessible to residents. He had waited outside out of respect. They travelled up the elevator mostly in silence. It was only when it started to slow, nearing her floor, that Inuyasha decided to explain his sudden, unexpected presence.

 

He cleared his throat, garnering her attention. “So, um… I'm sorry I haven't called or anything, but I've been busy with gigs and school and stuff…” He rubbed the back of his head as he spoke, and Kagome noticed for the first time that he didn't wear a hat - no, this time, it was a red bandana, to match the red `Rolling Stones' shirt he had on. She almost rolled her eyes at it.

 

“It's okay, Inuyasha,” she said genuinely. “I've been kind of busy myself…” With Kouga, and Sesshoumaru…

 

He looked a little taken aback, as if he had wanted her to have done nothing but pine after him as he lived his busy life.

 

The elevator doors opened, and they walked around the corner to the hallway that contained the door to her apartment. As Kagome fumbled for her keys, Inuyasha spoke again, capturing her attention.

 

“Listen Kagome. I mostly came over to hang out, but I also wanted to know if you wanted to do something . Soon.”

 

She smiled warmly, and he returned the gesture. “I'd like that, Inuyasha. When would you like to go?”

 

“I dunno,” he replied. “Whadd'ya wanna do?”

 

She shrugged. “I'm not sure. It depends on what day you pick. If it's a weekday, I can't stay up too late - my classes are pretty early. As it is, I went to sleep too late last night…” She yawned as she ended her sentence, finally finding purchase of her keys and holding them up triumphantly.

 

Inuyasha smirked. “Ya know…” He took up a superior stance, to goad her. “If you didn't have that huge messenger bag, an' maybe had a normal purse like other girls…”

 

Kagome smacked him good on the upper arm.

 

“OW!”

 

“You deserved it”, she huffed as she turned the key in the lock.

 

He laughed, and Kagome thought it was a wonderful sound. It was so rough and manly. Not a short, sharp sound like Sesshoumaru. Nor the forced, hard tones that Kouga produced. This was a warm laughter. She turned to smirk at him as she opened the door. And then, she went in.

 

It hit Inuyasha like a piano falling from the 43rd floor - sex. Lots of it. And with his brother. Inuyasha felt the rage inside him boil; his ears, under the bandana, flattened in a visual display of aggression. Only, the object of his aggression was nowhere to be found. He had to choke himself in order to force the growl away from his throat. SON… OF A… BITCH!

 

His claws and fangs lengthened of their own will - his youki would not listen - and he could do nothing to stop the grinding of his teeth or the clenching of fists. Luckily, Kagome had been too busy putting her things away and getting comfortable to notice the display.

 

Inuyasha was forced to stop himself - his claws had pierced the skin of his palms, and he would have some explaining to do if he dropped blood all over Kagome's light-colored carpet. What should he do? He told her he had come to spend time with her…

 

Kagome came back from her bedroom with her pajamas on, but Inuyasha hardly noticed. He had come to a decision, and this could not wait.

 

Not facing her fully, he apologized as she dug around for her tea. “Kagome, I'm really sorry. But something came up. How about this - I'll bring Miroku and the gang over on Thursday, and on Friday night, it'll be just you and me, to make up for today. Deal?”

 

“The `gang'?” she asked wearily.

 

He laughed. “Miroku, Sango, Kohaku. Anyone else? You want me to bring my niece?”

 

She laughed too, now. “No, no. That won't be necessary. I'd like to meet her too, someday, though.” She paused, reflecting. “So, you have a married brother? I didn't even know you had a brother!”

 

She seemed happy, so he answered her before he left. But he didn't smile as he talked about his bastard kin; he didn't want her to see the fangs, and there wasn't much worth smiling. “I have a half-brother. We have the same dad. And he's not married.” You would know…. He thought. Or… would you? Perhaps they weren't as close as he had thought. After all, Sesshoumaru, being a full demon, and a powerful one at that, could control his youki better than he could. That meant he could potentially have sex with Kagome while in disguise. The idea both disgusted and humored him.

 

If Sesshoumaru had fucked her, and lied about who - or what - he was, she'd be devastated. She'd hate Sesshoumaru. And she would trust him for revealing the truth. He grinned wickedly. But not now; his appearance required his attention, and he had matters to discuss with his dearly beloved brother.

 

“He adopted her,” he revealed as he opened the door to leave. He missed the look of surprise on Kagome's face when she whirled to get conformation of what he had said. But he was already gone.

 

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Over the next couple of days, Kagome thought about the three men in her life.

 

Because of his recent visit, Inuyasha was the first to be analyzed. He was protective, and was truly interested in what made her tick. However, he was boorish and brash. He also thought mostly of himself, rather than others. He loved to bring her to places that he found comfortable, rather than places he thought she would like. Fortunately, they had a lot in common, so almost anything he liked, she did as well.

 

Sesshoumaru - his sleepover still fresh in her mind - was next. He was so moody; sometimes, she thought she would faint from lack of oxygen to her brain because she was so turned on. At other times, he gave her such an icy shoulder she thought she would lose consciousness from hypothermia. Whichever way she looked at it, he was bad for her. Unfortunately, as happens with women, it's the bad ones that make us feel so good. Fortunately, he made up for the constant lack of brain waves by being considerate, and lavishing her with a life she knew nothing about.

 

Lastly, there was Kouga. She hadn't seen him in a while, and she wondered if he was waiting for her to call. That was the thing with Kouga: for whatever reason, he believed that they were more than they were. Was he stupid, or did he truly believe that one night could bond two people forever? She scoffed at the thought. Perhaps with someone else, like Inuyasha or Sesshoumaru. But Kouga… he was different. He was proud and secure, like Sesshoumaru, but aggressive and protective like Inuyasha. You would think he was the best of both worlds, but instead, it seemed he had the worst traits of the two. On the other hand, Kouga was awfully sweet and considerate, always trying to pamper her, making sure she was comfortable, and worshipping the ground she walked on.

 

Then on top of all this, she had to decide what to do about her family! She couldn't let them lose the house. It was her fault her mother was drowning in debt. And on top of that, Souta was going to graduate this year! Next year, he would be going to college, and then he would be in need of tuition as well. Luckily, her brother had become quite the sports nut when they came to America and now excelled in baseball; she hoped he could get into college based on a sports scholarship.

 

She knew there wasn't much time left at Cohen & Cohen - about a week more, and her part would be completed. They would no longer require her assistance, and she would be back to being unemployed. Usually, she worked only during the summer, so she had plenty of time to study. The only reason she accepted the job at the law firm was because they had insisted she could work whatever hours she pleased. But she would not have that liberty elsewhere. Where would she find a job - after school hours - that paid well enough for her to help her mother? It seemed hopeless. She would not waste her time working for a supermarket or fast food chain - she would get no sleep, and barely get paid.

 

And then there were her own housing problems - she had lost her best friend and partner in crime. And her roommate, who paid half the bills. A part of her was angry at Nikki, leaving her at the drop of a dime for a man. A part of her was angry that she didn't have what Nikki did.

 

With a sigh, Kagome breezed through her classes, allowing herself to focus on her studies for a while. But when she was done with her schoolwork, what else was there to talk about? And to whom? She would not encourage Kouga by calling him. And Inuyasha was impossibly busy. And she could just imagine trying to `talk' to Sesshoumaru: “Hello, Sesshoumaru?” “Hn.” “I was just calling to say `what's up'.” “Hn.” “So… how have things been since we slept together?” “Things have been well.” “Oh, that's good.” “Hn.” “…Can you say anything other than `hn'?” “Hn.” “*sigh*” …

 

No, that wouldn't do at all.

 

And she couldn't talk to her mother - many of her problems concerned her mother. And she never concerned her mother in her love life. Souta was the only one in the family she confided in, but even he knew nothing of the three men in her life. The last boyfriend she had brought to the shrine to meet her family - back in high school - had been harassed by her grandfather to become the next head of the shrine; he had even started planning a wedding ceremony - booking the shrine, looking for a caterer's number in the phone book…

 

Kagome shook her head at the memory. No, she would not involve her family.

 

Sayuri was too motherly to give her advice, and Nikki would only blame herself, claiming that it was her fault, since she moved. And that wasn't really it. It was just that Kagome had so many choices to make, and she was constantly living in fear that she would make the wrong one.

 

But Thursday was finally upon her, and she was excited. She would finally get to meet some of Inuyasha's friends! He would be the first to introduce her to his friends. Well, technically, he already had, since she had met Miroku. But he had already been there, so it hadn't counted. And now that she thought about it, meeting ones' friends is usually an act that those in relationships bring upon one another. Was Inuyasha trying to tell her something? Unlike Kouga's declarations and manhandling, Inuyasha hadn't forced this upon her. In fact, if she remembered, it had been she that invited Miroku over that first night, and then she had told Inuyasha that she had wanted to meet Sango. So, was it really she that was trying to tell Inuyasha something?

 

Kagome shook her head, trying to clear it. Either way, she was resolved to have fun tonight. But… what did Inuyasha have planned? She called Inuyasha between classes; he sounded sleepy, as if he had just woken up.

 

“Hey, Inuyasha!”

 

“Damn, woman! What the hell are you so freakin' chipper about?” he growled.

 

She scowled at the phone, despite knowing he would not know he was being held in disregard. “I'm not `chipper', I'm just awake. Would be nice if you were too, while we were talking,” she let him know.

 

Now Inuyasha glared at the phone, as if he could strangle the sarcasm out of her with a look. “Well, if people would call at a reasonable hour…”

 

“Inuyasha, it's noon! If this isn't decent, I don't know what is…”

 

“Keh,” he scoffed, and Kagome smiled a little, remembering exactly what he looked like when he made that sound. “Well… whad'ya want, wench?”

 

She knew how gruff his language was, so it didn't bother her. However, if someone else had said the same thing… “Well, we're all hanging out tonight at my place, right?”

 

He nodded stupidly, still half-asleep. “Yeah, so?”

 

“I just wanted to know what we were doing, so I could prepare,” she told him.

 

“Prepare?” he repeated, not quite grasping her intention.

 

“Yeah, you know…” she said. But she also knew that Inuyasha was often slow, so she would indeed have to explain. “Like, food, movies, drinks…”

 

“Keh,” he said again, making her smile to herself. “Don't worry about drinks and entertainment - we'll take care of it. If you wanna grab some takeout or something, that's great. None of us are picky,” he told her.

 

Kagome perked up, knowing she had a mission. “Okay,” she said happily.

 

He made a disagreeable noise and addressed her once more. “Can I go back to sleep now? Else I won't make it tonight - I'll be sleepin'.”

 

“Okay,” Kagome repeated in a joyful tone.

 

“…Damn happy woman… All right, I'll see you later. I'll give you a call when we're on our way,” he explained.

 

“Roger,” she said playfully.

 

Inuyasha sighed. “Bye, Kagome.”

 

“Bye, Inuyasha,” she said, snapping the phone shut.

 

Inuyasha scowled at the shrill voice on the other end before swinging the phone's screen shut and letting it end from Kagome's side. “Damn happy woman,” he said as he wriggled in bed, readjusting himself to fall back asleep. But at the thought of her smile, which he had imagined as she spoke, he couldn't help but smile himself.

 

Kagome practically floated to her next class. She was excited to be doing what she did best - besides healing hearts - hosting. She was excited to have guests, especially one's she didn't know. And they were friends of Inuyasha, which made it more exciting. Offhandedly, she wondered if the girlfriend of the sleezeball Miroku was just as bad as he was. She giggled as she tried to imagine a woman in her twenties, smoking a cigarette and leaning against a wall, cat-calling men as they walked by. Kagome giggled at the thought and wondered if that was what Sango was really like.

 

She had much to do! After school, she would have to finish her homework, run to the office, grab a set of documents Sesshoumaru had left for her as he stated in a text message, and then run to a grocery store to buy what she needed for her get-together! With endless lists running through her mind, Kagome had difficulty paying attention to the professor, but managed. She only wished time would move more quickly…

 

With her homework finished, Kagome realized she didn't have much time left. She knew it was pointless to take a shower now, so instead, she opted for grocery shopping. She wished she was the kind of person that could order a few pizzas, but she enjoyed the pride that came with a well-made dinner and takeout was overrated.

 

Traffic wasn't too bad at this time of day - oh, by other cities' standards, it was a mess. But for Miami, it was decent. So it only took her twenty minutes to get to the Cohen Brothers' office. She ran into the younger brother as he left for the day.

 

“Well, hello, Miss Higurashi,” he offered, extending his hand.

 

She took it, shaking a little more firmly than she had intended because of her anxiety. “Hello, Mr. Cohen.”

 

“You're time here is almost up, from what I've been told,” he said casually, with the slightest hint of sadness that told her she would be missed.

 

Kagome nodded wistfully. “Mm-hm,” she sounded.

 

“Ms. Higurashi, if you ever flunk out of medical school, you always have a place here with us. Please, let us know if you would like to work this next summer. This may be the last time I see you, so thank you for your hard work, and good luck,” he said, extending his hand.

 

Kagome took it, smiling proudly. “Thank you, Mr. Cohen. I'll let you know in a few months what I'll be doing for the summer. It was a pleasure working for you all, and good luck yourself.”

 

He nodded and left.

 

Kagome quickly ran into her shared office and grabbed the manila envelope, returning back to her car - that's right! Oh, she was suddenly so melancholy. She would have to give up her car! Of course it was never hers, but she had grown quite attached to the zippy little thing, and was proud that she had mastered her manual-transmission skills. And the added freedom! No more running to catch the tri-rail, no more timing things around public transportation… but now it was over. By the end of the week, she would be back to being car-less.

 

This put a damper on Kagome's mood, but she had too much to do to dwell on it. Speeding to Publix - the closest supermarket - Kagome bought an array of refreshments, from appetizers to flat out meals. She ignored Inuyasha's warning… what if he was wrong? What if the things they brought were wrong? No, she wanted everything to be perfect, so she would have to do it herself.

 

Back at home, with only an hour before her guests arrived, Kagome was busily arranging a plate for them to munch on while she made their meal. The plate consisted of cheese, jalapenos, and crackers. There was another plate with various chopped, sliced, and de-stemmed fruits. And finally, she left out a bottle of wine in ice with a few goblets. She was aware that Sango's little brother, Kohaku, would also be there, so she placed a few cans of soda on the coffee table.

 

She was chopping some onions, tears streaming down her face, when her phone rang. She washed her hands quickly, and then her face.

 

“Inuyasha!” she exclaimed.

 

“Hey, you,” he said.

 

She could practically hear him smiling.

 

“We're downstairs. I'm bringing the troop up now,” he told her.

 

She could hear Miroku's voice in the background laughing, and a woman's voice. It was strong, and the sound of a smack resounded through the receiver. She grimaced, and answered him. “Sure, come on up.”

 

She snapped the phone closed and wondered if the boy was coming as well. She hadn't heard him…

 

She ran back to the kitchen, placing the onions in a pre-heated frying pan. She lingered a little too long, because soon, she felt the tell-tale stinging in her eyes, and when she blinked rapidly to ease the pain, they leaked tears down her face.

 

Damn, not again, she thought. But before she could do anything, there was a knock at the door, and she ran to it, relishing the fresh air that entered her apartment with the open door. But she was met with a scowl.

 

“Damn it, Kagome!” he yelled. “That stuff smells awful! What are you trying to do, kill us?”

 

He pushed his way past her, making his way to the windows to clear the air. But he suddenly turned with surprised eyes to look at her. She had been shocked, not knowing how to feel, when she noticed his expression.

 

“What?” she asked grouchily.

 

Miroku and Sango, in the doorway, exchanged looks. They saw how easily he had become distressed when he finally noticed. Sango decided to interrupt.

 

“You, Inuyasha. Not us. We're not bothered by it,” the woman said, entering the apartment with an authority she only saw in one other person.

 

He scoffed at her, but quickly turned to Kagome, stepping forward cautiously. He had such an intense look in his eyes, she stepped backwards. He reached out for her face, grasping it gently. His touch made her skin sizzle, and she closed her eyes, sending a new cascade of salty tears down her face.

 

“Kagome,” she heard him whisper. It sent a shiver up her spine, hearing him speak her name so softly.

 

She didn't respond, but she opened her eyes to look at him. He had such a look of concern, she melted, leaning into his hand. He tried to smile back, but he was too worried.

 

“Kagome,” he said again softly, so the others wouldn't hear. “What's wrong?”

 

Kagome jolted. “Eh?”

 

“You're… crying,” he said, while he stroked her cheek with his thumb, her face still cradled in his large, calloused hand.

 

“Oh… Um, no. You see… The onions…”

 

They heard a snicker from Miroku, and even Kohaku dared a giggle. Inuyasha turned to glare at them, and they silenced.

 

The tension was broken abruptly when Sango stepped forward. “Forgive his manners. I'm Sango,” the woman said, extending her hand.

 

Oh, she was so beautiful! She had the most lustrous chocolate brown hair, with eyes to match. And she had a beautiful, curvy figure with large, pert breasts and rounded hips that complimented her tiny waist. She commanded a presence in the room, drowning out thought of any other person. Kagome meekly took her hand, and allowed the strong woman to shake her.

 

 

“No, it's ok,” she finally answered. “I should have introduced myself. Welcome, make yourselves at home.” She smiled broadly, and they all walked further into the apartment. “I'm Kagome.”

 

Miroku waggled his eyebrows at her, extending his arms for a hug. “Ah, Kagome! It's been too long. I'm so glad to see y-”

 

A firm smack on the backside of his head stopped his statement, and Miroku sheepishly looked at his girlfriend. She glared at him.

 

“Don't even think about it, pervert,” Sango said, pulling him away from Kagome by his ear.

 

“Ow! Ow, ow, ow, ow… ow! Er… Sango, dearest…”

 

Kagome giggled. Inuyasha came up behind the meek teenage boy. He looked clearly as if he didn't want any part of this. Well, Kagome didn't have a little brother his age for nothing. She would find a way to entertain him.

 

“And this…” Inuyasha said, clapping the boy across his shoulders, “is Kohaku.”

 

Kohaku's first impression of Kagome was that she was sweet, beautiful, and probably the best thing that had ever happened to Inuyasha. But that didn't mean he wanted to be here, in a stranger's apartment, having dinner… Nevertheless, he shook her hand.

 

“Nice to meet you, Kohaku,” she said eagerly.

 

“Same here,” Kohaku managed with a weak smile.

 

Kagome had the distinct impression that he wasn't being rude - he was simply unhappy. So she let it go.

 

“Well,” Kagome said, clapping her hands together, “make yourselves comfortable. I'm still finishing our dinner, so…”

 

Miroku heaved a bag from in the hallway onto her floor.

 

Inuyasha sighed. “I thought I told you - we would take care of some stuff…”

 

Kagome looked at him skeptically. “You call that food and drinks?”

 

Inuyasha looked over at the bags of chips, cheese puffs, and the cases of soda. “What?” he said irritably.

 

Sango and Miroku sat on the couch, eyeing the spread before them. Kohaku joined them, picking up a can of orange-flavored soda. Miroku poured his companion a glass of red wine, then one for himself.

 

Kagome returned to her kitchen, hoping she hadn't over-cooked anything. Inuyasha grumbled as he flopped down next to Kohaku, dropping the bag he had been carrying. He scowled as the others ignored the junk food and picked at the various cheese and fruits. He finally had it when Miroku started feeding Sango grapes…

 

“All right, knock it off, you two! You're not in your bedroom!” he cried.

 

Kagome giggled as she checked over things. Sango offered to help, and they two chatted happily as they finished preparing the meal and the males talked. Finally, they brought the meal to her bar-counter. Kagome had only had company a few times, and once it was her family; they had gone out to eat when they visited. There hadn't been room for a dining set, so when she had friends over, they ate at the bar. The only problem was there were four spots, and five of them.

 

Kagome worried her bottom lip as she put the food down, neatening the previously-placed silverware and plates. Why hadn't she thought of the total number of people? She had not thought of herself. Why hadn't she included herself? With everything ready, Kagome called to them, and they all stood, laughing and talking, making their way to the table.

 

Inuyasha stopped half-way between the kitchen and the sofa. He counted the chairs and frowned. Watching everyone settle, he picked up his plate - food included - and brought it to the coffee table. Kagome was scooping food onto her plate - she had served everyone else first - and walked around her seated guests, nearly ramming into Inuyasha and spilling the food all over the both of them. She looked up to find a surreptitious scowl on his face.

 

“What?” she asked, shifting the items in her hand. “I nearly ran into you! Why are you standing there like that?”

 

He said nothing, only grabbed her arm and pulled her to the sofa, seating her as he took her plate and silverware. Kagome had been too shocked to notice, but now she saw her plate join one that had already been there.

 

“W-what… what are you doing?”

 

“What does it look like?” he said, attempting to control his anger.

 

“You… I had put your stuff…” She twisted in place, attempting to look at the now-empty spot next to Miroku, who was laughing at something Sango said and placing a hand on Kohaku's arm, who was laughing as well next to him. When she looked back at him, he was eating.

 

“Eat, or it'll get cold,” he said, slurping up some of the spaghetti.

 

Kagome smiled, and the two spoke as they ate. She caught him up on her family, how her brother was graduating soon, her grandfather was too old for chores now, how her mother worked so hard…

 

Inuyasha smelled tears, but they did not fall. He could tell she was forcing herself not to cry. There was something she wasn't telling him… But, he knew all too well about secrets. He would not force her. If she wanted to withhold something, she had every right. It would be different if they were dating, but…

 

And for whatever reason, this made Inuyasha remember the `conversation' he had with his brother this morning:

 

*****

 

He had gone home fuming. That god-damned Sesshoumaru! He had finally found someone that made him forget about Kikyou, and Sesshoumaru was seeing her, too! And worse, they were sleeping together! Inuyasha drove erratically; at this rate, he might murder a cop that stopped him. He wondered how serious they were; Sesshoumaru hadn't introduced her to Rin, so they weren't too serious. He had never introduced a woman to Rin, and he knew why - she would become attached, never really having a woman to look up to.

 

He shook his head, not wanting to think about Rin. No, he was angry with Sesshoumaru, and nothing would shake him. Unfortunately, with the absence of the Chrysler, the opportunity to confront his brother was lost. He was probably at the office. With Kagome? A pang of jealousy clawed at his insides. He thought of calling her, but… He would look like a stalker. A call, just to find out where she was? No, he wouldn't do that. He would just have to hope that if they were working together tonight, they were doing only that.

 

It took him many hours to fall asleep; tired as he was, Inuyasha could not help remember the smell of Kagome and… him. Together. He visualized them every time he closed his eyes, and it haunted him. With a sigh, Inuyasha crept downstairs - careful not to wake Rin or Jaken - and raided the bar. Finding a bottle of Wild Turkey and a shot glass, he made his way back to his enormous room. He downed one after another; he was amazed at how little it stung after a few shots. He was on the verge of giggling at himself when his fatigue consumed him, and he finally succumbed to sleep - curled up on his red loveseat.

 

Demons aren't plagued with such trivial things as hangovers. But hanyou are. Just not in the same way as humans are. Inuyasha woke with a start - he had been having a horrible dream… what had it been about? - and when he shot upright, his nose was throbbing. His ears pounded with his blood, and he attempted to cover them, but it was in vain. The sound was coming from inside him, so it couldn't be ignored.

 

Why had he drank so much? What had been so bad? Hadn't… Oh. His imagination dredged up a vision of Kagome straddling Sesshoumaru, her breasts bouncing as she moaned his name… Inuyasha growled so fiercely, it shook even him from his reverie. Why was he torturing himself? But now, he remembered all to well why he had thrown himself into the murky depths of alcohol. He was dressed still in his clothes from the day before and stripped down to his boxers. His nose, the nerves swollen as an effect of the drinking, could not discriminate whether he still smelled of liquor, but he didn't have time for a shower. Sesshoumaru was due to leave any minute, and soon he would have to leave as well. He reached for a grey tank top…

 

The sound of Sesshoumaru's office door echoed loudly in his terribly aching ears, and Inuyasha flinched - but he knew what it meant. Sesshoumaru always went into his office right before he left. Forgetting the clothes, he raced out of his own room, the loud static of Rin's radio and shower on as he passed her room hurriedly. He wondered how he could have missed his brother leaving his own room - but then again, he wasn't a Taiyoukai for nothing. Drunk and temporarily disabled, Inuyasha wouldn't have heard the secretive, silent demon readying himself.

 

He floated down the stairs, barely touching a single step. He caught Sesshoumaru as he was closing the front door. A firm grip on the knob, he felt the tug by his brother on the other side. Then, the youkai poked his head through, scowling when he found the cause for his predicament. Inuyasha smirked.

 

“Is there anything I can do for you-” Sesshoumaru crinkled his nose in disgust when he smelled the alcohol-drenched form of his sibling. “- little brother?” He sneered as he took in Inuyasha's form. He was hung-over, unshowered, and wasn't even clothed, excepting his underwear. He was surprised to see his brother looking angry - no, furious - and felt the crimson waves of anger flowing from him. His ears were flattened against his head and his eyes glowed with hatred.

 

“You,” Inuyasha said menacingly.

 

“Indeed,” Sesshoumaru mocked.

 

“The first time in years that I find a girl I'm comfortable with, and you have to go after her too? She's human, for kami's sake!” Inuyasha glared daggers, awaiting a response.

 

Sesshoumaru felt his youki balk. “What does it matter that she is human? What I do is my business alone, and if I choose the company of a human woman, so be it!” he growled at his brother, ready to shut the front door once again.

 

Inuyasha held firm, and the door creaked under the strength of the combined powers. “The hell it is your business. She's mine, and I don't want you near her, so it is my business!”

 

Sesshoumaru growled low and long. “How dare you… Kagome is not some toy. She is not one of your cars or songs. It is her decision to make, and the last time I checked, she was free to make her own choices.”

 

With a growl of his own, Inuyasha began his rebuttal. “I know she's not a toy. Damn it, Sesshoumaru! She's…” He paused. Something about what he had said…

 

Sesshoumaru attempted to close the door once more, letting his powerful youki overpower his younger brother's. But Inuyasha was onto something.

 

“Wait a sec… You said she's free to do whatever she wants? So… she's just dating you. You slept together, but… you're not together…” He smirked with the knowledge.

 

Sesshoumaru's youki spiked in anger. “You're right,” he said, smiling dryly.

 

Uh-oh. It was never a good thing when his elder brother smiled. It meant he was up to something…

 

“You're right,” Sesshoumaru said again, and continued, “that we did sleep together. You should have seen it. Felt it.”

 

Inuyasha's ears flattened so much, they disappeared into his thick, disheveled head of hair. He began a growl, and it became louder and more threatening the more Sesshoumaru went on.

 

“She was superb, Inuyasha. She is so giving. And stamina! We made love for hours, in almost every room of her apartment. And then, I woke up to her beautiful face…”

 

Inuyasha flung the door open, his strength doubling as Sesshoumaru impugned the girl's honor. He lunged at his brother, tearing Sesshoumaru's expensive blazer. Sesshoumaru roared, and they fell down to the gravel that was the driveway. They clawed, punched, kicked, snarled…

 

“What the hell is going on out here?”

 

A formidable opponent, Rin stood in the doorway, arms crossed and a fearsome scowl on her face.

 

The men were frozen in place, shame overcoming them. Inuyasha was on his back, gripping the lapel of the navy jacket Sesshoumaru was wearing. His other hand was raised in a fist, poised to strike. The elder brother was kneeling, straddled over Inuyasha with a hand on the ground to support himself and another raised delicately - yet dangerously - at his brother's face, ready to slash. But their eyes were both on the young woman.

 

She transferred her hands to her hips and glared harder. “Nothing to say for yourselves? Uncle Inuyasha, you're bleeding… and half-naked. Sesshoumaru-sama, you're bleeding as well, and your clothes are torn. I haven't seen you fight like this in a long time. What happened?” She softened her voice slightly to encourage them.

 

Sesshoumaru stood. “I'm sorry you had to see this, Rin. But the subject is not of your concern. I must go,” he said, brushing himself off as he spoke, then turned to leave.

 

“Excuse me? Not my business? My business is to keep peace in this house, and if it means knowing the details of whatever quarrel you two have, then that's what I'm going to do!” Rin stomped her foot dramatically, furious beyond consolation. Sesshoumaru turned back to her, sending a glare back at her. But she was not easily intimidated.

 

Inuyasha lifted himself and stomped inside, climbing the stairs and shutting his door.

 

“Rin, I warn you. You need not be concerned.” With that, Sesshoumaru turned and left.

 

Back in his room, Inuyasha wondered what good that had done. It had started a fight, upset Rin, gotten him scratched up, and given him details to something he really hadn't wanted to know. Well, there had been one good thing. When he realized his brother had slept with Kagome, he was afraid they were now a couple. But Sesshoumaru had confirmed Kagome's freedom. She really hadn't been kidding when she had told him that she wasn't settling down just yet and was seeing other men. But… Sesshoumaru? Prince Icicle-pants?

 

Scowling, he jumped into the shower, quickly cleansing himself. The soap stung the few wounds he had, but he wasn't in there long enough for it to hurt too badly. By the time he had picked some clothes out of his dresser - a pair of khaki cargo shorts and a blue polo shirt, complete with a black and white pair of DC brand sneakers - his wounds had closed; they were not healed, but they were no longer bleeding.

 

He hastily put his hair in a low ponytail, grabbing his messenger bag containing the texts and supplies he used and left his room. Clearing the banister, he leapt downstairs in one mighty jump. When he landed, a resounding boom echoed through the halls. Jaken came running, squawking about how the master didn't like when he did that: it marked the marble floors. Inuyasha ignored him and went to the kitchen, raiding what had been put out for the three of them that morning.

 

As he munched on some toast, Inuyasha became aware of Rin's aura moving toward him. Should he flee? Should he fight? Rin was tough, and not one he wished to battle - not literally, of course. She was classically trained in many martial arts; Sesshoumaru made sure she was able to defend herself against at least her own species. But it was Rin's tongue that was her specialty. It reminded him of another dark-haired, doe-eyed girl…

 

The reminder that he would see her tonight and also tomorrow made his pulse quicken, and he was so focused on trying to calm himself, he didn't notice that Rin had walked into the kitchen. She stood, watching him, his chest heaving for breath. She quirked an eyebrow at him in the same way Sesshoumaru did.

 

“Uncle Inuyasha?”

 

He looked up, startled. “Y-yeah?”

 

“What's up? I mean, you seem kinda… distracted. Is it the fight with Sesshy?” she said.

 

Inuyasha smirked at the nickname. He doubted she knew the meaning of his name, therefore didn't know how much it dishonored him to call him that. But Sesshoumaru would never scold her for it. He allowed her to do anything she pleased, so long as it didn't put her in danger. Rin was not Japanese; when he had found her, she was traumatized and didn't remember a thing, so he had given her a name, albeit a Japanese one. She hadn't wished to learn their language, which had disappointed Sesshoumaru, but for some reason, French, German, Spanish, and Italian came quickly to her.

 

“Naw, I'm over that,” he chuckled.

 

She said nothing, but slid into the chair opposite him at the glass breakfast table, grabbing a waffle. She stared at him, a passive look on her face.

 

He tried to ignore it, but he hated to be stared at. His ears twitched in annoyance. “What?” he said, a little angrier than he had meant.

 

“What's wrong, Inuyasha?”

 

She almost never called him solely by his name. He sighed in defeat. He knew he couldn't tell her everything - Sesshoumaru would be beyond furious if Rin was informed of a woman in his life. So he would have to modify his problem, pacifying her for the time being. It might even keep her preoccupied enough to forget about earlier.

 

“You see, I'm seeing this girl…”

 

Rin gasped happily, clasping her hands together. “You have a girlfriend? How? When? Can I meet her?”

 

Inuyasha chuckled again, shaking his head slowly. “Slow down, Rin. She's not my girlfriend. We're only seeing each other right now. She's… seeing other guys too.”

 

Rin heard the grief in his words, and she felt very badly for him. She knew all about how hard it had been with Kikyou; now that he has found someone - finally - she was seeing others as well? Inuyasha was not very good at hiding his emotions like her adoptive father. His ears usually told the tale, and right now, they were drooping so much, she thought they might fall off.

 

“Oh, Uncle Inuyasha,” she said, right before she jumped out of her seat to hug him tightly.

 

“Ugh… get off me! I don't need your friggin' pity, Rin. That's not why I told you. So, you wanna hear the story, or not?” He pushed her off, and she perked up at the mention of the story of the meeting.

 

Rin nodded eagerly, grabbing for the syrup to pour over her waffle.

 

“Well, it's kinda boring, really,” he said almost bashfully, rubbing the back of his head.

 

Rin smiled playfully. Oh, he has it… bad, she thought. And he doesn't even realize it. She realized he was thinking about Kagome, and a slight blush swept across his face. Her smile deepened to a smirk. Now, what could he be thinking about?

 

“I was playing with my band, and-”

 

“Wait. So… Miroku's met her?” she scowled.

 

Inuyasha tried to pacify her.

 

“Well, you see, he was there, but he didn't really meet her until our gig at Jazziz…”

 

“So, he's met her twice?! And I can't meet her?” she said, stomping her foot impatiently.

 

“No, I didn't say you couldn't meet her… it's just that with Sesshoumaru-” He realized his mistake and clapped a hand over his mouth.

 

When her eyes widened enormously, he shot up from the table, grabbed his bag from the granite counter, and ran out the door.

 

“Sesshoumaru?” she said to no one in particular. “What does he have to do with it?” She felt jilted. Something was going on around here, and she was being left out. And she hadn't even heard the story of how Inuyasha had met this mystery girl! Scowling, Rin finished her waffle and went to catch her bus.

 

*****

 

Oh boy, Inuyasha thought. Rin is gonna kill me. I bet she feels really left out.

 

“Inuyasha?”

 

He looked up, and Kagome had rid herself of her tears. She was smiling softly at him, a sight that melted his resolve.

 

“Thanks,” she said, and resumed eating.

 

He smiled, nodding.

 

When everyone had finished, Kagome began to collect the plates, and Sango began to help.

 

“No, no! Please, you're my guest…” Kagome argued, attempting to pull plates from the other woman's hands.

 

“Nonsense,” Sango smiled, holding firmly to the dishes in her grip.

 

The two gave each other death glares, each pulling on the porcelain. Finally, Kagome smiled and gave up.

 

“Awesome! Thanks for the help. I really appreciate it!” Kagome turned and went into the kitchen, starting the water to wash the dishes.

 

The men were thoroughly confused. Miroku, who had hoped for a catfight and was greatly aroused, was very disappointed. Inuyasha, who had never seen such a display from either woman, just `keh'd' and turned to the TV, switching it on and flipping through channels. Kohaku was surprised with the ferocity of this new woman - did she really just go up against his sister? - but shook it off, getting up to join Inuyasha on the couch. He pulled Miroku with him.

 

“Let's go, horn-dog,” he said, exasperated with his future brother-in-law.

 

The men watched a football game they found on a cable station while the women washed pots and dishes and silverware, and they talked about a myriad of things. This feels so good, Kagome thought. It feels like… home.

 

A few minutes later, Inuyasha turned from his position on the couch, glancing towards Kagome. She felt his gaze, and looked up. He looked so… right there, she couldn't help grinning at him. And he smiled in return.

 

The women - Kagome found out that Sango was just a few years older than her - made plans to go shopping on Sunday, and exchanged phone numbers. Kagome instantly knew what ringtone to assign to Sango, and giggled as she did so.

 

Inuyasha watched them curiously, and Kohaku poked him. He looked at the boy.

 

“She's nice,” the boy said before turning back to the game.

 

Inuyasha smirked. “Yeah,” he said before joining his comrades in yelling at the TV when a normally great receiver fumbled a catch.

 

The girls eventually joined the men, Sango plopping in Miroku's lap comfortably and Inuyasha bashfully guiding Kagome to sit between his legs on the floor. She noticed how shy he was being - perhaps he was afraid of how his friends would react? Or… maybe he was afraid of how she would react? He had been hurt…

 

Attempting to soothe him, she leaned back, propping her arms up on his legs.

 

When the game was over, they played Monopoly, which lasted for many hours. Apparently, the shrewd Miroku was the tycoon, and everyone was desperately scrambling to mortgage, sell, or trade to pay him off. Kohaku had quit an hour ago - being cunning was not a strong point for him, and he couldn't take it - and was now watching a show on the Discovery channel.

 

Sango grumbled. “Ya know, Miroku, you can be a real asshole…”

 

“Now, now, Sango. I'll waive your debt if later tonight you-”

 

Inuyasha punched him hard on the shoulder. “Cut it out, pervert.”

 

Kagome giggled.

 

Sango was glaring daggers at her affianced.

 

“Well, then, my love, you leave me no choice. I must seize one of your properties…”

 

Sango switched tactics. Feigning dejection, she sniffled. Miroku was instantly at her side. “No, no, I'm sorry, Sango my love… You don't have to pay me. We'll just say you never landed on my Boardwalk…”

 

“Oh, for Christ's sake…” Inuyasha stood. “This game's over. Anyways, we've been playing for hours.”

 

Laughing, Kagome agreed. “Yeah, I think we should find something else to do…”

 

And then, Sango's phone rang. And those close to her knew what that particular ringtone meant, and Miroku nodded. “Ok, let's go. Anyways, it's late, and you have school tomorrow, Kohaku…”

 

Sango answered her phone, letting herself out of the apartment.

 

Kagome was dumbfounded, and Kohaku came up to thank her. He placed a hand on her arm, knowing she was confused.

 

“Thanks so much, Kagome. This was great. Listen, we're sorry we have to go, but that was my sister's work. You see, she's a bounty hunter, and when they have a job for her, she's gotta go immediately. So you see, she's not being rude, she just needs to be able to get all the details. I'm sure she'll call you later to apologize profusely. Thanks again. I hope to see you soon,” he told her.

 

Kagome had stared at him, eyes wide and unable to speak. “Wait…”

 

Kohaku paused and turned to her.

 

“You mean… she gets paid to hunt guys down?” she asked incredulously.

 

Kohaku grinned wide. “Bad guys, Kagome. Killers, thieves, rapists… It's in our family. Our dad was one, and used to take us with him. I don't do it anymore, because when I was younger…” His eyes were suddenly sad and faraway, and Kagome decided not to push it. “Anyways, yeah. She's great at it, and when she's gotta go, she's gotta go. Miroku will go with her if he has nothing else to do - he comes in handy sometimes,” he joked.

 

“I heard that,” Miroku said calmly, his eyes closed and his hands in his pockets, waiting for the boy.

 

Kohaku waved to the couple, ducking as the seemingly calm Miroku swatted at his head as he walked past, following after his sister.

 

“Thanks for dinner Kagome. You are a great cook, and will make a wonderful wife,” he said, bowing and taking her hand, kissing it.

 

He laughed when Inuyasha pushed her hand away from his grasp. Kagome and Inuyasha both blushed.

 

“Really?” Kagome asked, surprising Miroku.

 

“Of course, Kagome. You have many wonderful qualities, like my Sango. Who wouldn't want you as a mate?”

 

His choice of words as he turned to leave was puzzling, but her attention turned to Inuyasha curiously as he fumbled between being angry and embarrassed. She thought it was adorable. Mate? I wonder why he said that instead of `spouse'?

 

With a sly grin, Miroku grasped Inuyasha's hand and pulled him into a hug, in that manly way of embracing that she had seen many men do.

 

Miroku walked out with a wave, and Kagome turned to Inuyasha. “So, what are you going to do? I mean, we still have plans for tomorrow, right?”

 

He nodded. “Mm-hm.” He seemed pensive for a moment, and Kagome waited. “Well, let's see what movies are on. Did I tell you I don't have any classes tomorrow?” He smirked at her playfully.

 

She returned the gesture. “No, no you didn't. But I do, mister. So I can't stay up too late.”

 

“All right, all right. One movie,” Inuyasha said as he moved to the couch, grabbing the remote.

 

Kagome laughed as she headed for the kitchen. “Popcorn?” she asked, already knowing the answer and reaching for a bowl.

 

“Ya gotta ask?” he said.

 

She giggled. “No, I just wanted to see what you'd say…”

 

He had started watching `The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift', and they settled together. At one point during the action, Inuyasha noticed that slowly but most likely unintentionally, she had cuddled up to him. Her legs were drawn up and she had both arms wrapped around one of his. Eventually, her head lay on his shoulder.

 

When the movie was over however, it was Kagome that looked up to find Inuyasha asleep. He had laid his head on top of hers, and was so comfortable, he had fallen asleep. Kagome smiled; she had never seen him look so peaceful and calm. Carefully, she placed his bandana-covered head down towards the arm, hoping he would drop down on his own.

 

She went to her bedroom, changing into a pair of pajamas. On her way back to the living room, Kagome stopped by her linen closet, grabbing a thick blanket. A pillow later, and she was back by Inuyasha's side. He was in an awkward position, halfway between lying down and sitting up. She laid the pillow down, and urged his body to lay fully down. He complied, and she lay the blanket over him.

 

She watched him for a minute, severely tempted to take the blue bandana off his head. But… She knew he would be very upset, and let him be. With one last look, Kagome left him to sleep in her own bed. Tomorrow, they would go somewhere together, and Kagome smiled as she drifted off to sleep.

 

The next morning, Kagome went about her business, getting dressed and leaving for her class. Inuyasha seemed to be in a deep sleep; did he not get enough sleep? She had the distinct feeling that he was comfortable only when he was with her in her home. Was his life so stressful that he only rested here? Well, he did say that he had a brother he didn't get along with…

 

She bent over him, tracing a finger across his face. He murmured in his sleep, a pained expression on his face.

 

“Kikyou… No, don't…”

 

She froze, her heart clenched in a jealous sadness. Her stomach twisted, and she had to wrench herself away from him. She grabbed her bag and went out the door, locking it behind her.

 

She knew she shouldn't be upset - after all, he was sleeping; he was not in control of what he dreamt about. Obviously, something traumatic had happened, and he was not ready to talk about it. She could only hope that he would open up to her. Walking to her first class, Kagome pushed those last thoughts away, and thought of her new friend, Sango, and the fun they had all shared.