InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Choices, Choices... ❯ The Vacation, Part Two ( Chapter 16 )

A/N: HI again my little wallabies! Thank you all for being so patient. I'm going to have some facts about this chapter in my End Notes, so stick around if you're interested. There is absolutely NO EXCUSE for me being tardy with this, except that I hadn't felt much in the way of writing and was sick for a spell, but fear not! My lemony muses are back. That and I found out that Pocky is fuel for writing. XD Hence… Biggest. Chapter. EVAR. I almost made this a three-parter, but I wanted it to be experienced as a single chapter, so here it is, in all its' glory. All 16,000 words of it. (Usually, my chapters are about 9,000 words.)

`More Than Words' © Extreme

 

Dedicated to the best fans in the FanFictionworld - MINE. Thanks for being patient.

 

Thanks: FanFiction(dot)com - LittleFoxDemon, Kitten the Vixen, inu's-gurl-karey, slowfatbunny. deviantART - Drakague, no1sangel, luvtodraw, red-devil-saz, UtenaTenjou1212, Gottalovemeyeah, Daddyslilgirl01, Cali2007.

Special thanks to my fellow Inuyasha-FanFiction readers: Siva, BlueBloodedGrl0500, dirtydogs57, KogasWoman

MediaMiner responses:

Sam-34 - Thanks for the great comments! I'm glad you feel that way: I pride myself on making the characters real. catbaker - I know exactly how you feel. I've been completely obsessed with a few good stories. Damn those plot bunnies! They take over at the most unseemly times… Ah, yes. I see you have fallen into my trap. Believe me, I know how you feel; I know who she's going to end up with and I keep changing my mind over whom I would LIKE for her to end up with, haha. Another vote for Inuyasha! Thanks for the compliments, and thanks for being obsessed! Um, by the way… You don't ACTUALLY bake cats, do you? I hope not… unistar - Yes, Inuyasha is indeed busy. And WILL she find out? You'll see in the next chapter… buzzk97 - As usual, I enjoy your comments the most. Will ye build a shrine to me? Haha! And let's not forget that Sesshoumaru is not just any male, so being that they're inu's, this is most DEFINITELY a pissing contest. I'm so glad you liked the interlude. I was really worried that my readers would be all `WTF?' It sucks that we didn't get to meet up while you were in my neck of the woods. Funny that you went to Sea World! I hope you enjoyed yourself. I think it's my favorite park… And you are quite welcome! You guys are (for the most part) my fuel. If not for reviewers like you, I would have given up long ago. sammy56 - Thanks so much! I'm glad you like it. Michael22 - Thanks! It's awesome that you're enjoying my writing. I appreciate the comments. Sovereignty - Thanks so much! Ah, the ever-popular `undecided' category. I feel ya. As for Kouga… Well, I'm not giving anything away. Timmy77 - Thanks, and please - don't fall off your chair! I'm sorry I'm leaving you on that edge again at the end of the chapter…

 

Chapter 16: The Vacation, Part Two

 

Sesshoumaru was almost hurt by the way she laughed.

 

“You are amused?” he asked, his baritone rumbling.

 

Kagome had to work to stop her smirking; she could see that he wasn't pleased with her reaction. “Well, yes,” she admitted. “But probably not for the reason you think. I just… it's hard to believe that anyone would go through so much trouble when we have a Sea World practically in our backyard. As a matter of fact, it's in my backyard.”

 

“You are from Orlando?” he asked dubiously.

 

“Well, my family has lived there for quite some time now. And because of my, er, obsession, we've been to Sea World many times…”

 

Sesshoumaru smirked. He would not share any further plans with her. The whole trip will be surprise after surprise. He was jerked from his thoughts when he saw Kagome turn and step back into the suite.

 

“Something wrong?”

 

“It's… just the heights. Anyhow, I wanted to see more of this room,” she told him, effectively changing the subject.

 

“Thousands of miles across the world, and she's more interested in the hotel room,” he grumbled to himself.

 

Oblivious, Kagome continued to explore. Turning towards the dining table, she found a small doorway. Walking through it, she found a small kitchenette. She was busy marveling in the small appliances that she could never afford when Sesshoumaru interrupted her thoughts.

 

“Do not bother acquainting yourself with this room,” he told her, winding his arms around her waist from behind. “You will do no cooking while here.”

 

“Sesshoumaru, really, you're spoiling me! Anyways, there's nothing to cook… By the way, what did you do, rent the entire floor?” She giggled as she said this - an obvious joke.

 

“Actually,” he replied, “it is the equivalent of what you would call the `Penthouse Suite'. They call it the `Royal Suite' here,” he told her nonchalantly.

 

Kagome's jaw dropped open in a most unladylike fashion.

 

“Sesshoumaru, really, this is all too much…” she began. But he didn't let her continue as he spun her around, forcing her to look at him.

 

“You fly in my private jet - to Australia, nonetheless - and you're worried about how much the room costs? Really, Kagome, you offend me. Besides, I am on holiday as much as you,” he told her in an almost-believable haughty tone.

 

“Okay, fine,” Kagome relented with a smirk.

 

She pulled away from him and walked back into the living room, much to his disdain. Realizing that she hadn't yet seen a bedroom - or a bathroom; she really had to go! - she found her way back to the front door. Now she saw that had she gone straight rather than to the right, she would have found the object of her necessity.

 

As she was standing there, a sharp rap sounded on the door, startling Kagome so badly, she thought she would wet herself right there and then. Bolting to the right, Kagome closed the bathroom door before turning the light on. She felt along the cool walls until she found what felt like a light switch, pushing a button.

 

Immediately, the room was flooded in a bright light from above. Her needs forgotten, Kagome looked around her in amazement. Directly in front of her was a huge granite countertop with a lovely steel sink. To the right, an enormous shower - tiled in the same reddish-brown granite - loomed. The toilet itself was next to it, to her immediate right. Seeing it, she felt the urgent call for the reason of her being in this room.

 

As she sat, Kagome began to notice that the bathroom was bigger than she thought. Much bigger. Directly ahead of her but at least twelve feet away, appeared the largest bathtub she had ever seen. Finished with her bodily needs, the young woman practically stumbled towards the huge, white whirlpool.

 

“It's… it's a freaking SPA,” she commented to herself.

 

The sudden urge to rip her clothes off and dive in was overwhelming, but a few sounds nearby distracted her. The sound of the front door opening was the only indication that Sesshoumaru was even in the suite. She felt bad suddenly; she should have answered the door herself. But all things considered, it was probably best for all that she found the bathroom first.

 

She couldn't make out the words, but Kagome heard Sesshoumaru's soft but commanding voice, joined with another male voice, obviously native. There was some rustling, and then a brief moment of silence before hearing the door close once again. Kagome realized she had been frozen in place and now moved for the bathroom door.

 

“Sesshoumaru!” she called.

 

He was practically in front of her, seeing as he had been in the small hallway that connected the bathroom with the front door and bedroom. He raised an eyebrow at her exuberance. More than likely, he thought, she is excited about something else not worthy of her energy. He waited for her to enlighten him.

 

“Sesshoumaru,” she began again, “the tub in here is bigger than my bed!” she squealed in delight.

 

Sesshoumaru chuckled to himself. Not only had he been right, but her exaggerating nature amused him.

 

“I have our bags,” he told her.

 

So then that was the bell-hop, she thought. Walking over to him, Kagome relieved him of her duffel bag, which he had slung over his shoulder. He was hanging his garment bag in the large hall closet, and Kagome couldn't resist wrapping her arms around his elongated torso. Her hands explored the hard expanse of his chest, and she felt his breathing quicken slightly.

 

“Thank you for this, Sesshoumaru,” she purred, leaning her cheek against his equally-hard back.

 

He turned, capturing her face with his hands. “I have done nothing yet. You should thank me when it's over,” he told her softly.

 

She shrugged. “This is the most anyone's done for me. So even if I hate the rest of our trip, this is still the best vacation I've ever been on,” she replied gently, avoiding his eyes.

 

With a sigh, Sesshoumaru bent to take her lips. They stayed that way for a few moments, but it was the demon that broke the kiss. Kagome looked up at him quizzically, and he wasted no time explaining.

 

“I have someone coming for you in a few minutes,” he told her.

 

Her eyes widened in both disbelief and confusion. “What for?” Her voice shrilled; she was uneasy with the turn of events.

 

“We have dinner reservations, and I'm afraid you have nothing proper to wear,” he clarified.

 

“Oh,” was all she could say. Then, “well, you could have told me to bring a dress.”

 

Sesshoumaru nodded. “I could have. But then you wouldn't allow me to buy you one,” he said in an almost distressing voice.

 

Reality hit the young woman, and she almost reeled from it. “Wait, I can understand my need for a dress, but you do not need to buy it for…”

 

Sesshoumaru held up a hand, effectively silencing her. “The only thing you should be worried about is being prepared for dinner,” he told her.

 

Scowling now, Kagome was about to lecture him about rules for dating and how everything was already too much when there was another short knock at the door. Sesshoumaru elegantly swooped to the door, opening it to reveal a beautiful blonde woman, dressed in a short pink skirt and a brown, fitted blouse that showed a nice amount of cleavage.

 

Sesshoumaru barely glanced at her before turning back to Kagome and reaching for her hand. “Please,” was all he said.

 

Kagome knew she had lost. With a resigned sigh, she nodded once. Turning to the exquisite blonde woman, Kagome gave her a gracious smile.

 

“Well then, I'm Marlie, and I'm going to be your host for the length of your stay. If you'll follow me, we'll get you down to the Prada boutique. They're waiting on us. After all, they're staying open just for you…”

 

Humiliated and feeling out of place, Kagome followed the woman into the elevator. They walked briskly through the lobby, and Kagome almost had to jog to keep up with the taller blonde. Still overwhelmed, Kagome paid little attention to where they were going and simply followed meekly behind the Aussie woman.

 

Kagome almost ran into the other woman when she finally stopped in front of a store, holding the door open.

 

“Here we are now, miss,” Marlie said, grinning.

 

Kagome nodded once, still feeling awkward about being the center of high society attention. It was one thing when men groveled at your feet because they thought you were hot. It was an entirely separate thing when people treated you like you were special because they thought you were rich and important. Kagome didn't like the feeling.

 

Walking into the brightly lit store, she marveled at all the bright colors and beautiful textures. Silks, chiffons, and satins were abound. She had no idea where to start.

 

“Miss, what's the occasion?” a slender brunette asked.

 

“Oh, um… just dinner, actually,” Kagome told her.

 

The coffee-haired woman nodded. “Okay. You seem to be a size four in US, right?”

 

Kagome was astounded. She had forgotten until now that America had a different measuring system, as well as did other countries. Nodding dumbly, she followed as the woman led her to a rack with light-colored dresses in her size. They stood there eyeing the selection, and finally, the brunette shook Kagome from her thoughts.

 

“A-HA!” the woman cried, reaching for a hanger.

 

Kagome's eyes popped open when she saw what the other woman was pulling out from the rack. When it had been fully unsheathed, Kagome wanted to shake her head in disbelief. There, in front of her, was a gorgeous chiffon dress. A salmon-colored, spaghetti-strapped number that was long, but meant to hug her curves. It had a set of ruffles, starting at its' plunging neckline and crossed diagonally to circle around and end in the back, at the hem.

 

“I… I couldn't…” Kagome began.

 

The brunette and Marlie both laughed loudly, and Kagome felt both ashamed and angry. Did they really think her foolish simply because she didn't need - or deserve - such extravagancies? She began to object, but the women would have nothing of it.

 

“Nonsense,” Marlie said. “Now, I know already that you'll look spectacular in this, but maybe you want to try it on… just to see for yourself?”

 

Kagome tried to answer, but didn't know where to begin. Obviously, the women were trained for this - to answer to the beck and call of the hotels' guests. And they were very good at it, apparently. Even now, they were pushing her towards the fitting room.

 

Grumbling, Kagome let one woman hang the dress inside while the other scampered off.

 

“I'm going to find you a pair of shoes - I think I know of the perfect pair…” Marlie disappeared quickly, leaving Kagome alone with the store's employee.

 

The curtain closed, and Kagome stared at herself in the floor-length mirror for a few moments. She saw the slight bags under her eyes - an effect of bedroom romps with a certain demon rather than sleeping. Her hair looked a little bedraggled. Her clothes - what little clothing she wore - were rumpled. No wonder the employees were trying so hard! They must see Sesshoumaru - stoic, perfect, and rich - and then wonder why he was here with such a girl. This could only mean that Sesshoumaru must see her the same way, since they were doing this specifically by his orders.

 

With a renewed sense of purpose - she was going to prove them all wrong, damn it! - Kagome began to strip, slinking into the light, clingy fabric. Still shrugging into the dress, she heard Marlie's high voice outside. She offered Kagome a box, and Kagome stuck her arm out to pull the shoes back in.

 

When Kagome saw the gorgeous, gold, delicate, strappy sandals, she forgot all her anger. They didn't look particularly expensive, but the tiny, fragile-looking chains that made up most of the exterior of the shoes captivated her. She had never seen anything like them. They would be hers.

 

Sitting on a plush bench along the side of the large fitting room, Kagome lifted each of the linked straps. It was frustrating work, but after seeing how one shoe looked on her small foot, she just had to try on the other.

 

She was busy attempting to slip her toes into the second of four linked chains when she heard the two women - who had moved away from the dressing rooms - laughing menacingly. It only occurred to Kagome then that it had been relatively quiet; she had been so absorbed in the beautiful sandals that she hadn't noticed the lack of chatter. Not that she expected a raucous from the two women, but shouldn't they at least be speaking amicably?

 

The laughter quieted quickly, and Kagome found herself straining to listen to them. If they were laughing, they must have been talking. And if they were close enough for laughter to be heard but far away enough for speaking to be virtually non-existent then were they hiding something from her? Were they talking about her? Kagome didn't have to speculate for very long.

 

“… At least this one is humble…”

 

“Yes, but she is rather plain…”

 

Kagome couldn't tell which woman had said what, but it was enough. Humble wasn't that bad, but plain? She was anything but plain. If anything, these Australian women were plain. Kagome felt the anger find its' way to her mind, and she steeled herself.

 

Taking her time so as not to damage the beautiful four-inch heels, Kagome slipped her foot into the shoe. Finally, she was able to stand in front of the mirror. Twisting and contorting, she zipped up the dress. It was only after she was sure she had smoothed the fabric and adjusted the ruffles that she looked into the mirror. And she was shocked at what she saw.

 

Indeed, she looked stunning. The salmon color went well with her tanned skin, and the golden shoes highlighted the dress. The cut of the dress - from the neckline to the clingy fabric - showed off her beautiful curves. But what shocked Kagome the most were the tears that she hadn't know she was shedding.

 

What was she so upset about? Those stupid hotel employees? She was a doctor-in-training, for kami's sake! Men wanted her, and women wanted to be her. Why would what they said bother her? So what if she was humble and plain compared to the other rich women or girlfriends that came through here?

 

Well, she would show them.

 

Kagome wiped her eyes gently, took the tie from her hair and smoothed it, and took a deep breath. Exhaling, she drew the curtain aside, attempting to look as nonchalant as possible. She watched as the women looked at her, their expressions surprised. Apparently, they hadn't known how well Kagome cleaned up.

 

After a few moments, Marlie broke the astounded silence. “Well, then. Do you want to wear it out, or shall I have it bagged?” She attempted a sheepish smile.

 

Kagome smiled genuinely. “Could you bag it, please? I'd like to take a shower. Twenty hours on a plane is killer for my hair, apparently.”

 

The women looked confused - could it be that, assuming both hers and Sesshoumaru's heritage, they had thought she was naturally messy? That they had only been on a flight that took a few hours - from Japan? Why would they make that assumption? We speak perfect English… not something achieved through Japanese schooling. But I guess they wouldn't know that…

 

Trying to sort things out alone, Kagome returned to the fitting room. She took the chained sandals off first, placing them back in the box. Once she was stable, she went thought the tedious task of unzipping, then slipping out of the dress without ripping anything. Really, she shouldn't be allowed to own such delicate things…

 

With the dress back on the hanger, Kagome held it outside the curtain, and it was taken by someone. Then, she heard Marlie's voice.

 

“The shoes looked wonderful with the dress, miss.”

 

Grinning, Kagome thanked her. Then, she went about redressing in her frumpy lavender tee-shirt and shorts. She tied her hair back up to complete her look, and exited to find the women waiting for her.

 

“Everything's settled,” the brunette said.

 

“Let's get back upstairs, shall we?” Marlie asked.

 

Kagome nodded, and the mocha-haired woman thanked her for coming, to which Kagome responded with an “it wasn't my idea.” All three of them laughed, and Kagome left with Marlie, allowing her to lead her back to the elevator that would take her to the Royal Suite.

 

The blonde woman was holding her garment bag - Kagome had tried to take it but Marlie wouldn't allow it - so Kagome fidgeted with the shoe box in her hands. Her mind wandered maliciously back to the whispered conversation that they hadn't know she heard. She replayed it over in her mind, as well as the other deductions she had come to.

 

It was odd that the women had thought that she and Sesshoumaru had come from Japan. Of course they obviously looked Asian, but unless you heard one talk, it was hard to tell where someone of Asian descent was from, since there were so many countries that adopted lifestyles from their neighboring countries. And Japan wasn't very far from Australia at all. But then again, neither was Thailand.

 

The only thing Kagome could think of that would make the women assume they had come from Japan was if they had previously come here from Japan. But she had never been to Australia, let alone from Japan…

 

Her thoughts were cut off when the elevator doors opened; Kagome hadn't even realized they had stopped, the elevator was so smooth. Marlie smiled as she allowed Kagome to get out first. Then the door opened, and both women started. Kagome smirked; the blonde didn't know that Sesshoumaru would have heard the elevator come to his floor. Sneaky, annoying, filthy rich, dazzlingly beautiful dog demons…

 

Kagome walked into the suite as Sesshoumaru ushered her in. He took the garment bag and slipped Marlie a tip before she returned to the lift. Sniffing lightly as he shut the door, he looked at Kagome with a raised-eyebrow-and-crooked-smile expression that made her knees weak.

 

“Chiffon?”

 

It made Kagome roll her eyes.

 

“Don't sniff my clothes,” she told him, annoyed once again.

 

Turning away with a purpose, Kagome realized that she had yet to visit the object of her desire - the bedroom. Walking past the bathroom, she saw the door that she knew had to lead to the boudoir… unless this freakin' room had a water park hidden somewhere, too. She grasped the handle and turned, exposing the huge room to her sight. Apparently, Sesshoumaru had been in here: some of her clothes as well as his own were laying on the bed which was lying in the middle of the left wall, a nightstand on each side.

 

Only certain articles of clothing were strewn about the beautiful cream-colored bedspread; anything that needed to be hung had been. Kagome spun around, seeing the closet behind her. Facing front again, Kagome noticed the long table opposite the foot of the bed that had her toiletries placed on it. Further past the humongous, king-sized bed was a wall of glass; there was another exit to the balcony from in here… she could see the lounge she had nearly tripped over earlier. In front of the lounge chair but on her side of the glass was a recliner stuffed into the corner of the room. Kagome walked slowly to the bed and sat. Sesshoumaru had hung her dress in the closet while she looked around and now he loomed over her.

 

“This room is huge!” she said, her eyes wide. She looked up at the youkai. “It's bigger than my whole apartment!”

 

Sesshoumaru quirked an eyebrow at her. “That statement was the epitome of hyperbole,” he drawled.

 

Kagome scowled at him. “Okay, maybe I am exaggerating a little, but seriously… what do we need with a room this big?”

 

Kagome's glare turned to shock and then worried as a small smile crept along Sesshoumaru's lips.

 

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

 

Kagome took a quick shower, hurried through blow-drying her hair, and applied some mascara and lip gloss. Using the huge, fluffy bathrobe provided by the hotel, Kagome returned to the bedroom, where she found Sesshoumaru already immaculately dressed in a pale grey suit, with a royal blue shirt to accent it. He had tied his hair with a simple band at the nape. Kagome couldn't breathe for a moment; it wasn't fair that a man she was seeing would be more beautiful than she was.

 

Smirking, Sesshoumaru began to tease her. “You do realize it's impolite to ogle?”

 

Kagome huffed as she approached the dress. Suddenly remembering the shoes, however, Kagome abandoned the chiffon for the sandals, knowing it would be hard to use caution with the delicate chains once she had the dress on. She vaguely acknowledged the man leaving the room as she sat down with the shoes; he moved quicker than normal.

 

On the living room's coffee table, Sesshoumaru found his cell phone vibrating. It hadn't gotten the chance to pulsate a second time.

 

“Jaken,” he said in a voice that dripped with acid. Why did he keep that little imp of a youkai around?

 

“M-m-m-m'lord,” Jaken stuttered, knowing full well his boss would not stand for being disturbed on his holiday. “I-I'm sorry, Sesshoumaru-sama, I really didn't want to disturb you… Hashi - that stupid, fat, ugly…”

 

“Jaken…” His tone promised disembowelment.

 

“Right!” the servant squeaked. “Sesshoumaru-sama… I th-th-thought you should know…”

 

The Taiyoukai sighed, wishing the smaller demon was in front of him so he could kick him. “The point, Jaken.”

 

“Eep! Er, yes. Well, Hashi was in a club last night - I believe you were still flying - and it just so happened that Inuyasha was there with a band…”

 

Sesshoumaru sighed again, but this was an exasperated sound. “Why does he persist? I have told him many times that Inuyasha does not return his interest. Has having a few teeth grow back several times and an imprint of my brother's fist in his eye still not deterred him?”

 

“Er, well, I have spoken to Hashi about that,” Jaken said, his tone more serious now, “and he swears it was a coincidence.” Sesshoumaru rolled his eyes on the other end. “But believe it or not, this has nothing to do with Hashi. You see, Inuyasha was not with his own band. It seems that he band belongs to him. But he did perform with them…”

 

Sesshoumaru narrowed his eyes. He was going to berate the little imp for wasting his time with such trivial news. But the way Jaken had trailed off… his tone seemed almost afraid. He growled after a few moments of silence. He would have to reeducate the little demon when he got back to Miami.

 

Hearing his masters' impatience and knowing Sesshoumaru was in the least - in his true form - five hours away, he blurted the rest of the information out. “Apparently, they asked Inuyasha to perform a song with them that he wrote. The children teased him for writing the song…” Sesshoumaru heard the demon swallow thickly, “… about Kagome. It's going to be on the radio, and that lowly cur Hashi told me the song was very `raw' and `sexy' - er, those were his words, milord.”

 

Sesshoumaru heard no more. His hand seized, and the tiny silver phone crunched into pieces in his palm. So, his brother wanted to play hardball, eh? Well, if he's looking to be romantic, Sesshoumaru could be romantic. And Kagome would be putty in his hands.

 

Kagome stood, admiring her handiwork. The fragile shoes seemed to be made for her; they fit her so well, and the tinkling chains were neither taut nor loose. They had just the right amount of slack to look elegant.

 

Throwing the robe on the bed, Kagome reached for the garment bag. Once she had the dress unsheathed, Kagome stood in front of it, admiring it. She had heard Sesshoumaru being terse in the other room; she assumed it had to do with work, whatever that entailed. She reached for the dress, but before she could take it off the hanger, Sesshoumaru appeared silently behind her, snaking his arms around her slender waist.

 

Kagome smirked; she should have put the dress on right away. With a demon that could move faster than a bullet, she had to watch out when she was naked. She felt him nuzzle her hair, inhaling. He found his way to her neck, and his lips found her skin.

 

“You smell - and look - delicious,” he told her.

 

She threw her head back as he cupped a breast, and he took advantage of the exposed flesh of her neck, biting lightly. She moaned in response to the pleasure he gave her, and it caused his youki to growl in pleasure. But just as quickly as he had started, Sesshoumaru slipped away, causing Kagome to reel from the rush of emotions.

 

She looked over her shoulder at him coyly, an eyebrow raised. Sesshoumaru laughed a short, sharp laugh. “If I had continued, we would miss dinner. But the bigger shame will be that I won't see you wear that dress…” Sesshoumaru eyed her in an obvious manner.

 

Kagome saw his eyes rest on her backside, but it didn't faze her. She returned to her task. Slipping the dress off its' hanger, she stepped carefully into the pink chiffon. She pulled it up, and began her little dance to get a grip on the zipper. Again, Sesshoumaru appeared behind her. This time, however, his hands lingered on her thighs. Slowly, ever so slowly, he moved up her body. Eventually, his hand found the zipper that went up her left side.

 

His right hand lingered on her hip, but his left carefully lifted the zipper until it rested at the top, hidden skillfully in the fabric. Sesshoumaru bent to place a soft kiss on Kagome's shoulder before releasing her. She thanked him quietly before walking away to the bathroom.

 

Ten minutes later, Kagome emerged, her hair in a messy updo. She hadn't done anything special, just pinned sections of her hair to her crown until many tendrils flowed from the top of her head. Sesshoumaru's eyes softened visibly when he saw her. She was the perfect vision of grace and beauty.

 

“The shoes are lovely,” he murmured as he grasped her hand.

 

“Mmm…” She let him lead her to the door, and they entered the elevator. “I hope I'm not clumsy enough to break them,” she said to no one in particular.

 

Sesshoumaru cocked his head to the side. “They will be easy enough to repair. Even if a link has to be replaced.”

 

“Why bother?” she asked. “I'm sure it can just be soldered back on or something. Then it would just need to be repainted…”

 

Sesshoumaru's brow knitted together as he pondered her suggestion. “Why would one paint something that is already the correct color? And you could not solder the pieces together. It would have to be melted. Only a jeweler could fix it.”

 

The doors opened, and he led her through the lobby. It seemed familiar to Kagome. Was this the same direction they had gone to get to the Prada store? Suddenly, she heard - and felt - Sesshoumaru emit a soft, low growl. Looking up to his face, she saw him glaring at a group of young men at a bar in one of the hotel's lounges. Kagome rolled her eyes.

 

Regaining her thoughts, she confronted Sesshoumaru. “What do you mean, `already the same color'? And why a jeweler, instead of a regular shoe smith?”

 

Her frown marred her pretty face, and Sesshoumaru couldn't help but chuckle, which made her deepen her scowl.

 

“It is already gold, is it not?”

 

“Well, yes,” Kagome said. “But a jeweler doesn't fix shoes. Not unless…”

 

Her jaw dropped as she comprehended the obvious. Sesshoumaru snickered.

 

“Are you freaking kidding me?” she cried out, attracting the attention of a few other patrons on their way to or from dinner.

 

He gave her a stern look to remind her that such behavior while wearing such a dress was inappropriate.

 

“Seriously, Sesshoumaru. I didn't even know they made shoes like this. I figured they were just metal, painted gold,” she told him, still in shock.

 

“There is not a large market for them. Actresses walk too much, socialites are more fond of diamonds, and most average business women are more interested in trendy brands. I, for one, prefer less-known designers to Jimmy Choo…”

 

Kagome's jaw dropped open a second time. Sesshoumaru knew what was coming and decided to explain beforehand.

 

“I used to design kimono for Geisha,” he said with a sigh. “I still own a few shops in Japan. Our designs are quite popular - we get many compliments on how `authentically antique' our kimono are.” He flashed a grin her way, and she smirked back.

 

They reached their destination - a swanky-looking restaurant named `The Melrose' - and the Maitre `D sat them quickly, seeming to know Sesshoumaru. In a gentlemanly fashion, the youkai held her seat out, and then easily pushed her in after she sat. Kagome didn't think a man had ever done that for her.

 

“So, you like fashion?” Kagome was intrigued. Sesshoumaru was annoyed with her curiosity.

 

He looked into the distance, passive animosity in his eyes. “I have studied in Florence, Paris, and New York through the ages, waiting out all the horrible fashions that have come and gone.”

 

Amused now, Kagome thought it safe to goad the demon in public. Surely he wouldn't kill her with so many witnesses? She giggled before beginning her barrage of teasing questions.

 

“And which fads particularly?”

 

He narrowed his eyes, but he took the bait. “Bell-bottoms. Overalls. Bodysuits. Leg warmers. Tie-dye…” He said the last one slowly, as if it left a bad taste in his mouth.

 

Kagome laughed. “Hey, I used to love overalls. And leg warmers.”

 

“And now?” he asked, an eyebrow raised in query.

 

“Well, I still like them.”

 

“Would you wear them?” he asked persistently.

 

“I used to…”

 

“Would. You. Wear. Them. Now.” He was teasing her, but menace still dripped from his words.

 

“I guess not,” she said, defeated.

 

The waiter came then, giving them menus and taking their drink order. Kagome ordered white whine, and Sesshoumaru, red wine. When he left, Kagome continued her questions.

 

“So are you going to get into fashion again someday? I mean as a real designer?”

 

“Actually, I thought I might dabble in it as my next career,” he told her calmly.

 

“Next?” she asked as the waiter came back with their drinks.

 

“Kagome, I have to choose a new life every twenty years or so, depending on the situation. My brother as well. We live a long time, and we've each had many professions. Of course he picks less… noble careers and tends to repeat them… such as his current career of choice,” Sesshoumaru said bitterly.

 

Kagome could tell he had an estranged relationship with his brother, and decided not to pursue him as a topic. But she was so curious. If they didn't get along, why live together? And why were they so different? Obviously, they had very different personalities.

 

Sesshoumaru was relieved. He had expected her to ask more about his brother - he had even hoped to let the cat out of the bag. If Inuyasha wasn't going to do it, then damn it, he was - but she seemed reluctant, and this was good, because right now, she was with him, and Inuyasha was not his preferred topic of interest.

 

Kagome searched for a safe topic. “How old are you?”

 

Sesshoumaru was reluctant, but he wanted to give her some type of answer. “I have been alive since before the Sengoku Jidai,” he told her, searching her expression.

 

Their waiter came back, and they proceeded to order their meals, with Sesshoumaru ordering a plate for them to share as an appetizer. Kagome gasped at the price - Eighty-nine Australian dollars - and wished he would stop there. By itself, the platter was made for two people: crab, prawn, scallops, calamari, smoked salmon and oysters… it was a meal fit for a king. But on top of that, he had ordered a steak with more seafood on the side, as well as a salmon dish for Kagome.

 

After the man left, Kagome tried in vain to get Sesshoumaru to undo part of the order - she didn't need her own dinner if he was getting one to share! He waved her off, however, and they mostly talked about school and work - the safest topics they could each think of - for the remainder of the dinner.

 

Kagome only felt awkward when, near the end of the meal, Sesshoumaru asked how she was going to earn money now that she was no longer working for the firm. She stumbled around the answer; he noticed how anxious and nervous she got.

 

“Um, I was thinking about, er… waitressing…” she told him uneasily.

 

Sesshoumaru thought it was endearing that she didn't like to lie, but he also wondered why she would need to lie about something so bland in the first place. He assumed that with her humble lifestyle, she thought he would think less of her as a waitress.

 

“It is fine, Kagome. I simply wanted to know. I do not care where you work,” he assured her.

 

I'm not so sure about that, she thought.

 

“Do you need me to make a few calls? I could…” Twisting around, Sesshoumaru reached into the breast of his jacket that was casually draped behind his chair before realizing that he had - not but a few hours ago - indeed crushed his phone with his bare hand.

 

Likewise, he remembered the conversation with Jaken, which left him feeling bitter again. Frankly, he was proud of himself for simply not melting the phone. Had he done so, the acid might have dripped unto the floor and melted through to the next floor. And perhaps the next. And maybe the one below that one…

 

“No, no, that's not necessary,” Kagome interrupted. “In fact, I…” She only realized her mistake after the words had come out.

 

Sesshoumaru raised an eyebrow at her. She stared back.

 

“You…”

 

Kagome began to sweat, and Sesshoumaru could taste it in the air, as well as hear her rapidly increasing pulse. What was going on?

 

“I… I have… an interview…”

 

The eyebrow ratcheted a few notches higher along with Kagome's heartbeat.

 

“On Tuesday afternoon…”

 

Sesshoumaru tried to reason with her. Perhaps she was nervous about the interview? “Where is it?”

 

Kagome's heart skipped a beat, and it did not go unnoticed. Sesshoumaru's eyes narrowed in suspicion.

 

The question she did not want to answer had been asked. She couldn't bear to tell the truth, but she hated the idea of lying as well.

 

“I, um… it's at… a bar…”

 

Sesshoumaru chuckled, but the humor did not reach his eyes. “That was incredibly vague, Kagome.”

 

“Well…”

 

The waiter chose that moment to bring the check, and Sesshoumaru immediately gave him a bright red credit card. The man left, and Kagome thought it was the perfect opportunity to change the subject.

 

Wearing a smile, Kagome asked him, “So what's on the agenda for tomorrow?”

 

He caught on to her evasive maneuvering, but ignored it for now. He could always ask again.

 

“It's a surprise,” he smirked.

 

“More surprises?” she asked, sounding exhausted.

 

Sesshoumaru processed this. Perhaps it was too much - he knew women loved surprises, but maybe he was pushing her too far.

 

“After breakfast, yes. Another surprise.”

 

Well, he had actually given something up. Sure, it wasn't really considered information, but it was better than the usual `it's a surprise'. Kagome grinned at him, and he was pleased. Perhaps he would get further with her by sharing some information.

 

The waiter came back, and Sesshoumaru signed something quickly before standing and pulling Kagome's chair out for her. When he had claimed her hand, the waiter came back to thank Sesshoumaru, and they left, returning to the Royal Suite.

 

Kagome walked straight to the bedroom to take off the dress. It was bad enough that she had to worry about not spilling anything on the delicate chiffon, but then there was the danger of stepping on the flowing train and puncturing it with the spiky heels of her expensive shoes. Her mind reeled with possibilities of ruining the dress.

 

She fumbled until she found the zipper, pulling it down. She hadn't seen where Sesshoumaru had gone, but now she saw the bathroom door open and heard running water. She looked at him curiously as he stalked towards her. Flinging his jacket onto the bed, he approached, catching her fingers when he was in front of her.

 

She watched his face as his hands rest atop hers, both of them pulling the zipper the little distance it had left to go. When that was done, he let go of her hands, only to reach her shoulders. One at a time, he slipped the delicate straps off, kissing her skin as he went. Slowly, he pulled the dress down. He met some resistance - Kagome had such delectable curves - but the dress was no match for his careful strength.

 

When the salmon-colored chiffon pooled at her feet, Kagome decided she wasn't going to let Sesshoumaru completely dominate her. He held her by the waist now, wondering what she was thinking. He found out when she reached for him and began undoing the buttons on his silk shirt. With haste, she plucked the buttons free.

 

She marveled at the smooth, hard planes of his chest and stomach. He quivered at her touch, and she smirked; it was not everyday one could make a demon react this way. She marveled at the slight power she held over him. But she was also amazed at the control he expressed. She could barely contain herself, and couldn't imagine what he must be feeling.

 

So she decided that control was hardly necessary anymore.

 

With a quick movement, Kagome ripped the shirt from his body. He seemed amused, and she smiled with him. She reached for his belt greedily, undoing the buckle and then unbuttoning him. When his pants lay with her dress, she reached for his boxer-briefs, but for some reason, she felt fear. It was silly and irrational; they had had sex so many times she had lost count. Why now?

 

She looked down at her feet, unable to look him in the eye. She eyed the beautiful, dainty shoes. She saw the gorgeous heap of chiffon that was her dress. And then, she knew.

 

It all felt real. She felt like she had had a night out with her lover, not just a man she was seeing. It had felt right and old. And now, she felt guilty. Had she not set rules for this reason? Had she not told all three men she was not settling until she knew? And she didn't; not yet. She wasn't set on any of the trio of suitors. This trip had been unfair. Was this why he had surprised her? Had he known she would refuse?

 

Sesshoumaru could see the change of emotions in her face. He knew when she had hesitated that something was wrong. Damn women and their irrational minds. Why must they always think at times like these? He watched as she changed from scared to confused, then from enlightened to angry.

 

“Sesshoumaru, why did you bring me here?” she asked, trying to keep the anger from her voice.

 

“I wanted to get away, and I thought you would enjoy accompanying me,” he told her matter-of-factly, unsure where she was going with this.

 

“But you're trying to spoil me: private jets, expensive dresses… offering to pay my tuition? This feels like you're trying to bribe me, Sesshoumaru. I will not be bought.” Her expression dark, Kagome attempted to stalk away.

 

Sesshoumaru caught her arm and turned her, ferreting out a groan from Kagome. “I do not attempt to buy your love, Kagome. This is my way of courting you. I'm sorry if you are unused to it, but again, you insult me if you think any of this will damage my finances. I would be spending as much - if not more - had I come without you. If you are uncomfortable, I shall send word that we will be leaving tomorrow.”

 

This time, it was he that turned away, and it felt Kagome feeling confused and worried. She had offended him once again, and he genuinely sounded upset. She watched as he disappeared into the bathroom again, only to hear the water turn off. He reappeared seconds later, his face calm despite his previous words. He eyed her, as if to judge her temperament.

 

Kagome felt awful. Had she jumped the gun? After all, he hadn't forced her to do anything. Perhaps he felt that she truly needed a little spoiling in her life right now. And to be honest, she did. But that didn't mean she was comfortable with it. With a sigh, Kagome stored the information away in her brain and walked up to Sesshoumaru.

 

He watched her warily as she gracefully stepped over to him and reached for the band of his underwear. His muscles jumped at her touch, more out of caution than lust. But she was still naked, save her gold heels. And he was still a man.

 

When she had removed the last of his clothing, he took her by her hand and led her to the bathroom, where she found that somewhere between the time they had left for dinner and right now, the bathroom had been transformed into a beautiful spa.

 

There was no electrical lighting on - Sesshoumaru had lit dozens of tapered candles all over the room; she could still smell the faint scent a match makes when lit. But it was light compared to the heavy strawberry scent that filled the air. Mostly, it came from the bubble bath that was now almost as tall as she. But there was also a silver platter on the granite counter; a bottle of champagne and a silver bowl of strawberries on it, joined by a hydrangea arrangement in a shallow, wide bowl.

 

Kagome had never been wooed in such a way. No one had ever gone so far for her, and it was both unnerving and overwhelming. Sesshoumaru didn't wait for her to say something. He walked over to the bottle - Kagome was sure it was the most expensive bottle he could get his hands on - and popped the cork, letting the rich, heady foam pour onto the granite floor. The head reminded her of the bubble bath, also ready to overflow.

 

Not allowing her to think - after their heated conversation, he knew her thoughts would return to it - he brought her a glass of the carefully poured champagne and pulled her to the whirlpool. She sipped carefully, not sure of what to think of all of it. But he seemed to only want to make her happy, so she decided to go along with it. She was about to step in when a flash of gold stopped her.

 

She was about to get in the tub with her shoes on!

 

Kagome fluttered about, trying to find a place to put the champagne flute down and slip off the shoes at the same time. Sesshoumaru stopped her. He placed the delicate glass back into her right hand, and took her left hand in his. Then he stepped into the tub and pulled. Kagome chewed on her bottom lip, unsure. She really liked the shoes, and if she was going to keep them, she would prefer that they remain without needing repairs as long as possible.

 

Sesshoumaru fought to hold back a smile. Really, the girl was too cautious for her own good. Giving her another gentle tug, he resorted to convincing her. “They will not be harmed, Kagome. There are no harsh chemicals in here, and both gold and acrylic are quite resilient…”

 

She actually already knew this. They used acrylic in many aquatic habitats and gold… she had taken baths and showers with many different kinds of gold on. So why the hesitation? She knew there was just something so wrong about taking a bath with shoes on, especially such gorgeous, expensive ones. She was poised, one foot hovering inches in front of the enormous mound of bubbles, when Sesshoumaru tugged gently, making her lose her balance and forcing her to step into the tub. With a `thunk', she placed her foot firmly onto the porcelain bottom of the whirlpool.

 

Once she was in, there was no bother debating. She placed the other leg in as she joined an only half-visible Sesshoumaru in the tub. She smiled, and he bent to her ear, his breath against her skin making her shudder.

 

“You look so incredibly sexy right now… you have no idea,” he said, the strain evident in his voice.

 

Kagome felt empowered. She smiled coyly at him when he returned to his full height and took a long draught from her glass. Sesshoumaru turned to his drink as well, draining it of its' contents. He placed the flute down on the edge of the tub and turned to the woman opposite him. When she finally took the glass from her lips, Sesshoumaru bent to take her lips. As they kissed, he coaxed her down. He sat, pulling her to straddle his outstretched legs.

 

Surrounded by the tiny, fragrant bubbles, Kagome giggled, then finished the rest of her champagne, allowing the glass to join its' mate on the rim of the whirlpool. And as Kagome descended onto Sesshoumaru, the night became a haze of warmth, bubbles, and pleasure.

 

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

 

Inuyasha didn't think he had ever been so busy. All day he had been trying to make arrangements for Leather to record while dodging the media. Curse that damned kid, he thought while he tried to imagine strangling Trent. Of course it was just his luck that a local intern for a news reporter had been at Spirits last night and heard the little declaration.

 

Of course, media attention was great for the band's publicity, but he was only their manager, and didn't need his own publicity. This was why he turned to producing in the first place. This was why he hadn't been in the business of making music since the Forties. Ever since, girls have been too obsessed with celebrities to let him live peacefully.

 

He brusquely ended the phone call with an entertainment magazine, and then answered the phone two seconds later when it rang. He wouldn't have picked it up, but he actually wanted to speak to this woman.

 

“Mary,” he said through ground teeth, “what the fuck do I pay you for if you can't handle this bullshit?”

 

On the other end, his middle-aged, female agent held the phone a good distance from her ear, something she was familiar with when speaking to Inuyasha. “Listen here, you idiot,” she buffeted, “if you had told me what to expect, then maybe I could have released a statement. But nooooo… Mary is the last one to find out. Why do you do this to me, Inuyasha? Why would you do this to your agent? The only person that looks out for you…”

 

Inuyasha had had it with that last statement. “You're not looking out for me. You're looking out for yourself, you commission-whore,” he spat into the phone. It beeped, letting him know someone else was calling.

 

“Yes, well… it's the price you pay for your talents, my dear,” she agreed. “Anyways, was there anything you'd like to tell me, since we're speaking so truthfully?”

 

Inuyasha grunted. He didn't want to tell anyone the truth, let alone a leech like Mary. But if he was to get any work done, he was better off letting her handle the media. But the truth could damage his standing with Kagome, so he settled for half-truths.

 

With a sigh, he relented. “Kagome is… a friend. We're not a couple. Anyways, I wrote the song for Leather, not for myself. Can I get on with my life now?”

 

“A friend… that you roll around in the sheets with?”

 

Hearing her speak of Kagome in such a matter made his youki spike, and he was grateful that he was home. He allowed his hair to blanche and his claws and fangs to grow. He stood and began pacing. “She's. A. Friend.”

 

“With benefits?” the highlighted and manicured woman asked. He could hear the smile in her voice.

 

“Fuck off, Mary,” he said as he ended the call.

 

Placing the Sidekick on `silent', he walked to his closet to refurnish his duffel bag. On the way, he passed a mirror and noticed his eyes were red behind the brown contacts. Taking a deep breath, he let his youki ebb until he opened his eyes again to find them honey-brown. Satisfied, he continued to his enormous walk-in closet, which was - oddly enough - loaded with mostly vintage jeans, tee shirts, sneakers, and hats. There were a few blazers and dress pants in there, hidden in the back. But he usually had no reason to wear them.

 

Picking a few things out from the racks and drawers, Inuyasha stuffed them in the bag, where his previous garments had been. He had placed those in a laundry basket in one of the corners of his room. One of the maids would handle it.

 

When he was pleased with his assortment, he looked at his phone. Seven missed calls, and his voice mailbox was full. Groaning, Inuyasha wondered if the news would get to Australia. Of course, he wasn't a huge hit there, but Leather was popular among kids and it might leak onto the internet. Kagome would be disappointed if she heard his devotion to her, especially when he had been so reluctant to open up.

 

It was then that Inuyasha realized two things: First, he was going to have to be more honest with her. He would have to tell her - soon - about who and what he was. Second, if he was going to win Kagome's heart, he knew it wasn't going to be with money. He knew Sesshoumaru was going about things the wrong way. Even though he was letting her experience things she never had, she would only have brief memories of the experiences themselves.

 

Kagome was a free spirit, much like himself.

 

He didn't know what that damned wolf had planned - luckily, he hadn't heard or smelled Kouga around in a while - but as for himself? He would be just that for Kagome. Himself.

 

With a flick of his wrist, Inuyasha tossed his bag onto his shoulder and left, fighting Saturday Miami traffic to Kagome's dorm. He had a lot to do today, and tomorrow he had a gig planned with his old band.

 

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

 

Sunday morning found Kagome waking up in a strange bed - again. She yawned heavily as she realized the reason she had woken up. Sesshoumaru, in one of the hotels' robes, was letting someone inside. Glancing to the clock on the nightstand beside her, Kagome realized it was early. She didn't get up this early even on school days.

 

There was a jangling sound, and Kagome sat upright, only to realize she was naked. Her hair was damp and in a clump because it had gotten wet, yet she hadn't taken out the pins to release it. She clutched the sheet around herself and shortly after, Sesshoumaru entered the room with a cart.

 

Ah. Roomservice.

 

Kagome beamed but was interrupted by a yawn. Sesshoumaru grinned, then turned to the task at hand. While he was arranging whatever he planned to do, Kagome pulled the pins from her hair. It was a curly mess now, a result of being wet and pinned haphazardly. She shook her head and her thick ebony tresses tumbled about her shoulders in cascading waves. Sesshoumaru was beside her when she finally stopped fussing and he was staring at her intently.

 

“What?” she asked brightly.

 

He placed a tray over her lap and kissed her tenderly. Walking over to a small stereo on the table opposite the bed, he turned it on. Unfortunately, he could find nothing that pleased them and gave up. Instead, he grabbed an American newspaper from the cart and joined her in bed, placing a tray over his own lap. They ate quietly, Kagome relishing the simple fruits and orange juice. He had coffee and a muffin. Kagome looked at him, an eyebrow raised in question, then grabbed a waffle with her bare hands and ate. He almost gaped at her, but he thought it would not be wise to do so.

 

He read the newspaper quietly, and she ate noisily. Finally, she grabbed the coffee mug that was intended for her and left the bed. He watched her, curious. The sun had just edged upon the horizon and she headed for the balcony. The pushed aside the wispy white curtains and found the handle for the sliding glass door.

 

When the door was open wide enough to step through, Kagome found the lounge chair that was in the corner to her left. The balcony had a thick, concrete border, so she was covered once she lay in the elongated chair. She felt the sun's rays warm her as it rose higher, and she asked it for strength as thoughts weaved through her mind.

 

This is so lovely, she thought. But is it what I want? Sesshoumaru barely talks to me. He was happier with the newspaper than with me. Is this what it would be like if we were together? Kagome constantly weighed the three men against each other, trying to fit herself into every equation. She had spent a long time in a bland relationship because she was comfortable and it was easy. But she hadn't been happy. Now, that was all that mattered to her. And currently… Well, she was happy, just not with Sesshoumaru.

 

He promised her a lavish lifestyle, with no need to worry about how to pay her electricity or when she was going to have her next meal, but that wasn't what she wanted. It was nice, but Kagome was intent on struggling. Her mother had struggled to make ends meet when her father died, and it made her the strong woman she was today - to the point of losing her house so her daughter could go to Med school.

 

No, Kagome would not be babied. If she could find a healthy balance between the two naturally, however…

 

She was halfway finished with her coffee when Sesshoumaru joined her on the veranda. He was still wearing the robe, and he sat near her feet, lifting her legs so they laid in her lap. They continued to watch the sunrise, and although Kagome had wanted Sesshoumaru to open up, she felt comfortable in the moment; at peace.

 

Only a quarter of an hour had past when Sesshoumaru finally stood. “We must get dressed,” he said softly, holding out a hand for her.

 

She took it gingerly, allowing him to help her up. With unparalleled speed, he zoomed around the bedroom, picking her lemon-yellow bikini out from a drawer he had placed it in last night. He laid it on the bed and ran to retrieve his own swimshorts from a drawer and stopped in front of the bed. Kagome hadn't even reached the bed before he was done. She smiled wryly at him and took her bathing suit, disappearing into the bathroom.

 

She emerged ten minutes later, only because she brushed her teeth and hair. She used an elastic to put her hair in a messy bun - if they were going in the water, then there was no need for a shower or kept hair.

 

Sesshoumaru somehow still managed to look regal in black trunks with a pacific design in silver. He had put on a black tank top to go with it, and as she watched, he changed the color of his hair and eyes. The stripes she liked so much disappeared along with the crescent moon as he reverted to his public appearance. Sighing, Kagome grabbed a pair of short denim shorts and her black thong sandals. Sesshoumaru eyed her in disbelief.

 

“Forgetting something?” he asked, not wanting to offend her by telling her to wear a shirt.

 

“Oh… right!” Kagome scrambled in her little black purse and found a knock-off pair of big sunglasses that she had bought with Nikki last year; they had wanted matching pairs, but both refused to pay hundreds of dollars for items they knew they would probably lose or break.

 

She put them on, sliding them to the top of her head, and Sesshoumaru wanted to drop to the floor in exasperation. He held his tongue, however, and he gave up, moving to the front door. Kagome was impressed; the normally stoic youkai usually never looked anything less than a businessman, but right now, he seemed just as much a beach bum as the surfers on South Beach back home. And on top of that, he didn't say anything about her… indecency.

 

She met him at the door, and they entered the elevator together.

 

There was little life downstairs, but there was enough to appreciate Kagome's lack of dress. The bellhop on duty stared too long, and Sesshoumaru glared. The doorman watched her walk by, and Sesshoumaru began to growl, stopped by Kagome's hand on his arm.

 

They reached the limo that was waiting for them, and the driver scurried to the rear to open their doors. Kagome smiled at the familiar face, and he grinned back.

 

“Good morning, Cody,” she beamed, to Sesshoumaru's consternation.

 

“G'day, Kagome. Lovely morning, eh?” he said, holding the door open for them.

 

Sesshoumaru wanted to growl again. He could feel it bubbling in his chest. Why did Kagome have to be so friendly? And why was this man on a first-name basis with her? He knew he couldn't say anything. Defending her honor would be one thing, but beheading a man for saying `good morning' to her would probably not win her favor.

 

Cody began to close the door, oblivious, until Sesshoumaru stopped the door and cleared his throat. He apologized quickly and allowed Sesshoumaru to climb in before again attempting to close the back door.

 

Kagome remained silent throughout the trip; she knew it was futile to ask where they were going, and anyways, she had a vague idea.

 

After twenty minutes, they pulled into a small beach with a few buildings. Cody opened the door for them, and gave Kagome an appreciative smile as she exited the car. Sesshoumaru glared at him, but he paid no attention.

 

“Ten-thirty,” Sesshoumaru said, and with a nod of his shaggy blonde hair, Cody got back into the limo and left.

 

The demon guided her to one of the buildings, where a man was waiting with a huge smile on his face. With a thick native accent, he shook Sesshoumaru's hand.

 

“Nice seein' ya, mate,” he said to the youkai. “It's been a while. You haven't changed much.”

 

“Ian,” he said, greeting the man. “This is Kagome. I believe it is she that would like to speak with you during this excursion.”

 

Kagome looked on, confused. Ian extended a hand, shaking her hand and introducing himself.

 

“Ian Banks. I own a little dive company,” he said to Sesshoumaru's amusement, who interrupted with a chuckle.

 

“Don't be modest, Ian. But please… we're on a tight schedule.”

 

“Right, then. Let's get going. The Seaway, I presume?”

 

“Only the best,” Sesshoumaru said imperiously.

 

“She game?” Ian said, pointing with his thumb at the woman that trailed them as they walked. He was apparently immune to Kagome's beauty, which pleased Sesshoumaru. Either that, or he was smart.

 

“I assume.”

 

“Kagome,” Ian said, startling her. “I apologize. You dive?”

 

“Yes. I've been certified since I was twelve,” she told him.

 

“When was that, last year?” Ian joked. But the scowl on Sesshoumaru's face wiped his expression away. “No sense of humor,” Ian grumbled.

 

After some poking around, Ian returned with the proper equipment for the three of them and they took off in a boat.

 

When they stopped, Kagome found herself in between two pieces of land. Ian called the water here the “Gold Coast Seaway”, because it allowed access to the interior islands of the Gold Coast. Her excitement had been building, and now Kagome was dying to get in the water. She checked her equipment and sat on the edge of the boat.

 

“Hold it there, Sheila,” Ian said to her.

 

She halted, awaiting instruction. She noticed that Sesshoumaru had no dive equipment. Showy dog demons.

 

“Now, this here area is for advanced divers. The only reason I'm letting you go without knowin' for sure you can handle it is because of this guy here,” he lectured, clapping Sesshoumaru on the shoulder, who had been in the process of taking his shirt off. “I've seen this guy pull off some stuff in the worst rip currents. On top of that, I don't fear the sharks with him here.” Nodding his approval, Ian dismissed them as he went down into the cabin of the boat.

 

“Does he know?” Kagome whispered.

 

“No,” Sesshoumaru grinned.

 

“Huh,” Kagome huffed. It seemed that even without anyone knowing what he was, everyone completely respected him.

 

“I'll see you down there,” he said, diving off the side of the boat into the turquoise water below.

 

“Show off!” she said aloud. She heard a chuckle from the depths of the boat's interior. Putting in her respirator, Kagome adjusted her mask and fell backwards off the side of the boat.

 

Underwater, Kagome was surprised how she was instantly crowded by fish. There wasn't much in the way of reefs; the water probably moved too quickly for coral polyps to settle. But she enjoyed seeing fish she had never seen before and would never encounter otherwise in the water: Cownose Rays, Guitarfish, schools of Amberjack, Tangs and Squirrelfish, and even the distant outline of a Bull Shark. She hadn't even noticed the predator until Sesshoumaru suddenly turned in that direction.

 

The Guitarfish had taken her by surprise - she had been near the sandy bottom, chasing a Blackspot Snapper, when she stirred up the sand and revealed a rather large eye. She had thought it a Wobbegong at first - a shark that lies in wait in the sand - but the telltale fringes were not present. She waved water at it, allowing the eye to reveal itself. The skin around the odd orb was grey. Then suddenly, as if the creature had decided that its' presence had been given away, shimmied out of the sand and relocated in another patch of the smooth, soft sand.

 

It was the size that disconcerted Kagome the most. The eye had been rather large, and she expected a large creature. But it was only about three feet long, with the usual spade-shaped head and a few white spots on the sides. The large dorsal fin made Kagome wonder how she could have missed it.

 

When it was gone, Kagome couldn't help giggling, and Sesshoumaru turned to her. She looked at him, and she thought he had the strangest expression on his face. He was no more than twenty feet away to her left, so she saw the determined anger clearly in the crystalline water. She didn't have time to wonder why he was upset, because he began swimming furiously towards her. Of course, demon as he is, he was still incredibly fast. But he is, after all, an inu youkai, not a fish.

 

Kagome turned back to the spot where she had uncovered the Guitarfish and caught a bit of movement to her right. And that's when she figured out why Sesshoumaru was in such a hurry to get to her. A Bull Shark - possibly the same one she saw before - was swimming quickly towards her. It was as fast as the demon was. Her blood froze and her heart stopped for a moment. She was able to look at Sesshoumaru one more time before the two were too close for her to keep track. Her adrenaline kicked in, and she reached for the youkai…

 

It happened so fast, Kagome was unsure of what had taken place. The two creatures had reached her at the same time; that, she knew. But there was blood and pain. Not so much pain that she thought some body part had been inherently chewed off by the predator, but a burning pain against her right side. But what did she know? Maybe her endorphins were doing a great job.

 

She saw Sesshoumaru move quickly towards the shark - was he so powerful that he wasn't even afraid of Jaws? - and by the time her eyes could follow the movement, the shark was retreating. Then he turned to her, panic clear on his face, scooped her into his arms, careful not to touch her right side.

 

When they surfaced, he was able to quickly shoot himself up the boarding ladder, landing in an open area. He laid Kagome down as she removed the breathing apparatus and mask and he removed her tank.

 

“Wh-what…?”

 

“Do not move, Kagome.”

 

“Wh-why?”

 

“You have been hurt.”

 

She tried to lift her head to see, but he wouldn't allow it. “Am I missing something?”

 

This made him chuckle. “No, Kagome. You were not bitten.”

 

“Then how could I be hurt?” she demanded, more tersely than she had intended.

 

He hesitated. “When the shark was within inches of you, you moved towards me in such a way that it missed, and instead, it rubbed against your side.”

 

Ian showed up just then, hearing the demon's explanation. “What was it?”

 

“Bull,” was all he needed to say.

 

“Funny,” the divemaster said. “They don't usually attack.” Then he headed back down into the cabin to extract his First Aid kit.

 

After a few moments, Kagome frowned. “I didn't even feel it. I had no idea…”

 

“You had other things in your mind. Besides, you were expecting a bite, apparently, and therefore a great deal more pain,” he soothed, brushing her hair from her face.

 

She tried to look at the wound again - it stung very badly, now that she knew what happened - but Sesshoumaru tried to stop her. But she gave him a hard look, and he relented. As she propped herself up, he removed any other equipment still attached to her.

 

Despite both her medical and marine biology training, she was unprepared for what she saw. Her right side, about a one square foot of it, was raw and bleeding. It was obviously shallow, but it was such a wide-spread wound, it worried her. It looked as if someone had taken the toughest grit of sandpaper and rubbed her with it furiously.

 

“B-but… how? Shark denticles are smooth when you rub them correctly. The way we moved…”

 

“You are correct,” Sesshoumaru interrupted. “However, I hit the creature upon his nose just as he was passing you, and I believe it sent the shark backwards upon you…”

 

His expression was hard; guilt and anger swirled in his eyes, which were almost their normal shade of amber.

 

“Sesshoumaru… please. You saved me. I'm extremely grateful. But you must get a hold of yourself. Your youki… your eyes… and I think I can see your moon…” She tried to soothe him, but he was intent on being discontent.

 

“I should have not put you in such a precarious situation.” He turned away, but stayed in place, holding her hand.

 

“Sesshoumaru, I'll be fine. And this was the most incredible thing I've ever experienced! I just don't know how I can tell people what happened without giving away what you are…” she chuckled, but it pained her to move her torso and a hiss escaped her lips, bringing his anguished eyes back to her face.

 

“I'm sorry,” he said, averting his eyes to the wound.

 

Kagome placed a hand on his. “I'm fine.”

 

They didn't speak again, but she noticed that he had control again, and looked the part of a human again. Human. Kagome had never really thought of him as inhuman, but now she was reminded that he was indeed another species altogether. A mythical species; one that she had been warned of by her crazy old jii-chan, and she had scoffed at. There would be no living with him if he found out…

 

All thoughts scattered when the blonde-haired Ian came back from below deck. He carried a large, white, plastic box and a few clean rags and kneeled next to Kagome, who insisted on sitting upright. But the curvature of her body brought forth pain, so she asked Sesshoumaru to help her up. Now that she was standing, the blood trickled downward. Upset, Kagome looked to the demon. He rose a brow in question.

 

“I… I don't want to get blood on my suit…”

 

Chuckling, Sesshoumaru asked Ian to leave them, and when he complied, Sesshoumaru quickly brought Kagome her shorts and a towel. When he had stayed the blood flow with a rag, he untied the stings of her bottom, allowing them to fall. He had her place her hand over the rag, then helped her into her shorts. When she was dressed, he attended to her once more.

 

When the blood had all but stopped, Sesshoumaru found an antibacterial antiseptic and applied the ointment generously. Kagome watched, approving. She had no training with this kind of wound, but she realized that it was no different from a scrape; the difference was instead of concrete, they had been shark scales. So she allowed Sesshoumaru to attend to her as it pleased him, and she hoped it wouldn't leave a scar, although she knew it shouldn't, with the proper care.

 

Kagome insisted on standing, and Sesshoumaru retrieved Ian from the cabin, and they made their way back to the little building they had started from. It was only ten, so Sesshoumaru offered lunch. He wouldn't say so, but he had heard Kagome's stomach growl, and she had guessed that he did. Swimming always made her hungry.

 

Ian was pleased, and they ate a quick fried fish lunch. Just as they finished, the limo showed up and Cody came to retrieve them. He tried to hide the surprise on his face when he saw the huge white patch of gauze and medical tape on Kagome's side, but he was not quick enough. Sesshoumaru had seen his expression and leveled him with a glare. Since he was already caught, Cody walked up to Kagome and offered her a hand.

 

“What happened, Miss Kagome?” he asked, concerned.

 

“Shark,” was all she offered with a smile.

 

“Funny, they usually don't attack around these parts,” he said, frowning.

 

Sesshoumaru glared harder, if that was possible, and Kagome laughed, even though it hurt. “Yeah, that's what Ian said…”

 

He helped her into the car as Sesshoumaru finished with Ian, asking him for the First Aid kit and collecting the few possessions they had brought with them. Then they were off, back to the hotel.

 

In the car, Kagome smiled brightly at the demon. “So, what's next? Let me guess… It's a surprise…?”

 

Sesshoumaru did not share in her mood. “It is no surprise. We are going home.”

 

Kagome's face fell. “Home?”

 

He noticed her expression. He realized that she did not want the vacation to end so soon, although she would never say so for fear of seeming ungrateful or selfish. But… what to do? Risk her further injury, or risk her unhappiness?

 

So he sat, not answering her question, pondering the risks of each side of his internal argument. Kagome remained silent for once, and they reached the hotel soon thereafter.

 

She smiled for Cody when he helped her out of the back seat, but then plodded into the hotel, ignoring the odd looks from the hotel staff. Their expressions harmed Sesshoumaru's thought process further. He found her at their elevator, awaiting the arrival of the lift. They rode up to the suite in silence, and once inside, Kagome headed straight for the bedroom. She bent to retrieve her duffel bag from a little cubby in her nightstand, but the movement elicited a hiss of pain, and Sesshoumaru was next to her instantly.

 

It hurt him to see her so downtrodden. He knew then that she blamed herself; as if she had called the shark - which supposedly, never attacks - herself. Because she wasn't just upset about her own vacation. He knew she was also worrying about his. He took her hands and gently pulled her upwards, only to lay her down on the freshly-made bed. She looked confused, and he smirked. Knowing her, she was thinking that he wanted to make love to her, and this amused him. But really, he knew that right now, she was only comfortable standing or lying down, and he preferred the latter.

 

“Kagome,” he pleaded, kissing her palm, “tell me what to do…” He watched as her eyes widened. She didn't know what to expect. “I do not want to injure you further - my plans for today might accomplish that. But I also do not want to disappoint you. What should I do?”

 

Her expression softened as he explained, and she took her hand from his grasp only to rest it on his face. “Sesshoumaru, you don't have to worry about disappointing me. If you want to go home, let's go,” she said.

 

And that's when he made up his mind. She was a stubborn woman, if anything else. So he knew that deep down, she wanted to stay no matter the pain. But she was relenting, because she thought that was what he wanted.

 

With a sigh, he turned his head to kiss her hand again, then stood up. “You had better get dressed, then. Shorts and a shirt. We have much walking to do.”

 

She looked confused. “But… if we're flying, then…”

 

“Walking, not flying.”

 

“But Sesshoumaru…” she whined.

 

In an instant, he released his youki and turned into his normal self. He covered her with his body, careful not to harm her wound further, but almost close enough to touch. When he kissed her, she was surprised at the intensity and the reaction of her body, despite her injury. It left her breathless, so she could not deny him when he spoke.

 

“Please.”

 

She nodded dumbly, and with a smirk, he lifted her easily so she could stand. He helped her dress, and they left, taking the hotel's car down the street to their destination, Sea World Australia.

 

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

 

Kagome had so much fun, she didn't feel her injury until they were back in the car again. Sesshoumaru had hovered about, making sure that she felt well enough to go on, which got tiring, but under the circumstances, she felt she might do the same, so she let him be. She was only too happy that his knowledge that carrying her would cause her pain made him refrain from doing so. It would not become a businessman to go around carrying someone in a theme park. She realized she hadn't seen him on the phone the entire time, and brought it up.

 

“I… rid myself of it,” he stated dryly.

 

Kagome looked at him dubiously, but said nothing else.

 

Back at the hotel, he helped her undress and shower. When they were both clean, he dried her off. She had tried to do things on her own, but she was annoyed to find how many things involved bending, and the occasional wince or hiss of pain would make him insist on helping her again.

 

When she was clothed in a bathrobe, Sesshoumaru quickly dressed and excused himself, telling Kagome he would be right back. He was gone for only ten minutes - long enough for Kagome to find a television show worth watching - and then he did something unexpected. He told her his plans.

 

“We will dine in tonight, since I do not wish for you to be more grievously injured…”

 

“This isn't grievous, Sesshoumaru,” she interrupted.

 

“Hn. Anyway, our plane leaves at three, so I want to dine early, so you may rest. Are you hungry?”

 

“If the plane arrives at three, why do we need to rest? We have half a day to ourselves…”

 

“Three in the morning, Kagome.”

 

“Oh.” Then, “Why so early?”

 

He raised an eyebrow at her. “Do you wish to miss school?”

 

According to her calculations, it was late Sunday afternoon. There was no school on Monday, due to Columbus Day, so it was a good day to fly. “Does this mean it will be the middle of the night when we get back to Miami?”

 

“It does. The plane needs to refuel, so we will probably leave near four. But we will arrive Tuesday morning, probably close to one,” he explained.

 

Kagome wondered how many times he had taken this trip. She nodded, and turned her attention back to the TV. Sesshoumaru busied himself ordering dinner from room service, and then he began to tinker with the new phone he had acquired during his obviously short descent into the lobby. What did they have, a mall down there?

 

Half an hour later, a knock at the door signaled dinner, and Kagome managed to sit up in bed as Sesshoumaru answered the door. He served her, and they ate peaceably, watching Seinfeld reruns. She found that she was exhausted after dinner, and fell asleep, still wearing the robe, where she lay in bed.

 

At exactly three in the morning, Sesshoumaru woke to his new phone's alarm, dressed, and packed their things. He new the sandy-haired driver would be waiting for him, and he called for a bellhop. Once the hotel employee had their things, he scooped Kagome from the bed and carried her to the waiting limo.

 

Cody tipped his hat to Sesshoumaru, who gave a curt nod. The young man opened the door, and Sesshoumaru quickly slipped Kagome inside, laying her down on the supple leather. In a few minutes, they were off to Coolangatta Airport, where they would find his jet ready to fly back home.

 

When Sesshoumaru picked Kagome up again, she stirred. The breeze at the small airport mussed her hair, and she slid slowly from unconsciousness to smooth it. When she opened her eyes, she first saw Sesshoumaru's face, then she watched as Cody handed their luggage to the stewardess, who had been replaced by another woman. As Cody turned back to them to close the door, Sesshoumaru tried to shy away from the younger man, but Kagome wouldn't have it. She waved to him, putting Sesshoumaru in a compromising position. He found he had to turn her, and she was able to smile to the Aussie and tell him goodbye. He thanked her, which she found odd, and went back to the car.

 

Sesshoumaru quickly ascended the steps, apologizing.

 

“What for?”

 

“I did not wish to wake you for this,” he told her.

 

“You didn't want me to say goodbye to Cody,” she admonished.

 

Not denying it, nor admitting, Sesshoumaru silently brought Kagome to the chair she had sat in before. “I'm sorry you must sit for this portion. I will make sure you do not have to stay sitting for long.”

 

“Sesshoumaru, stop babying me. I'm fine. And stop apologizing. It's annoying,” she told him.

 

She buckled herself in, swatting his hand away when he tried to do it for her, and sat with her arms crossed like a petulant child, despite the fact that she had just scolded him. He sighed as he went to check on the pilots. A few moments later, he returned and buckled himself in. He was surprised that his fear had returned. If something were to go wrong with the fuel…

 

“What did you mean before?”

 

Sesshoumaru was startled out of his morbid thoughts. “What?”

 

“Um,” she said, trying to remember his exact words, “you said that… the plane was refueling. Wouldn't it do that when we first got here? And that snippy blonde… she's gone as well…”

 

Sesshoumaru smirked. “As for her, she is finding employment with another company. As for my jet… I am not the only one that uses it.”

 

Kagome's brows knit together, which he found endearing. “Er, no?”

 

He chuckled. “No. You see, in the position I am, I often ask for favors and sometimes, I give favors…” He continued as Kagome nodded her head, understanding. “Also, my brother uses it, albeit rarely.”

 

Kagome looked pensive. “Will I ever get to meet your family?”

 

Sesshoumaru could not hold back a laugh. “Does this mean you have picked a suitor?”

 

“No,” she said sheepishly, “but I'm close to it.” She grinned, hoping that answer would appease him.

 

Since they both had things to ponder, they waited in silence, each thinking of things better left unsaid. At quarter after four, the plane began to move, signaling take-off.

 

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

 

It was time to leave. He had already taken a shower, but now that he had let himself get lost on the internet, Inuyasha found he had to rush. Stepping away from the laptop on the desk in Kagome's room, Inuyasha searched for the clothes he would wear tonight. Picking out a plain black shirt to go with his favorite black Yankees hat, the hanyou dressed and left.

 

It took too much time to get there; running, he could have arrived sooner. But that wasn't allowed. He ran too fast. In the late 1800's, someone tried to recruit him for the Olympics as a sprinter. That wasn't his thing. But obviously, it wasn't above the damned wolf, Kouga. Just thinking his name made Inuyasha growl to himself inside his `Cuda.

 

The best part about tonight was the fact that Kagome would be coming home, and that lifted his spirits. It made him rethink the song set, which he knew would piss Miroku off. The bass guitarist hated when he changed their music plans. That actually made him smirk. It would be good for his friends' blood pressure.

 

He found a parking lot that let him park his own car, and parked as far away from the other cars as possible. Then, grabbing his guitar case, he trudged off to the bar.

 

Using the back entrance, he met up with two of his bandmates. They informed him that Miroku was - as usual - late. Grudgingly, he told them the new song set. They groaned; not only was it annoying, but they weren't looking forward to the fight that was soon to come. Again, Inuyasha grinned.

 

The manager of the bar spoke with him quickly about lighting and pay, and just as she was leaving, Inuyasha heard a commotion from the area where they kept their equipment. He arrived to find Miroku yelling at the drummer. When he asked what was wrong, Miroku noticed his presence and turned his wrath upon the half-demon. Inuyasha argued with him, and the other two pieces of the band moved away seconds before the fists started flying, at which point Sango intervened. It was always the same: she would argue that since he was ten times stronger, he was cheating, and therefore they were not allowed to fight.

 

“Peace, bro,” Miroku said.

 

“I'll shove your peace right up your a-”

 

“Inuyasha,” Sango intoned.

 

He glared at her, but if there was one person that could glare better than he, it was Sango. The fight stopped there, and they spoke - harshly - off the new set of songs. When all was said and done, they started to arrange their things on the stage, getting ready for the evening crowd.

 

Half an hour later, they were getting ready to play, tuning their instruments and making sure they got the order of songs right. It was a slow night; Sundays always were. But still, they had fans, and they were sure to fill the bar. Because it was slow, they would play mostly cover songs, supplemented with a few of their own.

 

Inuyasha noticed a few of the regular groupies; some followed his schedule better than his agent did. They had played at this particular bar several times before, and now the phone chain was activated. The ones that had recognized the band were already texting and calling friends, getting them to come down. This was how the bar filled their seats.

 

The club manager came to them and told them they had five minutes, and Inuyasha nodded to her. He and Miroku bumped fists, and then the bassist walked quickly to the side to kiss Sango, who was watching tonight. Usually, Sango had to work. But she had caught her man earlier than expected, and was able to come home early.

 

Suddenly, the spotlight turned on, illuminating the band with a dull, red color. An announcer introduced them, and the people that were already filling the bar cheered. Inuyasha was grateful for the earplugs that dimmed his too-sensitive hearing under his hat.

 

They started playing a fast-paced song, and lost themselves to the music.

 

After a good solid hour-and-a-half of playing, the band stopped for a break. They promised to be back in half an hour, but Inuyasha told the band to go ahead without him. Miroku chose to stay with his friend.

 

“Miroku, I'm gonna do `More Than Words', A-capella…” he tried to reason.

 

The grey-eyed man shrugged. “That's a perfect song for two singers.”

 

Inuyasha agreed reluctantly.

 

The bar's manager looked at them, ready to play music, but Miroku waved her off. Inuyasha took his mic and sat on the end of the stage. The girls surged forward to touch him, and the security guards shoved them back. Miroku followed suit, but for some unknown reason, they didn't try to touch him…

 

“This is a cover,” Inuyasha said, “but the song means a lot to me, so I hope you like it…”

 

Miroku decided all of a sudden to grab his guitar and Inuyasha signaled him to bring his as well. Once he was sitting again, the two tapped out a beat on the guitars. Within a few moments, they were playing softly, the sounds of the two melodies the only sounds in the bar, except for the occasional clinking of a glass. Then Inuyasha began to sing in an oddly uncharacteristic high voice.

 

“Saying I love you

is not the words I want to hear from you.

It's not that I want you…

Not to say, but if you only knew

how easy it would be to show me how you feel:

more than words, is all you have to do to make it real

then you wouldn't have to say that you love me,

`cause I'd already know…”

 

Miroku chimed in and out during the chorus where he was needed, allowing the melodies of their voices intertwine as well as their guitars. Then he faded away as the next verse came up.

 

“What would you do if my heart was torn in two?

More than words to show you feel

that your love for me is real.

What would you say if I took those words away?

Then you couldn't make things new

just by saying I love you…”

 

They improvised as they played a melodic bridge, and their voices stilled the bar. Even the security guards were glued to them. Sango watched on, tears in her eyes. It was one of her favorite songs that they covered, especially since it involved two of her favorite men in the world. Miroku and Inuyasha continued humming and playing until they reached the next verse.

 

“Now that I've tried to talk to you and make you understand,

all you have to do is close your eyes

and just reach out your hands… and touch me.

Hold me close, don't ever let me go…

More than words is all I ever needed you to show

then you wouldn't have to say that you love me…

`cause I'd al-ready know…

 

Sango laughed, eliciting a smile from the boys, the only other sound other than their guitars and voices. They played upon the `don't ever let me go' part, and even though the rest of the bar was floored, Sango found humor in their actions. Miroku accentuated the part, overacting the strumming of his guitar, and Inuyasha followed suit, playfully getting louder during the part. But they returned to normal for the next sentence.

 

“What would you do if my heart was torn in two?

More than words to show you feel

that your love for me is real.

What would you say if I took those words away?

Then you couldn't make things new

just by saying I love… you…”

 

They got frisky again at the end, then added some more humming and `more than words' before singing out the end of the song. Three seconds ticked by after the last note before the entire bar erupted in a chorus of cheers. Miroku slapped Inuyasha on the back and grinned, and Sango came onto the stage to kiss her boyfriend. Inuyasha couldn't help the smile spread across his features. He barely paid attention to the mobbing crowd; the song had been for someone, although he wasn't stupid enough to say so this time. It made him feel like she was there, listening to him play, and he made up his mind: he had to tell her. Soon.

 

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

 

The trip back had been uneventful. She never changed out of the hotel robe, but Sesshoumaru cleaned her wound and changed her bandages every few hours, to her consternation.

 

They dined, read, watched movies, and Sesshoumaru conducted his business without crushing another cell phone, although a wine glass had not been so lucky. They made love once, because Kagome couldn't resist the way Sesshoumaru looked without his youki concealing his real self. She had told him so, and he informed her that his `true' real self was a huge white dog, and could chew the jet up like a squeaky toy. The mental image had sent Kagome into a fit of giggles.

 

As he had said, at one-thirty on Monday morning, the little plane touched down. By two-thirty, Kagome was home. Sesshoumaru had insisted on helping her bring her things upstairs, but she could handle a duffle bag and a light garment bag; she had the sneaking suspicion that he only wanted to sniff around. And apparently, there was reason to. He wasn't here, but she could tell that Inuyasha had been in her apartment nearly the whole weekend. His own duffle bag was still on her bed, a shirt spilling out onto her comforter. The bed had not been made. She was going to have to have a talk with Inuyasha…

 

Sesshoumaru said nothing, which worried her. She knew he could probably smell that another man had been here, especially since it looked like he was here recently. As she had passed the kitchen, she saw that the garbage hadn't been taken out and there was a mountain of instant ramen cups filling it.

 

When he had hung her garment bag and put down her duffel bag, Sesshoumaru kissed her gently and started to leave. Kagome wanted to say something, but what? I'm sorry, but the other guy I'm seeing has a key to my apartment. I wasn't expecting him to stay the whole time, even though I was hoping he would. But I still like you…

 

Shaking her head, Kagome heard the door click as he closed it behind him. There had been no promise of calls or dates, which was what Kagome preferred, and she shouldn't ruin it by opening her big, fat, mouth. Instead, she put away her things and took off the robe, flinging it into her hamper. Setting her alarm, which she saw Inuyasha had set to five in the evening, Kagome slipped into her mussed-up bed and went to sleep.

 

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

 

Leaving the bar, Miroku leaned on his best friend. Sango was going to retrieve Miroku's car, which they had come in, but Inuyasha stopped her.

 

“Hold on a sec,” he said to her, but turned to his inebriated friend. “Miroku, how drunk are you?”

 

Grey eyes cast in a frown, Miroku answered, “Why?”

 

Inuyasha laughed. “If you're smart enough to ask, then you're not that drunk. I've got a favor to ask. Will you come with me to get my first tattoo?”

 

Miroku looked at his friend dubiously. Inuyasha was so very old; why choose to get a tattoo now? He heard his girlfriend gasp; apparently she was in on something he hadn't caught onto yet. Of course, he had had a few drinks, so he shouldn't be surprised…

 

Sango spoke for him. “We'll come.”

 

Inuyasha chuckled; he hadn't outright invited Sango, but the two did almost everything together. They were in love. He wanted to be Kagome all the time. Did that mean he loved her? He had loved Kikyou, but it hadn't been this strong; the pull to constantly be around Kagome was so strong, he was having anxiety attacks when he didn't know exactly where she was and with whom, and what she was doing.

 

So Sango followed Inuyasha in Miroku's car, her boyfriend snoring in the seat next to her. She wanted to ask Miroku what he thought of the situation, but he was dead to the world. She knew this had to be about Kagome. It had been driving him crazy that she was away with his brother; he had called her at least twice a day for absolutely no reason, and Miroku had said the same. Also, she wasn't blind. She had seen the reports in the tabloids about the mystery woman - `Kagome' - that had captured Inuyasha's heart. It wouldn't be long before they were hounding both of them.

 

The half-demon had led them to South Beach, where they cruised until finding the row of shops he was searching for, and the two of them parked their cars and paid the meters. Inuyasha helped Miroku from the car who had benefitted from the nap in the car. He was more alert now, and now he eyed Inuyasha suspiciously. Inuyasha spoke with a Japanese man quickly; Sango sat with Miroku on a bench.

 

Inuyasha walked back to his friends, addressing their questioning expressions. “I didn't wanna have to draw kanji, so I came to someone who'd already know it,” he explained. “Yoji's pretty famous. I used to watch this show, `Miami Ink', but never felt the urge to get a tattoo. Now that I want one, there was only one place I could go…”

 

Sango noticed that the shop was indeed named `Miami Ink', and it was teeming with people - mostly young women. She pointed this out to Miroku, who told her he had watched the show with Inuyasha a few times, but hadn't realized this was the place until now. After a few minutes, the spiky-haired Yoji called to Inuyasha. The shook hands officially, and Sango could swear she heard the man tell her friend that he was a fan of his. Inuyasha said the same. Then the two walked to a chair at a station that was obviously Yoji's. Inuyasha motioned for them to follow.

 

When they reached the duo, they heard them speaking in their native tongue. Inuyasha introduced them, and Yoji recognized Miroku. Soon thereafter, Yoji started on Inuyasha's tattoo, which he had placed on the inside of his right arm. The kanji read - as was standard with the writing - downward. It consisted of three symbols, which his friends instantly recognized as the saying, “judge me”. The couple looked at each other. This was more serious than they thought.

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Yeah, I had to stop it there. My fingers are going to fall off. If you want to drop by to say hi, comment or email me or whatever, you can reach me at www.inuyasha-fanfiction.com. Name: Pitabread. Or email me directly at pitabread@inuyasha-fanfiction.com.

 

Fun Facts:

-`Miami Ink' is both a tattoo parlor in South Beach (I've been there a few times, but I was so freaked out about meeting the hot guys that work there that I had to leave, lol) and a TV show on TLC. Yoji really is Japanese, and started out as the apprentice to one of the shops' owners, Ami.

- Ian Banks really is a divemaster, and he owns `Diving with Ian Banks' in Gold Coast, Australia. I may not know the lay of the land, but everything is authentic, from the species of fish to the name of the place where they dive. I majored in Marine Bio, so I'm familiar with such things as shark denticles (the equivalent of scales). If you want to visit Ian's site, go to “diving with ian banks” dot com, without the spaces, obviously.

- Spirit Nightclub is one of many clubs in `Paradise', a '21-and-over-only' area of The Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino. They do have multiple rooms, each with a different theme.

- The hotel - The Sea World Resort - was tweaked a tiny bit. I used a combination of the Spa Suite and the Royal Suite. For the most part, the layout is that of the Spa Suite. But I wanted them to have the most expensive, biggest suite in which there was only one, and that would be the Royal. They have 4 Spa Suites. The part about the elevator? I have no idea. Most penthouses have an elevator that require a special key or have a private elevator. I don't know if this particular hotel does, but I liked the idea, so…

- Location-wise, everything is exact. I did a lot of research to find the pieces that would fit together. If you're interested in the details, look up “Sea World Resort, Gold Coast Australia”. You'll find all the info I used, even the restaurant, `The Melrose'. Yes, even the food I described was accurate. My one white lie? The Prada shop. I highly doubt Prada has a store in a Sea World resort. But I needed it, so I made it up.

- The bar Inuyasha's band played in is a bar in `The Grove', an entertainment and restaurant-rich area of Miami that is packed on Friday and Saturday nights. It's close to the UM dorm. I don't remember the name, as I was drunk already when I visited it.