InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Love Can Do That to Ya, Kid ❯ Questions ( Chapter 3 )

It was early morning. The sky was still partially pink with the recent sunrise. Kagome laid sleeping in her corner while the people around her were waking up and preparing for the day.

Kagome had been up late last night and had every intention of sleeping in, knowing that no one in their right mind would try to wake her.

Well, so much for sleeping in, Kagome thought as a small kitsune pounced on her belly.

"Kagome, Kagome! Wake up! It's time for breakfast," the little kit was saying. For a moment Kagome understood why InuYasha was so gruff as she contemplated shoving Shippou away and muttering something unintelligible. Well, it's too late now. I'm awake.

"Really, Shippou? Well, I'm not too hungry so I'll just wait for lunch," she replied, keeping every note of irritation hidden from the well-meaning eight year old.

"Okay. But just so you know, it smells really good."

"I know. Even without a youkai nose I can smell it. I can see you guys are really enjoying that bacon I brought for you," she added.

"Yeah, especially InuYasha. He loves that stuff."

"Speaking of, where is InuYasha? Have you seen him this morning?"

"Yeah, he seemed really grumpy, as if he'd been up all night. By the way, where were you last night? You weren't here at bedtime and no one would tell me what you were up to all by yourself! If InuYasha heard you were out alone at night, he's go crazy!" Shippou was now almost yelling.

"Shhh. Calm down, Shippou-chan," the young miko soothed. "I wasn't out alone last night. InuYasha and I were sitting by the fire until really late," she said.

"Really? Why couldn't I have come with you?"

"It was past your bedtime, little one," she replied with a giggle and ruffled his hair lovingly.

"Bah! I never get to stay up late," the kitsune grumbled and stalked away, causing Kagome to giggle again.

Kagome got up and found her pack. She pulled out a small bag with her toothbrush and toothpaste and other toiletries in it. "Miroku?" she asked. And the monk in the corner, eating, replied at once.

"Yes, Kagome-sama?"

"If anyone asks, I'm at the hot spring. I need to clean up," she told him.

"Sure, Kagome-sama," he answered, looking a little confused. "Why do you spend so much time there?" he asked curiously.

"I just like to be clean," she replied and shrugged. "Ja!"

She walked down the path that led to the quiet hot spring in the forest. She reached her destination and kneeled by the spring to wet her washcloth. She washed her face and pulled out a toothbrush and it's natural companion: toothpaste. She finished her teeth and pulled out her hairbrush, taking the next step in her morning routine.

Before she could pull the brush through her raven hair even once someone behind her asked, "Why do you do that?"

Kagome turned and gasped. "InuYasha, you need to stop sneaking up on me like that! My heart stopped for a second there!"

"Your heart stopped?" he asked with worry apparent in his eyes. I made her sick, he panicked. Oh, no. I hope she'll be okay.

"Yeah, but not like how you're thinking. It just skipped a beat. `My heart stopped' is just a phrase we use in my time for a surprise or shock."

"Oh. Okay. Gomen, I didn't mean to startle you. But you haven't answered my question."

"What question?" she asked.

"Why do you do that?"

"What?" She gazed at him under a lifted eyebrow.

"I just saw you put that blue stuff in your mouth and use that stick to push it around. Then you spit it out. It can't taste very good if you spit it out. " He got close to her and sniffed her mouth. "It makes you're mouth smell different," he observed.

"Yeah. What you just saw me doing was brushing my teeth. It makes them clean and keeps me from getting gum disease and cavities and things. Of course, you have no idea what I'm talking about, do you?"

"No, except it make you clean and smell good. Like the fresh mint that grows out side Kaede's hut." He sniffed the air. "Does it taste bad?"

"Not really," she replied. "It sorta tastes good."

"So why do you spit it out?"

"Oh, you can't swallow toothpaste. It's poisonous," she told him.

"Poisonous?" he said. "You should put anything poisonous in your mouth, Kagome. I didn't know you were that stupid. Don't do it again. I don't care good it makes your breath smell."

She giggled and he got confused. "Thanks for the concern, but I have to brush my teeth. Anyway, it's only poisonous if you swallow it a lot, and I don't swallow it at all. Besides, it won't kill you, just make you sick. I'm a big girl, thanks, and I know what I'm doing."

She smells really good. Between this `toothpaste' stuff and that new bottled scent she likes to wear, she smells VERY good. Just then InuYasha had an idea.

Kagome looked at InuYasha to find his grinning wickedly. "Kagome? Can I taste that stuff?" he asked in a nice, polite voice. Kagome should have suspected something was out of place. He never uses that voice. But she didn't suspect anything.

"Sure," she said and bent down to get the bottle. When she stood and looked up, InuYasha surprised her and captured her mouth with his own. Kagome stood shocked for a moment and then surrendered. InuYasha sighed and deepened their chaste little kiss into a full blow open-mouthed kiss. She sighed.

They eventually broke apart to take a breath.

"Tastes good," he said.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~Back at the village~~~~~~~~~

Kagome and InuYasha were once again sitting out side working on his lessons.

"Very good InuYasha!" Kagome exclaimed, reading the list of words she'd asked him to write. "You learn quickly."

"So do you," he said and smirked. He knew very well that she had never been kissed before InuYasha. She blushed.

Just then, Shippou rushed up and jumped up onto his surrogate mother's lap. "Kagome, what'cha doin'?" InuYasha looked at her and shook his head.

"We're just finishing up a game. Seeing how many words we can write in a minute. The one with the most words wins," she lied. InuYasha looked relieved.

"Who won?" the curious kit asked.

"InuYasha," Kagome said.

"Really?" Shippou looked surprised.

"Yeah, I won," InuYasha growled. "What's so shocking about that?"

"Nothing," Shippou murmured. "Can I play?" he asked.

"Um, not right now Shippou-chan. We don't really feel like playing again," Kagome told him.

"Okay. Later then?"

"Sure."

"Hey Kagome. You smell funny."

Kagome's back stiffened and her eyes got wide. She didn't want to explain what had just happened. "How so?"

"You smell like…" Sniff. Sniff. "You smell like mint and InuYasha."

"Oh. Well, uh…" Kagome started but InuYasha jumped in for her.

"Earlier this morning, Kagome slipped and twisted her ankle slightly. I picked her up and carried her back."

"Oh. What's the mint?"

"My toothpaste," Kagome answered honestly.

When the kit left she spoke again. "Well, that was close. I guess that's it for today."

"Guess so," InuYasha replied.

"Okay, well, I'm going to go find something to do."

"You want to come for a walk with me?" InuYasha asked shyly.

Kagome smiled. "Well, I would, but I twisted my ankle."

"Oh, well, then I guess I'm just going to have to carry you again." He swooped her up bridal style and made his way towards the forest.