InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ The Breaking Point ❯ True Colors ( Chapter 6 )

Disclaimer: I don't own it, so there. For this chapter, I don't own Mariah Caery's 'I'm Free'.

Chapter Six: True Colors

"Like I said a few weeks ago," Miroku grumbled from the other side of the table. "I truly hate the Classics."

"No," Sesshoumaru argued with a shake of his head. "I said that I hated the Classics."

"I tell you what," Miroku paused to dig around his basket for a fry, drowned it in ketchup and tossed it in his mouth as Sesshoumaru grimaced. "What?"

"Nothing," Sesshoumaru shook his head, disparagingly eying the ketchup drool that rolled down the side of Miroku's mouth. "Now what were you saying?"

"Oh yeah. I was saying that we could call it a draw and say that we both hate the Classics."

"You're normally so chipper about it," Sesshoumaru quipped as he reached inside his own basket. He gazed at the fry critically then tossed it back into the basket and proceeded to shake half the salt container over them. Miroku made a face.

"You're blood's goanna draw up like that," he warned. Sesshoumaru shrugged and, checking first to make sure it met his criteria, tossed the fry into the air and opening his mouth. His mouth clamped shut like a Venus fly trap when it landed, and he flashed Miroku a predatory smile before finishing it. "Damn you're sick."

"I do try. Now what's your dispute for this year's performance?"

"Last year wasn't such a big deal," Miroku said with a groan. "I mean, yeah it was hard but I know you. I know what you sound like when you sing certain stuff. With Kagome, I know her but I don't know her, you know?"

"I suppose," Sesshoumaru shrugged.

"No you don't," Miroku frowned. "It's easy for you to write stuff. It's always been hard for me, especially if it's for a girl."

"She's not that complicated," Sesshoumaru informed him before snacking on another fry.

"Easy for you to say," Miroku grumbled.

"No, seriously. Take her and her friends for example. When they fought, 'Don't Speak' came easily to me. I could see their feelings plain as day, and how stubborn they were for not trying to discuss it like adults."

"This coming from the King of Stubborn," Miroku quipped dryly, then grinned. "What? Did I say something wrong?"

Sesshoumaru sighed and shook his head. "And here I am, trying to help you. Maybe you don't need it after all and I should leave you floundering in the sea known as Writer's Block."

"Alright Sesshoumaru," Miroku said as he raised his hands in defeat. "Please help me. I won't say another word."

"Good. For one, you're making her out to be too complicated. She's just another female, like any other. Give her something sappy and she'll sing it like she wrote it herself."

"That's it?" Miroku replied irritably. "That's all the advice you have?"

"That's it," Sesshoumaru responded dryly as he picked up another fry. "Why, were you expecting more? Now you're making me too complicated."

"Ha ha," Miroku grumbled sarcastically. He and Sesshoumaru stood up and, making sure to leave enough for their order and a small tip, left the restaurant and headed for their cars.

"Hey, I need a favor!" Miroku called as Sesshoumaru opened the driver side door of a blue Civic.

"What is it?" Sesshoumaru asked as he sat down, one leg already at the gas pedal as the other stretched outside it. Miroku frowned in distaste. "Why do you keep driving this piece of crap?" he asked, gesturing to Sesshoumaru's car. "Why not drive the other one?"

"Because I don't want to drive the other one," Sesshoumaru commented in a voice that obviously wanted Miroku to drop the subject. Miroku shrugged.

"Let me borrow your Dru Hill CD."

Sesshoumaru reached up to the CD holder in his visor when he paused. "Where's your CD?"

"I let Sango's brother borrow it."

Sesshoumaru brow quirked curiously. "How do you know Sango's brother?"

Miroku winked back. "Wouldn't you like to know?"

"No, actually, I wouldn't."

"That's your problem," Miroku said as Sesshoumaru handed over the CD. "You need a girlfriend. Would it kill you to have one? It's not like you're gay or anything…are you?"

Sesshoumaru shot him an angry glare. "Just because you take such delight in carnal pleasure doesn't mean I have to. I am a man of purpose."

"I'm a man of purpose too," Miroku countered as Sesshoumaru pulled his other leg inside, shut his car door and started the engine. "My purpose is to get laid."

"Crude Miroku," Sesshoumaru shot back as he pulled out of his parking space. "I hope that's not your opening line." He drove off before Miroku could defend himself, sparing a glance at the lecher from his rearview mirror before pulling into traffic.

'I'm not exactly fond of this year's performance myself,' Sesshoumaru admitted as he stopped at a red light. 'It is harder to write for someone of the opposite sex. Perhaps I should think a little harder about this. What is Kagome like exactly…'

Sesshoumaru made a right turn and pulled onto the highway, his speed increasing to match the rest of traffic as Kagome's smiling face appeared in his memory. 'She's annoying,' Sesshoumaru remembered as an image of their first meeting flashed in his mind. 'Spoiled, disrespectful, and air headed.' Her 'Icicle Man' song suddenly appeared in his mind, something that brought a sardonic smile to his face. 'Well, I must give her points for creativity. What else is there?'

An image of her sprawled on the floor, his guitar held tightly in her grasp flashed before his eyes. 'Yes, there is that too. I suppose she has some good qualities.'

'Of course she does,' his subconscious agreed. 'And she hasn't complained once about you not thanking her.'

'Why should I thank her?'

'Oh, maybe because not thanking her is something you're worthless half brother would do? Just a thought.'

Sesshoumaru sighed to himself, then found himself staring back at Kagome's smile. He himself noticed the bruise on her inner thigh from the volume control and a sudden rush of guilt reared it's head. 'Fine, I will think of something.'

'Good boy. Make it a song, something she'll adore singing. I bet she'll love it…not as if you'd care of course.'

--

Kagome hung up the phone, a bright smile on her face as she relived her earlier conversation with Sango and Rin. 'Those two are strange,' she thought as she stood up to adjust the air conditioner. 'I'm so glad school is out. I certainly don't miss class.'

She stood on her toes to reach the thermostat and adjusted it to a more comfortable temperature. 'The only thing that bothers me is how later Marcus works. I know he has to, but does he really have to be gone until 3 in the morning? It gets lonely here.' Kagome frowned at the TV, knowing that despite the hundreds of channels subscribed on the satellite there was still nothing on.

'Oh well,' she thought as she walked into her room, reached inside a nearby dresser and fished out the skirt Ayame bought her. 'May as well do something productive.' She slipped out of her shorts and into the skirt, grimacing to herself as she zipped it up and looked at it in a nearby mirror. The front of the skirt was fine with here, even though the waistline fell a good inch below her belly button. It was the back that she disagreed with. Kagome turned around and grimaced again as the back hem flicked slightly, giving herself a tiny peek at her turquoise bikinis.

"No way would I wear this anywhere," Kagome muttered to herself as her hands smoothed the back down. 'Well, that's the point isn't it? May as well get this over with.'

She turned to her CD and the nearby holder. She slid her finger down the row of cases until she stopped with a small cry. "Oo! That'd be good!"

She jerked the CD out, tossed the cover to the side and dropped the CD itself into her player. She pushed a few buttons, reminding herself of what Ayame said as she chose a song. 'Make sure it's something fast,' she reminded herself as she pressed play. 'Something with a good beat too. I think this song will do perfectly.'

Kagome returned to the mirror just as the song began, her foot immediately tapping as Janet Jackson's 'Rope Burn' began. She moved stiffly, more concerned about the way she looked than what her focus was supposed to be. Kagome turned stiffly and somehow managed to trip over her own feet, resulting with an up close and personal encounter with the forest green carpet.

"Crap!" she hissed irritably. She sat up and huffed, watching as a particularly long piece of hair blew out past her forehead only to smack her in the face seconds later. 'Forget Ayame!' she told herself as she stood up and restarted the song. 'What did my old instructor tell me?' She thought for a few moments, the song continuing on without her as she crossed her left arm beneath her breast, propped her right elbow on it and chewed on the tip of her right index finger. "Oh yeah!" she exclaimed suddenly. "I remember now."

'Feel the music Kagome,' her instructors voice sounded from her mind. 'What's the point of doing it if you're stiff and nervous? Let the music move you, not the other way around.'

Kagome relaxed and closed her eyes, allowing her body to sway from side to side with the rhythm.

--

Marcus frowned as he came up the stares to his apartment, wondering to himself where the loud music was coming from. 'Must be the neighbors,' he thought to himself as he turned his key in the lock and opened the door. He stopped in the threshold as the volume nearly blew him backward, his frown deepening as he finally shut the door with a bang and stomped toward Kagome's room. 'Just who does she think she is, blasting that crap like that?' he growled to himself as he kicked aside one of her shoes. 'I swear, when I get my hands on her I'll-'

He shoved the door open with his shoulder, stopped, and stared with his mouth gaped open. The music drowned out his entrance. He watched as Kagome danced in front of her mirror, her eyes obviously closed as she slowly raised her hands to clasp over her head and hid her face in her right arm. Her hips swayed from side to side, her legs closed as her hips made smooth rotations to the music. She mouthed the words to the song as she danced and turned a complete circle before lowing her hands again.

"Wow," Marcus applauded when the song faded. "Now that's what I call a homecoming."

Kagome's eyes shot open instantly and a dark blush stained her cheeks before she reached over and turned off the stereo. "I-I didn't hear you come in," she stammered as she shoved back a stray lock. Marcus merely shrugged and smiled.

"I don't doubt it, with how loud the music was. Do you think you can keep it down before

you get us put out? You've only been here a month you know."

"Yeah, sorry about that Marcus," Kagome apologized sheepishly.

"Well…" Marcus drawled as he crossed the room toward her. He pulled her into a hug, Kagome's hands resting on his chest between them. "I suppose I can forgive you this once. After all…" His right hand slid down her back to her backside, cupping it hard enough for her to squeak in surprise. "How often is it that a man can come home to such a sight?"

"Stop it Marcus!" Kagome laughed, then squealed when he squeezed her again. "Ack!

Don't do that!"

"Do what?" Marcus asked innocently, then gave her one last squeeze. "If I'd have known you were dressed like this for me, I would have come home early."

"Actually," Kagome said between giggles. "This isn't for you."

"Oh. It's not." Marcus stilled, his face becoming guarded and cold almost instantly.

"Who's it for then?"

"This is Ayame's stupid idea," Kagome said with a blush, her downcast eyes never seeing the threatening look before mentioning Ayame's name.

"Ayame? She's the chick that's supposed to be working with you right?" Marcus asked.

Kagome nodded. "Do you remember when we went shopping?" She continued at Marcus' nod. "Well, she bought this for me. I'm supposed to be practicing."

"Practicing what?"

Kagome sighed irritably. "It's for my movements on stage. The skirt moving is supposed to be a good thing."

"I get it," Marcus said with a laugh. "So you're not wearing anything this short on stage?"

"Not if I can help it," Kagome grumbled. "It wasn't my idea to buy this skirt in the first place."

"You should really learn to stand up for yourself," Marcus reprimanded gently as he squeezed her backside again. "You shouldn't let people push you around."

"Does that include you?" Kagome said with a playful smile. Marcus glared down at her, something she wasn't expecting when he grabbed her again. She winced instantly, finding this one more painful than the first few.

"No, it doesn't," Marcus told her with a smirk. "I'm your boyfriend. You should always listen to me."

"Ow Marcus," Kagome gasped. "You're hurting me."

"Oh, sorry about that." He released her and stepped back with a grin. "Now I'm going back to work. See you later on tonight, ok?"

"Ok," Kagome called back as he stepped out of her room. She shuddered seconds after the front door closed behind him, rubbing her offended backside as she frowned to herself. 'That almost felt as if it were on purpose.' She thought about it a few minutes more, then shrugged to herself. 'No way. Marcus wouldn't hurt me. Oh well. I'll think about it later. I have practice tomorrow.' Her frown deepened, and she pouted to herself.

'Oh poo. Sango and Rin won't be there for this one.'

--

"Alright Kagome," Sesshoumaru said at practice the next day. "Are you ready to get started?"

"Are you?" Kagome quipped snidely, then gave a slight wince as her backside brushed against a nearby stool. She glowered down at the offending piece of furniture and angrily pushed it to the side.

What she thought was nothing yesterday had turned into something overnight, leaving a large purple bruise in the shape of Marcus' hand. Kagome nearly freaked when she saw it, almost falling out of the shower in spite of herself. She realized she was walking awkwardly from the funny look Miroku gave her when he came to pick her up, and the slight hiss she made when she sat down in the passenger's seat. She shot Sesshoumaru a dark look when she caught him staring at her, hurriedly fighting a blush that always seemed to appear whenever he looked at her as she glared at him.

"Just what the hell are you looking at?" she accused heatedly. He looked as if to blink in surprise, then shook his head.

"Hurry up woman," he drawled as he yawned behind his hand. "None of us have all day to wait on you."

"Well excuse me," Kagome grumbled as she stepped up to the mic. "Now what?"

"We actually don't have a new song for you today Kagome," Miroku said from behind the keyboard. "And I know we promised to ha-"

"You damned skippy you promised!" Inuyasha yelled as he shook a drumstick at Miroku.

"You and Sesshoumaru are two of the laziest bastards I've ever-"

"Inuyasha," Sesshoumaru interrupted. "He wasn't finished."

"He wasn't?" Sesshoumaru sighed and shook his head. Inuyasha tipped his head to the side and scratched the back of it in embarrassment. "Oh. Oh yeah. Sorry Miroku."

"Like I was saying," Miroku restarted. "We don't have a song for you yet because we're busy coming up with ones for the Classics-"

"When are we taking pictures for that?" Kouga butted in. "I thought we were supposed to take them last month."

"We were," Sesshoumaru answered as Miroku sighed in irritation. "But the photographer rescheduled. We're taking them this Friday instead of having practice."

"Ok then."

"Now can I finish?" Miroku shouted, then cleared his throat in embarrassment as everyone stared at him. "Kagome, I need for you to perform a song with me."

"Alright," Kagome agreed easily. "What song?"

"Mariah Carey's 'I'm Free' if you please."

Kagome thought a few seconds, then nodded. "I know that song. Ok!" She and Miroku discussed the entrance to the song while the other band members moved to sit in front of Kagome and her mike.

"Hey," Inuyasha whispered to Sesshoumaru as he and Kouga dragged their stools beside his. "Why do you think she's walking so funny?"

"Duh Inuyasha," Kouga grunted before slapping him upside the head. Long dark hair flew everywhere as Inuyasha whirled around and growled at him.

"What the fuck was that for Wolf Bait?"

"For being a dumb ass, Puppy-sama," Kouga said simply. "It's so obvious what's wrong with her. She lives with her boyfriend, right?"

"Yeah?"

"So what do you think she's been doing all night long?"

Inuyasha sat blank for a second, then "Ohhhhh…."

Sesshoumaru rolled his eyes in disgust, wondering to himself how he could be related to someone so dense. 'I must admit, that was my first conclusion,' he thought as he watched Kagome and Miroku. 'But I don't think that's it. I think she injured herself somehow. That would explain why she can't sit down.'

His suspicion was confirmed when Miroku groped her. Instead of slapping him with a shout of surprise, which was normally what she did, tears sprang to her eyes. She reached back and punched him in the stomach almost instinctively, and the whoosh of air leaving Miroku's lungs brought everyone else's attention to him as he doubled over.

"Wow Kagome," he croaked as Kagome helped him to sit down. "That's one hell of a punch."

"I'm so sorry Miroku," Kagome said as she brushed her eyes dry. "I didn't mean to. You…surprised me. Try to keep your hands to yourself, alright?"

"Yeah," Miroku nodded earnestly as he stood back up. "You want to do the song now?"

"Yeah," Kagome nodded, grateful that he wasn't mad at her. She made sure he was standing upright before returning to the mic. She stuck her tongue out at Sesshoumaru when she caught him staring at her again, then closed her eyes when Miroku began to play.

/Once I was a prisoner lost inside myself with the world surrounding me, wandering through the misery… but now I am free./

Kagome shook her hair, barely aware of the way the strands tickled down the open back of her silver-gray halter top as the others looked on.

/You gave me a breath of life. Unclouded my eyes with a sweet serenity. Lighting a ray of hope for me and now I am free./

'Marcus didn't mean to do it,' Kagome repeated to herself for the hundredth time that day. 'He loves me. He didn't mean to hurt me…did he?'

/Free to live. Free to laugh. Free to soar. Free to shine. Free to give. Free to love. Free enough to fly./

Sesshoumaru could tell that her mind was on other things, but she still managed to sound unbelievable. He knew the moment she forgot whatever it was and focused on the song, for her voice became passionate and longing.

/Once I was all so alone, unsteady and cold./ Kagome pulled the microphone away from the stand and held it up to her mouth. /But your love rained down upon me, washing away uncertainty…But now I…oh-oh now. Oh now… I….I am free……/

To say he loved her high notes was an understatement. Her voice seemed to accept the strain it took to perform such feats and match them to her, creating something that you felt more than heard deep down in your soul. It was then Sesshoumaru accepted her talent for what it was, and in that acceptance came a moment of inspiration.

/I am free…/

"EUREKA!!!!" Miroku shouted from behind his keyboard, then blushed to himself. "Oh, sorry about that. Um, now do you guys want to practice or what?"

"Sure," Inuyasha said as Kouga nodded beside him. They both returned to their spots and their instruments, leaving Sesshoumaru to whatever thoughts he was having.

"Sesshoumaru?"

He looked up and into soft blue eyes and wondered at the concern shining in them. "Yes Kagome?"

"Um…how's your guitar?"

"It's fine." He stood up and moved to walk back to his position when he stopped beside her. "I have yet to thank you for what you did," he whispered in her ear. Kagome inwardly shivered when his lips brushed past her ear. "I-it was n-nothing Sesshoumaru," she assured him with a weak smile. "I'm just glad I could help."

"Well, thank you just the same." He patted her shoulder gently and walked past her, leaving Kagome in a sort of mental puddle of herself. 'Oh wow…' she thought as the sounds of the others tuning behind her reached her ears. 'If he can do that talking , I can just imagine what he can do…no!' Kagome shook her head, unknowingly receiving a questioning look from Miroku and the others. 'I'm not going to dwell on that. I have Marcus and I'm happy with him.' She nodded at Miroku, a silent sign that she was ready to rehearse.

'Besides, Sesshoumaru wouldn't go for a girl like me anyway.'

--

"Wow, this place is huge," Sango said as she Rin, and Kagome stood outside the photo studio. Rin and Sango turned to Kagome as they waited for Miroku to park, a suspicious look on their faces as Kagome gingerly leaned against the wall.

"OK Kagome, spill it," Rin said as she and Sango cornered her. "What's wrong with you?"

"What are you guys talking about," Kagome asked nervously.

"Don't act like you don't know what we're talking about," Sango replied disapprovingly. "You've been walking funny since Wednesday."

"How do you know about Wednesday?"

"Um," Sango blushed wildly as Rin snickered behind her. "Don't worry about i-"

"Miroku told her! They've been spending a loooot of time together!" Rin chirped, then winced when Sango elbowed her in the ribs. "ow! What?"

"Shut up," Sango hissed. Kagome laughed in spite of herself and quieted when the studio door opened and Miroku appeared at the other end of the sidewalk.

"You must be here for the 9pm," a young man said as he escorted the girls and Miroku inside. He passed by a couple of rooms to a door on the right and held it open. Sesshoumaru, Inuyasha and Kouga waited patiently (or as patiently as one could expect with Kouga's hands around Inuyasha's throat) inside.

"My name is Thomas Johnson," the man said after everything settled down. "and I'm the owner and head photographer of Johnson Photography. We've done a number of celebrities here in Charlotte and we're more than happy to have you here. My credentials are…"

Kagome sighed as Mr. Johnson droned on. Inuyasha, he and Kouga standing behind her, snickered something rude to Kouga. "Hey," he snickered lowly. "This dude's a Johnson."

Kouga laughed instantly and Kagome rested a gentle hand on Sesshoumaru's arm just as Sesshoumaru was reaching around to…silence them.

"Let me do it," she whispered. Sesshoumaru motioned for her to go ahead and nearly cracked up when she jammed a hard elbow to both their stomachs. They doubled over with a whoosh and grimaced in surprise.

"Hey Beavis and Butthead," she growled as they gasped for air. "Could you knock it off?"

"Does anyone have any questions?" Mr. Johnson asked, completely unaware of the bedlam going on around him. Everyone shook his or her heads no. "Good. Now I've already thought of a layout for you guys. It's a psychedelic feel, in groovy colors of blue, pink and green!"

"I don't think that's a good idea," Sango said as Mr. Johnson grasped Inuyasha by the arm and motioned to the middle of the room. There was a white sheet stretched out on the floor, with lights and a ladder with a camera on top around it.

"Sit here," Mr. Johnson directed to the sheet. Inuyasha sat down obediently, a doubtful expression on his face as Mr. Johnson pushed him toward the floor. "Now lay down."

"Hey," Inuyasha called as Mr. Johnson grabbed Kouga. "I don't do snuff for free. I charge at least $100 for every hour."

"Then you won't get paid, Minute Man," Kouga jeered as Mr. Johnson sat Kouga down above Inuyasha and instructed him to lie down too. Inuyasha reached up and punched Kouga in the shin as Miroku was placed below him and Sesshoumaru put a little to his right.

"Now young lady, you're next."

He positioned Kagome between Inuyasha and Sesshoumaru and gently pushed her head so she faced Sesshoumaru. "Um," Kagome said as she looked up at the photographer.

"What are we supposed to be doing?"

"This is supposed to show how interconnected you guys are," Mr. Johnson said as he grasped Miroku's hand and placed it on Kagome's ankle. "And to show how close the group is."

"No way am I doing this," Inuyasha exclaimed as Mr. Johnson placed Sesshoumaru's hand on Kagome's stomach. Kagome blushed and closed her eyes instantly, something that no one else noticed but Sesshoumaru as the other band members spoke up.

"I agree with Inuyasha for once," Miroku said as he sat up. "This isn't us at all. We're not as co-dependant as you're making it look."

"You're disagreeing with my layout?" Mr. Johnson asked. "But why? None of the other bands did."

"Maybe because you didn't make their pictures look like a wild orgy in progress," Inuyasha grumbled as he too sat up. Sesshoumaru and Kagome merely stared back at each other, the former finding Kagome's blush interesting as it darkened under his watch.

'How amusing,' he thought to himself as he too finally sat up. He removed his hand, leaving Kagome with a slight pat to remember him by before voicing his opinion. "I happen to agree as well. This is not professional looking. We would like to be taken seriously."

"Well," Mr. Johnson huffed angrily. "If any of you think you can come up with a better layout, please don't hesitate to try!"

"I have an idea," Sango said after a few moments of silence. "But I don't know if you'll like it or not."

"Let's hear it," Miroku replied as he and the rest of the band stood up. They followed Sango to a nearby table with a pack of index cards set on the surface.

"OK you guys, this is what I have," Sango said as she counted out five cards. "Instead of the psychedelic thing with the girly, swirly colors, why not we try black and white?"

"Sounds better already," Inuyasha quipped as the others nodded around him. "What else?"

"I kinda like Mr. Johnson's idea of making you guys look connected," Sango admitted with a smile in the photographer's direction. Mr. Johnson smiled and approached the table. "But instead of taking you guys' picture together, why not separate headshots." She fingered the cards in her hand, then placed them one at a time on the table.

"OK, this would be the order. Sesshoumaru could be on the upper right," Sango pointed to the card and looked at him. Sesshoumaru nodded in understanding and motioned for her to continue. "Inuyasha could be on the upper left and Miroku could be below him. Kouga could be below Sesshoumaru, but Kagome's picture would be in the center. Hers would overlap the empty corners of the guys' pictures. You guys get it?"

"Yeah, we got it," Kouga responded with a smile. "So, what do you guys think?"

"I'm all for it," Inuyasha said.

"Me too," Miroku nodded back.

"Anything is better than the first one," Sesshoumaru replied dryly. "Do you agree to do it Mr. Johnson?"

"Well…why not!" he said with a shrug. "The young lady's right. Her idea is better than mine. Any more suggestions?"

"Yeah, um…" Sango snapped her fingers suddenly. "I've got it! Headshots normally stop a little below the shoulders, right? Why not have them shirtless?"

"What?" Kagome shot back. "Why?"

"Because it would create a better photo," Sesshoumaru responded as he mulled over the idea. "You would not be entirely topless anyway."

"Oh," Kagome said with a blush. "Oh yeah. I forgot about that."

"Now if you want to go topless, I wouldn't try to stop you," Miroku grinned helpfully. Sango slapped him in the back of the head in response.

"Bleeding lecher."

"Hey, let's get started," Inuyasha said as he tugged his t-shirt over his head and tossed it to the floor. "I want to get this over with. I have stuff to do."

--

Kagome sighed wearily as she unlocked the door and stepped inside, never bothering to turn on the living room light as she closed the front door and tossed her purse to where she knew the couch was supposed to be.

She turned on the oven light above the stove as she walked into the kitchen, then opened the fridge and peered inside. She frowned at the contents and made a mental note to convince Marcus to take her grocery shopping before closing the fridge door and leaving the kitchen. Kagome entered her dark room, flopped on the bed and was sound asleep before her head could hit the pillow.

Kagome felt something touching her hours later, and she tried to ignore it so she could stay deep within a dream she would deny tomorrow morning.

"Nhug," she moaned as she turned away. "Move…"

Whatever it was crept from her back to her hip, and it was then that Kagome realized that something was touching her. She bolted upright just as Marcus grasped her wrist and pulled her to him.

"Good morning Kagome," he whispered as he kissed her neck.

"Morning?" Kagome glanced over at her alarm and groaned. 'Two am? When did I fall asleep?' "When did you come in?" she asked as Marcus draped an arm around her stomach.

"Just a few minutes ago. I thought I'd come in to see you." He kissed her neck again, then tried to kiss her on the lips. Kagome grimaced and turned away at the alcohol on his breath.

"Marcus, maybe you should go drink some coffee," Kagome suggested as she gently pushed him away.

"No…" Marcus whined as he tugged her closer to him. "All I want is you Kagome."

"Look Marcus," Kagome said as she pressed her fingers to his lips. "I'm…not ready for that yet."

"But-"

"I'm really sorry." Kagome sat up and ran a hand through her tangled mane. Marcus sat up and sighed. "But my friends are already having fun with their girlfriends. Why are you so afraid to grow up?"

"I'm not afraid to grow up," Kagome replied hesitantly. "but I'm just not ready to take that extra step with you. I love you but-"

"I understand." Marcus stood up and off Kagome's bed. "You love me, but just not enough to show me. I understand."

"That's not what I meant," Kagome argued back as she grasped his hand in hers. "I love you and…I want to show you but I can't right now."

"Yeah Kagome. Don't worry about it." Marcus bent down and kissed her forehead. "We'll try again some other time, ok?"

"Ok," Kagome answered meekly, then watched as Marcus left her room and closed the door. She sighed to herself and laid back down, her previous dream completely forgotten as Marcus' words fluttered inside her head.

'I'm not afraid to grow up,' Kagome argued with herself as she stared at the neon green numbers on her alarm display. 'I'm just…not ready for that kind of thing. I don't think we should go that far just yet. That's not bad, is it?'

Kagome turned over on her back and faced the ceiling, her legs crossing at the ankles and her arms folding underneath her head. 'But Marcus loves me, and it's not fair to make him wait.' The logical part of her conscious argued with that way of thinking.

'But if he loves me, he wouldn't force me to do something I'm not ready for…would he?'