InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ The Youkai and the Exterminator ❯ Chapter Twenty ( Chapter 20 )

Chapter Twenty

 

 

Kagome stood frozen, watching as the youkai woman grabbed hold of Inuyasha and dragged him away. She'd kissed him! That woman had kissed him!

 

She flushed when she realized how angry she was and closed her eyes, counting slowly so she wouldn't do something stupid and make an idiot of herself. Beside her, Sango and Shippou were silent, afraid to break the uncomfortable tension.

 

Her face was burning and Kagome felt a hot tear slip down her cheek.

 

“Um, Kagome?” Shippou asked hesitantly. He wanted to comfort her; she was the one who'd always comforted him. Soothed away the nightmares of Hiten and Manten, cuddled him so close at night that he forgot to be lonely for his parents. The kitsune boy honestly didn't know what he'd do if she ever left.

 

One thing was for sure. If Kagome ever did leave them for good, it would be that stupid dog's fault!

 

Her hand brushed his hair. “It's okay, Shippou,” she said faintly. There was something she could do, something that didn't involve running down there like a stupid schoolgirl and making a nasty scene. Inuyasha would get the point and she was well within range of his hearing.

 

All she had to do was yell it out and he'd hear her, even from this distance. And whatever he thought he was doing with that youkai woman would fall apart. Yes, that was the best way. She opened her mouth and readied herself to shout out the incantation that would let a certain hanyou know she was watching.

 

“He'd never forgive you.”

 

Both human women jumped and turned to stare at the demon that had come up behind them so quietly. They'd completely missed his presence. Kagome glared at him, swallowing her nervousness. “Excuse me?”

 

He drifted closer, his strange gray eyes slightly unfocused as if he was looking right through her body. “I said, he'd never forgive you. That incantation you were about to use, priestess. The hanyou would not forgive you for it, not right now.”

 

Sango slowly stood up, wondering when she'd got in the habit of not wearing a weapon as the strange youkai regarded her with a mild, distracted gaze. “How do you know about it?” she asked, her fingers itching for Hiraikotsu. Surely, not after what had happened with Hisuni, no one in this fortress would be foolish enough to threaten them.

 

Barou smiled to himself. Sesshomaru's mate was very interesting. He'd had every intention of leaving the fortress before the challenge began, but he found he couldn't help that the curiosity running in people's minds piqued his interest. He met the woman's firm eyes and found to his surprise, he approved of her.

 

Most humans had undisciplined minds, running from petty thought to petty thought, animalistic desires, rarely contemplating the consequences of their actions. Barou was indifferent to them for the most part, finding them dull with no youki, no spark to catch his interest. Silly, childish, bestial and crude, they were ignorant for the most part and violent against each other.

 

This woman Sango was different. Not a trace of deception, everything she thought or felt was right there on the surface of her mind. This was a woman who would betray no one, not even her worst enemy. Certainly she had suffered, Barou could sense the fires that had tempered her spirit, and she wore the ashes of old pain to prove it.

 

It made him thoughtful, knowing that the women were waiting for him to say something. Barou rarely hurried about anything he did. The woman was both more intelligent than she gave herself credit for and completely without artifice. No wonder Sesshomaru had been intrigued; she was the opposite of every demon female his cousin had ever encountered.

 

Barou had a sly smile on his lips when he thought about that. Sango was certainly the opposite his sister Chinatsu. If Sesshomaru realized that, and Barou couldn't be certain, it could have only added to the attraction.

 

“Are you going to say anything?” the young priestess demanded.

 

He looked at her flushed and angry face for a moment, the girl's irritation fairly radiated off her body in waves. It wasn't directed at him, not really. And to be truthful, he probably should have minded his own business. Still, the young girl's thoughts were so strong, her will a force of its own. He couldn't help but be drawn to it.

 

“Excuse me for interfering,” Barou finally said. “I may have spoken out of turn, but your friend would certainly be angry with you for using a spiritual incantation to discipline him when he's done nothing wrong.”

 

“Nothing wrong?” the girl echoed. How could he know anything about it, how did he know what she was going to do? “Look, whoever you are, it's not your business.”

 

“You aren't normally a vindictive person,” he murmured. “Why do you want to punish the hanyou with humiliation?”

 

Kagome gaped at him, not believing what she was hearing. This guy didn't know her, didn't know Inuyasha, but he was standing here and talking like everything she'd ever done or thought was like an open book. “You...you...” she stammered, quite at a loss for words.

 

Barou regarded her thoughtfully, her thoughts rippled out in a long waves, some colored by anger and confusion, more often they were tinged with a sad longing. It wasn't like he could hear word for word what anyone thought, that wasn't how he had been made. Instead, he got flashes, sensations sometimes. It had taken him years to learn to identify what he saw, sensed, and felt.

 

And for years before that he'd walked in darkness, convinced of his own madness and eventual destruction. He'd been rescued and the only stipulation placed upon him was to not misuse his special talent, leaving the discretion completely in Barou's hands.

 

“You're jealous, you're hurt, and you're angry,” he said softly, meeting the girl's eyes. They widened and the girl turned pale, the angry flush receding as she backed away from him. The demon moved closer, watching her reactions. “If you can't stand another female touching him, why don't you tell him so?”

 

Kagome stared at him. “Leave me alone,” she whispered, starting to be really frightened. Provoked, her thoughts became clearer and Barou couldn't help himself when he pursued the subject.

 

“You want him for yourself, but you don't want him to think you're weak. You desire him, but you're afraid of the consequences. You're even more afraid of rejection. You want to give in, but you don't want to give up the power you have over him.”

 

“Get away from me!” Kagome shouted, bringing her hands up in a defensive gesture. “I swear I'll purify you!”

 

Purify? That was interesting. For a moment, Barou wondered if he'd survive such a process. Spiritual energy radiated from the scared girl. He was no threat to her, but his words were making her hysterical. Strange, he thought, how human emotion could cause a fight or flee response in their bodies. Demons reacted to physical threats; emotional threats were nothing when compared to getting your throat torn out.

 

He backed off anyway. The girl had no idea how immense her aura was becoming, she didn't have to touch him to use it. “I apologize for disturbing you,” he said mildly. “I truly intended no harm, priestess.”

 

Kagome slowly lowered her hands. She was shaking and she didn't know why. He didn't know her, how dare he say such things? “You need to leave,” she muttered, getting control of herself. Sango and Shippou were still watching the odd confrontation with wide eyes.

 

There was too much truth in what he'd said and Kagome didn't want to look at them. Barou just nodded quietly and turned away. He should have left well enough alone, he had no time to spare for confused human girls. Still, he hesitated before leaving, looking back over his shoulder and making an attempt at a reassuring smile.

 

“Tell him you love him. You might fear rejection, but doesn't he deserve to have the words said so he can hear them? Just because you assume he knows your feelings, doesn't mean he understands.”

 

She looked away, rubbing her arms with her hands as if there was a sudden chill. “It's not that simple.” Her anger had drained out of her quite abruptly, leaving her cold and exhausted. “If I say anything, we will just get in a fight. That's what always happens.”

 

“Then you might as well give him up,” he said simply, walking away from her. Really, he had no patience with the confused emotions of a human and it wasn't his place to sort her out. That he left for more skilled and compassionate creatures.

 

She stared after him, her hands clenching into fists. “I'm not going to give him up!”

 

He didn't answer, withdrawing into the shadows and leaving her feeling very much exposed. Sango met her gaze and moved forward, reaching to embrace her friend. Kagome's fingers dug hard into her back, as she held tight to Sango's comfort, burying her face in her friend's hair and fighting back the tears that wanted to overwhelm her.

 

oOo

 

Kagome paced around her room, chewing her fingernails and muttering. She glanced over at her bed. Shippou and Kirara had curled up together and were fast asleep. The girl snorted, wishing she were so lucky as to be able to sleep.

 

Not likely, she thought. She was way too worked up and had spent the better part of the evening telling herself that it was none of her business. Inuyasha could do whatever the hell he wanted and she had every intention of telling him just that.

 

If she'd been able to find him. After the mysterious youkai who seemed know what she was thinking had left, Kagome had gone in search of her hanyou friend. Half of her was worried when she couldn't find him, but the other half was seething with fury. Sango had given her a few meaningful looks, even opened her mouth a couple times to say something, and then shut it again with a shake of her head.

 

How dare he let that woman kiss him like that? Kagome's fingers clenched into fists and she seriously considered taking out her anger on a few of the elegant furnishings. Then she talked herself out of it, she'd never been the type of girl who'd vent her temper on someone else's property. She'd always thought of herself as a reasonable person, even-tempered and cheerful under most circumstances.

 

She was not vindictive!

 

Or was she? Kagome blushed a bit; glad no one was around to see her embarrassment. There had been a few times she'd used the incantation when he'd made her angry. What else did she have?

 

It wasn't like she could beat up Inuyasha. Kaede had put that rosary around his neck for a very good reason. He was violent, unpredictable; he took everything as a threat, even something as simple as Kouga touching her hand. He overreacted to everything. How many times did she have to tell him to reign in his temper? And when he wouldn't do it, that's when he'd get sat.

 

She nodded sharply, still pacing, unconsciously twisting her hands together as if there was an inuyoukai female's neck between them. So it bothered her to see that woman kiss him, big deal. It was a natural reaction after all, she was protective of him.

 

Of course, that was it. She just didn't want to see some woman take advantage of him. It wasn't like it was Kikyou that he was kissing, it had probably meant nothing. He couldn't be in love with a total stranger, it was probably meant in a...friendly way.

 

Even I don't believe that, she thought to herself. It was nothing more than ugly jealousy that was in her heart. That and a tight, hurt feeling that he hadn't shoved the woman away, that instead he'd let her just drag him out of the courtyard, obvious to everyone what they were intending to do.

 

Face it, girl, Kagome told herself miserably. Whatever he can get from her is something he doesn't want from you.

 

A few hot moments on the forest floor didn't mean all that much after all. He was half youkai, he had to have needs. And he'd made it plain to her that she wasn't going to be the one to answer those needs. If it wasn't his leftover feelings for Kikyou that stopped him, as it hadn't stopped that woman, maybe it was just that he didn't want her like that.

 

Too bad for me. She wanted him that way and she would have done a lot to inspire any kind of tenderness in Inuyasha's heart. Maybe that demon was right, she was jealous and vindictive and she wanted to punish Inuyasha, humiliate him for not wanting her.

 

That was petty, the girl decided, sinking down to sit at the end of her bed. And so were all those times she'd sat him right into the ground for saying or doing what was probably quite justified in youkai terms. She sat for a moment, remembering how angry he would be when she used the incantation, how furious he'd look at her after she did it.

 

She wanted to hide her head under the blankets when she thought about how her face must have looked to him afterwards. Pleased, triumphant...like he was just a dog to her, something she could order around to do her bidding. No wonder he didn't seem to want anything more from her, hard to have a relationship with someone who could drop you with one angry word.

 

Kagome sighed as she rubbed her face with her hands and thought maybe that what kept them apart. All this time she'd spent blaming Kikyou for Inuyasha's heart being torn, but Kikyou had never abused him like that. Oh sure, there was the whole being sealed to a tree thing, but Inuyasha forgave that. It wasn't Kikyou's fault they'd been fooled into betraying each other.

 

She couldn't even blame Naraku for what she'd done. Kaede had given him that rosary to keep him from hurting her. And she'd used it over and over again in spite of the fact that she knew right down to her soul that he'd never harm a hair on her head.

 

Instead, he was downright furious when she'd risk her own neck or if anyone so much as threatened her. He'd go wild to protect her, avenge her, do whatever he had to do to keep her alive so she could go back home to her world and pretend this part of her life didn't exist.

 

But I love him, she thought wistfully, a hot little tear sneaking out of her eye. He has to know I love him even if I haven't said it. I was too scared to say it. How could he just go off with some stranger when he knows that I would do anything just to be with him?

 

Maybe he thought she was playing with him, amusing herself until the shards were all collected, evil defeated. Then she'd go back down that well to her life of studies, friends, and maybe even boyfriends and forget all about him. He always was jealous that she had a life away from his.

 

No, he can't think that, she grimaced, getting back up to resume her pace around the room. He knows I care about him, why else would I put up with his bad attitude and his temper?

 

If that wasn't showing her love, she'd like to know what was.

 

That strange demon had made her feel ashamed of herself by saying that she wanted Inuyasha, but she didn't want to give up her power over him. Kagome had never before considered such a thing, thinking her actions had always been quite justified.

 

From her perspective, maybe they were, but to Inuyasha... He probably did think she was a vindictive bitch and he'd even said it more than once.

 

I owe him a big apology, she thought, feeling small and mean. I should tell him I'm not going to do it anymore. Maybe he'll forgive me if I keep my word about that. I'll tell him I understand if he feels more comfortable with a youkai woman rather than with me. If there was ever going to be something more than friendship between us, it would have already happened, right? Nothing to be embarrassed about, he'll probably be relieved to know I'm off his case for good.

 

She quickly changed out of her sleeping clothes back into her school uniform. Pretty kimonos were very nice, but this felt like she was back in her own skin. And she wanted to be herself for this; it wouldn't do her any good to pretend at something she wasn't ever going to be. Nodding firmly to herself, she planted a quick kiss on Shippou's forehead before she slipped out the door.

 

The hallway was deserted. Sensible dog demons needed their rest as much as agitated humans. She felt better about it now that she had a course of action. It's not giving up, she told herself. It's just backing off for now. He's got a lot of things going on in his head and Inuyasha isn't much of a thinker.

 

Poor guy, he probably feels pretty weird right now, stuck in his brother's home, dealing with his own people for the first time. He doesn't need me jumping all over him for just doing what it's in his nature to do.

 

Kagome followed the passage to the end and turned the corner. She had a pretty good idea where his room was and counted doors to make sure she didn't get herself lost again. It was silly, she was barely able to find her own way around this place, but she'd made sure from the first day she knew where to find Inuyasha's room.

 

What does that say about you, she asked herself with a hidden smile, that you have to keep track of him even when you already know he can take care of himself? She didn't know where Sango's room was and she didn't know where Miroku was, but she made sure to find out where Inuyasha was sleeping.

 

As she drew closer to his door, she felt her resolve, and her knees, start to weaken. Really Kagome, she thought, he's probably asleep. There wasn't any reason this couldn't wait until morning. You're just going to apologize anyway; you know he'll look at you like you're crazy. Just go knock already!

 

What...what if he's not alone? Kagome froze, fist raised before she could use it and slowly she slunk back. “I hadn't thought about that,” she murmured.

 

What if that youkai woman was inside with him? It made sense. She hadn't been able to find them earlier and this was the one place she hadn't thought to check. “Oh, you are such an idiot,” she muttered, smacking herself in the forehead. “They're probably in there right now, either sleeping or…maybe not.”

 

I should just turn around and go back to my room like a good girl, she thought miserably. I don't want to bother him, especially if...

 

Feeling the tears ready to start again, she turned away, her head sagging as she ran her hand along the wall to guide herself. “I'm an idiot,” she said, wanting to throw herself down and cry.

 

Where was all that resolve she'd talked herself into, where was all the righteous anger gone? It wasn't fair, she felt worse now than she had when she'd been angry with him. Now she just ached, plain and simple, and nothing she could do or say was going to take that away.

 

“Kagome?”

 

She started badly and turned around, wiping her nose on her sleeve. It was just Jano, she discovered, frowning at her as she managed to not meet his eyes.

 

“What are you doing? You really shouldn't wander around at night, you could get lost again.”

 

“I'm not lost,” she muttered, digging at the stone floor with her shoe and feeling every inch the naughty schoolgirl caught misbehaving. “I just wanted to talk to Inuyasha.”

 

Jano raised his eyebrows. “Then you're going the wrong way, his room is back there.” Something was up, he'd bet on it. The girl stood not looking at him as her shoulders slumped dismally.

 

“I know,” she answered in a toneless voice. “I just changed my mind about it. It can wait until morning.”

 

Confusing, he supposed, but even human females could change their minds like demon ones. “Let me walk you back to your room,” he said finally, still a bit puzzled by her downtrodden air. Usually she was quite feisty.

 

He rather liked that about her, Kagome had a personality that put everyone around her at ease and he'd seen the way some of the demon younglings had reacted to her bright and happy smile. Considering that she was human and an outsider because of it, he had been surprised that she and the kitsune had charmed even the fortress' children.

 

Kagome let the inuyoukai take her arm as they walked along. It was nothing more than politeness on his part, she understood. Part of his duty to make sure that his guest didn't get herself lost and make him have to discipline another of his men. Maybe he just didn't trust her to find her way back to her room.

 

He had probably heard about Inuyasha and the woman who'd dragged him off. It might even be that he was steering her away from the hanyou because of it. Kagome flushed, hoping that wasn't the case, she was humiliated enough for one day and couldn't help herself when she choked back a sob.

 

Jano peered down at her, seeing the tears clearly. He stopped and turned the girl to face him. “Kagome, are you all right? Did someone hurt you or scare you, is that why you were looking for Inuyasha?”

 

“No,” she said in a shaky voice, taking a deep breath to get her emotions under control. “I'm fine, Jano-san. I'm just a little upset about something right now and I'm sorry to be a bother.”

 

Right, like he was going to believe that. Firmly, he steered her into a room, apparently another of the guard's wardrooms and sat her down at a table. “Talk,” he ordered. If something was up, he needed to know about it. After what had taken place already, he didn't need another crisis regarding the humans to jump up and bite him on the ass.

 

Kagome glared at him, tears drying on her cheeks. “I told you, it's nothing. It's personal. I don't feel like talking about it.”

 

He folded his arms and sighed. “Then why are you wandering the fortress and bawling your eyes out? I'm not trying to be nosy, girl. If someone has upset you I do need to know. It's my job, remember?”

 

Embarrassed, she leaned her elbows on the table so she could hide her face in her hands. “I told you, it's just something personal. I have to apologize to Inuyasha. I haven't been a very good friend to him. So that's why I came down here, but I realized that he's probably not alone in his room right now so it's best if I just wait.”

 

“Not alone?” Jano scratched his head, not quite understanding why she thought he wasn't alone and then it hit him. “Oh,” he said softly, sliding into a seat next to her. “You think there's another female with him.”

 

The girl nodded miserably. Jano felt sorry for her, but he couldn't suppress the grin that was forming at the corners of his mouth. Makiko had informed him that Inuyasha had been seen in the company of Hiromi and he was well acquainted with that particular lady's appetites. He'd even been on the receiving end of them on more than one occasion. The girl was beside herself with misery and he rather thought he knew why.

 

“Oh, I understand,” he said easily. “No reason to get so upset, Kagome. Hiromi is a very pleasant woman, I'm sure she'll take excellent care of Inuyasha.”

 

Kagome slammed her fists down on the table, making him jump. “I don't want to hear about it,” she snapped, glaring at him with tear-streaked cheeks.

 

He leaned his head on his fist, amused. “You object to it?” he asked in a mild voice. “Why is that?” She turned her face away from him, but he could see the flush that was nearly making her ears glow red.

 

“Kagome, I wasn't under the impression that you and Inuyasha were...”

 

“We aren't!”

 

Jano grinned. “Then why are you so angry with him?”

 

Kagome clenched her teeth. “I'm not angry with him,” she ground out, her eyes flashing at the bodyguard. “It's not my business who he sleeps with!”

 

Oho, this was fun. He needed a little bit of stress relief himself and prodding Kagome to admit her feelings was definitely entertaining. “Really?” he said slowly. “You seem pretty angry to me. Are you sure you aren't lying to yourself?”

 

The girl jumped out of her seat and headed for the door. Jano went after her, taking hold of her arm as she tried to brush him aside. He managed to catch her by the wrist, holding her loosely but not letting her leave either.

 

“I don't know much about humans,” he said quietly. “But I think that you'd feel better if you admitted to yourself how much it bothers you.”

 

“I told you, it doesn't bother me!” she snapped. Where had all her calm resolve gotten to? When she'd decided that Inuyasha was the one who'd been wronged by her actions, she had no right to tell him what to do. She was furious with Jano for not having the decency to understand that it was a private matter and not part of his job to figure out.

 

“All right,” he said at last, still holding fast to her wrist. “You aren't angry, you aren't bothered. You're absolutely right, Kagome. There's no reason for you to be upset over it. Since you and Inuyasha aren't involved in any such way, you have no reason to care if he enjoys Hiromi. I know the woman and he will most definitely enjoy it.”

 

The angry look faded from her eyes, leaving in its place a lost confusion. “I'm happy for him then,” she whispered. She leaned against the wall, her eyes closed in resignation. Even Jano had caught on to the fact that Inuyasha would be happier with an inuyoukai woman rather than her, what other choice did she have but to accept it?

 

Jano frowned, he'd expected the girl to fight for what she wanted, not just give up. “Kagome,” he said gently. “What is the matter with you? If you love that thick-skulled hanyou, how can you just let him go with another woman?”

 

“Isn't it obvious?” she said, looking at the floor between their feet. “If he's with her, he doesn't want me. It doesn't matter how I feel about it.”

 

“It matters to you,” Jano told her. A blind man could tell how she felt, deny it as she did. The idea was breaking her heart, but she was resigned to it because she thought that was what Inuyasha really wanted. Silly child, he didn't know a single inuyoukai female that would not have been livid in her place.

 

On the other hand, they were not a mated couple and there was no reason for Hiromi or any other female not to assume the hanyou was fair game if he didn't make it plain. If he didn't reject Hiromi's advances, that was a pretty good indication that he didn't return Kagome's feelings.

 

But, Jano reminded himself, this was Inuyasha he was talking about and he couldn't expect the hanyou to react like a normal dog demon any more than he could expect Kagome to see things in other ways than her human heart would allow.

 

Kagome looked up at him. “It's all right, I can handle myself. I don't like it, but I'm not going to tell him what to do. If we're just supposed to be friends and nothing more, I have to accept that.”

 

“Why?” he wanted to know. “Are you afraid to act on your own desires, girl? You have as much right as Hiromi to be with Inuyasha, more because you're in love with him. What's stopping you?”

 

The girl blushed prettily. “I can't just go in there and throw myself at him, Jano. I'd die of embarrassment.”

 

He sighed, leaning against the wall next her. “I'll let you in on a little secret, Kagome,” he said, thinking it was time to be blunt. “You're going to have to be aggressive if you want him to know how you feel. Inuyoukai women are very aggressive in getting what they want. They have to be, as we males tend to be headstrong and too stubborn for our own good. A strong female wants a strong male, but she can't afford to let him just run over her. No matter how obvious you think your feelings are, trust me, he's in the dark until you show him how you feel.”

 

She shifted nervously, suddenly realizing how close they were standing. “I'm not like that, you don't understand. He'll just push me away. He wants to protect me from everything, including himself.”

 

Lazily, he traced her cheekbone with a finger, noticing how wide her eyes got at his intimate caress. “That's because he doesn't see you as a woman, Kagome. Don't you think you should educate him?”

 

Kagome swallowed nervously, Jano was definitely making her uneasy by touching her face. There was an intense look in his eyes that she hadn't seen before and it made her heart race just a bit.

 

“I'm not sure I'm ready for that,” she mumbled.

 

“Why not?” he whispered, his hand moving to her hair before slowly traveling around her ear and down her neck. “Don't you see yourself as a woman? Don't you think that you're desirable?”

 

“I...I...” Kagome's voice gave out on her when Jano dipped his face next to hers, nuzzling her neck. His breath was warm on her skin, his lips only inches from her ear.

 

“I can assure you that you're very desirable, Kagome. Don't doubt yourself and don't be afraid to ask for what you want.”

 

“I'm not afraid,” she breathed, her voice sounding hesitant. The girl squeaked when he reached for her hip, pulling her closer even as the tip of his tongue touched the base of her throat. Her taste was sweet, innocent and excited, but despite her words very much afraid of what she was feeling.

 

“If you aren't sure what to do,” he murmured into her hair, “I could be persuaded to show you.”

 

It sounds like a good idea, Kagome thought, her head spinning. If she were inuyoukai herself, she was sure she'd take him up on the offer. Her heart didn't work like that, she'd only ever loved one person and that wasn't the person who was holding her so intimately.

 

Jano pulled back, gave the confused human a chance to breathe. He tipped her face up with a light finger, meeting her eyes and smiling gently. “Do you want me to kiss you, Kagome?”

 

She swallowed hard. “No,” she whispered, aware that she'd been holding her breath and thinking he was going to do just that, permission or not.

 

Still smiling, Jano brushed her hair back from her face, caressing her with the back of his fingers. “Do you want Inuyasha to kiss you?”

 

She nodded slowly and Jano grinned at her as he moved back and took her hand in his. “Then let's go see about that,” he said firmly, tugging her out the door with him and down the hall.

 

Jano moved quickly, making her trot to keep up with him as he pulled her along beside him. Standing in front of Inuyasha's door, the bodyguard gave her a challenging grin. “I can assure you he's in there and quite alone.”

 

She stared at him. “You knew that the whole time?”

 

Jano raised an eyebrow. “I do have a nose, girl. I'd certainly know if he had company, wouldn't I?”

 

Kagome had the distinct feeling that she'd been set up and wanted to back away from the door. Jano wasn't going to let her, reached up and knocked himself before leaving her standing there.

 

“Don't back down,” he murmured, winking at her. “If that stubborn fool doesn't get the idea, smack him for me. It might be the only way to wake him up.”

 

Kagome opened her mouth to say something back at him, watching the bodyguard disappear down the dark corridor and wondering just how big of an idiot she'd already made of herself.

 

Be aggressive, huh? She wasn't sure she knew where to start.

 

“Kagome?” Inuyasha was standing in the doorway, looking a little sleepy and rubbing his eyes. “Is something wrong?”

 

He blinked at her, his hair a wild tumble over his bare shoulders. She could still see three faint scratches on his chest from his earlier fight, but they were just marks now and fading quickly. Yawning into his fist, Inuyasha gave her a curious look. “Do you need me, Kagome?”

 

“Yeah,” she breathed, staring fixedly at him. Inuyasha, she thought, I hope you're ready for this. She pushed her way past him, ignoring the confusion in his eyes and turned to close the door behind her.