Chapter One

Happenings

JUNE 1999

18-year-old Kagome stood in front of her dresser in her sky blue bikini top and black jean shorts.

"What to wear?" she asked herself, trying to figure out which tank top to wear over her swim top. White or purple. Her boyfriend and their friends were celebrating their recent graduation from high school at the local lake. Kagome strummed her fingers on the top of the dresser and sighed at the open drawer. As she stood still pondering her dilemma, Kagome felt a pair of warm hands slide around her sides coming to a rest on her stomach.

"Wear the white one," a husky voice said from behind her.

Kagome leaned against her boyfriend's muscled chest. They had been dating for 2 years and she loved him more than life itself. Her heart skipped a beat as he slid her hair to one side with his hand and kissed the junction of her neck and shoulder. She leaned her head back against his shoulder allowing him to continue his kisses. As he lavished his attention to her neck and ear lobes, his rough hands lightly caressed her exposed stomach. Kagome enjoyed the sensations he was creating a while longer before speaking up.

"Inuyasha, we need to get going. The others are going to start wondering where we are if we don't leave soon," she gently whispered, turning in his arms so she could face him.

"Let them wonder," he said gruffly hugging her to him.

Kagome pulled slightly away from his embrace and broke the kiss. "Babe, seriously," she stated playfully swatting his arms. A small serious tone became evident in her voice.

Inuyasha immediately stopped his ministrations and looked into Kagome's cool blue eyes. Seeing her seriousness, he relented to her wishes and took a step back. Studying her face for a moment, Inuyasha suddenly grinned. Before Kagome could respond Inuyasha's mouth covered hers. Even after 2 years, the guy could still make her go weak at the knees. As suddenly as it started, the kiss was over leaving Kagome in a daze. He grabbed her by the hand and practically dragged the twitter pated girl out her bedroom door.

Snapping from her stupor Kagome said "Yasha, wait. I need to get my…"

"You mean this?" he interrupted turning, her white tank dangling from his hand.

"How…"

Kagome growled and snatched the shirt from the still grinning young man, all the while shooting him with a mock glare. She now knew why he had kissed her in the bedroom. He was playing with her. She slipped the shirt over her head, grabbed her bag from beside the door, and turned to a now pouting Inuyasha.

"I'm not driving around in a bikini top, Inuyasha," Kagome uttered as though she had read his mind.

Inuyasha's pout deepened. Kagome sighed and exited her apartment. That kind of behavior was typical of their relationship. A constant flirtatious teasing was always evident whenever they were together. Neither of them would have it any other way though. Kagome paused halfway down the hall and turned back toward the apartment.

"Already locked," Inuyasha stated as he came up to her, a grin forming on his face. "Seems like I can make you forget just about anything." He joked.

Kagome rolled her eyes at Inuyasha, her hand ever so slyly reaching into her bag. Grasping her sunscreen bottle, she chucked it at him and took off running down the hall. Inuyasha deftly caught the item, grinned, and tore off after the fleeing beauty. Clambering down the stairs, Kagome cursed her choice of footwear. Why had she chosen to wear flip-flops? (Have you ever tried to run in those confounded things? Doesn't work too well) Kagome really was more comfortable in sneakers.

Two steps from reaching the car, she felt arms grab her around her waist and lift her off the ground. She let out a squeal of laughter and put forth a tiny effort to free herself from his grasp. Inuyasha gently set Kagome on her feet, releasing his grip on her. As Kagome turned around, Inuyasha advanced on her. She retreated grinning, until she felt her back come to rest against his car. Her eyes sparkled with mischief and love. Inuyasha closed the gap between them, and placed his hands on either side of the girl.

"Woman, "he spoke in mock anger, "Were you trying to kill me with this?" asking as he held up the bottle.

Kagome's only answer was to flash him a smile.

"Did you honestly think you could out run me?" he pushed.

Kagome widened her smile as she spoke, "I would have if I hadn't worn these darn shoes."

Inuyasha leaned in closer, his eyes taking in her entire form. She licked her lips drawing his attention to them. She knew she was teasing him and he knew it too. Well, two can play that game. Inuyasha leaned in until he was merely inches from her tantalizing mouth. She could feel his breath on her lips and her hear skipped a beat; but, instead of kissing her as she wanted, he swiftly opened her car door and backed away. He gave her a smoldering look that spoke volumes, turned and walked to the other side of the car.

Kagome stuck her tongue out at him over the top of the car before she slid into the passenger seat. An evil grin formed on her face and she quickly reached over to the lock on Inuyasha's door. Before she accomplished her goal of locking him out of the car, the door jerked open and she found her hand grasped firmly in his. She always failed to anticipate how fast the guy could be. Inuyasha sat in the car refusing to let her go or to let her move. Kagome sat halfway leaning across him as though she was still reaching for his door. Turning slightly and leaning toward her he gently kissed her lips. She allowed him to deepen the kiss as she parted her lips and gave him access to her mouth. Time stopped for them, all she felt was him. His grip on her hand loosened, he moved his hand up her arm barely touching her and causing goose bumps to rise on her flesh. His hand continued its climb until he reached the back of her neck and he pulled her closer to him. Kagome rested her hand on his jaw and pushed into him as the kiss heated. Inuyasha lessened his grip on his love and slowly broke the kiss.

"You know I'm gonna pay you back for this." He breathed against her lips, still holding her close with his hand on her neck. He set the sunscreen in her lap.

"I'm shaking in my shoes." She whispered back

"You should be, Baby. You should be." Inuyasha stated as he released her and sat back. His eyes held massive amounts of mischief as he started and backed the car out.