Mr. Cranky Pants

Kagome's laughter burst the silence of the early morning chill. It was summer, but it was too early to be all that warm. I turned my gaze to hers, and couldn't help but smile. She looked so cute, with her face wrinkled in a smile and her little dimples showing. My gaze fell to her lips. Her soft, rosy lips. I felt a blush creeping up my face and I quickly looked away. I heard her laughing again, something Sango said about Miroku. God, she was beautiful. And so,...peaceful. And cheerful. She made everything feel alright. I struggled with myself not to just grab her and pull her into a kiss. The effort frustrated me. Why was I so helpless around her? I puffed out my chest. I, the great, the powerful demon, Inuyasha? I, who slayed 100 demons in a single stroke of my sword? I who, who,...I deflated and fell from my self engineered pedestal. I, who melted into a gooey puddle when she so much as looked at me. I, who, was like silly putty in her hands when she smiled at me. This made me mad, too. I huffed a little and decided to be annoyed. And annoying. Dammit, if i wasn't in a good mood, why should anyone else be? The level of my patheticness infuriated me more. Now I was ready to go to the group. I stomped over to the fire where Kagome and Sango were chatting away brightly and grunted.

"I want breakfast." I said simply. No greeting, no please or thank you. The way I liked it. I'd be damned before I showed gratitude to her.

"Aww, why are you in such a bad mood now? You were so peaceful a few minutes ago!" Kagome pouted, sticking out her bottom lip, not knowing how she inadvertently taunted me. Not knowing she was seducing me without trying. She giggled and looked at Sango. "You were making the cutest faces too!"

I registered "cute" and that she was taking about me first. I felt my face grow hot and my mouth dry. Then I realized the rest and growled, my face now tinged pink with anger and embarrrassment instead of lust. I snarled and made mocking noises that even I realized made me look incredibly puerile, and turned to sit on the log, mumbling angrily. I overheard Kagome and Sango talking about me again.

"He's so funny, the way he blushes whenever he shows emotion or lets down his prideful and pompus exterior. It's kind of cute actually, that he pretends to be so tough." I recognized Kagome's hushed voice and then both girls giggles.

"He'll never grow up." I heard Sango add merrily. They always forget that I can still hear them even when they whisper. I decided to remind them, cutting off Kagome in the middle of her sentence about my "cute" ears, or whatever. (somehow, everything always got back to my ears. Damn her.)

I cleared my throat. "You forget my cute little ears can still hear you." I growled, crossing my arms as they both blushed furiously and giggled some more. I humphed indignantly and added, "And I am NOT cute. I'm a powerful, dangerous demon." I knew I was pouting, but couldn't help it. Unfortunately for my already raw and wounded pride, it made them burst into more fits of laughter.

"It's not funny!" I snapped, anger building as my temple throbbed. "And I most certaintly do NOT blush. Not ever."

Kagome wiped her eyes and spoke. "Lighten up, Inu. We're only joking." Inu. She called me Inu. Disgusting. Or at least, I tried to pretend it disgusted me, though my even redder face some what gave it away. I kicked a stone contemptiously and furrowed my brows.

"I will not." I said quietly and defiantly, staring at my feet, watching the rock I was exchanging back and forth between my feet.

"Alright, alright." Kagome said, "Come on Sango, leave Mr. Cranky Pants to himself." And they turned, still giggling and walked towards the hot springs. "Damn straight, I'm Mr. Cranky Pants!" I called after them, "And don't you ever forget it!"