Chapter One:

She wasn't surprised when her alarm clock didn't wake her up

She wasn't surprised when her alarm clock didn't wake her up. She also wasn't surprised when her mom yelled for her to get moving. The morning wasn't all that different than what she was use to. It was a beautiful day: warm and sunny.

Her friends were waiting for her at the bottom of the shrine steps. They walked and talked all the way to school. It really was a great morning. She just wasn't expecting her childhood stalker to approach her so early.

"Hey, Kagome," he yelled as he ran up to the small group, "How's it going?"

She watched as the girls gave dreamy eyed looks to the man that was now taking her book bag. "I'm fine, Kouga. You don't have to carry that, you know?" He only smiled sweetly at her.

It only figured. He's been doing stuff like this for a while now. Hojo isn't too pleased with it, and neither is Inuyasha. Doesn't matter, though. It will be the end of the day before she would know it, and then, it would be back off to the shrine and away from him.

Sighing, he followed her all the way to her class. It wasn't unlike him. It was just so damn irritating. He was nice and caring. He was a really sweet guy. She, just simply, doesn't like him the same way back. She would give him credit for being persistent. He was rather protective of her too. No one gave her any attitude, and that was a bit of a plus.

Turning to him, he gave her back her bag and began heading to his own class a few rooms down. He was so sweet, and he always knew how to act around her. Never had she truly become angry with him. She was more grateful most of the time. Smiling, she headed to her seat were her best friends were.

—

Sesshomaru watched as the girl moved to the empty chair not far from him. Her scent was intoxicating. He had sensed her as soon as she entered the building. His body had swayed when she made her approach closer with every step he felt her take.

She was beautiful. His whole being froze as she entered the room. Amber eyes took her in. Raven black hair was free and unbound. It moved like it had a life of its own down to her thin waist. She smiled like an angel. The warmth of it reached her eyes with such passion.

He had to fight to suppress the growl that was rising in his chest. His being wanted to go up to her and embrace her. He wanted her. Never had he been affected like this before. Not once had he wanted a female as badly as he wanted that female right now, let alone in such a short period of time.

Her hips swayed like a temptress in the heat of candlelight. Her body moved with such grace and confidence it left him wanting more as she came to sit. She took the seat by the window. All of her attention was set on the two near her. Her friends he could only assume.

"So," the man grinned, "how was your walk this morning?"

"We were going to wait with everyone, but Miroku had a test to make up this morning," the woman muttered. Complete and utter concern was etched on her face. "I'm sorry for leaving you alone with Kouga."

His chest tightened as she spoke. It was a heavily sound to his ears.

"It's alright," she continued to smile. "It wasn't all that bad actually. Nothing drastic happened. He didn't call me his yet today."

The woman sighed like a heavy weight had been lifted off of her. "That's good. I was worried there for a moment."

"Sango, you worry too much," Miroku commented lightly. "I've told you once and I'll tell you again, Kagome can handle herself and doesn't need us."

Kagome. That was her name. He rolled it over in his head. He loved it. It suited her.

"Alright," the instructor's voice directed everyone's attention to the front. "We've got a new student with us today. Sesshomaru, why don't you come to the front?"

It was stated as a question. One that he was ready to say no to. Glancing in her direction, he found his eyes locking with hers. Steady brown eyes watched him, waiting for him to do something, anything.

When the slightest blush tinted her cheeks, he stood and made his way to the front.

—

Her body warmed with the look on his face. He had seemed so cold before his eyes turned to her. So much fire and passion rested behind that gaze. She could have swore that those amber eyes were molten fire.

As he stood, she took in his height. He had to be about a foot or more than then her, putting him at six-five. Silver hair came to the middle of his back, bound by a leather strap at the nape of his neck. Broad shoulders took up the width of him. His wait was slim but not feminine and his chest, despite the clothing, she could tell would be a sold mass under her fingertips.

The sudden image of her hands roaming him came to her. The warmth of his touch on her body left her aching ever so slightly. She wanted to be withering under him, trapped in those eyes.

A part of her fantasy came true. She was trapped in his eyes. That hard gaze was focused on her. He was staring at her as the instructor spoke, "So tell us about yourself."

It was then that she realized she had been staring at him just as intensely as he had her. Blushing, she looked away. Whispers and murmurs soon followed.

"My name is Sesshomaru Mizuki. I came here from the western country side, and I am nine-teen." He wanted her to hear him. He wanted her to know who he was, just as much as he wanted to know who she was. He could have cared less about the others, but their hands went up and he was once again irritated.

"Yes, Inya," the instructor motioned.

The girl rose to stand. Her hair was an unnatural blue, and he could smell the scent of men's cologne lingering on her. "Yes, Sesshomaru, I was wondering if you have a girl friend?"

She was chatting, and her voice made him head ache. He hated female voices that were so high pitched. It was annoying and frustrating.

"No, I do not." If his tone of voice didn't signify to others that he didn't want anymore questions, than he was deeply mistaken.

The instructor motioned for another female to rise. She had a natural brown color, but her eyes were purple. Her voice was normal, yet, she stuttered and spoke softly. "I was—I wanted to know what your hobbies were."

He hated silly questions. It was infuriating and maddening. Ready to snap, he faltered. She was waiting for him again. He could feel his beauty's gaze on him, and she was waiting for him to respond. His body relaxed under her gaze.

"I enjoy reading and fencing," he answered softly. His words were distant to his ears as he watched her. His skin yearned for her touch, a touch he knew would be gentle.

"Looks like we got another opponent," the boy who had been talking to her earlier muttered into her ear.

His body grew suddenly angry with the close proximity the man had took to bring himself to her. The boys lips were close to her. They were near the very spot where he should be whispering intimately to her. No other man should be near her, no one but him. She was his.

His body froze.

Amber eyes wavered ever so slightly. His stomach tightened. He was becoming possessive of the girl, and it startled him beyond thought. She had bewildered him and captured his complete and utter attention.

Internally shaking, he moved back to his seat. The instructor motioned for everyone to pay attention. His short frame and sharp tone did nothing to take his mind off the woman he was now refusing to look at. He would not fall for her. He was Sesshomaru, and he will not fall for a female, let alone a human—despite how beautiful she may be.

And yet, he couldn't seem to obey.

—

Inuyasha glared at the lunch before him. The burnt fish and still very wet rice was not appealing in the least. "Kagome," he muttered out, "why did you have Miroku make my lunch today?"

Looking up from her own burnt lunch, she smiled as sweetly as she could at him next to her. "I didn't intend to. I slept in late and didn't have time to cook."

"Sango anticipated this," the cook in question commented around his own meal. "So, she had me make it."

Sango looked up from her untouched meal. "I would have done it myself, but I had to do other things."

Looking to one another, both girls gingerly took a bite of the fish. It was sour from the spices that he used, and it made a horrible crunching sound. The rice wasn't much better. It was more like pudding. Maybe if it was chilled and with yogurt it would have tasted better…or maybe not.

Note to self: don't sleep in again.

Eri, Yuka, and Ayumia were heading up to them. The three never seemed to leave each other's side. Kagome would have been apart of the little group if Sango was never transferred to their school. The gods must like her a lot.

"Hey, Kagome," Yuka's voice called as she run up to sit next to Miroku, "did you hear? Hojo is looking for you."

"So is Kouga," Eri beamed as she took a seat beside Sango.

Inuyasha's head snapped up at that. His hand itched to reach out to the girl beside him. Those two idiots were always bothering her and it was frustrating as hell. Didn't they know that she was his? He'll kill them both sooner or later for it.

"No," Kagome smiled even though she was screaming inside, "I didn't know that." Didn't want to know either.

The demonic aura next to her was unmistakable as it spiked with anger. He was always so possessive of her. It was confusing as hell too. He never once asked her out or to be his girlfriend, but he expected everyone to know that she was his. Stupid moron.

"Yeah. I ran into Hojo in the hall. He told me to give this to you if I saw you first." Yuka handed her a folded piece of paper. Opening it, the handwriting was neat and perfect. Had to be Hojo's.

Dear Kagome,

I wanted to ask you to the class dance next Friday. I know I'm taking a chance with Inuyasha as my competition, but I was hoping that you may be so kind as to indulge me for a single night. I will not be hurt is you decline. I only ask that you may consider it.

Sincerely,

Hojo

Her head suddenly hurt. He was lying that he wouldn't be hurt. She saw the looks on his face countless times when she declined his invitation to coffee or a party. The guy was persistent, and it was more annoying than sweet. Kouga's persistence was sweet. Hojo's was just frustrating.

The guy was a total baby. Their wasn't a masculine bone in his body. More than likely, she was more of a man than he was. No way in hell would she let herself wined up with a guy like that. Let alone Sango letting her.

"So, Kagome," Yuka inquired with hope in her eyes. It was beyond her as to why her friends wanted her with a guy like him.

Folding the paper up, she handed it to Sango to read. "No." It was simple and final. She was not going out with him and never will be. The relief and comfort was obvious on her best friend's face as she finished the letter. She had made the right choice.

"Kagome," Ayumia whined, "you never even gave him a chance. He's been asking you out for the late three years and you never once said yes."

"Its because of him, isn't it?" Eri accused as she pointed a finger at Inuyasha, who had been studying his lunch.

White fluffy ears perked at that. "Yes, Eri," Kagome teased with more than a hint of sarcasm in her voice. "It is all Inuyasha's fault. He's possessed me so that I won't find any man attractive. Its not like Hojo is a wimp or doesn't know how to a man in the least. Its not like he doesn't have a masculine bone in his body."

Glaring at the girl, all of her punt up frustration was bleeding into her eyes. A sense of pride and pleasure came to her as the look of shock and fear grew in her so called friend's face. So much anger and irritation was rising in her that she was fighting hard not to strike out at anyone.

Deciding that she was loosing control, she stood up and walked away. Inuyasha was right behind her. Their burnt lunches were the only remaining thing on the table behind them.

—-

Sesshomaru stood to the side as she stormed past him. Her anger was strong. The strength of her power flowed off of her in waves. She was pissed, and it was clear.

Yet, she is still beautiful.

She had been within arms reach of him, but he dare not reach out to her. In this state, it would be risky. Even for a full demon like himself, it was a chance he was not willing to risk. She was a miko. There was no doubt about it. He did not need her purifying him.

Then, suddenly, his own anger rose to knew heights. Following past her was the last man he wished her to be near. The silver hair was unmistakable. The ears were obvious. Inuyasha…

His brother…

Growling low, he watched as amber eyes locked with his. He didn't stop, though. His pace was steady and controlled as he followed behind the girl. There was confusion and anger in that gaze. Its been years since he has last seen his brother, but the new changes were distinctive.

"Inuyasha," her sweet voice drifted to his ears. She slowed her pace so he could catch up with her. "We're leaving. Can you get your car?"

He gave a quick nod before dashing off. His speed was quick and determined. It would only take him a matter of a few moments to get to the vehicle, but the car would take longer to get to her.

Watching from his spot, she was sitting now. Her heart rate was fast. Her skin had broken with a thin coat of sweat. She was shaking ever so slightly. If he only knew what she was thinking. He wished he knew. The rage and frustration was so clear that it was tangible.

She was a true beauty. Her hair fell to her waist with such carelessness that it rose a vision of her draped beneath him to the surface. The way her skin grew damp only help magnify the image. Closing his eyes, he could feel her body as it shook beneath his. He was loosing control, and it was going to get him into trouble.

Looking up and out of his fantasy, he watched as she looked to the sky. Her pulse had slowed. Her skin held a creamy glow to it. Did the sky calm her so? Was the pure nature of life her source of comfort? He could only hope. It was his source of peace. The only thing stable and uncontrolled in life.

Amber eyes roamed over her body. They took in the smooth arc of her neck…the mounds of her breast…the tightness of her stomach…the strength in her legs. Oh, how he wished to have those legs wrapped around him.

Growling low, his veins burned with the stench of the wolf.

—

Kagome didn't notice the foot steps coming up to her. She was far to lost in her own world to recognize that they were not Inuyasha's. It was only when the warmth of a hand hit her neck, cupping it and the side of her face, that she realized that it was not him.

Looking up, she found a pair of blue eyes staring at her. Heat and passion boiled in that gaze. All of his thoughts were open to her, and she didn't like a single one of them.

And just as her anger and frustration had faded, they rose stead fast to the surface. A flair of miko power lashed out at him with such determination that he had the grace to jump back. Standing up, her eyes leveled. "Kouga, what do you think you are doing?"

He grounded himself under her glare. She was his and their was no way he was going to break under her sweet gaze. "I was checking up on you. I saw that you were alone and had to make sure you were alright."

"Well, as you can see," she held her hands out to her side before doing a spin, "I am perfectly fine."

"Yes, Kagome," he grinned, "I can see how quiet fine you are. Anyone would have to be blind not to."

It was then that he realized his mistake. Brown eyes leveled on his in the worst ways. He could see the rage building inside her. His controlled beauty was absolutely livid. "And let me guess," she spoke tightly, "you've come to ask me to the class dance?"

"No." He watched as a look of shock and peace hit her. It was so sudden that it was almost amusing. "I don't need to. You're my woman. It is only assumed that everyone knows that I'm taking you."

Everyone assumes? Her heart sped up to a point that she was ready to kill. The gulls of…

"Kouga," Inuyasha's voice growled out as the black mustang pulled up to the curb, "what the hell are you doing?"

Blue eyes locked with amber one's. Clearly, Kouga was not top pleased with his presence. Kagome, however, was ecstatic. Making a quick pace to the car, she got in without a second thought. The hanyou didn't waist any time, leaving Kouga alone and pissed.

It was normal to have Hojo and Kouga breathing down her neck with their advances, but she was normally very calm and pleasant about it. Right now, she was livid beyond reason. Maybe she has finally snapped. I guess it would be a bad time to ask her to the dance.

She didn't miss the deep sigh that escaped the man next to her. Yes, he was defiantly a man. Between the hard muscles of his arms, the masculine feature of his face, and the strength in his presence, there was no question. She loved the way his hair shined. She loved the twitch in his ears every so often. He was attractive and fun to be with.

Sighing herself, she couldn't help but feel nothing more than friendship for him. She so badly wanted to feel something, anything, but she knew it was pointless. She just didn't have that type of love for him. He was like a big brother to her, and it kills her to know he wants more than that.

Not once in her whole life has she yearned for anyone. She has found men attractive, but nothing close to what she felt earlier today. The way she felt when he…

Shaking her head mentally, his image was hard to suppress. The familiar amber in his gaze was shocking and comforting. He was absolutely striking. Definitely a demon by his markings, but that never meant anything to her. She had a human, hanyou, and a full breed demon lusting after her. No, she wasn't prejudice.

He…he was something else, though. He was a demon, not a hanyou, but a true demon. His mere presence screamed power. He was masculine like the way Inuyasha was. His hair didn't change any of that. There was nothing feminine about him. He was a man, completely and utterly.

"What are you thinking about over there?" Inuyasha's voice drifted to her.

"Nothing really." She knew he wasn't going to by that, so, she quickly continued. "Its just, why do they have to bother me? Isn't it obvious that I'm not interested?"

It was obvious. They just don't care. "Kagome, you're hot and sassy. All guys like that in a girl. It gets them excited when you turn them down: playing hard to get."

She wasn't playing hard to get, though. All she wanted was to be left alone. Can't they appreciate that? It was just so damn frustrating.

Looking to the man next to her, he looked just like him. The hair color and shine was the same. The amber in their eyes were identical. The power they both radiated with was strong. Looking at him, all she could see right now was the man from earlier.

Noticing the heavy look he was getting, a slight blush came to his cheeks. She was beautiful, completely and absolutely. There was no one else that he wanted more than her. If only he could get her to feel the same towards him.

"So," his voice took her out of her daze, "you ready for next Friday?"

She narrowed her eyes at him. She knew he knew the answer to that. Why was he asking? Shrugging, she relaxed in the seat. "I'm not going."

There was no look of shock or surprise. He only shrugged at it. "Kagome, its our senior class dance. You don't want to go at all?"

"If I do, Kouga and Hojo will be there. I really would not like to get any arguments going."

It was true. If she did go, they were sure to ask her to dance. She would turn them both down, and then, the two boy would start fighting. It would not be a pleasant night. He knew she badly wanted to go, though. Maybe if she went with him, she would reconsider.

"I want to go, you know?"

She looked at him from the corner of her eye. It was no secret that he liked her. He was too possessive not to. "I know. Are you going with Kikyo?"

The slightest flinch came to him. It was a low blow that she just dealt, but she made her point. He still had feelings—no, he still felt he owed her. They had went out for almost half a year before they broke up. Kikyo still blamed her for it, and it was her fault. She just didn't mean it to be. He had promised to take her to the class dance, and that promise still stands.

"Inuyasha, could you let off here?"

Looking outside her side window, he pulled over to the curb. By the time he had stopped, she had her things gathered and together. "You going to be okay, Kagome?"

She gave him a sweet smile before nodding once. She truly was breathtaking. "You worry too much."

And he did.