Chapter Two- Son of a Beach!
Kagome's POV
Instead of walking home, I accepted a ride from Kouga and chatted amiably the whole way. I leaned toward him and kissed his cheek. "Thanks." I said, blushing a little and ran off before he said anything in reply.
I went to bed that night with a huge smile on my face. Sango would be driving Miroku and I to the beach to meet up with Kouga and his friends tomorrow and then I'd flirt my little heart out. I giggled as I pulled the covers over me. Maybe I'd even let him kiss me.
Click. Clack. Click.
I woke up groggily to the sound of pebbles pelting glass. I stretched and went over to my window. I growled. 'Better not be Inu Yasha…' I trailed off in surprise and my eyes widened.
I rushed to open my window. "Kouga???" I whispered as loud as I dared. "What are you doing here?" He wiped at his nose and eyes and I knew something was wrong. I held up one finger and climbed out my window into one of the shrine trees. It was a little cold, but I was worried so I'd forgone any jacket and hopped down from the tree in my pajama shorts and a sports bra.
"Kagome, I-" he paused and flushed when he saw me. I rolled my eyes and just hugged him to me when everything inside me was pushing at me to ask what was wrong again. Instead, I did what I knew he needed. I held him and waited. He cried. I let him.
When his tears had turned to embarrassed sniffles, I let go and looked at him. "You don't have to tell me if you're not ready to." I said softly and stroked the side of his cheek. He reached up and cupped my hand to his cheek.
"My dad… he just died." I refrained from gasping and clutching my own heart. Mine had died the year before in a terrible car accident. "I… I didn't know where else to go. And- I trust you."
My heart went out to him and I held him once more. "I know how you must be feeling. I lost my dad last year to a car accident." I whispered. His arms tightened around me.
"That's," he hiccupped, "that's how my dad died." He trembled and almost began weeping again.
"Come with me." I said and pulled him toward the old shrine. He made a quiet noise of surprise. I slowly opened the door and grabbed the flashlight I habitually left in there. I turned it on and hunted up an oil lamp, lighting it carefully before I turned the flashlight off and smiled at Kouga's look of shock.
"There's… there's so many." He murmured and leaned forward to examine one of the many pictures pinned to the walls.
"I go through an album when I find one and make copies of all the pictures with my father in them. I made them progress from when he was born to the day before he died." I walked over to the one he was staring at and groaned. "Oh, don't look at that one." I muttered.
He turned to me and laughed. "But you're so cute. Can't say that little pink dress would suit you now, but still. Cute." He said. The picture was of me on my sixth birthday. I was crying and holding onto my dad cause my dress had gotten dirty.
"I was crying cause my grandmother had spent weeks making that dress for me and I got it dirty in the first five minutes of wearing it. I was scared of making Grandma sad."
"You're so sweet." He said and faced me fully. My curious gaze met his from my seat on the ground next to the oil lamp. "Your eyes look like topaz." He murmured and helped me to stand. I trembled.
"Well, then…" I started and giggled when my cat startled him with a meow.
"I should go." He said embarrassedly.
"Are you going to be alright?" I asked and grabbed his hand to prevent him from leaving.
He turned back to me and smiled, cupping my cheeks in his hands then touching our noses together. "I'll be alright. Thanks to you." He said softly and kissed my forehead. "I'll see you tomorrow, Beautiful." He said before walking off. I flushed brightly.
I went to open the front door, tried to enter, realized it was locked, and cursed. "Oh, hell!" Unfortunately, it was an awkward climbed back up the tree to my room. I went over to my desk, lit my white candle for his father, closed my eyes, prayed, and then blew it out before climbing into bed.
o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o
In the morning, I rushed around because I had woken up late.
"Honey, you're only going to forget something rushing around like that." My mom warned as I ran and put my bikini on beneath my beach clothes. I brought an extra towel, sunscreen, a change of warm clothes (depending on how late we'd be), my cell phone, shoved everything into an empty backpack, and ran to grab my little boogie board. I paused and thought really hard.
"Okay, what am I forgetting???" I frowned "My purse!" I grabbed it and made sure it had my wallet and house keys. I piled everything by the front door just as Sango knocked. Letting her in, she helped me carry my stuff to Miroku's car. "Bye Mom! I love you!"
"Bye sweetie! I love you, too. Have fun!" she called and I closed the door behind me. I sat in the back seat and greeted Miroku cheerfully.
The urge to tell Sango about Kouga's visit the previous night was strong but the feeling quickly faded. I didn't want to break the fragile bond we shared or his trust.
"Hands on the steering wheel, buster!" Sango shouted and I snickered behind my hand.
"Sorry." Miroku said without really meaning it and we were on our way. "Not what you said last night, though." I heard him mutter when Sango stuck her head out the window to shout goodbye to my mother. My laughter only confused my best friend when her head popped back in.
o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o
We arrived at the beach and it took me a minute to realize that we had parked next to a very familiar car. "Son of a bitch!" I cursed.
"What?" Sango asked. I pointed to the car next to us and she grimaced. "The moron's car? Well, hell, there's just no getting away from him, is there?" she asked and I shook my head angrily. "Unfortunately, there's no other parking spaces, or I'd ask Miroku to pick another spot." Nodding in understanding, I grabbed my stuff. It occurred to me that running would be a good idea because of how hot the sand was. So I did.
Chucking down my towel, I set it up quickly and sat down to relieve my poor feet. "Owie, owie, owie, owie." I mumbled and laughed when Sango and Miroku did the exact same thing.
Sango leaned over to me and whispered, "So, have you got a crush on the new guy, Kouga?" she asked quietly. I smiled and nodded, not embarrassed about telling her, my very best friend. "Well then, catch his attention because he's about fifty yards away. Don't turn around, just stand and slowly start stripping." She said. That time I did blush, clearly embarrassed.
…and yet I still stood and slowly started taking my clothes off. I had to turn around when Sango started giggling. I looked at Kouga and my mouth watered. My gods, that boy was muscled. Then I looked at his face and grinned, waving. He shook his head and smiled in return, blood rushing to his face. Which pleased me all the more.
"You look hot." Was his succinct greeting. I grinned and winked.
"Back atcha." I replied and hugged him. He was wet and sticky with seawater and I yelped, jumping backwards. "You're hands are cold!" I exclaimed and shivered. He laughed.
"So, come into the water and get used to it." He said, taking my hand comfortably in his. He froze at my next words.
"I need to put sunscreen on or I'll fry. I could use some help." I said and batted my lashes at him. He grinned hugely and plopped down on my towel right before I did. I pulled out my sunscreen and put it on my legs while Kouga did my back. I groaned when he rubbed it in. "Maybe I should have you put sunscreen on me all day." I mumbled and he laughed. He squeezed my shoulders and massaged it in instead of rubbing. "Did I ever tell you you're my favorite?" I moaned a little as he worked out a knot.
"You need to relax more often." He said disapprovingly and continued just rubbing my back and shoulders.
"I don't know about that, I've got a lot of stuff to do. I'm just taking today off and then it's back to studying tomorrow." I sighed as he trailed his hands over my neck.
"No. I don't think so. I think you need to spend tomorrow with me and learn how to relax." He said and rubbed down my arms, adding sunscreen where it was needed.
"Oh?" I turned and smiled, raising my eyebrows.
"Uh-huh." He nodded and pouted when I took the sunscreen from him to do my front. "Spoilsport." He muttered and I laughed. After a few minutes of chatting, I finally agreed to spend the next day with him, as well. Giving my sunscreen enough time to sink in, I grabbed my boogie board, Kouga's hand, and ran into the water.
"Cold!" I shrieked, my head popping out from beneath the water. My teeth chattered and Kouga laughed at me. I greeted his friends that were in the water, most I already knew from classes. "Aren't you guys cold?" I asked incredulously.
"I'm freezing my balls off, but it's still fun." One said.
"Shut up, dude. Nobody wants to know your health problems." Another said and knocked him in the head. A girl swam up to me and whispered:
"I thought my nipples were going to pop off at first. You get used to it, though." I laughed.
"At least I'm not the only one." I said and she laughed, too.
I climbed halfway onto my board and caught a couple of nice waves, belly boarding to the shore and swimming back. I shared it with the girl, I learned her name was Kisa, and some of the guys, body-surfing with Kouga while I waited to get my board back. I started to get hungry and said as much. Sango popped up behind me and tugged me under water. I came up sputtering and did the same to her.
"Sucks, doesn't it?" I asked as she coughed.
"Yeah." She said and coughed again. "But that's okay." She said and pulled my bottoms down. I yelped, held my breath, and pulled them back up.
"I swear if you try that one more time, I'm getting a knife and cutting yours off so you'll have to run to your towel naked." I threatened.
"Okay, I'm sorry!" she exclaimed and paddled away from me. I smirked and splashed at her. We played chicken with Kisa, Miroku and a few others. I lost on the fourth round claiming I was just tired. "Sure. Whatever you say, princess." Sango chirped cheerfully (having been the victor), and I stuck my tongue out. She splashed water at me and I was forced to spit it out making gagging noises all the while.
"That's just sick." I made a face and started for shore. When I shook out my hair I stretched and yawned. I really was tired.
"You okay?" someone asked and I turned. "You look absolutely exhausted."
I turned, offering a smile before frowning. "Sesshomaru?" I asked. "Did you highjack your brothers car today?" I asked, referring to my ex, his little brother.
He flashed me a smile… but it was more like a baring of teeth. "That little runt has been the one using my car? Without my permission, I might add. Well, now that I know it's him and not the help, I'll soon remedy that."
I raised an eyebrow and smiled. "Good for you. Now if you don't mind, I'd like to towel and rinse off." I said and started to walk off.
"Just a moment, please." It was the please that got me.
'Damn,' I thought, wracking my brain for something intelligent to say. Unlike Inu Yasha, Sesshomaru was as intelligent creature, worthy of giving time to… if I were single. 'Oh, wait. I am. I should ask Kouga out. Maybe I should hint at him. It is high school and it is all about experimental dating and the like. Maybe tomorrow. Oh, but what if he isn't the type to rush into things?' My thoughts continued and I realized Sesshomaru had asked me a question. "I'm sorry? I didn't catch that." I apologized and tilted my head to the side, knocking on my ear as if to get water out of it.
Smiling, he repeated. "I was asking if you had chosen a college to attend."
I grinned. My favorite topic. "No, but I have plenty of offers. I've been sifting through and researching which ones I would enjoy studying at most." I practically gushed.
"Kagome!" my friends chorused. "Come back!"
I laughed and faced them. "NO!" I shouted and crossed my arms in the negative motion. "Five hours is more than enough for me!" I laughed again when they all whined in chorus again. "Dorks." I mumbled, still chuckling.
"Your friends seem to miss you." Sesshomaru stated, rather than asked.
"Yeah, well, tough luck. I'm exhausted and hungry." I stretched once more and prepared to leave.
"Oh, care for some company?" he asked. I blinked in surprise. I couldn't have just heard that right.
"Thanks, but we're all going out to some local diner or something. And then I have plans with Kouga later." I added, lying my ass off. Sesshomaru was hot but I didn't really like him all that much. Especially because of his brother. Who knew if the "I'm an asshole" gene ran in his entire family or not.
"I figured as much," he said and blushed, "but that's what I was counting on. That girl over there?" he pointed towards Sango and Kisa.
"Which one?" I asked, starting to take the hint.
"The one in the blue bathing suit." He said.
I grinned. "Oh, Kisa?" I asked, noting that Sango was wearing a hot pink bikini.
"Kisa? What a lovely name." He said to himself. Suddenly feeling mischievous, I looked at him innocently.
"Yeah, I just met her today. She's really sweet. You'd like her." I watched as his face turned red again and he looked away from me. 'And Bingo was his name-o.' I sang internally. "Hey Kisa!" I yelled at the top of my lungs. She waved and started swimming toward me when I gestured. His face became a darker shade of red.
"What's up, Kag?" she said as she leaned forward and panted. Her light brown hair was darkened with water and her eyes sparkled blue with amusement. "Who's your friend?" she asked shyly and smiled.
"Sesshomaru." He said and leaned down to kiss her hand. I gave myself a mental pat on the back when Kisa flushed.
"Oh. I'm, uh, Kisa." She whispered and cleared her throat. I tried not to giggle at how cute the scenario was. "Pleased to meet you." She said, sounding more herself.
"The pleasure, I assure you, is all mine." He said smoothly, all previous shyness gone from him. I quickly excused myself and giggled all over again as I watched them continue talking.
"Kagome's matchmaking is now two for two. Kisa and Sango will thank me later." I murmured aloud, rolling my eyes at how ridiculous I sounded, even to myself Toweling off quickly, I proceeded to the water showers on the sidewalk to rinse off before making my way to change in the bathrooms.
When I stepped out of the ladies toilets, Kouga was there and already changed and dried.
"How the hell do boys do that?" I asked incredulously. "I was only gone about twenty minutes."
He shrugged and held out a hand to me. "Sango packed up your stuff and chucked it in my car, so I figure I'm the one to give you a ride home."
I blinked comically for a minute. "Did I pass out and miss an hour?" When he shook his head, I sighed and smiled, taking his outstretched hand. "Okay, never mind then. But I thought we were all going to eat together somewhere?"
He shook his head and smiled. "Kisa went off somewhere with that friend of yours and everyone else just wanted to head home. You hungry?" he asked and chuckled when my loudly growling stomach answered for me.
"I must feed the beast." I commented jokingly and pat my belly. His chuckle turned into a laugh and I smiled, giving his hand a squeeze as we made our way to his car.
"Where would you like to eat?" he asked.
"Oh, any burger joint sounds great about now." I replied and thanked him as he opened and closed the door for me.
"Works for me."
o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o
The sun had long since set, the stars making their presence known in gentle twinkles. I stared up at the sky, leaning my head on Kouga's shoulder as we sat on the park bench. It was only a mile from my home and I still had an hour before my curfew.
"It's really pretty out tonight." I murmured, entranced as a star streaked across the sky. 'Let Kouga not go through too much pain because of his loss.' I thought, wishing on it.
"Yeah. It's nice." He said quietly and sighed. I looked at him out of the corner of my eye and decided it wasn't a depressed sigh.
"Thanks for inviting my friends and me to the beach. I had a blast and I'm sure they did, too." Kouga hummed his "you're welcome" and put his arm cautiously around me. I didn't object and wondered briefly, excitedly, if he was going to kiss me.
A horn honking scared the bahjeezus outta me. I turned my head and my eyes nearly bugged out.
"Oh, for the love of the gods." I muttered and palmed my forehead.
"Who is that?" Kouga asked.
"I'll give you three guesses and the first two don't count." I grumbled.
"Ah, Inu Yasha?" he said and I nodded. "Ignore him. I'm sure that will bother him more than anything." Kouga murmured and tipped my chin up and to the side to face him. "Kagome, will you go out with me?" I almost asked where to when I realized he was asking me to be his girlfriend.
Smiling and nodding, I felt the blood start to rush to my face as he leaned down. My eyes drifted closed and when his lips touched mine, there was no Inu Yasha, there were no stars, and there was no world. It was just Kouga, me, and our explosive chemistry that blocked out the rest of everything. His tongue darted out and traced my lips, which I parted in surprise. Taking this as the go-ahead, he delved his tongue into my mouth and I responded with all the passion I'd never known before. When we pulled apart, I trembled and Kouga stared at me in wide-eyed innocence. My throat closed in response and I gasped in a breath, not realizing that I had been holding it in the first place.
"That was…" I whispered, not knowing how to voice it.
"Yeah, I agree." He said, just as breathless as I must have sounded. We both smiled in mutual understanding and started to snicker. It turned into full out laughter as we heard an engine gun dangerously and tires screeching as they peeled out.
Things would be alright, but I knew that Monday was going to be hell. I was not looking forward to dealing with an overzealous Inu Yasha.
