Whoot! Another chapter for you guys to chew on! Like it or love it, read it anyway XD Yes, it is short, but I like it better this way. Too long and you guys get bored, right? I know I would :P Yes, I know this is technically a romance fan-fiction, but holding true to Rumiko Takahashi's original style, I have included comedy and awkward moments XD Besides, who doesn't like a laugh every now and then?

Thanks to everyone, I love you all, in some or other way XD

-Jack of Nights

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Kagome awoke with a start, falling face-first onto the floor. She heard a sigh behind her and when she got up, she saw Sesshomaru looming above her, his arms folded across his chest. He looked severely disappointed in her. Slowly, Kagome got to her feet, and amazingly, she no longer felt sick. Sesshomaru 'ahemed' and turned away from her; Kagome wondered what was wrong.

Looking down, she noticed that her pyjama pants had fallen down to her ankles when she had gotten up. Going red in the face, she quickly pulled them back up, trying to regain some composure. Sesshomaru looked at her from the corner of his eye, smirking at her clumsiness. He faced her again, amber eyes bright with delight and he grabbed her arms. Lifting her just slightly, he moved the blankets out from under her and put them on the couch.

"I trust you slept well enough," he asked her, his face becoming unreadable again. Kagome nodded, it was all she could in her cure state of embarrassment. He put out his hand suddenly, silently demanding his kimono. She took it off, marvelling at how the silky thread felt between her fingers. Her lingering caused him to raise an eyebrow, and she hastily handed over his kimono. He put it on, and he looked puzzled.

"What is it? Is there something wrong?"

"No. Everything's…" he let the sentence hang there, utterly absorbed for a few moments.

"Oh no," Kagome said, looking at the clock on the wall. "I'm late for school! Damn, I never did my homework either. And I've got a test today!" she muttered to herself. She left Sesshomaru standing where he was and rushed upstairs.

Sesshomaru stood in silent thought as the miko rushed around him, gathering things and whatnot. She was ridiculously scatter-brained, and she seemed to be forgetting everything. Kagome also seemed to enjoy babbling to herself endlessly about nothing in particular. Already, she had dressed so heinously that Sesshomaru felt uncomfortable letting her go out in such skimpy clothes.

"Miko, are you really going out dressed like that?" he asked her when she reached for the door knob.

"Hn? Of course, why wouldn't I?"

"It's cold," he said matter-of-factly. Realizing what he had just said, Kagome looked down and saw he was right. She had put on her summer uniform, completely forgetting about the snowstorm. Exasperated, she rushed back upstairs to change. Sesshomaru followed her into her bedroom. Unknown to Kagome, he stood at the doorway watching her undress.

"Put on something more decent," he said suddenly. Kagome screamed in surprise and attempted to cover herself from his eyes. "You could have knocked! Now, go away!"

"What does it matter? I have already seen you without clothes on."

Her jaw dropped at this and she slammed the door on his face. Turning back to her closet, she pulled out a sweater and began to put it on. As she pulled it over her head, she heard a tapping against her window. Twirling around, the sweater half on, she nearly cried out in surprise. There, standing in front of her window was Sesshomaru, and he looked royally pissed.

He opened the window himself and dropped casually onto her floor, tracking snow along her carpet. Seeing the look in his eyes, Kagome forgot to reprimand him for it. He stood completely still, his eyes locked on hers. His face was impassive, but his eyes were filled with rage. They narrowed as she looked away. She half expected him to tap his foot anxiously.

"Why did you do that?" he said his voice colder than the weather outside. "I do not take kindly to insults such as that."

Kagome tried meekly to look away, at the floor; he put two fingernails under her chin and lifted her face until she had nowhere to look but at him.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean it like that," she stammered, trying to explain. "I just wanted privacy and…" she couldn't finish because he was looking at her, amused. He smirked; she was going red in the face with embarrassment. Kagome pouted at him and he let go of her chin. "I really am sorry."

"Yes, I know."

"Friends, then?" she said, offering him her hand. He looked at it cautiously, but didn't take it. His arms stayed at his side, and he raised one eyebrow at her. Confused, Kagome lowered her hand and looked at her feet. The awkward silence was killing her, and she decided to break it first.

"You left my window open," she said. "And the snow's coming in."

"It would appear so," he said, casually observing the window. He looked back at her and raised one eyebrow, making no other movement. Sighing, Kagome walked past him, and reached for the window. It was then that his youkia scent overwhelmed her. He smelt heavily of bloodlust and battlefields, but at the same time, like the very essence of man. The combined smells made Kagome's heart race unexpectedly.

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Sesshomaru heard the girl's heart beat fast in its ribcage. As she walked past him, her scent washed over him. Unlike the other humans he had come across, Kagome smelt of lavender and spices. Something in him stirred; he squashed it without a second thought. She closed the window and returned to stand in front of him. Her eyes were wide, but she stood her ground.

Sesshomaru narrowed his eyes at her unyielding stare, crossing his arms in the process. Kagome blinked and came out of her trance, quickly looking from him, going pink with embarrassment. Without a second word, she walked down out the room and downstairs. Sesshomaru followed her, remaining silent. Seemingly distracted, Kagome stood in the kitchen with her back to him.

"We are not finished, girl," Sesshomaru said, his voice icy. She turned to him, an expression on her face he couldn't quite understand. She looked up at him and blinked in surprise.

"I'm sorry, what?"

"I will not repeat myself," he said, suddenly uninterested in keeping a conversation with her. Kagome frowned and rolled her eyes.

"Fine then, be that way," she said, shrugging and dropping her hands to her hips. "I have to leave for school now. I'll be back soon, OK?" When he didn't answer her, she shook her head and grabbed her backpack. Wrapping a scarf around her neck, putting on the thickest pair of gloves she could find, Kagome searched for her snow boots. After several minutes of digging around, Kagome found and put them on.

"Should I accompany you?" he asked, his face an unreadable mask.

"No! If anyone saw you in that getup, I'd never be able to live it down!" Kagome said furiously. With a sudden pang, she realized she had said something similar to InuYasha the first time he came out of the well. Growing quiet, she closed her eyes, fighting back tears.

Sesshomaru could smell the tears fighting to spill across her cheeks. He did not comfort her in any way, nor did he move or break the silence between them. The human was pitifully weak and emotionally unstable. How in the world they had managed to survive into the future was incredible.

"I'm going now. I'll be back later in the afternoon, OK Sesshomaru?" she said after a while. He acknowledged her, but still he remained quiet. Kagome opened the door and was met with a blast of cold air; the snowstorm had started up again. Battling her way through the now foot deep snow, she made her way towards the stairs of the shrine. By the time she had made it halfway there, she was sweating excessively and drawing in quick, deep breaths.

Suddenly, her foot snagged on something and she pitched forward, propelled by her backpack. There was no time to shout, she only covered her face and closed her eyes; but she never hit the snow. Kagome opened her eyes and saw the snow three inches away from her nose. With a jerk, she was righted again, standing on her feet; the heavy backpack no longer on her shoulders. She turned in surprise and saw Sesshomaru looming above her, her backpack over his shoulder, the other holding on tightly to her hood.

"You humans are ridiculous," he said, wrapping his hand around her wrist. "You're clumsy and headstrong."

"I just wanted to go to school!" Kagome replied furiously.

"Do you think anyone else would leave their homes in a storm like this?" he said impassively. Kagome realized he was right; no-one would even bother in this weather. Nodding in agreement, she followed him back to the house, lagging behind because of the snow drifts. He stopped suddenly and turned around to face her. Picking her up, he held her in one arm as he trotted through the snow. Kagome watched his mask of a face.

She was stunned by the raw beauty of his being. His silky silver hair whipped around his face by the violent winds, made him look fiercer. The stark contrast of his tattoos and amber eyes were unsettling in the storm. And all the while, he wore only his kimono, yet his body was warm to her touch. She could feel the heat coming off of him, even through the layers of her clothes.

They reached the house quickly and he let her fall into a snow drift as he opened the door. Going inside, he let the wet bag fall onto the floor and held the door open for Kagome. Fuming, she sat where she was, eyes narrowed and arms crossed. He raised one eye brow at her and sighing, she got up and brushed the snow off. Walking inside, she closed the door behind her, stamping her cold feet for warmth. Removing all the extra clothing, Kagome turned to his figure, now casually leaning against a wall.

"Why did you pick me up?" she asked, removing her boots and coat.

"You were clearly struggling. You humans have no stamina," he said simply, as if that explained it all.

"Then why did you stop me from falling?"

"Would have preferred it if I had not?" he countered. True, she was grateful, but at the same time, she wanted to know more.

"If you hate me some much, then why help me at all?" At this, he remained quiet, almost passive. Kagome finished stripping herself of all unnecessary clothing and looked him over. His kimono was soaking wet, his boots were likely full of snow and his hair was frozen in some places.

"Aren't you cold?" she asked, trying a different approach. He shook his head. "Well, either way, those wet clothes can't be comfortable. Give them to me and you go warm yourself in a bath."

Unlike InuYasha, he did not protest at her suggestions. Kicking off his boots, he made removed his kimono completely, handing it to her. Luckily, he still had an undershirt on, which he quickly removed and gave to Kagome. At this, her mouth nearly fell off completely.

She had seen him without the kimono before, but never had she seen his bare chest. It was perfectly white, except for several tattoos, similar to those on his cheekbones, which ran along the sides of his torso and hips. Lithe, yet still muscular, his body seemed to project otherworldly strength, which was not untrue. The ethereal vision of his naked torso was interrupted only by the movements of his hands. He reached for the sash around his waist and begun untying it.

"Wait, stop! I didn't mean strip in front of me!" Kagome shrieked. "Don't you have any decency?!"

"You told me to give you my clothes," he said, his hands still on his belt. "Or do you wish to undress me yourself?"

"Just—get upstairs and undress in the bathroom!"

He shrugged; all the while his face had never betrayed any emotion. Calmly walking up the stairs, he left Kagome standing in the kitchen with wet clothes soaking through her sweater. Or would you prefer to undress me yourself? What an idea…

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Hmm… Now that's an idea XD Yes, I know I'm a little bastard for leaving you guys hanging on a thread like that, not to mention now you probably have a stitch in your side too. Like I said, I love comedy so it's there regardless of what you guys think.

Rate it, fav it and comment on it, please! I love to hear what you guys have to say about it. And thanks to all those who are still keeping up with this myriad story of mine XD

-Jack Knights

PS: I know I said I was going to upload every Thursday, but I ran into some problems while away from my computer, so I couldn't upload until today. Sorry, but I hope it's worth it!