Chapter Three
Warmth
Sango hopped into Kagome's truck looking sleepy. "Hey, thanks again for the ride to school while my car is in the shop."
"Yeah its no big deal, really." Kagome smiled as she shifted her car into drive.
As they pulled out of the driveway, Sango yawned loudly and stretched. "What's this?" She picked up something off the floor.
Kagome looked over at the red article and blushed. "Oh, its err, Inuyasha's shirt..."
Sango shook her head. "Why do you have his shirt? Oh my... maybe I don't want to know."
"No, no, no! It's nothing like that!"
Her best friend quirked an eyebrow. "Well, do you mind explaining?"
Kagome sighed and retold Sango about Friday.
"Is he alright?"
"I think so. I called Miroku on Saturday to make sure and he said he was fine."
Sango seemed to notice something for the first time since getting in the car. "Where's your glasses, Kagome?"
"Oh, I lost them. I took them off in the quad when Inuyasha got hurt. When we went back to get them, they weren't there."
"Are you sure you'll be okay without them? I know you need them at school."
Kagome nodded. "It's alright, I'll be fine. Really." She added the latter when her best friend didn't look very convinced.
I don't think Inuyasha will let anything bad happen to me anyways. She smiled to herself.
All day people had been giving Kagome strange looks as she walked around. Did she really look that much different without her glasses? All she knew was she really wished she never had taken them off in the first place.
Finally, lunch period began and she hurried past all the curious glances to her friends. Outside was bright, and momentarily she was blinded by the sharp contrast of the dark hallway. She accidentally knocked right into someone.
"I'm sorry." She said squinting to see the face of her victim.
"Keh, clumsy girl. Maybe you do need those glasses."
She opened her mouth to retort but before she could utter an insult someone touched her shoulder; Inuyasha growled.
"Kagome, I just-"
"Back the fuck off." Inuyasha pushed Kagome around him.
The handsome boy with bright green eyes looked a little confused, as he lifted his hands in mock surrender. "Listen, dog-boy. I just came over here to give Kagome her glasses. And to say I heard about Friday and I'm sorry. Anyways, Naraku picked these up and I stole them from him this morning, I figured Kagome would like them back."
"Thank you, Kouga." Kagome said peaking over Inuyasha's shoulder.
Kouga extended the glasses to Inuyasha, who took them roughly. For a minute the tension between them was thick and Kagome feared Inuyasha would try to start a fight. However, feeling the hostility, Kouga backed away.
"Keh, whatever. Just don't go sniffing around her anymore."
Kouga smirked, an arrogant smiled far too similar to Inuyasha's trademark one. The demon looked like he was about to say something else but instead just waved to Kagome and strolled away.
I don't like him. Inuyasha decided, leading Kagome to the safety of their lunch table.
Kagome chewed her bottom lip. "I don't know, Sango."
Her best friend sighed and plopped down on the bed beside Kagome. "It's at Miroku's house, Kagome. Plus, it won't be all that bad. It's just a small get together he is throwing. Come on, you need to get out more often!"
Kagome sighed, trying to make a decision. "Well, if I did go to this party... what would I even wear?"
Sango smiled brightly, leaning up on her elbows. "I'm sure I can help you find something." She jumped up and ran over to Kagome's closest.
"I haven't decided if I'm going or not, yet!"
Sango nodded. "Yeah, sure." And continued pillaging her best friend's closest.
Nervously, Kagome watched as Sango pulled out articles of clothing, examined them and then either threw them on the bed or in the trash can.
"We need to go shopping later this weekend. I can't believe you still wear these!" Sango held up a pair of chunky dress shoes, long enough for Kagome to see and then tossed them in the 'no' pile, a.k.a the trash bin.
Half an hour later, Kagome was looking at herself in the bathroom mirror, trying to figure out the best way to play sick. Even though, the white polo t-shirt and mini skirt weren't completely uncomfortable, now Sango was insisting on hair and makeup.
"Just put a little mascara on." She extended a long black tube to Kagome.
"I haven't worn makeup in years..." Kagome said quietly.
Sango frowned knowing what Kagome had really meant: she hadn't worn makeup since the incident. Sango desperately loved Kagome as a sister but sometimes she was so frustrating. When would she come around and not be so scared to be the old Kagome again?
"Forget it, you don't need any, anyways. But can I at least do something with your hair?"
Kagome fingered her braid, "Okay."
Sango smiled and gently undid the braid, feeling envious of how soft and silky her hair was. "Your hair is beautiful, I think you should just keep it down."
"If I wear mine down, will you wear yours down, too?"
Sango shrugged. "I guess it's only fair." She pulled out her hair tie, and tossed her long, straight, brown hair around. "How do I look?"
"Great. So does this mean we are ready to leave?" Kagome added with a slightly hesitant voice.
Miroku was so busy greeting all the lovely ladies that he had completely lost sight of Inuyasha. He walked from one crowded, music blaring room to the next, searching for that grumpy hanyou. Miroku was just contemplating on giving up when he saw Sango and Kagome arrive.
"Sango, my peach! You look fantastic tonight! I like your hair down." Miroku said silky.
Sango rolled her eyes. "A little thick, Houshi."
He sighed dramatically, then winked at his cousin. "My stars, you too! Kagome this is a good look for you! And I also want to add I am happy you accepted my invitation."
Kagome smiled. "Sango really wanted me too..."
"Well, I hope you find my party worth the trouble. Now, if you do excuse me, I think that girl needs my assistance!" He headed over in the direction of a pretty blonde girl.
Kagome saw Sango's poorly hidden disappointed look as he left. She slipped her hand into Sango's and gave it a light squeeze.
"I'm thirsty, let's find the drinks." She needed the distraction just as much as Sango; this was much more than a 'small gathering.'
"Oh right, the kitchen's this way."
In the kitchen, Kagome was shocked to find not only drinks, but dozens of couples passionately kissing on every kitchen appliance. She blushed, feeling rather uncomfortable.
"Oh, I think I'll have some punch." Kagome said reaching for a red plastic cup.
Sango grabbed her hand. "Uh, I think you should stick to a water bottle."
The strangeness of Sango's request didn't bother Kagome as she instead happily sipped her water; Sango grabbed a bottle of water also.
As they exited the steamy kitchen in another crowded room, Miroku reappeared sporting a red mark across his cheek; he smiled at Sango.
"You know, Sango, I believe this is our song. Come dance with me!"
Sango raised her eyebrows. "Houshi, we don't have a song."
He chuckled. "Well, now we do!" He grabbed her hand and dragged her off into the next room.
Kagome pushed past a large group of people, trying her best to follow her only friends into the family room. Finally, she made it and immediately wanted to leave. The room Miroku took Sango into was by far the loudest and the hottest. In all corners of the room, couples were dancing seductively on each other.
Then Kagome spotted Sango and Miroku. She blinked, trying to decide if this was real. Sango was actually letting Miroku touch her. His hands were everywhere, running down her sides, going along her stomach, and even daring to travel down to her thighs. The whole thing looked much to private to be doing in public.
She turned on the heel of her sandals and left the sticky, hot room to find the refuge of the backyard. No one stopped her as she took off across the dark, cool grass and in the direction of an old hammock.
Kagome smiled at the memory of the time her and Miroku were playing on the hammock and accidentally flipped it over. For weeks after that, they both sported big red scratches on their foreheads.
She kicked off her shoes and eased onto the hammock; the shocker was someone was already on it. She shrieked and tumbled backwards to the ground, in her fall her leg kicked up from under her effectively kicking the unsuspecting person.
"Ouch! What the hell was that for?"
Kagome scrambled to her feet. "Inuyasha? Oh I'm so sorry! You scared me."
"Keh. How did I scare you? I didn't do nothin'!"
"Sorry." She muttered again.
There was a silence, a sort of awkwardness. Both unsure what to say or do next. Kagome wanted to leave but she certainly didn't want to go back inside the crowded and noisy house.
"How come you're not inside?" She finally spoke.
"Too fucking noisy." Came his simple reply.
"Can I sit?" She asked bravely, stealing her fleeting courage.
Silently, Inuyasha moved over and in the dim lighting Kagome found the spot next to him. At the same time they leaned back and lazily watched the stars.
"How come you're not inside, woman?"
Kagome felt the heat rise in her cheeks at the reminder of Sango and Miroku. "Oh, uh, it was too hot."
Inuyasha started to slowly rock the hammock back and forth. This gentle ride, in combination of the warmth emitting from Inuyasha's body gave Kagome a content, peaceful feeling.
She stifled a yawn and looked to the side at the all-too-serious hanyou beside her. Maybe it was the lighting but Inuyasha seemed to have a mystic glow about him. His silver hair looked almost like pools of liquid and his amber eyes softly sparkled. She almost chuckled at herself. Guys don't sparkle.
Kagome was almost unaware she was smiling at him, until he too faced her with a raised eyebrow.
"Whatcha look'n at?" He asked suspiciously.
She opened and closed her mouth a few times, stunned momentarily that she was caught staring. "Nothing." She quickly looked back at the black sky, praying on every star up there that he would look away.
After several moments of quiet, she stole another glance at him. She smiled, his eyes were closed; he was sleeping. A sudden sleepy sensation spread over her too and she slightly, ever so slightly scooted closer to him so that there were just touching; she wanted to steal his body warmth. No sooner had she closed her eyes when she was far away in dreamland.
A persistent vibrating noise next to Kagome's ear jarred her out of her peaceful rest and blindly searched for it with one hand. She grabbed the small pink phone and flipped it open, putting it to her ear.
"Hello?" She said groggily, snuggling deeper into her warm bed.
"Are you still sleeping, Kagome? It's already noon!" Came the sound of Sango's voice.
"Mhm."
"That must be a record for you. I guess all your fun with Inuyasha last night wore you out..."
Kagome immediately sat up on her bed. "Sango! It was nothing like that!" She felt completely mortified as she remembered Sango and Miroku finding her last night curled up with Inuyasha.
"Uh huh. Well that's not important, I'm just calling to see if we could come over for a movie night?"
"We?" Kagome blinked.
"Me, Miroku and Inuyasha."
"Yeah, I guess."
"Super! So we'll come over at five-ish?"
"Sure, wait Sango, I've never had a movie night. What do I need to get?"
"No worries, I'll come over in an hour, we'll go get the stuff together."
"Okay, thanks."
"Sure thing, now get out of bed you lazy bum!" Sango practically yelled into the phone before hanging up.
Kagome threw her phone on the floor and fell back into bed. The previous night came flooding back. Everything was so unreal.
When Kagome had awoken in the hammock she was surprised to say the least. Her head was on Inuyasha's shoulder and his arm was wrapped possessively around her waist. It almost troubled her that the situation didn't make her nervous or even scared. Since when did she not mind being this close to the opposite sex? She sat up a little, putting one hand on Inuyasha's chest, and looked down at his clam, peaceful features.
She was almost instantly hit with the overwhelming desire to stay like this. So completely content to watch him sleep, feeling so safe there with his arm around her. The moment wasn't even lost when Inuyasha slowly opened his eyes to see the curious look on her face hovering just barely above his.
"Kaogme..." He whispered her name with such tenderness she actually smiled.
She couldn't help it when she reached out a hand and lightly began to pet one of his dog ears. Inuyasha smirked and slid his other arm around her.
And that was how Miroku and Sango found them.
Kagome let out a loud groan at the thought of how bad that must have looked. Sighing she stood up to shower and get ready.
The girls came home just fifteen minutes before five; arms loaded down with pizza boxes and grocery bags. Dumping it all on the kitchen table, Sango smiled triumphantly.
"I believe we are ready now for our movie night."
Kagome giggled sweetly. "Well we should be, we bought the whole movie store."
Sango laughed as she unloaded the bags. No sooner had they finished when the doorbell rang. The girls went into the hall to let them in. At the door Sango turned around, hand on the doorknob.
"Ready?"
Kagome looked like she was going to say something but instead quickly took off her glasses. Putting her glasses down on a small table by the door, she ran her hand down her braid, making sure it was neat.
"Okay, let them in."
Sango smiled knowingly and opened the door. Miroku came in arms opened to Sango. He gave her a hug, harmless enough right? Wrong, his hand wandered down a little too far and received Sango's wrath.
He nursed his red cheek and pouted. "At least my baby cousin would never hurt me."
Kagome smiled shyly and gave his abuse flesh on a soft kiss.
"Thanks, Kagome. And did I mention that you look very nice today? You should use that look more often."
She blushed. "Thank you, 'Roku."
"Speaking of lovely women, where's mom?"
"She's working."
"She does a lot of that, seems like lately."
"Yeah, its pretty lonely here."
"Keh. Can you guys move, or am I supposed to stand out here all night?"
"Oops, sorry about that!" Sango called pushing Kagome and Miroku into the kitchen. "Come on in, we have pizza!"
As Inuyasha stepped into the hall after shutting and locking the door he heard the distinct sound of skin on skin. He winced at the loud slap.
"It's gonna be one hell of a night." He grumbled.
Hey Everyone!
Another one down! What did you think? Sorry the update took so long! I am the type of person to become distracted very easily. Don't forget to leave me some feedback! Please and thank you. And by the way, chapter four is called 'Holiday' and the group have a little winter fun. Til next time!
hugsLovingMyKitsune
Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha, or any of its amazing characters.