Hello it is I, the author, with another chapter for your reading pleasure. Imagine this new chapter wrapped in a lovely bow with your name on it and the words "Just For You" in lovely gold lettering. Can you see it? No? Try closing your eyes. How about now? Still nothing? Well it's there I promise it's there. I would just like to thank those of you who have taken the time to read my story and a special thanks goes out to those of you who sent me reviews.
THANK YOU:

MythraPenDragon: so glad you like it so far!
waining-moon: i promise i have much much more story coming!
Thundara: here you go, Thundara, hot off the presses!
Leunra: you are correct, it is a sess/kag. i'm glad you find it original though, it was what i was working towards!
JBella: of course Kagome won't go easy on him, what woman ever does? hee hee
dragon huntress: i am a firm beliver in the combination of humor and romance.you find it all the time in real life. :)
Addanc-TSC: happy i am to know that you approve of what i've written so far. i shall work to continue to make good chapters
iridescent-dreams-13: don't be angry, you were among the first! it just takes awile for it to show up on the system

Again, thank you to those of you who sent reviews. They were very insightful and encouraging! I hope to keep you all interested in the story and keep the standards up.
Isa

Disclaimer: Have I told you about my new socks? (big breath) Well they are new and white and have grey toes and the heels are grey too and they have a cute little pink line separating the grey toe part from the white and on the bottom it says in pink letters "Haynes" and they are new and I love them and...and...(insert simple fact the author owns nothing of any importance or interest and therefore couldn't possibly own Inuyasha) and they wash really well and...

The Shape of Love
By Isanarya
Chapter Four

Last Time:

Kagura nodded as she dug in for another spoonful. "And he's an asshole for that. But he also did something I've never known Sesshoumaru to do."

"And what's that Kagura?" Sango asked as she too ate another spoonful of the rich ice cream.

"He apologized. In all the years I've known him, which by the way happens to be a lot, I've never heard of him apologizing for anything. At least of his own free will. He used to have to do it all the time when we were younger for making Inuyasha cry but that was a long time ago. And today he did it in such a way that leaves you with no choice but to forgive him, Kagome. Only a man who is up to something would pull a trick like that. And a very good trick too, I might add, getting Rin to leave a note like that. Mark my words, you've gotten his attention Kagome and I don't know whether to congratulate you or tell you to run. Either way I can't wait to see what happens next."

A fist planted itself into the smooth surface of a mahogany desk and was swiftly raised to be inspected by angry golden eyes. Sesshoumaru assessed the damage to his hand as he watched little droplets of blood form from small gashes on his knuckles. Muttering to himself, Sesshoumaru walked over to one of the large windows in his father's study and looked at the landscape around him. Instantly his eyes were drawn in the direction of the old gardener's place and he cursed yet again before turning to sit in an overstuffed leather chair.

What in the world was with him today? He, Sesshoumaru Drake, cold calculating business man that he was, had never acted as impulsively as he had this afternoon. The question was why? Now that he thought about it, he'd never made a woman so angry with him before or made one cry; at least none that he knew of. Damn it all! He could still see the accusing stares of the others as he watched Kagome storm away. He just thanked whatever holy powers were out there that none of them had walked in to witness his previous actions with her in the kitchen.

What had inspired him to touch her like that he didn't know. But something about Kagome in that instant drew him like a moth to the flame. With her arms up to her elbows in soapy water and bits of clay clinging to her face and clothes, she somehow looked for more desirable to him than she should have. But that wasn't enough to make him want to touch her. No, it wasn't until that hair of hers came to caress her cheek that he felt he wanted to do the same. It was a shock to discover just how silky that little bit of hair had felt under his fingers while her skin…Damn it he had to stop this! He had to stop thinking like this. Yet how could he when his fingers still tingled from where they had touched her.

Sesshoumaru stared at his hand as if it did not belong to him. What he had done was wrong. This was Kagome, sweet, innocent, YOUNG, Kagome. He had taken advantage of the situation with her hands being too occupied stop him and had stepped over and beyond his bounds. It was no wonder she had been so shocked. He had been shocked too, yet rather than let her know it; he had continued on and made it worse! Sesshoumaru groaned and buried his face in his hands.

Try as he might though, he couldn't get the image of Kagome out of his mind. The way her cheeks turned that becoming shade of pink as she blushed. Shoving himself out of the chair, he walked back over to the window. He felt ashamed of him self all over again as he thought of the others reactions to his confession of how he had hurt her. The anger in Kagura's and Sango's eyes was expected; as it was in Inuyasha's. But the hurt and disappointment in Sakura's eyes, the woman whose lap he had cried in when his mother had died, was too much for him. His father and step-mother had merely shaken their heads at him.

How was he supposed to know she took her art seriously? He should have known, and that was the crux of it all. It seemed everyone else knew just how important Kagome's art was to her but him. Hell, he hadn't even seen any of her art that he knew of. Now he had two things that he had to apologize for. Between touching her without permission and degrading her lifestyle, Sesshoumaru was on the fast track down the wrong path towards getting to know and understand Kagome.

Yet he couldn't help but smile to himself as he thought of how he managed to take care of the situation. It was dirty and it was low, but he had no doubt of its success. Getting Rin to write that little note for him and leaving it on her doorstep was a stroke of genius on his part. There was a reason he was so successful in the business world. Playing the trump card this early in the game wasn't usually his style but if it meant he would win, so be it.

Though, honestly, Sesshoumaru didn't know why he put so much thought into what Kagome thought of him. Why didn't he want her to be mad at him? Surely it couldn't be more the fact that she was practically family and he truly felt bad for what he had done and said? No, it couldn't be. He had every reason to apologize to her for his behavior but that was it. Wasn't it? And why was he so interested in getting to know Kagome? They'd known each other for years, had practically grown up together, he should know her better than anyone else outside the family. And yet, he didn't. Kagome was a mystery that everyone else seemed to have solved or merely accepted. In truth, his pathetic half-brother probably knew Kagome better than him. Why did he feel had get to know what was underneath that polite smile of hers?

She was an enigma. Plain and simple as that, and Sesshoumaru loved nothing more than getting to the bottom of things. He would find out what made her so tense around him, so guarded. Maybe even re-establish the friendship they had had while growing up. But that was all. It was nothing more than simple curiosity on his part.

"Still hiding out in the study, big brother?"

Sighing, Sesshoumaru turned around to face Inuyasha. He was casually leaning against the door to the study with his arms folded over his chest and his hazel eyes gleaming with mischief as he stared at his older brother.

"Never would have pegged you to be the kind of guy to hide from anything."

"What are you doing here, Inuyasha?"

"Looking for you of course. It was no surprise though to find you up here alone and thinking hard about something." Here Inuyasha's mouth twitched in an effort to contain a smile. "Or should I say someone?"

"You annoy me, little brother. Go pester someone else with your idiocy."

"Struck a nerve have I? You know, Sesshoumaru, you haven't been acting like the cold, distant asshole you usually are all day. Well not all day, I should say not since this afternoon." This time Inuyasha didn't bother holding back the smile. "Care to explain the sudden change in attitude?"

"I never explain anything to anyone, Inuyasha. Especially you."

"Now you're starting to sound like the Sesshoumaru we all know and love. Tell me this, why the sudden interest in Kagome? You haven't paid attention to her in years, why start today? And don't try to deny it you bastard. I saw how you stared at her the entire meal and how you followed her to the kitchen under the pretence of helping wash dishes. Face it, brother; you know you have some explaining to do there."

"Let us suffice it to say I'm interested in her."

"Holy shit! You want to date Kagome?"

Sesshoumaru glared at Inuyasha before he continued on. "I'm not interested in her romantically. I just want to know why she hides the way she does. I usually figure people out real easily yet I can't figure out Kagome. That is all."

"Sure it is. If you say so. But I warn you, if you hurt Kagome in anyway, I will kill you, Sesshoumaru. Half-brother or not, Kagome is special and I don't want to see her hurt by anyone."

Sesshoumaru raised an eyebrow at this, "Are you interested in her romantically?"

Inuyasha shook his head as he stood up from the door and turned to open it. "No. My interests lay else where. By the way, thumbs up on getting Rin to write the apology note for you. Kagome's guaranteed to forgive your stupidity with that trick. Mind if I borrow Rin sometime? She could come in quite handy."

"Absolutely not. Find your own means subduing the opposite sex. Rin will not be used for such devious purposes."

"Yeah sure, it's fine when you do it, but heaven forbid anyone else use your trump card." With one last amused look at Sesshoumaru, Inuyasha walked out and shut the door behind him.

Sighing, Sesshoumaru rubbed his temples as he sat down once more on the overstuffed leather chair. It had been a long day and he had a feeling it would be an even longer night. After dinner he planned to take a very hot shower before going straight to bed. He had a feeling he would need all his energy and strength to tackle what promised to be an even longer tomorrow.

A/N: Whew! Another chapter completed though it was slightly shorter than previous chapters. But beware yon readers, for the up coming chapters will be filled with many things! Filled with humor! Filled with romance! Filled with awkward moments! And steam coming from someone's ears! AAAAAAAHHHHHHH! But don't worry, if you don't survive you get a full refund of your money! Great news huh? By the way, don't forget to review. Love ya!