Chapter 4

The Family Challenge

It didn't take long to get to the shrine, and luckily InuYasha decided to play some music so Kagome didn't feel the need to fill silence with words.

They walked up the steps and Kagome opened the door to her home. Something inside her was saying to invite him in, and she chose to listen.

"InuYasha, would you like to come in?"

His ears perked up and Kagome giggled as he reminded her of a hopeful dog wagging its tail in anticipation of the epic ball throw. Letting him in, she kicked her shoes off, grabbed his hand and led him into the living room where her grandpa was.

There he was watching some soap opera when they came in, and immediately he shut it off and pretended to be reading the newspaper.

"Oh, Kagome how was school?"

Hiding his face behind the newspaper, she knew he hadn't seen InuYasha yet.

"Grandpa, this is my…b-boyfriend, InuYasha and he will be staying for dinner."

"Boyfriend?!"

He slammed the newspaper down and stared at the couple.

"When did you get a boyfriend?!"

Shifting from one leg to the other, Kagome coward under his scrutiny.

"It was just today, Grandpa."

Standing up, the old man got in InuYasha's face.

"And what would a demon want with my granddaughter?"

InuYasha cocked an eyebrow at him.

"Look, old man, I'm not a demon. I'm a half-demon, and as for Kagome…I just want to be with her."

The staring contest between them lasted a good minute before Kagome decided to break it up.

"Hey, Gramps, do you already have dinner done?"

"No, Kagome I don't."

"Well then don't you think you should get it ready for when Mom and Sota come home?"

Her grandpa left the room grumbling to himself about stupid demons trying to date his granddaughter.

Kagome turned to look at InuYasha.

"I'm sorry about him. He just hasn't gotten with the times yet, and he still thinks all demons are evil or at least have evil intentions."

Curling his arms around her, he pulled her close.

"I've lived with prejudice all my life so, don't worry, I can handle it."

As they stared into each other's eyes, neither one noticed the boy that just walked in.

"You guys aren't going to start kissing, are you?"

Kagome spun out of his arms as Sota put his things down.

"Hey, Sota, this is my boyfriend, InuYasha."

Gesturing to the half demon, and then introduced Sota to InuYasha.

"What's up?"

"Nothing. What kind of demon are ya?"

"Half dog demon."

"What's the other half?"

"Human."

"That's cool."

"Thanks."

Sota walked off to his room and Kagome was in awe at the strange exchange. InuYasha smirked at her, "it's a guy thing."

They walked over and sat on the couch, InuYasha made sure to hold her close. She stiffened at first, but he lightly rubbed her arm and felt her begin to relax.

"There's no reason to fear me, Kagome."

She turned her face up to look at him.

"I'm not scared of you."

Searching her eyes, she seemed to be telling the truth.

"Then why do you freeze up on me."

"It's just our first day as a couple and this may already feel natural to you, but it's not real for me yet. I'm not use to being touched so intimately."

Of course, she wasn't. Good girls wouldn't be. He felt so stupid.

"I'm sorry, Kagome. I didn't mean to make you feel uncomfortable, in fact that is the last thing I wanted to do."

For the first time, Kagome looked at him and he could see her completely open and vulnerable. He trailed the back of his fingers gently down her cheek and saw her eyes close and her hand, shakily, rise to clasp his hand on her face. It was a perfect genuine moment between them.

When Kagome's mom came home, just in time for dinner, she found the two cuddled up on the couch watching some sitcom. Her mom smiled as she saw the sweet smile plastered on her little girl's face.

"I'm home!"

Kagome jumped up and InuYasha slowly got up, feeling a little sheepish since her mom most likely saw them being all cozy.

"Who's your friend, dear?"

She presented InuYasha with her hands, "Mom, this is InuYasha…my boyfriend."

Her mom smiled at him.

"It's very nice to meet you, InuYasha."

"You too, ah…"

"Mrs. Kiori, or Mrs. Higurashi whichever you prefer."

He half bowed in respect.

"Yes, Mrs. Higurashi."

It was that moment Grandpa called everyone in the dining room for dinner.

Everything was very awkward for both Kagome and InuYasha as silence ensued among the dinner table. Someone, in particular, was being completely out of character, Grandpa.

Kagome watched him eyeing InuYasha so obviously and something told her that he was up to no good. As InuYasha put a piece of meat in his mouth, Gramps stared in morbid anticipation.

"InuYasha wait!"

It was too late. He stuck the big cut of steak in his mouth and made a sour face and spoke with the food still in his mouth.

"So swalty."

Kagome stood up and put her hands on the table.

"Gramps! What did you do?!"

Everyone looked over at the old man.

"What?!"

Poor InuYasha finally had to spit the steak out.

"What's with all the salt, old man?"

Gramps was gob smacked!

"How are you not purified?!"

"Purified?!"

Everyone else yelled it at the same time.

Kagome grabbed InuYasha's face, felt his arms, and palmed his chest.

"Are you feeling alright?"

He smirked at her and put his hands on top of hers.

"I feel fine. No purifying here."

Gramps slammed his hands on the table.

"That's not possible! I used purifying salt to season the steaks!"

There was a collective intake of breath. Kiori stood up and glared at him.

"How could you, father? I'm so ashamed."

She continued as her father tried to think of a way to make things better.

"InuYasha is not only our guest, he is Kagome's boyfriend and he deserved some semblance of respect from all of us, including you. He may have demon blood, but he is not evil. I believe you owe him an apology."

"Kiori! I'm your father! Don't treat me like a child!"

"Then don't act like one! Now be a grown up and apologize to him!"

Grumbling to himself, he walked over to the couple, "I am sorry I tried to purify you. I will try not to be so judgmental in the future…and I won't try to purify you again."

Kagome walked over to him and hugged and kissed him on the cheek.

"Thanks, Gramps. It means a lot to me."

He patted her arm, "just call me an overprotective grandpa."

InuYasha stuck his hand out, "you're alright, old man. I couldn't stay upset with you for long; not when you only did what you did to protect Kagome."

And with that, Gramps shook InuYasha's hand and everything was going to be just fine between them.

When the dramatic dinner was finally over, InuYasha stayed for another couple of hours just getting to know her family. He looked at the clock, "Wow! It's nearly 11:00, I should probably head home before my brother starts to worry."

Kagome laced her arm through his, "I'll walk you out."

There was yelling behind them, "Goodnight! It was nice to meet you! (Kiori)"

"Later, man! (Sota)"

"Don't be a stranger! (surprisingly Gramps)"

He waved to them before Kagome escorted them outside. Stopping, she looked up at the stars and InuYasha admired her with the smallest hint of a smile playing on his lips.

"You did great in there."

She turned to look at him, "I was worried, but it feels like I got to know you as they did."

He cupped her cheek, "maybe one day you'll care for me, and then we'd never have to break up. Stipulations and conditions would no longer matter."

He watched her open eyes shut him out at the mention of their situation.

"Sadly, they do matter. I know you want to be with me, but I can't say I feel the same; this is a good start though. At the least we can still be friendly when we are alone."

He took her chin in his thumb and index finger, "you can sit there and imply that you're faking it in front of others, but I can see you enjoying it sometimes."

With that, he started walking down the steps, "oh! Pick out a day this week for us do go on a date. See you tomorrow."

He left and Kagome went upstairs feeling very confused.

'Do I, no, can I like him? He's been nothing but sweet to me, but blackmailing me to date him…that was a new low I didn't know existed. He feels so good to be near. His arms are so warm and comforting, like nothing could ever hurt me as long as I was surrounded by them. Is it so wrong for me to enjoy his warmth and attention? Could that potentially turn into more than that, regardless of our situation? Perhaps I was too harsh with him.'

She cleaned and got dressed for bed, curious for what the coming day would bring.

InuYasha laid on is bed, staring at the ceiling.

'I almost had her! I could tell she was warming up to me, and then I had to freaking blow it by mentioning the stupid blackmail!'

('I want her.')

InuYasha bolted up.

"Who was that?"

('Me, you idiot.')

'Why did that just sound like it was in my head?'

('Because it was, Baka.')

'Who are you?!'

('I'm the best part of you. The part you keep locked away like a dirty secret. I haven't had any fun since we beat the hell out of that bully.')

'You're…my demon half.'

('Ding, ding, ding! Tell him what he's won, folks.')

'Don't make fun of me, you jerk!'

('Why? What are you going to do? You can't get rid of me, InuYasha. I am a part of you 'til death, or 'til you can no longer cut it.')

'What's that supposed to mean?'

('I think you already know.')

InuYasha felt a cold chill run up his spine.

'I'm not as weak as you think, demon!'

('Ooooo! I'm shaking in my demonic boots.')

'Why did you start talking. now? Why not earlier?'

('Now, InuYasha, do you think I'm going to spoil the fun?')

'Tell me!'

('No way, half-breed.')

InuYasha jumped up and ran to his brother's room and shook him awake.

"Bloody hell, InuYasha! Do you have any idea what time it is?!"

('Running to your big brother, that's rich. He can't help you, no one can.')

InuYasha grabbed a pen and pad that Sesshomaru left on his desk, and wrote:

The demon is talking to me!

My demon!

I don't know why it started to now, but I'm scared of what he might do!

Sesshomaru read this and paled slightly. He wrote back:

We will need to see Myoga the flea.

He is the only one that can help, or at least give us some idea of why this is happening.

In the meantime, don't speak to it. You don't want to divulge anything to it on accident.

InuYasha nodded. His eyes were blood shot from lack of sleep, so his big brother walked into the bathroom and brought out a sleeping pill with a cup of water.

Taking the pill, InuYasha downed the water and prayed that he would at least get a quiet night sleep. He walked back into his bedroom and closed his eyes.

'You can't get rid of me that easily, half-breed.'