Disclaimer: I do not own InuYasha.

This is based off Return Engagement by Kay Hooper. Enjoy!
Meeting His Parents

They had been in the car for an hour and a half. They'd taken three different planes just to get into Texas since they'd left Las Vegas. InuYasha had insisted, saying that it was the only way to completely escape the paparazzi and keep his parents private residence a secret. She'd reluctantly agreed with his logic and allowed him to escort her on both planes. Anyone that might have recognized them didn't say anything, despite their public feud and a few photographers at the first airport had gotten pictures of them holding hands.

Holding hands. Like two teenagers rather than fully grown adults. She was so entranced by her thoughts of how she felt about him that she didn't even mind that they'd gotten pictures of her left hand that now housed a diamond the size of InuYasha's home state.

He had told her that his great grandfather had given it to his "mate"-what demons had called their wives way back when-to symbolize his ownership-another little insight into demon pairings. It definitely looked millennia old, but somehow still modern. He explained that when his father had given it to his mother, he'd asked that the gold and diamond be the same as they had been, but with several much smaller diamonds on either side of the foremost, giving the ring an ancient-modern twist.

Completely lost in her thoughts, the young actress didn't notice that they were now on a long, gravel driveway. She continued staring at her hand, moving it in either impatience or discomfort, until InuYasha's voice invaded her very person.

"If you'd take your eyes off that stupid ring, you'd see that we're here." His voice was gruff, no doubt from her forced distance. But she had to keep that distance between them or else he would know what she was trying to hide from him in a split second. Love was a scary thing, one she would like to keep to herself.

Opening her door, she finally looked up and Kagome could do nothing but stare in disbelief at the rolling ranch that she was now stepping onto. It was huge! Her own land seemed miniscule in comparison. But she supposed that it needed to be, considering how large the Victorian house standing only two hundred yards away from her was. There were two floors that she could see, though she guessed that there was a basement since they were in Tornado Alley. The windows were all large, giving the house a warm, friendly grow that overpowered any bad feelings. There were pillars where the stairs met the wrap-around deck that seemed to surround it. It was bright white, as if freshly painted, with a tree on both sides of the structure, just close enough for them to brush the roof. Several windows were opened on the main floor, but she guessed that was where the kitchen stood. The door was a warm, inviting yellow and she was beginning to suspect that it was InuYasha's mother's favorite color.

The beautiful home surprised her, but what surprised her even more was the beautiful couple standing just before her.

The woman was maybe Kagome's height, if not a little shorter, in a floral print pink V-neck sundress with T-shirt sleeves. She wore no shoes and seemed perfectly content with it. Long black hair reached nearly to the ground and warm brown eyes smiled at the newcomer. She was pale with only the slightest hint of color, but looked better than any movie star nonetheless. She was slender, but toned, hinting that she would also work doing small chores around the ranch rather than just in the house. Her movements were all graceful and she looked as if she were royalty from long ago. It was almost intimidating to know that this was woman who had given birth to InuYasha.

The man, in contrast to his wife's completely welcoming aura, seemed to be prepared for anything. His alert amber eyes, the same as InuYasha's, were trained on her and a smile was in place on his face, but she felt as if he were watching everything around them, just waiting for danger to show itself. His long, silver-white hair was in a high pony-tail, reaching halfway down his back. Yet the long hair didn't add any illusion of femininity to him, just as it didn't his youngest son. He was tanner than his wife, but not by much and it was accentuated by the purple markings on his face, a crescent moon on his forehead and two strips on either cheek. They looked as if they were scars, but she knew his oldest son, Sesshomaru, also had them. To add to his powerful aura, this man had strong, broad shoulders with a lean waist and couldn't have seemed more like a solider in full garb than he did in a black T-shirt and dark, loose jeans.

"You must be Kagome! We're so glad we could finally meet you!" InuYasha's mother cried, racing from under her husband's protective arm to embrace Kagome, making the younger woman feel horrible for someday destroying the utter happiness on the mother's face.

"Mom, give her some room. She isn't used to strangers hugging her," InuYasha muttered, seemingly already defeated, despite his words.

"Oh, nonsense!" the woman replied as InuYasha's father made his way over. She waved off her son and husband with a caring smile, though she didn't look away from her "future daughter-in-law". "You boys can bring in her bags; I want to talk with her before you get the chance to steal her away! I'm Izayoi Taisho, InuYasha's mother. And this"-she gestured to the imposing man now carrying her luggage-"is my husband and InuYasha's father Inu Taisho." When Kagome cracked a small smile, Izayoi returned it, leaning in to stage whisper, "Yes, he knows how ridiculous his name is, but he was born in Japan a very long time ago, so it was almost normal then. To demon families, I suppose," she added, rolling her eyes. She started leading Kagome inside and talking very fast about her husband's past and demon aging.

Surprised, the actress asked, "Demons can really live that long? But doesn't that mean he'll outlive you? And he has to be so much older than you!" Something about Izayoi made Kagome feel very welcome, very at peace, so she didn't feel too awkward asking questions.

The demon's wife blinked her eyes at the younger woman. "Outlive me? Hasn't InuYasha told you anything about demon 'marriages'? Most of them-since demons are able to live so much longer-use a special ritual that ties lifespans together. I age as slowly as Inu, and if he dies, I do. And as for the age difference, I was born in Feudal Japan, so he's not so much older than me."

Kagome's eyes widened. "So the Taisho family's 'old money' is actually-"

"Yes, it's money Inu and I have made for ourselves. Of course, the demon ritual isn't exactly well-known since there are so few demon-human marriages, so I can understand where you would have gotten confused." Izayoi smiled maternally, stopping to give Kagome a one armed hug as Inu and InuYasha strode past carrying all four of her bags quite easily, though they had been almost impossible for her to carry out of her house. "Now, InuYasha told us that your friend is coming as well? Good thing, too; I'm positively sick of only male companions. Don't get me wrong, they're good for some things, but they absolutely refuse to go shopping with me." The older woman rolled her eyes as if this were the most annoying thing on the planet.

Smiling, Kagome followed her the rest of the way into the house without saying much. She simply listened as Izayoi explained the house and its importance in history, though she didn't brag. Instead, Kagome learned that Inu had been unconcerned with human wars, his loyalty to his land and his family. However, Izayoi had been strictly Union. So, to appease his mate, he'd allowed her to be a part of the Underground Railroad, scaring off any officer who might have tried to take Izayoi to jail. Of course, few of the travelers trusted a woman that would knowingly marry a demon, so it hadn't been very successful.

"C'mon, Kagome. I'll show you to our room."

InuYasha's voice was harsh, immediately breaking into her thoughts. She looked over at him as if she'd never seen him before, then shook her head to clear it. She was so entranced by the devoted look on Izayoi's face whenever she spoke of Inu, wondering if that's how she looked when she talked about InuYasha. Note to self: don't talk about InuYasha. Ever.

Ever since her realization that she was still head-over-heels for him, she'd gone to great measure to refrain from doing anything that might give him a hint as to what she was feeling. It had been difficult, but she had repeated her mantra of being an actress in her head countless times to stave off any weakness.

"All right." She followed him through the maze of hallways, trying to keep up with his quick strides. "Slow down, would you? Otherwise I'll get lost and then you'll have to explain to your mother what this little scheme is about ahead of schedule." She noted and hated the bitterness in her tone, furious that it hadn't come out as a sarcastic remark as it had been intended.

Suddenly, he spun to face her, a look of complete rage flashing on his face. Looking as if he was trying to contain himself, he growled, "Once we get into the bedroom, we'll talk about what exactly you did down there." Then he turned on his heel and continued stalking down the hall, ignoring her jogging steps to keep up with him.

What I did? What did I do? Confusion assailed her as they finally entered what InuYasha had dubbed Their Room. She was unable to voice her opinion as his fingers wrapped around her wrist and yanked her forcefully into the room. The door slammed behind her with a finality that sent shivers up her spine. He's really angry, she realized. I don't know how, but I made him really angry.

His face only a few inches from hers, he snarled, "What the hell do you think you're doing, Kagome? If you're such a good actress, why can't you keep something like this from my father, who you haven't even fucking spoken to!" His hands were on her shoulders, one set of fingers tangling in the hair there almost absently.

"Would you stop shouting at me? I have no idea what you're talking about!" Kagome shouted back, finally finding her thoughts. Then, in a lower voice, she asked, "Why do you say that? It isn't like your father can read my mind and it's not like I'm going to tell him." Hoping his fuming would end when he heard her rationality, she was surprised when he gave a harsh laugh.

"Are you dumb?" he growled, following suit in keeping his voice quiet. "We're dog demons. We can smell emotions, and you practically reek of guilt and pain. He's already asked me questions about it. I told him because you had to slow production. But there's only so long that will last." His voice seemed to drift off, as if he were thinking about it.

Rolling her eyes, she asked in a polite, clipped voice, "So you suggest I do what exactly? It's not like I can change how I feel. I can make it look like I actually care about you, but I can't make myself feel it." Liar. That voice in her head was definitely starting to get on her nerves.

InuYasha raised an eyebrow at her. "That's funny, because Father said you smelled very much in love with me and that I was a lucky man."

That statement stopped her in her tracks. Surely...he can't mean that. He's just trying to scare me. And it was working. Her heart beat faster as she stumbled through a hasty retort. "Well, maybe it's because I was thinking about Kouga. I have feelings for him, you know." Platonic feelings, a bond like mine and Sango's, nothing like the one I feel for you. Technically, she wasn't lying, so hopefully he couldn't smell it.

InuYasha's lip lifted in a snarl, fingers tightening in her hair. "Don't ever lie to me like that again. Otherwise, I'll kill your precious wolf, stuff him, and put him in my goddamned living room!"

Furious that he would dare to act in such a way, Kagome hissed, "Don't forget, InuYasha, that I'm not your property. Just because you were my first doesn't mean I have to follow your rules about my love life! If I want to fall in love with Kouga, marry Kouga, or even just fuck Kouga, there's nothing you can do to stop me!" Trying to twist out of his hold, she found herself pulled closer. "Let go of me, you bastard! I'm leaving!"

With a dark smirk, InuYasha glared down at her. "Oh, you think so, do you? Already missing your wolf boy?" His head lowered until their lips almost touched. "If you love him so much, why are you here with me?"

Then his lips were on hers, punishing her with their severity. Instead of the almost hesitant way he had grabbed her hand at the airport, his touch this time knew exactly where to go and what to do. One hand was tangled in her hair, holding her in place as he forced her lips open. The other, however, was busy on the small of her back, rocking her stomach against him, just the way he'd done years before whenever they'd finally gotten time alone.

"Inu...Yasha," Kagome murmured against his lips before her hands flew to his head, pulling him closer. She didn't know why she gave in so easily, why she allowed him this power over her. All she knew was that she needed to get closer to him, to force all the love and passion she felt for him into his body so he would feel the same about her. If he could just walk away from this without batting an eye, she knew that she would break ever more thoroughly than she had before. Only this time, she didn't know if she could make it through the pain.

Tears filled her eyes, but she didn't let them fall. She wouldn't ruin this moment they had by giving into the hurt. Even though she knew he was only jealous of something that he didn't know was his, that all he cared about was showing her that he was the best, she wanted to pretend he actually did love her, that after this was all over, they could be together.

"Sorry to interrupt, but I wish to speak with your fiancee, InuYasha."

The authority of Inu's voice shocked the pair out of the moment, Kagome shoving away from InuYasha in self-disgust. I can't believe I gave in to him that easily! I'm such an idiot. Then she realized what the demon lord had said and froze. He wanted to speak with her? Did he already know what had happened? No doubt he would kick her out of his home, maybe even ruin her life. With the kind of money he had, there wasn't any doubt in her mind that he could do so.

"Father—"

"I said, my son, that I would like to speak with Kagome."

While said girl watched in shock, InuYasha left without a word, obviously very respectful of his father. Either that, or very scared of him.

Once InuYasha was out of earshot, Inu turned to Kagome, watching her with knowing amber eyes. "You love my son," he stated plainly, his gaze never wavering. "Yet you hide your feelings for him behind deceit. If you are to be his wife, why would you do so?"

Fingers twirling together uncomfortably, Kagome said, "I...I...Sir, I don't know what to tell you. Honestly, there's so much that InuYasha hasn't told me. I didn't even know about the lifespan thing and...I just have no idea what I've gotten myself in to." Her words were fast, insecure. She tried to stand up straighter, to bring confidence into her posture, but she was just so weary.

"I know that you are not telling myself or my mate everything. For now, I will give you your privacy, but I warn you that if you hurt my family, nothing will stop me from destroying your career. However, if InuYasha is the one to hurt you," he said, moving back towards the door, "I will make sure he suffers just as much as you have. You deserve my help just as much as he does, if not more so." His head lowered for a moment before he murmured, "After how I treated his mother, he has no idea how to treat a mate properly."

With that, he left Kagome in complete silence, his pain lingering in the air. She turned from the door, trying to shut out the guilt that Inu's brief talk with her had instilled. Clamping her eyes closed, she felt a few tears leak from them, running down her face. She couldn't keep this facade up. She couldn't hurt these people who had obviously been hurt in the past as well. Especially now that Inu had shared with her something so personal.

He blames himself for how InuYasha acts?

"Ah, I'm sorry for intruding. I thought that perhaps InuYasha was in. Could you possibly be his beautiful, young fiancee?"

Kagome's eyes flew to the doorway, her cheeks still wet. Staring at the man standing there, she backed away a little, asking quietly, "Who...who are you?"

He smiled kindly at her, staying just beyond the doorway. "How rude of me," he said, pausing to formally bow. "I am Miroku Kazzana. You must be Kagome Higurashi."

I'm so sorry for how long this took! I just got my Internet back, so I hope you all will stop hating me! Next Update: Fighting Among Friends

Preview

InuYasha, after his father sent him back to find Kagome, was furious. His rage couldn't be contained after what he had seen. His best friend had dared to touch Kagome? He would rip out Miroku's throat with his teeth.

Then he smelt Kagome's tears. The salt-water smell assailed him, making his anger turn to himself.

"Here is InuYasha, Kagome. Maybe you should cry on his shoulder rather than my own."

Gray eyes met amber from across the room, one pair filled with tears and the other with sadness. InuYasha wanted to run to her side, to cradle her against his chest and make all her pain go away. But he knew that he couldn't. She would never accept his help without asking first.

With that thought, he was angry once again.