"Inuyasha! Look here!"
"INUYASHA!"
"OH MY GO-INUYASHA!"
He cursed, quickening his pace. He really wasn't in the mood for this right now.
"Inuyasha, is it true that you and Kagome had a secret wedding this week?"
He scoffed. As if.
"You were spotted with several women last night, are you cheating on your lovely girlfriend?"
Cursing, he flipped off the paparazzi. He really, really wasn't in the mood for any of this. He turned towards the flashing lights, giving a small wink, before launching himself into the air, and jumping from building to building.
He loved this feeling of floating -almost flying- in the air. Hell, it was a close runner up to sex. Of course, nothing beat one good orgasm.
Kagome, Kagome, Kagome. That's all he was ever asked about nowadays. It was disgusting. No matter how much he distanced himself from her, there was always an invisible string tied between them. Rumors about secret marriages or engagements always swirled around them.
Shit, she didn't even have to get fat for people to start gossiping about her being knocked up. If only they knew how far off they all were.
They would never marry, they would never have children, and they would never have the so called "picture-perfect" family with a white picket-fenced house and all that jazz. Never, it would never happen. It was impossible.
Six-thirty in the morning, on a Saturday. The sun was bright and chipper, the birds were chirping, and she was pissed.
One would think that after years of having to wake up early and sleeping late that she would have grown accustomed to it, but no, she would forever hate morning's.
Before the beaming sunlight streaming through her windows even hit her face, she was already cursing. "Fuckin' morning, fuckin' sunshine." It was a ritual for her to curse everytime she woke up in the morning. Any time before 12 o'clock in the afternoon was way too early to be awake, atleast to her. The shrill ringing of her home phone and all three of her cell phones didn't make things any better either.
Moaning, she reached over for the nearest phone, conveniently sitting on the drawer beside her bed. She already knew who was calling all four of her phones. "Yes Kikyo, I'm awake."
Her manager giggled from the other line. Kagome could never understand Kikyo's amusement with her morning grumpiness. "G'morning to you too, cranky."
She yawned, stretching a free arm over her head. "Yeah, yeah, laugh it up."
Again, her manager chortled. Distantly, Kagome wondered how it was possible for people to ever be so peppy in the morning. "You know what Kiks? You and every other morning person out there are freaks of nature." She rolled her eyes at the sound of more laughter.
"I'm swinging by in about an hour, make sure you're ready by then."
Then, Kikyo hung up, still tittering.
Sluggishly, Kagome rose, shivering as the slight breeze kissed her skin. She already knew that today was going to be a long day.
After many days of debating, both Kikyo and Myouga finally decided on one of the many deals offered . "And it's just my luck that it's the most intimate of them all." Sometimes, she thought that both managers were just trying to spite them for the fun of it. Today was the first day of shooting, and she already had a vague idea of what the people had in mind for them -her and Inuyasha- and the immense feeling of dread she felt couldn't even be put into words.
It was a magazine line that catered to all things related to romance. They had a massive amount of subscribers, the majority of them, either horny school girls or unsatisfied older women. She had never personally picked up any of the magazine's from the line, but she did remember an old highschool friend of hers gushing about the steamy short stories that filled a good chunk of the magazine.
Until the contract's expiration date, she would have to bear being too close for comfort with Inuyasha on every single magazine cover, and to top it all off, they would have to create mini episodes for the "steamy" short stories in the magazine as a treat for the magazine line's loyal subscribers. The subscribers would even get to vote on which mini series they liked best, and the winning one would be featured on television. Of course, the money hungry company decided to charge a few dollars extra for the magazine and the dvd of the episodes. While Kagome found the entire thing ridiculous, both Kikyo and Myouga adored the deal. Not only would their names and faces constantly be out in the public, but they would still be able to showcase their acting. Still, she couldn't understand why their names even needed to be thrown out into the public more since the public practically watched her and her "beau" under a microscope already.
Still grumbling, Kagome made her way to the bathroom to take a quick shower. She already wasted a good five minutes just sitting around and pitying herself for having to deal with Inuyasha again. It was even worst that she was waking up this early just to get half naked and stand next to him.
Yes, today was definitely, definitely going to be a long day.
"You look delicious dahling."
Inwardly, Kagome rolled her eyes at the man. Here she was on a random beach, at 8 in the morning, and cold in only a racy swimsuit. To make matters worse, it was white. White! Everyone knew that white swimsuits were dangerous, anything could go wrong in a white swimsuit. Plus, it wasn't the most flattering color for most people. She didn't even know how to categorize the swim suit, it was a mix between a bikini and a monokini, held together by thin beaded strings and leaving many parts of her skin exposed.
When the stylist of the shoot handed over a cover-up, she hastily pulled it over her body. It still didn't cover much, almost resembling a negligee with its sheer fabric, and she still felt naked.
"Okay, doll..." The photographer bent down to unzip the bag that held his prized camera. "I need you to go over in that ocean and get yourself a little wet."
Kagome's jaw almost dropped. He wanted her to jump in the ocean, in white, while she was already freezing?
Cursing under her breath, she followed his instructions, dipping her feet in the ocean a bit before fully stepping in. She shivered as the crisp air nipped at her skin and the icy water of the ocean surrounded her, with chattering teeth she simply stood in the same spot, hoping that her body would get use to the biting temperature of the ocean soon.
"Okay, hun, now just play in the water for a bit. Come out when you're good and wet."
Her hand twitched, desperately craving for a rock to throw at the man. Grudgingly, she meandered around the water, still trembling.
"Doll, play around, have fun!"
She had to stifle her oncoming retort to the photographer. Play? Have fun? How the hell was she suppose to do that when she was freezing her ass off just to pose next to him? He wasn't even here yet either! Clenching her hands into fists, she counted to ten in an attempt to relax, before proceeding to "play" and "have fun". Sarcastically, she feigned happiness as she whirled along with the waves and splashed around.
And that was exactly how Inuyasha found her when he finally arrived.
His amber eyes blinked in surprise at the sight of her in barely anything, the sheer cover-up clung to her body, alabaster skin peeked out from underneath with only scraps of thin fabric covering essential areas. She was frolicking around in the ocean with her skin flushed prettily. He swallowed thickly, a familiar tightening in his groin alarmed him, and he found himself succumbing to memories again.
Inuyasha reveled in the sweet sounds she made, feeling blessed for being the one to make her giggle so gleefully.
The flowing skirt of her white dress fluttered around her as she ran towards the ocean, and he smirked, chasing after her.
"Stop Inuyasha! I can't take anymore!"
His claws tickled her, and futilely, she tried to get away again as she gasped for breath.
His movements slowed to a stop, gazing down at her in his arms, admiring the brilliance of her eyes, and the wisps of ebony framing her face as they blended with the wind. Her dress hugged her form, now soaked from ocean water.
Her face tilted up as his head bent down, their lips meeting in a sweet kiss. Nothing passionate, nothing lascivious, just an innocent harmonizing of lips.
When they pulled away from eachother, he stroked her cheek, a tender smile in place. She was still molded against his body with her arms wrapped around his neck. "Inuyasha?" Her voice was timid and meek.
"Hm?" He answered, absently playing with a lock of raven.
"I... I don't ever want to leave. I wish summer would never end so I could stay here with you forever."
He found himself melting at her words, she was always expressive, but due to her inexperience, never this open with romantic feelings. Her words ignited something in him, but at the same time, the flames she kindled in him was terrifying. He never felt anything like it before.
"Me too." His answer was short, but the saccharine timbre of his voice, the honesty in his tone, and his smoldering eyes spoke more than any words that could ever be said.
Again, his head bent while hers tilted up, this time, they met in a torrid kiss. Silent declarations being made with each caress, an unspoken exchange occurred at that moment, and warmth blanketed the young lovers as the beating of their hearts merged.
"Mr. Takahashi? Sir?"
Inuyasha shook away the memory, his attention snapping to a mousy woman. "Yes?"
"You have to change out of your clothes, the photo-shoot will begin soon."
He nodded, casting one last glance towards the ocean, disappointed when he couldn't find her prancing around anymore.
She was relieved when the photographer finally told her she could step out of the water. Her body never got use to it.
Kagome jumped a bit when she felt a hand on her shoulder. "Oh." She pressed a hand against her chest. "You scared me Kiks. I thought your were that damn photographer about to order me to 'play' and 'have fun' in the ocean again."
Kikyo laughed, handing over a mug.
Kagome's eyes brightened at the sight of the mug, eagerly grabbing it and taking long sips. She welcomed the heat the tea brought to her body. "You're a life saver Kikyo!"
"Dahling!"
Kagome flinched at the sound of the photographer's voice, lips already curling down into a frown.
"You look even more stunning wet! You will make a beautiful masterpiece hun."
She forced her lips to ease into a smile. Couldn't he think of better nicknames than 'dahling', 'hun', or 'doll'? "So, exactly why did I have to go into the ocean again?"
"Oh!" He laughed, continuing nonchalantly. "Simple, you all wet is a lot sexier than you all dry. You went from cutie-patootie to hottie-patottie, and I still had to get my instruments all set up, so I had to give you something to do right? Wouldn't want you to get bored on me doll."
She bit her tongue, her hold hardening around the mug as she tried to sate her need to choke something. Never, she would never work with this photographer again.
Kikyo bit back her laugh as redness seeped into her protege's skin. Before turning to leave, she leaned towards Kagome's ear, "Be nice Kagome." Then, she spun on her heels, chuckling.
"Yes! Right there! Beau-ti-ful!"
Kagome laid there uncomfortably, one knee bent and pressed against Inuyasha's side as his nearly naked body draped over hers. Their legs were tangled together.
Of its own accord, her heart began beating rapidly. An infinite scarlet coloring her skin at the intimacy she was forced to endure. The last time she was ever in this position was at the age of 15 with the very same man. Her emotions were all over the place, an abundance of uneasiness clawing at her. Even with her hostile words and harsh animosity, she couldn't deny that he still stirred things within her. Feelings that no other man could ever set ablaze. It was a scorching, scalding flame that never fully extinguished, even with his callousness.
He hurt her, not only bruising her pride, but breaking something inside her. He gave her something special, something she cherished, only to snatch it away so frostily in the end. Luminous skies he use to paint blue became muddled with heavy rain, quickly morphing into a crepuscular solemnity.
She supposed she should thank him for his frigid dismissal, it only encouraged her to pursue her dreams. She didn't want a romance like the ones she read about in novels anymore, not when he left her so jaded. Her silly fantasies about riding off into the sunset with her prince charming was instantly put to an end, and she dedicated herself in pursuing her dreams of becoming an actress.
"Okay my beauties, next frame. I want you, doll, to get infront of Inuyasha."
Kagome ripped herself away from him, and followed directions.
"Good. Now, get on bended knees and open your legs slightly." He angled his camera as he signaled for Inuyasha to get closer to Kagome.
"For you, Inuyasha, I need for you to get behind Kagome with one hand on her hip and the other down her thigh."
Inuyasha indulged himself in the silkiness of her skin. It was even softer than he remembered. Being so close to her and basking in the sweetness of her scent, only increased his reminiscence. She hated him, he was aware of that. Did it surprise him? No. Did it bother him? If he were honest, of course.
Sometimes, he found himself questioning his motives in his treatment of her. Why? The question would echo in his head, and he could never find an answer to it. He didn't expect to be forgiven, and he never asked for clemency. For the most part, he didn't want it. He did what he did just because he did. Did that make any sense? Nothing ever made sense when it was about her. He had his reasons though... right? He was never wholly sure when it came to Kagome.
"Kagome, babe, arch you back a bit. Lay one hand on top of the arm on your thigh and put the other hand behind Inuyasha's head."
The photographer clicked away at his camera.
"Hun, turn your neck to the side a bit. Inuyasha, give your lovely girlfriend a nice kiss on the neck."
Kagome almost squealed when she felt his lips graze her flesh. Way too close, too, too, too, close. She was on the brink of panicking. Exhaling, she winced when his grip around her thigh tightened and his lips on her neck suddenly grew firmer. And was that a tongue she just felt? What the hell did he think he was doing?
"Perfect, dolls, you two are so gawg!" The photographer continued clicking away at different angles. "Your children will be little beauties."
Almost immediately, Inuyasha's grip loosened and his lips resumed to ghosting over her skin. She sighed in relief, sending a silent thanks to the gods.
"One last pose and then I'll let you two go. Hun, I want you to get on top of your hubby. Inuyasha, you keep your hands on her waist and arch your neck up. Kagome, dahling, bend down and press your lips against his jaw."
Biting her lip, she did just what she was told. Her face was now nestled against his, smooth skin rested beneath her lips, and she was consumed with his scent. Gods, she always loved how he smelled. Strong and masculine, rugged and woodsy. It was ensnaring, captivating.
The photographer spoke in a sing-song voice. "Perfect! We are all finished now my darling little beauties."
Kagome peeled her lips away from his jaw, desperately trying to clear the fog diffused in her mind from the intimate contacts. This was why she was cautious with her physical closeness with him, this was why she made sure to keep herself away from him as much as possible, because being too close to him was damaging. She was afraid, afraid to lose herself to old feelings. She was petrified that he would manage to break the hardened shell built carefully around her, only to let her fall again with no intentions of catching her.
After all, she was only ever a game to him.
A/N: I always appreciate the people who leave reviews, it makes me want to write more. So, thank you to those who left reviews for me in the last chapter. (:
I hope the people who read this chapter liked it.
There's gonna be a whole 'lot of flashbacks in this story. (X
Reviews are always welcomed. It makes me feel better knowing someone is reading my little story, especially after spending so long typing away at the chapter. (X