Ch. 10: Mixed Feelings

I groaned at the pain in the back of my neck and opened my eyes to stare at a yellow ceiling and frowned. That wasn't the color of my ceiling.

Shippo was sleeping comfortably in his demon form on my stomach, his head resting against my breast. He snored lightly as I tried adjusting.

I looked around to find I was still in Inuyasha's room. Plates, bowls, and cups littered the table in front of us, reminding me of last night's cooking craze. A smile played on my lips as I sat up, holding Shippo against me. We must of fell asleep after all those treats, I thought.

A tapping sound reached my ears and I looked over the sofa I laid on to find Inuyasha in front of his computer, frowning at it before his claws tapped the keyboard again.

He noticed me sit up, " 'Morning," he smiled at me before shutting off the computer, the printer activating.

I looked around for a clock, "What time is it?" I asked lightly.

"About eight o'clock," he replied, getting off his chair and walking around the sofa, "You must've been tired, you crashed on my couch after our fun, Shippo wanted to stay with you."

I flushed in embarrassment, "Sorry," I started to help him collect the dirty dishes.

"No need to be," he said easily as I followed him awkwardly, carrying a pile of dishes in one hand while holding Shippo against me with the other. He dumped his dishes in the sink and grabbed mine, dropping them with the others.

Shippo groaned as he nuzzled my chest slightly.

"That kit's gonna have one helluva stomach ache when he wakes up," Inuyasha smirked as he lead me back to the sofa.

I sighed and rubbed the back of my neck, I could feel a crick in it.

Inuyasha looked apologetic, "I should've gave you a pillow or something," he jumped over the back of the sofa and before I could turn, I felt his rough but gentle hands on my shoulders. I tensed when his thumbs rubbed in firm circles right under the nape of my neck.

After a moment, I relaxed and a moan threatened to escape my lips. My head dropped and I sighed in relaxation.

His hands had slowly, hesitantly, went lower, the heels of his palms kneaded knots in my back.

I closed my eyes while he worked his magic. My thoughts started fluttering to things I shouldn't be thinking about. It would probably feel better if I took off this shirt- no, bad, Kagome, bad. I chided myself, I shouldn't be thinking about that.

Shippo's groan brought me back to my senses and I stood up and turned around quickly. He was blinking in confusion, a blush had rose to his cheeks lightly. I felt the heat on my own face, "I gotta go...er, warn Sango."

He nodded, his eyes were unreadable as I left.

I left Shippo on my bed, he happily hugged the pillows and sighed when I covered him with the blanket.

I sat next to Sango, who was eating a cup of noodles.

She smiled slyly, "Have a good time in Inuyasha's room?"

I scowled slightly, "It isn't like that, I taught him how to cook," A pang hit me, I left such a huge mess in his kitchen and I didn't even offer to help to clean it.

"Uh-huh," she kept her secretive smile. Honestly! She's just like Miroku sometimes!

"Sango, there's something I have to tell you..." I said hesitantly. How was I suppose to tell her?

"Is it good or bad?" Sango asked.

I sucked in a silent breath in determination, it's my way or Inuyasha's way. "Bad. And it's about you and Miroku."

Her hand tightened on her cup. "Oh?"

"Yeah..." I stared down at my hands, lacing my fingers together, "Look, you know the rules right?"

"Basically," Sango was wary now.

"Onesaysthatyoucan'tloveanotherslayer," I said, the words sounded like gibberish but I really hoped Sango understood.

"What?" Sango raised a brow, "What are you talking about?"

I took a deep breath, "One of the rules say that you can't love another slayer, something about not having your attention on the main point of slaying."

I kept quiet as Sango processed this information. In this silent moment, my mind drifted to Inuyasha. He was close to me, I noticed that much earlier. Closer than a brother-sister relationship, My heart sang joyously when he was around, everything passed by in a blur without him. He did more for me than he should have bothered with. If he knows that rule, why does he keep joining me, instead of avoiding me like I have once I found out?

"You're lying," Sango said, snapping me out of my reverie, "Good joke, Kagome."

"I'm not joking!" I said, "Your rank could be in danger if you hang around Miroku like you have anymore."

Sango's cup had spilled from her hands and she cursed as she stood up, glaring daggers at me while wiping at her shirt. "You're kidding, I never heard anything remotely similar to that rule."

"Sango..." I stood up and resisted grabbing her arms and shaking her, "You can't be with Miroku, you'll both be in trouble."

"And where did you get this bit of information?" Sango shot, scowling as she backed away from me, "Tell me, Kagome!" she raised her voice when I took too long to reply.

I winced slightly but stood my ground, "If you don't believe me, check at the base, they'd have a rulebook there."

"Oh?" Sango went to the door and slipped on her shoes, not even bothering with her sweater and ignored the stain on her shirt and pants, "I will then, if I find out you're lying, you're so gonna get it," she threatened with glassy eyes.

"San-" The door slammed shut before I could get another word in, "...go..."

I stood frozen for a moment, letting the shock of the door vibrating the window go away. Someone was knocking on the door but I didn't want to deal with annoying, irritated neighbors. I went in the bathroom for a nice, hot, half-an-hour shower.

Shippo had ended my relaxation when he knocked on the bathroom door, "Kagome, are you done yet? I need to go !"

"Alright, Shippo," I said, turning off the water, "How badly?"

"Really really badly!!!"

I smiled as I toweled my hair, "Bad enough to do a little dance?"

"Kagome!"

I laughed as I wrapped the towel around my body, "Alright, Alright," I said as I opened the door and he ushered me out and slammed it, making me laugh harder.

"Damn, you're evil."

I jumped and looked at Inuyasha who was lounging on the couch with a smirk.

"Oh yeah, Inuyasha's here," Shippo said with a cackle.

I was pretty certain my face resembled a tomato by now. I yelped and fled to my room, slamming the door shut and leaned against it for support, "What are you doing here?" I asked, embarrassed.

Inuyasha chuckled, "I had a job for Sango but she's not here," he replied, "Did you give her the news?"

"Yes..." I sighed and took the towel off once I found some clothes to wear.

"And I take it she didn't like it?"

"You eavesdropped, didn't you?" I scowled as I got dressed.

"Not my fault."

I sighed again, shaking my head and toweled my damp hair again to give my hands something to do while I came back out.

"You look better with barely no clothes on but the tank-top is an improvement," Inuyasha smirked widely at my blush.

I wore a simple, tight, pink tank-top with some dark baggy sweats. I left the towel on my shoulders while I crossed my arms to glare at him. "Why are you still here?"

He shrugged. Nothing did faze him, did it? "I don't have to stay, just make sure she gets this, 'kay?" he waved the envelope and threw it on the table.

I sighed when the door clicked closed. Shippo took that moment to come out of the bathroom. I really didn't want to stay if Sango comes back infuriated.

"Shippo, let's go to the mall, okay, just to let Sango cool off," I said and he grinned.

"Okay."

I went back into my room to change into more suitable clothing and placed the clothes I wore aside. Planning to wear them for pajamas tonight.

At the mall, I had easily found my friends from school and they had dragged me from store to store, making me try things on. I bet they were Christmas shopping for all of us, I was usually a mannequin for my own gifts.

Shippo was grinning widely as the girls picked out outfits. He looked uneasy when Hojo showed up.

"Wow, Kagome, that really looks good on you," Hojo grinned as he looked me over.

I smiled as I twirled in front of him. "Really? Thanks Hojo."

"Actually, I was looking for you earlier," Hojo admitted, "I wanted to ask you if you wanted to go clubbing with me?"

Behind me, the girls squealed silently, if that's possible. I also caught Shippo's snort. I'll talk to him later, right now... "Where?"

He dug around his pocket and handed me an address and I glanced at it for a brief moment and frowned. Wasn't that just an abandoned building? I remembered passing it before.

"So are you with me?" he asked.

"Er... sure, this weekend, right?"

"Good, see you then," Hojo smiled kindly and left.

"That's surprising," Yuka said, staring at me, "You've missed school a lot and you hardly talk to Hojo, how'd you get him to ask you out?"

I chuckled uneasily. It's true I missed school a lot but luckily, my counselor is a demon and understands my problem. She happily changed my grades while I was out and added a few assignments I automatically got full credit on for "saving people." As long as I passed the tests, she'd keep on doing that when I was absent.

"I guess I'm lucky that way," I grinned.

Back at home, Sango had came back and left a note so she could do her job that Inuyasha sent her. Judging from her hand writing, she was pretty upset.

I yawned, "Time for bed, Shippo."

He nodded and we both hopped into bed and covered up. "Kagome?" he asked hesitantly.

"Hm?"

"Why do you let that Hojo person take you out but don't let Inuyasha treat you nicely like this morning?" he asked innocently and I opened my eyes to stare at him.

I sighed, "I can't be with Inuyasha, Shippo, he has someone else."

"But it seems he wants you."

I paused. "Go to sleep, Shippo."

I was unable to sleep though I was tired. Sango had came in two hours after our talk and went straight to bed without a word.

An hour after that, I was finally able to get some shut eye until someone started banging on our door.

Sango growled as she sat up, "It's one in the morning, what the hell do they want?!"

Shippo and I sighed as Sango got up and answered it.

I was half-asleep and thought those noises I heard after were just my imagination as I fell back asleep.