Every Dog Has His Day

The Hangover and the Pearl

Chapter 13

Kagome groaned as she felt her pillow being shifted out from under her, her head was pounding and the last thing she wanted was for it to be moved. Where did she find a moving pillow anyway? Weren't they mostly stationary by nature?

Oh now she was being rolled off it all together. This pillow was determined and pushy that's for sure. Kagome kept her eyes shut tight, but when she felt a sharp poke to the side she sluggishly opened her bleary eyes to glare at whoever had dared to wake her up.

Inuyasha sat next to her, having extricated his arm out from under her, and was staring down at her with some annoyed expression on his face.

"Alright time to get up." He said gruffly.

Kagome attempted to turn him to ash with a stare, but she couldn't maintain it very long. Her eyes were dry as the desert and her whole face felt hot, her throat ached with thirst, her head pounded in retribution and her stomach began to act up the instant that she rolled over on to her back. So fun… now she knew what a hangover felt like, and from this moment on would be dedicated to not feeling this crappy ever again.

"Inuyasha," She spoke with a voice made gravely by her dry throat. "Why did you wake me up?" Her pathetic demeanor seemed to garner some sympathy in Inuyasha, because he sighed and rose to get the pitcher of water resting on the small table. He filled one of the two cups that were there with water and walked back over.

Kagome gratefully accepted the water and drank greedily.

"I woke you up 'cause it's late and we got to talk before I have to go and play nice with the blue bloods."

Kagome sat dazedly after she had drank half of the water in the cup. Her throat didn't feel quite so dry now. "Okay what did you want to talk about." She mumbled in a way that said any conversation they were about to have was about as desirable as a root canal.

Inuyasha made a grumping noise, and Kagome cast her eyes up at him lazily. He clearly wanted her undivided attention. While looking up she took the time to notice that his wounds from the night before had vanished. She looked admiringly at his unmarked chest, and toned abs. He was as shirtless as he was the night before, so the trail of hair from his bellybutton down was still on display. She had an odd flashback to the night before. Was her hand…down…? Kagome glanced down at her right hand, as if it might burst to life and tell her of its travels.

Inuyasha shifted uncomfortably and said down quickly, drawing Kagome from her revere.

"Well for one, you sure as shit better not get drunk again."

Kagome looked slightly guilty for a moment. Last night had not been a shining example of her good decision making skills. She was lucky she had gotten away from the cat demons. Though…oh it all came rushing back to her, what she had seen, what Sesshomaru was doing…

"Kagome." Kagome blinked rapidly focusing back on Inuyasha.

"Yea, don't worry I won't be drinking again." Kagome said tiredly. She couldn't even be annoyed with him for his demanding tone. Her head just hurt too much and now she was too horrified by remembering what she saw to draw up anymore emotions. Should she tell Inuyasha what she saw? Maybe just to see his reaction she should…

"Alright then, you get dressed, Aneko is going to be here soon to take you down to the kitchen. " Inuyasha rose, and it seemed that he was almost reluctant. He seemed he had more to say.

Kagome could vaguely remember the previous night when she got back to the room, but she had an idea of what might be bugging him. It was…baiting season, no no…maulting? No, oh wait, mating season. That's right. That is what he said last night.

Mating season? Kagome bit her lip and lowered her gaze quickly. Yes, she did not want to broach that topic again. In fact she wanted to avoid that topic, if at all possible.

Inuyasha tossed her fresh clothes, and they hit her face despite her clumsy attempt at catching them. Kagome glared at him through bloodshot eyes. "Gee, thanks."

His only response was an eye roll and a barely audible "Keh."

Kagome lowered her eyes and plucked at a loose thread in the clothing absently. Inuyasha wasn't moving; he obviously still had something on his mind.

"You know Inuyasha I'm not getting dressed in front of you…soo shoo" She made a little motion with her hand to wave him towards the door. He didn't get the hint though. He just continued to look at her, with a hard look.

If Kagome hadn't known better she would say that he had aged in the short time they had been at the castle. Kagome shifted uneasily, and began pulling apart the clothing, attempting to dismiss him, but his presence was too keenly felt. His eyes transferred heat where they focused, and right now he was trying to look at her face.

"Kagome," He began. "About what I was saying last night..."

Kagome fixed her eyes on her lap, maybe if she concentrated really hard she could block out what he was about to say. Inuyasha was having none of it.

"Kagome look at me." She did not. "Look at me!" He applied more forcefully this time. Her eyes snapped up in response.

"Kagome it is mating season. You can't just pretend that shit is okay." He took a step closer. His agitation radiated off from him, leading Kagome to the conclusion that he had been holding this in all night.

Kagome swallowed once, and then swallowed again. She desperately wanted to avoid this kind of conversation. "I know things aren't ok. Alright I will be careful and I will stay with Aneko and other servants, no wandering around I promise."

Inuyasha scoffed in response. "Those females will be no better than the males. They will be running off, acting all stupid."

Kagome opened her mouth to protest, but then remembered the strange amount of flirtation and touching that had been going on in the servants' communal chamber the night before.

"Inuyasha I will be careful." She repeated, having nothing new to offer.

Inuyasha appeared agitated still. "Yeah, well that's only going to get you so far." He began to pace. "You just don't get it. If one of these powerful demons cornered you…"

She could feel the anger and frustration radiating off from him. It seemed that there was a lot that he was holding back, and she wandered if it was for her benefit or his own. Inuyasha had always been brash and brave, fool hardy, and more than likely to run into a situation without worrying about the consequences, but here this was different. These lords each were Sesshomaru's equal in strength, some of them maybe even stronger. They had armies, and allies. Inuyasha knew he couldn't just rush right in. Or maybe he feared that if a demon tried to hurt Kagome he would be defeated trying to stop it. It was all too much. Kagome only felt guiltier now, for getting drunk and wandering about, when now it was painfully obvious that Inuyasha was worried about her safety.

"Kagome, you should leave."

Kagome eyes flicked up to meet his stormy honey colored ones. "But we already talked about that, it wouldn't look good for you, if I left." Kagome licked her dry lips nervously. "I don't want to ruin anything. I mean we all have to do our part here…an..and if pretending to be a servant and d..odging demons is what I need to do than…well that is what I have to do!" She stammered out. He needed to know her commitment to this was there. This strange thing that they had stumbled into was like a beast with multiple arms and legs just trying to drag them down at every turn, and he needed to know that she was committed to finishing this. There was too much at risk.

Inuyasha shifted, and Kagome could see the tension in his muscles. The line of muscle from his shoulder down his tan arm rippled with tension. "You say that you're committed to this," He questioned, his dark brow arching as he took a step forward. Kagome's eyes locked with his as she nodded in answer. "You're going to do your part?" He moved even closer, and Kagome began to feel a tingle of anticipation and anxiety as the heat of his barely clothed body washed over her. She nodded, more hesitantly this time. He lifted his hand to caress her cheek. Kagome almost jumped in surprise. Inuyasha ignored this, and leaned in close, his clawed fingers threading through her unbound hair as he did. "Well maybe you should let me do mine then."

Her jaw dropped open just a little as he kissed her cheek, softly, tenderly even. She kept her eyes focused on the wall ahead of her, but as his other hand slid around her hip she closed her eyes as a flood of emotion swept through her. "Inuyasha." She whispered, as air barely left her lungs. He ignored her and continued to kiss his way to her jaw, her pulse point, then onto the creamy expanse of her neck. "If you are going to stay Kagome, you should let me do what I can to protect you." He said into her heated skin. She felt, more than heard his conviction.

"But, "She struggled to respond as the strong and persistent hand wrapped in her thick hair drew her head back. Inuyasha scrapped his canines against her very exposed throat, and then soothed it with a kiss. "Do you trust me Kagome?" Kagome sighed in frustration. "You know I do, but..." He continued, cutting her off. "Do you care about me?" Kagome's cheeks burned with heat. "Of course I do." He didn't know just how much. "But Inuyasha…" She tried again, but once more he stopped her. "Then this can't be such a …distasteful experience for you." He whispered fiercely into her ear, while pulling at the edge of her robe. He sounded self conscious almost, as if he was still that half-breed child that didn't belong.

Ducking away from his ministrations she brought her hand up to cup his cheek. His ears were flattened against his head as he gazed at her. "Inuyasha listen to me," She swallowed done the knot in her throat. "It is not distasteful for me to think about …about you that way." Her face burned red, and she could scarcely believe that the words were coming out her mouth. "But we can't do this …"

Inuyasha didn't want to hear that again. He grabbed the wrist of the hand that was laid on his cheek and retorted, "Why not?" Before Kagome could even begin there came a knock at the door. Kagome exhaled the answer she was about to give, and instead yelled out a quick, "Come in!"

Inuyasha released her wrist and shot her a dirty look. Aneko peeked her head in the room tentatively, and seeing the shirtless Inuyasha standing suspiciously close to Kagome, began to look decidedly uncomfortable. "Um, I apologize Master Inuyasha for the intrusion, but I came to fetch Kagome for the morning chores." Inuyasha moved away from Kagome, and she could feel the coldness in him now.

She began to feel annoyed, how dare he be angry with her? So she doesn't want to lose her virginity in some tryst designed to protect her from demons who would want her for the same thing. Could a girl get a little romance here! Maybe love? Was that asking too much?

"She will be right out," Inuyasha grumbled as he maneuvered the servant out of the room. He shut the door sharply and Kagome turned to look at him. She was going to admonish him for being so rude to Aneko when she saw the worry in his face. He wasn't angry with her, he was worried. Well maybe he was a little angry with her for making him worry…but same difference.

Inuyasha resolutely ignored the girl standing across the room from him and began to grab up his clothing so that he could get dressed while grumbling something about 'smells like stale sake anyway...'.

Kagome kept her eyes glued on him, waiting for him to say something, wanting to say something herself, but having no idea what, kept her mouth closed. It wasn't until Inuyasha began to loosen the strings of his pants that he spoke to her. "You looking for a show?" He bit out dryly.

Kagome huffed and whirled around to face the wall. Like she wanted to look! Besides she had seen just about all of it anyway…Kagome blushed red, following her own line of thinking. Inuyasha was dressed and heading to the door within seconds. Kagome turned and saw him as he was stepping out the door.

For a moment their eyes met. "Stay outta trouble today, think you can manage that?" He said in his typical gruff way. Kagome nodded, but he still fixed her with a look that almost seemed threatening. It was as if he was saying, stay safe or I will hunt you down and make you regret it. Which of course is moronic and yet a little endearing.

TT

Miroku and Sango glanced at each other out of the corner of each of their eyes. Before them was a wide lake occupying the lower portion of the valley. This mission was proving to be more annoying than they had anticipated. First there was that delightful moonlit climb up the mountain for a flower. A flower! Now it was to be a swim in search of a pearl.

That old woman was strange. She had accepted the flower upon their return with a sort of maniacal look about her. She also secretive and refused to divulge the use she had for these objects.

"You ready Miroku?" His eyes skimmed over her form, appreciating the thin yukata she had been loaned for the occasion. It was short enough that it exposed her knees. He liked her knees, in fact he liked her whole leg, and he could just imagine that leg wrapped around his hi…

Shaking himself out of his forbidden thoughts, he plastered on a smile. "Let's do this."

Sango nodded and then turned back to Shippou and Kirara sitting up further on the grassy bank. "This shouldn't take too long, but you two stay put and don't talk to that woman if she comes around. There is something odd about her." Kirara gave a chirp of agreement and Shippou exclaimed, "No problem Sango, she freaks me out. We will stay right here." Shippou had the unfortunate experience of spending time with the old woman while they were performing the first task. He was apparently traumatized from it.

Sango nodded in approval, then her and Miroku began to wade into the crystalline waters of the lake. How were they going to find a single pearl in this entire lake?

Once they had waded out far enough they kicked off into a swim. Miroku had forwent his usually robes in favor of some simple pants that the farmers in the village favored. He moved easily through the cool water, enjoying the refreshing feeling it brought to his body. The previous night's rock climbing adventure had been keenly felt that morning, and he had been trying to hide his stiffness from Sango since they rose for breakfast. But here in the crystalline water, he felt his stiff muscles start to loosen. In a particular moment of childishness he dove down deep and rolled about. He hadn't done that in years, and it felt surprisingly good to have a moment of whimsy.

Gazing up at the surface of the water he spied Sango, and promptly inhaled a mouth full of water. He swam to surface quickly and came up sputtering and choking. Sango stopped quick as her companion seemed to have swallowed half the lake.

"Miroku are you ok? What happened?" Hacking and sputtering Miroku managed to say that he was fine. Sango looked at him suspiciously, but as his coughing subsided moved to continue the swim to the far end of the lake.

"Sango," Miroku called back to her. "She glanced back at him expectantly. "Ah remind me to get you a robe before we leave the lake." With that said he pushed on ahead of her with sure and strong strokes. The ex-demon exterminator paddled confused for a moment. A robe? Why would she need a robe? Glancing down at her clothing she saw the problem immediately. She shrieked, but there was nothing to be done about it, her thin yukata was a transparent as a sheet of paper when wet.

Having gotten over his shock Miroku was now having a difficult time keeping his mind off from what he just saw. Every inch of her had been visible. Her toned slim thighs, the flare of her hips, the dark triangle of curls between her legs…Hold it together man! He dunk his face in the cool water again, hoping to clear his senses. He was going to accidently drown himself at this rate.

Miroku made it to the end of the end lake first. There was a small but powerful waterfall ahead of him and Miroku came to a stop right outside the splash of the oncoming water. When Sango joined him, he couldn't help but smirk at her. She made a meager attempt at bashing his face, but he chuckled and avoided her onslaught. He caught another eyeful for his trouble too.

When the faux attack had ended Miroku sighed. "So there is suppose to be a cave under this waterfall then?" Sango looked up at the towering rock face that the waterfall streamed down. "Yes, there is supposed to be a cave directly underneath it." Nodding to one another they dived under. The force of the water dispersing at the base of the waterfall was powerful, and the struggled to get past it, but as the moved through the bubbling and turbulent water they spotted the cave. Just as the woman said, it was a dark opening behind the waterfall.

They pressed on to the mouth of the cave. It was dark and chances were they were going to find something they didn't want to…But they had done worse before. Ducking into the inky darkness they swam down what appeared to be a fairly narrow tunnel. It progressed on, and they could not spy a giant pearl anywhere, though it was hard to tell in the dark. Miroku was just about reaching his limit on holding his breath when they saw a light up ahead. It was a cavern hollowed out in the mountain. How strange.

Miroku broke the surface first and gasped in air greedily. Sango came upright after him, seeming far more at ease with having to hold her breath for such a length. After gaining their breath though, their attention was immediately drawn to the source of the light. The rocks were glowing… shimmering green flecks of light surrounded them. The cave had an ethereal green luminescence every where they looked.

"Wow," Sango murmured as they treaded water. Miroku couldn't help but agree, it was amazing. "Look its over there!" Sango called, as she was already swimming towards the rocky bank.

Sure enough there across the bank was a little collection of shiny rocks, jewelry, and a ridiculously gigantic pearl. Sango made it to the bank, but hesitated to stand up out of the water. Miroku walked out of the water confidently behind her.

"Something wrong my dear?" He teased, knowing why she didn't want to get out of the water. Sango wanted to incinerate him with her stare. Miroku turned around smirking. "You coming?"

She wanted to smack that smirk right off his face. "No I think you can get the pearl on your own Miroku." She ground out. He shrugged and turned back to the task. The pearl was sitting amongst a menagerie of trinkets. It almost looked like a pile of treasure, like something a dragon or sea serpent would keep or maybe a sn... "Snake!" Or a snake…was Sango reading his thoughts? Sango was standing up out of the water now and Miroku was yet again distracted with the beauty of her form.

"Behind you!" She screamed. He turned away from her form with painstaking amounts of willpower and whipped his head around just in time to see a snake with eyes as big as dinner plates and a mouth large enough to swallow him whole coming up out of the water, rear back and let out a foreboding hiss.

AN: yay I updated…lol, anyway please r/r, next chapter "Letting the Cat out of the Bag," is really going to heat things up.