The perfect date

by lmgurl92

Inuyasha Takashi has it all, he's handsome, smart, rich, and charming, everything Kagome needs to make her perfect older sister completely green with jealousy. He'd be the perfect date to her sister's wedding, but there's only one catch He's her boss...

25. flaws and all

Chapter 25: flaws and all

Disclaimer: I don't own anything
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25

He sighed in frustration as he leaned forward in his seat. He grabbed his cup of coffee and sipped at it casually. He wasn't too tired but he was a bit sick of driving. He glanced to his left taking in Kagome's sleeping form. She was facing him completely her legs pressed together and lying partially on the seat. Her whole body was slumped down and she was hugging herself tightly. She hadn't moved an inch since six and it was now about one in the morning. Her mouth was partially opened and she had a slight crease in her eyebrows as if she was deep in thought. He wondered why, the idea of it sort of made him smile, she was adorable.

He turned forward after smetime to face the road. He wasn't going to, but he had this incredible urge to wake her. It was strange, he did want her to sleep, but on the same note he already missed the sound of her voice and the look of her smile. He could also use the company. He leaned forward putting his Styrofoam cup down and taking a look at the GPS. It didn't predict their arrival till late afternoon, he'd have to suck it up. He put a hand to his pocket about to check his phone for any missed messages when he heard it ring rather abruptly.

Even though he was bored out of his mind he wasn't in the mood to answer it and he let it ring a couple more times. It wasn't till he saw Kagome shift in her spot did he quickly feel the need to answer it. He grabbed a hold of it and pressed talk abruptly. He put it on speaker and sat it up on the dash board. He didn't speak first; maybe whoever it was would get the hint and hang up.

"Inuyasha…" He heard someone playfully call and he didn't have to check the caller I.D. to know who it was. "I know you're there…" she continued and he sighed. "I can hear you…what's wrong?"

"Nothing till you called. What do you want?" He spat and Rin just furrowed her eyebrows for a moment.

"I thought to keep you company." She lied; she actually called for Kagome who wasn't answering her phone. She had exciting Sesshomaru news to tell. She had already gone over it in detail with Ayame and she had the need to retell it again.

"You thought wrong." He said and Rin shrugged it off. At the moment she was watching some stupid movie on television. She had a bag of chips opened on her left and although she wanted to so badly call Sesshomaru she couldn't. It was one in the morning and a call that late implied sex. In all honesty she wanted so badly to just do it, but she couldn't. She had to hold out till the weekend. He had told her that morning when he moved Kagome's plants around that he would take her to dinner this weekend. She decided that's when she'd give in.

"You are so rude. Here I am making a courteous call and you treat me so badly." She said while putting a couple of salty chips in her mouth. Inuyasha paused for a moment hearing her chomping.

"Are you eating at this time?" He asked and Rin narrowed her eyes while ignoring the comment completely. She didn't say anything and he broke out in a slight smile. "What did you want Rin?"

She sat up a bit. "Well in all honesty I came to speak to Kagome, but I couldn't get a hold of her. Where is she?" She asked. Talking to Kagome about Sesshomaru was of course the primary reason why she called, but she also wanted to stick her nose in their business. She wanted to know how their first day as a couple was. She promised herself she'd call sooner but didn't want to appear nosey. Inuyasha thought her question through that for a moment. He glanced over at his sleeping girlfriend. She was quite literally dead to the world but that wasn't what had him a bit estranged.

"She's sleeping" he stated and Rin sighed. He waited for what she'd say next. He didn't know why he was feeling like this, but knowing that Rin called for Kagome solely sort of had him at odds. "What did you need?"

"I wanted to speak to her but I'll try back tomorrow." She mumbled uninterestedly while grabbing the remote and changing it. She caught something fashion related and left it on.

"I know you did…but what about?" She was about to hang up when she heard the slight hesitance in his voice.

"Just about things you'd find shallow…you know boys and clothes." She joked and he smiled. "Why do you care? I'll just call back tomorrow." He didn't really care…well he did. He had known Rin since birth and although he wasn't a girl, that never stopped her form calling about boys and clothes. She would constantly go into detail about stupid stuff like that and recently he realized she did that less. It wasn't like he missed it but he did feel a slight distance from her. She had literally ignored him for weeks after their spat on his way back from the airport and they never got the chance to catch up. "If she wakes though tell her to call me. It's important."

"Really…" He muttered stopping her from hanging up yet again.

She shrugged casually but it wasn't lost on her that he was acting extremely weird. "Sort of... it has to do with Sesshomaru, but Kagome won't find it all that important. I have to tell her it is so she'll call back." Rin said and the idea made him break out in a full smile. So he wasn't the only one who found most of Rin's problems trivial. "I'll talk to you both tomorrow. Tell me when you get there…" She pushed the phone off her ear about to hang up.

"Wait…" He interrupted and she scrunched her face up while putting the phone back on her ear. "You can tell me about your important Sesshomaru problem."

Rin laughed assuming he was being funny. "Yeah right so you can make fun of me?" She asked and he stared at the phone a bit shocked at her assumption. Well he wasn't really all that shocked. It was something he'd do.

"I won't…I never do that. Plus that never stopped you from telling me before?" He whispered and Rin caught the complexities in his voice. It made her smile and she sat up and crossed her legs on Kagome's living room couch. Sometimes she didn't understand why she kept Inuyasha as a friend, he could be so mean, but it was times like this that reminded her how much he cared. He was like an annoying older brother.

"Yeah because I've been evening out the playing field for every morning you've called in the past to brag about some girl you slept with." She joked and he actually laughed. That was something he did do. He had no idea why, but out of Miroku and Kouga she was always the first one he went to.

"So you haven't been calling because we're even now?"

"Oh no we're far from it…you're a man whore remember?" she said and it earned her yet another round of laughter. "Since you're being nice today…hmm maybe I'll fill you in on what happened with your brother." She thought about where to begin happily before muting the television. "Okay first I have to start at the dinner yesterday."

"Of course…how could you not. It's like the most important part of the whole story." Inuyasha mocked and Rin just rolled her eyes.

"Shut up listen…so Sesshomaru had this business thingy." Rin said and he smiled wider at her choice of vocabulary. "It was so boring…I really wanted to leave because I had expected a real dinner, but no. It was just this long table at a fancy restaurant and people talking…so boring. He couldn't even see me. I had to sit next to him. I didn't put make up on and do my hair so I could be stared at by other people who aren't my date."

Inuyasha held in laughter "It was probably an investment dinner."

"Yeah I know Inuyasha…listen okay." She instructed and he scoffed at her tone then nodded. "Okay so I told him I wanted to leave, and he said no because he was working." She hesitated for a moment at the next part of her sentence. She never spared Inuyasha the gory details of her escapade with men before but she halted a bit knowing this was his brother.

"Uh huh…sounds like Sesshomaru." He mumbled taking advantage of her awkward pause. "Continue." He leaned forward and grabbed his Styrofoam cup of coffee.

"Okay so I gave him like a quick hand job under the seat…and I swear Inuyasha." She heard him begin coughing on the other line and she furrowed her eyebrows. "Hey…Inuyasha what's wrong?" she asked. He had spit out the small sip of coffee he had in his mouth and was now coughing at the small amount that managed to make its way down the wrong pipe. "Was it something I said?"

"No not at all." He lied while wiping his mouth. He put the cup back in its cup holder and turned to glance at Kagome. She wasn't awake. She didn't even seem to shift at the added noise. He looked back up letting the shock of Rin's sentence sink in. He had not expected that at all.

"Are you sure?" She asked and he nodded slightly, she couldn't see his response but she continued on. "Okay so of course that had him leaving. He told me to go to the limo and get undressed," he widened his eyes, but it wasn't because of Rin's branch of the story. He was more shocked at Sesshomaru's reaction. Rin told him plenty of her sex stories. He saw her as a sister and he was completely protective of her, but in that sector he allowed her to do what she wanted. He just couldn't accurately put his brother in the position. Leaving business dinners early on account of a girl. The annual dinner was one thing. It was ran by their father, leaving didn't really affect anything, but investing gatherings were completely different.

"So what you had sex with him in the limo?" He asked cutting to the chase but he knew Rin would go into more detail. He wasn't exactly thrilled about hearing it though. He never really was, and now it would include his brother, the whole thing gave him chills down his spine.

"No no…I was going to but I thought about it. This is our first date. I can't just sleep with him. I need a good story to tell our kids when they're old enough." Rin said and she predicted his laugh before it came. "It's not funny…" she said though of course she was kidding, well partially. She fully expected marriage and children with Sesshomaru. She had it all planned out. "Anyhow we just made out for awhile… and even though I was basically naked I told him next time, you proud of me?" She asked.

"Of course…" He stated and Rin smiled. "So what else happened?"

"So he just walked me up and then kissed me goodnight. That's when I saw Kagome making breakfast super early. Then I saw you…but that's not important."

"Of course it doesn't have enough of you in it to be considered important." He mocked again and Rin's smile dropped. She stayed silent on the other line, he didn't say anything waiting for her to continue. "Rin…"

"Oh you're done. Can I get back to telling my story?"

"Of course…"

"Okay so anyway after you guys left I could hardly sleep. I cleaned the kitchen…oh that reminds me. Tell Kagome I cleaned the kitchen really well. I'll send her a picture." Inuyasha furrowed his eyebrows, why did she have to send a picture. "Anyway so I took a power nap then I got dressed. I wore this really cute black mini skirt. I mean you should have seen me. I had like a button down blouse over it, and my boots were…"

"Rin" he interrupted. "I don't care about that part of the story."

"Do you care about any part of the story?" She asked bluntly.

And he shook his head with a slight handsome grin on his face. "Not in the slightest." He admitted. He was just humoring her, wanting to somehow return to their normal.

"I know so just shut up so I can continue. If you don't care about any of it then what does it matter?" He thought about that realizing how true she was. "Anyway I bought Kagome all these awesome plants and I picked up some trees. You know to match the lemon one you bought. It's going to be awesome when you guys get back."

"Wait what…how many did you buy. You know Kagome doesn't like that."

"Oh I know but just because she doesn't like it doesn't mean it isn't good for her." Rin said quickly and he had no idea what that meant. "Anyway so back to my story I bought all these plants and just a couple of trees."

"How did you take them out of the store?" He asked knowing Rin's petit frame could never lift two indoor trees the size of the one he had bought.

"Jeez Inuyasha…I can't ever tell a fucking story with you. I just got a couple of guys to do it. They put all of them in the convertible." He thought about her response and he realized how foolproof it was. Rin was good at getting guys to help her with things. It was one of her super powers. He could imagine them doing it without much hassle too.

"And they fit in your convertible?"

"Barely, but the top was down so we stood them up, you should of seen the looks people were giving me."

"I can only imagine." He mumbled.

"Anyway I got a couple of guys to bring them up. Even the potted plants I could carry myself." She chuckled and he rolled his eyes. "But I left the biggest trees near the door and I called your brother to move it for me. I said it was too heavy." Inuyasha shook his head but he couldn't hide the humor from touching his lips. "So he came over…"

"Of course he did…"

"May I please tell the story…jeez is Kagome awake?" She asked but before he could answer her sarcastic question she jumped back in. "So yea he said he'd be there in ten minutes but he got there in eight. So he knocks on the door and as soon as I answer it he's all over me. Like I mean all over me…"

"Please spare me the sex with my brother details." He cut in.

"Inuyasha shut up…I didn't have sex, can you listen. We were just kissing and when we were about to you know do it. I stopped him again and I told him to get the plants." She said in a satisfied tone. "You should have seen his face. Anyway long story short he's getting us dinner reservations for this weekend. I'm so excited! I'm going to finally do it after dinner."

Inuyasha narrowed his eyes waiting for her to continue the story but he realized that she had in fact finished it. He didn't know exactly what he expected from one of Rin's stories. "So that's it? You're going to dinner with him this weekend. Congrats I can't believe you didn't freeze."

"Yeah… that's it, but if you were listening you'd realize that I have your brother wrapped around my finger." She said in a delighted tone. He heard her loudly crunch another chip on the other line making him roll his eyes at the whole situation. "I mean who would have thought my tricks would work on Sesshomaru…he's just…I'm shocked."

"Rin your tricks don't work." Inuyasha stated while grabbing his coffee again. "They never work, you just go around and flaunt yourself in front of men and they want to sleep with you. The only reason why my brother's going along with it is because for some strange reason he likes you." He said with a shrug.

She sat up at that. "Shut up that is so not true…"

"Yes it is. Take it from a guy…none of that works."

"Yes it does." She said quickly and she thought about a way to help prove her point. "They've always worked for me. They're ways to get guys to fall for you."

"Nope…"

"Yes...I'm living proof. They always work for me."

"Yeah...and I told you before, they don't. Guys just want to sleep with you."

"Okay, but then why when they realize I'm not going to just sleep with them all willy-nilly they don't give up? It's because I've trapped them." He interrupted again but she quickly cut in. "Have you slept with Kagome yet?" She bluntly asked knowing he hadn't. His words faded suddenly and he quickly grabbed the phone taking it off speaker. He glanced at Kagome who was still sleeping deeply. "I'm going to take that as a no." She said referring to the silence. "I bet you really really want to. But Kagome's trapped you without even knowing she has."

"Shut up Rin." He mumbled quietly. "Me and Kagome's situation is completely different than you and random guys."

"Yeah but it's not that different than Sesshomaru's and I." she said and he felt like he wanted to rebuff that but he didn't want to argue. He also didn't want to reveal too much to Rin either. How could he say that was wrong without admitting that he held Kagome and his relationship on a whole different sector? He just saw forever whenever he looked at her and he wasn't ready yet to tell anyone.

"Whatever…subject change"

"Okay how are you and Kagome doing anyway?" she asked and he thought about the question.

"Good…" he stated.

"In detail"

"Rin, we're fine." He now felt the need to hang up on her and just think things through for a moment. It wasn't until Rin began to whine did he realize something. "Hey Rin, why did you lie about Kagome and her sister's fiancé?" He asked and she widened her eyes remembering exactly what he was referring to. "It turns out that Kagome hasn't even met him…why would you…? Who lies about that?" He asked and Rin just tensed up a bit. "Rin…"

"Are you mad?" she asked and he thought about that then shrugged. Though he did feel a bit more relief go through him when he realized that it was in fact a lie. It wasn't that he thought Kagome would lie about knowing him. He didn't, he trusted her. He just…he was very territorial about things like that. "I lied because I wanted you to take her to her sister's wedding. I couldn't figure any other way to do it at the time. Also I didn't want you trying to sleep with Kagome. I mean you had already gotten her drunk and she was all over the place. Sitting on your lap…" she shrugged. "I had to improvise. Did you get in a fight?"

"No not really." He said after awhile. "Just wondering why you did it. I wanted to make sense of it, but obviously I realize there's no understanding. You're just bat shit crazy." He said casually and it only made him smile when he heard Rin laugh. "Anyway I'll tell Kagome you called…and stop eating. You won't fit into any dresses come this weekend." He joked and Rin mocked him by repeating his phrase but in a higher tone. She was going to make a rude comment as her retort but he hung up. She narrowed her eyes when she heard the dial tone.

"What a dick…" she whispered. She looked down at the bag of chips she was eating. She thought for a fragment of a second about what he said before rolling her eyes and putting another chip in her mouth. What the hell did he know?

!

!

25

She woke up around five in the morning. As soon as he saw her moving to sit forward he had this extreme feeling of complete satisfaction, but he hid it well. She sat up and yawned then pushed her hair band out of her hair. She let hands run through the waves of her hair before turning in her seat to face him. As soon as she saw him she smiled contently. "Hey…" She said and he turned pleased as well. "You're not tired? You drove all night."

"I did…" he said. "And you slept all night. I guess this jeep's comfortable." He joked and for some reason she blushed a bit. He watched her partially; the sun wasn't up just yet. It was peaking through the horizon making the sky a light indigo color. She pulled out her knap sack and pushed it on her lap grabbing her water bottle and a tube of medication from the bag. At first glimpse it looked like something for headaches. "You feeling okay?" He asked and she glanced up at his perfect figure.

"Yeah I'm fine…why?" she asked and he furrowed his eyebrows while smiling. It made him look so handsome but she stifled her own grin.

"Why…? because you're taking medication." She put two capsules in her mouth and sipped some water to chase it.

"Oh this…no this isn't medication." She said and there it was again that confused look he sometimes had. He mixed it with a slight gorgeous smile. "Well it is medication. It's for my OCD." She said and realization went through his features immediately. "You don't remember… I told you yesterday."

"No I did…I mean I do…I just." He hesitated for a moment. "You know when people say they have OCD…it's like self diagnosed." He said but it didn't take him by surprise at all that Kagome very clearly had the real thing. "So what you take that like every day."

"Yeah pretty much…" she said and he nodded though in reality he didn't really care. Well he did care, he cared about her, but the fact that she had OCD didn't deter him in the least. He just wanted to make conversation, he hadn't spoken to her in hours but it felt longer for some odd reason. Maybe that was one of the side effects of being in love with someone. He realized that his world felt a lot different now, but in a good way.

"What happens if you don't take it?" He asked and she just shrugged. She wondered why he was taking such an interest in her OCD all of a sudden.

"I just get really anxious." She said but that wasn't really just it. When she missed taking her medication it was like nothing was ever clean enough. Nothing was ever perfect enough, things needed to be altered in divisions of three. It was crazy; she was a bit crazy without her meds. She pulled out a binder from her knapsack and switched the papers around past the business section and to her calendar. He watched her, but didn't say a word. He loved renoticing things about her, knowing that now he could finally address them. She could see everything in her binder fairly well but not clearly without her reading glasses. She didn't do this often but she went into a separate pocket of her knapsack and pulled them out. Instead of putting them on she just placed them over top of the print for a moment writing something down.

"Your glasses…" he said and she turned to face him. He had a grin on his face. "I remember now. You used to wear glasses." He said and he didn't even have to look at her to see her face was flushed. She laughed a bit while putting them away. She recorded her medication time and closed the binder.

"Not really…" she mumbled. It was almost like she was trying to prove him wrong. Like she didn't want him knowing she really wore them. "They're reading glasses…and I really don't need them that bad. I mean my seeing isn't that bad. I just…I read a lot so my mom went ahead and bought them for me when I was younger. I can see…you know." She stuttered and the whole exchange had him laughing.

"You think I really care if you wear glasses?" He said and the statement shocked her. "I really couldn't care less…" he mumbled suddenly and the declaration had her stomach warm with happiness. What other flaws wouldn't he care about?

"How about my OCD?" She asked shyly and he turned to face her. She wasn't looking at him directly she had her eyes level to the seats, her hands playing with the leather. He smiled turning back to face the road for a moment. He took a hand from the steering wheel and dropped it to frame her face. He forced her to look up at him.

"Not in the slightest…." He whispered and she gave him a gorgeous grin. The look of it made his heart thump faster but he had to reluctantly drop the glance to look back at the road. She took the time to think of other flaws. She had a few other queries but the first one that kept creeping up was the biggest. Her virginity, and she just wasn't brave enough to bring it up, though she had a feeling he already knew. She had admitted she never had a boyfriend before; he would obviously connect the dots. "So are you hungry? When do you want to make a stop?" He asked and she looked forward at the GPS. They still had some ways to go but they were making good time.

"Anytime you do…if you're tired I could drive?" she said and he smiled at her declaration, but of course that wasn't going to happen. He didn't allow anyone to drive his cars.

"Uh no…" he stated bluntly and she looked up for a moment. He wasn't upset or frustrated. He just calmly sat in his seat staring forward as he drove. He could sense her staring at him and he turned around taking in her perplexed face. "I mean…I'm not tired." He lied. "I need to stop for gas soon and I could pee." He said and she laughed at that. "I know you could too…" He joked making her turn around. "You could pee right? I'm sure you're just holding it in." He watched as her face turned red and his smile just widened. "And then maybe we could stop for breakfast. I could eat, you could play with your food…and then off we go." He checked to see if she found his little tease funny and to his surprise she did. She was sitting flatly down and smiling while shaking her head. "I mean you must be starving." He said but she didn't say anything. "You sure you don't want to just try and eat anything. You took the medication."

"Yeah…" she stated but that was all she said. She went back for her knap sack and pulled out a small plastic bag. Inside were grapes. "I pack food." She said and he nodded. Of course she did. This was Kagome they were talking about. She was always precise and perfect in everything she did.

"I should have known."

"You really should have…you know nothing about me." She joked and he nodded though his smile faltered just a little. That was his sentiments exactly. Why did he feel like he didn't know as much as he should about her? He got in his left lane ready to exit the highway. He let himself perk up a bit. he was going to get to know more about her for the next few weeks. Actually when they got back he'd know more about her than her him.

"So I'm just going to go through a drive thru…since you're not eating right?" He asked and she nodded. He usually didn't allow eating in any of his cars, but if it was just him he'd permit it. Although he was one hundred percent sure when Kagome ate she never let a crumb slip. "Where do you prefer to use the bathroom, fast food restaurant or gas station?" He asked and both ideas sort of made her stomach flip in disgust but she put on a brave face. He was pulling into the gas station and she decided she might as well. Why have him stop when they could just go through the drive thru?

"Uh…here's good." She said and he found that shocking. He could have sworn she'd pick the restaurant. He stopped at a pump and she unbuckled her seat belt. She grabbed her bag but before she could go for the door he stopped her.

"Wait…" He said and she turned to face him. She was just as gorgeous as ever, she had taken her hair band off and her hair was wildly flowing every which way. She waited for him to speak but he just bent down to capture her lips. It was a simple kiss and when he rose up again she had the smallest most perfect smile on her face. "I haven't done that since…for a long time."

"Not that long…" She whispered.

"Long enough…"

Her grin just widened and she turned away as her stomach filled with butterflies. He watched her as she went, laughing when she stumbled forward. She turned around wanting to give him one last look, and to her surprise and delight he was just staring at her. The expression he had on his face especially just pleased her to no end. He just seemed…he looked like whenever he set eyes on her she was the only person in the world. That made her so ridiculously happy. "Do you want anything?" She asked and he let her words run through his mind and wake him from his daze.

"Uh actually…get me a coffee." He said though he'd probably order one with his breakfast in a few minutes.

"Black…" she called out knowingly and all he had was a grin for her. She returned it turning again to head for the entrance. He let his eyes watch her slight figure for a moment longer till she was out of view. He then stood up to fill the tank. As soon as he got out of the jeep he felt the exhaustion. His mind was alert but his body was stiff from sitting in the same position for hours. He could use a break, but he only had a few hours left. He fed the fill spout gas, his mind on other things, mostly her, but that was a given. When she returned his senses were so down from exhaustion he hadn't heard her calling his name. "Hey…" She whispered going around to face him on the other side. "Are you okay?" He rubbed his eyes slightly. She had placed her hair in a perfect bun letting her striking features on display. She actually seemed genuinely concerned when she looked him over.

"I'm fine…I'm good." He said but she wasn't bought.

"You sure you can drive?" She asked and he nodded checking the gas pump. It was around forty dollars. He didn't drive his jeep often but he recalled it taking around fifty to sixty dollars to fill up completely. "You want to go somewhere…so you can sleep?" She asked although they seem to be on the cusp of some town, and it literally made her skin crawl at the thought of renting a hotel there. Although she was sure there were some decent ones, although she'd have to clean before settling in completely, and that would just keep him up. Also she wasn't over her shyness at being left in that close of a vicinity with him. He was tired though, she just didn't understand why she couldn't drive. She didn't want to bring it up. He seemed pretty set in his ways earlier.

"Don't hurt yourself." He said while putting the pump away and twisting shut the fill spout. She looked up not understanding but as soon as she took in his overly handsome teasing smirk she knew exactly what he meant. She had been standing and thinking for a solution for some time now. "I think I'm fine though, really, just spacey."

"I'm not too sure." She said but he ignored the statement. He got in the car spotting the coffee she bought him. He lifted it bringing it to his lips while she went back around to the passenger seat. It wasn't until she sat down did he quickly bring the cup down.

"I forgot I have to take a piss…" He bluntly stated and she watched as he reopened the jeep door.

"Hey um Inuyasha…" She whispered grabbing him softly by the forearm. He quickly turned around taking her in. She left her hand on his arm but reduced her grip, he never knew such a soft touch to affect him so much but it warmed him. "You sure you don't just want me to drive?" She said with a shrug. "You could sleep for a bit."

"If you want go ahead." He said and the words shocked him immediately. It was like his mouth was moving on its own. He didn't let anyone drive any of his cars, and the jeep was his least favorite out of them all. He was just extremely particular when it came to them, and it was crazy that he just willingly gave in just like that. All she had to do was put a hand on his arm gently and make that face and he was butter. He stared at her watching her full lips break into a smile. She said a few things but he tuned her out in complete disbelief. She leaned forward as he thought of a way to back track what he just said. He thought about saying something like. 'Actually I change my mind; I'm fine to drive.' Something nice and easy going, but when she leaned forward and slipped herself up to kiss him on the lips all thoughts disappeared. She had both hands on the driver seat to pick her up and when she had enough support she placed another on the frame of his face and just like that he lost it. He pulled her by the waist quickly moving her from her side to his. He could feel her surprise in the kiss, her mouth widening a bit. It just made him smile and when he backed away he handed her the keys. HE HANDED HER THE KEYS! There was something to be said about love. It fucked with people's personalities.

"Thanks…" she said and he gave her a half smile as he backed away to head to the gas station. The only thing on his mind rapidly was 'did I just do that' over and over again.

A couple of minutes passed when he returned. He pulled open the passenger side seeing her adjust the seat to fit her height. He didn't know why that upset him but it did. He of course hid it. When she turned to face him all smiles, whatever frustration he was feeling left completely. What the hell was going on with him? He was usually a very assertive person. He didn't hide how he was feeling well. If he didn't like something he didn't hesitate to tell the person, but he couldn't bring himself to just openly say; 'hey Kagome I don't like people driving my car.' Kagome was very frankly not people. She started the car after awhile and widened her eyes when it roared to life. He just watched her as she put a foot to the gas. The car propelled forward forcing her to clump down on the brake quickly to stop it. The whole scene had them thrusting forward and banging back. He gave her a concerned look mixed with apparent anger. "Kagome…" He snapped.

She laughed for a moment turning to face him. His frustrations relinquished completely. "I'm so sorry it's just this car's so big, and I'm really rusty at driving. I haven't driven a car since like forever…" she said. He broke out into a slight smile though he was still not completely bought. Her words didn't help ease him at all.

"Well please…just…just go easy." He said and she nodded. She put her foot gently on the gas and the jeep took off extremely slow. "Not that easy…" He said and he had the overwhelming urge to just tell her to pull over so he could take the wheel. He couldn't believe he was giving driving lessons in one of his cars. She took a right at the gas station's exit.

"Okay, I'll just drive across the street to the restaurant right?" she assured and he narrowed his eyes looking at her perfect profile.

"What do you mean you'll just drive across? You know there are two lanes of ongoing traffic?" He asked and she turned giving him a look. His tone was filled with so much sarcasm, nowhere near what she expected. "Keep your eyes on the road."

"Sorry…sorry…" She mumbled quickly looking both ways. "Of course I know not to just drive across. There's no median. I have to drive down first then make a 'u' turn. I do have a driver's license you know."

He nodded though he didn't feel as if an apology was warranted. She turned right when the way was clear and continued driving till she got to a stop light. She then merged into the left lane and hit the break a bit too hard making them both jolt forward. "Kagome I swear…" He snapped and there it was that tone again but it was harsher now.

"I'm sorry…" she said again and he looked away from her. Outside at the passing cars then forward at the light, none of them said a word and she felt the car become tense. "I didn't think it would stop like that."

"Yeah well its brand new…the brakes are new. You don't need too much pressure." He said and she just nodded. He didn't say anymore and when the light turned green she made one of the worst 'u' turns he had ever experienced. He would have said something but when he heard her laughing a bit his anger subsided. He should have been extremely pissed though. She was destroying his car and laughing about it.

"I'm sorry…" she said again obvious humor in her voice. "It's just…so big…like even bigger then my grandpa's pick up." She said and he narrowed his eyes but in total confusion not anger. He didn't get the reference at all, which just reminded him of how little he knew about her. She still had that overly innocent smile on her face making her look amazingly gorgeous. She turned into the restaurant and went for the drive thru.

"Go easy when you're rounding the corner." He told her and she actually headed his warning. She stepped off the gas and let it creep towards the short line. He had no idea if she was mocking him or if she seriously was trying to take his advice. She crept extremely slow and stopped a few paces from the car ahead. "Kagome…you know what I mean." He said stealing a glimpse at her. There was that smile again. Did she know how seriously he took this?

She inched a little further in line before rotating a bit to face him. "So what do you want?" she asked. "I'll order for you." He sat up at that and shifted to the right. He wasn't much in the mood for eating anymore but he held in his annoyance, why, he had no idea. If he was feeling at odds he should have just admitted it. But whenever she set her eyes on him he felt like he was just exaggerating. She moved up to the microphone and said hellos to a faceless voice "Is that okay?" She reassured quickly and he just nodded sitting back in his seat. She looked over at the menu knowing that they were only serving breakfast at this time. "Hi can I have a bottle of water and a number eight." She said.

"Do you want another drink with the meal or the water to subsitute the drink?" The voice asked

She turned around to face him and he just shook his head. "I already have the coffee so…" She turned back around declining the offer. He kept his eyes on her as she turned forward and released the gas gently. They moved slowly forward making it to the window. She turned around wanting to get her knap sack but he stopped her. "Don't worry about it. I have it." He said knowing she was trying to pay. He went for his wallet in his back pocket and she turned around to face the cashier.

It was a teenage boy about eighteen and when she set her eyes on him he stood straight and smiled widely. She didn't notice the exchange in the least. She was turning to check how far along Inuyasha was with the money when he went out of his way to say hello to her. She turned around and nodded. "Do you want any sort of sauce or anything?" He asked and she smiled simply making him freeze up a bit.

"Uh no…I think it's just a breakfast sandwich, but if you have the water bottle now that would be nice." He nodded quickly and took a sharp left to bow down and get it for her. When she turned to face Inuyasha he had the cash in his hands openly staring at the scene for a moment. She acted almost like she had no idea the cashier found her attractive. If it were Rin she'd use the situation to her advantage, but in order to do that you'd have to know when someone was interested. Something told him that things like that went over Kagome's head completely. He automatically decided that was just another one of the things he loved about her. She was so different than the other women he dated or even knew, so overly innocent yet ridiculously sexy at the same time.

He passed her the bottled water and she sat it on her lap, she turned to get the money from Inuyasha casually. The cashier was readily passing food through the window to please her, though she hadn't yet given him any sort of payment. She turned back around shocked to see the food waiting for her. "I think you need this first." She said politely.

He laughed nervously. "Yeah…my apologies," she seemed confused that he'd be saying sorry. She grabbed her small bag of food while taking the change.

"Don't worry about it but um…do I still have to go to the second window?" She asked and just like that the nervous laughing continued on his part.

"No sorry…I was supposed to just get the money you just…you seemed like you were in a hurry." She shook her head for a moment. "I mean I wanted to um…I wanted to get the food out quick to you." He said and she smiled whispering her thanks. She turned around to pass the food to Inuyasha. She didn't sport any knowing facial expressions, not even a sly smirk Rin sometimes had when she got her way because of her looks. It reminded him of Rin's story earlier and it pleased him to know that after all this time Rin had yet to get to her.

"Thank you…no I'm in no hurry, but it was a very nice gesture." She said and she waved him off before hitting the gas a little too hard. The car propelled forward past the second window, luckily no obstacles were in front so when she zoomed forward there was no true harm done. He still busted out of his love base daze in order to take a huge sigh of annoyance. "I'm really sorry…" she said again. "Do you want to drive…I know I'm annoying you. But if I drove for a bit longer I'd be able to get the hang of it."

He contemplated it letting his other thoughts disappear just like that. He was so hung up on thoughts about her at the moment, reasons why he could never be with anyone else. Reasons why he loved her so much, it just made him extremely protective and defensive like he didn't want anyone altering anything about her. And even though the opposite sex was obviously tying with no avail or hope to get her attention. He wasn't in the slightest upset or jealous. He was just thinking about how she alway seem to keep that innocent gleam in her eyes. The idea that smarts, kindness, and hard work were what prevailed in life. He didn't want her like the rest. And those feelings only intensified knowing that Rin had changed her outside, but she was still so remarkably beautiful on the inside. He realized that for the first time was what attracted him in a woman, not just her appearance.

Those thoughts clouded his mind at the moment, just by that single exchange with a cashier. The whole thing was ridiculous and he knew it, but it was one of those hang ups that came with being in love. "What…" she said after awhile. She had driven successfully out into the main road and was heading for the highway. She put a hand to her face wondering why he was just absentmindedly staring at her. "There's something on my face?" she asked while shifting to look at him.

"No, of course not." He mumbled and she narrowed her eyes at the weirdness of the situation. She kept focus on the road thinking about the look he gave her. It wasn't until she got to the light leading to the freeway did she realize something.

"Did you want to drive?" She asked again thinking maybe that's what had him on edge. He got yet again awoken from his trance and he turned around slightly. "Do you? Is that what's wrong or…"

"No…Kagome not at all go ahead. Get a hang of it." He joked and it made her smile. He loved seeing her smile, and if all he had to do was let her drive to see it then he was all for it. She sat forward and he watched as she merged onto the Highway. She drove smoothly to his surprise and after a moment of silence he was able to eat his food and slowly ready himself to sleep. He put a hand to the side of the passenger seat. "I'm going to go ahead and sleep now. Don't hesitate to wake me…you know if you need anything. If you get tired, if you need help." She nodded and turned to face him. She had a very reassuring grin on her gorgeous face, and it made him nod. He really wanted to kiss her at that moment, but he decided against it. Instead he moved the seat back and laid himself down. It didn't take long at all for him to fall asleep.

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Rin POV

It was early in the afternoon and she was getting that edgy feeling again. She sometimes got it when she was extremely interested in someone, but now of course the feeling was about ten times intensified. She had to actually physically fight to keep it at bay. She told herself about twenty times she just could not and should not call Sesshomaru. She had already made the first call after their date. She already invited him over yesterday and tempted him with sex, now she had to give him time to yearn for her. But even with all her knowledge and know how, there she was pacing Kagome's kitchen with her phone in hand. She had already called Ayame telling her to come over, but still even if she was well enough, it would take at least two hours for her to drive over there. What was going to keep her from making a huge mistake before that?

She stared at the phone for a moment wanting to desperately make the call, but instead at the last minute she dialed up Kagome's number. Hopefully she could deter her from calling him for a bit longer. The phone rang only a couple times before Kagome answered in a whisper. Rin scrunched her eyebrows a bit but decided to jump right in. "Kagome what the hell…I've been calling you like crazy."

"Sshh Sshh…" She warned putting an actual finger to her lips. Inuyasha was lying back in his seat sleeping. His hands were resting behind her neck and he was faced completely forward. Even in his sleep he was sinfully handsome and sometimes when she turned to look down at him she stared for a bit too long. This time she easily focused her eyes back on the road. With Rin on the phone she couldn't exactly daydream.

"Why are you shushing me…are you crazy?"

"No…no…Inuyasha's sleeping. I don't want to wake him up." She whispered and it made Rin roll her eyes yet she was a bit intrigued. Why every time she called one of them the other was always sleeping? "Maybe I can just call you back…"

"No way…" Rin said quickly. "What are you doing? Are you guys at some hotel…oooh together, in the same bed?" Rin asked fascinated and it made Kagome's cheeks turn a dark red. "You were supposed to call and tell me if anything happened."

"No…" Kagome whispered harshly it made Inuyasha's body jolt a tad bit but ultimately he relaxed himself in the same position. "Sshh please Rin I don't want him over hearing, and no…we're driving. We still have a little ways to go, but unfortunately we're almost there." Kagome whispered and the joke made Rin smile a bit but then the full gravity of her words seeped in and she widened her eyes.

"YOU'RE DRIVING INUYASHA'S CAR!" She shouted and Kagome had to push the phone from her ear. Inuyasha twitched and turned over on his side. She was relieved he didn't wake but on the same token upset he turned away from her view. "Oh my gosh….Inuyasha doesn't let anyone drive his cars! ANYONE!" Rin cooed for a moment and danced a bit in the kitchen. "I swear when you guys get back I'll be planning your wedding."

Although she was annoyed she let a smile show on her lips. "Yeah right…" she mumbled though the whole idea had her stomach all warm and tingly. "I bet he's let a lot of people drive before."

"Nope…no one…I mean no one." She interrupted and that just had her already tingling stomach stinging with happiness. "Did he suggest it or did you? Was he upset at all? I need details Kagome details…."

"I don't know Rin. He was tired from driving all night so I took the wheel. Come to think of it he was a bit upset…" she said while thinking over his reaction. "But it was mostly because I'm not the best driver. I mean I'm not bad but I'm out of practice. Literally not counting your Prius that I drove for all of five minutes…I haven't driven since I was sixteen."

"Wow …Kagome, Inuyasha really likes you. Like forever likes you…." Kagome's smile widened and Rin couldn't help but coo loudly again.

"Rin please…you'll wake him. He's been up all night." She whispered and Rin just rolled her eyes before taking a seat on a stool. "How's the apartment? Can you send me a picture?"

"Way ahead of you, if you'd answer your phone you'd see I cleaned the kitchen and took angle pictures like you asked and I also bought the plants." Kagome smiled at that feeling a bit reassured. Rin could hear her sigh of relief on the other line. She found the whole thing strange though, but that was Kagome. Her OCD had her doing the weirdest things. "Anywho the real reason I called was to tell you about Sesshomaru but I guess I can talk to you about that later."

"Yeah I think that would be smart. I don't want to wake up Inuyasha." Kagome mumbled and Rin sighed loudly over the phone.

"I'm trying to wait to sleep with him after our dinner date this weekend…but I wanna do it now." Rin admitted bluntly. Her frankness had Kagome's face turning red. "I need another angle. I mean I invited him here yesterday morning and he helped with the plants, but we didn't do it so…"

"Wait you invited him to the apartment?" Kagome asked incredulously. "Please Rin I'm begging you... don't have sex with Sesshomaru or anyone on the living room couch or my room…oh and the kitchen." Rin furrowed her eyebrows a little confused.

"What…you are so weird…no…no one's having sex in the kitchen." She laughed and Kagome chuckled herself. "No we just kissed…but maybe I should go check out his apartment. I don't know see how the other half lives." Rin mumbled getting an idea. "Hey do you know where Sesshomaru lives?"

"Uh…" Kagome thought about that for a moment. "I might have his address on some files in the loft study." Kagome mumbled while staring forward at the road. "Oh and I don't mean to offend you about the sex thing it's just that…."

"Yeah yeah…I know OCD blah blah…I'll call you back I just got an idea." Rin said and Kagome was about to interrupt when she heard the dial tone. She looked down at her phone in shock before letting it slip carefully in one of the cup holders.

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25

She stared at herself in the mirror one more time before leaning in to touch up her eye makeup. She had on a miniature long sleeve baby doll dress that synched at the waist and flowed while flaring only to the top of her thighs. To combat the cold she wore stockings and knee length boots. It was officially spring but the weather wasn't entirely warm yet, it would take a couple more weeks to warm up. The dress was technically last season but it had this gorgeous reddish brass color to it that she found was lively enough for the spring. She had her hair in a wavy half up ponytail and she was staring once more in the mirror. The dress had been a contender for their date come Saturday but she had two others line up so she was willing to debut it now.

She took one last look at herself and headed out of the guestroom bathroom and down the hall. She grabbed a sharp yellow rather long envelope from the kitchen counter along with her purse and headed out of the apartment. She could feel this being an extremely bad idea but on same token when she got there at least she'd have an excuse. She'd just say Kagome wanted her to drop off this file. She ran over her words carefully in her head as she locked up and headed for the elevators.

She wondered how his apartment looked, was it like Inuyasha's? What if he didn't live in an apartment? What if he lived in a house of some sorts, she knew in a city this size there weren't really any houses anywhere close by. Only condos, she wondered if that's where he lived, in a massive size condo. Would it be clean? Was he even a clean person? Growing up she remembered him being very organize, Inuyasha was the slob. It made her smile when she thought about Kagome's reaction when she found that out. She allowed the elevators to open and walked in. She let her mind get consumed with thoughts of him, the excitement of seeing him again, she didn't wake up fully till the doors leading outside were held open for her.

She said her thankyous while rummaging through her purse for the convertible keys. She found them and took a deep breath. She walked forward unlocking the door and heading to the guest lot. As she strolled she placed the yellow envelope in front of her face reading the address on the front of it. She didn't know where that was, but she had a GPS on her phone. She knew he lived only about ten minutes away so she wouldn't be driving too far. The excitement over took her a bit and when she got to her car she very quickly scooted in and started it. She backed away for a moment only pausing to put the coordinates in her phone. She wasn't at all surprised that the distance was listed at around ten to fifteen minutes away.

She took one last look at herself in the review mirror and began her drive. The whole trip was just a straight route north. She passed his branch of Takashi Corporation around the five minute marker. It almost looked identical to Inuyasha's yet it seemed positioned differently and slightly bigger. It had her wondering, what if he was at work? What if he decided to run to the office? It wasn't an Inuyasha thing to do, but it sure was a Sesshomaru thing. He seemed devoted to his work, and even though he had a few weeks off she could fully see him going in for a few hours. If she drove all the way to his apartment and realized he wasn't there she'd be slightly embarrassed. Maybe she should call…then again that would just land her in the same predicament she was moments before. She could not be the first to call yet again.

She took another deep breath. "Get yourself together Rin…you have a story…" She mumbled and with that one thought going through her head she prevailed. She easily drove the rest of the way pulling up to a large glass building with personal roof top terraces lining each one of the penthouse suits. Her GPS said she was in the right area, her destination should be on her right, yet it seemed like she was at some fancy hotel. She allowed herself to park near the entrance, which comprised of just two lone glass double doors and two uniformed doormen. She checked the address on the envelope with the one on her GPS. She was at the right place it seemed like, she was about to check the name of the building when she heard rapping on her door.

She turned around to see one of the doormen trying to get her attention. She put her window down. "Hello ma'am…" he said and she lifted both her eyebrows. "You can't just park here. This is for residents to come in and out." She nodded realizing there weren't any other cars on this side of the street.

"Gotcha" she said with a nod and a pleasant smile. "I'm actually here visiting so…."

"Oh are you, do you need valet?" He asked and she widened her eyes in shock. She let her mouth repeat silently the words 'valet…' Wasn't it all just a bit too indulgent?

"Yeah…when in Rome right?" She said while unbuckling her seat belt and grabbing her things. She unlocked the door but to her surprise the man opened it for her. She seemed a bit stunned by the whole exchange. She steered out of the car and out onto the city sidewalk. There was a little canopy over head meeting the door and although she grew up in an extremely lavish lifestyle. Actually in the same neighborhood as the Takashi's she didn't over indulge in the aspect. She stood up looking around before heading for the entrance of the building. The doormen easily opened it for her and she smiled saying her thanks and walking in further. There were another set of doors and they opened easily as well. She looked around, the lobby was filled with golden furnishing, polished marbled floors, and tall gothic ceilings. She widened her eyes taking in everything. In the middle of the humongous lobby was a huge spiral staircase only reserved for old style mansions. She gulped setting her eyes on the front desk and away from the décor. She walked further making it to the receptionist in the front. Why did she feel like she was at some five star hotel than someone's condo?

The woman smiled forward at her and she did the same. "Hello ma'am how can I assist you today?"

"Hi…I think I'm in the wrong place. I'm here trying to drop something off." She put down the big manila envelope and the woman turned it over looking at the name. Realization shown immediately and she widened her eyes her face filling with color instantly. She was a tall brunette attractive enough but probably in her early thirties.

"Nope you're in the right place. I'll see to it that Mr. Takashi gets this…anything else I can do for you." Rin narrowed her eyes and rolled them for a moment. She wasn't sure if she should see this woman as a threat but she wasn't too impressed by her. When it came to Sesshomaru she had other gorgeous models to compete with, just because this woman worked in his building and looked to be about five eight didn't automatically intimidate her.

"I was hoping to give it to him personally. It's very important." She pulled the envelope from her and the woman seemed a bit surprised. She kept a very pleasant smile on her face though.

"Mr. Takashi doesn't like to be disturbed." She said.

"I know all about when he likes to be disturbed…I know him personally." She said and that had the woman pausing. She gave her a quick once over before stepping back and dialing down a short number towards the back. It didn't take long for Sesshomaru to answer and when he did Rin widened her eyes. She stepped forward wanting to hear.

"Hello Mr. Takashi it's the front desk." The woman said and she waited for him to show some approval. He did with a sarcastic "yes I know…you're buzzing me at the moment. Who else could it be?" Rin smiled and she knew in that instant this woman just had an infatuation and nothing more was going on. "There is a woman here for you she has an important file for you. She wants to come up, can I allow this."

"Is she on the list of people?" He asked knowingly. And the woman's face drained of color. "Did you ask?"

"She said it's very important." He sighed.

"Okay well at least ask her for her name. I'm busy."

The woman turned to face Rin and she thought of something to say. "Uh…Kagome…" She said quickly and the woman nodded relaying the information to Sesshomaru. She waited for his response hoping it wasn't excited or happy. Although with Sesshomaru that would be a stretch.

"No that's impossible." Sesshomaru stated. He had no emotion besides disbelief in his voice. "Describe her to me…"

"Excuse me…" The woman asked in doubt. Rin took the time to go around the booth and grab the phone from the woman. She seemed so shock at the notion she couldn't even use her tall built to fight back.

"You heard me…describe her…."

"Oh of course…" Rin said with a giggle. "She's tall, long black hair…." She made sure her voice was high and girly. It didn't for a second fool Sesshomaru; he of course had his doubts. Also the voice was extremely cartoonish and it just reminded him of yesterday. A slight grin played at his lips and he sat back in his seat.

"Of course...my apologies go ahead and send her up." He said and Rin made a face to the woman beside her. She had crossed her arms and didn't look anywhere near as pleased as she was seconds ago. And although she was happy at the outcome of her trick she was a bit jealous. Why would Sesshomaru just let her up all Willy nilly because she was Kagome. The notion frustrated her, what if he wasn't over her? She let the thought rise a bit while grabbing her things and walking forward towards the spiral stair case. She noticed right away an elevator to either side of it. Behind the stairs was a sign pointing towards where a restaurant, café, and theater were. What type of apartment complex was this? She followed the room number on the yellow envelope up to the top floor. He lived on a pent house suite, of course. As soon as she left the doors her stomach began twisting like it had moments ago and she recited her words from before.

"Rin you have it all planned out…Rin you have it all planned out." She froze next to his section of the hall. Each door was widely sectioned telling her the inside of each condo would be massive. She walked down the creamed walls getting to the dark wooden doors. She took a deep breath and repeated her words for a moment. She wondered when her nervousness would fade around him. She knew she wouldn't freeze up but her emotions would jump and leap excessively once he opened the door. She fixed herself for a moment readying herself to knock but before she could the door opened.

"Oh hello what a pleasant surprise Kagome. I would have thought you'd be halfway to your hometown with my brother." He said sarcastically and Rin widened her eyes. Lifting her eyebrows and letting emotion rip through her. Sesshomaru stood there. He had dark gray slacks on but not much else. No button down, no tie, no undershirt just his bare chest. His face was its usual strikingly gorgeous appearance yet he had amusement in his beautiful golden eyes. "Would you like to come in?" He asked stepping back and allowing her access.

She didn't say anything but he was used to that. He always allowed Rin about five minutes to get her emotions at bay when she saw him. That childhood crush she had on him never exactly went away and she still stood stunned whenever he first appeared. In the past he found the whole thing idiotic and annoying, now he found it extremely adorable, something that helped brand her. She walked in and he allowed his eyes to sweep over her.

She looked gorgeous in an overly innocent yet shockingly sexy way. She wore a replica of a child's dress. It was miniature on her, tightening at her waist before flaring at the top of her thighs. She had only a light black pair of stockings to combat the cold and heeled boots. She was gorgeous and he shouldn't have been nearly as shocked as he was at the moment. Whenever he saw her she looked amazing. She had a way with clothes, he understood that about her now. Her sense of style seemed to change but stay extremely shape fitting to her petite frame. Half of her hair was up away from her features but the other half lied down at the top of her shoulders to frame her face. She walked into his condo looking around and at no point did she make any move to engage him. She seemed stuck in the open room in itself.

In front of her was a wall made entirely of glass. She could see the whole city from it. The floor was a dark ebony wood and he had no type of homey rug of sorts or couches to give the place a warm vibe. Everything just stood cold, perfect and beautiful, just like him. A baby grand piano the same dark brown as the floors sat in the center. He had a few white columns that resembled some ancient Greek contraption. On the right was a dining area with a long wooden table and beautiful cushioned chairs. The only colors in the massive room were large paintings hung on the surrounding walls. She walked further in, his apartment looked like some high end art gallery, she wasn't sure if she was allowed to touch anything.

On the far right were a couple of stairs that went around the whole rounded room and led in to the rest of the apartment, but she was still stuck on this current room. She turned around a bit to get a further view and that's when she saw him staring at her. He looked amazingly handsome, his gorgeous physique was on display but it only stunned her for a moment. She was still stuck on the room. "You like the apartment?" He asked taking her in for a moment longer. She searched her mind for actual words to say.

"So…wow…. You um…you actually live here?" She asked and to her surprise he actually laughed a bit before moving forward. He didn't answer her question instead he walked forward and put two hands on her hips bringing her close. He leaned down capturing her lips immediately and she felt those emotions bubble up again and like always she kissed back but it was her vigor that always drove him insane. It made it so extremely hard to keep his own emotions at bay. He was usually fairly good at that but she always enacted something in him. He lifted her slightly bringing her closer and deepening the kiss. Just when his heart began pumping and his heat flared she rested a hand on his chest and pushed gently. That's how he knew she wanted him to stop and he reluctantly lowered her. He set her down trying to simmer his emotions but she seemed fine. She put a hand to her full lips then turned to walk further into his foyer. She could hear her heels clicking on the floors and echoing throughout the room. His apartment wasn't real…it didn't seem like anyone lived here. All they did was walk around, take a seat on some of his lone cornering regal burgundy chairs and talked about the pieces of art that surrounded it.

He let his eyes take in her frame; it didn't take him too long to realize what she was doing. He had two nights of her little game already. There would be no sex and although he should have been a bit more annoyed by the idea. He let his blood simmer and realized he was far more pleased she was here than anything else. "I hope the front didn't give you too much trouble." He said walking forward to meet her. "Sometimes they can be a bit incompetent. I don't use the lobby often."

She looked up at him. She had her eyes on a painting to the far right and she was steering towards his massive fire place sitting adjacent to his piano. "No they were fine…I mean the woman…." She admitted she let one of her gorgeously adorable smiles take over her face. He loved her grin. It just reminded him how much of a catch she was. So gorgeous yet in a very approachable light, not much like the other women he usually dated. She had personality and charisma, she wasn't stiff or tiresome, the way she did things and the passion in which she did it warmed him. "She could have been a lot nicer…I mean she acted like she owned you or something."

He smiled as she walked forward and put a hand on some of the exposed brick surrounding the fireplace. "Did she now?" He said and she could tell he was just humoring her. Sometimes he did that. "You should take my personal exit when you leave." She looked up and he could see the shock on her face. He loved when she seemed stunned or surprised by something her wide eyes would double in size making her look extremely youthful. It was one of the reasons he didn't mind too much when she froze in front of him.

"You have your own personal exit?" She asked a smile on her face. She tipped her head to the side almost as if she didn't believe it.

"Of course it's an elevator that leads to my own garage…I take my car in the morning and leave." He said and she nodded, almost as if nothing could surprise her now. All her emotions could genuinely be read on her perfect face but at times when she played those little games that she seemed so very fond of she hid them. And he realized as he watched her raise her eyes to the ceiling that either way he loved her expressions.

She had a purse hanging on her forearm and a long solid manila envelope pressed up against her breast. "Is that for me?" He asked looking down at it. Rin looked over at him then down at his view of the envelope.

"Oh yeah…" she mumbled walking forward. "Kagome told me to send this over to you." She watched his expression when mentioning her name but just like she realized earlier. Sesshomaru was on to her game. He always was and when he had told her to come right up through the speaker in the lobby he had known it was her. There was no shock no excitement. No emotion at all on his face but that was typical for him. He usually only showed cynicism but sometimes he did genuinely laugh or smile at her and it made her whole body warm up and filled her stomach with so much gleeful butterflies. Sometimes she could swear that he only reserved those genuine emotions for her.

He took the envelope and opened it looking inside. He didn't do much with it because he knew exactly what it was. It was a packet filled with files he had sent Kagome weeks prior when he got back from the trip. She had filled out most of it and faxed it to him to avoid mailing it back. He stared at the envelope then back at Rin. She was running her hands through the design work of the piano. She had literally went into Kagome's personal paper work looked for anything that had his address on it, found it and drove herself here. For what? He had absolutely no idea because he already knew she wasn't willing to have sex. Not yet anyway. She would continue to have him thinking about her relentlessly until he'd realize that when it came to her, sex was the last thing really on his mind. He wanted so much more than that and it scared him but in a good way. He couldn't believe such an immature game could really work so marvelously but he also understood that it only worked because he had decided to play along. "So that's what Kagome said huh…" He asked as she sat herself on the piano's stool.

He walked over to her leaning on it and watching her. She pressed a few of the keys playfully and he just smiled. "Did you check the return address Rin?" He asked and she looked up at him. "I'm the one who sent it to her…" He put a hand indicating that exactly and he was surprise to see a bright gorgeous grin take over her face. She wasn't even surprised or shocked just amused.

"Is that so…" she asked shocking him even more when all of a sudden she played a jolting upbeat tune on the piano. He looked down at her as she removed her hands from the keys. "I guess I accidently took the wrong file." She shrugged and began playing something else. It sounded like the theme song heard when first entering a carnival. She played it for a moment longer and then grew bored immediately.

"You play piano?" He asked and he didn't even try to hide his shock or how impressed he was at the notion.

She could tell just by the slight rise of his eyebrows. "Well I hope I do or I don't know what that just was." She said and he let one of his genuinely handsome grins illuminate his features before putting the file down. "So what are you doing…you know besides walking around your museum of a condo with no shirt on." She said looking down at his immaculate body. "I would have pegged you as a robe man…"

"Well you would have pegged right…" He said turning away from her. She rose from her seat and followed him. He had a little wet bar to her left and she could have sworn he'd go over there. Offer her a drink but instead he climbed up the two stairs and walked further into the apartment. She followed quickly wanting to look further around. As soon as she left she entered another large room. The glass windowed walls followed into the room but extended to the ceilings. The back wall had industrial brick showing that clashed with the contemporary but gorgeously. The floors were still that amazing ebony but the room was actually a living area. Though it wasn't very comforting, he still had paintings lining the walls. Some white sculptures off to the corner. A dark handmade beautiful burgundy rug on the ground with a leather deep brown couch set over top of it. She widened her eyes going towards it, and although he was heading upstairs to his room and he hoped she followed he hesitated for a moment.

"That's gorgeous…" she mumbled and he would of thought she meant one of the paintings or sculptures, maybe even the entertainment section that housed a massive size flat screen TV, but none of that got her attention. Instead she lowered herself on the ground and rubbed the rug. "Who's the designer…this is…it's beautiful."

He smiled walking into the room. He rarely used it, he spent most of his time in the office, kitchen, or his room. "You know what I'm not entirely sure. I had this place designed by an interior decorator. He found most of the pieces. I supplied the art…"

"Yeah and this had to be part of the art you supplied…I mean this rug…" She said and he couldn't hide his content much longer. A rug, that had her attention. Out of all the things around her, he wasn't sure if it was too early in their relationship to admit he adored her insufferably. "Its hand stitched isn't it?" She asked knowingly and he crouched down near her and instead of answering he put a hand to her chin making her emotions flare and all thought disappear. He lowered himself to kiss her and as soon as their lips touched there was that fire she always seem to sport. It made kissing her extremely enjoyable and he didn't really feel as if he needed much more. Not until she poured more passion in and all he could think about was getting her alone, naked. But he ended it before she could cause that kind of fire to ignite.

"Let's go upstairs." He whispered and like always her legs felt like jelly and she wanted to just grab hold of him and let him carry her where ever he wanted her to go, but she knew better. And ironically so did he. He knew she'd say no, but it never stopped him from asking.

"Yeah…" she whispered back and he raised an eyebrow showing actual shock which was extremely rare for him. "So you can show me a tour of the rest of your apartment." She said and he smiled a bit looking away.

"Of course…" He said rising up. She turned around and followed him. "This is the living room…over here." He said exiting the room to go towards the right. "Is part of the kitchen…it's a breakfast nook." She turned around seeing a circular wooden table with cream colored drapery on top. It housed two chairs on either side. Behind it he had a gorgeous wooden antique china cabinet with glass doors. Off to the side were two French doors leading further into the kitchen. "Over here further…" He said walking further down the spacious halls. He passed a door to his left which she could see was a very large half bathroom. He led her further into the kitchen revealing all its modern open contemporary glory. She just mouthed a wow and he could see she was impressed. "It was beautiful before I had it remodeled. You can only imagine the resell value." She turned to face him at that but he quickly turned away. All the walls surrounding the left were just glass showing the city. He had somewhat of an open entertainment center and another dining area. The whole room was just another place to show case art, and one of the most gorgeous pieces was the double staircase he had in the center of the room. "And this is the elevator. I was talking about it earlier…you didn't seem to believe me." He said showing her the door to his left.

She smiled and shook her head. "What is that…" she asked and he looked up realizing she meant the double staircase.

"This is a set of stairs…is this your first time ever laying eyes on one?" He asked sarcastically and Rin laughed immediately making his own cynical grin turn just a bit genuine. "Do you want to go up?"

"Uh of course how could I pass off an offer like that? It'll make me feel like a princess." She joked and although growing up all the houses in her neighborhood had double staircases she was still struck blind at the fact that this one was in a pent house suite. It had her feeling all kinds of giddy. She walked forward following behind him but as soon as she began the climb she realized there was some sort of tunnel behind the staircase. "Okay wait…what's down here?" She asked and he turned to look at her. She back tracked and walked in between the two stairs.

"Oh that's sort of my little recreational center." He said and she nodded a bit excited to see just exactly what Sesshomaru did in his leisure time. In Inuyasha's recreational room he had arcade games, video games, a pool table and a comic book collection. She wondered if Sesshomaru had the same thing, what if there was a whole other side to him she didn't know about. The idea had her blissfully happy inside and when she entered the dark circular shaped room she felt the walls for a light switch. Fortunately for her the lights turned on moments later and she smiled in content as she looked around. The room was a bright white and all around it were paintings. He had some sculptures but for the most part paintings. She gulped looking around taking in the room. It literally looked like an art gallery she let her eyes wonder for a moment before looking over at him.

He was watching her wanting to read her expression. "You're an artist?" she asked in shock and he smiled a bit.

"No not really…" He said but she knew he was being a bit modest. In the center of the room was a blank white canvas. The paint near it and used white brushes. It made sense automatically, that's why he wasn't wearing a shirt…he was about to paint and she interrupted him. Her heart began beating excessively. Why did she feel like such an immature hoax at the moment? She had never once asked him about his interest not once, she just flaunted around thinking about herself and plans she had for their future. She prided herself on knowing everything about him, but this was a huge deal and she knew absolutely nothing. She had no idea not even the slightest.

"No…you're like really good." She said looking around the room at the pictures. "I had no idea that all those paintings…those were you…you're like…you should do that for real. For a job." She said nodding and he let his breath halt a bit at her reaction but he tried not to show the emotion that went through him at the moment.

"There not all mine. Some of them are professionals." He said walking further in. "Just a few are mine…they're not a big deal though." He told her as she walked straight ahead and stared at a picture. It wasn't just a mass of color like some paintings were. He actually painted, and here he had just a lone tree seen from the inside of a glass. She could see the ridges of the glass and the tree with the sun shining ahead of it.

"This one is like when we're back home…" She said pointing towards it. "And we're in the kitchen…looking at the side yard." She said implying the window in the Takashi home. He raised both his eyebrows in shock because that was exactly what it was. "You're so good…it's scary…I mean I wish I was good at something like this…really."

He stared at her as she looked around at each picture. Sometimes she put her hand to it, she seemed so genuinely taken aback by each photo. He mostly painted just places in memory, they weren't anything he thought to be incredible, but she did. "Yeah well most of them are like that…there just places." He said quickly but she didn't seem to care. She just took everything in incredulously.

"What else…" she asked after awhile. "What else do you like to do?" she asked and there he was shocked yet again for the third time. No one ever took him by surprise so many times. Especially not a woman and not the type of superficial ones he sometimes courted. Why would she waste her time wanting to know anything about him?

"Um…not too much…" He lied and she turned giving him a knowing look. He didn't like talking about himself. He had no idea why he defended himself that way, but that was how it had always been. Though he had this strange feeling that with Rin all his defenses would come crashing down. He shrugged. "Real estate…" He admitted. "I like buying homes and renovating." She smiled gorgeously up at him. "Then selling it again…"

"Really…" He nodded.

"It's a buyer's market." He clarified and she thought about that for a moment. He could see the genuine thought going through her head and he walked closer to her. "Tell me your interest?" He asked and she stared forward at a painting of what looked like sand. Not the beach, not a hand print or foot print in the sand, just sand. And the way he painted the mineral and the texture indicated what it was; he didn't want to enact any sort of feelings in the people who saw his paintings, nothing but maybe familiarity or memories.

"I uh… nothing…I'm not especially talented like you." She said touching the sand almost as if she could feel it.

"Yeah but you can play the piano." He confirmed and although he wanted to so desperately put his arms around her instead he stood behind her and looked up. After a moment of staring at one of his simple paintings he put a hand to her shoulders.

"Only because my mom forced me to take lessons, I'm not overly talented at it. I uh…" she shook her head. "I design clothes." She admitted and he hesitated at the announcement. He wanted to soak up everything she said even though he had this overwhelming feeling to kiss down her neck, but he held it in. "I'm a designer…I guess…sort of when I want to be."

"Really?" He asked and she nodded. "Can you sew?"

She nodded again. Why did all of a sudden she feel so inadequate. Here she was looking at these amazing paintings he constructed and she could just shallowly create clothes. "My mom's a fashion designer she's really well known. But you already knew that…" She said and he was a bit disappointed in himself that he didn't. "Anyway she lets me design some stuff from time to time. I uh do ball gowns…I designed Kagome's at the dinner…" she said but she didn't expect the announcement to enact anything in him. She turned around to face him and she was shock at the way he froze in his spot just thinking. She just smiled "hey can you paint something for me…" She said with a large grin.

"Can you design something for me…?" He asked immediately and her grin faltered a bit. He stared down at her for a moment. He didn't know exactly what to say, he wanted to be able to tell her; her talent was an amazing one, but he wasn't good at voicing things like that. All he could do was stare at her and wish he could say the words. He could very easily remember Kagome's dress at the dinner and the idea that she was the one behind it, how could she not think herself amazingly talented?

"What do you want…a suit?" she asked jokingly and he smiled a little walking forward to kiss her. He wanted to say so much more but he couldn't let the words out. Instead he bowed down lifted her chin and pushed his lips down on hers. She raised her hands on his chest and glided them down his abdomen. He realized something immediately as he kissed her, as that strange passion she always seeped in came through. He stood straight forward. She seemed disoriented when he stopped and she just looked up at him. "Hey what's wrong…" she whispered she let her hands glide delicately passed contours of his abdomen and he looked down at her. If he was a few years younger, dumber, and he had this feeling for a woman, he would have very quickly bowed himself out. Been confused and perplexed as to what it meant but now he understood it a bit better and he wasn't too afraid of his reaction. He was a bit more frightened of hers.

"Nothing…" he said grabbing a hold of her hands and lowering them. "Let me show you around the rest of the place." He said and she furrowed her eyebrows. He walked quickly out of his own gallery and out into the room with the double staircase. He walked forward climbing up and she followed her eyes sweeping around the area. She had a better understanding of some of the art hanging. She could tell immediately which were his. Some were extremely abstract with double meanings and messages only the artist truly knew. And his were simple, they made her yearn for different times, back home, and sunny days. It was a huge surprise…he seemed so complex to her, like she needed every trick in the book to get a hold of him, but now for the first time she was realizing that she might have been a bit mistaken. They entered a large wide hallway with amazing views of the city on the left side. "This is the terrace…" He said quickly and she stared at the glass doors that led outside. He passed it going for another set of glass double doors, "this is my study…" she could make out the computer and paper work. "A few empty bedrooms, a bathroom, and the master…." He opened one of the doors. "And I think earlier you asked me what some of my other hobbies were?" He said and she nodded.

She walked forward before he could even open the door fully. She was so eager to see what more he could be interested in. The whole exchange did something that few things did and that warmed him inside and out. And he watched as she pushed open the door to his massive master suite. It was huge with its own balcony, a two faced fireplace, its own living room. She looked around. It was huge but it wasn't much what she expected when it came to his interest. It matched the rest of the house overly pristine, a bit cold besides the paintings that she was now realizing was one of the only hospitable things he had. "Okay…" she said turning around a slight smile on her face. He closed the door behind them. "It's huge…all you need is a kitchen in here and you'll be set." She grinned and he smiled back at her. "But…where's the…what did you mean earlier…your hobbies?" She asked and he crossed the room towards her. She didn't think much of it till he hoisted her from the ground so quickly she could have sworn her heart burst. She let out a quick yelp and it made him smile as he brought her in for yet another kiss. It was so overly sweet, nowhere like the ones she usually experienced with him. It took her by surprise and she didn't mind giving in a bit and putting her arms around his neck. He kissed her feverishly and when he was done he placed her on his humongous bed.

She had a slight smile on her lips as she looked up at him. "It would probably be bedding beautiful women." He whispered going down to kiss her neck. He didn't see but her smile faltered right after he said that. She let him kiss up her neck and when he went back to her lips she pushed him upwards.

"And you think that's something I'd want to hear. One of your hobbies is sleeping with random women. That'll just get my pants right off." She whispered sitting up and he backed up realizing right away what she meant. She moved past him. "I should go…" she whispered and he searched his mind for something to say but he couldn't. It was just like earlier it wasn't in his nature to voice comforting things and he stared.

"I'll still be picking you up Saturday?" He reassured and she just nodded fixing perfection and going for the door. "Rin…" He said quickly and she hesitated for a moment. He wasn't ready for her to just leave but he didn't really know how to make her stay. He had so much swarming emotions. The way he felt was brand new, he didn't even know where to begin. "You could um…you could be the only one." He said and she narrowed her eyes not understanding what he meant. "I know what I said earlier, but" he shook his head. "I want you to know that."

"Know what…" she asked turning with her arms crossed. He stared at her and he decided to just come out with it. It was a thought he had a while ago. It wasn't about her per se. It was about him, about his life up to now. He had plans when it came to settling down and he decided that things like 'the one' or 'love' were just commercial sayings used to get gullible women in for the next romantic comedy hitting theaters. They didn't imply to his life not at all. He just knew he was getting older and if he could find her, a woman that met his match, his interest. If he could find someone he liked then that would be fine, he never in a million years thought he'd be feeling the way he was feeling at the moment. He didn't think he'd ever smile so much, be as happy to fall prey to some immature game. He just…he thought about her relentlessly. Was she the one? Was that what went through him earlier, was she always 'the one' and today just confirmed it.

"You know…with you. I wouldn't need anybody else. Ever…" He stated bluntly. He didn't have any passion in his voice. He wasn't standing there with his arms wide opened like in the movies. He wasn't begging for her forgiveness or asking her to stay. He was just very simply stating a fact. Stating how he felt and because he was a very factual person who never played around when it came to what he wanted he knew how to voice that he wanted her. "But I'll see you on Saturday for dinner." He confirmed.

She stared at him as he turned away from that side of his room. He was going near an antique armoire to his right. Wanting to put a shirt on, she stared for a moment longer before uncrossing her arms and putting a hand to the back of her dress. She unzipped it easily and climbed out of it. He noticed the moving but he didn't turn, he sensed her and he wasn't sure what she was dong but he wasn't going to force her to stay. He had such mixed feelings, on one hand he wanted her to stay, he didn't want her to ever just go, but on the other hand he needed her to leave. So next time, probably Saturday he could get his emotions at bay and tell her surely and logically what he wanted. How he felt about her and exactly what he needed out of their relationship. He felt her walk up behind him and before he could turn she put two arms around his form. He tensed a bit confused by the notion.

"Okay…" she said backing up. He was about to say something himself but when he saw her his mind just went blank. She was completely nude and his eyes just took in her perfect form before turning to face her in shock. "Go ahead show me your hobby…." She said with a slight smile and he smiled himself. One of those shockingly handsome genuine grins he never had in abundance until he met her.

"Which one" He asked as she headed towards the bed, "the painting or the…" He raised two of those gorgeous black eyebrows and she felt herself melt.

"The one where after it's all done I'm the last one ever you'll do it with." She whispered bluntly and although the phrase would falter most men it made him extremely…content, pleased, comfortable. It made him excessively happy... He walked forward and she raised both her arms for him as he brought himself down to meet her lips. She had those extremely crazy butterflies, the ones that seemed to always come when she saw him, but they were intensified and after they died down fear took their place. She was scared. It was a strange feeling to have and she finally felt for the first time what Kagome must have been going through. He brought himself down to kiss her neck and her collarbone, she felt shivers go down her neck as his teeth scraped against her flesh.

He hadn't paid any attention to her lower half but she was already so insufferably wet. What was it about him that her emotions so extremely berserk. She couldn't believe she was doing this and at times in the past when she day dreamed about this moment. She'd get that fear again and it landed at the pit of her stomach turning scolding hot and spreading down to her core. Well that same fear was back again but about ten times worse. The words that he said leading up to the moment were spinning around in her mind. She could not for a second believe he said that. And the way he said it…the happiness mixed in with her other feelings. She felt him put a hard nipple into his mouth and she moaned loudly. He scraped against the sensitive skin making her arms tighten around his neck. He brought himself up to kiss her lips again and she arched forward showing her eagerness to be kissed by him. It had him smiling as he lifted her easily to the top of his bed.

His hands roamed down her body as he kissed her. She returned each one of his plunges so vigorously and when his fingers found the entrance of her junction. Her lips parted widely and her eyes tightened shut. He let his fingers enter and play with her folds. She was so unbelievably wet and ready so soon. He moved his fingers faster making the hairs on the back of her neck stand up and her chest arch upwards. The look of her drove him crazy and he lowered himself to take another nipple in his mouth and the feeling coupled with his fingers pulsating through her junction had her moaning loudly.

He kept his motions in her junction as he brought himself to kiss her once more. He was obsessed with the passion she relentlessly poured into every kiss and as she deepened it this time he felt her bite down on his lip. The feeling drove him insane but he held onto his sane side. Her hands went to his pants and as he felt her hips buck he released her unbuttoning his pants for her. He let his lips trail down her chin and he only left contact with her skin when he needed to pull his pants down completely. At the loss of warmth she opened her eyes but when he brought himself down he put two hands at the top of her inner thigh. She didn't know quite what to expect until he lifted her to meet him. Her body heaved upwards her mouth parted in complete utter shock but the shivers and tingles that ruptured through her spine had her lying down paralyzed. A huge wrath of hot heated liquid filled her completely. He hadn't even begun thrusting but he filled her up completely and when he began the movement the physical feeling that ruptured through her had her sitting up in bed. He took the position as an opportunity to lean her against the head board. It gave him the leverage he needed to begin thrusting against her petite form, and the way she clanged against his shoulders told him he had permission to continue. He let his hands grip the meat of her seat and he plunged into her hard and fast. And with each thrust her arms gripped him tighter and a little part of him lost it a bit more. He quickened the movement and although he could feel himself lose control she tensed in his arms and it was the first indication that she was about to erupt. The next was the tightening around him, and the burst of heat that passed through him. She fell limp in his arms and he sat up feeling her chest pulsate against his. He put a hand to the small of her back, he meant the gesture to be loving and caring but of course it wasn't. He wanted to be able to lie back and take her in completely. Just lie there and stroke her until maybe she fell asleep but that wasn't something he could do. So instead he allowed her to lie in his arms for only a moment before putting his hands on her hips and releasing himself from within her. He went for his pants off to the side pulling them towards him and pushing them up. He climbed off the bed. He turned to look at her. He found her lying naked form beautiful and he wished he could be immersed in it, but the idea was something he'd have to ease into. He could tell she wasn't sleeping but she might as well been dead to the world, and although he was one hundred percent sure he cared about her a lot. He just wasn't the type who lied in bed afterwards. He wasn't good for things like that, but he hoped it was enough that for the first time he wanted to be.

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INU POV

He shifted a bit in his spot. There was a slight jolt in the smooth ride and he would have just felt it and moved a little back. Try to get comfortable again and fall back asleep but when he realized where he was. His eyes widened and he sat up quickly. To his surprise they weren't in some huge fiery wreck. Still on the highway driving. He released a sigh of relief and ran a hand through his thick hair. He turned around seeing Kagome. She was casually driving, she had taken her hair out of the bun and it carelessly ran down her shoulders. He smiled a bit and at his glance she turned around. Whatever smile he gave, hers was ten times wider. "Hi sleepy head…" she said "We're almost there." She stated and he looked past her gorgeous face. He wouldn't mind at all if he could wake up to that face every morning.

He looked forward at the GPS, they had around three hours left. "Really…" he said in his standard sarcastic tone. She just nodded. He put a hand over his face. "How long was I out for?" He asked. It was finally late afternoon. He went to sleep around probably seven or eight in the morning. "Are you ready to give me the wheel?" He asked bluntly and he glimpsed at her. She still had that pleased smile on her face. She didn't show it but she was too happy that he was awake. She just nodded and there wasn't any hesitance in it. "Okay…you're not hungry or anything?" He asked knowing she wouldn't eat anyway.

"Nope I'm fine…"

"Okay go ahead and pull over off to the left, be careful." He warned and she nodded slowing down the jeep gently and merging to the side of the freeway. "Good job…" he said and it just made her smile. She stopped the car and put it on park going for her seatbelt. He did the same climbing out of the jeep and heading towards her. When she crossed near him he grabbed hold of her arm holding it slightly. He didn't move in to kiss her not to embrace her he just held on to her arm and stared at her. "Thanks for not killing us." He joked and although her face drained of color at the exchange she manage to give a smile.

He let her go going for the driver's side and taking his seat. He waited for her to take hers and after she strapped herself in he leaned to the side. When she sat center she already knew what he wanted to do and she wasted no time at all to meet his lips. And like always her emotions flew out relentlessly and she couldn't control the butterflies that fluttered. He put a gentle hand on the frame of her face and when he released her he just stared at her for a moment. It always made her feel like she was the only girl on the planet. He turned forward strapping up and effortlessly merging back onto the highway.

She didn't admit anything but this part of the highway was extremely familiar. She hugged herself like always and watched the signs of her childhood. Her town was coming up. The GPS said around three hours to the city but they were only about thirty minutes from her family's store. The signs along the freeway counted off the miles till there would be a rest stop. That would be their cue to exit. She turned to face his perfect profile. She smiled at his casual disposition. She wondered how he'd feel in the next few minutes or so when he finally met her family. Her stomach twisted and she felt doubt go through her. Things were going too well at the moment, she could see them ending at the entrance to her town. He turned slightly sensing her glimpsing. "What…" He asked wondering why she was just openly staring.

She realized what she was doing and took a deep breath and grinned. "Nothing…" she shook her head a bit and he just smiled making him painfully handsome. He put a hand to her exposed thigh. Those butterflies swarmed again but she got tingles and that hot feeling at the pit of her stomach. He rubbed up stopping before he could reach her core. She felt the sparks going off but she didn't stop him for the first time. She actually invited the feelings and as he rubbed further up she felt her body tense and she looked out her window closing her eyes and allowing him to actually touch her junction. His hands dipped in and when they did he didn't lower them. He let his fingers slip in and she jolted up. It just made him smile slightly. He rubbed at her core for a moment longer keeping a steady eye on her and the biting of her lip, the whole thing got him heated and to keep from pulling over and just taking her he stared forward. When she whimpered a bit his smile returned again.

Her body was scorching and she felt this strange feeling. Her toes curling and the hairs on the back of her neck rising. It was such a new feeling but she felt almost like she could burst but before the erruption he released her completely. He slipped out of her placing both hands on the steering wheel and staring forward. She panted slightly and he turned to look at her. "Can you do me a favor?" He asked suddenly and she glimpsed over at him. He had one of his playful grins but behind that was something completely different, and she had absolutely no idea what it was, but it made knots in her belly. "Can you lean over here…" he said and she narrowed her eyes.

She had one of those wild looks on her face that turned him on to no ends. The passion in her dark blue eyes, the parted lips…he could feel a slight nagging somewhere south. She unbuckled her seatbelt and leaned forward near him. She smiled slightly waiting for his next instruction but there was none. He just leaned down and kissed her simply and turned back around. "Is that all…." She asked a huge grin on her face.

"Yeah but stay here…" He said and she moved herself to lean comfortably on his shoulder.

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25

She only moved away from him when she saw the path off the highway he needed to take. Of course he had no idea he'd have to take it. "Can you exit to your left?" she asked him. She put a hand to her hair tossing it on one shoulder. He looked down at her a bit confused. The left was an exit to a gas station and at the moment they were pretty good on gas. Also the path leading to it was dusty and rough. He didn't want to subject his jeep to anymore bumpy terrain.

"What, you need to use the bathroom?" He asked and he looked up at the sign. It was odd looking and read; "Back trail into the City of Shikon Valley" and pointed to the left. Near it was another sign reading "Higurashi shrine…" He raised both eyebrows. "Look that shrine has your last name." He said with a slight grin. He didn't look down at her though. "I'm sure there's another exit coming up…can you hold it."

"I don't need to use the bathroom." She said and he peered over at her as she stared along the never changing road. Everything looked the same. The signs leading into the town, the road coming up that ultimately led her down to it. "And um…" she felt her stomach begin twisting and turning making her sit up a bit. She felt like fixing herself. She sat forward pulling out the mirror to examine her face. Everything seemed in order, she looked fine. That still didn't stop her nerves though. "That uh shrine…it's um…it doesn't have the same last name as mine. It is my last name." She said quickly. He seemed perplexed by the sentiment. "It's my family's shop…" She admitted and realization hit him hard. He widened his eyes and she just nodded. "My father's shrine…"

"Oh shit…yeah um…I'll make the stop." He said. He slowed the car down and put his blinker on. She sat straight up in her seat combing her fingers through her hair. What would her mom say when she saw her? Should she even invite Inuyasha in or introduce him later? She didn't want to admit it to herself, but she wanted for the first time her mother's approval and she didn't want Inuyasha to steal that from her. As soon as they saw him they'd forget all about her. He slowly drove off into a dusty old trail. He shook his head in frustration as he did. He didn't voice anything but the car would need a good cleaning and maybe a waxing. In front of them was a large wooden cabin of sorts. It had no name on it just a sign next to it that read "Higurashi Shrine home of the Shikon Valley trail." He had no idea what that meant, but there were about four gas pumps to the left and a huge clearing in the woods that he guessed was the road the sign referred to.

There were no cars parked outside of the building except a small black old pick up. He parked near it and turned off the car. Kagome had her head in her knap sack. He had no idea what she was doing till she moved a compact mirror upwards and he could see her reapplying eye makeup. He furrowed his eyebrows. Didn't seem like something she'd do. It definitely wasn't something she needed. "So this trail into the city…" He said wanting to make conversation. "Your family owns it…oh and this um…shrine?" He asked.

She looked up at him, she was all done and her blue eyes shined gorgeously. She shook her head. "No…not at all. The trail is what travelers use if there's traffic on the high way. They can get to the city quicker. It's parallel with my home town." He nodded a bit staring forward. He wondered if she wanted to stop by here to maybe say hi to her family first.

"So how long does it take to get there?" He asked and she parted her full lips slightly like she wanted to say something. But there it was again. That feeling that she was hiding something. She took a moment to think about how she could phrase the words correctly.

"Uh…we're sort of here already." She admitted and he gave her a strange look. He seemed as if he wanted to rebut that so she cut in quickly. "Okay let me explain. I live in a town called Jewel….it's actually named Shikon Jewel. It's behind my family's shop. It's hidden away through the trees and it's a bit away from the Shikon Valley Trail." She clarified. "And um…my family is the only one in the whole town that sells goods to outsiders. My grandfather sells knick knacks from different countries…it's like one of his hobbies….oh and we sell gas." She said and Inuyasha just stared forward wondering why none of this was told to him sooner. Not that he would have changed his mind, he kept telling himself that. He'd never do that, and when she paused in the middle of her story he turned to glimpse at her. She was giving him an unsure look and he smiled to reassure her. It gave her exactly what she needed to continue on. "And um in the back of the shrine we sell like cattle food and stuff like that for people in town. So here just behind the shrine is actually the entrance to the town…you'll see. I just have to pop in first and say hello."

She took a deep breath and unbuckled her seatbelt. She unlocked the car door and jumped down. She acted as if he couldn't see her once she left because right beside the jeep she began pacing back and forth and wagging her hands about. She fixed herself lowering her dress and running a hand through her hair. He didn't think much of it…well he tried not to. It wasn't until she began to recite something to herself did he put his window down. "You can do this…you can do this…what are you nervous about it's just your family…."

"Kagome…" he said interrupting her, but she was in her own world. She just kept reciting the words over and over again. "Kagome…" He said again but still nothing. He unbuckled his belt and climbed out of his jeep. "Hey…" he said walking over to her. He found the whole exchange strange as hell but it didn't default the way he felt about her not in the slightest. He put a hand on her shoulders… "You're acting crazy…" He bluntly said and she widened her eyes.

She let what he said sink in and she smiled a little. It was a fake nervous grin used to make him feel at ease. "Yeah you're right…" She said with a nod. "What do I care what they think." She said and he wasn't sure at all about what she was talking about but he nodded. "We should just…we should go back home."

He widened his eyes at the notion. "You're joking right?" He asked but he could tell she wasn't. What the hell was up with her family that she was this rattled about seeing them. She laughed nervously.

"Of course…just a joke. That would be absurd...we drove like forever." She lied and he couldn't help but chuckle himself knowing she was lying. She just looked so damn adorable doing it.

"Okay then." He put a hand to her chin. "Get it together…" She nodded and turned around. He followed behind her as she walked towards the cabin's doors. She was still whispering something to herself and he smiled again shaking his head. She was about to go through the doors when they opened by themselves. She backed up immediately and he had to steady her at the shoulder so she wouldn't fall. She was so extremely jumpy. A man around their age, if not a bit younger, came out. He was excessively tall about Inuyasha's height and was holding a large box in his hands. When he saw Kagome his eyes widened.

"So sorry ma'am." He said quickly looking her over. His skin was tanned and his hair a deep brown. Extremely thick and wavy, his eyes were round, actually there was a familiarity in the roundness of his eyes and the waviness of his hair, but that was where any sort of resemblance ended. The man put the crate down and walked back partially into the cabin. "We have outsiders…" He called in quickly and he smiled Kagome's way once more before exchanging a look with Inuyasha. He picked up the box once more and headed to the side of the building. Kagome stared after him in a daze. She actually walked off to the side wanting to follow. Inuyasha grabbed her arm pulling her towards him. Her rounded eyes were still on the departing man's figure.

"Kagome…" he said and she shifted a bit to rest her eyes on him. She seemed alarmed and he wondered what it was about the guy that had her so on edge. He felt jealous all of a sudden. It was a feeling he didn't have often and he hated it. "What's the deal…?" He asked. So the guy was slightly attractive…he was nothing to gawk at, he told himself that just to ease his worry. But all Kagome did was put a shocked hand to her lips

"That's…that…that was my brother." She stuttered and he widened his eyes. "He's so grown up..." she stuttered putting a hand down to show how small he was when she left. "He's like a...he's a man...oh my gosh...I can't do this…" She said turning back around but he didn't release her from his grasp. "My own brother doesn't recognize me…he called me an outsider." She said and he just narrowed his eyes not knowing what that meant. She took a deep breath and put a hand to her temple. "What if no one recognizes me…?"

"Then you'll just tell them who you are."

"Would you recognize me?" She asked suddenly out of nowhere.

"What…" he didn't understand the question. She was looking away from him down towards her hands. She stepped forward and fiddled with the hem of his shirt. Sometimes she did that when something was on her mind. When she was overwhelmed with emotion, she'd adjust his clothes to try and ease her racing emotions.

"You know if I was dressed the way I did before and I left your office for say…around six years. If I came back like this." She said implying her clothes. "Would you recognize me?"

He thought that over for a moment. "Wait Kagome you haven't seen your family in six years?" He looked away thinking that through. "And I thought I was bad." She turned away from him and he realized immediately he had upset her. He went forward grabbing her by the shoulders. She didn't draw back though. He liked that about her, even when she was upset she never recoiled from his support. "I mean…I don't mean…I meant I wouldn't care." He said and she tensed not understanding. "I wouldn't care if you looked completely different…just tell me who you are. Tell them who you are. Who cares?" he said and she thought that through for a moment. He didn't know what else to say to ease her. He couldn't really tell her anything either, he didn't know her family.

She turned around looking away from him. "Yeah you're right." She said though she didn't seem very sure. She walked forward towards the cabin's doors. She put a hand to the door handle, but didn't pull it open. She hesitated for a moment then put her hand to the door again. He narrowed his eyes, she was acting odder than usual and that was saying something. She put a hand to the handle a third time and before she could continue to lift and drop her hands he moved forward putting a hand over hers. He opened the door and gently shoved her forward. She seemed extremely surprised by the occurrence but she didn't dwell on it. She had so many other emotions speeding through her body when she entered her family's store.

The first thing that hit her was how little it had changed. In the front of the store was a small concession area with typical junk foods racked around it. It was the only thing that provided any resonance of a convenience store. The rest of the cabin looked just like a nicely kept gift shop. There were little countries of origin on the walls and under it were kiosks of little ornaments. He walked behind her looking around, he felt like he just entered the twilight zone. The inside did not match the outside at all, it was polished immaculate and extremely cheesy. He did a slow spin taking in all the colors and knick knacks. He turned forward seeing a long wooden counter posing as the front desk. It had an old fashion cash register to the side, but no one stood at the front surveying them.

He continued his expectation before shifting his eyes on Kagome. She was lifting a hand stitched doll to her right. It was some sort of voodoo contraption from an exotic country. She played with the stitching then headed for some holiday made ornaments. He followed behind her, he couldn't read her facial expression, but he could tell from her figure how tense she was. She was holding herself tightly as she walked around, purposefully walking off to the side away from the front. She'd casually pick up a scroll or a greeting card then place it back. She had moved on to a series of globes. She spun a few of them for a moment. He was about to move in and speak to her when a large door in the back of the cabin opened. She only had to see it move momentarily before turning to face him completely. She looked scared like she didn't want whoever it was to see her.

He stared past her as an older man probably around his late sixties early seventies walked out of the room. He walked over to the front for a moment working something at the register. He had a wooden cane on his left hand and as he walked he used it as a slight crutch every few steps. He hadn't noticed them yet. He was holding something in his hands and seemed more consumed with getting to the register. He let his eyes take in the older man then he looked back down at Kagome who was tense facing his direction trying to hide herself from view. He wanted to easily end this, lift her up and force her to face whoever it was at the front of the store, but she interrupted his train of thought when she began yanking on his sweater to get his attention. He looked down at her perfect face. her eyebrows were creased in worry.

"Who is it…?" She asked and he glanced up again. The man was counting money and sorting it out on the rectangular desk. Inuyasha glanced back down at her.

"Um…I don't know a man. He has a cane." She widened her eyes realization going through them. She walked forward towards him then turned to see her grandfather. He looked exactly the same. Six years being away hadn't aged him more or weakened him. He was counting money and sorting out change. She turned away quickly going forward wanting to pass Inuyasha, but he blocked her access. "Kagome…come on." He said wanting her to finally face this. She took a deep breath and he put two hands on her shoulders. "Go ahead…" She turned around slowly and he allowed her to walk forward for a moment.

She was about to make it to the booth when her grandfather looked up. As soon as he spotted her he knew exactly who she was. It was something completely lost on Kagome though because she turned around quickly and pretended to be interested in an on old set of animal figurines. The older man stood up from his seat wanting to get a better look. His heart was beating quickly but no exact thoughts went through his head. He was just extremely shocked. He went over to her as Inuyasha walked forward to just survey the interaction.

"You like the figurines?" He asked her and his voice shocked her. She jumped immediately and bit down on her lip trying not to make facial expressions. "They're all hand crafted…" he said lifting up an elephant. Kagome just nodded taking in his familiar voice. She was about to turn around and let herself be known. She wasn't too afraid of seeing her grandfather. Hearing him actually made her miss him even more. The only true fear she had was seeing her mother again. She wasn't sure she was ready for that just yet. She turned to face him wanting to say her hellos but her grandfather had his eyes on Inuyasha.

She followed his glance and although he had been talking to her he easily moved over to Inuyasha. "Hello there..." He announced and it made Inuyasha put a hand to his chest. He was standing handsomely with his hands in his pockets just waiting for Kagome to introduce him. He was so nice in that way, but still she was a bit upset, a little envious that he could steal her thunder. She had day dreamed of this day for the past six years and he was sort of ruining it. She put a fake smile on her face as her grandfather walked the few paces over to him and shook his hands. "Mr. Takashi…right, I have to say I'm shocked." Inuyasha seemed to be the only one surprised by the exchange. He put a hand out shaking it and Kagome played around with a giraffe figurine trying to keep her true emotions at bay. "It's an honor having you here in my son in laws store, if he were alive today he'd be more than pleased at your appearance."

Inuyasha threw him one of those handsome Takashi smiles. "No…I don't believe so. You must have the wrong Takashi." He said and the older man back tracked towards Kagome. He put a hand to her waist taking the figurine out of her hands. She seemed shocked by the notion but she looked up.

"Nonsense you know what they say about the Takashi men." He said and Inuyasha let his eyes wonder for a moment not knowing the saying at all. "This is one of my granddaughters." He announced and Inuyasha could see the shock on Kagome's face at knowing that her grandfather already knew from the start who she was. He seemed so extremely proud to present her to him, but it never mattered how she looked like in the past. Her grandfather didn't let shallow things like that dictate his opinion of people. He was proud to showcase her to a Takashi not because of how she looked, but because of how smart he knew she was. "She actually works for one of your father's branches; I'm not sure if it's the one dictated by you or your brother. My apologies I don't keep up with things like that."

"Uh…" He looked over at Kagome. He let that smile take over his face again and it made her stomach heat up. "I think it might me my branch." He said and with that Kagome easily stepped out of her grandfather's hold. She went to meet Inuyasha and he didn't hesitate at all to enclose her in his arms. She stood in front of him and he draped himself over her shoulders.

"Grandpa…" she said and he put a finger up a very pleased smile on his face. She didn't have to say much more. He understood completely and when the door opened behind him he turned a bit.

"Souta…go get your mother." He stated and the man they had seen earlier froze in his spot. He took in Inuyasha for a moment and rolled his eyes.

"Grandpa we're swamped on the other side of the store. Mom can't handle it by herself." He said and Kagome understood exactly what Souta's thought process was at the moment. Their grandfather loved engaging with strangers on the front half of the store. But it was the side that rarely got customers. It only saw a few people when there was traffic on the beltway. He obviously took in Inuyasha recognized him like so many people did. They knew a Takashi when they saw one. Although things like that had never really sparked her younger brother's interest, it was always her who obsessed over business affairs and Tycoons growing up, her and of course the rest of their small town.

"Tell her never mind them. She needs to come now…"

"No no…don't do that." Kagome said quickly leaving Inuyasha's side. "I um…let me help." That idea seemed to please her grandfather and confuse Souta, but he just rolled his eyes and turned back around. It just upset her a bit more that her younger brother still didn't recognize her. Was she that different? Her grandfather brought her in for a hug, it was the longest tightest one he had ever given, and it was really the only sign of affection he ever really gave. Once he was done he went back to Inuyasha's side.

"Today is your lucky day Takashi...you're going to get to see how a simple business operates." He said cleverly and Inuyasha put on a very fake interested face. They walked the length of the room and before making it to the back door her grandfather turned to face her. "Kaggy can you put the closed sign on the front door." He said and just like that she was reduced back to a child again. Helping out at her family's store, she didn't expect much from her grandfather though. She was actually a bit comforted by his reaction, although it didn't give her the fireworks she really wanted. He didn't ask any questions about why she was here. Who Inuyasha was to her? How long was she planning to stay? But that was her grandpa he didn't obsess over any type of details. He just stayed pleased at the notion that she was here. It was her mother she'd have to worry about.

She let her grandfather pull her fake fiancé out into the other half of the store and she lingered around a bit. Playing with some of the knick knacks and touching the new ornaments. Afterwards she crossed to the back to flip the open sign, Lock up the store, and secure the door. She then like she always did in the past grabbed the cash register from the front and headed to the back.

As soon as she opened the door she saw her mom. Her mother didn't see her though; she was too busy overreacting at the presence of a Takashi in her store. She had on light faded blue jeans and an oversized open jean shirt that she tried to fix in order to look acceptable. She looked exactly the same. Her hair was still in that short cropped cut. She was still tall and slender, still unusually beautiful for a woman in their backwards town. She kept combing her hair with her fingers and yelling out commands to a frustrated Souta. He was in the front trying to take orders; the second half of the store was a bit crowded. It always was. It was where their primary revenues came from. People in town gathered around for farming supplies and fortified cattle food. They were off to the side away from the clientele so none of them could really make them out which was great because she wasn't sure she was ready to say hello to the people in her never changing town.

"Guys….I need a little help here." Souta called out and Kagome felt just a pang of anger that her grandfather hadn't even mentioned her to either her mother or brother. It was just a reminder of how ignored she was as a child. And no new position at work or a new wardrobe would ever change that. For crying out loud she had been away from these people for over half a decade. She stood in the back knowing her mother would want to show Inuyasha around to some of the town's people in the store. He stood his ground but every now again he'd turn hoping she'd pop out of the door. She was off to the corner hiding out but the idea that he wanted to see her made her so extremely happy. At least she was the center of someone's world. She walked forward for a moment wanting to make herself known.

The first person to see her like always was her grandfather. He thanked her and took the register from her hands passing it to her mother. "Yeah…he might be able to give us some pointers on how to increase sales." Her grandpa said and it made her roll her eyes. Why didn't they ever ask her for pointers to increase sells? She was business savvy too, she had always been. But did they care? She was standing behind Inuyasha and he sensed her immediately. He had no idea who the older woman in front of him was, no one bothered to introduce her. As soon as he walked into the room she called out his name as if she was a long lost friend. The fact that she could be Kagome's mother didn't even resonate in his mind. She looked absolutely nothing like her. Nothing evoked the thought, not the straight brown hair she had in a sleek short cut. Not the vibrant tan quality she had to her skin tone or the dark brown greenish color to her eyes. Nothing at all, she was older than him but she looked unimaginably sprite for her age. When Kagome's grandfather passed her an old fashioned register she looked down at it referring to him as dad. That's when it hit him hard. This woman was in fact Kagome's mom. He never really let his mind center on how Kagome's mother would look like. But if he had, he knew this woman was not the image his mind would have came up with. She didn't seem like she could have any children in their twenties, she had a very youthful quality to her, and when he felt Kagome's presence behind him a slight pang of guilt immersed him because he so very honestly found his girlfriend's mother extremely attractive.

"Dad…it's not broken again is it?" She asked letting her eyes take in the register. She only looked up momentarily when she saw the middle Takashi put an arm around a petite woman. On her first glance she thought just another gorgeous wellbred girl he was courting. She kept her eyes on things like that during her spare time but no magazines pointed out anything of importance. It wasn't until something about the woman struck a chord. It had everything to do with her unusual deep blue eyes. There were only two people she knew who had those eyes. One, her late husband and the second… "KAGOME!" she shouted the register in her hands fell to the floor and broke on impact. The vigor in her voice had her youngest daughter nervously smiling when in reality all she really wanted to do was roll her eyes. Her mother was always so over dramatic.

"Hi momma…" she whispered but she didn't move from Inuyasha's side. Actually when he went to remove the arm around her waist she actually stayed rigid and still. Her mom had to actually pry in between them to get a hold of her daughter. She threw arms around her calling out dramatics as she did so. Inuyasha eventually tore himself away to stand back.

"Oh my…look at you…you…you're so beautiful!" She shouted. Her screams had almost everyone in the store turning to face them. It didn't take long for Souta to turn around as well and inspect what was going on. "It's been ages…you never call, you never send letters, we thought you were dead." Her mom said and Kagome rolled her eyes as her mother stood back to take a better look at her. "Look at this…" she said moving in to put a hand on Kagome's hips. "This figure…oh Lord…I swear when you left you were nothing but a stick." She exclaimed and it caused her daughter's face to grow a deep red. "You look so grown up! You're not my little girl anymore...You're so beautiful!"

"Kagome!" The man in the front asked. He had a questioning glance but he just rudely left the old woman he was attending to to turn around and expect the woman in his mom's arms. "Kagome?" He asked again.

"Hi Souta…" She mumbled. And he pushed forward getting a better look. Surprise didn't seem to describe the emotions that took over his face. First he looked shocked, then embarrassed for some unusual reason, then guilty and shocked once again.

"I went right by you…you didn't say a thing…" He said incredulously as he looked her over. "I saw her in the front of the store…I thought…" That embarrassed draining of color replaced his tan skin. "I had no idea it was you…"

"She looks so different…so gorgeous…" Her mom exclaimed but ironically even with her high praise she still seemed to find things wrong because with that same sentiment she began fixing her hair and adjusting her dress. She seemed beside herself with happiness and of course an unhealthy amount of happiness wasn't at just seeing her daughter it was at seeing her new gorgeous daughter. It was the reaction Kagome had always wanted but for some reason it didn't warm her up the way it should have. She pushed the hem of the dress lower before stepping back to inspect her again. Seeing Inuyasha was the last thing on her mind, she had completely forgotten about him.

He was standing off to the side listening to some story her grandfather was going on about. It had to do with how much Kagome had idolized industrial companies when she was younger. He wanted to take in the story, he really did. He wanted to know more about her but he had his attention awkwardly on the staring and whispering people around the shop that kept staring at him. The store had two halves. The first gift shop section and this one that reminded him of a dry cleaners. There was a large desk where they stood that separated them from the rest of the store. But there weren't any sort of items that could be bought. Instead people lined up for service. He wasn't sure what that service was but it was the last thing on his mind. He was trying to figure out why they were staring and videotaping him. He turned to the side trying to find anything that could be holding their interest. But he was the only one, the only one besides Kagome's grandfather. "Would you like me to show you the back?" He asked and Inuyasha jumped out of his daze. He turned to the side taking in the eager look on the older man's face. He just nodded a bit. He wanted to see anything that got him out of the attention of the mass of gawking people.

The man led him off to the side. There was yet another door and he realized why the cabin looked so huge from the outside. He opened it revealing a large back room with an extremely potent smell. As soon as he walked in he took two paces back. "You'll get used to that." The man said quickly and he just let that charming smile meet his lips.

"I'm sure I will…uh…I should probably tell Kagome I stepped out though." He said and the older man put a hand out telling him not to worry. He looked around the room; there were loads of boxes and crates of mushy grey and brown concoctions that seemed to be mixed by hand. "I have to ask though….what in the world…" He looked around trying to find a way to ease his words so they came out more polite. "What do you have going on back here?" He asked.

"This is where most of our profits come from. The front half of the store is more of a hobby. That'll explain the boxes and such. We get most of the ornaments and dolls shipped over. But as for the crates…we mix our own fortified cattle food and fertilizers, the recipe is a bit of a family secret." Inuyasha just nodded but that sour look never left his face. He wondered why he'd bring him in here, it was a complete mess. "Excuse the disorganization...we've been short a hand or two since the youngest went off to college." He said. he was implying Souta but Inuyasha thought he meant Kagome. She seemed the younger out of the two.

"Oh well…don't worry. I should…I should get back though."

"Please they don't even notice we're missing." He said while walking around. "Kagome hasn't been back home for some years now. My daughter's not letting her out of her sight."

He pushed hands in his pockets and stood uncomfortably near the door. "So…Takashi industries…" The older man said and Inuyasha shifted his eyes towards him. He was putting some rod in one of the massive crates. He took it out filthy with grey chunked meat and looked down at it. He then put a top on over it sealing it up. "How's it going?" He asked.

"It's going…" He said the man nodded and Inuyasha stared at him. He had one of those intense intimidating ways about him. It wasn't like his own father's, not as outright and terrifying but it lingered a bit. And he had a feeling that he didn't bring him in this back room to just talk about his father's company and secret family recipes for animal manure.

"You don't mind lifting this for me do you?" He asked and Inuyasha raised both his eyebrows before crossing the distance towards the massive crate. "Be careful it's heavy." He warned and there was definitely a double meaning in his words, but he crouched down anyway and picked up the crate. It didn't smell like shit thank God. It must have been the cattle food he had been talking about earlier. He picked it up easily and waited for his next command. "Go ahead and take it out to the front…" He did just that too happy to be leaving the small potent room. "So…" the man said before he could reach the door completely. "You're engaged to my granddaughter?" It was more of a statement than a question and it shocked Inuyasha a tad bit that he knew, "I saw the ring…" he said simply.

"Uh…yeah I guess I am." He said but he was careful not to make eye contact. A guy like that knew when someone was lying. He just knew he'd be able to tell. It didn't matter anyway. He was dating her. Being engaged to her was just a little white lie. Something no one could ever find out. He paused for a moment letting him go for the door and open it for him.

He didn't notice just feel the man's eyes on him. "Very interesting…" Is all he stated, not a 'congratulations,' or 'welcome to the family' just a weird 'very interesting.' He had no idea what that was supposed to mean but he brought the crate out and set it on the far half of the booth.

"Dad…" Kagome's mother said astonished. "You had Mr. Takashi lifting the cattle food?" She asked incredulously. She was still near Kagome. During Inuyasha's exchange she had been complimenting her and fixing her clothes excessively. While Souta came to terms with the fact that for a quarter of a second he had not only failed to recognize his own sister, but he had thought she was hot. The idea had his face pale as it soaked in.

"You don't have to call me Mr. Takashi…uh…It's Inuyasha." He said dusting his hands off to introduce himself properly.

"I know which one you are." The woman said with a charming smile on her face that had his stomach warming up. She did however grab hold of his hand to shake it. In the moment where she should have been introducing herself she instead backed up and grabbed Kagome pushing her rather roughly forward. "This is my daughter…Kagome…" she said quickly and Inuyasha's smile widened just a bit. It was the first genuine smile he had since he walked into the place. It literally felt like he left his world for another dimension completely. Where people spoke but never said what they fully meant.

"Kagome…go ahead and say hi…" Her mother said while fixing her dress for the hundredth time. She whispered something else in her daughter's ears that had Kagome's face draining of color. Inuyasha picked up a majority of it. She had said something revolving… 'Smile nicely, and don't mess this up…' "You won't believe this but she actually works for your branch isn't that true Kagome?"

Inuyasha looked away slightly waiting for Kagome to explain the situation. He wasn't jumping to conclusions but this was literally the second time one of her family members had tried to match them together romantically. First her grandfather casually and now her own mother, the only difference was her mother was extremely vigorous about it. "Isn't she gorgeous…brains and beauty…" she said and before Kagome could interfere her grandfather did.

"Where the hell are all the customers?" He snapped out of nowhere and everyone's eyes turned to face him.

"Dad…Sshh…you're being rude. Kagome and Inuyasha are speaking…"

"Where are all the damn customers…?" He asked again.

"Mom made me close down the shop for Kagome." Souta said from his spot on a chair.

"Why the hell would you do that?" He asked incredulously.

"Dad…sshh Kagome is trying to speak with Mr. Takashi…" She said through clench teeth, she put extra emphasis on her words almost as if her father should understand immediately what she was trying to do.

"Mom…" Kagome said.

"Kagome shush up and stand straight…" she mumbled pleasantly.

"Souta go get the keys we'll have to deliver the food by hand before it goes bad. Mr. Takashi you don't mind helping do you…"

"Dad…you can't ask that. I'm sure he's very busy…on his way to Shikon Valley right?" Mrs. Higurashi asked while nodding vigorously. "Before you go you should meet my daughter." She pushed Kagome forward once more.

Inuyasha just stumbled awkwardly from foot to foot. "Mom…I'm trying to tell you something." Kagome stuttered.

"We need help loading the trunk." Her grandfather stated.

"Well Mr. Takashi is very busy at the moment…"

"Doing what…" her grandfather snapped interrupting her. "Being reintroduced to his fiancée?" He asked and just like that Kagome's mothers facial expression changed. She stood straight up and screamed as complete shock went through her. Kagome just sighed and put an embarrassed hand to her face. She snuck a peek at Inuyasha who seemed surprised at the outburst. He looked down at Kagome after a moment when her mother began screaming even more. All she could do was mouth a slight 'I'm sorry' that had him smiling her way. He took a few steps forward towards her.

"Some family you have…" He whispered as her mom continued shouting in disbelief.

"Yeah… I uh…I don't even know what to say." She whispered back and he felt that need again to bow down and kiss her. Reassure her that he didn't care that her family was extremely insane.

"KAGOME KAGOME!" Her mother shouted pulling Kagome away. She grabbed her daughter's hand looking down at the ring. "OH EVERYTHING THAT IS HOLY! IT'S TRUE!" Her mother screamed and Kagome just sighed.

"Pumpkin…you're being a bit much." Her grandfather called out but that didn't stop her at all. She just stared down at her own daughter's hand and played around with the ring.

"When did this happen? How long has this been going on? I read magazines I didn't see this!" she exclaimed and Kagome covered her face with her hand. This was much too much of her mother to reveal to Inuyasha at one time.

"It just did mom…" she whispered and with that she set her sights on Inuyasha.

"You Mr. Takashi are one smart lucky man." She said and Kagome turned around in complete embarrassment.

"You have no idea..." He said with that charming smile of his.

"Well…" she stated loudly to get everyone's attention. "I have so much stuff to do…so many calls to make."

"Mom… please you don't need to make calls." Kagome stated from her spot. She wanted to hide her head in shame.

"Nonsense…people have to know honey."

"They so don't though…" Kagome whispered from her spot. Inuyasha looked over at her and that feeling came back. He wanted so badly to comfort her, actually he needed to, and even though he was in front of her family. He closed the distance between them and put a hand around her waist kissing her on the top of her head. Those emotions came back and she felt a bit better, but just a bit. She couldn't even let his arms around her simmer down the embarrassment completely because as soon as he did it. Her mom began cooing loudly.

"You guys…its adorable…the most beautiful couple in the world." She said dramatically. "The kids you'll have Kaggy….I just…" Kagome closed her eyes as the embarrassment went through her yet again

"In the world though mom…hmm even more beautiful than Kikyo and Suikotsu?" Souta asked knowingly. He had a boyish grin on his overly handsome face and his mother turned around to face him.

"Souta go help your grandfather load the trunk. You know what he says. Time is money, and you're wasting time." She told him and Souta rose from his spot to the exit. It had Kagome realizing that her grandfather had left as well. "Kagome darling…please tell me you're staying for your sister's wedding. She keeps telling me you promised to come down, but I told her I'll believe it when I see it." She said and Kagome nodded she was about to say something when her mom walked forward again. Instead of fixing her she took to fixing Inuyasha's sweater.

"Mom…" Kagome said and Inuyasha backed up not knowing if he should allow her to continue trying to fix his collar. "You don't have to do that mom…" She said again while squeezing in and pushing her gently out of the way. "I'll do it…" she said taking her mother's place.

"Of course you will…my apologies…out of habit." She said while pushing the hem of Kagome's dress down again. "Kagome you're dress is so short…I can see everything. You should really try to leave more to the imagination. But I can't get anything through to your sister either…you should have seen what she wore last time she was in town."

"Oh really that's great." Kagome said while turning away from a very awkwardly positioned Inuyasha. He was almost like an accessory to their almost bickering. "Where is Kikyo anyway I thought she moved back home months ago."

"Oh she did…she's always moving in and out…in and out. But now that she's getting married she moved back out of course. The wedding will be here anyhow at the end of the month, but you already know that." Her mom moved in yet again and buttoned the middle of her cardigan. Kagome allowed it, but she was extremely annoyed by the notion. "She and Suikotsu are out looking for the perfect place to have their honey moon. They'll be back this weekend for the whole month leading to the wedding. Please tell me you guys are planning to stay." She said clapping her hands together in happiness. Kagome just nodded and her mom jumped up cheering. "That's fabulous news plenty of time to arrange things."

"Arrange things like what mom?" Kagome asked as her mother went towards the desk of the store to get her purse. Inuyasha had at that point stood awkwardly to the side listening in on the conversation.

"Well…I have a few bolts and screws moving." She said grabbing her purse. "Your grandfather is growing a bit frustrated with your sister and so am I." Her mother announced and that had Kagome narrowing her eyes. Her family never grew frustrated with Kikyo. She was the perfect one. "She's been throwing parties on our dime relentlessly since the engagement. She had about three different themed engagement parties already." Kagome rolled her eyes that sounded like her sister. "And well she's been gone for a few weeks now so she wants to throw a welcoming party this weekend for her return."

"Okay…"

"Well I told her okay, these parties are the only things we get to pay for seeing as the Hirata's are paying for the entire wedding, but now that you're back and so very obviously engaged." Her mother said pointing a delighted hand at Inuyasha. "To a Takashi no less…I couldn't be more proud…" she announced and Kagome felt her stomach flip. She turned to check on Inuyasha hoping he wasn't offended by the comment. There was a lot about her family she wasn't ready to fill him in on yet. "So why don't we give the party to you? You know as your own engagement- slash welcome back party."

"Oh no momma…" Kagome said following her mother through the store and out the front. Inuyasha waited for a second before following suit. Her mother's words hadn't really hit him yet, but he found them really odd. Why would she be proud by that?

Kagome flung the door opened; there was no way she could let her mother take away Kikyo's party. The implications of something like that could be disastrous. She could just imagine Kikyo's face, the things she would do. The things she would say. She'd already be jealous enough when she saw Inuyasha. "Mom please don't…."

"Kagome….relax, it'll be great. You'll see all your friends….ooo and Sango. I just need to make some calls."

Inuyasha opened the door watching Kagome stand parallel to her mother who at the moment was going out towards the woods. He would have said something when he realized where the second half of the store led to. If he had thought earlier walking into the store was stepping into the twilight zone he was very mistaken. He looked around, Kagome's family's store was located in the front of very dense woods that opened up to a dirt path only suitable for equipped cars. That didn't seem to get his attention or shock him. It didn't even shock him that at the moment Kagome's mother was actually untying herself a horse that had been hooked to a tree some ways away. He let the fact that she saddled up and began trotting down the dirt path completely escape him because his attention was truly on what lied deep beyond the trees.

Because winter had just left most of the foliage had been stripped but they were on their way back. In the distance he could still make out the beginnings of a town. And not just any town, a fairly large one. He could see small shapes of people walking and talking around small cabin like buildings. He could make out other horses and even wagons. He could see other people riding along rectangular paths surrounding wooden constructed buildings. Where the hell was he? Where the hell did Kagome come from? He only let his eyes shift on her when she in complete frustration ran a hand through her wavy hair. He was about to say something when the pick up from the front made its way around. Souta was the one driving it. He honked his horn to get their attention.

"Kaggy…we're about to load the truck…grandpa says if you want to make it home before sun down you better help. We have to show you which trail to stick to so we don't damage Mr. Takashi's car." He said and Inuyasha looked up at that.

"I know the trails Souta…" Kagome said so very obviously annoyed.

"Yeah by horse back." He said quickly and Kagome just groaned a bit. Souta let his eyes take her in for a moment longer before parking the car and heading out of it. None of them said anything at all. Although Inuyasha had a million and one questions on his mind, he kept them all inside. Kagome just shook her head and went towards a log in the distance so she could sit. He followed after her watching her cover her face in frustration.

"Hey…" He whispered and she looked up. As soon as she did she snapped out of her own self pity and tried to appear approachable. "You know…I don't…" he hesitated for a moment looking back down at the outline of her small town. "I don't care about any of this." He lied and she raised both of her eyebrows apparent relief going through them.

"Really…" she whispered and he nodded. He decided in that instant that he truly didn't. Well at least he'd try not to.

"Yeah…really…I told you before…in the car. It's you I care about." She stood up wanting to go for him and he of course moved in closer to allow it. She put her arms up taking him in for a hug. It was just a simple hug, he understood that that at the moment was what she truly needed and he wrapped his arms around her. "I do have to ask though…I mean. I'm not trying to be rude." She backed up waiting.

"You're not Amish are you?"

The question had her laughing and she just shook her head immediately. He smiled too hiding the relief that passed through him. He had honestly for a split second believed she was.

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I hope you guys liked this chapter! I enjoyed writing it! More to come.

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REVIEW please