Chapter 26: The Date... And Step One

*At the restaurant*

Inuyasha had parked and they both got out and headed towards a fancy and expensive restaurant without looking at each other. They were shown their table and they both took their seats, blushing like crazy.

"So…" began Inuyasha, followed by an awkward moment, as neither could come up with anything else to say to each other.

"You look beautiful," he finally said, his face flaming red. Kagome looked up about to say 'thank you' but her eyes ended up locking with his. The two stared at one another, unable to look away… Kagome was entranced, and Inuyasha could feel his heart thumping about madly in his chest. She looked so beautiful.

"Thank you," she finally said.

Another uncomfortable silence. Fortunately, the waiter, a chubby raccoon-dog with a nametag that said Hachi, had chosen that moment to come over to their table with some glasses of water.

"So I guess we should order something, don't you think?" Kagome said, trying desperately to keep her blushing under control and to break the silence before she lost her mind.

"Huh?" Inuyasha began before realizing that they weren't alone anymore. "Oh yeah. Sure." He then looked down at the menu while Hachi took out a pad and pencil before asking them both, "Can I take your order?"

"Yes. I would like a salad please," Kagome said, as she heard a small keh sound come from Inuyasha.

"Is there something wrong with a salad?" she questioned.

"Oh no," he said as he tried to stifle a laugh at the accusing look on her face. He looked at the menu and demanded in an outrage voice, "What? You don't have any Ramen?"

Hachi rubbed the back of his head with his paw and said, "Sorry sir. But we…"

Kagome rolled her eyes and told Inuyasha to shut up and choose something else. Inuyasha let out another keh as he ordered some steak. As he handed the menu back to Hachi, Kagome spoke up and ordered some more food.

"Okay, how about Donburi Mono with Japanese noddles, and grilled chicken Caesar, and for dessert… Sorbet ice cream," she finished as a stunned Inuyasha stared.

"Okay I will be with your orders shortly," Hachi said politely as he excused himself.

Kagome folded her napkin in her lap and took a sip of water as she looked up at Inuyasha, "What? Is something wrong?" she asked smugly.

"Are you sure you're able to eat all of that?" he questioned.

"Sure," said Kagome smiling. "After all… you're footing the bill."

He raised his eyebrows and frowned, "What makes you think that I'm gonna pay?"

Kagome shrugged, "You told me not to have to worry about paying on the car ride over here."

"Damn," said Inuyasha shaking his head. Kagome grinned again and said, "Besides, even if I don't finish, I can always bring the leftovers home in… in a doggy bag." She laughed at the last part.

"Oh don't start with me," Inuyasha said as his dog ears twitched around at every tiny sound. They sat in silence again, and didn't say another word until Hachi finally came back with their orders and laid down the check. Not surprisingly, Inuyasha picked it up.

As they ate, you could practically hear their brains working hard on trying to think of something to say and not sound like idiots.

"Kagome?" Inuyasha finally spoke up as he glanced at her. Kagome looked up from her plate of food and said, "Yes?"

"I'm in love with you," he said seriously as he put down his fork and reached out to put his clawed hand on top of hers. Kagome stared back into his eyes.

"I love you… but I'm scared too," he continued as Kagome said nothing, still stunned at his openness.

"You're scared?" she whispered. "Of what?"

Inuyasha shifted uncomfortably. "After my wife… Kikyo… after she died… I didn't think that I would ever find someone else to love. I mean…" he glanced around at all the other tables, not being able to look at her eyes anymore and went on, "We had been married for less than a year. Shiori had been born only two months before Kikyo died. Kikyo and I were going to spend the rest of our lives together…"

Kagome put down her head. "I'm sorry," she said.

Inuyasha nodded as he said, "Thanks. But still… I remember feeling heartbroken when I realized that she was gone. The morning that she died, when I left for work… I was a married man, I had a beautiful wife and daughter… I never dreamt that she would be dead by the time I got home that night."

He sighed as he looked down at his plate and went on, "I don't get it. Even after all this time… I still don't know why it happened… it wasn't supposed to be like that."

Kagome nodded as she wondered where he was going with this.

"I always swore that I would never love another woman after Kikyo died… but then…" he looked at her and Kagome blushed red.

"I'm happy with you Kagome," he said with sincerity in his voice. "Before I met you… there was a hole in my heart that I couldn't seem to fill. But… you've done so much for me and Shiori. You helped to fill that empty void inside that Kikyo had left. Whenever I'm with you… I feel so… peaceful and happy."

"But?" Kagome asked.

"I'm afraid that something might happen between us. I'm afraid that my heart will be broken again."

Kagome took her other hand and placed it on top of his. "I know," she said sincerely. "Sango asked me… just before you picked me up tonight… that I might be afraid to trust another man… you know… after Hojo."

Inuyasha let out a hiss of annoyance at Hobo's name and Kagome gave him a feeble smile before continuing, "She said that I'm afraid to date again. That I'll have my heart broken again… and you know what? I think she was right."

Inuyasha opened his mouth, but Kagome saw what he was going to say and cut in, "I'm not comparing you to Hojo! I know that you're nothing like him. And I know that you would never hurt me the way that Hojo did. But…"

"But?" Inuyasha asked.

"But I guess I'm afraid too. I'm afraid of you," she said truthfully.

Inuyasha stared at her before a hurt look came over his face and he tried to remove his hand from hers. But she held on tighter, "I'm not afraid that you would betray me… or hurt me because I know that you never would. I'm only afraid that something would happen to you. The same fear that you have with me."

Inuyasha hesitated for a moment before he took his other clawed hand and put it in hers. She smiled at his touch before he said, "I don't know what to do. Like I said… I never thought that I would ever love another woman after Kikyo. After her death I hardened my heart and I thought that I would never be able to move on with my life. But I had to… for Shiori's sake. But deep down… I think that… I felt anger… even bitter towards Kikyo for leaving me to take care of Shiori on my own."

Kagome shook her head, "Inuyasha? I'm sure that she wanted to live on with you and Shiori. I'm sure that she didn't ask to die."

Inuyasha nodded. "I know that," he said. "She wanted to be married and to have a family more than anything. But still…" he sighed. "I couldn't help but feel resentment towards her. When she died, I kept thinking that I was going to be alone forever… that's what I thought my purpose was. It made me feel hollow inside, alone. And then I would miss Kikyo. I would miss her so bad that I would ache."

Kagome squeezed his hand. Inuyasha went on, "You know? I used to say things all the time like 'I would never love anyone else' or that 'I would be fine on my own'." He stared off into space with a dark look in his eyes. "But now that I think about it… I was just… I was running away. I needed to get away from Kikyo's death. That's what happened to me."

Kagome nodded, "I know… when Hojo left me… I think that my own heart became very hard. I guess I retreated into myself to try to escape from my own pain. Hojo never wanted to become a father… if only I realized a few things earlier… I could've avoided all of this trouble. But I know that I can't change the past. What's done is done. I knew that I had to stay strong for Shippo's sake and move on. But when you talk about running from your problems… I think that I was running away too. I needed to get away from my own pain."

She let out a sad sigh as she raised one of her hands and gently traced Inuyasha's cheek. He closed his eyes lazily, as if enjoying her touch. "Inuyasha?" she began, "I know that I could never take Kikyo's place, and I'm not asking that you should forget about her… but…" he opened his eyes as she could feel her own beginning to water. "I want to be with you Inuyasha."

Inuyasha's hands tightened so hard that it hurt slightly, but Kagome ignored it.

"I want to be with you too Kagome," Inuyasha said, and Kagome saw that he meant every word.

He then leaned forward and they pressed their lips together; Kagome could feel the love in his kiss and she tried to respond by letting him feel the love in hers. When he pulled back he said, "You know what? I'm through with it! I'm through with running away! I'm ready to try again to find some reasons and answers. To find my purpose… if I'm with you… I think it'll be ok."

Kagome shook her head, "I don't know what I can do to help you… I wish I knew what to do. What the right answers are."

Inuyasha smiled gently, "We'll find them together…"

Kagome gave a small chuckle and said, "I knew that you were a big softy deep down."

Inuyasha rolled his eyes before he ordered, "Shut up and kiss me again."

And so they kissed, long and hard.

*Later that night*

Kagome and Inuyasha had arrived to pick up their kids. Inuyasha knocked and came in with Kagome right behind him. There was a strange glint in her eyes and a small smile on her face as she looked around to see Izayoi coming down the stairs and smiling.

"Mom? Where are…" began Inuyasha, but his mother put her finger to her lips, telling him to hush. She then pointed up the stairs and gestured them to follow her. They went up and Izayoi whispered, "They never left each other's side the whole time. If I didn't know better, I would swear that they're really siblings."

She led them to a spare bedroom and quietly opened the door and led them inside. Kagome smiled and let out a small 'awwww' as she saw both little kids curled up on a bed, fast asleep. They looked just like that morning after they came in and asked to sleep with her the night before.

Kagome thought that she had to get those pictures developed and show them to Izayoi and Rin.

She then went over and stroked Shippo's head as he continued to sleep on. "I almost hate to wake him," she said.

"Then don't," said Izayoi calmly.

Kagome gave her a strange look as Inuyasha looked at his mother in surprise.

"We have plenty of room," Izayoi said gently. "And I would hate to see you wake them up. So why don't you just spend the night?"

Kagome's eyes widened, "Oh, I couldn't…" she began.

Izayoi waved her hand and said, "Nonsense. We have plenty of room. And you said so yourself that you would hate to wake them up right?"

"Yes b-but…" Kagome said as she tried to think of a good excuse.

"Besides," Izayoi said as she took Kagome by the hand and lead her out of the room before saying, "Rin's having her baby shower tomorrow night and I think that you should take Shiori out shopping. And you don't have to worry about Shippo. I know that he wouldn't want to go out shopping for a baby shower, but I'm sure that Inuyasha would love nothing more than to spend some quality time with him."

Inuyasha jumped, startled and asked, "What are you planning mom?"

Izayoi stared at him in a hurt way and said, "What on earth makes you think that I'm up to something?"

Inuyasha gave her an accusing stare as he followed them out of the room and said, "I know you. I know when you're up to something."

Izayoi put her hands on her hips and said, "Inuyasha? What could I possibly be scheming?"

Inuyasha opened his mouth, closed it, and Izayoi gave a triumph grin. "Now that that's settled," she put her hand back on Kagome's shoulder and said, "Don't worry about a thing dear. We have plenty of room, and spare clothes for you to change into."

"B-but," Kagome stammered.

Izayoi waved her hand again as she led her down the hallway to another spare room, "It's no trouble at all! Besides, I think that this would be good for everyone! I would love to have some more people around, even if it's for a little while. This house can get so lonely sometimes."

"Yeah… but…" Kagome began again, but she saw the glint in Izayoi's eyes and she knew that she was fighting a losing battle. She sighed as she nodded and allowed herself to be dragged down the hall to a spare room.

Izayoi talked cheerfully as she showed Kagome a large bedroom and gave her a pink, silk nightgown to change into.

"This is really too much," Kagome said as she took the nightgown.

"Oh don't mention it!" Izayoi said. "It's just so nice to have guests. Now if you need anything, anything at all, don't be afraid to ask." Izayoi turned to leave, but as she reached the door she looked back and said, "Oh by the way…"

"Yes?" Kagome said quickly.

"Shippo and Shiori both are smart kids," she then left after that. Leaving a confused Kagome behind, trying to figure out what was going on.

*A little later*

Izayoi made sure that Inuyasha, who continued to try to figure out what she was planning, and Kagome were both in their separate guest rooms before she when back to Shippo and Shiori's room and stuck her head in. "Goodnight," she said with a grin.

Two pairs of eyes opened and they both said, "Thanks for the help grandma!"

"Step one is complete!" said Shippo happily as Izayoi closed the door.

"Tomorrow… Step two!" Shiori said.

"Operation… New Parent's is on its way!" Shippo said excitedly as they both continued to make their plans for the next day.

(Sorry. But I have school tomorrow… from 8 to 4:50! College can suck. Anyway, chapters are going to be going up a lot slower from now on… sorry, can't be helped. But please review! I love your reviews!)