Disclaimer: Characters I do not own: Inuyasha, Kagome, Miroku, Sango, Shippo, Kilala, Kikyo, Kagura, Kanna, Naraku, Kaede, and all the others created by Rumiko Takahashi.

Characters I do own: Rhiodoru, Masaka, Akika, Shinobu, Mutsu, Isao, Karameida, Zaniistar, aaaaand Miyuki (Thx Maite).

( " " talking, italics thinking )

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Bath

Inuyasha woke with a feeling of complete contentment. He was lying on the bed in Kagome's room. He sleepily recalled the previous day. After the shaman, Miroku, Sango, and that other dragon had barged in on him and Kagome, the group had managed to find him a pair of pants to wear – apparently, the dragon healers had stripped him to treat his injuries from battling Kagura, sending his clothes to be washed – and Sango and Miroku had then escorted him to Kagome's room. Kagome had adamantly insisted that Inuyasha share her room so she could keep an eye on him and make sure he relaxed as he should. The half-demon snorted. He knew that she had other reasons for wanting him in her room.

He thought back to that kiss. It had been the best kiss of his entire life. That one kiss with Kagome made Kikyo's look like a child's game. That one kiss had ignited Inuyasha's desire like he'd never felt before. If he hadn't been so exhausted, they would have still been lip-locked when the others arrived. He ached with desire just thinking about it.

He was still in shock. Kagome loved him. She truly loved him. Inuyasha had been so afraid that she would never be able to love him after all he had done to her. He had hurt her countless times because of Kikyo. He wanted to punch himself for being so insensitive to Kagome's feelings. He was half-demon, he didn't always pick up on the complex and intricate subtleties of human emotions. It had taken a long time for him to realize how he was hurting her, and an even longer time to attempt to do anything about it. He recalled the time when he had saved Kikyo from the giant soul-stealer demon. Kagome had seen them together, right when he had hugged Kikyo. Kagome had gone home. Inuyasha had realized then that he would only continue to hurt her. Just the thought of hurting Kagome had made his heart ache. He had decided that no matter how hard it was for him, he couldn't see her anymore. He couldn't stand to hurt her again.

Inuyasha scowled as he remembered. At that point in time he hadn't been ready yet to give up Kikyo; he had still been trapped deep in the memories. The others had assumed that Inuyasha didn't want Kagome back because he wanted Kikyo more, and didn't want Kagome to distract him. They couldn't have been more wrong. It had had nothing to do with what Inuyasha had wanted. He had done it for Kagome and Kagome only. To save her from him, from the pain he would cause her. Just like the time that he had tried to trap her in her own world and keep her from traveling through the well to the past. That too, he had done for her sake, although no one seemed to appreciate what it had cost him. Kagome had been the only person he had had then. He hadn't known Miroku or Shippo long enough yet to be fully comfortable with them; Kagome had been all he'd had. Yet he had sent her away to protect her, even though it had hurt him beyond imagining. When she had returned, he had been so happy to see her that he hadn't been able to muster the will to send her away again.

But when Kagome had seen him and Kikyo that time, she had left all on her own. Inuyasha had been determined not to go back and get her, to let her stay away, to once again protect her at his own expense. But once again she had come back, and once again Inuyasha had not been able to send her away. He could have, one word would have done it, but he hadn't been strong enough. He had wanted to see her, to be with her. He hadn't been able to do it. He had wanted her with him, he had needed her with him. He still did. She had understood that there was a bond between him and Kikyo that she could never break, and she had wanted to stay anyways, accepting that she would probably have to endure a great deal of pain for it. But she had wanted to be with him anyways.

Inuyasha cursed himself for not seeing it then. He could have saved them both so much pain. Why did he have to have been so blind? But now he could see. Kagome loved him; she had loved him through it all. He vowed to never doubt her devotion, to never give her any less than she gave him.

He sat up, looking around. He couldn't see Kagome, but he knew she was near. Her scent was strong in the room. Feeling much better than earlier, almost back to normal, the hanyou stretched and got to his feet. He looked around again for Kagome. Where was she?

The sound of splashing water made him turn. There was a door at the back of the room. He could hear splashing coming from the adjacent room. Curious, Inuyasha wandered over. Sliding open the door, he discovered a very pleasing sight.

Kagome was sitting waist deep in water in a tub in the floor. She wasn't wearing anything. The hanyou drank in the sight, remaining silent. Kagome was absorbed in her bath, rubbing something foamy in her hair that smelled like flowers. She hadn't noticed him. Abruptly realizing that he was acting like Miroku, Inuyasha smiled slightly and spoke loudly.

"So this is where you disappeared to."

At the sound of his voice, Kagome jumped in surprise, turned around, saw him standing there, immediately blushed, then dove underwater. Popping her head out of the water and crossing her arms over her chest, she glared fiercely at him. Inuyasha's ears flattened in apprehension. He knew that look.

"Sit!"

Inuyasha face slammed into the stone floor. He howled in pain, his slight headache multiplying into a full-fledged migraine on impact. He lay on the floor, not even attempting to get up in case Kagome said the command again. He clutched his head and moaned in pain. He was just starting to feel better, and now he was in pain again. He continued to moan, feeling sorry for himself, and not caring that Kagome could hear him being a baby. He was allowed to be wimpy every once in a while. He couldn't be tough and impassive all the time.

"Oh, Inuyasha!" Kagome wailed, "I'm so sorry! You scared me and I forgot that you might still be hurting. I'm sorry!"

Inuyasha watched her with one eye from where he still lay on the floor. Grabbing a towel, she quickly wrapped it around herself, jumped out of the water, and crouched beside him, still dripping.

"Are you all right?" She asked, her eyes full of concern.

Inuyasha gave a pitiful nod and dragged himself into a sitting position, still holding his head, which throbbed painfully.

"I'm so sorry, Inuyasha." She sounded heartbroken. "Is there anything I can do?"

Inuyasha raised his head and lifted an eyebrow.

"Well," he said slowly, a wicked smile spreading across his face, "you could kiss it better."

Kagome stared at him for a moment in utter shock then blushed. She obviously didn't have the slightest idea how to deal with his request. A passionate and loving kiss on the spur of the moment was one thing, but this . . .

Blushing even deeper, she leaned forward and gave him a peck on the cheek.

"There. Now get out so I can finish my bath."

Feeling ripped off, Inuyasha stalked out of the bathroom, grumbling. All he'd done was go and find out where she had gone, and what did he get? His face smashed into a stone floor and a splitting headache. He began to growl, feeling grumpy.

I'm going back to sleep . . .

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A/N:

I would like to take this moment to once again remind all my readers that this story is rated R for a reason. So, beware . . .

(And please don't complain about this being a short chapter. I have reasons for that too . . .)