Jumping around to face the room, she noticed a sexy hanyou lounging on her bed in his red cotton sleep pants and a black wife-beater. Visibly gulping, she fought the urge to lick her lips as every fantasy her innocent mind had ever conceived, played out with InuYasha as the star.

"Just, uh, I mean, wha-what are you doing here?"

Getting up, InuYasha sauntered over and stood in front of her, trapping her between him and the door.

"I just…wanted to talk more. I want to get to know you, is that so bad?"

Mouth open, gazing into his swirling gold eyes, she blinked a few times to get out of the trance.

"I suppose it's not."

Smirking, he reveled in the obvious effect he had on her. Never before had someone reacted so intensely, but if he was going to be truthful, never before had he reacted like this either. Lowering his eyes, he gestured to the bed.

"After you, my lady."

Willing her legs not to shake, she walked over and sat on the bed, scooting up to the pillow. InuYasha got in on the other side, only putting a few inches of distance between them.

Clearing her throat, Kagome turned her head to face him.

"So, what would you like to know?"

Tapping his chin, he thought for a second.

"Did you have a good childhood?"

"You could say that. In fact, everything was perfect until my dad went missing. After that, we all had to learn to cope."

"He went missing? What do you mean? Did they ever find him?"

"It's complicated, but he was a researcher. I was never told what his research was about, but the way he looked act life was like someone who had never seen it before. Everything in the world held a mystery and wonder to it. Eventually, his thinking became contagious and now I notice everything around me. Perhaps that's why I saw the twin tail when no one else did. Anyway, he left for work one day and never came home."

"I'm so sorry, Kagome. That must have been hard on you and your family."

"It was, but my mom holds on to the fact a body has ever been found. It means he could still be alive."

"That's good, I think she has the right thinking."

"Me too. Okay, next question."

"Alright, what is life like in your world? How is your school life?"

"Hmmm, life is very normal really. There is certainly no legal selling of slaves in my world, and there's not any demons, or at least they haven't 'come out' yet. Now school, the education part I excel in, but socially is a little difficult."

"How come?"

"Boys started to notice me a couple of years ago, and about that time most girls didn't want to be my friend. I didn't want any guy's attention, but none of the girls would believe me. Now, I have a reputation of being hotheaded and having a bad attitude, but it's for show. I figure, if I conduct myself in that manner then guys wouldn't want anything to do with me, and it worked. I have a few friends now and they are the sweetest girls. They even try to set me up on dates, but I decline every time. One day they'll learn to stop, but in the meantime, it's nice to know they care about my happiness."

Moving her hair from her shoulder, InuYasha slowly let the black silk tresses glide through his fingers.

"Why didn't you want to date anyone?"

The way he was looking at her, his light touch, it was all causing her heart to hammer in her chest.

"I thought I already told you that. They want one thing, and I'm not willing to give it up."

His hand lightly touched her shoulder as he moved his hand down, and Kagome felt pleasurable shivers run through her body. InuYasha did his best to ignore the scent of her arousal as he focused his attention on her words.

"Yes, you did. However, if the boy truly cares about you then he should be willing to wait."

"You are correct, but I didn't want to be put in a position where one of them could try and take me by force. I know not all boys are like that, but I can't tell who would and who wouldn't. This is a perfect example. You are the first guy that I haven't worried about being alone with. I can't explain it, but I know that you would never hurt me like that."

"And you are right about that, but how will you find your husband if you don't put yourself out there? I don't mean sexually, I mean emotionally."

"Well, not to sound crazy, but I'm waiting to feel that 'nudge'."

He gave her a funny look, "the nudge?"
Oh great, now she was feeling like a weirdo.

"Yes, it's not as silly as you might think! The nudge I'm waiting for is the feeling in my heart, like a tug, pulling me to that person; the 'the one' feeling like romance novelists write about, and everyone dreams about. It's a feeling that comes from the heart and soul, and it will be even more so because God will intensify that nudge."

"So, how do you know if you have or haven't felt the 'nudge' if you never felt it to begin with?"

Blushing, Kagome averted her eyes and chose to stare at the violet curtains instead.

"I didn't say that I never felt it before."

His heart sank as a lump formed in his throat.

"So, why aren't you with this guy then?"

Eyes squarely fixed on the curtains, she traced the folds with her vision.

"Because, our situation is…complicated."

Did his heart just skip a beat?

"Well, what would you tell me to do if I felt the nudge with a woman? What would be your advice?"

Twiddling her fingers nervously, Kagome moved her gaze to the comforter.

"My advice would be, carpe' diem."

"Is that a different language?"

Nodding her head, she smiled a little and looked at him over her shoulder. He found that pose to be very sexy and cute, especially when her bright blue eyes sparkled with excitement.

"It's means, seize the day. Basically, live today as if it was your last, and don't leave things unfinished and unsaid. Take every moment as special and precious, never taking for granted the time we have here, because tomorrow is not promised to us."

"That's…really heavy."

"Yeah, my faith shapes my thoughts and ideas, mainly because it makes perfect sense."

"What if, you don't know the girl very well and you want to take it slow because you don't want to scare her off?"

Oh my! Is he blushing now? Kagome smiled a little more and his heart melted as a small twinkle sparkled in her eyes.

"Well, there is nothing wrong with a good old-fashioned note. It can help you tell how you feel to her, but she won't feel the need to bolt from the situation, because you won't be in front of her. She can have time to really think over your words and weigh her options to stay a friend or take it further."

"That's a pretty good idea, maybe I will write a note for her then."

Kagome bit her lip as the tension between them got worse with the silence that followed their conversation. Taking a deep breath, she bent her knees up and hid her face, too shocked and embarrassed with what she was about to say.

"Yes."

Cocking his head at her, he looked like a confused puppy, "yes, what?"

"In answer to your question at the table, yes I…would."

Grinning, InuYasha pulled her close and tried to look at her.

"Come on, Kagome. At least let me see your face."

Turning to him, she rested her head on her knees and looked up at him, the cutest tinge of red adorning her normally pale cheeks.

"What, InuYasha? Why are you staring at me like that?"

"Because, I didn't think you were going to answer that question. Why did you decide to tell me just now?"

Shrugging her shoulders, she lifted her head and sat up straight, "because I needed to take my own advice and seize the day. I thought, if I died tomorrow, what would I regret? That's when I realized I would regret not giving you an answer."

"Kagome."

InuYasha placed a clawed hand on her pale one still holding her knees. Gulping, Kagome lifted the other hand to rest on his cheek, slightly running her fingers through his silver locks.

"Yes, InuYasha. If given the chance, I would try to kiss you again."

Closing her eyes, Kagome leaned in slightly, waiting eagerly for the pressure of his lips on hers.

InuYasha stared at the tempting display and licked his lips, inching closer to her face and feeling his stomach doing backflips.

Leaning in even further, Kagome felt his breath fanning over her parted mouth and practically moaned in anticipation.

As they were about to finally take things to a new level, InuYasha put his finger to her lips. She opened her eyes and backed away to look at him.

"What's wrong, InuYasha? Why did you stop?"

Searching her eyes, he explained why he stopped himself from kissing the girl of his dreams.

"Kagome, do you feel that 'nudge' with me?"

Staring into his eyes, she couldn't rightfully say she did or didn't. He was right, she couldn't tell what it was supposed to feel like, because she never felt it before, but there was definitely something pulling them together.

"Possibly, I mean I think so. It's a bit too early to tell."

Shaking his head, he ran a clawed hand through his long silver hair.

"Possibly isn't good enough. You see, I have listened to you and I know how important it is for you to share your first intimate experiences with the guy you marry. I don't want to be in your memory as a regret when you find 'Mr. Right'."

"InuYasha, how could you think that you would be any kind of regret to me? You saved me! You have shown me so much kindness and respect. No, InuYasha. There will never be a moment with you that I would regret, not even one!"

Grabbing her, he embraced her, relishing in the closeness he felt.

"I'm not going to lie, I want to be with you."

Kagome's eyes widened and she hugged him back, "you do?"

Pulling away enough to look at her face, he smirked.

"I do, and if you like me then maybe we can agree to court while you're here."

Smiling softly, she gazed at his chest, "you mean while 'we're' here. After all, you're coming with me when I find the twin tail."

Looking on with hopeful eyes, he waited for her to look up at him.

"So, is that a yes? Will you allow me to court you, Kagome?"

Nodding her head, she beamed at him as he wrapped her in another embrace, laughing together. After InuYasha came back down from the clouds for a bit, he leveled Kagome with an intense expression.

"Kagome, I still don't want us to kiss unless you get that feeling, okay? I-I want our hearts to be one when it finally happens. That's not so bad, right?"

Giving him a goofy look, Kagome agreed, "okay…you are so different from most guys."

Laying back on the bed, InuYasha grabbed Kagome's waist and plopped her in his lap, her back to his chest. He lowered his head and whispered in her ear.

"I'm not like 'most guys'."

Snuggling into his warmth, Kagome rested her head on his chest, "no, you're not and I'm grateful for that."

This time the silence was anything but awkward. InuYasha nuzzled her neck and inhaled her sweet scent, but was taken out of his reverie by Kagome's voice.

"What was that?"

"I was asking if things got bad tonight when that demon was here."

Just mentioning Kouga made his blood boil. That bastard was eyeing Kagome like she was the grand prize at the end of a race.

"Things are bad when that flea-bitten wolf comes around anyway, but I didn't care one bit for the way he was looking at you."

Neither did she, even thinking about it caused shivers to run down her spine.

"He can't really do anything to take me from you, can he?"

"Not legally, but we do live in a world of demons and survival of the fittest trumps all other laws here."

Lazily stroking her hair, he sighed.

"Don't worry, Kagome. We will take every precaution to make sure he can't get his hands on you."

Smiling, she turned around and rested her head on his chest, arms folded under her chin.

"I'm not worried, because I feel so safe with you."

He returned her soft expression as he lifted the covers over them and slowly began stroking her hair.

"Get some sleep, Kagome. We have a big day ahead of us."

Getting comfortable, Kagome quickly fell into a deep sleep and InuYasha watched her for a while before he too felt the tug of sleepiness.

Sesshomaru was curious to where InuYasha could have gone and searched the whole house, that is of course, except for Kagome's room. Opening the door, he saw his brother and the human curled up together on the bed. As a big brother, he had tried to protect InuYasha and teach him how to live in their world, but maybe the solution is for him to in her world. Watching them, he couldn't help but to smile a little, they did make a rather cute couple.

"Sleep well, little brother."

Shutting the door behind him, he was suddenly aware of a solid weight on his leg, and looked down to see sweet little Rin grinning up at him.

"Come Rin, it's time for bed."