Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters from the Inuyasha universe, but I sure do love playing with them. The rest is mine.

Chapter 7

Kagome ran her fingers through her damp hair and tried to get her jumbled thoughts in order.

Ok. Without making too many assumptions, she was kidnapped because she had the jewel in her. It wasn't because she was a liability, but because Inuyasha needed her. He needed the jewel, rather...but he didn't really want it. Getting it was his job and his burden, but nothing more.

So...that's why she's important to him...

And...if it were there, he really could have just taken it out of her and ended this already, but there seemed to be a complication with that. That's why his men wanted to kill her...because they didn't care if she lived or died. They just wanted the jewel...but he was doing everything he could to keep her alive.

At least now she knew why he was trying to take such good care of her...she just wasn't sure she believed it was there.

How would she have gotten a jewel in her?

She had never had any surgeries, other than having her wisdom teeth removed...so, it's not like someone could have just slipped that into her body.

It was a hard idea to wrap her head around.

Then again...here she was on a spaceship, so…

She leaned her head back against the door and closed her eyes.

It was possible this was all an excuse to just...take her. He liked her. She had no idea why, but his attraction to her was becoming more and more obvious.

It was a pretty damn elaborate story if that was why he did it, though. And why talk to all of these people about her and the jewel? It just felt like more effort than it was worth to trick her.

So...if she were to assume that Inuyasha was telling her the truth about the jewel...and she did have it in her...and he had no choice but to get it...then...then what?

She was fucked, right? She was just going to have to get cut up eventually to get this thing out of her?

She needed some fucking alcohol and to sort out her thoughts.

Maybe some ice cream, too. Why the hell not, right?

She stood back up and left the bathroom, drawing his attention to her. She watched his eyes widen when he saw her.

"I'm done, if you'd like to use it now," she told him, swinging her long black hair over her shoulder and pulling it all to one side and exposing the part of her neck with her birthmark. She felt his eyes instantly find it, and she tried to not let the intensity of his gaze bother her as he stared at her mark.

"No," he whispered, his eyes continuing to follow her every movement. She shrugged at his answer.

"What were you up to while I was getting cleaned up?" she asked him as she got her favorite white wine and ice cream from the sozo box.

"Catching up with a friend," he replied, still watching her. She walked to the couch and sat down, placing her wine on the floor as she tucked her legs up next to herself.

"How is your friend?"

"He...What?" Inuyasha asked with a hard blink.

"Your friend," she smiled softly. "How are they?"

"He's...fine. He had an emergency surgery that he had to perform today."

"How did it go?" she asked, digging into her ice cream.

"It went well. Is...what you're wearing...is that a common outfit on Earth?" he asked breathlessly, his tone surprising her.

"This?" she replied, her brows raising as she watched him swallow hard.

"Yes. You look very nice," he shyly complimented her. "It's very different from what we found you in."

"Thank you," she replied softly, glancing down at her ice cream and scraping a bit off of the top. "Yes, it's common...and yes, it is very different. I was wearing a birthday present from my mother when you found me. Women wear this to be comfortable...mostly around their houses."

"Really?" he asked, tilting his head to the side. "That's just for comfort?"

"Yeah," she shrugged. "I mean, I've worn stuff like this out in public before...but like I said, I mostly wear it around the house."

His eyes widened again at the mention of her wearing her outfit out in public before he closed them and shook his head, clenching his teeth so hard that she could see his jaw twitch.

"What's that look about?" she asked, raising her brow.

"Nothing," he quickly replied, looking away for a moment to compose himself again. "Do your people have lots of clothing options on Earth?" She nodded her head before attempting to explain the different types of clothing women wore and when and why. All throughout her explanation, he watched her and listened to her with rapt attention.

When she finally finished, she asked him why he was so interested. He explained that clothing wasn't used in the same way or to express themselves in his world. It was used as a way to quickly and easily identify a person's rank and position and importance.

"That doesn't sound fun," she commented off handedly before pressing her lips into a thin line and tilting her head to the side, and he shrugged.

"It's fine. It's what I'm used to. I know it's different on other planets."

"Do you want to try on some men's clothes from where I'm from? Since you're so curious about Earth and all..."

"Really?"

"Well...we don't have to—"

"—No! I would," he hastily confirmed. "That sounds like fun."

"Ok," she smiled, standing from the couch and putting her empty bowl of ice cream on the table. She picked up her glass of wine and walked over to the sozo box to ask it for a red t-shirt and a simple pair of black sweatpants. "Put these on," she instructed when they appeared. "Men wear this to be comfortable and to sleep in," she explained. He took the small pile of clothes, unfolding them slowly and examining them.

"This looks easy enough," he muttered as he began undoing his vest, and she turned around with a squeak when he took it off.

She was not expecting him to do that.

"Kagome? Did I do something wrong?"

"No! It's fine...I think it's just a cultural difference. We normally don't get undressed in front of other people. Unless we have a reason to."

"Is trying this stuff on not a reason to?"

"Not with these clothes," she replied. She heard something fall to the floor, and his beads gently tapped together as he continued to change.

"What if I needed your help?" he asked, and she thought she heard a smile in his voice.

"Then you could ask me."

"So...isn't it just easier for me to do it here?" he asked as he touched her shoulder, signaling for her to turn around.

He had done just fine on his own and he was moving and flexing his arms, testing out the fabric and his mobility.

"I suppose, if you don't mind me seeing you change."

"I don't," he shrugged dismissively. "What do you think? Do I look like someone on Earth now?" he asked excitedly. "It's very soft and easy to move in," he remarked, bending down into a squat and kicking his leg out to the side. "Everything feels so loose - it's not restrictive at all!"

"Good," she giggled. "I'm glad you like it. It looks nice on you," she complimented, and he smiled back up at her.

"Thank you for sharing this with me, Kagome," he beamed, and she blushed at the look of joy and childlike wonder on his face.

"You're welcome."

"Would you share more with me?"

"How about tomorrow?" she asked, placing her wine glass down and leaning against the edge of the table. "I'm feeling a little drained and I think I might go to sleep."

"Tomorrow, then," he agreed. "Do you want or need anything before you go?"

"No...I'm alright," she reassured him. "Good night, Inuyasha."

"Good night, Kagome," he repeated softly in English with a thick accent.

"Kagome?"

"Ungh…"

"Kagome, wake up..."

"No…" she groaned, pushing away the hand gently touching her shoulder. "It's late. I'm tired. Go away…"

"Ok...I just think you might really want to see this," Inuyasha whispered, and she rolled over to glare at him in the dark room.

"See what?" she demanded, annoyance seeping into her words as he offered her a hand.

"Come with me?" he beckoned nervously as she scowled.

"Fine," she bit out, taking his hand. He gently pulled her up from his bed and led her out into the main room by the couch.

"Look," he grinned, positioning her in front of the windows.

"What am I looking at?" she groused as he placed his hand next to the button to defog them.

"This," he grinned, pushing the button. Her breath caught in her throat.

"Is that…?"

"A planet?"

She nodded her head, covering her mouth with her hands as red light flooded his small room. A large, red mass covered the entirety of the windows so that all she could see was the glowing red atmosphere and the hazy, beautiful mountains and craters of the craggy surface.

"It's the one closest to Earth," he confirmed, and she brought her hand to the window to trace the large, circular craters with her index finger through the clear material. "I told the captain to shift our course just a little so that we could pass it. I thought you might like to see it. What do you call it?"

"Mars," she whispered, and he tried the word. "It's beautiful," she whispered, completely transfixed. "I can't believe...do you know how many people on my planet have been able to see Mars this close before? I...Inuyasha…" she breathed, pressing her hand flat against the window. "This is incredible...so beautiful…"

"I agree," he breathed, and she turned to look at him. His eyes were full of warmth and happiness, and they were so soft and caring.

"I don't know what to say...Inuyasha, thank you. This is amazing."

He hesitantly moved his arm and gently took her hand, rubbing her knuckles with his thumb.

"You're welcome."

A/N:

As always…thank you to my amazing, wonderful, stupendous beta, Saucy Librarian for her amazing editing job! You are the wind beneath my wings, and I'd serenade you if I could but I'm doing us all a favor by just NOT.

Also…if you follow me on Tumblr, you might have caught the Easter Egg I tried to leave behind. Was I successful? Let me know! (And this is another reason why you should find me there – lemonlushff guys ;) )

AND speaking of Tumblr…Pretty sure my AN talking about the amazing art by Dezzidance got deleted in the great re-upload. I'm gonna reblog it so it's closer to the top, but check it out! I'm still in love with it.

Thank you as always to everyone who has read and reviewed, and sent a little love our way. It really and truly makes Saucy's and my day (because I of course share everything with her).

Next chapter goes live on Friday, Jan. 31! I'll also have more details about voting at Feudal Connection in case you would like to show this story a little love there too! Voting starts TOMORROW, and Sauce and I are up for best AU/AR!

See you all Friday!

-Lemon Lush

A/Rs

To Lola1991: I know right? Where can I buy one of those...Thanks as always for sending a little love our way, and I hope you enjoy this newest chapter!

To Guest: And I love love love love love love love love love love you and your review! Thank you so much! Keep being amazing :D