An unfamiliar weight was the first thing she noticed when her senses began to come to her. Draped across her waist, it was warm and held security to it that she hadn't felt in she didn't know how long. The more she awoke, the more she remembered about the night before and the realization of just what that weight was and who it belonged to had a lazy smile to pass over her lips. With heavy lids, Kagome finally managed to let her eyes open, seeing that it was rather rainy outside, a symptom of fall. At least she knew she wouldn't feel guilty spending all of the rest of the day inside.

"What time is it?"

The thought fluttered through her brain rather loosely, trying to nudge it into the forefront of her mind.

"But I'm so warm..."

At war with herself for something so menial, Kagome let her eyes scan her room. Clothes were strewn all over the floor - both hers and his - as a reminder of just how late they'd stayed up exploring one another and bringing each other to ecstasy time after time. Blinking, she saw her phone on the nightstand and she couldn't stop herself from lazily reaching out to take it. Turning the screen towards her, she pressed the home button to see the numbers 12:26 pm flash across the screen.

Surprise shot through her, tensing for a moment at the realization that they'd slept in so late. It seemed the man behind her sensed her sudden tensing, wrapping his arm around her more tightly as he pulled her back against his chest. The sound that left him was the mixture between a grunt and a whine as he nuzzled his head against the back of her neck. Kagome couldn't help but feel a flush rise to her cheeks at the gesture, finding the sound he made to be endearing. Who knew that mister tough guy was able to make such adorable noises.

A rather large part of her was surprised that he'd stayed the night and hadn't left early in the morning. There was no sense in her way of thinking, as the night before had been a very clear indicator that they'd wanted to be with one another, even if it couldn't be public. Regardless, she relaxed into his hold and let her attention fall to the notifications listed beneath the time.

💬 (5) New Texts from Sister ❤️

📞 (2) Missed calls from Sister ❤️

📧 (1) New Email

A groan left her at the realization that Sango had tried to contact her several times and would be relentless with questions when Kagome finally responded.

"S'matter?"

The sound of his sleep-filled voice, rugged and husky, had Kagome's heart beat just a little faster. It took her a moment to reply, "It's nothing, Sango just texted me a couple times," she stated, her own voice laced with the remnants of sleep.

"W'time is it?" He hadn't even opened his eyes, too comfortable and warm that he'd planned to fall back asleep once their small conversation was over.

"Twelve thirty."

That got him awake, eyes shooting open wide before relaxing at the realization that it was his day off and he had not prior responsibilities, "Mmm, can't remember the last time I slept past noon," he added, brushing his nose over the top of her spine before placing a gentle kiss to it. With a hum, Kagome agreed, typically starting her days at 8 am at the latest; she found she was most productive in the morning.

Rolling onto her back, she drew in a deep breath and stretched with both arms over her head before releasing the breath with satisfied a moan. The sight she was rewarded with, as she relaxed and turned her head towards him, were two very sleep amber eyes looking at her with a sense of contentment etched into his expression. Turning onto her side completely, she faced him with a sweet, satisfied smile, feeling his arm still draped over her waist throughout her movements, "You haven't changed your mind, have you?" Kagome asked, unable to help herself from prodding in an attempt to reassure herself that her insecurities of him leaving weren't necessary.

Furrowing his brows, he shook his head with a sense of certainty, "No. Have you?" She could see how his gaze scanned her face, trying to read her and get an answer before she spoke.

"No. Not even a little bit," The statement was sealed with a slow, gentle kiss pressed to his lips, hand cupping his cheek as she did so. Returning the kiss in earnest, Inuyasha gave her another squeeze towards him as she broke the kiss soon after starting it, "We should get up. You hungry?" One more peck was placed to his lips as she pulled the covers from her and made an attempt to climb out of bed, only to be held by a seemingly unmovable force.

"Not yet," he half begged, keeping his arm around her waist, even though she was seated with her legs hanging over the side of the bed. Peering over her shoulder, she rested one of her own hands on his arm, giving a gentle squeeze while she gave a rebuttal.

"I have to pee."

His arm went slack and unwrapped itself from her. Suited him fine, as he rolled onto his stomach and shoved both arms beneath the pillows he'd been resting his head on. Even though he knew where she was going and why, he still couldn't help keeping his eyes on her by turning his head towards where the en-suit was.

Washing her hands, she finally looked at herself in the mirror. What she saw had her freezing, first out of shock, then embarrassment, and finally, great irritation.

Examining the bite mark at the curve where her neck met her shoulder, it held blues, purples, and yellows. Not only that, when she tilted her head up and slightly to the side, she could see one more right against her pulse-point.

"Inuyasha!"

Swinging the door open, she stood in the doorway for a moment practically seething, "You idiot!"

The sudden change in her demeanor had him startled, propping himself up on an elbow as his hair stood on end, "What?! What happened?!" It was then that she began to storm towards him, causing Inuyasha to lean back as if he was trying to stay away from her. Kagome stopped at the side of the bed, aggressively pointing to the bruises that littered her neck and shoulder.

"These!" She stated in exasperation as her gaze bore down at him as if she'd intended to return the favor of those bruises, though not in the same context.

Flitting his attention to what she pointed at, he relaxed from his defensive stance. Morphing his stance into an offensive one, he countered, "Hey! I didn't hear you complainin' last night when I was givin' em to you!"

"That's not the point and you know it!" Their voices had reached the same volume, practically shouting at one another as they bickered. Grabbing a pillow, she started hitting him with it as she continued her verbal tirade, "How am I supposed to hide these!? I have to see people in the next few days!" Every other word was punctuated by her swinging the pillow down against him.

"What the hell, Kagome! Stop it!" Having put his arms up in defense, he didn't move from his spot on the bed. It wasn't as if her blows even hurt, "Would you just-" With one final hit, she followed it up with just straight-up whipping the pillow at him. A very human growl left her, fists clenched at her sides as she stared him down with a twitching brow, "Jesus - okay, I'll be more careful! Damn!" Inuyasha finally conceded, causing Kagome to relax some, though showed that still obvious irritation.

"I'm gonna have a shower, then make us breakfast," though her words held frustration, the last thing she wanted was for him to leave. Turning back to the en suite, she closed the door behind her which left Inuyasha alone in her bedroom, stunned and uncertain of what had just happened.

"She's scary when she's mad..." he murmured as he climbed off the bed and grabbed his joggers to slide them over his hips.

The shower had calmed her down, washing her hair and rinsing off the remnants of the night before. Nothing quite had her at peace like a good shower or a long bath. After towel drying her hair, she let it air dry the rest of the way as she walked out with said towel wrapped around her chest. When she exited the bathroom, she was greeted by an empty bedroom. Panic would have set in if she didn't realize that his boxer briefs were still there, telling her that he hadn't left. Walking out of the bedroom, she walked down the hall only to see him in the kitchen making a second mug of coffee, "Yash?" she called, seeing him turn to look over his shoulder to look at her.

"Made you some coffee," he offered before turning to lean against the counter with his own coffee in his hand.

Giving him an appreciative smile, walking around the island before meeting him by the Keurig, "Thanks." Unsure if she was still angry, he seemed slightly uneasy standing by her, staring down at her with an unspoken question of 'are you still mad?'. That question was answered by a soft kiss to his cheek, needing to get up on her tiptoes to do so, "You want a shower while I make breakfast?"

"You sayin' I stink?" he asked, though it was obvious that he was teasing. With one arm wrapped around her waist, he leaned his head down to press a kiss to her lips, stopping her from completing her sentence.

"No, I just-" Pressing her lips back against his own, she sunk into the taste, notes of coffee lingering on her tongue thereafter.

"Kind disappointed you showered," the words were a hot breath against her lips and, despite herself, she couldn't help but let goosebumps form all over her body. Ghosting his lips over her cheek before stopping just beneath her jawline, he pressed a slow, wet kiss there and was rewarded with a barely audible whimper, "I like my scent all over you."

With just enough willpower to pull from him, she pressed her hand against his bare chest while offering a rather steady gaze, "Food first." A finalized stance that had Inuyasha showing something that could only be called a pout when it came to someone with his demeanor. It weakened her foundation, but she remained firm, eyeing him with a sense of authority.

"Not hungry for food," he murmured, running his hand down to her ass and gripping a cheek enough to pull her up onto her toes. He was about to catch her lips, figuring that he'd worn her down with the heady gasp that'd left her. Yet, he was thwarted by one of her fingers pressing against the very lips that aimed to capture hers.

"Well, I am," she stated affirmatively, again wanting it to be taken as a finalized stance. Gently pushing away from him, he relinquished his grip on her and pushed himself off the counter. Giving her forehead a gentle kiss, he headed towards the bedroom with a mumbled 'fine', conceding to what she'd asked.

Waiting to hear the clicking of the door to the bathroom, she released a heavy, cooling sigh as she tried to gather her thoughts enough to really register what yesterday and this morning meant. Realizing she was still in nothing but a towel, she rounded the island to head back into her bedroom with the aim to find something to wear. Out of her peripheral vision, she spotted his shirt tossed on the ground, "Since he likes his smell on me so much..." she murmured to herself as she walked over and picked it up off the floor. Dropping the towel where she stood, she pulled the white shirt over her head, seeing that it easily hit mid-thigh and hung over her loosely.

With the towel placed in the hamper in the corner of her room and her phone taken from its place on the nightstand, Kagome dared herself to read the messages that Sango had left her. Having memorized her apartment, she needn't look up as she made her way to the kitchen, holding her phone in one hand as she opened a bottom cupboard to grab a pan.

[SMS received from: Sister ❤️] - morning sleepy head! (seen ✔️)

[SMS received from: Sister ❤️] - are u seriously still asleep? (seen ✔️)

[SMS received from: Sister ❤️] - dude it's past 10 o'clock (seen ✔️)

[SMS received from: Sister ❤️] - are you alive? (seen ✔️)

[SMS received from: Sister ❤️] - fuckin charge ur phone or something. (seen ✔️)

[SMS received from: Sister ❤️] - if you don't answer your phone in 20 mins i'm heading over there to make sure you aren't dead. (seen ✔️)

Checking the time sent versus the time it was at that moment, it had been twenty-five mins. Eyes widened out of a very real panic - Sango was a determined woman and would stick to whatever she put her mind to. If she said twenty minutes, it would damn well be on the dot. Quickly, she put the pan down and pressed the phone icon that resided at the top right-hand corner of their chatbox. Holding the phone to her ear, she heard a few rings before hearing the receiver pick up.

"There you are! Christ Kagome, are you okay? I was just about to leave."

"Oh thank god."

"I'm fine! Just slept in, is all," For the first time, she sounded convincing as the lie fell from her mouth. Well, it wasn't really a lie, was it? She had slept in, she didn't tell Sango as to why.

"Well, I'm already dressed and ready to head out, so I'll be over in a few."

It wasn't uncommon for either of them to just pop over to one another's apartments unannounced or invited themselves for a hangout. So, when Sango heard Kagome frantically tell her not to come over, she was confused, holding her car keys in hand.

"Why not?" The obvious curiosity in her voice had Kagome mentally hitting herself for acting so unbelievably frantic in her attempt to stay stealth.

Peering towards the shower, she could still hear the water running and felt it safe to speak, even if it were in a hushed tone. Even though she knew Inuyasha couldn't hear her, she cupped her mouth to make sure the sound directed right into the receiver, "I have someone over."

One. Two. Three.

That's how many seconds it took Sango to realize what she'd just said and put the dots together as to just who she had over, "You had better fucking call me when he goes home." Though the choice of words were abrasive, the tone of Sango's voice was giddy and amused at the same time, "I'm coming over later and bringing the wine."

Kagome rolled her eyes and pinched the bridge of her nose out of frustration, but still managed to give an entertained scoff despite herself, "Okay, fine," it was then that she heard the water turn off, "I gotta go. Love you." After hearing Sango's return of the words, she hung up with a heavy sigh. Putting her phone down on the kitchen counter, she placed the pan on the element before turning it on.

"Kagome, have you seen my sh-" his voice carried down the hall but stopped short when he entered the kitchen and realized that she had definitely seen where his shirt had gone. Her back was to him, obviously focused on what she was cooking. It was only after a few moments that she peered over her shoulder, intent on giving him some sort of snide, teasing comment, then she saw him. His hair was up in a messy bun, those familiar strands at the front of his head still hanging as they normally did; she didn't know why, but the look of him in a messy man-bun did something to her.

It took her a moment to have her mind come back online, blinking a few times before canting her head in a flirtatious manner, "Do you want it back?"

Was she trying to kill him? Damn. She looked better in that shirt than he ever could, disregarding the fact that it gave her no shape and simply hung off her. The fact that she was so petite and swimming in his shirt, the fact that his scent would be all over because of her decision to wear it, it shot right to his core.

"Eventually," he retorted, closing the wide gap between them to wrap his arms around her from behind. Lips pressed against the bruise he'd left, letting it linger for a moment to let Kagome sink into his hold while she turned the burner on low. Shortly after, rather reluctantly, he pulled from her to lean on the counter beside her, arms folded across his chest; she'd said she needed food and, if he wanted to use the day as he'd planned, she needed sustenance - energy.

"Sango knows," the way she said it was almost casual, even though there was a small pit in her stomach at the knowledge that she'd been found out so quickly. Taking the eggs off the pan and putting them each on a piece of avocado toast, she held the plate out for him to take, "I called her because she threatened to come over."

Slowly and easily, he took the plate from her, only to put it down on the counter at his side, "And?" All he got was a shrug, "Is that...a bad thing?" She'd been clear that she didn't want anyone else to know but the two of them; at least it hadn't been his fault that someone found out.

"I didn't explicitly say I had you over, I just told her I had someone over. But, I guess I shouldn't be surprised she guessed right away," she explained before offering him a sweet, warm smile, "Not a bad thing she knows. I'm assuming she's told Miroku, though."

As if the other couple knew, Inuyasha heard his phone go off, "I'm thinkin' you're right," he murmured before walking to the coffee table and picking up his cell for the first time since they'd woken up. Miroku's name flashed across the screen before looking to Kagome, "Should I answer?" he asked, and Kagome gave him a nod of confirmation.

Pressing the phone to his ear, he shoved his free hand into his jogger's pocket before heading towards the living room window, "Yo."

"Hey. A little birdie told me you're at Kagome's."

Maybe Inuyasha shouldn't have been shocked that Miroku wasn't going to beat around the bush; but when the statement was directed towards him to confidently, Inuyasha couldn't help but let an embarrassed scoff leave him. How was he supposed to reply to that? It seemed Kagome was fine with him knowing, but he didn't want to just assume, "Wh-Where did you hear that?" Fuck. He stuttered. Without missing a beat, Miroku went in for the kill.

"Sango called Kagome and was told she had someone over. You spend the night?"

Inuyasha held onto his right to remain silent, peering over his shoulder to see Kagome making her own avocado and egg toast, "I did. But you need to keep your trap shut, do you understand?" The emphasized were was spoken through a growl, only to be met with a bemused chuckle on the other end of the line.

"My lips are sealed, dear friend. But don't think you're off the hook that easy. Friday. You're talkin'."

"Fuck off, Miroku. I'm hanging up."

Before he could even hear a response, Inuyasha hung up the phone and slid it into his pocket.

"I'm sure they're having a blast right now," Kagome commented, now seated on the island, legs dangling off the edge as she took a bite of her toast. Taking his own plate, he placed it beside her, leaning against the island counter with his elbows. All he could do was scoff at her words, shaking his head with a content grin as he took a bite of his own breakfast, "I'd planned to tell Sango, by the way. I know she'd keep it to herself if I asked. There was no way I could hide that from her." She explained honestly, running a hand through her still-damp hair to flip it over one shoulder.

"You guys've been friends for a while, huh?" He couldn't help but ask, knowing that it seemed Sango and Kagome were always texting or keeping in touch in some sort of way on the daily.

Kagome nodded as she chewed on the bite she'd taken just as he'd asked, lifting her hand to her mouth so he didn't see her half-chewed food as she spoke, "Since we were kids," she managed to swallow her food down by that point, "We grew up on the same street, went to the same school; ever since then we've been inseparable."

Leaning back on one of her arms, she rested her cheek on her own shoulder as she let her gaze linger on him, "You look good in a man bun y'know. You should wear one more often." It hadn't been intended to rile him up, not meant to flirt or tease - she meant it earnestly, "Why don't you?"

Inuyasha straightened, moving to situate himself between her thighs only to have Kagome instinctively rest her elbows on his shoulders, arms loosely connected behind him. "The ears. I wear hats, 'member?"

"Why do you hide them? They're so cute," She had been so pleasantly surprised by them and it only made her seem to fall for him even more. The definition of a bad-boy through and through, but topped off with two little, fuzzy triangles; it was swoon-worthy.

"You're the only one who thinks that," he stated bluntly, and by the look on his face, he was completely serious.

"Seriously? Who couldn't love them?" Kagome's question was seemingly rhetorical as Inuyasha didn't really give her a very clear answer; a shrug could have meant a multitude of things. Knowing that he'd been shamed to the point of feeling the need to hide them had her heart sink. It was no wonder he was so rough around edges, "Well, whenever you're here or I'm at your place: no hats."

"My place?" They hadn't been to his place yet; his place wasn't nearly as nice as hers and that intimidated him slightly. It wasn't as if it was a pig-stye or some sort of decrepit, grungy apartment building. In fact, he didn't own an apartment at all - he owned a house, a rarity in their city. It wasn't fancy or decorated much, but it was enough for him to take pride in. The thought of having her over wasn't all bad, though; her scent would linger longer, which suited him fine.

"Haven't been yet. When's my invitation coming?"

"I'd think last night was invitation enough," he replied, running his hands down to her hips and pulling her close to him, causing their noses to brush against one another, "But if you need something more; want to come to my place on Tuesday night?"

The muscles of his chest slide beneath her palms as she ran her hands down the front of it, all while smiling with her bottom lip between her teeth as she nodded, "I'd really like that."

"Then it's a date," a breathy promise against her lips before he captured her lips with every intent to devour every part of her as he did the night before.

It was well into the evening when Inuyasha had managed to convince himself and Kagome that he needed to head home. She'd mentioned that she had some obligations in the morning and he knew he needed to put some work in when it came to the back end of things. The final kiss of the evening had been followed by many smaller ones spoken through goodbyes until he ultimately closed the door behind him and made his way towards the parking garage. Even though he'd left her apartment, her scent was embedded in the shirt he wore and he'd told himself that he wouldn't wash it until the next time he saw her.

The drive home had him in a bit of a daze, listening to music lowly as he took the highway home as he reflected on what the past two days had meant for him. It was unconventional, but it seemed that Kagome wanted them to be exclusive at some capacity and Inuyasha couldn't want anything more. How she'd managed to weasel her way into his heart in such a short amount of time, no one had even come close. And she'd done so in such an effortless way, too.

Rounding the corner onto his street, he immediately could see a familiar car parked outside his house, "For fuck sakes..." he murmured to himself. Almost every positive feeling he'd been experiencing came crashing down when he realized just who was waiting in their car outside his house.

Pulling into his driveway, Inuyasha remained in his car for a moment, seeing a lithe, tall figure step out of the car with a sense of elegance. Rolling his eyes, he growled to himself as he did the same, though with far less elegance than his counterpart, "What the fuck do you want?" The younger of the two asked as he closed his car door behind him.

"Hello to you, too, brother."

The taller figure shared the same amber eyes and silver hair as Inuyasha did; although holding a point, his ears were where most humans had their own. Dressed in a dark grey suit, he stood calm, cool and unbothered despite his brother's abrasive nature, "Back from one of your little escapades, I see. What's her name this time?" The scent of a woman was all over him, stronger than it typically was which told the older man that he must have spent more than a few hours with her. Not that it was any of his concern in the first place.

Inuyasha curled his lip towards his older brother, arms folded across his arms before he swallowed down the undeniable need to throw a punch; but he knew better, they both did, having discovered that they were fairly evenly matched years prior, "That doesn't answer my question, brother." The title was spoken with a very obvious sense of venom laced with sarcasm.

"Father has requested your audience."

A harsh scoff left him before a wry chuckle left Inuyasha, tossing his head back and to the side before shaking his head, "Unbelievable."

"You wouldn't listen to anyone else, so he sent me in hopes of convincing you," the taller man's voice never left that same even tone, almost holding a twinge of annoyance at the fact that he'd been given such a menial task.

"What makes him think that you could convince me, Sesshomaru?" Familial gazes finally met with less hostility before Inuyasha rolled his eyes. Though he and Sesshomaru had never seen eye to eye but, since Seshshomaru had taken a human for a wife, they'd managed to find some sort of common ground. Wordlessly, Inuyasha turned towards his front door, silently inviting his older brother in for a drink.

Holding the door open, he eyed as Sesshomaru seemingly floated through the door and into his younger brother's rather humble abode. Scanning his surroundings, the entryway was modest, with a set of stairs to the left, leading to the second floor. To the immediate right was a closet, where he'd half a mind to hang his jacket but knew he wouldn't be staying long if he could help it. Straight ahead, he could see the hallway that lead right into a living room, "How quaint," he murmured to himself, though it wasn't meant earnestly.

"Yeah well, I don't got the old man's money, so..." Inuyasha spat, pulling off his toque and kicking off his shoes, Inuyasha kept his hoodie on as he made his way towards the living room, "I got whiskey," he stated briskly before making an immediate left at the end of the hallway, where the kitchen was.

"That'll suffice," Sesshomaru mused, moving to take a seat on the couch, one leg crossed over the other as he rested an arm against the back of it.

Pouring a glass for each of them (his own a little taller than Sesshomaru's), Inuyasha handed it to him before taking a seat in an armchair off to the left of the couch. Leaning forward, he rested his elbows against his knees loosely, peering towards Sesshomaru with skepticism, "What's he want?"

Taking a small sip, Sesshomaru let the drink slide down his throat with no burn - alcohol didn't burn him, at least not weak, human alcohol. After a moment, the older brother peered towards the younger, finally showing a semblance of emotion by narrowing his gaze a hair, "What do you think he wants?"

Straightening himself before leaning back against the back of the chair, he shrugged, "I have no idea. Hasn't shown interest in the last few decades," he stated casually, though there was heavy layer of resentment that coated it.

"Even I know that's a lie," Sesshomaru deflected, even though it was spoken in a dismissively bored manner.

"Then why hasn't he just come here himself?" Inuyasha interjected, "Maybe I'd be more receptive if he wasn't sending his lackeys to try'n get me to see 'im."

Comparing Sesshomaru to a simple lackey, it would have costed Inuyasha at least a punch to the gut if they'd been any younger, "He's a busy man, as I'm sure you're aware."

"Bullshit."

Sesshomaru placed his glass on the side table, never taking his unwavering gaze from his brother, "He wants to purchase your business, so you can work for him."

There had been a million different ways that Sesshomaru had expected to react, some were more violent than others. The last thing he expected was to hear a laugh erupt from the younger man's lips, hearty though with obvious malcontent, "That's rich. Pretend I don't exist for forty years then suddenly think he can buy my affections. That's a good one."

The laughter ended after the last word, having known that Sesshomaru was completely serious from the second the offer was placed before him. Regardless of the unorthodox response to his statement, the older brother remained calm, showing no sense of emotion or legibility to his expression. Instead, Sesshomaru climbed to his feet, peering down at Inuyasha as he spoke, "Think about it, that's all he asked. Should you change your mind, you know where to find him."

With that, Sesshomaru turned towards the door, Inuyasha following him out.

Pausing at the bottom of the outdoor steps, Sesshomaru glanced over his shoulder towards the younger man who stood in the doorway, "Until next time, little brother."