Best Laid Plans

by ShikonStar83

When Miroku's not-so-brilliant idea for a birthday gift for Inuyasha goes wrong, can Kagome step in to save the day?

A.N. Hey, everyone! This is my first fic in this fandom, but I have been writing since 2011. I prefer to keep all of my fandoms separate, but you may recognize me from somewhere else! I decided to start out with a oneshot, but I have the first few chapters of a longer story waiting in the wings. Hope you enjoy!

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"I have a fantastic idea!"

Inuyasha groaned, the sound muffled by the hamburger he had just shoved in his mouth. That had to be the most terrifying phrase in the history of any language ever. It was only made worse coming from the speaker, who was gazing at him with maniacally gleaming violet eyes.

"Whatever it is, the answer is no," Inuyasha said flatly, not even looking directly at Miroku.

"What? You haven't even heard what it is yet!" Miroku whined, his smile falling into a pout.

"He doesn't need to know the question when he already knows the source," Sango said from across the table, her expression mildly amused.

"Wasn't it your bright idea to do that naked polar bear run thing?" Kagome asked as she swiped a french fry from Inuyasha's plate, ignoring his growl and narrowed eyes. "You know, the one that scarred that club or whatever of middle-aged women?"

"Please! It was the highlight of their day!"

Inuyasha gave a shudder, even as he slapped off another assault on his fries. "Why do all of your supposedly fantastic ideas end in nudity or someone avoiding time in a cell?"

Miroku puffed up next to him in the booth, slinging an arm around the hanyou's shoulders. "Because I'm the coolest person you know!"

"Whatever it takes to help you sleep at night, I guess."

The jibe didn't faze Miroku; this was unsurprising because to survive being friends with Inuyasha as long as he had, it was either develop a thick skin or spend his life being perpetually offended.

"Don't be so cruel, Inuyasha. This is for your birthday, after all!"

Inuyasha gave up trying to protect his fries and stole the last cheese stick from Kagome's plate in retaliation. Sparing a smirk at her gasp of betrayal, he turned to give Miroku his full attention.

"Fine. I'll listen before I turn it down, then."

A sly smile quirked up the corners of Miroku's mouth, and his eyes glittered in a way that all who knew him meant trouble. In unison, the other three at the table leaned away.

"To celebrate your twenty-first, I have decided you need to live a little-I know you hate the taste of alcohol, but tonight, a show is on me!"

Instantly, Inuyasha's ears flattened to his head. He should have suspected something like this. It was a classic Miroku idea. It also happened to be a really, really bad one for Inuyasha for more than one reason.

"And exactly who is this a present for?" Sango asked pointedly, her fingers twitching around the handle of her steak knife.

"Sango, my love, you know I have no need of such things when I have your luscious-ow!" He was cut off by a sharp kick to his shin.

All of the noise distracted from the fact that Kagome wasn't saying a word and had gone unnaturally still. Her bottom lip was caught between her teeth, and she was staring at the table with an oddly intent focus.

"Look, can't we just get a pizza and watch a few crappy movies?" Inuyasha asked, hoping to get out of this before Sango skewered her boyfriend like a pig.

Miroku was his best friend. His murder would only come as a last resort.

Keeping one eye on Sango out of a keen sense of self-preservation, Miroku snorted. "What kind of celebration is that? We do that all the time! C'mon, just once-not even the full night, just one dance, and I'll never bother you about it again."

At that, Inuyasha paused. Miroku was relentless and devious. If he was determined for something to happen, he could wage a campaign that lasted for years. Getting him to shut up about a subject permanently...

"Just once? Then done for good?" He asked suspiciously.

"Absolutely!" Miroku promised, sensing weakness.

'Inuyasha, you don't have to feel like you have to-" Sango began, realizing how badly this could play out by the way Kagome had frozen beside her.

Inuyasha waved her off, shifting in his seat to pull his wallet out of his pocket. "S'fine, Sango. If twenty minutes out of my life can shut him up for good, I can stomach the crowd and noise for that long. Here, this should cover mine," he added, tossing some cash onto the table and sliding out of the booth.

"I got a few things to take care of. Text me when and where to meet," Inuyasha gave a quick wave to Sango and Kagome and headed toward the exit.

Miroku's satisfaction at his quick victory died abruptly as he looked across the table. Sango was giving him a look that said he was going to be sleeping with one eye open for the foreseeable future, and Kagome...shit. This wasn't how he expected things to go.

"Kagome, I...I'm sorry. To be honest, I never thought he would go for it. Are you alright?"

"Does she look alright?" Sango hissed, eyes narrowing into slits as she put a comforting arm around her friend.

"It's fine," Kagome said with a weak smile. "I mean, it's not like...not like I have any sort of say in it, you know? Just, well, I'd appreciate not having to hear about the gory details afterward, if you don't mind."

"Hey, there's not going to be any gory details! You know how much he hates noisy places like that, and he's never really been one for...well, you know," Sango said reassuringly.

At Kagome's hesitant nod, he added, "Sango's right. I doubt he'll stick around much more than ten minutes, tops. And then maybe I'll be able to work in what I had actually planned," Miroku smiled but aborted his attempt at a hand pat when Sango continued to glare.

"Just what did you have planned?" Kagome asked, cocking her head in confusion.

"I was going to point out that if he got himself a girlfriend, I wouldn't keep trying to drag him into situations like that," Miroku answered, watching as a blush bloomed on Kagome's face.

"That might be even worse," she muttered. "That I would actually have to watch."

"Inuyasha is slow, but he'll get there," Miroku assured her. He had watched the hanyou moon over their mutual friend for years and knew the only thing keeping Inuyasha from making a move was a past filled with prejudice and a lack of confidence.

"I think if that were going to happen, it would have by now," Kagome sighed, then shook herself. "Well, I need to get going myself-see you at the gym on Monday?" She asked Sango.

Sango looked as if she wanted to say something but changed her mind at the last minute. "I'll be there, but I might be a little late since I have to pick up Kohaku after kendo practice."

Kagome nodded and scooped out a few bills from her purse and tossed them in the same pile as Inuyasha's money. "Sounds good. See you later, then."

She held her breath all the way to the door, trying to make sure she didn't slump or drag her feet while her friends were still watching. She could hear Sango's furious whispering and knew that Miroku was going to be in trouble for days. For once, she couldn't muster up much sympathy. Stepping out onto the street, she paused before turning in the direction of her apartment. She really wasn't being fair. After all, she had no say in the matter; Inuyasha owed her no consideration as far as those types of choices were concerned. She just needed to grit her teeth and deal with it. It was just one night. Not even that! One song-songs rarely lasted five minutes. What was that in the big scheme of things? It wasn't like his personality was going to do a 180, and he was going to become as obsessed with women as Miroku used to be. Of course, it might make him decide that he needed the occasional physical release...

Kagome blushed at the startled look of an older lady when she let out a sound resembling that of a distressed goose. Scuttling down the street, she vowed that she was going to push this out of her head. She had been in love with Inuyasha for years, and it was naive of her to think that things would remain at a stalemate indefinitely. Maybe...maybe instead of waiting, she needed to be the one to make a move. At least then, she would know exactly where she stood, and if needed, she could start the process of moving on.

Of course, that didn't mean she wasn't going to spill something on one of Miroku's nice silk ties the next time she ate with him on his lunch break.

Inuyasha tossed the package of hamburger meat into the fridge and wandered over to the couch. Bonelessly throwing himself onto the cushions, he picked up the remote and flicked through the channels, his eyes not taking in any of the images that flashed across the screen. He hadn't even left the restaurant before he began to regret agreeing to Miroku's harebrained idea.

First of all, the whole scene wasn't to his taste. He wasn't overly social at the best of times, but throw in the loud noises, flashing lights, and smells ranging from gallons of perfumes to horrific B.O., it all mixed together to promise a completely miserable night. He knew Miroku thought he needed to find a decent relationship or at least get laid. And it wasn't that he was averse to the idea-especially if the second followed the first. It wasn't like he hadn't tried it on his own...

His ears flattened to his head as he remembered his one attempt at dating. It had been his junior year in high school, and he had decided it was time to take the risk. And for him, it truly was a risk. Hanyous were tolerated at best and easily became targets and scapegoats. His mother had drilled it into his head how careful he needed to be when choosing a girlfriend-one wrong move, and he could be accused, tried, and convicted on her word alone.

The girl he had picked had seemed nice enough. Quiet but friendly. Didn't seem disgusted by him. He even started things slow to feel her out and, after a few conversations, decided that a relationship might actually work between them.

He snorted and flopped backward, laying an arm across his eyes. Things had not worked out.

All it took was one little argument. He hadn't wanted to reveal his human night yet, and she was...well, a little too interested in his human side for his taste. She got upset and said she would feel less nervous around him while he was human. That had prompted him to be his usual cutting and sarcastic self with her, which he had tried to keep a leash on at first. She had been shocked and made the comment that maybe he was dangerous after all, and if he got that mad over something so unimportant, what else might he do?

Looking back, he realized she had just been trying to manipulate him into letting her have her way, but if she had started spreading stories, she could have ruined his life if not ended it completely. After that, he shied away from even the idea of dating.

Until a few months later when he had developed a raging, unrequited crush on Kagome. With a curse, he shot straight up, his eyes widening in shock. Shit! He had been so focused on dealing with Miroku that he hadn't even taken in Kagome's reaction! Was she mad? Disgusted? Completely indifferent? He wasn't sure which would be worse. Fuck, what if he had completely ruined his non-existent chances with her?

He hadn't meant to fall for her. His earlier experience had been rather fresh in his mind, and he had tried to keep her at a distance. But Kagome was relentlessly, aggressively, nice. Seriously, he had checked his fangs for cavities after every bubbly (on her part) conversation. He hadn't even known why she had bothered since he had kept his side of things to grunts and mumbles of single-syllable words. And then...he had lost his temper. Okay, maybe that was exaggerating. He hadn't gotten mad, but she had chirped at him one too many times on a day that he was already dangling by a thread, and his response had not been...kind. To say the least. He had just realized what he had done and was braced for her to break down when it happened.

Kagome got mad.

Beautifully, furiously mad.

She had ripped into him with a skill and vocabulary that could only be born of experience, and he had realized that Kagome wasn't the princess of all things sunshine and sweetness. He had been left standing slack-jawed as she stomped away, head held high and hands clenched into tiny fists at her sides. Part of him expected that to be the end of any type of friendship between them, but she had surprised him the next day by apologizing for some (not all) of the things she had said. Deviating wildly from his typical behavior, he had returned the apology. Afterward, she acted as if nothing had happened. From that point on, he found that he couldn't help himself from discovering the various moods and reactions she possessed, and it wasn't long until he was forced to admit that he was hopelessly, irredeemably in love with her.

And that was where he had been stuck for the last several years. He hadn't wanted to ruin their friendship, so he had surreptitiously tried to look for any sign that she would be interested in something more. The problem? She was too. Fucking. Nice. Any time he thought she might be showing interest, he was able to explain it away as Kagome just being Kagome. True, aside from one setup around the time that they had first met, he hadn't noticed her dating anyone, but that might be a coincidence.

He was completely screwed.

Just not in the way he was hoping.

Fuck.

A buzzing from his pocket jarred him back to reality, and Inuyasha blinked at the time, not having been aware that he had devoted most of the afternoon to angsting over his non-relationship status with Kagome. He thumbed open his phone and checked the message from Miroku, giving him a time and place. Of course, it was in the sleazier part of town, but that was to be expected. Probably a better idea to walk than to risk his car. The best idea would be not to go at all, but Miroku had promised, and Inuyasha was looking forward to being able to throw it in his face for years.

Absently, he considered taking a shower before quickly discarding that idea. He had taken one the night before, and it wasn't like he planned on getting more up close and personal with any of the women than was absolutely necessary. Cynical or not, the reality was it would probably be a very quick encounter; he could already picture the forced smile as some poor chick gave a few unenthusiastic shakes for whatever Miroku was paying. Inuyasha would be polite (for him) and leave quickly (also for him, which was saying something), and it would all be over.

The neon signs were flaring to life up and down the strip, and small pockets of people were gathering in front of doors. Since it was a Thursday, the crowd wasn't as bad as Inuyasha had expected, and he found Miroku fairly easily. The other man looked surprisingly nervous, and Inuyasha inwardly smirked; Sango must've given him hell.

He liked Sango.

"Decided not to dress up for the occasion?" Miroku asked, raising an eyebrow at Inuyasha's worn jeans, Jurassic Snark shirt, and running shoes that looked like they had gone a round with a weedeater.

"The day I dress up to do something with you is the day I sign myself up for online dating," Inuyasha snorted. He eyed Miroku up and down, noting the black jeans and shimmery purple button-down shirt. "Or is this your way of telling me something? Should Sango be worried?"

Miroku rolled his eyes, moving down the street to their destination. "I expect the night to be young when you ditch me, so I was taking Sango out afterward. As you can probably suspect, I'm not exactly in her good graces."

Jamming his hands into his pockets, Inuyasha fell into step beside him, snickering. "Yeah, didn't think you would be. Ya better keep your hands to yourself in here, or I'll have to report you."

"I'll have you know my hands have touched no other ass than that of my beloved's in ages," Miroku informed him with affronted dignity.

Knowing it was true, as much as it had surprised him in the beginning, Inuyasha just shook his head, coming to stop in front of the club Miroku had texted him about.

"Well, I haven't gotten crabs just by lookin' at it, so I suppose it ain't as bad as I thought," he drawled.

With a long-suffering sigh, Miroku fished in his wallet, already regretting his big mouth for getting him into this. Luckily it was early in the evening, and the line was short; if Inuyasha didn't make any more smart remarks, they might not get kicked out. Honestly, he wouldn't put it past Inuyasha to do something like that on purpose. He would really need to reassure Kagome that she had nothing to worry about. Inuyasha was entering the building with all of the enthusiasm of a man on his way to a root canal.

The smells were the first assault on his senses; perfume and sweat had permeated the building, and the competing cheap colognes of the men joined the throng, topped off with strains of overpriced alcohol. Inuyasha had to take a few moments to adjust, and as he stood there, his ears flattened closer to his head. Most of the other people near him would only hear the low thump of bass, but Inuyasha could hear the music coming from the private rooms as well, along with the shrill whistles of the customers.

"Alright, you got me here. I'll stay for one song, and then-"

"No, no, my friend!" Miroku protested, grabbing ahold of his arm and dragging him briskly along. "This is your birthday, so I'm going to make sure you get a special dance!"

At this, Inuyasha felt a little sick. Everyone assumed he was just initially standoffish, and the truth was he didn't like being touched by strangers. Not that he could blame Miroku since he had never actually told him, and he was comfortable enough with their small group that none of them bothered him like that. Some strange dancer rubbing her scent all over him wasn't appealing.

Miroku wound his way through the bodies, surprisingly ignoring the gyrating bodies on the main stage. His attention was firmly focused on the counter where special requests were made. As he got closer, he made eye contact with the thickly muscled man taking money and making out the schedules. Expectedly, the man gave a professional smile and a nod to acknowledge that Miroku was there while he was finishing up with another customer, but then the man's gaze slid over to Inuyasha, and the smile abruptly turned into a scowl. Assuming the man was less than impressed by Inuyasha's choice of outfit, Miroku thought nothing of it.

Credit card in hand, Miroku stepped up to the counter with Inuyasha standing slightly behind him to the side.

"My friend is celebrating his birthday, and I'd like to buy him a private dance with one of your best dancers," Miroku began, then noticed that the man was still staring at Inuyasha, his lip curled into a disdainful sneer.

"Sorry, we don't have anyone available," the man said flatly.

Inuyasha stiffened at the tone, knowing exactly what it meant. He was about to turn around and stalk out of the building when he noticed Miroku hadn't moved. Shit. Shiiiiit.

Miroku frowned. It wasn't that crowded, and even if they had to wait for a few other special requests, it wasn't that big of a deal-they were paying.

"If it's a matter of waiting, we don't mind-"

The man leaned forward, one fist resting heavily on the counter. "Let me make this real clear for you. If you want a dance, fine, gimme your card, and I'll make it happen. "Your pet there wants to see some flesh? He can stand at the back of the main room until someone complains."

Miroku was normally a laid-back, cheerful sort of person. Things didn't really get to him; he rolled with the punches that came with life and continued on his merry way. But the realization that he was witnessing the discrimination of his best friend...he was beyond pissed.

"I see. I suppose I mistook the quality of this business. We will take our money somewhere less bigoted," he said through clenched teeth, knowing that if he drew more attention, Inuyasha would be even more embarrassed than he probably already was.

The man chuckled darkly. "Yeah, you just try that and see how well you do."

Miroku opened his mouth for a scathing barb, but a hand landed heavily on his shoulder.

"Just leave it," Inuyasha ground out quietly.

The brittle resignation in Inuyasha's tone snapped Miroku's jaw shut, and without a backward glance, they stalked out of the building, pushing against the surge of men coming through the door.

There was an awkward silence as each man grappled with his own feelings. While Miroku knew Inuyasha had faced such things in the past, he had never witnessed a display like this before. He had seen Inuyasha get into arguments with people who would then insult him, but as far as businesses were concerned, his hanyou status was usually ignored. Miroku felt horrible. While he did enjoy teasing his friend, he would have never knowingly put him in a position to be treated the way he had been tonight. He wasn't even sure how to go about apologizing for this since Inuyasha was touchy when things got too emotional. Maybe he should have just let Sango use her steak knife on him at lunch.

Inuyasha could feel the anger and nervousness coming off of Miroku in waves, and a small part of him was amused that Miroku was taking it worse than he was himself. He was used to things like this. Sometimes it was so subtle that his human friends didn't even notice it. Other times, things could get physical in a hurry. All in all, being told to leave a place he didn't even want to be wasn't the worst outcome he could think of. But while Miroku was feeling guilty, he was going to use the moment to his advantage.

"Listen, this still counts. I did what you asked, so I don't want to hear anything about strippers or finding someone to bang again, got it?"

"I wasn't expecting you to have sex!" Miroku said, affronted. He knew Inuyasha had feelings for Kagome, even if he wouldn't come out and say it. He had hoped this might have boosted Inuyasha's confidence a little, but that had blown up in his face spectacularly.

Inuyasha snorted. "You say that like a lap dance is that far off. I don't want to argue perverted technicalities!" He added when Miroku looked as if he was going to protest. "I just want it on record that I did my part, so I expect you to keep your promise."

"I don't really think the experience in that shithole can count as-"

"It was a shithole you chose. Keep your promise."

"Alright, I concede that point, and I won't ask you to do this again, but I really do think you'd benefit from putting yourself out mo-"

"Miroku," Inuyasha said gently, stopping to give Miroku a soft smile that instantly froze the blood in the other man's veins, "If you don't keep your promise, I'll tell Sango about that friendly little waitress last month."

Miroku's eyes bugged out of his head, and he gripped Inuyasha by the arm, drawing stares from people passing by. "Are you crazy? She slipped me her number on the receipt, but you saw me throw it away!"

It was all Inuyasha could do not to laugh at the way Miroku's voice hitched several octaves. "I know that, and you know that, and I'll be sure to tell Sango that...after she's cut off at least one of your hands."

With a deep sigh, Miroku slumped, his hold on Inuyasha's arm going slack. "Fine, if you really want to be that way. But seriously, I'm really sorry for what just happened. I never would have taken you there if-"

"Look, it's fine, alright? I didn't want to go, I didn't want some strange woman to be paid to be all over me, so it's not a big deal. For once, someone's fucked up view on hanyous worked out in my favor, so I'm not complaining," Inuyasha dismissed the apology, knowing it was genuine but not wanting to do the whole emotional bullcrap thing.

"Yeah, well, I'm going to make it up to you-something you'll actually like, so don't look at me like that!" Miroku laughed, holding his hands up at the suspicious growl Inuyasha sent his way.

"Whatever. Spring for the four of us to go to a movie or somethin', and we'll call it even."

"I'm guessing that you're ready to go home now?" Miroku asked, neatly sidestepping the suggestion.

Inuyasha pulled out his phone and looked at the time. It wasn't that late, but he didn't feel like going anywhere.

"Yeah, I'm gonna head back. There's a couple of movies getting ready to go off Netflix that I wanted to watch, and tonight is as good as any to get that out of the way."

Miroku looked at him carefully. Although Inuyasha claimed to be fine, there was a tightness about him that hadn't been there earlier; his normally golden eyes were a deeper shade of amber, and he knew the hanyou had to be feeling badly on some level.

"Want some company for that?"

A clawed hand raked through silver hair, pushing strands back out of his face. He knew Miroku was trying to be nice, but there was no reason he and Sango had to come over and babysit him.

"Nah, I know you have plans with Sango, and it's not like I can't stand to watch a few movies on my own."

"Maybe Kagome would-"

"No!" Inuyasha yelped before getting ahold of himself. "No, she doesn't need to do that. I mean, what am I supposed to say? "Hey Kagome, I couldn't even pay some chick to dance against my pole, so wanna come over and comfort me?' I think the hell not."

Thumb stroking against his jaw in consideration, Miroku pondered, "You know, that idea actually has merit..."

"Acting like a desperate pervert is your shtick, not mine. Um...did she..." Inuyasha fought back a blush, trying to find out what he had been wondering earlier, "Did Kagome say anything? About what we were doing tonight?"

Ah, yes, Miroku thought. There it was.

"She didn't seem overly thrilled at the prospect, if that's what you're asking. Seriously, why don't you just ask her out already?" Miroku asked, no trace of teasing in his voice.

Inuyasha looked at him sharply. "Why? Because what happened tonight? That doesn't matter. But Kagome..." his eyes and ears both dropped. "Kagome matters. A lot."

They had turned a corner and were now on an empty street; the noises from other people and traffic had become a muffled backdrop. Miroku stopped and crossed his arms. This was the closest Inuyasha had ever come to admitting his feelings out loud, and he didn't want to ruin this progress.

"Inuyasha, Kagome would never treat you like that, you know that, right?"

A humorless laugh puffed past his lips. "I know that. But I don't want her pity, either. You know her-she's so fuckin' nice! I don't want her doing anything she feels pressured into doing just to make me feel better."

Miroku narrowed his eyes. It was true that Kagome was kind and had a very giving heart-sometimes to the point of stretching herself thin for others. But dating someone or having a physical relationship out of pity? No. Not with anyone, but especially not with Inuyasha. This would have to be handled delicately. Inuyasha was wily, so it was best to drop the subject quickly, but not too quickly.

"If she was the type to do such things for those reasons, I can think of several who would have already taken advantage of that," Miroku said dryly, knowing Inuyasha would get precisely what he meant.

"And the fucker knows exactly what he could expect if he pulled somethin' like that," Inuyasha growled, his eyes flashing red.

"Alright, I give. Play the aloof protector act as long as it makes you happy-you know I'll help if you ever want to actually get anywhere with her." He glanced down at his phone as if just noticing the time. "I'm going to go pick up Sango. Sure you don't at least want a ride home?"

Inuyasha shook the tension from his body, trying to forget the images of Kagome with a certain wolf that had popped up in his head. "No, thanks. I'll catch ya later; tell Sango I said hey."

With a nod, they parted ways, Inuyasha loping down an alley so he could leap to the rooftops while Miroku walked the short distance to his car. He slid into the driver seat, his lips thinning as he sat tapping the steering wheel for a few minutes.

"Fuck it, it's worth a shot," he muttered, shifting so he could reach his phone. Pulling up two numbers, he sent a text.

Miroku: We need to have an emergency Facetime. Now.

Sango: What's going on?! Just a sec, let me go into the other room.

Kagome: Ready

Miroku set up the call and watched as two faces appeared on his screen. Sango was slightly out of breath; she had probably been working out and didn't notice until it was late that it was time to start getting ready. Kagome had her hair up on top of her head, her eyes looking pinched and nervous as she tried to read him through the screen.

"Miroku? Is everything okay? Where's Inuyasha?" Kagome asked, craning her neck like she might see the hanyou in the background.

"You guys didn't get arrested or anything, did you?" Sango added.

"Inuyasha is technically fine; he's already gone home. And thank you, Sango, for your show of faith."

Sango just shrugged as if to say, 'I know you two, so sue me.'

"Then why did you say this was an emergency?" Kagome pressed, not as easily appeased as Sango.

Miroku took a deep breath and then launched into an explanation of what had happened.

Both Sango and Kagome were appalled; they knew Inuyasha well enough to know that the tough front he wore hid a very sensitive center, and he had a tendency to repress negative emotions and let them fester. Kagome couldn't even take any pleasure that the night hadn't gone as planned. She would have rather Inuyasha had been with someone rather than experience that reaction to his heritage.

"And from what he said, Inuyasha doesn't think that a woman would be with him like that unless she was paid or out of pity," Miroku finished gloomily, angry all over again.

"I know he said it didn't bother him, but I don't think anyone could go through a humiliating experience and not feel it on some level," Sango said, her expression downcast.

"Yes. If this is what he is used to, it explains his lack of confidence in the romance department," Miroku answered, watching Kagome intently.

Kagome chewed her lower lip. She had an idea. It was a bad idea. A crazy idea. Going through with it would most likely result in her utter embarrassment, and she would have to change her name and flee the country. But...this was for Inuyasha, and she had thought, just a handful of hours earlier, that she needed to take a bold chance.

"What if...what if someone was willing to prove him wrong?" She asked softly, feeling her cheeks heating up at the thoughts that were racing through her mind.

Success! Miroku thought, restraining himself from doing a fist pump.

"Kagome? Are you thinking of doing what I think you're thinking of doing? And if you are, are you sure that's a good idea?" Sango questioned, suddenly nervous for her friend.

"Well. I can dance, and it wouldn't be for money or out of pity." Kagome said, her resolve growing stronger the more she thought of it.

"But what if the results aren't what you're hoping for? Will you be able to be alright with that?"

Kagome smiled; Sango was such a big sister, and she appreciated the concern.

"Miroku? What do you think of my chances, realistically?"

"I think...I think you should go for it. You know he'll be flustered at first, so be prepared for him to say something stupid. But ultimately, I don't think you'll regret taking the chance," Miroku answered honestly. He knew how they both felt about each other, and if he'd had any doubts about Inuyasha's reception or intentions, he would never have encouraged Kagome to put herself in that position.

His answer earned a brisk nod from Kagome; her eyes lit with an inner purpose. "Alright. I think he needs a little bit to work through things, but not long enough to overthink it. I have to get everything ready, but I should be able to go over to his place tomorrow night."

"Do you need any help, Kagome?" Sango asked. She was still worried about how this might turn out, but Kagome knew the risks, so she would do whatever was needed to support her.

"Could you come over tomorrow for a run-through? Just to make sure everything looks right?"

"I would also be willing to give my opin-"

"NO!" Sango and Kagome snarled, glaring at Miroku.

"Just trying to be helpful! When you're ready, let me know, and I'll give Inuyasha a call to make sure he's home. Will that work?"

Kagome leaned back slightly, her eyes already slightly glazed as she ran through different ideas. "Sure, that would be good. Sango, I'll text you about tomorrow. Goodnight, guys."

Once Kagome had dropped out, Sango looked at Miroku seriously. "I suspect your cursed hand at work here. I hope you know what you're doing."

"I'm as sure as I was when I realized you were the only one for me, my love," Miroku assured his girlfriend, giving her a gentle smile.

And he meant it. Those two were made for each other.

And if Inuyasha fucked things up with his mouth, Miroku was prepared to do something unholy with his sutras.

With a sense of deja vu, Inuyasha fell face first on his couch, rubbing his cheek against the nubby texture of the fabric. After staying up until about four in the morning watching movies, he had woken up at six and had gone for a long run. Then he had stopped for breakfast at the little place that did those amazing ham and cheese pastry thingies and had gone home for a quick shower. He wasn't even fully dried off before he was out the door again, this time to go to Sango's gym to teach the children's kickboxing classes that he had somehow gotten roped into doing. Luckily for him, Sango hadn't been in, so he was able to avoid any awkwardness from having to look her in the eye after Miroku undoubtedly told her about last night. The rest of the day had been spent doing yard work and running errands for that senile old coot, Totosai. At least, that was what he was doing until about an hour ago when he got an emergency phone call from Jaken, saying that his sister-in-law had been critically injured while Sesshomaru was out of town on business.

While he would hesitate to pee on his brother if he was on fire, he liked Rin and used all of his demonic speed to get to the hospital. Heart in his throat, he had gone in to find...a very sheepish-looking Rin, who had a sprained ankle from tripping over the new sprinkler system on their estate. Apparently, Jaken had completely freaked out and had called Inuyasha without her knowing. He had stayed to visit for a while (after cracking Jaken's skull with his fist) and then had made sure she would be alright and didn't need anything before leaving.

All in all, he had been busy enough all day that he hadn't had much time to think too deeply about the events of the previous night. Naturally, now that he had nothing else to occupy his mind, it all came rushing back. Irritated, he rolled over, grabbing a pillow and pressing it over his face to block out the light. Why the hell couldn't he just forget it? It was nothing new, and it hadn't prevented him from doing anything he wanted. Although, maybe that was it. Sorta like when someone told you to do something you were already going to do, and then suddenly you didn't want to anymore. He had always been a little perverse like that. And it wasn't like he suddenly wanted to hire a stripper, but he sure as hell wanted it to be his choice and not some slick-backed greaseball that would probably be in the same job twenty years from now.

It really hadn't helped when Miroku had brought up Kagome. Now his mind was trying to link the two subjects. His dick was wildly enthusiastic, but his brain knew that nothing good would come of thinking like that.

Well. Except for him, which, now that he was thinking about it, wasn't a bad way to wind down the evening. He had two hands and a throbbing cock; what was stopping him?

Mind made up, Inuyasha stood up to take the party to the bedroom, where he had his lube and sleeve. On the way, he kicked off his shoes and undid his jeans, his mind already coming up with a few choice scenarios. He had caught a glimpse of one of the dancers, and picturing that outfit on Kagome...he gave himself a quick tug through his boxers, a hungry smirk twisting his lips. Definitely not a bad way to spend the evening.

Which was the exact moment that Miroku's impeccable timing kicked in.

Inuyasha didn't bother restraining his snarl when he heard the ringtone but yanked the phone from his pocket anyway. Miroku hardly ever called, so it might actually be important. His dick gave a small whimper of protest as it sank back into his boxers.

"Whaddya want?" He snapped without preamble. He cared enough to answer but not fucking enough to be polite.

"Someone sounds cheerful this evening. What's wrong? Am I interrupting something?"

Inuyasha glared down at the front of his pants. The mood was almost completely ruined, but like hell, he was going to admit anything to Miroku. "No, it's a slow night. Again, what do you want?"

"What can I say? When I make promises, I come through. And I made you a promise last night, if you recall."

The smarm practically oozed through the receiver. Inuyasha's ears twitched as he tried to remember the conversation from last night, but he could only think of one promise.

"You promised that there wouldn't be a repeat of last night and that you'd never try to talk me into something like that again. How are you coming through on that?" Inuyasha asked suspiciously, all of his senses informing him that there was impending danger.

"I promised that I would make up for last night! Not only do I get to provide a fabulous birthday present, but I also get to prove you wrong, so it's a win-win!"

Alarm bells and sirens were going off. Miroku sounded far too pleased with himself, which only meant bad things for Inuyasha. Last night was mild. Last night was predictable. Most importantly, last night was over.

"What fresh hell is this?" He moaned, not realizing he had said it out loud, until Miroku snickered.

"Try heaven, my friend. You know that woman you claimed didn't exist? One that would dance with you for reasons other than money or pity?"

"Oh, fuck, whatever you've done, please tell me it's not too late to-"

"She should be knocking on your door any minute. You can thank me later-or tomorrow, depending."

Broken pterodactyl noises escaped from Inuyasha's lips.

"Oh, and Inuyasha? I'm telling you right now-you need to be fucking nice. I mean that."

The call ended abruptly, and Inuyasha blinked down at the screen. What the hell? Miroku had sounded serious there at the end, like he was sending over his fucking mother. Like hell he had to be nice to someone he didn't invite! As soon as she knocked, she was getting the door slammed in her face. No, okay, he wasn't complete dick-whoever this was didn't know, so he would tell her 'sorry, not interested,' before slamming the door in her face. Politely.

Almost like she had been summoned, there was a rapping at his door. At least this would be over quickly. Completely focused on getting rid of his unwanted visitor, Inuyasha stomped over to the door and threw it open, his lips pulling back in preparation to yell.

Instead, he nearly choked on his tongue.

Shit, this was bad. Kagome was here, smiling up at him from his doorway. Kagome was here. A dancer, hooker, or whatever, was on her way over. While Kagome was here. Shhiiiiiiiit.

Kagome shifted the duffle bag on her shoulder, adjusting the strap where it was bunching up the sleeve of her coat. The force of the door being pulled open had surprised her, but she pasted on a smile as Inuyasha thrust his head out. She raised an eyebrow when he froze, his golden eyes wide and startled as if she had never shown up at his apartment before. Her eyes flickered up and down his body out of habit, and her attention pulled back to his crotch.

"Did Miroku tell you I was coming?"

Inuyasha attempted to put those words together to form some kind of meaningful sentence, but he was coming up short. He followed her line of sight and yelped when he saw that he had left his jeans wide open, the fly of his boxers on display. Blushing to the tips of his ears, he stepped behind the door.

"Uh, no, I wasn't expecting you-anyone! I wasn't expecting anyone! And I was just...wait, what are you doing?" He asked in confusion as Kagome breezed by him, seemingly unfazed as her shoulder brushed against his arm.

"Really? Weird. I guess we got our messages mixed up. Oh! Leave those; you might as well be comfortable!"

Reality had become slippery. Or maybe that was just the zipper he held between nerveless fingers, almost swearing that Kagome had just told him to leave his pants undone.

"Um, Kagome? I think I'm a little bit behind here. Why exactly would I be more comfortable like this?" Fucking hell, he sounded like a twelve-year-old boy.

Kagome spun back to him, careful to keep her balance in the crimson high heels she had chosen to wear. She was trying not to think too much because she knew that he would be able to smell any nervousness, and he would probably get the wrong idea. As soon as she had gotten off of the call with Miroku, she spent the rest of the evening doing research. She may have only had a short amount of time, but an embarrassing fact that she had hidden from Sango and Miroku was that she had always had a secret fantasy about doing something like this and had, for a better word, practiced moves privately for her own entertainment. The internet had an almost endless supply of dance and strip routines, so she was at least confident that she wouldn't make a fool of herself in that area. It had really come down to picking out and downloading some songs and then putting together the perfect outfit the next day. Realizing she was taking too long to answer his question, she straightened her shoulders.

"For the dance you were supposed to get for your birthday, of course," she said matter-of-factly.

Oh. Of course. He had been hit by a car last night, and he was in a coma. That explained this incredibly hot, incredibly improbable delusion.

"You do understand exactly what kind of 'dance' he was meaning, right?" Inuyasha asked, realizing how stupid that sounded the moment the words left his mouth.

Kagome rolled her eyes and allowed the bag to slip from her shoulder to rest on the arm of the couch. "At first, I thought it was musical chairs, but thankfully Miroku explained it to me," she said, the small smile taking the sting out of her words.

The familiarity of their interaction helped to ease some of Inuyasha's nerves, at least enough for him to close the door and come over to lean against the back of the couch-which conveniently covered him from the waist down.

"Truth is, Miroku kinda sprung this on me," he sighed, rubbing the back of his neck, his bangs falling into his eyes. "I didn't know he was going to ask you to do this."

Kagome fiddled with the cuffs of her coat, not quite ready to remove it until she got more of a positive signal from Inuyasha. "He didn't. I volunteered," she admitted, hoping that he wasn't disappointed or disgusted by the idea. As the day progressed, she had realized just how much she wanted this.

His eyes snapped up to meet hers, surprised to find that she was serious. Discreetly, he scented the air and had to repress his reaction. She was nervous, which wasn't surprising, but he could also tell that she was excited. Not the kind of excited she got about getting opening night tickets to the latest Halloween movie-this was richer, spicier. This scent meant that he might not have to make Sango a widow before she was married.

"Volunteered?" He croaked, mind reeling at the implications.

Kagome suddenly looked shy. "Well, you'd be more comfortable being touched by someone you know, right?" She moved next to him, lightly placing her hand on his forearm.

Sweet Buddha on a stick. She was planning on touching him. Even if it wasn't in one of the deliciously sinful ways that were currently tangoing across the brightly lit stage of his brain, it was light years beyond the friendly contact she had given him up to this point.

"That's true, but you really don't have to do this if you don't want to," Inuyasha said, trying to keep his voice steady as the hairs on his arm rose at her touch.

Her lip started to slide between her teeth, but she stopped herself in time to keep from smearing the red lipstick she had chosen to wear. "I wouldn't be doing this if I wasn't alright with it. But what about you?" She asked, her worries starting to take over. "I mean, if it's too weird or disgusting to see me like that, I completely understand, and I can-"

No! Holy shit, no! Inuyasha started to panic as the tinge of bitter sadness began to overtake her scent. If she was willing, he wasn't going to turn it down-this might be his only chance ever to see her this way, and he wasn't going to miss out on the opportunity. He had just wanted to make sure she wasn't pressured into this, but the fact that he knew how hard it was to get her to do anything she wanted to, along with her earlier scent, assured him.

"No! You naked is fine! Not fine-good-really good! Or hell, not naked, but whatever you're going to...please shut me up now," he groaned, giving her a pleading look.

His eyes were wide, and his ears were drooping in apology, and the sight of it calmed Kagome down. This wasn't normal territory for either of them, but he didn't seem opposed to the idea. But if they kept allowing insecurity to take over, this would fizzle before she even started. Drawing on her inner stubbornness, Kagome knew she was going to have to take charge. The sexiest part of this type of dancing was confidence, and if she could project that, maybe Inuyasha would be able to relax.

She smiled once more and gave his arm a squeeze. "How about I get started, then? Wait, do you have a chair? The couch isn't going to work, and the stools at the kitchen counter are too high."

He hadn't thought of that, but he would go out and buy a damn chair if he had to. "I have a computer chair in my room-the wheels lock. Would that work?"

Kagome picked up the bag and started for the hall. She had never been in his room but knew where it was since she had used the bathroom before. "Let's check it out!"

Inuyasha trailed behind her, his eyes dropping to the hem of her coat. It hung nearly to her knees, but he could see no other fabric peeking out. From this angle, it looked like she might only be wearing the coat and the fuck me heels. That mental image had him biting his tongue to hold back a whimper; no reason to let her know just how needy he was-especially when she hadn't done anything yet!

Once they reached the bedroom, Kagome flicked on the light switch and looked around appraisingly. She wasn't surprised to find it was pretty spare. Inuyasha wasn't hurting for money, but furniture wasn't his priority. There was a queen-sized bed in one corner, the comfy red comforter calling her name to test out the softness.

Down, girl. You need to stop getting ahead of yourself, she reminded herself sternly.

Part of the closet was open, and she could see he had shoved his dresser in one side, which made more space in the room. Against the opposite wall from the bed was a desk with the chair he had mentioned in front. It looked like it would work, and Kagome also noticed that the reflective screen of the tv, as well as the mirror on another wall, would allow her to see Inuyasha even when she turned during the dance. She hid a sly smile, pleased at the arrangement, as she plopped the bag onto the dresser and began to pull out the speaker she had brought.

Inuyasha wasn't sure what to do as he watched her set up. One frantic glance at his nightstand assured him that his alone time toys were safely locked away-thank all the gods he hadn't whipped those out (along with himself) before she got here. Suddenly reminded of his state of dress, Inuyasha felt some of his self-consciousness returning. Was she really alright with his jeans open like this? He wasn't an idiot-there was no way he was going to be able to watch whatever she was going to do and not get hard.

"Hey, are you sure this is alright? Do you need me to..." He asked, gesturing to his body, unsure exactly what he was trying to say.

Kagome had been frowning down at her phone, trying to get the speaker to pair. At his question, she looked up to take him in. He stood there barefoot, as he always was when he could get away without wearing shoes. He was in a faded black t-shirt that looked one step away from developing pinprick holes in the soft material, and his jeans were sagging around the waist from where they hung open, exposing a flash of maroon boxers.

"Well, I wouldn't complain if you lost the shirt-it's only fair if I get a little eye candy too!" She said, giving him a wink.

There was a challenge in her tone, and it gave Inuyasha pause. Why the hell not? It would be interesting to see her reaction, at the very least. A wicked smirk slid across his face, and without breaking eye contact, he gripped his shirt by the hem and slid it up slowly over his head, gratified by the way Kagome's tongue flicked across her lips. He tossed the shirt across the room out of the way and ran a clawed finger along the top edge of his jeans.

"You can put the bill right here," he offered, then cackled when she gave a small yelp and turned back to the desk.

"Oh gods, shut up! Here, lock the wheels while I finish this," she ordered, not looking back around.

He decided he wouldn't tease her, although it was tempting. Instead, he gave a small hum of assent before kneeling down and fiddling with the wheels. Her reaction had been...well, if he knew she would have enjoyed it that much, he would have taken up the habit of shedding his shirt a lot earlier.

Kagome was trying to talk herself out of a nervous breakdown. What possessed her to tell him to take his shirt off? It was hard enough getting that teasing peek at his boxers, but when he lifted that shirt...holy hell, she wanted to melt into every dip between those muscles and live there for the rest of her life! Forget the bills-she would have tucked her credit card in his pants if she thought it would get her anywhere. She gave herself an internal shake. It was time to get things started before she had time to chicken out.

"Is the chair ready?" She asked, positioning her phone so it would be easy to adjust anything if she needed to.

"Yeah. Where do you want it?"

Well. That was certainly a loaded question, and her eyes absolutely did not stray to the bed. They. Did. Not.

"Scoot it forward just a liiiiittle, there, now sit and let me make sure it's going to work."

He did as he was told, looking up at her expectantly.

Kagome walked up beside him, mentally running through her routine and figuring out if he was at the right height for everything to work out properly. She didn't think before she tested to see if the arms were low enough, but she was brought back to herself when she heard his breath hitch as she raised a knee up to rest beside his thigh. Their eyes met, and Kagome felt her stomach tighten. His irises were a couple of shades darker, or maybe they looked that way because his pupils were so dilated. Whatever it was, it had her wanting to swing her other leg up and grind down on his lap.

Naughty Kagome. That comes later.

"Do you mind if I hang my coat in your closet?" She asked, proud that her voice sounded normal.

"Yeah, there should be a hanger for it," he managed to say, still reeling a little from the heat of her leg pressing against his.

Hell, stick your toothbrush in the cabinet and your panties in a drawer while you're at it, he mentally added, wishing he had the guts to say that out loud-or at least do something to make that a reality rather than a fantasy.

He didn't have much time to think as Kagome clicked her way over to the closet, where she dug around until she found a hanger. When she shrugged the coat from her shoulders, Inuyasha was immediately thankful that her back was turned. Clearly, he was not going to survive the night because, at the sight before him, his cock was already preparing to leap out of his pants. He couldn't tell what the top looked like from the back, but it was black and tight, showing a wide expanse of skin. His attention was mostly focused on her skirt, although he wasn't sure there was enough material to fit the definition. It rode low on her hips, two little black ruffles with shiny red edges that just barely covered her ass cheeks. Scratch that; when she flexed, the damn thing rode up, and Inuyasha had to grip the arms of the chair when he realized he couldn't be sure she was wearing anything underneath.

His instincts surged forward, howling to be set loose. Inuyasha managed to beat them back, grateful that it wasn't close to a full moon. He forced himself into a relaxed position, not wanting to look like a dog slavering over a juicy bone.

And then she turned around, and his foot gave one thump to the floor before he could stop himself.

Cleavage was almost spilling over the top button, the hint of a lacy red bra visible at the edges. The shirt ended with its tail in a tight knot, leaving most of her stomach bare due to the fact that the band of her skirt rested just below her hip bones. She took a few steps forward, and Inuyasha couldn't help staring as the skirt gave a little bounce with each step. At first, he felt guilty for looking at her like that until he remembered that was basically the whole point. He was allowed to look. Hell, she had picked that outfit to encourage him to look, so why should he fake that he wasn't interested?

"Would you mind hitting play? I forgot I'd be farther away when I started," Kagome asked, enjoying the way he was looking at her. Any worries she may have had that she would be able to hold his interest was burning away under his gaze.

Quickly, Inuyasha rolled back to his desk and flicked one finger across her screen to hit play before moving back to his previous position, unwilling to miss anything. She had turned away once more, taking up her position. As the drums began to throb through the speaker, her hips followed the beat. With every smooth roll and sharp snap, Inuyasha couldn't help but imagine what it would feel like to be pressed up against her as she moved, and as her hands began to caress her body, he felt the plastic of the armrests snap under his clenched hands.

Her earlier nervousness had left Kagome completely. How could it not, with the way he was watching her? She was finally getting the attention she had always craved from him, and she played up to his instincts by arching her neck and baring her throat. Her hands lifted her breasts as she cupped them, almost causing them to spill from her shirt. With a quick twist, she faced away from him, and as she leaned forward to arch her back so the skirt rode high enough to give him a view of her nearly bare ass, she turned her head over her shoulder to make eye contact. The look she received was animalistic as if he was having to restrain himself from moving up behind her. Not that she would mind, but she wanted to see how he would handle everything else she had in store.

Was she trying to kill him? Every move she made, from baring her neck to thrusting her ass out at him in an invitation to mount was calling to his inner demon. And the fact that she had chosen to wear his favorite color didn't hurt, either. He found himself wanting to use his tongue to lick along the barely visible string that divided her cheeks before sinking his fangs into the rounded flesh.

Catching the part of the song she was using as a marker, Kagome began to slide open the buttons of the shirt, noticing how his posture had changed. In the beginning, he had sat stiffly, as if he wasn't sure what to do with himself. He had sunk lower into the chair, his legs spread wide as the bulge in his pants had gotten larger. His ears were pricked forward in rapt attention, but his eyes were half-mast and glittering with lust. The heat between Kagome's thighs intensified, and she had to bite back an involuntary moan, hoping he hadn't heard it over the music.

He had heard, although he didn't visibly show it-he was afraid that if he did, she would stop. Kagome probably hadn't realized it, but he wasn't only being affected by the sight before him, as hot as that was on its own. As she continued the dance, her scent filled the room, and the hint of arousal had increased to almost overwhelming proportions. It was nearly enough to distract him from the dance entirely-until the shirt finally slid open to frame the skimpy bra that had been concealed underneath. The cups were low enough that they barely covered her nipples, and it was held together in between her breasts by such a thin bit of fabric that it looked in danger of snapping every time her breasts bounced. He wasn't sure which he liked better, when they bounced freely or when she brought her hands up to give them a squeeze.

Kagome couldn't contain the pride she felt in affecting him so much, and it showed in the way her lips turned up at the corners, looking for all the world like a pleased kitten. Inuyasha's mouth was slightly open, and his breath was coming in shallow pants; she had never seen him so worked up before-not even during a fight. Little did he know that from this point on, she would be increasing the pressure. As she had danced, she had moved closer to him, and while he turned his head a little to enjoy the view, he hadn't otherwise moved. It showed just how entranced he was when he didn't notice her hand shoot out to grip him by a handful of hair at the back of his head until it was too late.

Inuyasha was startled, but he didn't have time to move before his face was pressed firmly between her breasts as she thrust them closer. Some of the flesh slid past his parted lips, and when it made contact with his tongue, sparks shot off in his head. He heard Kagome give a throaty gasp, and her step faltered briefly before she caught herself, and she continued to dance. His head was still tilted forward, and he caught sight of the sweat that was starting to trickle down her inner thighs.

No.

Not sweat.

Holy fuck, the scent practically reached out and slapped him in the face as he made the connection. Kagome was just as affected as he was, and she was dripping for him. With her back towards him, he gave himself a quick squeeze at the base to help calm down, although it didn't do much good. He wasn't sure how much more of this he could take-he was desperate with the urge to bury his head between her thighs and suck at the slick skin. He was powerless to move, to even speak, as he watched her hips undulate sensuously to the music. How had he even thought of a word like undulate? There wasn't enough blood in his head. Apparently, his dick was more articulate than he realized.

The air was hitting the small damp patch of skin on her breast, cooling and making it tingle. To Kagome, it felt like a fresh brand, and she wondered if the feeling would return if he put his mouth on her again. With extra energy, she shook her hips at him, sliding down the zipper of the skirt to show him the delicate string that held her panties together at the side. She was disappointed to miss most of his reaction because she had to concentrate harder on this part. She had maintained a sexy vibe up to this point, and she would be damned if she lost it now by tripping from catching the heel on the skirt as she kicked it away.

By now, the front of his boxers was wet, and he couldn't bring himself to care. He had a raging hard-on, and it wasn't like she was going to be able to miss it. It was only his last shred of pride that was keeping him from jerking himself; judging by how thick her scent had become, he didn't even think she'd mind. If his dick didn't find some relief soon...

As if in response to his inner turmoil, Kagome backed up to him and, in one smooth motion, lowered herself to grind that delicious, plump ass against him. The air whooshed from his lungs as she gyrated against his lower abs, and between the thin, soaked pieces of material between them, he could feel his dick scraping between her folds. There was a screech of metal that told him that the arms of his chair were shot and he would have to buy a new one. Not that he minded.

He had been planning on sending this one out to be bronzed anyway.

Kagome's nipples were hard and chafing uncomfortably against the fabric of the bra, and she was more than ready to remove that particular item of clothing. With his senses, she knew she was far past the point of her nipples giving away how much she was enjoying this, but she couldn't bring herself to be worried, considering the throbbing cock she was currently squeezing between her thighs. Glancing down to the side, she could see that Inuyasha's chair was completely wrecked-something she was hoping she could say about herself by the end of the night. Based on the barely restrained thrusts coming from below her, she was beginning to suspect her chances were quite good. If he liked this, her next move was going to drive him wild.

A whimper rose to his throat unbidden when she lifted herself away from his lap. All he wanted to do was pull her back down, but he was just curious enough to see what she had planned next. Every time he thought she couldn't get any hotter, she took things up a level. He really shouldn't be surprised. When Kagome put her mind to something, she went all in. The corners of her shiny red lips were tilted up in a challenging smile, and her eyes glittered wickedly as she ran her fingers down his right arm before taking his forefinger in hand and leaning forward, placing her breasts at

his eye level. Maintaining eye contact, she brought his claw to rest on the sliver of red between the cups.

"Cut," she ordered, her voice barely above a whisper.

The word was still hanging on her lips when fine threads of red swirled in his eyes, and his lips pulled back from his teeth. She wasn't sure he was even conscious of his finger twitching upward, the tip of his claw brushing the delicate hair of her skin. As the bra fell open, his eyes followed the movement, and he spoke for the first time since she had started to dance.

"Sweet fuck," he gritted out, his voice hoarse and full of want.

It was impossible to contain the laughter that bubbled up in her throat, as heady as she was from the sheer elation at being able to stir such passion in him. She shrugged the torn bra from her shoulders with a shimmy, tossing her head back as her hands roughly toyed with her breasts before sliding down the smooth planes of her stomach. With heavy-lidded eyes, her fingers dipped into the front of the underwear that was clinging tightly to her from her juices. She thrust her hips forward as her fingers danced, mimicking exactly what she was hoping to experience later. Kagome hadn't been expecting the growl that burst from his throat or the way that he half rose from the chair before slamming back down.

She wasn't quite sure if her next move was out of pity for his need or selfishness for hers, but before he could get too frustrated, she was back on his lap, straddling his thighs with her breasts flush against his chest. Her fingers threaded through the soft, thick hair at the base of his neck while she rocked her hips into him, enjoying the way his length throbbed against her.

"Enjoying yourself?" She purred, tilting his head up so he would make eye contact instead of staring down at her body while he answered.

"You're really not able to tell?" He managed to reply, twisting the armrests so hard that the metal was about to give way completely.

"Well, you haven't even tried to touch me," she said with a playful pout. She was hoping he would take the hint.

His expression caught between a leer and a smirk, he focused above his waist long enough to tease her. "I thought there were rules about not touching the dancer?"

Reluctantly, her fingers untangled from his hair and slid up to cup his head, her fingers stroking along his jawline as she touched her forehead to his. "Ah, but I'm not a professional, so the rules don't apply, now, do they?"

Her words were the verbal equivalent of letting a dog off a leash. Inuyasha had no idea why she was doing this-it wasn't typical behavior for Kagome, and the only thing he could imagine was that she was wanting to do some sexual exploration with someone she felt comfortable with. Tomorrow he would mope about how he wished this was an actual relationship, but for tonight, he would push those longings to the side. For tonight, he was going to take whatever she chose to give, and he would return the pleasure in whatever way she would allow.

His hands released the tortured metal and gripped Kagome by the hips, the tips of his claws just brushing against the skin of her backside. With a snap of his hips, he thrust up to grind against her, and the movement caused their mouths to collide.

Kagome held on as they began to move together, meeting each other at an almost desperate pace. She gave a little cry when Inuyasha started to withdraw from the kiss, only to sigh in pleasure when he nipped her lower lip before soothing it with his tongue. All thoughts of keeping her movements in sync with the music were forgotten when the small button of his boxers was scraped against her clit every time she moved, and it was as if everything outside of the areas they touched ceased to exist.

The chair wasn't meant to stand up to the abuse it was currently enduring, and in the back of his mind Inuyasha thought it might be a good idea to move somewhere more comfortable and less likely to collapse beneath them. But he could seem to focus long enough to stop touching her, his hands running in greedy trails over the soft skin that had been calling to him all evening. He could tell that Kagome had long since forgotten about the dance, and was well on the way to getting off in his lap. Her skin was flushed pink, and her eyes were glazed and dreamy; every sound she made spurred him on to press their bodies together harder.

"Enjoying yourself?" He threw her words back at her as he sucked the lobe of her ear between his fangs.

It took a moment for his words to pierce the pleasured haze of her mind. Part of her wanted to ignore his words and chase the promise of release that was currently thrumming between her legs, but then she remembered the alternate plan she had made in the event that things went the way she had hoped.

Oh, he has definitely unlocked the bonus track, Kagome mentally snickered, already anticipating his reaction.

Inuyasha immediately regretted saying anything when she began to pull away, but the words of confusion never came upon seeing the wicked smirk she was giving him as she slid off his lap to kneel on the floor between his spread legs. Teasingly, her fingers toyed with the opening of his jeans, before she gripped him more firmly between his boxers. He hissed, and the muscles of his stomach tensed and contracted when she gave him a slow tug.

"Lift your hips," Kagome demanded, pleased when he complied without protest.

Taking jeans and boxers in her grip, she pulled them down to expose his cock, the tip leaking droplets of want down the thick head. Quickly shoving the clothes away, Kagome placed one hand on his thigh, and felt the muscle tremble at her touch. The other hand she brought back to grip his cock, languidly sliding her loose fist up and down, using her thumb to spread the precum as she went.

Inuyasha's senses were overwhelmed; the new sensations of someone else touching him so intimately combined with the sight of Kagome in her all-but-naked glory had him throwing his head back as he briefly whited out.

"Ka-Kagome!"

She leaned forward and let her breath hit the sensitive skin of his tip. "What do you want, Inuyasha?"

He managed to get his eyes open, jerking forward at the feel of her thumb tracing the vein that ran along his length. She was playing with him, and while it was incredibly hot, his demon recognized the challenge in her tone of voice.

"I can't give it to you if you don't tell me," she continued, touching him just enough to bring him pleasure but not enough to make him cum any time soon.

His eyes flashed red in warning; if she was looking for an answer, she would get one.

"I want you to shove my cock between those pretty lips of yours and suck my fuckin' brains out," he growled, his voice raspy with lust.

The words rolled through Kagome, fueling her desire to see him come completely undone. Without giving him time to brace himself, she took him into her mouth, closing her lips tightly around him to help create suction. She gave an experimental suck, and at his groan of approval began to bob her head, her motions growing smoother and more sure as she went along. To get a better angle she had to rise up on her knees, and used one hand to keep him from thrusting himself too hard, although she could tell he was trying to hold back for her.

Inuyasha forced his eyes to remain open, determined to imprint every moment in his memory. Her hair blocked some of his view and was falling into her face, so being careful not to use too much force he gathered it up in a handful which he used to help guide her pace. Her tongue flicked across him in erratic patterns, which she alternated between sucking gently on the tip before slamming him to the back of her throat. The hand at his base moved in a twisting motion, and she had moved the one from his thigh to begin playing with his sac, her fingernails scraping against the normally neglected skin.

Kagome was grateful when he moved her hair, not wanting to break her rhythm to bother with doing it herself. While she knew she would get better at this with practice, Inuyasha didn't seem to have any complaints, and her name fell from his lips with scattered curses and pleas. She was worked up to the point that she knew if he didn't want to continue this, she was going to have to take care of herself before she would be capable of making her way home, although the wild look flashing in his eyes promised that she wouldn't have to worry about that. Anticipation had her moaning, and when his cock jumped at the vibration, she kept it up, working him farther back into her throat than she had previously taken him. His breathing became more ragged, and she knew what was coming by the way his hand tightened around her hair and the muscles of his thighs spasmed beneath her fingers.

"K-Kagome-" he gasped, desperately trying to move her head away, but Kagome was having none of it.

He wasn't going to be able to move her without hurting her, and the desire to move her at all was swept away by the electric waves of pleasure that rolled over him, submerging his higher thought processes far below the surface.

Kagome sat back on her heels, proudly surveying the results of her handiwork. After his body had completely stiffened up during his release, he had gone suddenly boneless, his arms sliding down to hang by his sides, and his head lolling at an angle. She took deep breaths as she brought the back of her hand up to wipe the corner of her mouth-she had tried to swallow everything but hadn't quite been able to manage it. Just as her hamstrings were starting to burn uncomfortably, Inuyasha rolled his head back into place, glittering eyes snapping open as a devious smirk spread across his face. She barely had time to register this fact before she was swooped up against a warm muscular chest, the breath leaving her as they shot across the room. As quickly as she had been picked up, she was dropped, the soft mattress cushioning her fall. The motion happened so quickly that her shoes were knocked from her managed to prop herself up in time to see the very tantilizing sight of Inuyasha kneeling at the foot of the bed, her calves resting on each shoulder.

"Wha-what are you-" She managed to get out, distracted by the open-mouthed kiss he was placing part way up her thigh.

He leaned closer to her, his breath hot against the wet fabric of her panties. "It's your turn now," he rumbled.

Kagome almost wanted to cry with relief; she wasn't going to have to stealth-fuck herself in the bathroom after all!

"A-are you sure? This was supposed to be your birthday," she protested feebly.

"Think I found somethin' better than cake," he said, giving her a good view of his tongue as it slid out and flicked side to side rapidly, mere centimeters from where she needed it most.

One look in his darkened eyes told her he knew exactly how badly he was teasing her. "Jerk," she grumbled, reaching forward to grab the top of his head as she thrust her hips up.

His laugh vibrated against her, sending delicious sparks up and down her body. The sensation caused her to tighten her legs and pull him closer with her heels, noting the way his ears pricked forward to catch all of her moans.

Inuyasha was trying to project confidence and was desperately drawing on his demonic nature to lead him. Thankfully his senses made him more in tune with Kagome's body than an average human would be, and demons were more...he wasn't sure how to put it. More innately sexual? Seducing humans had always come easily to demons, so he was hoping he did better than the typical human virgin in his position. And what a position it was; he was finally between Kagome's thighs, which had been a dream years in the making. Being this close to the scent of her arousal, being able to taste it, had his cock stiffened back up as if that fantastic blowjob had never happened. She thought he was teasing her by not licking her directly, but the truth was he needed a minute to get himself under control. Once he had, he slid his hands along Kagome's thighs until he reached her hips, where the ties to her underwear rested. He was hoping they came off easily because heaven help him if he didn't want to keep them. Kagome was looking down at him, her chest rising and falling in a distracting manner. With an effort, he looked past them to her eyes as he tugged on the bows, and when they loosened under his touch, he took the crotch of the underwear between his teeth and pulled them away from her body, twisting his head to the side to let them fall to the floor.

She was finally fully exposed, and he heard her suck in a shaky breath. At first he wondered if she was changing her mind, but then realized she was probably nervous about his reaction-as if she had any need to be. She was perfect because she was Kagome. Kagome who was, hopefully, going to let him eat pussy until he had her screaming his name.

She was mostly smooth-shaven, except for a thin strip of curls running along her slit. While he wouldn't have cared much either way, the style made it a bit easier to navigate an unknown region. Carefully, he used his fingers to allow his tongue better access, noting her reaction wherever he changed speed or pressure. He paid particular attention to her clit, and discovered by the subtle tell of her pelvis nearly breaking his nose that she liked it best when he rapidly flicked his tongue on the left side.

Kagome was getting closer to the edge faster than she thought, in part to how aroused she had become before he had even started. She had worried that she would be too nervous to enjoy what he was doing, but as his tongue dipped into her only to pull out and dart across her clit at just the right angle, she found that she was too lost in the pleasure of the moment to care. On top of that, the excited groans and growls that Inuyasha was releasing not only added to the sensation but also assured her that he was enjoying the act just as much as she was.

Which is why she nearly sobbed when he stopped. She couldn't help letting out a whimper of frustration, and she barely registered the rapid sounds of something snapping. Before she could form coherent words, she felt a finger gently probing at her entrance as Inuyasha used his thumb to rub her clit, and she tilted her hips to give him better access.

He bit off his claws, she thought dimly, glad for his consideration. While Inuyasha might have been able to move without hurting her with his claws, there was no guarantee what would happen if she moved unexpectedly. His movements now were a little hesitant, as if he was giving her time to adjust. Thoughtful, but unnecessary as her vibrator was larger.

"More," she breathed, hoping he would understand.

Inuyasha glanced up at her, noticing the way her eyebrows were bunched up in frustration. Cautiously, he sunk another finger into her, allowing himself to move faster when she gave a pleased moan. Confident that he wasn't going to hurt her, he slid in a third finger and moved his tongue back to her clit, his movements mimicking the way he wanted to thrust into her with his cock. He was throbbing painfully, and it was only made worse by the involuntary thrusts that rubbed his tip against the edge of the bed.

Kagome could feel herself nearing the peak, and she was unable to stop her hips from thrusting erratically-there was a tiny, distant corner of her mind that was worried about smothering Inuyasha, but the rumbling growl he let out as he buried his face even deeper let her know that he wasn't concerned with such minor details like breathing. The thought was only a small flash across her mind before everything was swept away, his name coming out as a broken sob that wracked her body.

Panting, Inuyasha pulled back as Kagome continued to tremble, her legs falling limply to the bed. Her face was flushed, and her bangs were clinging to her forehead in a sticky mess. The air was filled with her short, choppy breathing, and the motion of her breasts caught Inuyasha's attention as he zeroed in on a tight pink nipple. He pulled himself up so he could take it between his lips, his dick dragging across her leg causing him to grind into her. She let out a squeak as he continued to suck, making up for the lack of attention he had given them earlier. He peppered her breasts with little sucks and nips, loving the way she arched into him when his fangs scraped over the sensitive skin. His tongue flicked out to lap up a drop of sweat on her clavicle before he brought his head up to nuzzle hers, his mouth resting close to her ear and his whole body taut with the strain of holding himself back from pressing into her completely.

"K'gome," he murmured, his voice strained with lust and desperation. "You gotta-you gotta tell me where this ends."

He couldn't help the short, sharp thrusts to her inner thigh, but he wasn't so far gone that he didn't realize that she might not want to continue just because of the things they had already done.

Her arms raised up to twine themselves around his neck, and she shifted her lower body so that he was lined up between her legs, his cock rubbing along her slit. Both of them groaned at the contact, and she felt his fangs dig into her shoulder.

"I want you. Please, Inuyasha," she said softly, wrapping her legs around his waist.

Heart thudding in his chest, Inuyasha used one hand to push himself up, his hips continuing to grind into her. She was soaking wet, and his cock was becoming slick from her juices. He used his other hand to wrap around his base as he coated himself more thoroughly, biting his lip when Kagome gasped as his tip bumped against her clit. Meeting her eyes, he began to press into her slowly, watching for any sign that she was uncomfortable.

Kagome forced herself to release the breath she had been holding when she felt herself being stretched. She was thankful that she had chosen toys that had prepared her for his size; she felt pleasantly full, but she was thankfully free of the discomfort she had partially expected. When she realized that he was holding himself back to give her time, she smiled up at him, rolling her hips as she gripped his shoulders tightly.

"Ah, fuck," he hissed, his hips thrusting forward to meet her.

What little retraint he had snapped when she began to meet his thrusts; they were short and jerky at first as he attempted to find a rhythm that suited them both, but once he found a spot that made her cry out, his movements became smoother as he focused on hitting that point each time. He almost snarled at the way she was clamping down on him, the physical pleasure combined with the erotic sight of her thrashing beneath him, her face flushed and her hair spread in a wild mass across the pillow almost doing him in. Overwhelmed, he buried his face in the juncture of her neck to nip and suck at the tender skin, his fangs worrying at the spot that, if he could be sure of her feelings, he would place his mark.

Kagome dug her fingernails down his back, reveling in the way their sweat-slicked bodies rubbed against each other as they moved. The sensation of his fangs on the delicate skin of her neck had her muscles clenching tighter, and she couldn't hold in a cry when he growled against her, the vibrations sending waves of tingling pleasure throughout her body. She could almost taste the edges of her orgasm, and she was so focused on chasing that feeling that she didn't, at first, realize that he was moving her left leg up to press against her chest. The position allowed him to go deeper, and her nails broke skin when his thrusts became faster, the mattress bouncing beneath them as he slammed into her.

"Inuyasha!" She cried, her inner walls rippling as she came undone around him.

His vision went white when she came, and he could tell he wasn't far behind-she was so fucking tight and wet, his entire world had become centered on the point where their bodies met. With one painful throb, and then another, he was spilling into her, her name a rumbling roar that exploded from his throat.

He suddenly felt as if he weighed six hundred pounds, and it took all of his effort to roll them to the side, so he didn't crush her. Both of them lay entwined, panting as the aftershocks passed through their bodies, leaving muscles relaxed and warm in their wake.

Inuyasha's mouth opened and closed, wondering what it was he should be saying after that-there were so many things he wanted to tell her, but he wasn't sure where to start. It quickly became apparant that it didn't matter, because he realized by the sound of her breathing that she was slipping into sleep. Deciding that conversation could wait until morning, he wrapped his arms around her waist and nuzzled his face into her neck, his own eyes growing heavier and heavier, until he was unable to hold them open no longer.

The sun hadn't quite made it over the horizon when Kagome's bladder began to send her signals of an impending flood. She debated taking the risk to see if she could sleep the feeling off, until she was forcefully reminding by the warm weight draped over her that this wasn't her bed.

Oh crap. It's the morning after! I didn't prepare for this part! She mentally wailed.

What was she supposed to do now? Should she just leave and act as if nothing had happened, or wait around and see what he would do? Was he going to regret this? Was he going to expect this to become a friends with benefits sort of arrangement? Kagome didn't regret last night, but she did regret not clearing all of this up before things got started. She couldn't bear the thought that she had ruined her chances to be with him, or even their friendship itself. She was nervous and confused, but the one thing she knew was that she couldn't have her meltdown here where he would be able to feel her heart ratcheting in her chest. Stealthily, she wiggled out from under his arm, noting the way his eyebrows scruched in displeasure when his arms searched for her and found nothing. The expression touched her heart, and she hoped that maybe it meant he had at least some small amount of feeling for her.

As she stood up, she was hit with the fact that she was completely naked. It left her feeling vulnerable, and she quickly felt around on the floor until she found the t-shirt that Inuyasha had discarded the night before. With one last glance over her shoulder to ensure he was asleep, she crept out of the bedroom.

Inuyasha's sleep was first disturbed by a feeling of loss; the warm contentment that had been wrapped around him like a blanket was suddenly yanked away, and he instinctively reached out to reclaim it. When he was met with cold air, his mind flashed to the night before, images and sounds replaying in his mind, causing his lips to turn up in a fang-exposing smile.

A smile which faded abruptly when he opened bleary eyes to see that his bed was distinctly lacking the gorgeous woman that had been there when he fell asleep. Disappointment flooded over him, but a small flick of his ears picked up sounds coming from his bathroom. His shoulders relaxed; Kagome hadn't left and, given the early hour, would probably be slipping back into bed soon.

Before he could consider what he should do when that happened, a buzzing noise came from his desk. It took a moment to register the fact that it was Kagome's cellphone. With a groan of protest, he rolled off of the mattress to go check. They were comfortable checking each other's phones, and it might be something time-sensitive that she needed to see before waking up later in the morning.

He tapped in the passcode, and a text from Sango filled the screen.

Sango: Kagome? Are you alright? I haven't heard from you, and you said you would let me know how things went! I'm still not sure if this was a good idea. I know how much you love him, and I'm worried about what you're going to do if he doesn't feel the same after this. What if he just wants this to be a sex thing? You deserve more than to be a convenient booty call. Let me know when you get this!

Inuyasha stared at the screen, his emotions conflicted. On the one hand, he couldn't help the surge in his heart as he focused on the word love. Kagome loved him? Sango wouldn't have said that in a text if they hadn't talked about it. His hope skyrocketed, only to plummet back to the earth as the rest of the message slammed into his brain. Kagome didn't know how he felt. Apparently, she and Sango both thought that he might consider this a one-and-done thing or that he would just...just want to use her without any kind of commitment.

Shit.

He had to kill that idea fast, or he was going to lose the golden chance he hand been handed!

Stumbling a little, Inuyasha found his own phone, and his fingers tapped out a text to Sango.

Inuyasha: Hey. Kagome is in the bathroom right now. Saw your message. A Sex thing? Really? You should know by know that I'm selfish enough to want it all.

Sango: Sorry, you know how much I worry. Have you asked her yet?

Inuyasha: Getting ready to. If it goes well you won't hear from her until Monday.

Sango: Dinner Monday night. Got it. I'm warning you in advance; Miroku will be insufferable. He's already buying a banner and balloons.

Inuyasha: Punch him. Hard. Please. Gotta go.

He set down the phones, but before he could make it back to bed, he saw another message from Sango flash across Kagome's screen.

Sango: Forget all of that. Inuyasha will do you right.

The message made him smirk as he thought of a very Miroku-like interpretation of her statement; if he was lucky, he would be doing her right all weekend. He heard the bathroom door, and quickly bounded back into bed, pretending as if he had never moved. His ears flicked towards the door as he heard Kagome shuffle in, the sound stopping as she stood there awkwardly as if she wasn't sure what to do.

"'S too damn early to get up, 'gome. Come back to sleep," he said, allowing his voice to slur like he wasn't fully awake.

Kagome was a little surprised; she had been worried that Inuyasha might be embarrassed, but he sounded like he wanted her back in bed. And not sexually. Maybe he really wanted to cuddle? That didn't sound like he was having regrets. Now she just had to figure out where things stood going forward. Padding over to the bed, she slid under the covers and let out a small squeak of surprise when Inuyasha pulled her closer, his pleased sigh fluttering her hair and warming the skin of her neck.

"I was thinkin,'" he began, as he placed slow, gentle kisses behind her ear.

"W-what were you thinking?" Kagome breathed out, feeling herself tense slightly. It wasn't that she was opposed to a repeat of last night, but her heart ached to think that this was a purely physical development.

"That when we get up later, we should head over to your place so you can pack for the weekend," he continued, giving her earlobe a delicate nibble. "And maybe a few extra things to put in a drawer here. And then we can order in, watch a few movies, and, ya know, do all that other couple stuff."

His tone was casual, but Kagome could feel his heart hammering behind her, and she also realized he was holding his breath. Her shoulders relaxed as a smile slowly stretched across her face. He was just as nervous as she was, and her heart, which only moments ago had feared shattering, became filled with an incredible warmth instead.

"Couple stuff, huh?" She asked thoughtfully. "What exactly does that entail?"

At her teasing tone, Inuyasha found himself able to breathe again. Her body had relaxed into his, and he could smell the happiness in her scent.

"Oh, you know. MarioKart. Arguing over who gets the side of the bed closest to the wall. Going out to eat. Stayin' in and eatin' you out. Havin' you text Koga and let him know that you can't go out because you're busy with your boyfriend."

Kagome's shoulders shook with laughter, and she couldn't help snorting at that last item on his list.

"Inuyasha, he hasn't even asked me to go anywhere this week!"

He shrugged while sneakily sliding his hand under her shirt to stroke her hip. No panties. Niiiiiiiiice.

"So? I believe that the best defense is a good offense. Cut the fucker off before he gets started."

"Oooooh, someone's getting possessive!" Kagome teased, pressing back against him in response to his claws dancing over her skin.

"Someone has waited too many damn years for this to let some mangy wolf try to screw things up."

With a small gasp, Kagome rolled over to face him, her expression softening. "Years?" She asked, reaching up to trail her fingers down his cheek, marveling at the unusually vulnerable took in his eyes.

"Yeah," he said quietly, leaning his head into her hand. "I mean, I've always wanted-I didn't know how to start-" He sighed in frustration, unable to get the words out right.

Seeing his frustration, Kagome placed a finger over his lips. "Me too," she said, knowing he would understand.

A bright smile lit up his face, so different from the sarcastic or teasing smirk he usually wore. And in his eyes, she saw everything in her heart that she had feared would never be returned reflected back at her with a ferocity that almost took her breath away.

"And I think I could agree to your weekend plans," she purred, lifting one slim leg to hook over his hip, "If you agree to one condition."

Inuyasha began to harden at the feel of her dampness rubbing against him. "What's that?" He asked, already starting to roll her beneath him.

Kagome smiled up at him wickedly.

"Sometime this weekend, you have to dance for me."