It had been several hours before anyone spoke. Kagome noticed Inuyasha's facial expression.
"Inuyasha, you seem tense about something," Kagome began as she looked her friends over, "in fact, you all look tense really tense."
"Kagome?" Shippo asked.
"Yes?"
"What kind of animal is this that we're riding? I-it won't eat us right?"
"Is that what you guys are so nervous about?" Everyone but Inuyasha nodded, he was tense about something else. "This is called a bus, and it's not an animal. It's just a giant machine that carries people from one place to the other. People from my time prefer this more than walking." She smiled sweetly. Everyone except Inuyasha relaxed against their seats. Kagome watched him thoughtfully as his fists clenched nervously and then relaxed against his thighs.
"Last stop, Paradise Beach." The announcer's voice rang over the intercom.
"Well, this is our stop you guys." Kagome acknowledged but she still kept her gaze on Inuyasha.
"What're you staring at?" He asked grumpily.
"Oh, nothing." Kagome blushed as she grabbed her suitcase from the overhead compartment. Miroku and Sango did the same. Shippo followed Kirara off the bus. Once they were all off of the bus, they headed to the beach house where they would be staying for the next seven days. As they took their first step onto the sand, Miroku smiled wickedly.
"What're you smiling about?" Sango asked disgustedly.
"The girls are wearing so little here." He drooled as he watched several girls in bikinis play volleyball.
"Miroku, you pervert!" Shippo hissed. Kagome looked over at the girls; one of them looked very familiar. She ignored the feeling of familiarity and continued dragging her suitcase along as Miroku continued to stare at the girls. Inuyasha remained uneasy and quiet. Kagome was starting to get worried about him. He had never been this quiet and tense before. What was he so tense about? 'I wonder what's bothering Inuyasha.' Kagome thought. They reached the house just moments later. It was a quaint white beach house with green shutters located just yards away from a secluded part of the beach. It had a perfect view of the ocean from the front porch and the remaining sides were surrounded by palm trees.
"Wow, it's beautiful." Sango smiled.
"Isn't it? My grandfather used to bring us here when Souta was really young." Kagome smiled happily as she unlocked the door, "Well, claim your room now unless you want to sleep in a room with someone. Oh, and just so you know, I get the master bedroom."
"Wow Kagome! I'm going to like staying here." Shippo smiled as he saw the interior.
"That's not all either, there's a hot spring in the back." Kagome added. It was nice on the inside also. The medium sized great room ran into the large kitchen. There were four bedrooms and two bathrooms. Only one bedroom had a bathroom and that was the master bedroom. The other bathroom was located next to the kitchen. Both bathrooms had a shower and bath. Once they were all inside and nestled in, Kagome sat on the couch in the empty great room. They had all changed into much cooler clothes. Miroku was wearing black shorts and a red tank top, Sango wore a white tank top with denim short shorts, the same as Kagome, Shippo wore the same as Miroku only his shorts were blue and his tank top was green, and Inuyasha wore long black shorts and a white skin tight tank top. Miroku, Shippo, and Sango had gone to explore the secluded regions of the beach. Miroku probably just went to catch a glimpse of more girls in bikinis. Inuyasha was missing. He had disappeared after he chose to room with Shippo. She sighed as she laid down across the couch and turned on the T.V. She watched the newscaster as he dully pointed the weather patterns out.
"Good afternoon Lady Kagome." Myouga said as he jumped on the coffee table in front of her, "Does Something trouble you?" She looked down at the concerned-looking flea.
"Do you know what's bothering Inuyasha?" She asked as she sat up. Myouga searched the table beneath him as if looking for something.
"Actually I do know what's bothering Master Inuyasha." He said as he looked up into her radiant brown eyes.
"Really? What is it then?" She asked almost excitedly as she scooted closer to the coffee table.
"This week happens to lie on the day when Inu-" Inuyasha had heard what was going on from the roof and had jumped through the window to squish Myouga under his thumb.
"Know your place Myouga." He growled as he picked up the tiny flea and placed him on his shoulder.
"I'm sorry master but lady Kagome wanted to know what you are so upset ab-" He was once again silenced by Inuyasha's fingers.
"Nothing's bothering me ok?! I think we need to have a little chat Myouga." He said as he climbed through the window and onto the roof again, leaving Kagome bewildered about what had just happened.
"You're going to have to tell her eventually master." Myouga sighed as he jumped down. Inuyasha was crouched in a sitting dog position as he watched the ocean waves crash onto the beach.
"I don't have to tell her anything." He spat.
"Your violent temper will affect her. I suggest you ease up a bit master." Myouga suggested.
"Just do me a favor and don't tell her anything. I'll do it when I'm ready." He sighed as a gentle breeze teased his white tresses.
"Understood." He bowed lightly.

"I think I like Kagome's time," Shippo smiled as he licked his popsicle happily, "it's got yummy cold stuff!" They were sitting on a bench beside the boardwalk. Sango was sitting in the sand.
"And lots of girls who could possibly be the mothers of my children." Miroku smiled as he dug his feet in the sand.
"Didn't you guys notice that something was bothering Inuyasha?" Sango asked as she wiped sand off of her thighs.
"It's probably nothing." Miroku said as he watched several girls walk by, "You know how Inuyasha is."
"That's exactly why I'm worried." Sango said as she sat on the bench beside them.
"Inuyasha usually doesn't get distant or tense like that, he has too much pride." Shippo said as he licked his fingers.
"Exactly." Sango agreed.
"You think we should maybe go check on it?" Miroku asked as he stood up.
"Definitely. Let's go." Sango said as Shippo climbed onto her shoulder.

Inuyasha snuck through the open window once he was sure that everything was silent. Once he entered the great room, he spotted Kagome sleeping soundly on the couch. The television had been turned off. He sighed as his tension eased once he saw her sleeping soundly. He walked over to her and sat on the coffee table in front. He watched her inhale and exhale slowly.
"Inuyasha." She cooed in her sleep.
"She's dreaming about me?" He whispered softly as not to wake her. She moved slightly.
"Please.don't leave." She continued. He smiled sincerely as he ran his fingers down her soft, flawless cheek.
"I won't." He replied and she smiled. There came a loud knock at the door and Inuyasha jumped off of the table and fled into the bedroom to pretend to be asleep as well. There came another knock and Kagome stirred. She walked over to the door and opened it. Miroku, Sango, and Shippo walked in. Kagome rubbed her eyes.
"Back so soon.?" She asked sleepily.
"Do you know where Inuyasha is?" Shippo asked as he jumped off of Sango's shoulder.
"Well, he came in about an hour ago, then he left again. I think he's on the roof." She yawned.
"What would he be doing up there?" Asked Miroku.
"Beats me." She replied as she let them in. Shippo opened the door to their bedroom and found Inuyasha "sleeping" against on of the walls.
"There he is." Shippo smiled as he ran over to Inuyasha and poked him until he awoke.
"What is it?" Inuyasha growled.
"What's bothering you?" Shippo asked right off the bat.
"You at the moment." Inuyasha stood up and jumped out of the open window.
"I don't think I'll ever understand him." Shippo said as he watched Inuyasha walk further and further away.
"Let's just not try to understand him right now. He'll tell us when he's ready I'm sure." Kagome smiled reassuringly, "Now, who's ready for dinner?" They all raised their hands and Kagome ordered a pizza. Inuyasha didn't show up for dinner. By midnight, everyone expect Kagome was asleep. She watched the shadows dance on the ceiling overhead before sighing and sitting up. 'What's bothering you Inuyasha.?' She thought. She pulled on her bathrobe. She slipped out through her cracked door and walked past Shippo's room of which had the door wide open. Inuyasha still wasn't back. 'Oh god, what if something bad has happened to him?' She thought but then realized, 'Wait, Inuyasha's very capable of taking care of himself. I better go look for him anyway though.' She walked back to her room and opened the window silently. She climbed out and started running through the sand, holding onto the flaps of her bathrobe. She searched the vicinity of the secluded beach feverishly until she finally collapsed at the waters edge.
"What're you doing out here?" Asked a familiar voice. She looked up into the golden eyes of Inuyasha. She stood up on wobbly feet and almost immediately fell forward. Inuyasha caught her in his arms. She looked up into his eyes and realized that he looked worried.
"I.was looking for you." She panted as Inuyasha kneeled so she could sit down.
"You shouldn't be out here Kagome, it's really late." He relayed.

"I'm tired of not knowing what's wrong with you Inuyasha. You're acting distant and irritable." She said once she had caught her breath, "I'm worried."
"You shouldn't be. You have no reason to." He replied. He watched her attentively as water washed over her feet.
"But I do Inuyasha. And you're really not paying attention to what I'm saying." Kagome sighed as she ran her fingers through the wet sand.
"What am I not paying attention to?" He asked as he dug his fingers in the sand as well. She watched his fingers interlace with hers. She looked up at him.
"Inuyasha?" She mused as his face came within inches of hers. She started blushing.
"I'm sorry Kagome, I'll tell you eventually. I just don't think that you need to know right now. Understand?" Kagome nodded slightly as she felt his thumb rub against hers. His lips pressed against hers in a kiss to end all kisses. Kagome opened her mouth allowing his tongue to join with hers in an erotic dance of affection. She moaned lightly but then snapped back into reality. She pushed him back nervously.
"I'm sorry." She said as she stood up quickly and hurried back up to the house. Inuyasha placed a hand on his head.
"Did I rush things?" He asked aloud. He stood up and chased after her. He grabbed her hand. She turned around instinctively; her eyes were on the verge of tears.
"I'm sorry Inuyasha, I'm so sorry." She said as a single tear escaped her eyes.
"Don't be sorry." He said as he hugged her tightly. She cried into his tank top.
"I'm so stupid.You're the one having problems.and I-I-" She whimpered.
"Kagome, would you just shut-up for a minute?" Inuyasha growled as he stroked her feather soft raven hair. She nodded and wiped her face with the sleeve of her bathrobe.
"I'm at fault for keeping shit from you. Don't ever think that it's your fucking fault if something in my life is going wrong. Got it?" He asked. She nodded again as she let her head rest on his chest.
"I understand." She breathed.
"Good." He replied softly as he continued to stroke her hair lightly. He planted a tender kiss on her forehead, "Go back to bed." She nodded as she released herself from his embrace and started walking back. She looked back to see Inuyasha staring out into the bleak darkness of the sheltering night.
"Goodnight Inuyasha." She whispered and he mouthed 'Goodnight' as she ran back up to the house.

Dream Sequence
"Inuyasha come back!" Kagome yelled as she stumbled and fell. Inuyasha stopped walking and turned around. His eyes had lost their splendor. They were deep endless voids of emptiness devoid of love and life.
"But I love Kikyo." He replied monotonously.
"No you don't Inuyasha, don't say that!" She said as she shuddered to her feet.
"But I do." He said again with the same lackluster voice as before.
"But, you can't love her because.I love you!" She said as she began running towards him again. His eyes returned to their lustrous gold as he appeared in front of Kagome instantly.
"You do?" He asked with his calm, soothing voice. Blazes of red painted their way across her cheeks as she looked down at the floor and nodded. "I do, I really do." She smiled meekly. He cupped her face in his hands and kissed her warmly.
"I love you too." He smiled coolly. End Dream Sequence

"Kagome?" Shippo asked as he nudged her out of her dream world and into the dreariness of reality. She rolled over and glared at the clock. It read seven-thirty. She turned her gaze on Shippo.
"What?" She yawned.
"You'd better see this." He whispered in her ear. She sat up and rubbed the sleep from her eyes. The minute she sat up, she saw Inuyasha sleeping soundly in the far corner of her room.
"Inuyasha?" She asked and he stirred.
"Oh, morning Kagome." He yawned as he stood up and stretched. He walked into the wall before he left the room.
"What was that all about?" She asked Shippo.
"Inuyasha was there when I came in. I thought you should know. He came back late last night, I heard him coming through your window." Kagome touched her lips softly as she remembered the previous night when Inuyasha's were brushing against hers.
"Excuse me." She said as she threw the covers off and ran into the bathroom, slamming the door behind her.
"What was that all about?" Miroku asked as he stood in the doorway and bit into an apple. Water running in the sink could be heard from within the bathroom. Shippo jumped off of the bed and walked over to the door. He knocked gently.
"Kagome, are you okay?" He asked.
"I'm fine!" She shouted as she plunged her head into the ice cold water that she had filled the sink with. Shippo looked back at Miroku who just shrugged.

Early Evening
Kagome, Sango, and Kirara sat on the porch as they listened to the gentle sound of the ocean waves washing up on shore. Miroku, Shippo, and Inuyasha were inside probably watching television.
"So," Sango started and Kagome looked over at her, "you never answered my question." Kagome stroked Kirara's soft yellow fur.
"Which question?" She asked but she knew immediately which one it was.
"Well, do you, or don't you love Inuyasha?" She said lightly.
"I-I, well, that is to say.I-I."
"Kagome?" Asked a deep, seductive voice. She spun around to meet the sapphire eyes of the stranger that had interrupted their conversation.
"Yeah, that's me. W-who're you though?" She asked and he laughed softly which made her blush. He was incredibly handsome. He was tall with a light build which gave away the notion that he worked out. He had long bronze hair that was tied in a neat ponytail that hung limp against his back. His eyes were simply divine. They were bathed a sapphire color in the light of the setting sun.
"It's me, Shouri. Don't you remember?" He smiled. Kagome beamed suddenly as the memory of her childhood friend Shouri came back to her. She jumped off the deck and into his strong arms. Sango walked down the steps, followed closely by Kirara.
"I'm so glad to see you!" She laughed.
"I'm glad to see you too." He whispered into her ear and then she remembered why she was so happy to see him. She had had a crush on Shouri since she first met him and it was the same story with him. They guys had come out of the house to see what the commotion was. Inuyasha was the first to see Kagome engaged in a heart filled embrace with the new stranger.
"Kagome, who the hell is this?" He asked almost angrily. Shouri released Kagome from their embrace and he bowed lightly.
"Where are my manners?" He asked, "My name is Shouri Chie. I'm assuming that you all must be with Kagome." He smiled as he stood up straight. They all nodded, a little dazed at what was going on.
"Pleased to meet you, my name's Sango." Sango said as she held her hand out to him. He smiled sweetly at her as he took his hand in hers.
"Miroku." Miroku waved from the steps.
"Name's Inuyasha." Inuyasha spat sourly.
"And I'm Shippo!" Shippo said as he ran down into the sand with Kagome and Sango.
"I don't think I've ever seen a kid like you before." He said as he kneeled down and examined Shippo's ears, feet, and tail.
"That's 'cause I'm a kitsune youkai." He smiled.
"Ah, that explains it." He laughed.
"Shouri.You know about youkai?" Kagome asked surprisingly.
"Well I guess being half-youkai myself, I think that would be a yes." Kagome was about to ask what he meant but she was quickly interrupted again.
"Shouri! There you are!" Came another voice and they all turned to find out where the beholder was. A girl in an extremely tight bikini top and thong bottom joined Shouri's side. Miroku's mouth fell open as his eyes traveled up and down her body. Inuyasha closed it and gave him a warning glare.
"Oh, everyone. This is my sister Yume. She's sixteen." He said as he placed an arm around her shoulders. She was beautifully slender and curvy. She had medium brown hair that barely touched her shoulders and golden irises like Inuyasha. She smiled mischievously.
"Hello." She mused. She looked over the crowed until she laid eyes on Miroku. She ran up the stairs and grabbed his hands. "Pleased to meet you." She cooed seductively as swerved into his front and moved her body closely against his. He gulped as he tried his best not to drool and contain his rising member.
"H-hi." He gulped again. Everyone watched them attentively until Sango could take the hentai act no more. She walked up the steps and smacked Miroku. He landed a few feet away in a dazed state. Yume stepped back and placed her hands on her hips.
"Well a guy as hot as him certainly has a terrible choice in girlfriends." She murmured.
"Keep it up and you'll be next. AND I AM NOT HIS GIRLFRIEND!" Sango blazed.
"Don't mind my sister," Shouri whispered in Kagome's ear, "she just.um.how do you say.really likes the male anatomy." Kagome frowned at this and wondered if she would go after Inuyasha. Inuyasha looked amused with what Sango had done to Miroku. Yume was straddled upon his hips as she licked the nap of his neck trying to bring him out of his daze, but Sango chased her away quickly.
"So what brings you here anyway?" Inuyasha asked Shouri as he jumped off the porch and joined Kagome at her side.
"No reason really, I just wanted to see Kagome." He smiled at her and she smiled back. Inuyasha's heart sank into his stomach. 'Am I missing something?' He thought. But then he felt Kagome's feather soft hair against his chest. He looked down at her and smiled nicely as her brown orbs met his golden ones. He wrapped his arm about her shoulder and she turned the color of a red rose in full bloom.
"It was nice meeting you Inuyasha." Shouri bowed again, "You're very lucky." He smiled. "Yume, c'mon! Will you be at the dance tonight Kagome?"
"Sure, I'd love to go." Kagome smiled. He nodded. Yume bounded over to her brother.
"Bye Miroku." She blew him a kiss and he smirked as he waved. Sango glared daggers at her as she and Shouri walked away.
"I think I've finally found the mother of my children." Miroku smiled happily.
"No you haven't!" Sango said as she smacked him again.
"Kagome.?" Shippo asked. Kagome reluctantly pulled herself away from Inuyasha's warm embrace. She kneeled down to Shippo.
"Yes?"
"What's a dance?"
"It's a place where people get together and they dance. That's basically it." She said as she patted his head. Inuyasha sniffed the air as a familiar scent met his nose.
"What is it Inuyasha?" Kagome asked as she noticed his sudden interest in the air. 'It can't be him.Why's he here?!' Inuyasha thought.
"Nothing.It's nothing." He answered. Even though Inuyasha said it was nothing, Kagome had the nagging feeling that something was bothering him other than the first thing.
"C'mon guys, let's go get dressed for tonight." Kagome smiled as she stood up.
"But we're already wearing clothes!" Inuyasha argued as he tugged at his black tank top and his long white shorts.
"She m-means n-n-nicer c-clothes!" Miroku yelled as Sango pulled his lips apart.
"Oh." Inuyasha sighed as he waved his hand, "Fine, whatever." Kagome ran over to him and grabbed his hand which made him stop and lean down towards her. She leaned over his shoulder and whispered into his ear.
"Wear the black leather pants." Then she nibbled at his ear playfully which sent an incredible wave of sensation washing over him. Then she giggled and waved as she walked back to the house. Inuyasha watched her hips sway delectably and he wanted nothing more than to be with her all night long. Shippo snapped him out of his fantasy.
"What're you staring at?" He asked suspiciously. Inuyasha turned scarlet and quickly followed after Kagome. Shippo shrugged and ran after them, soon to be followed by Miroku and Sango.