Chapter 22 Brunch

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~

Kagome could feel the sun shining on her face as her mind slowly awoke the next morning. She remembered who was by her side, and keeping her eyes closed, she rolled over and smiled, and opened her eyes to see. . .

The pillow.

"Sesshoumaru?"

Kagome sat up. Where was he? This was his room. . .

Hmm. . .

She laid back down and waited. Soon, she heard the bathroom door open, and Sesshoumaru emerged, in nothing but a pair of black pants, drying his hair with a towel.

Kagome savored the vision.

As she watched him, she tried to keep her mouth hidden with the sheets. She knew she was smiling like a little girl, and she didn't want to make him feel uncomfortable.

He looked up at her and raised his eyebrows.

She wasn't sure what that meant, so she raised hers back.

He just smirked and threw the wet towel at her. She giggled when the damp towel landed on her forehead. It smelled like his shampoo.

When she took the towel from over her eyes, Sesshoumaru just stood there, watching her, his arms folded across his chest.

She looked back at him and smirked. Without warning, she threw the towel back at him, aiming for his head. He caught it with one swift motion of his arm.

"Nice reflexes." she told him, smiling.

He just smiled at her, turned around to return the towel to its place in the bathroom, then said, "Get up."

"No."

Not used to hearing the word "no," Sesshoumaru looked at her, smirking. He tried again. "Get up."

"No."

"Don't make me come over there."

"That's what I'm trying to do."

Sesshoumaru broke character and laughed, blushing.

Kagome continued. "I shouldn't have to get up."

"Why?"

"Because you threw a towel at me."

"So?"

"You threw a *wet* towel at me. That's not fair."

"You want me to be fair?"

Kagome nodded.

"All right." he stalked over playfully, and attempted to yank the sheets from on top of her, but she kept a firm grip on them, so they never budged.

In retaliation, he climbed on top of her and hovered over her. Kagome screamed playfully when he began to nibble her ear and tickled her ribs. She kicked and giggled, and he growled and began to kiss her cheek, then across to her mouth.

"Wait," Kagome breathed, trying to catch her breath, "I have to brush my teeth!"

"What - "

"Just give me a minute!" she leapt up and ran into her bathroom, brushed her teeth quickly. She ran back to Sesshoumaru's room and attacked him, throwing her arms around him and knocking him back onto the bed.

"That's better," he teased.

She pinched his side, and was rewarded with an "Ow!" She giggled. "That's what you get."

"You're rough in the morning."

"You should see me in the afternoon."

Sesshoumaru looked at her and scoffed in disbelief, making her giggle. He placed a quick kiss on her lips, and her lashes lowered when she smiled. He smiled back up at her. "What?"

"Nothing." She shrugged, then kissed him longer, the kiss quickly growing deeper. He then surprised her by flipping them both over, so he was on top, Kagome gasping as her head bounced back on the mattress. Her expression then turned mischievous, and a sly grin played on her lips. "Oh. . . so *that's* how you like it."

He laughed then, and started kissing her again. Soon, her hands made their way down to his waist, and began to fumble around to loosen his belt.

When he felt his belt give, he pulled back. "Wait."

"What?"

"Not here."

She looked up at him. "Okay. . . that's all right."

"Im sorr - "

"No, no, it's okay! Actually, you're right," she said, sitting up.

"I am always right," he replied, receiving a smack on the arm.

"Seriously! I mean, we'll be going home, anyway. . . "

"Yeah." Sadly.

"What? You don't wanna leave?"

"I do, but. . . I kind of. . ."

"What?"

"I like. . . this time with you. . . " he seemed to be having trouble getting the words out.

Kagome blushed, understanding. "Well. . . I always come by the house. . . I know Rin is usually there, but it's better than nothing. . ."

Sesshouamru began to say something, but they were interrupted by a knock on the door.

Kagome settled herself on the bed as Sesshoumaru opened the door to Miyoga. The servant bowed. "Master Sesshoumaru."

"Yes?"

"You and Miss Higurashi are invited to a brunch in the garden."

"Thank you. Is that all?"

"Yes, sir." Miyoga bowed and backed away from the door, leaving the two to themselves.

Sesshoumaru closed the door, then turned back to Kagome. "Guess we'd better get dressed."

She raised an eyebrow and shrugged, getting up to hug him (where she squeaked when he bit her ear) and head back to her own room to get ready.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

InuYasha sat at his seat in the garden, leaning back in his chair, arms folded across his chest, utterly bored. He knew Kagome didn't care about the way he felt; he'd just had to tell her last night, or he felt he would've exploded.

"InuYasha," came his mother's voice, "you haven't touched your food, are you feeling well?"

InuYasha raised an eyebrow at her, then shook his head vaguely. 'No Mom. . . just going through a little of your everyday pining. . . I'll get over it. . . ' he thought bitterly. Just then, Kagome and Sesshoumaru arrived, arm-in-arm.

'Gag me.'

Kagome's eyes flashed when she saw him, and she tried to catch his eyes, but he ignored her and pretended he never saw. What could she possibly want, anyway?

Brunch turned out to be a waste of InuYasha's time. He could've gone into town and done something more stimulating; but he knew he should stay back with his mother and spend more time with her before they left. He was just wishing that he was there under different circumstances; that there was no Kagome and that his father was still alive.

And he now had so many mixed feelings for his brother. He felt a strange brotherly love for him now that they had become friends; but he was also intensely jealous of him. After all, he was dating the girl he was in love with.

InuYasha's own bitter thoughts continued until the end of brunch, and Cassandra soon grabbed a hold of him.

"Take a walk with me." she told him, steering him down one of the many stone paths of the garden.

They walked for a few minutes, until Cassandra said, "Something is on your mind. I should know my own son."

His hands in his pockets, InuYasha stared at his moving feet. "Yeah. . . just stuff."

"You know, you say that every time I ask you. What kind of 'stuff?'"

"Stupid stuff."

She chuckled. "It can't be all that stupid if it is bothering you so."

"Girl trouble." he said reluctantly.

Cassandra nodded. "Ah. . . yes, that's about right for your age."

InuYasha scoffed with good-humor. "You know everything, Mom."

"Why, thank you, Sweetie." she murmured. "So, tell me, who is this girl of yours?"

"It's. . . confusing."

"Well, that's an odd name for someone. . . "

"Mom, come on. . ."

Cassandra giggled.

"You're in a good mood, today."

"Yes, Sweetie, I've had my pills."

"Oh. . . you're taking pills?"

"Don't change the subject, Sweetie."

"Right. . . her name is Kagome."

Cassandra grew quiet. "You mean. . .?"

"Yeah, Sesshoumaru's Kagome. She was with me. . . it was, kind of a one night stand. . . then we had an argument, and she broke up with me. . . the next thing I know, he's her editor, and they're spending and awful lot of time together."

Cassandra said nothing, but continued to listen.

InuYasha continued. "I fell in love with Kagome on that night we spent together. I still love her. . . but I know that nothing can be done about it. And she couldn't care either way about how I feel."

"I'm sure she cares, she just doesn't want to get close to you. How can she help you if it's her you want?"

"You're exactly right. I can't do anything about being in love with her, and she can't do anything about not caring. I'll get over it. Don't worry about me, Mom."

Cassandra smiled up at him. "You're a smart young man, do you know that?"

InuYasha smiled modestly. "Thanks, Mom."

"No, I mean it. You know exactly what you're feeling, exactly what's going on. Are you a writer?"

"What?"

"Usually writers are like that. They can identify emotions, because they can write them. And you know whether or not you will get over the situation. So are you?"

"A writer. . . ? I never thought about it."

"You were always so good in your English classes; I bet you are."

"Well, yeah, I enjoyed writing, and reading, but. . . "

"Maybe you should look into it. There are tons of good colleges in America."

"That would require learning English."

"So? I've already taught you some."

"Yeah, but it's not enough for anyone to understand. I suck at pronouncing it."

"That's why you practice."

InuYasha sighed. "I'll think about it, Mom. It'll sure beat moving from job to job, anyway."

"See? There you go." Cassandra continued to walk along contentedly, glancing up at the sky and the few butterflies that fluttered among the winter flowers.

Something was bothering InuYasha, now. His mother was taking pills? He knew she was bad, but. . . maybe it was just for the company. Playing hostess could be hard sometimes, he knew.

Trying not to worry about it, InuYasha continued the nice walk with his mother in the garden, torn between wanting to stay with her and desperately wanting to go home.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Kagome heard later that evening that InuYasha was getting a head start back to the city, and skipping out on dinner. She tried to catch him to say a few words, but he left quickly. He was avoiding her, she knew.

Sesshoumaru told her not to worry about it. He was sure his brother would get over it, all in due time. "Besides," he pointed out, "he probably *wants* to be alone." Kagome had just nodded grimly, feeling bad for InuYasha.

Now it was dinnertime, and Kagome wore the beaded red dress. Everything was more relaxed tonight; even Cassandra's mood seemed lighter. The funeral seemed to have taken the world off of everyone's shoulder's; the relatives were back to drinking their wine without a care, and Kagome didn't feel so much like an intruder anymore.

But soon, the fun came to an end, and Sesshouamru and Kagome had to pack their things back up and head out for the road again.

Their ride back was a nice one. Since it was night time, there were few commercials on the radio, and they drove just listening to whatever they were in the mood for.

They never stopped; they just made a straight trip home, and on the road into the city Sesshouamru offered for Kagome to stay the night with him.

"I'll be picking up Rin Sunday. You could come. And besides, we'll have the house to ourselves. . . "

"Oh, you're sly."

"I know."

"You're also shameless."

"Yes, well. Most of us are. Ahem."

"What? Me?! You little. . . " she smacked him on the arm and he laughed at her.

"I'm driving!"

"I don't care, don't say things like that!"

"You know I didn't mean it. So will you stay?"

"Sure, why not?"

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

It was Friday morning when they got in the door, and Kagome felt back at home, and not so intrusive. She'd been coming over regularly for the past two months, anyway; the place felt like a second apartment.

The next day would be a Saturday, so neither of them had to worry about work.

"I think," Sesshoumaru said, yawning a little, "we will sleep all day today, then stay up all night tonight, and do absolutely nothing in between."

"No chores?"

"No chores."

"Yay! Sounds good to me," Kagome said, hauling her things into his spare bedroom. She changed her clothes there, into something more comfortable, and when she found him, she saw that Sesshoumaru had, as well.

"Bed," he said.

She got the clue and followed him into his room, where they slept in each other's arms for the rest of the day.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~

Hiya! So Kagome and Sesshie are gonna do it! Are you guys excited? Well, you should be, those lemons are damn hard to write.

And poor InuYasha. The question now remains: What will become of him? I dunno. . . maybe you should check out the sequel when I start posting it. ^_~ I don't have a name for it yet, though. . .

Something I need you guys to know: I like to write at least five chapters of a story before I begin posting it. So, in the meantime, I will have another Naraku/Sango fic posted on animespiral.com. I'll let you guys know about that so you can read it while you're waiting for the sequal. ^_^

C Yas! Honey Bee

PS Hey, everyone! Check out this fic:

"The Battle for Love" by Olay Biscuit Barrel

Kagome is heir to the Southern Lands, but doesn't want to be who she is. In a desperate attempt to escape her fate she runs away, and meets some people along the way. Sesshie/Kagome

~~~

It looks very promising; help my buddy out and review some!!!!!