Chapter 2 In the Heat of the Night

Disclaimer: Inuyasha™ and all related characters are part of this balanced breakfast! Naw, but on the for serious, Inuyasha: © Rumiko Takahashi/ 2000, 2003 Shogakukan, Yomiuri TV, SUNRISE. Author's notes: You know you're pressed and steamed over the way I put the little trademark and copyright symbols in my disclaimer!

"Thanks for letting us stay here, Takanori," said Shippo as they prepared for departure.
"I was most honored, Shippo," said Takanori. "I hope to see you all again! Especially you, Miroku-sama!" The houshi blushed and waved to her. Sango glared at him. "Do you have to do that everywhere we go?" she asked, irritated. "I have no idea what you're talking about, my dear Sango," replied the monk. "I've kept my hands to myself this entire time. Isn't that right, Inuyasha?" The half demon in question gave no answer. "Inuyasha?" Miroku turned around. Inuyasha wasn't paying attention. He had a dazed look on his face. "Hello-o?" said Shippo. "Inuyasha, snap out of it!" "What the hell do you want, runt?" Inuyasha asked, agitated that his thoughts had been interrupted. "Get the fuck off of me!" All his yelling brought Kagome back to reality, for she too had her head in the clouds. "Sheesh, you don't have to be so rude," grumbled the kit. He hopped onto Miroku's shoulder. Everyone became silent, and Kagome was immersed in her thoughts once more. 'I wonder how Inuyasha feels about me now,' she thought. 'I bet he's regretting it, that's why he hasn't said a word to me since it happened. I shouldn't have told him to get in the water with me, I should've just told him how I felt. At least then I'd know if he felt the same. He was probably just caught in the heat of the moment when he had sex with me. In fact he's probably mad at me because he's still in love with Kikyo. But then, why did he act so concerned? Was he just being nice, or does he really care about m- ' Her thoughts came to an abrupt stop as she slipped on the steep hill they were descending and started to fall. "Kagome!" shouted Inuyasha, and he leapt down and caught her just before she hit her head on the jagged rocks below. He put her on his back and jumped down to steady ground. Sango, Miroku, Shippo, and Kirara ran down the hill. "Kagome!" "Is she all right?" "Did she get hurt?" "I'm fine," she said. She tried to climb off of Inuyasha's back, but he held her legs. "Inuyasha?" "I don't think it's a good idea for you to walk on your own if you can't focus on the path," he said. "I'll carry you." "It's okay," she said. "I can walk." "No, you CAN'T," he said. He turned his head to look and mouthed, "We need to talk." "All right, carry me then," she said, faking annoyance. Once everyone resumed walking, Kagome rested her head on the hanyou's shoulder. "So, what's up?" she asked hopefully.
"Kagome," he said. "You're mad at me, aren't you?" Her eyes widened in shock.
"No, Inuyasha," she said, relieved. "I thought you'd be mad at me."
"Why would I be mad at you when I fucked you?" he asked. Kagome blushed, and Inuyasha felt the heat from her face.
"I teased you, and I knew you still had feelings for Kikyo." Inuyasha was silent for a moment.
"I do," he said, "But I also have feelings for you, Kagome." She could have died right there. He did have feelings for her. She sighed, relieved and happy, and he felt her body go limp on his back. He smiled, glad that he could make her so happy, and walked on.
~*~
"It's gettin' pretty dark," said Inuyasha. "Let's stop here." He tapped Kagome on the head.
"Nani?" she said sleepily. She rubbed her eyes and yawned.
"We're setting up camp here," he said, and she slid off his back. She stretched, then took off her backpack and went through it until she found her sleeping bag.
"I don't know about the rest of you," said Miroku as he set fire to a pile of sticks, "But I'm too tired to eat tonight." He yawned.
"Me too," said Shippo, and he curled up with Kirara next to the fire.
"I agree," said Sango. "How about breakfast in the morning?"
"I don't care," said the weary hanyou. He sat down at the base of a tree and closed his eyes. Ten minutes later, when he opened his eyes, everyone was snoring. That is to say, everyone but Kagome was snoring. She sat next to the fire, hugging her knees. "Hey," he said, and stood up. She looked at him. "How come you're awake?" He walked over and sat down next to her. She smiled.
"Hey, you," she said. "I guess I just can't sleep." He smirked.
"Is there anything I can do?" he asked mischievously. She blushed. He leaned forward and kissed her softly. "How's that?" he asked.
"Perfect," she said. She rested her head on his shoulder. He put his arm around her. They were silent for a while. Then Kagome spoke. "Inuyasha," she said, breaking the uncomfortable silence.
"Yeah?" he asked.
"I was wondering," she began, "About today, when you told me you had feelings for me. What did you mean?" She looked up expectantly at him. He didn't know what to say. He didn't just like her, that was a given. But could he love her? Was there a word for the feeling between loving and liking someone? Was that really how he felt? And what of Kikyo? If he told Kagome he was in love with her, did that mean he had to abandon all his feelings for Kikyo? Damn it! Why did Kagome have to ask such a hard question? Why couldn't she wait until a better time? Well, now that he thought about it, this did seem like a good time to ask a question like that. And as far as he was concerned, Kikyo didn't really seem to like him very much, not with the way she was always trying to drag him into hell. What would she care if he told Kagome he was in love with her? It's not like Kikyo wanted to be with him.
"Kagome," he said slowly, "I-I think I'm in love with you." There. He said it. It wasn't as hard as he thought it would be, either. He was starting to feel confident, until he noticed that everything got quiet. The crickets had stopped their raucous chirping. There wasn't even any wind to break this horrible silence! What had he done? And why was Kagome looking at him like that? She looked like she could start crying any minute! He didn't understand. Isn't this what she wanted? He could feel himself blushing. Finally, the silence was broken.
"Oh, Inuyasha!" She threw her arms around him and assaulted his poor, confused lips with her own. He was surprised by the reaction(though you probably weren't), but melted into the kiss. He was getting goosebumps. That feeling was coming back...
"Kagome!" he said the hanyou, aggressively panting as though he'd never experienced inhalation before. "I... feel... strange..."
"What do you mean?" she asked.
"I dunno," he said uncertainly. "I feel like I did before, back when we.."
"Laid together?" she offered coyly. He blushed, then nodded. She took his hand in hers. "I want you to feel something else." He cocked his head at her. She led his hand to her chest. He was sweating. She brought it under her left breast and waited. Then he felt it: her heart. Only right then, it was beating wildly. The pulse quickened when he shifted his hand. He felt something for Kagome that he had never felt before, as though it was beyond love.
"Kagome," he whispered. "I don't un-"
"Inuyasha," she said. "Only you could make my heart beat like this. I feel excited just knowing you're around, so I need you to tell me something."
"Anything," he whispered, lost in her eyes.
"Did you... did you have feelings for me when I laid with you, or were you just caught up in the heat of the moment?" He looked at her, amazed that she could ask that.
"I could never just get caught up with you, Kagome." She smiled, and their lips met once more. As they kissed, he felt his own heart beating wildly. This was too much! It was torture! "That's it!" he said loudly. "I can't take this anymore!" Kagome was taken aback.
"What's with you?" she asked, surprised. He snatched her up by the waist and ran for a good five minutes into the darkness. He set her down. 'Oh,' she thought. 'It must be-'
"Kagome," he said, drawing a shaky breath. "I want to see you naked in the next five seconds." Kagome's heart skipped a beat, it was pumping so fast. "I'm gonna make love to you right here."" He furiously loosened the knots on his hakama as Kagome worked herself out of her clothes. Better her than a hormonal half demon with razor sharp claws that could slice her clothes off for her.

Author's notes: Let me know if you want me to add a lemon continuation of this scene to "Deleted Scenes".