Chapter Four:

. . .

Aaaaaah... Inuyasha thought, his mind turned off as his body relaxed in the steaming water of the hot spring. All of the tension had left his muscles and the rag was absent from his face, but he didn't care as long as he was alone. Sometimes I just need to relax, he told himself, glad that he had come here.

His peacefulness and tranquility were interrupted however, when he caught whiff of two distinctly feminine scents and the giggles that accompanied them. His eyes widened and he leapt from the water quickly, snatching for his towel, his eyes darting around for another means of escape besides the door that the two young women were going to come through. He panicked a little, wondering what he should do but gave up and leapt behind a stone that was being used as decoration.

"Oh Sango-chan! It's beautiful!" Kagome exclaimed, dropping her towel on the side of the spring before shedding her clothes off quickly. Inuyasha averted his gaze with modest respect for her privacy, his face the color of a cherry. Sango followed in suit and soon both of the fair young women were bathing in the hot spring. Inuyasha gulped and decided to be brave, and a little bit naughty, and stole a glance at Kagome.

"I told you it would be," Sango replied when they were in the water. She gasped when Kagome sent a wave of water flying at her face and then mirrored the attack.

"Oh no! Hot water!" The young woman who was a new resident to the castle cried, laughing with joy before she went under quickly to wet her head and hair. When she emerged from the water, she sighed and leaned against the side of the spring, relaxing completely. "This is really nice," she moaned a little bit, the steam flushing her soft features.

"Mm hm," came the contented reply from the young woman who was across the spring, doing the exact same thing. "Kagome-chan?" The girl's head lifted at the call of her name. "Um... what is the real reason you have chosen to stay here at this castle? I mean... You really don't have too but- -"

"I want to stay here with you, Miroku-sama and Inuyasha-sama. Even though at first I didn't want to stay... now it feels as if I have too. I know about the curse, I know what will happen if the Lord of this castle doesn't take his serum..." she trailed off, not really knowing what to say next.

"But... You will stay anyway? Doesn't anything frighten you here?" The young woman pressed and Inuyasha's stomach flopped.

Kami-sama, Sango! Are you trying to convince her to leave? He barked at her in his head. Suddenly, his eyebrows fixated together when he heard the faint rustling of clothing and caught scent of something masculine. Miroku...

"I was afraid at first... but seeing what kind of an environment this is... Makes me feel more secure. To tell you the truth, I would much rather be here than at home where I was going before I got lost in these woods," Kagome answered, reaching for the soapy substance that was beside the spring that Sango had brought along with her. "Oh! It smells like roses!"

"Ah, Kagome-chan... What's at home? Why don't you want to go there?" The ebony haired young woman asked before blushing a moment. "I'm sorry for being so nosy but I'm just curious. It's been a long time since I have had female companionship," she added, taking the bottle of rose-scented soapy substance from Kagome and lathered some onto her own body.

"I have ten other brothers and sisters... And I am the oldest. My mother told me I was allowed to live in the village we used to live in still because I was old enough to work in the store that my uncle owned... But recently, my uncle has taken ill and my mother did not want to burden him anymore so she sent me word to come home.... And I was headed home but... Well, you know the rest," The young woman finished, rinsing her hair and her body off.

Sango's eyes widened when the sound of a sandal slipping sounded behind her. She motioned for Kagome to halt all movement and lower her exposed body into the water. Kagome gulped, her chocolate eyes darting around, wondering what Sango was listening for until the young woman emerged from the water, wrapped a towel around her and then charged into the bushes, finding a peeping-

"Miroku-sama!" Kagome squealed, scurrying out of the water, lunging for her own towel, strapping it around her body, hoping it covered every part of her that he had been staring at.

Serves you right, you old pervert, Inuyasha thought in amusement, wondering how he would escape from the beating that Miroku was receiving from both girls if he was discovered. I won't be discovered though. I am too cunning.

"I apologize, ladies! It won't happen again, I swear it!" The young man apologized, a sheepish smile appearing on his reddened face from all the slaps he had received from both parties.

"You lie like the rug in the study, Miroku, now get out!" Sango roared, watching with satisfaction and a red face as the young man scrambled to his feet and bolted out the door. She sighed and shook her head, her dark eyes melancholy. Kagome noticed the change in her demeanor and sighed.

"Men can be such callow fools," she muttered and Sango nodded. Upon seeing how her words did not really have the effect she wanted them to, she decided that she would ask something that she had been part of her perception when she had arrived at the castle.

The way Sango and Miroku would flirt around, the way he would look at her with adoration, desire and just plain hentai thoughts... He would follow her around when she wasn't looking... And when he grabbed my bottom, he was waiting for her to slap him... Kagome thought to herself, swallowing before she dived into her question.

"Sango-chan," She started, catching the young woman's eyes quickly. "Does... Um... Does Miroku-sama have an... infatuation with you?" she finished, watching as Sango sighed and nodded, looking a bit irritated.

"Yes, but he is such a pervert and has no commitment all the time that I feel that I cannot-"she broke off gasping, her face red. She swiftly looked Kagome in the face and worried her lip between her teeth quickly. "I... I did not mean for that to come out..."

"Oh! I won't tell anyone! I promise!" The young woman exclaimed, nodding furiously. "So... You do like him don't you?" Kagome added, a sly smile appearing on her lips as she giggled when Sango's blush deepened. "Why don't you just tell him?"

"It's... ah... more complicated than that..." Sango tried to explain, trying to think of a really good reason. "Well... it's not that I don't want to... it's just... I'm afraid..."

Inuyasha shifted his position so he could be more comfortable as he listened to the young women chat avidly. This was interesting! He had never known how Sango had felt about Miroku. It was, however, quite obvious how the young man felt about her. And boy did he like to feel her...

"Afraid?" Kagome asked, not really understanding, but by the look on the other young woman's face, she could see that this was really bothering her.

Sango nodded, her dark eyes going to look at the water of the hot spring. She sighed and ran her fingers through her wet hair before she continued. "What if I am not what he seeks? What if... what if I am not beautiful enough? What if..." she trailed off in a sigh and blew out an extended breath. "What if he does not want me for who I am... and only for my body?"

Damn it, Sango. That look on your face is enough to give even ME a guilt trip! Inuyasha thought, his eyes silently observing Kagome as she continued to talk to his long time friend.

"If he doesn't want you for who you are, then he doesn't deserve you. You are a wonderful person, Sango-chan," The young woman who was new to the castle told her, flashing her a cheerful smile.

"Thank you for saying so, Kagome-chan," Sango replied and then laughed softly when the young woman beside her nearly tripped over her clean kimono as she got into it.

Inuyasha averted his eyes again; his face feeling like it would explode at any moment. You fool! You should be staring at her and enjoying the free view, one part of his mind chastised but the other half of his mind wanted to respect her privacy. Plus, the first part of his mind sounded more like Miroku than anyone else...

When the women had exited the hot spring, he quickly made his get-away as well, dressing himself in the blink of an eye, fleeing down his corridor to have sanctuary in his room.

. . .

The night passed slowly for Kagome in her new room, in the new castle, surrounded by new people. She sighed and rolled over again, seeking a comfortable and warm position, not finding one. Next, she hurled one of her arms over her eyes in an effort to calm herself but could not find the refuge she sought.

Kagome sat up in a huff, throwing back the blankets of the bed as she swung her legs over the side of the bed and got to her feet. She stretched lazily and draped a robe that was by her door, left by Sango, over her sleeping yukata as she sought to explore a little bit.

She exited her room and slunk down the stairs very carefully, her feet barely making a sound as she padded along the carpeted way. Deciding that she wanted to read, she went toward the study where she had been many unfortunate hours earlier getting nursed by Sango. Kagome entered the study cautiously, gasping when she saw two amber orbs staring at her in the darkness. She then calmed, realizing that it was only Inuyasha. That's amazing... His eyes are even visible in the dark...

"What are you doing up?" He asked gruffly with a bit of unbridled wonder in his voice. She wasn't fleeing from him... That was a first!

"I... um... couldn't sleep," she replied, attempting to force a smile upon her lips but it would not come.

She couldn't sleep? What the hell do I say to that? The hanyou thought in frustration, not really caring much for all of the small talk. Instead of giving the comforting reply that Kagome was hoping for, he snorted at her in impatience. "Well then. I guess you weren't trying hard enough, now were you?"

The young woman's shoulders drooped as she let out a sigh, walking deeper into the dark room, not daring to light a candle or stoke a fire because of his presence. "Can't you just try to be nice?" she asked gently, seeing his amber gaze was everywhere else in the room but on her face.

"Why should I be nice when it doesn't matter any more?" The Lord of the castle snapped, standing up briskly to scuffle out of the room but was stopped when the young woman who was a new occupant of his castle let out a frustrated, angry sound.

"See, you selfish bastard? That's the attitude that got you into this in the first place!" Kagome shouted, her chocolate eyes widening in horror at what she had just said. She clamped her hand over her trembling lips and swallowed deeply when a very angry hanyou started to advance towards her with a menacing look in his eyes. "I... I'm sorry..." she apologized quickly, but realized it was too late.

"And what would YOU know about it?" Inuyasha rasped at her, shoving a chair off to the side to emphasize his great distress. He then laughed maniacally and ironically as he ran a hand through his silver locks that seemed to be shining even with the lack of light. "You think I want to be cursed like this, little girl?"

Kagome stood silent, his flaming amber eyes scorching her with their fury. She released a shaky breath and shook her head 'no' the best she could, feeling her heart pounding in her chest. "No... I don't think you want to be cursed like this... But..." she inhaled deeply and said what was in her heart. "Don't you want to be saved?"

The tension in the hanyou's muscles left him at those words and his body sagged in defeat for a moment. He growled minutely in his throat and whirled around so that he wouldn't have to look at her anymore. "You don't know anything about me," he told her softly, his voice not harboring the hatred and anger that the young woman had heard only moments ago.

"Maybe not, but I can get to know you," Kagome replied, her voice much softer and a lot less frightened than before. "You're shoving me away when all I want to do is help you," she added, reaching her hand up and out to touch his shoulder but withdrew like he had bitten her when he spun on her, snarling.

"Help me, help me, HELP ME? Why does everyone always say that and then lie to me?" The prince of the castle yelled and then burst from the study, back to his chambers where he could be alone. Kagome let out a cry from behind him not to go but he vanished in the blink of an eye.

No matter what I do or say... He shuts me out... I never thought I'd say this... But he is hopeless, Kagome thought, pulling her robe tighter around herself as she made her way up the stairs again, suddenly not wanting to be by herself in this castle unless she was in a safe, enclosed space.

. . .

"Inuyasha," Miroku sang, rapping on the door to his old friend's room, humming to himself a little bit. "Open the door," he called in, knocking harder before getting an idea. "I might just have to sing... The song," he added and nearly fell backwards when the door that he was leaning on was pulled open right out from under him revealing a very cross-looking hanyou.

"What the hell do you want?" Inuyasha asked in annoyance, standing in his doorway, not allowing the young man entrance to the dark chamber.

"Lady Kagome is out in the back all by her lonesome... Why don't you go and keep her company, hm? It's not very gentleman like to leave a woman alone," He pried, bobbing his thick but neat eyebrows towards the cursed half-demon but backed off when he saw that his close friend was not interested.

"Like I care. She can go to hell," Inuyasha spat his voice sounding defeated. Miroku released a tsk-ing sound when he did not hear the normal angry fire behind his friend's words and slithered into the hanyou's chamber. He approached one of the curtain-covered windows and pulled it open a bit so the both of them could have a look outside.

"A lovely view, wouldn't you say?" The young man whispered, only for the hanyou's ears. Inuyasha's eyes gazed out the window to see Kagome walking alone, her raven locks blowing behind her in the cold breeze, her chocolate eyes bright with adventure. He swallowed and felt his chest tighten as his youkai half began to scrutinize the young woman in other areas...

"Inuyasha?" Miroku asked, seeing his friend's daze. The hanyou let out an angry sound as his cheeks flushed red from embarrassment. The young man's eyes widened and he let out a rich laugh that totally exposed the prince of the castle. "I thought you said she could go to hell but now I suppose you are re-thinking that statement and making up... another version of hell," he finished, bobbing his eyebrows again.

"Will you STOP doing that?" Inuyasha barked, letting out an exasperated sound as Miroku continued to tease and banter. When his friend would not stop his aggravating, Inuyasha shook his head and let out a small sigh, his body relaxing. He then cleared his throat and walked away from the window, his eyes re-adjusting to the dark.

"She is very beautiful, isn't she?" Miroku asked, all teasing remarks gone from his solemn and gentle voice. "You're very lucky that a beautiful woman ended up here instead..." he cleared his throat to keep the laughter out of his voice but ended up releasing some anyways. "Instead of an old, wrinkled hag!"

"Oh shut up! Don't you ever STOP?" The hanyou roared, crossing his arms in irritation, before a sick smirk crossed his own lips. "And if that wrinkled old hag would have come... I would have left her to you and taken Sango because it's clear that you do not intend to make an honest woman out of here! So there!" Inuyasha finished. His statement was meant to be a joke but Miroku found no traces of humor in his words.

"What?" He asked, his eyes looking slightly dangerous, if not hurt. Inuyasha cleared his throat, realizing his error and returned his gaze to his good friend.

"That was too far, I suppose," Inuyasha whispered, his eyes going regretfully to Miroku who nodded, crossing his arms.

"Just a bit," The young human man replied, his voice slightly angry but his expression softened when his gaze went out the window again. "Inuyasha, Kagome really is a sweet girl. She is not staying for selfish purposes nor is she staying because you are forcing her to," Miroku told the hanyou continuing. "She stays because she wants to get to know you and help you. Don't you find that special?"

Inuyasha had no reply for his friend's words but he sighed and ran a hand through his silver hand, it was a nervous gesture, Miroku knew. "I... I just don't know how to handle... kindness like that without thinking she wants something from me," The lord of the castle finished, his voice very low and melancholy.

"You had better get used to it," The young man chuckled, pulling his friend over towards the window, pointing. "She has plenty of kindness," he finished, watching Inuyasha's eyes go wide at the site.

"Oh no... She is NOT bringing a PET in here!" The hanyou snarled, bolting out of his chambers to go and tell Kagome that he would not have other's in the castle.

Miroku shook his head, a tell tale smile on his lips. Inuyasha, she's all ready got you wrapped around her finger, he thought before he exited the room to go and watch the scene play out outside and laugh at Inuyasha's failure when he would give in to Kagome's wishes to keep the small youkai that had wandered onto the premises under unfortunate circumstances.

. . .

Writer's Corner:

Sorry about the late update! I was in New York for a few days and then I got grounded! I'm going to go on vacation again this afternoon for three days so I probably won't update until then anyways. If you're dying for a chapter then may I suggest any of my other Inuyasha stories to you.

Oh yes! Thank you to all who have been giving me words of encouragement! They really mean a lot ;).

Well, that's all for now! Bye bye!