Authors Note: Hi there—I wasn't planning on posting another chapter so
soon, but I wanted to respond again to reviewers, and thought "why not?!"
Anyway, to Imataki, a message: Please, please, please don't think I took any offense at your reasonable objection to the whole time-travel issue! Was I pissy about that? I truly didn't mean to be! You have been a VERY supportive reader/reviewer, and I truly understand what you meant—I'm just glad you like the story at all in spite of this glaring fault that I have no way of fixing (or even fully comprehending unless I sit down and talk to someone face-to-face for several hours). I meant it when I said you have inspired me to endeavor harder with future projects and think about taking the time to do background research (as any serious, good writer does)!
Also, to Lady Banshee 999—Thanks for pointing out a chapter was missing. I have re-posted!
And as always, thanks to all reviewers!
_________________________________________________
Chapter 19 Games of Domination
Her mind raced as he held her firmly. 'What the hell is going on here?! I've known Inuyasha a long time. He's no flirt and he doesn't play games. Why is he doing this?' He was right about one thing, she was confused. It was all his fault, too. After everything that had happened, how could he do this to her? Surely he had to know that deep down she was still vulnerable to him. It had been a long time ago, yes, but her feelings for him were still there. She had matured in the way she was able to handle them, but seeing him again, she knew she had to be careful. If anything the intensity of emotion had deepened over time.
How long ago was it, two, no–three days ago that he came back into her life? Thinking that the same two years had passed for him on his side of the well, she told him everything for the chance to make things right again between them. She told him she knew he made a commitment to Kikyo, that she left in anger, that she left because she loved him and it hurt too much to see him give his love to someone else, even if it was her previous self.
But she had a life now, damn it! A life and commitments of her own, and she was not about to allow herself to act like some over sheltered, naive teenager with her first crush. No. Whatever his reasons were, she wasn't playing anymore. She told herself she was a woman now, a medical student with a bright future, a woman with powers she didn't ask for, but had a responsibility to use nonetheless, and a sensible fiancé waiting for her. Paul made sense.
Even Michael made more sense. It was true, she had been confused about him from time to time, but he never did this to her, never took advantage of her weak, human emotions. He had told her once, playfully, that he wanted to kiss her. They had been playing chess, and she had him in checkmate, although she suspected he was letting her win.
***********************************************
. . . ."Kay love, you know what I'm thinking now?"
"Hmm?"
"I'm thinking that if losing to you means I get to see you smile like that, I wouldn't mind a lifetime of it."
"Michael! Quit! Do you ever stop flirting?"
"With you Kay? Never. I would if I could kiss you just once Kay, but that's one thing I'm not allowed. It's a dreadful rule, and whenever I'm with you I feel it most cruelly!"
"Are you telling me it's against some kind of code of conduct for angels to get involved with humans?"
"Romantically involved, yes, and breaking that rule costs eternal existence."
"Oh, I see. . . . Well, you are and can be my friend Michael, and that's enough."
"Speak for yourself love. . ."
*****************************************************
Inuyasha sensed a change in Kagome as he held her. She had gone from excited to distracted. He knew she was thinking, and suspected he knew who she was thinking about. The look in her eyes told him her mind was not in the Feudal Era.
Kagome came back from her daydream and stiffened in Inuyasha's arms. 'If Michael has rules, Inuyasha should too,' she thought, with growing anger. 'He will not toy with me and I won't be distracted from what I'm here to do. I'm here on a mission. I'll do my job, and I'll leave. That's it. To hell with these games of his!'
When they landed at Kaede's, Kagome quickly said, "Please let go of me now." The coolness in her voice was a little stronger than she meant and it surprised her as much as his reaction did.
He spun her around by the waist to face him.
"I meant what I said. I'm giving you time to think." She couldn't fathom his expression, a mixture of sincerity and something else–desperation? hope? What the hell did he want from her now?
Whatever it was, he wasn't getting it.
"I'll speak with you later, Inuyasha," she said, her eyes flashing. She stepped back from him agilely, turning her body so he lost his grasp on her. She heard the sound of his fingernails ripping into her waistband as she broke away, but paid no attention and felt no pain if she was scratched. "Right now I need a bath. I'm going to see if Sango wants to come with me."
She almost added "You stay here," but knew she didn't need to. Her meaning and tone were clear enough. He said he was giving her some time, whatever that meant, and she was damn well taking it to get away from him, right now.
Miroku and Shippo had made it back to camp and greeted her as she walked toward them, Shippo asking if it was alright to hug her now. "Of course Shippo. I'm sorry I was so tired before. I love your hugs!"
Inuyasha heard her and grimaced. Why did she have to be so attentive to the clingy brat? Deep down, Inuyasha cared in his own way for the child and showed it as best he could. He was distant, aloof, forbidding and punitive, very much the way his own father had treated him.
Miroku and Kagome seemed to have reached a new understanding. As long as he didn't try to grope her any longer they could be cordial, friendly even. Also, he would be permitted to continue living, something the monk valued even more than feeling up a woman.
Sango and Kaede had prepared a meal for the group inside Kaede's hut, and were very happy and relieved to hear Kagome was back and feeling better.
Kaede went back inside and came back with a brown sack. "This belongs to you, child. I have kept it for you these long months, but now would feel greatly relieved if you took it back."
Kagome took the sack and looked inside. Her old necklace with the vial of shards lay at the bottom of the rough bag. Kagome gave Kaede a serious nod. "Thank you, Kaede for keeping these in your trust and care in my absence."
She picked up the necklace and dropped it back in the sack. The pulse from the many tiny shards was overwhelming, a drum-beating frantically in her hand and head. The shards were calling to her, wanting her to hold them. She was shocked by the experience and found herself shaking.
"Are you alright Kagome?" Kaede asked, noticing she looked stricken by something.
"Yes," Kagome nodded. "The way I feel the shards has changed. I noticed it earlier. The connection is stronger, I think. It's very intense. I need some time to get used to it."
Kaede nodded in understanding. Although he made no move to approach her, Inuyasha's ears swiveled up the moment Kaede gave her the shards. He heard and watched her reaction, wondering with concern what it meant. 'Is it because her miko powers are stronger now that she's older, or is it something else?'
Kagome walked over to the guest hut, asking Sango to follow her.
Once inside, Kagome asked Sango if she wanted to take a bath with her after dinner.
Sango smiled and eagerly agreed. Although the hot springs were very close, she didn't give herself the luxury of spending time there too often. Normally she just washed with some well water or occasionally, by the river. It had been a long time since she had done something fun with Kagome, and, after today, she felt like they had all earned a break.
Kagome smiled warmly. "Great! I want to give you something then before we go."
Sango looked at her in surprise.
"I'll take it out and show you after dinner. It's part of Miroku's behavior-modification plan. It's called a bathing suit."
************************************************
The group settled round the fire to eat their meal. Kagome made two cups of ramen as a treat for Inuyasha to go with his venison stew. Although she was angry at him and planned on keeping her distance, she couldn't help allowing herself the pleasure of watching him eat ramen. And, no matter how upset he was with her, he never turned it down when she offered.
She ate her own mango yogurt bar and a small salad of herbs Kaede had prepared for her. They were bitter and naturally spicy, the perfect compliment to her meal. Her friends still shot her glances, disbelieving that she could eat and enjoy such a meal.
Finishing before the rest of the group, she went back inside and brought out her guitar. Shippo jumped up and down, excitedly.
"Are you going to teach me now?!" he asked.
She smiled at him. "Come on Shippo. It's time for your first lesson."
Although the guitar was too large for the child, she sat him in his lap and showed him how to hold it, explaining the strings made differently pitched sounds called 'notes' and that by applying pressure to different combinations of strings with one hand on the neck, and then brushing the strings across the opening with her other hands, pleasant sounds called 'chords' were produced.
She showed him the fingering for four chords, and was surprised by how quickly he was able to imitate her. Pressing his tiny hands on the steel strings seemed to cause him no discomfort.
'I guess fox-demons are born with perfect hearing and ready finger calluouses!' She beamed at him. "Shippo you're a natural! You'll be playing in no time!"
He smiled back happily. "Kagome, would you please play another song for me like you did last night?"
Kagome smiled again and ruffled his fur on his head. "Sure little one!" she said happily.
The night was dark and still, the sounds of the crackling fire and a chorus of cicadas a music all its own. She watched the rest of her friends, still huddled around their bowls of food, and sitting by the fire, talking in low, contented tones.
They spoke again about the earlier battle, and ventured guesses about Naraku's latest plan. So little had happened in the past month, and now, they had killed a demon the likes of which they had never encountered before. There were new whisperings in the village of other demon attacks, too. Miroku brought up the question on everyone's mind:
"I wonder, could it be more than a coincidence that Naraku's making his presence know again now that Lady Kagome is back?"
Inuyasha felt sure he knew the answer and he gave an audible growl as instinctively, a rush of protectiveness and fear for Kagome overrode his other senses. His human friends looked at him in surprise, but all three seemed to understand what he was feeling. His intentions toward Kagome were clear to everyone it seemed, with the exception of Kagome herself.
A few yards away, Kagome began playing the guitar and singing to Shippo. The song she played and sang was Loreena McKennit's "The Mummer's Dance."
The group stopped talking to listen. They found themselves enchanted by the melody, the haunting beauty of her voice, the sound of her hand strumming the strings and drumming the rhythm of the song's lyrics on the guitar. No one was effected as Inuyasha was. He couldn't take his eyes off her. She played with her head bent forward so that her long, black hair surrounded her, falling to her lap. He saw firelight flicker and dance on her hair. She was singing with her eyes closed and Shippo in her lap, it was the most beautiful, and most moving thing he had ever seen. He didn't know he could cry any longer. He hadn't cried since he was a small child, but now, hot tears came to his eyes, tears of pain, tears of joy. What this woman could do to him, make him feel, was beyond reason. Scenes from his childhood, from battles, a precious memory of Kikyo in the moonlight before she died, many memories of a younger Kagome, fresh ones of Kagome from the last few days. It was like his life were held in her voice, unfolding across the strings at the touch of her fingers.
It was more than he could bear. He wanted her to stop and never stop, as his heart rushed in wave after wave of intense sadness, intoxicating joy.
When she stopped playing, everyone was speechless for a moment. Shippo nuzzled in close to her chest and spoke first. He whispered "Thank you, mother."
Kagome was startled by this. The child said these words to her so naturally, with unselfconscious ease. Kagome blinked, wide-eyed. She didn't know what to think. Instead, she felt. She felt him against her now, felt the memory of seeing him almost die this afternoon before her anger took over. It was her own possessive feelings toward him, her own love, that allowed her to find the energy she needed to get to him. Yes, she realized, this was natural. She hadn't seen him in two years, but not a day had passed when she hadn't thought of him, hadn't smiled thinking about him, worried over how he was and who was caring for him. Being with him again, she realized the truth–she might be a young mother, but she was all he had now. "Your welcome, Shippo," she cooed down to him softly.
She looked up smiling and was startled to see Inuyasha was towering over her, firelight flickering in his eyes. They seemed larger shinier than usual and almost--wet?. She waited anxiously for him to speak. The cicada's call grew louder. He looked strange. Was he angry at her again? What had she done wrong?
Finally, she couldn't take the suspense of watching him watch her. "Inuyasha?" she asked.
He kept his gaze on her, breathing hard, still feeling the turmoil and heat from the emotions she cut fresh in him with her singing. She looked tranquil, clearly unaware of the pain she had just caused him, both physical and emotional. He addressed her in a tone of cold command, his anger evident although controlled.
"I said I would give you some time, woman. I will not wait too long for you to decide."
"Inuyasha! Decide what? What are you talking about?!" She was beside herself with confusion and her own irritation with him. What the hell did he mean by this, and why was he acting this way?
He didn't answer her, but turned abruptly and took off in the air, heading for the dark cover of the forest.
Kagome looked across at her friends, speechless. They all stared back, witnesses to the strange scene that had just played out between Inuyasha and herself.
"Does anybody have a clue what the hell his problem is?" she asked flushing angrily.
All three adults averted their eyes and an awkward silence enveloped her, broken only by Shippo.
"The big dummy likes you. He's such a rude jerk he just doesn't know how to say it."
Kagome patted him on the head and laughed dryly. "Well, I don't know about that Shippo. He didn't act like he likes me very much at all, but I'm not going to worry about it now, I'm going to get ready for a bath."
She stood up and went into the hut. After exchanging meaningful glances with Miroku, Sango followed her.
"Um Kagome," Sango said tentatively, "Are you okay?"
Kagome nodded. "I don't know about the rest of it, but Shippo's right about one thing, Inuyasha can be a rude jerk."
Sango smiled and looked quizzically at her friend, "So you really don't know what he was talking about earlier?"
Kagome shook her head. "Sango, I don't have a clue. I haven't had a clue since we've been back. He's been acting strange, different than I remember him and even different than he did when he was with me in my time. I know something's up with him, but he won't talk to me. He expects me to be some kind of a hanyou mind-reader and I'm not."
"Shall we talk about it now?" Sango asked, giving Kagome a sympathetic look.
"No. I don't want to talk about Inuyasha right now. I want to talk about you and Miroku if you're ready.'
Sango blushed slightly and looked away, but nodded yes.
"Good. I'm going to explain a little bit about modern psychology in my time and a little something we call 'response conditioning.'
***************************************************
After almost an hour of talking, giggling, screaming, and whispering, the two women emerged from the hut, ready to walk to the hot-springs. Shippo remained behind in the hut with Kaede, drawing and eating the chocolate bar Kagome bribed him with. He wanted to come along and bathe, but he didn't argue with Kagome when she said she and Sango had some "adult business" to take care of. Kagome was in the lead, carrying her beach bag and two towels. Sango held back trying to hide behind her, a furious blush creeping across her face.
"Come on Sango! It's now or never. Do you want to let him get away with being a letch forever?"
"No," she replied resolutely, "but–"
"No but's. Walk."
Sango gave a little smile realizing that Kagome was very good at this. She realized after their talk that despite her apparent blindness where Inuyasha was concerned, her friend was actually much more worldly in her knowledge of male behavior than Sango dreamed. In human male behavior Kagome was a confident expert. She was Sango's tutor in this arena, and it was amazing to think the girl who was younger than her only four weeks ago was, by almost every measure, now older. She knew Kagome was promised to a man in her time, Inuyasha had told them that her first day back. Listening to her, she sounded already like an experienced wife, not a maiden. Sango had the strongest urge to ask her friend if she had personal knowledge in these areas, but decided it was best not to pry.
'Besides,' she thought. 'If Kagome had been with a man like that, Inuyasha would know and I'm pretty sure he wouldn't be quiet about it either.'
As the women stepped out of the hut into the chilly night, more than one pair of male eyes observed them.
Miroku floated over, his eyes like saucers, his mouth open in a stupified grin.
Kagome moved to the side to expose her friend to his leering eyes. "Just remember what we've practiced," she whispered to Sango.
Sango wanted nothing more than to back out, but now it was too late. She stood beside Kagome, dressed in only a tiny, black string bikini and a garment she called a "cover-up." The women's cover-ups extended down to their mid thighs and were sheer, billowy, long-sleeve shirts with no buttons and absolutely no 'covering' ability.
"WHAT, may I ask in the name of all the gods of pleasure, are you ladies wearing?" He asked smiling.
"Miroku, women who wish to bath in public places wear these in my time. They're called bathing suits. These garments allow the skin maximum contact with water and sunshine while providing discreet covering."
There was nothing discreet about the scanty covering. In fact, Miroku noticed, his heart racing, the two women in front of him looked decidedly more-naked than if they were naked. He was careful not to look directly in Kagome's direction, but Sango was mesmerizing him anyway. The luscious curves of her cleavage, her waist, her hips, her perfect thighs. She was a goddess, a priestess of love, standing before him. More than anything, he wanted to offer himself in worship.
"Sango," Kagome prodded, "Isn't there something you want to say to Miroku?"
Sango was fighting the urges to run, to beat Miroku unconscious to wipe the happy grin from his face, and to throw up.
"Now, Sango?!" Kagome commanded.
"Miroku," Sango began with her eyes tightly closed and breathing so fast Kagome thought she would hyperventilate–
"Yes my beautiful Sango?–"the monk said, unable to contain his excitement.
"Do you like me? Do you like what you see now?" Oh gods, she couldn't believe Kagome had talked her into saying that! She wanted to die.
"More than anything I have ever witnessed before! I worship you, Sango! I adore you!"
He fell to his knees at her feet and Kagome covered her mouth to suppress her giggle. He was so damn smitten with her, this was going to do the poor guy in.
Sango blushed again, but peeked through her closed eyes down at him. He really seemed to mean it.
"Can you prove it to me?"
"Sango, at this moment I'm prepared to die before you to prove my feelings!" he said gazing up at the vision of her.
'Hmm. . . . I think Kagome really has hit on something here–if this works then it really is worth it!' she thought.
She smiled down at him and let out a deep breath. "I don't want you to die, Miroku. I just want you to stop looking at and chasing after every woman you see. If you like what you see now with me, if after almost two years in my company you like me, then I demand you show me respect. You will never grope me again, make lude comments, or stare at me like a letch. Can you do all that?"
"Sango. I love what I see. You are an amazing woman, and yes, I will prove to you I can be worthy of your affection!"
"Good. Because if you can do this and really stick to it, you'll get a reward," she said.
Kagome couldn't have been prouder at Sango's perfect delivery. Here was the sticker:
"A reward?" He asked in shocked hopefulness. "How do you mean my Lady Sango?"
"If you can prove yourself to me by sticking to your word for an entire week, then at the end of the week, I'll give you—I'll give you—"she faltered. Kagome kicked her shin. "A kiss."
Miroku coughed and, for the first time, reddened. "You–you would actually allow me to kiss you?" he said nervously.
"No. I said I would give you a kiss, like this–"She bent toward him, her exposed cleavage positioned right above his face, and kissed him quickly on the forehead.
He gasped and reddened deeply, looking down at the ground. "I–I can't believe that just happened. You kissed me. You really did!"
"Yes. And if you do what I say, You get one at the end of the week."
"Every week?"
"Only if you can keep to your promises."
"Sango, I can assure you, with this kind of motivation I will have no problem whatsoever keeping this most promising of promises, but may I ask if in addition to the uhm, most delightful rewards there is a chance for—"
"Stop right there!" Sango yelled. "You better not say or suggest anything else, you hear me?"
"Yes, yes of course! I'm sorry! My excitement was getting the better of me."
"Miroku, you better learn how to control your "excitement," otherwise, no rewards and I might ask Kagome to punish you!"
He looked up at the smiling miko in horror. "Lady Kagome? What? How?! Please, ladies! That won't be necessary!"
Kagome wanted to say something just because he looked so silly, in the dirt on his knees before them, blushing madly and looking scared to death. She knew that if this was going to work, it was Sango's voice he needed to be conditioned to and hers alone. Besides, she liked playing the bad cop.
"Show me you mean your vow. Don't disappoint me, Miroku," Sango said, a small smile playing on her lips as she glanced down at him. Now that she saw how well this was working, her confidence was growing with her power.
"Yes," he nodded, "I mean NO! NO! I won't disappoint you Sango! You are the only woman I care about. I have felt this way for a long time, I just didn't know how to let you know but now I do. I will show you!"
His face was looking at hers, pleading for mercy.
"Miroku–"
"Yes, lovely Sango–"
"You can get up now."
He nodded and slowly rose to his feet, looking down at his hands.
"Kagome and I are going swimming. You won't try to follow us or peek because you have already seen, right?"
He nodded meekly, not even bothering to look up. He was truly amazed. Sango had just changed all the rules, it was her game now. She knew exactly how he felt. His tactics of groping and teasing to hide his feelings were suddenly useless. She had given him only one chance to win, but he was determined to do whatever it took to win her heart.
Inuyasha watched the scene unfold before him with a mixture of anger and amusement. He was in a tree at the edge of the clearing, invisible t the others but able to see and hear everything. He blushed furiously seeing Kagome so exposed. This was more of her than was even visible when she had been singing at the club. This outfit left nothing to the imagination. Gods! She looked incredible. Miroku deserved to die for seeing her so, and he thought about ripping him to shreds but realized the monk had no real blame in this. This was all Kagome's doing. As he listened and watched, he also understood why the women were doing this. Maybe this would change the letch. No amount of beating had done that. Now that their game with him was over, he watched her almost naked form, her sinuous legs, as she walked. His feelings toward her were already aroused, and, with her scent and taste from their last kiss still fresh on him, he watched her with an intensity with which he had never gazed upon a woman before.
Then it hit him. His eyes grew round and huge with fury as he sensed what was unmistakable on her, even from this distance. He narrowed his eyes. It was faint, without power or freshness, but it was still there. In a flash, he jumped down out of the tree, landing on this haunches in front of her, just outside what he now knew was the circle of her protective barrier. His eyes never left her, and they were rapidly darkening in an angry storm, threatening to turn pure-demon red as he growled at her.
She gasped in fright, and Sango startled too.
He stayed low, growling.
"I-Inu-yasha? What's wrong with you?"
"HOW COULD YOU?!" He boomed.
She was baffled and truly frightened. He had been acting strangely all day, but this was beyond strange. Her terror was growing that he was going to turn into a full-demon right there in front of her. What was worse, he didn't even seem to notice or care. He wasn't even trying to reach for Tetsusaiga to stave-off a transformation.
"Inuyasha! Stop! You're scaring me!
"THERE!" he said, pointing at her.
"INUYASHA, Please, what are you–"
Before she could react he grabbed her, was holding her around the waist. She didn't want to hurt him now like she did before, but if he didn't stop this, she didn't know if she could help herself from fearing him.
"THERE!" he yelled, bringing his hand down and pressing firmly at the juncture of her neck and shoulder on her left side.
"WHO THE FUCK WAS THERE KAGOME?!" he demanded.
She decided he must be sick. He was sick and this was beyond his control. Some sort of rare demon illness. She tried to calm down, tried to think of a way to reach him.
"ANSWER ME, YOU DAMNED BITCH!" He was shaking her and now Sango, Miroku, Shippo and an awakened Kaede looked on in concern.
"Inuyasha," she whispered, shaking, "please I really don't know what you're talking about!"
"I'M TALKING ABOUT THE FUCK WHO TRIED TO MARK YOU THERE! WHO THE HELL DID THAT?!"
In horrified understanding, Kagome looked at him with an anger she had never felt before. Her blush was furious, a match for her feelings.
She spun out of his grasp, getting scratched in several places in the process, as she jumped out of his reach and slapped him as hard as she could with her left hand. She felt her ring-stone connect with his cheek, and felt her hand sting with the force of the impact as she dropped it. She hoped it hurt him at least as much as it hurt her.
"NOW YOU LISTEN TO ME, YOU GOD-DAMNED HANYOU BASTARD!" she screamed back at him, enraged.
"WHAT THE FUCK I DO WITH MY FIANCÉE IS MY OWN GOD-DAMNED BUSINESS, NOT YOURS!" Hot, angry, tears poured down her face. "You just leave me the hell alone, Inuyasha," she said in a low, threatening voice. "I don't want you near me, understand!"
She left him standing there, stunned, as she picked up her beach bag and ran through the clearing toward the springs.
Everyone stood frozen for a minute and then Sango glanced at Inuyasha, meeting his eyes for only an instant before he looked away from her, arms folded tightly across his chest. With a nod to Kaede, she left on the dark footpath, following Kagome.
Anyway, to Imataki, a message: Please, please, please don't think I took any offense at your reasonable objection to the whole time-travel issue! Was I pissy about that? I truly didn't mean to be! You have been a VERY supportive reader/reviewer, and I truly understand what you meant—I'm just glad you like the story at all in spite of this glaring fault that I have no way of fixing (or even fully comprehending unless I sit down and talk to someone face-to-face for several hours). I meant it when I said you have inspired me to endeavor harder with future projects and think about taking the time to do background research (as any serious, good writer does)!
Also, to Lady Banshee 999—Thanks for pointing out a chapter was missing. I have re-posted!
And as always, thanks to all reviewers!
_________________________________________________
Chapter 19 Games of Domination
Her mind raced as he held her firmly. 'What the hell is going on here?! I've known Inuyasha a long time. He's no flirt and he doesn't play games. Why is he doing this?' He was right about one thing, she was confused. It was all his fault, too. After everything that had happened, how could he do this to her? Surely he had to know that deep down she was still vulnerable to him. It had been a long time ago, yes, but her feelings for him were still there. She had matured in the way she was able to handle them, but seeing him again, she knew she had to be careful. If anything the intensity of emotion had deepened over time.
How long ago was it, two, no–three days ago that he came back into her life? Thinking that the same two years had passed for him on his side of the well, she told him everything for the chance to make things right again between them. She told him she knew he made a commitment to Kikyo, that she left in anger, that she left because she loved him and it hurt too much to see him give his love to someone else, even if it was her previous self.
But she had a life now, damn it! A life and commitments of her own, and she was not about to allow herself to act like some over sheltered, naive teenager with her first crush. No. Whatever his reasons were, she wasn't playing anymore. She told herself she was a woman now, a medical student with a bright future, a woman with powers she didn't ask for, but had a responsibility to use nonetheless, and a sensible fiancé waiting for her. Paul made sense.
Even Michael made more sense. It was true, she had been confused about him from time to time, but he never did this to her, never took advantage of her weak, human emotions. He had told her once, playfully, that he wanted to kiss her. They had been playing chess, and she had him in checkmate, although she suspected he was letting her win.
***********************************************
. . . ."Kay love, you know what I'm thinking now?"
"Hmm?"
"I'm thinking that if losing to you means I get to see you smile like that, I wouldn't mind a lifetime of it."
"Michael! Quit! Do you ever stop flirting?"
"With you Kay? Never. I would if I could kiss you just once Kay, but that's one thing I'm not allowed. It's a dreadful rule, and whenever I'm with you I feel it most cruelly!"
"Are you telling me it's against some kind of code of conduct for angels to get involved with humans?"
"Romantically involved, yes, and breaking that rule costs eternal existence."
"Oh, I see. . . . Well, you are and can be my friend Michael, and that's enough."
"Speak for yourself love. . ."
*****************************************************
Inuyasha sensed a change in Kagome as he held her. She had gone from excited to distracted. He knew she was thinking, and suspected he knew who she was thinking about. The look in her eyes told him her mind was not in the Feudal Era.
Kagome came back from her daydream and stiffened in Inuyasha's arms. 'If Michael has rules, Inuyasha should too,' she thought, with growing anger. 'He will not toy with me and I won't be distracted from what I'm here to do. I'm here on a mission. I'll do my job, and I'll leave. That's it. To hell with these games of his!'
When they landed at Kaede's, Kagome quickly said, "Please let go of me now." The coolness in her voice was a little stronger than she meant and it surprised her as much as his reaction did.
He spun her around by the waist to face him.
"I meant what I said. I'm giving you time to think." She couldn't fathom his expression, a mixture of sincerity and something else–desperation? hope? What the hell did he want from her now?
Whatever it was, he wasn't getting it.
"I'll speak with you later, Inuyasha," she said, her eyes flashing. She stepped back from him agilely, turning her body so he lost his grasp on her. She heard the sound of his fingernails ripping into her waistband as she broke away, but paid no attention and felt no pain if she was scratched. "Right now I need a bath. I'm going to see if Sango wants to come with me."
She almost added "You stay here," but knew she didn't need to. Her meaning and tone were clear enough. He said he was giving her some time, whatever that meant, and she was damn well taking it to get away from him, right now.
Miroku and Shippo had made it back to camp and greeted her as she walked toward them, Shippo asking if it was alright to hug her now. "Of course Shippo. I'm sorry I was so tired before. I love your hugs!"
Inuyasha heard her and grimaced. Why did she have to be so attentive to the clingy brat? Deep down, Inuyasha cared in his own way for the child and showed it as best he could. He was distant, aloof, forbidding and punitive, very much the way his own father had treated him.
Miroku and Kagome seemed to have reached a new understanding. As long as he didn't try to grope her any longer they could be cordial, friendly even. Also, he would be permitted to continue living, something the monk valued even more than feeling up a woman.
Sango and Kaede had prepared a meal for the group inside Kaede's hut, and were very happy and relieved to hear Kagome was back and feeling better.
Kaede went back inside and came back with a brown sack. "This belongs to you, child. I have kept it for you these long months, but now would feel greatly relieved if you took it back."
Kagome took the sack and looked inside. Her old necklace with the vial of shards lay at the bottom of the rough bag. Kagome gave Kaede a serious nod. "Thank you, Kaede for keeping these in your trust and care in my absence."
She picked up the necklace and dropped it back in the sack. The pulse from the many tiny shards was overwhelming, a drum-beating frantically in her hand and head. The shards were calling to her, wanting her to hold them. She was shocked by the experience and found herself shaking.
"Are you alright Kagome?" Kaede asked, noticing she looked stricken by something.
"Yes," Kagome nodded. "The way I feel the shards has changed. I noticed it earlier. The connection is stronger, I think. It's very intense. I need some time to get used to it."
Kaede nodded in understanding. Although he made no move to approach her, Inuyasha's ears swiveled up the moment Kaede gave her the shards. He heard and watched her reaction, wondering with concern what it meant. 'Is it because her miko powers are stronger now that she's older, or is it something else?'
Kagome walked over to the guest hut, asking Sango to follow her.
Once inside, Kagome asked Sango if she wanted to take a bath with her after dinner.
Sango smiled and eagerly agreed. Although the hot springs were very close, she didn't give herself the luxury of spending time there too often. Normally she just washed with some well water or occasionally, by the river. It had been a long time since she had done something fun with Kagome, and, after today, she felt like they had all earned a break.
Kagome smiled warmly. "Great! I want to give you something then before we go."
Sango looked at her in surprise.
"I'll take it out and show you after dinner. It's part of Miroku's behavior-modification plan. It's called a bathing suit."
************************************************
The group settled round the fire to eat their meal. Kagome made two cups of ramen as a treat for Inuyasha to go with his venison stew. Although she was angry at him and planned on keeping her distance, she couldn't help allowing herself the pleasure of watching him eat ramen. And, no matter how upset he was with her, he never turned it down when she offered.
She ate her own mango yogurt bar and a small salad of herbs Kaede had prepared for her. They were bitter and naturally spicy, the perfect compliment to her meal. Her friends still shot her glances, disbelieving that she could eat and enjoy such a meal.
Finishing before the rest of the group, she went back inside and brought out her guitar. Shippo jumped up and down, excitedly.
"Are you going to teach me now?!" he asked.
She smiled at him. "Come on Shippo. It's time for your first lesson."
Although the guitar was too large for the child, she sat him in his lap and showed him how to hold it, explaining the strings made differently pitched sounds called 'notes' and that by applying pressure to different combinations of strings with one hand on the neck, and then brushing the strings across the opening with her other hands, pleasant sounds called 'chords' were produced.
She showed him the fingering for four chords, and was surprised by how quickly he was able to imitate her. Pressing his tiny hands on the steel strings seemed to cause him no discomfort.
'I guess fox-demons are born with perfect hearing and ready finger calluouses!' She beamed at him. "Shippo you're a natural! You'll be playing in no time!"
He smiled back happily. "Kagome, would you please play another song for me like you did last night?"
Kagome smiled again and ruffled his fur on his head. "Sure little one!" she said happily.
The night was dark and still, the sounds of the crackling fire and a chorus of cicadas a music all its own. She watched the rest of her friends, still huddled around their bowls of food, and sitting by the fire, talking in low, contented tones.
They spoke again about the earlier battle, and ventured guesses about Naraku's latest plan. So little had happened in the past month, and now, they had killed a demon the likes of which they had never encountered before. There were new whisperings in the village of other demon attacks, too. Miroku brought up the question on everyone's mind:
"I wonder, could it be more than a coincidence that Naraku's making his presence know again now that Lady Kagome is back?"
Inuyasha felt sure he knew the answer and he gave an audible growl as instinctively, a rush of protectiveness and fear for Kagome overrode his other senses. His human friends looked at him in surprise, but all three seemed to understand what he was feeling. His intentions toward Kagome were clear to everyone it seemed, with the exception of Kagome herself.
A few yards away, Kagome began playing the guitar and singing to Shippo. The song she played and sang was Loreena McKennit's "The Mummer's Dance."
The group stopped talking to listen. They found themselves enchanted by the melody, the haunting beauty of her voice, the sound of her hand strumming the strings and drumming the rhythm of the song's lyrics on the guitar. No one was effected as Inuyasha was. He couldn't take his eyes off her. She played with her head bent forward so that her long, black hair surrounded her, falling to her lap. He saw firelight flicker and dance on her hair. She was singing with her eyes closed and Shippo in her lap, it was the most beautiful, and most moving thing he had ever seen. He didn't know he could cry any longer. He hadn't cried since he was a small child, but now, hot tears came to his eyes, tears of pain, tears of joy. What this woman could do to him, make him feel, was beyond reason. Scenes from his childhood, from battles, a precious memory of Kikyo in the moonlight before she died, many memories of a younger Kagome, fresh ones of Kagome from the last few days. It was like his life were held in her voice, unfolding across the strings at the touch of her fingers.
It was more than he could bear. He wanted her to stop and never stop, as his heart rushed in wave after wave of intense sadness, intoxicating joy.
When she stopped playing, everyone was speechless for a moment. Shippo nuzzled in close to her chest and spoke first. He whispered "Thank you, mother."
Kagome was startled by this. The child said these words to her so naturally, with unselfconscious ease. Kagome blinked, wide-eyed. She didn't know what to think. Instead, she felt. She felt him against her now, felt the memory of seeing him almost die this afternoon before her anger took over. It was her own possessive feelings toward him, her own love, that allowed her to find the energy she needed to get to him. Yes, she realized, this was natural. She hadn't seen him in two years, but not a day had passed when she hadn't thought of him, hadn't smiled thinking about him, worried over how he was and who was caring for him. Being with him again, she realized the truth–she might be a young mother, but she was all he had now. "Your welcome, Shippo," she cooed down to him softly.
She looked up smiling and was startled to see Inuyasha was towering over her, firelight flickering in his eyes. They seemed larger shinier than usual and almost--wet?. She waited anxiously for him to speak. The cicada's call grew louder. He looked strange. Was he angry at her again? What had she done wrong?
Finally, she couldn't take the suspense of watching him watch her. "Inuyasha?" she asked.
He kept his gaze on her, breathing hard, still feeling the turmoil and heat from the emotions she cut fresh in him with her singing. She looked tranquil, clearly unaware of the pain she had just caused him, both physical and emotional. He addressed her in a tone of cold command, his anger evident although controlled.
"I said I would give you some time, woman. I will not wait too long for you to decide."
"Inuyasha! Decide what? What are you talking about?!" She was beside herself with confusion and her own irritation with him. What the hell did he mean by this, and why was he acting this way?
He didn't answer her, but turned abruptly and took off in the air, heading for the dark cover of the forest.
Kagome looked across at her friends, speechless. They all stared back, witnesses to the strange scene that had just played out between Inuyasha and herself.
"Does anybody have a clue what the hell his problem is?" she asked flushing angrily.
All three adults averted their eyes and an awkward silence enveloped her, broken only by Shippo.
"The big dummy likes you. He's such a rude jerk he just doesn't know how to say it."
Kagome patted him on the head and laughed dryly. "Well, I don't know about that Shippo. He didn't act like he likes me very much at all, but I'm not going to worry about it now, I'm going to get ready for a bath."
She stood up and went into the hut. After exchanging meaningful glances with Miroku, Sango followed her.
"Um Kagome," Sango said tentatively, "Are you okay?"
Kagome nodded. "I don't know about the rest of it, but Shippo's right about one thing, Inuyasha can be a rude jerk."
Sango smiled and looked quizzically at her friend, "So you really don't know what he was talking about earlier?"
Kagome shook her head. "Sango, I don't have a clue. I haven't had a clue since we've been back. He's been acting strange, different than I remember him and even different than he did when he was with me in my time. I know something's up with him, but he won't talk to me. He expects me to be some kind of a hanyou mind-reader and I'm not."
"Shall we talk about it now?" Sango asked, giving Kagome a sympathetic look.
"No. I don't want to talk about Inuyasha right now. I want to talk about you and Miroku if you're ready.'
Sango blushed slightly and looked away, but nodded yes.
"Good. I'm going to explain a little bit about modern psychology in my time and a little something we call 'response conditioning.'
***************************************************
After almost an hour of talking, giggling, screaming, and whispering, the two women emerged from the hut, ready to walk to the hot-springs. Shippo remained behind in the hut with Kaede, drawing and eating the chocolate bar Kagome bribed him with. He wanted to come along and bathe, but he didn't argue with Kagome when she said she and Sango had some "adult business" to take care of. Kagome was in the lead, carrying her beach bag and two towels. Sango held back trying to hide behind her, a furious blush creeping across her face.
"Come on Sango! It's now or never. Do you want to let him get away with being a letch forever?"
"No," she replied resolutely, "but–"
"No but's. Walk."
Sango gave a little smile realizing that Kagome was very good at this. She realized after their talk that despite her apparent blindness where Inuyasha was concerned, her friend was actually much more worldly in her knowledge of male behavior than Sango dreamed. In human male behavior Kagome was a confident expert. She was Sango's tutor in this arena, and it was amazing to think the girl who was younger than her only four weeks ago was, by almost every measure, now older. She knew Kagome was promised to a man in her time, Inuyasha had told them that her first day back. Listening to her, she sounded already like an experienced wife, not a maiden. Sango had the strongest urge to ask her friend if she had personal knowledge in these areas, but decided it was best not to pry.
'Besides,' she thought. 'If Kagome had been with a man like that, Inuyasha would know and I'm pretty sure he wouldn't be quiet about it either.'
As the women stepped out of the hut into the chilly night, more than one pair of male eyes observed them.
Miroku floated over, his eyes like saucers, his mouth open in a stupified grin.
Kagome moved to the side to expose her friend to his leering eyes. "Just remember what we've practiced," she whispered to Sango.
Sango wanted nothing more than to back out, but now it was too late. She stood beside Kagome, dressed in only a tiny, black string bikini and a garment she called a "cover-up." The women's cover-ups extended down to their mid thighs and were sheer, billowy, long-sleeve shirts with no buttons and absolutely no 'covering' ability.
"WHAT, may I ask in the name of all the gods of pleasure, are you ladies wearing?" He asked smiling.
"Miroku, women who wish to bath in public places wear these in my time. They're called bathing suits. These garments allow the skin maximum contact with water and sunshine while providing discreet covering."
There was nothing discreet about the scanty covering. In fact, Miroku noticed, his heart racing, the two women in front of him looked decidedly more-naked than if they were naked. He was careful not to look directly in Kagome's direction, but Sango was mesmerizing him anyway. The luscious curves of her cleavage, her waist, her hips, her perfect thighs. She was a goddess, a priestess of love, standing before him. More than anything, he wanted to offer himself in worship.
"Sango," Kagome prodded, "Isn't there something you want to say to Miroku?"
Sango was fighting the urges to run, to beat Miroku unconscious to wipe the happy grin from his face, and to throw up.
"Now, Sango?!" Kagome commanded.
"Miroku," Sango began with her eyes tightly closed and breathing so fast Kagome thought she would hyperventilate–
"Yes my beautiful Sango?–"the monk said, unable to contain his excitement.
"Do you like me? Do you like what you see now?" Oh gods, she couldn't believe Kagome had talked her into saying that! She wanted to die.
"More than anything I have ever witnessed before! I worship you, Sango! I adore you!"
He fell to his knees at her feet and Kagome covered her mouth to suppress her giggle. He was so damn smitten with her, this was going to do the poor guy in.
Sango blushed again, but peeked through her closed eyes down at him. He really seemed to mean it.
"Can you prove it to me?"
"Sango, at this moment I'm prepared to die before you to prove my feelings!" he said gazing up at the vision of her.
'Hmm. . . . I think Kagome really has hit on something here–if this works then it really is worth it!' she thought.
She smiled down at him and let out a deep breath. "I don't want you to die, Miroku. I just want you to stop looking at and chasing after every woman you see. If you like what you see now with me, if after almost two years in my company you like me, then I demand you show me respect. You will never grope me again, make lude comments, or stare at me like a letch. Can you do all that?"
"Sango. I love what I see. You are an amazing woman, and yes, I will prove to you I can be worthy of your affection!"
"Good. Because if you can do this and really stick to it, you'll get a reward," she said.
Kagome couldn't have been prouder at Sango's perfect delivery. Here was the sticker:
"A reward?" He asked in shocked hopefulness. "How do you mean my Lady Sango?"
"If you can prove yourself to me by sticking to your word for an entire week, then at the end of the week, I'll give you—I'll give you—"she faltered. Kagome kicked her shin. "A kiss."
Miroku coughed and, for the first time, reddened. "You–you would actually allow me to kiss you?" he said nervously.
"No. I said I would give you a kiss, like this–"She bent toward him, her exposed cleavage positioned right above his face, and kissed him quickly on the forehead.
He gasped and reddened deeply, looking down at the ground. "I–I can't believe that just happened. You kissed me. You really did!"
"Yes. And if you do what I say, You get one at the end of the week."
"Every week?"
"Only if you can keep to your promises."
"Sango, I can assure you, with this kind of motivation I will have no problem whatsoever keeping this most promising of promises, but may I ask if in addition to the uhm, most delightful rewards there is a chance for—"
"Stop right there!" Sango yelled. "You better not say or suggest anything else, you hear me?"
"Yes, yes of course! I'm sorry! My excitement was getting the better of me."
"Miroku, you better learn how to control your "excitement," otherwise, no rewards and I might ask Kagome to punish you!"
He looked up at the smiling miko in horror. "Lady Kagome? What? How?! Please, ladies! That won't be necessary!"
Kagome wanted to say something just because he looked so silly, in the dirt on his knees before them, blushing madly and looking scared to death. She knew that if this was going to work, it was Sango's voice he needed to be conditioned to and hers alone. Besides, she liked playing the bad cop.
"Show me you mean your vow. Don't disappoint me, Miroku," Sango said, a small smile playing on her lips as she glanced down at him. Now that she saw how well this was working, her confidence was growing with her power.
"Yes," he nodded, "I mean NO! NO! I won't disappoint you Sango! You are the only woman I care about. I have felt this way for a long time, I just didn't know how to let you know but now I do. I will show you!"
His face was looking at hers, pleading for mercy.
"Miroku–"
"Yes, lovely Sango–"
"You can get up now."
He nodded and slowly rose to his feet, looking down at his hands.
"Kagome and I are going swimming. You won't try to follow us or peek because you have already seen, right?"
He nodded meekly, not even bothering to look up. He was truly amazed. Sango had just changed all the rules, it was her game now. She knew exactly how he felt. His tactics of groping and teasing to hide his feelings were suddenly useless. She had given him only one chance to win, but he was determined to do whatever it took to win her heart.
Inuyasha watched the scene unfold before him with a mixture of anger and amusement. He was in a tree at the edge of the clearing, invisible t the others but able to see and hear everything. He blushed furiously seeing Kagome so exposed. This was more of her than was even visible when she had been singing at the club. This outfit left nothing to the imagination. Gods! She looked incredible. Miroku deserved to die for seeing her so, and he thought about ripping him to shreds but realized the monk had no real blame in this. This was all Kagome's doing. As he listened and watched, he also understood why the women were doing this. Maybe this would change the letch. No amount of beating had done that. Now that their game with him was over, he watched her almost naked form, her sinuous legs, as she walked. His feelings toward her were already aroused, and, with her scent and taste from their last kiss still fresh on him, he watched her with an intensity with which he had never gazed upon a woman before.
Then it hit him. His eyes grew round and huge with fury as he sensed what was unmistakable on her, even from this distance. He narrowed his eyes. It was faint, without power or freshness, but it was still there. In a flash, he jumped down out of the tree, landing on this haunches in front of her, just outside what he now knew was the circle of her protective barrier. His eyes never left her, and they were rapidly darkening in an angry storm, threatening to turn pure-demon red as he growled at her.
She gasped in fright, and Sango startled too.
He stayed low, growling.
"I-Inu-yasha? What's wrong with you?"
"HOW COULD YOU?!" He boomed.
She was baffled and truly frightened. He had been acting strangely all day, but this was beyond strange. Her terror was growing that he was going to turn into a full-demon right there in front of her. What was worse, he didn't even seem to notice or care. He wasn't even trying to reach for Tetsusaiga to stave-off a transformation.
"Inuyasha! Stop! You're scaring me!
"THERE!" he said, pointing at her.
"INUYASHA, Please, what are you–"
Before she could react he grabbed her, was holding her around the waist. She didn't want to hurt him now like she did before, but if he didn't stop this, she didn't know if she could help herself from fearing him.
"THERE!" he yelled, bringing his hand down and pressing firmly at the juncture of her neck and shoulder on her left side.
"WHO THE FUCK WAS THERE KAGOME?!" he demanded.
She decided he must be sick. He was sick and this was beyond his control. Some sort of rare demon illness. She tried to calm down, tried to think of a way to reach him.
"ANSWER ME, YOU DAMNED BITCH!" He was shaking her and now Sango, Miroku, Shippo and an awakened Kaede looked on in concern.
"Inuyasha," she whispered, shaking, "please I really don't know what you're talking about!"
"I'M TALKING ABOUT THE FUCK WHO TRIED TO MARK YOU THERE! WHO THE HELL DID THAT?!"
In horrified understanding, Kagome looked at him with an anger she had never felt before. Her blush was furious, a match for her feelings.
She spun out of his grasp, getting scratched in several places in the process, as she jumped out of his reach and slapped him as hard as she could with her left hand. She felt her ring-stone connect with his cheek, and felt her hand sting with the force of the impact as she dropped it. She hoped it hurt him at least as much as it hurt her.
"NOW YOU LISTEN TO ME, YOU GOD-DAMNED HANYOU BASTARD!" she screamed back at him, enraged.
"WHAT THE FUCK I DO WITH MY FIANCÉE IS MY OWN GOD-DAMNED BUSINESS, NOT YOURS!" Hot, angry, tears poured down her face. "You just leave me the hell alone, Inuyasha," she said in a low, threatening voice. "I don't want you near me, understand!"
She left him standing there, stunned, as she picked up her beach bag and ran through the clearing toward the springs.
Everyone stood frozen for a minute and then Sango glanced at Inuyasha, meeting his eyes for only an instant before he looked away from her, arms folded tightly across his chest. With a nod to Kaede, she left on the dark footpath, following Kagome.