AN: I know that this is shorter than usual, but I'm trying to study for the exit exam… x.x I'll try to get the next chapter up soon. You guys rock as reviewers!

Chapter Five: Flowers for Rin

Inuyasha blearily opened his eyes, letting a contented sigh out. Kagome was still sleeping, her breathing deep and even on his face. Sunlight flooded the bedroom and illuminated everything brightly. He pulled Kagome's body close, kissing her forehead. It wasn't time to leave just yet, but it would be all too soon.

The hanyou got out of bed and pulled his boxers and jeans on, deciding to make a little breakfast for Kagome. Last night hadn't been their best night, considering that they argued over something every night they were together. There wasn't any avoiding it, either. Everything was much easier to let out in a fight, because later one could say sorry and everything would be suddenly all right again.

EF

"Hello?"

"I don't have much time to talk, so hopefully we can make this a fast conversation."

"Right," Rin said, recognizing Shippou's voice. "So you got my email?"

"Yes," Shippou paused for a minute, unsure of how to continue. The porch was very bright, and if Kikyo saw him on the phone it was all over. "I want to tell you what's up, really I do, but I can't."

Rin sounded disappointed when she spoke. "Why not?"

"It involves people I'd rather not name." He had to choose his words carefully, lest he give anything away that Rin shouldn't know.

"I hate this helpless feeling…"

"I know, and I do, too. But if you can ever help me, you'll be the first to hear about it." Shippou said.

"Promise?"

He promised. It was clear that they weren't going to talk about the kiss, but Shippou couldn't if they had tried talking about it. "I have to go, I'll talk to you later."

"Ok," Rin sighed, "Bye…"

The kitsune got off the phone just in time as Kikyo opened the screen door, her eyes narrowed in suspicion. "Who was that?" She asked, her voice light.

Shippou's mind raced for a lie. "Uh… just trying to find dad…"

Kikyo seemed to accept this and nodded. When she was back inside, Shippou shakily set the phone down, strange colorless imprints of his fingers fading where he'd clutched the phone so hard his knuckles turned white. At least he'd gotten to hear her voice today…

EF

"Morning," Inuyasha said, his voice oozing fake cheer.

Kagome saw through it in an instant, but decided against a remark. "This is nice…"

"I just figured you'd be hungry."

Kagome wrapped her arms around his waist, resting her cheek against his bare back and watched what she could see of him cooking. "My hero," She joked.

The hanyou's patience, which would have been tested at that remark, was saved by the ringing phone. Kagome stepped away from Inuyasha, who continued cooking French toast. A minute later she handed him the phone. He blinked stupidly at it.

"Feed your son a lie." Kagome said, clearly annoyed.

He took the phone from her. "Hey, Shippou."

"Where are you?" Shippou asked.

"Stop mothering. Kagome asked me to help her with something. I'll be home in a little while." Inuyasha said. Then he quickly added, "Don't tell your mother. You know how she is about Kagome."

"Yeah…" the kit said, sounding sad. "I know how she is about Kagome."

Inuyasha said goodbye and finished cooking breakfast. Kagome set the table, still looking irritated. He decided not to say anything unless she brought it up first, and served himself and her. He almost regretted deciding so when she speared her French toast with a vindictive fork. But as usual, Kagome brought up the 'elephant in the room'.

"When are you leaving?"

"When do you want me to leave?" He asked carefully.

"Don't make me answer that."

"Are you going to bring this out now?" He sighed.

"When else do we have time to talk about it?"

"I told you, just call,"

Once again, she cut him off. "And I told you, that's not good enough."

Inuyasha had had enough verbal sparring. He ignored her last statement and finished eating. After putting the dishes in the sink, he wrapped his arms around her shoulders, squeezing reassuringly. Kagome melted at the touch. He didn't want to leave just yet, but he knew Kikyo would become suspicious if he didn't get home soon.

"I'll think about a way to make this better." Inuyasha said.

"There's only one way and you know it." Kagome replied dully. Clearly she was tired of fighting, too.

He kissed her neck, barely touching her. Faintly, he heard her whimper. "I can't remark you or Kouga will know what's up." He lied. Kouga would catch his scent all over Kagome anyway, but he didn't think she knew that. He'd just have to think of a good cover and reason.

"Are you leaving now?" Kagome asked, though she knew the answer already.

"Yes. I'll cal you later, I promise."

Kagome stood up so fast the chair she'd been sitting in was knocked over. She turned and threw her arms around him. Inuyasha kissed her, running his fingers none-too-gently through her hair, savoring the moment. It would be a long time before they got anther night alone together. Inuyasha left ten minutes later without another word.

EF

"I thought we could talk longer this way…" Shippou said shyly, holding the daisies for Rin.

Rin took them, her smile bright as usual. "Thanks."

"I'm not expected home for a while, so we can talk as long as you want. But don't ask about the stuff I wouldn't tell you, because I still won't."

Rin agreed and stepped back so Shippou could come in. They made themselves comfortable in her room, though Shippou sat far from her on the window seat, holding his coke and staring at the clouds forlornly. Rin sat on her bed, leaning against the wall, waiting for him to speak. When it was clear he wouldn't, she began.

"Were you really sorry about it?"

He locked eyes guiltily with her, shaking his head. The kitsune seemed like even though he offered to talk, he didn't really want to. "Let's play a game of truth…" He suggested. "You go first."

"Ok," Rin said, tapping one finger against her lush lips. "What happened after I left?"

Shippou shook his head again. "I can't tell you that, or I'd have to kill you." It seemed like he was trying to make this fun for her benefit, but she would have none of it.

"How much does this have to do with what you won't tell me?" Rin asked.

Shippou looked thoughtfully out the window, sipping his coke before answering. "It has everything to do with it."

Bingo. "Who knows what I don't?"

Shippou gave a wry smile. "I know what you'd do with those names. Nothing doin'."

"Work with me here, Shippou. Tell me something" Rin begged, sitting forward.

"Ok, I'll give you one name: Kouga."

"Kouga? That guy Kagome's dating?" Shippou nodded. "Isn't he also that police officer?"

"Yes… he used to go to high school with my parents and Kagome." Shippou grinned. "He didn't like Sesshoumaru very much though. From what I hear from dad, Sesshoumaru scared the crap out of poor Kouga."

Rin mirrored his smile, but she wouldn't be deterred from her plan. "So… would you do it again?"

He sighed. "Would you kill me if I said I didn't know?"

Her smile quickly became a small frown. "Why wouldn't you know?"

"Don't get me wrong, Rin. I care about you a lot. It's just… there are so many things that say that me kissing you is… I dunno… wrong."

"Is that why you won't tell me what's going on? Because you think it's wrong?" The pieces were all there, but Rin couldn't make them fit. Whatever was going on with Shippou had to do with his attraction to Rin. His kissing her, to be specific. But had it started with that? Rin asked him.

"No, it started a long time before that." Shippou said wearily. Whatever it was, Rin thought, was sure tiring his soul out.

"Just how long has this been going on?"

Shippou drank the last of his soda before he answered. "Strange, isn't it?"

"What is?"

"That people are so addicted to drinking soda. It's kinda like that…" Shippou seemed to shrink into himself. "This has been going on since I first knew you. It pry would've begun sooner, but mom was ok with Kagome back then, even though she really wasn't."

"What does Kagome have to do with it?" Rin asked. She knew all about Kikyo's infamous dislike of Kagome, but obviously Kikyo had a major part in whatever was bothering Shippou and that had to do with Shippou's attraction to her.

"I got Kagome into it. I wish I sort of hadn't, but then dad wouldn't know." He looked as though caught in the confines of his mind and trying to figure something out for himself.

"Why wouldn't Uncle Inu know?" Rin asked eagerly. This puzzle was just not coming together in her mind, and she was greedily taking any information she could get.

He looked up. "Sorry, shouldn't have said that." Then he looked at the clock on her side table. "I better get going if I'm going to make it home on time."

"Just bear with me for one more minute and then you're off the hook until next time." Rin said.

"Next time?" he raised an eyebrow and got up, leaning against the wall. "Ok, you have your minute. But I'm counting seconds."

She laughed feebly at the joke. "Would you do it again… if I asked?"

Every muscle in his body seemed to tense and he looked towards the door, as though expecting the government to come bursting through to demand he be put to death. But Rin couldn't deny that she liked that kiss. Of course, she had for all intensive purposes started it. Time ticked slowly by, the seconds dwindling to minutes.

Finally, he answered her. "Yes." She couldn't see his eyes, which were hidden behind his bright hair. "I would, for you."

EF

After Shippou left, Rin lay looking at the daisies on her nightstand. They dropped a little over the sides of the small vase she put them in. They looked like the ones in her Aunt Kaede's garden. She and Shippou used to visit there all the time when they were little. It suddenly dawned on her that they hardly ever did anymore. They hardly did anything together anymore except at school. Rin resolved to go visit Kaede when this thing with Shippou was better.

When would it be better though? Why was it happening? Who was doing it? Most important of all, just what was going on? It had something to do with Shippou liking her. Something to do with Kikyo, too…

EF

To Be Continued