Between The Lines

By: Maggz

Disclaimer: InuYasha and Co. © Rumiko Takahashi

Author Note: There's a slight lime-ish content in this chapter... so go ahead you jealous people and report me if you want (tongue sticking out)

Chapter 6

Kagome sat, her back propped against a huge tree trunk, her knees supporting her sketch pad - five sweating, swearing, swiftly moving bodies in her line of vision; the boys were playing basketball. She had been working on this particular sketch for now over an hour and her face was a mask of fierce concentration. Looking up from her pad, she saw that the boys had taken a break and Kouga was striding toward her, pulling his sweat dampened t-shirt over his head.

She pulled the cover over her work and tucked it safely inside her back pack along with her pencil, smiling at him as he approached. Kouga grinned back, rubbing his shirt over his body and sank down next to her, reaching for a bottle of water and twisting the cap off. Taking a huge swallow and drinking down half the contents in the process, he swiped his hand over his mouth and lay back in the grass, knees up.

"You're gonna get dirt and grass all over your back. You'll be scratching yourself later.", Kagome said as she watched InuYasha sit down beside Miroku and grab his own water bottle.

"I'll just let you wash my back tonight, then. How's that?", Kouga grinned up at her and covered his face with his hands in mock fright when she frowned at him.

"Why don't you just roll around in that dirt like a little dog, Kouga and just SEE if I'll wash your back?", she retorted.

"See? I knew you were a romantic at heart.", he grinned and closed his eyes for a moment. She looked down at him, itching to get her hands on her sketches, impatient to begin drawing him. She wondered if he'd allow her to sketch him as he slept. Talk about a work of contrasts - the windows to the soul and the innocence of sleep... An idea was coming to her and she put her head back against the trunk of the tree, closing her own eyes.

She felt a pull around her ankle and opened her eyes, looking down at him.

"I thought you wanted some sun.", he said, turning to his side.

"I did, but not while I'm busy working.", she answered, watching him as he looked down and ran a finger along her shin bone.

"Kouga.", she warned.

"It's just a touch, Kagome", he said, looking innocently up at her.

She reached down, taking his finger into her hand and with a sweet smile at him, bent it back until he laughingly begged for mercy then adjusted herself away from his line of contact. He looked up at her and winked, she sighed.

"Why don't you team up with me? Miroku's leaving.", he said suddenly and sat up, wrapping his arms around his knees.

"OK.", she said.

"Really?", he asked, widening his eyes.

"Sure. It's been awhile but yeah, I'll play.", she said and stood up, brushing her shorts off as she did.

He looked up at her, his eyes moving from her feet slowly upward and she sighed heavily, cocked a hip and glared down at him.

"Kouga, do you want me to play basketball or NOT? I'm not standing here for your viewing pleasure or amusement, whichever that may be.", she said.

"Gee, Kagome! I've got eyes in my head. You want me to just take them out?", he asked as he got to his feet and brushed his own bottom off.

"If you don't STOP you won't have to worry about taking them out. I'll do it for you. Now turn around!", she said.

"You're bossy.", he said as she reached down for his shirt and brushed it over his back.

"I've been called worse, Kouga.", she said and threw the shirt back down onto her backpack as she followed him to the court.

"Kagome!", InuYasha grinned as he ran to join them on the court. "Miroku'll be disappointed!", he said.

"I could SO say something, InuYasha but I won't...", she smiled sweetly.

"Let's go.", Kouga said and they started to play. The more they played, the more Kouga realized InuYasha had been right about Kagome's athletic prowess and he caught InuYasha's amused glance every time Kagome made a shot or blocked one of his own. Soon enough his competitive nature kicked in and girl or not, he was playing hard against her.

Sweat ran down Kagome's back and sides, her hair clung to the sides of her face and she brushed it back behind her ears as she leaned forward, waiting for the ball. InuYasha passed it to her and she went up for the shot just as Kouga slid in front of her and slightly underneath. She pitched the ball over her shoulder at the last minute and fell hard against Kouga, knocking them both to the ground.

The breath knocked from the both of them, they lay against each other on the ground until InuYasha ran up, squatting beside them, his hand on Kagome's back.

"Kagome, you ok?", he asked. Her face was buried in Kouga's neck, her legs splayed over his.

"Unnnnn...", she groaned her face scrubbing back and forth against Kouga.

"Kagome, Kouga... you guys ok?", InuYasha asked. He moved his hands to pull her off Kouga and felt Kouga's hands around her waist.

"Up you go, Kagome.", InuYasha said and slid his hands aside Kouga's, pulling her up into his arms.

"You ok?", he asked as he set her on her feet.

"Mmmhmm...", she said, her eyes moving to Kouga.

"Kouga? You ok, man?", InuYasha asked.

"Yeah...", he groaned, sitting up and rubbing the back of his head with one hand while he rubbed his belly with the other.

"Who taught you how to play dirty ball like that, Kagome?", Kouga frowned, grabbing InuYasha's offered hand and getting to his feet.

"Emmm, you're looking at him...", InuYasha answered.

"Damn.", Kouga muttered, wincing as he rubbed over the back of his head once more.

"What is it, Kouga?", Kagome asked, limping over to him.

"Nothing, just hit my head.", he answered, his eyes going to her elbow and then her knee, both of which were bleeding.

"Let me see it.", she said and hobbled around behind him. He bent his head forward and felt her pushing up into his hair with careful fingers. When she connected with the bruised and swollen place on his head, he sucked in a breath and jerked away from her.

"Ohhhh, InuYasha... Look, should he go to the hospital?", she asked as she looked up at InuYasha, her eyes worried.

"Nooo, Kagome. It's ok, really. It's just a bump is all. Ice pack and pain reliever and I'll be just fine.", he said.

"InuYasha?", she asked again.

InuYasha stepped around behind Kouga and looked where Kagome's fingers had parted the hair to reveal the bump. He leaned down and peered closely at it, then reached out a finger to touch.

"Owww!", Kouga groaned and batted both their hands away. "Leave it alone, I said it was fine... but I've got a headache now.", he said.

"I'll drive us home then. InuYasha? You still off to your dad's?", Kagome asked as they had stopped by the bar on their way over to play basketball to pick up InuYasha's car from the evening previous.

"Yeah, I need to get going. You sure you two "accidents waiting to happen" will be ok 'til I get back tomorrow?", he asked.

"Yeah, promise.", Kouga smiled and Kagome nodded as well.

"Ok, then I'm off. Kagome, take it easy on Kouga, please. He's just not used to you like I am.", InuYasha grinned.

"I'll try, InuYasha.", she smiled back.

InuYasha walked over to the tree and picked up Kagome's back pack along with Kouga's water bottle and shirt following their slow processional up to the car.

"Kagome, you've got a bad scrape on your knee and elbow. Take care of that when you get home.", InuYasha observed.

"I'll do it, InuYasha. Don't worry", Kouga said as they got to the car. Kagome shifted her eyes to Kouga, narrowing them but thinking better of it, decided to keep her thoughts to herself.

"See ya tomorrow, then?", InuYasha asked, leaning his head inside to look at the two of them. "Damn, look at you two. Why'd you have to play so rough? BOTH of you!", InuYasha laughed.

"There IS no other way to play, InuYasha.", Kagome smiled and leaning over, pressed a kiss to his cheek.

"See ya tomorrow, Inu." she said and he stood up, watching as they drove toward home before going to get into his car, shaking his head and laughing at the two of them. What a fucking pair they made!

Kouga carefully slid his hand back to touch the bump on the back of his head again and moaned lowly when he did. Kagome glanced over at him worried.

"Kouga, I'm sorry. Are you ok?", she asked, slowing the car.

"Yeah, just want to get home and lie down for a bit. I'm hungry too.", he mumbled and lay his head against the window so as not to press against the sore spot.

"I'll make us a sandwich once we get home. I'm kinda hungry too. You should take a shower and I'll take a look at your head again after we eat.", she said. She felt horribly guilty that she'd hurt him but didn't really know what else to do.

"Ok.", he said and closed his eyes.

"Ummm, Kouga. I don't know much about head bumps but I don't think you should go to sleep right now.", she said, slowing the car even more.

"Kagome, it's NOT a concussion if that's what's on your mind. It's just a bump, that's it. I'm not feeling sick at my stomach. I'm just hungry and tired and I have a bit of a headache, that's it.", he said crossly.

"Of course.", she said and let the car pick up speed in order to get them home quickly.

Once home, she grabbed their things from the car and walked with him to the door. He held his hand out for the keys and she handed them over. He unlocked the door and they made their way inside. It was cool and dark inside the house and Kagome thought a nap might be nice after all.

Kouga made his way back to his bedroom and emerged a bit later with clean shorts, going directly into the shower. She heard him turn the water on and stood there, hands on her hips, wondering if she should take her shower as well or make the sandwiches. The shower won out and she was soon standing under a jet of warm water as her elbow and knee stung from the contact.

Getting out, she quickly took care of the scrapes and bandaged them before slipping into a clean pair of shorts and a tank top. A swift comb through of her hair, and she was ready to prepare lunch for them. By this time, her stomach was growling and remembering she hadn't seen Kouga eat at all this morning before they'd left, she imagined he was hungry as well.

She heard him messing about in the kitchen and curious, made her way there to see what he was up to. He had his back to her, working busily with bread, cold cuts, cheese and a few other things. She stood silently watching him as he muttered to himself. He'd changed into a pair of baggy grey shorts after showering and his hair clung to his neck in loose, damp curls. She noticed water still beaded his back as well as the backs of his thighs and calves. He turned to reach for something out of the fridge and jumped a bit when he spotted her standing there.

"Out already?", he asked.

"Yeah, you ok?", she asked, walking toward him.

"I'm ok, you?", he asked, his eyes going to her bandaged bare knee then to her elbow.

"Yeah, I'm fine. Can I see your head, Kouga?", she asked.

"Sure. I think the swelling is there but it probably looks worse than it feels, it's not too bad. I'm sure as soon as I eat my headache will be gone as well.", he said as he opened the fridge and pulled out mayonnaise and mustard along with two Cokes. He handed her one and turned his back to her once more.

"Kouga? Can I see?", she asked again and he laughed, emptying his arms and turning toward her once more.

"Sorry, go ahead Nurse Kagome.", he chuckled and bent forward toward her this time so she could pull her fingers through his hair and locate the bump. He could feel her breath against his head, over his neck and he closed his eyes and bit down on his lip. He was so very close to her, all he'd have to do was wrap his arms around her waist and pull himself against the front of her. He inhaled easily, she smelled nice... clean...

"KAGOME!", he yelped suddenly for she had surely located the bruise and was pushing in on it.

"Oh hush, Kouga.", she said and brushed his hair back into place, stepping back from him.

"HUSH? YOU barrelled into me out there on the court! Pushed me down!", he frowned as he turned away from her and started putting the sandwiches together swiftly.

"I barrelled into YOU? YOU put yourself in my way, Mister! Just WHERE in the hell was I supposed to GO when you were right in my path?", she said, her eyes wide.

"I don't know.", he huffed and finishing one sandwich, placed it on a paper plate and handed it back to her.

"How do you know what I like on my sandwich?", she asked. She knew she should stop but she couldn't. Arguing with him just came easily to her.

"I don't. Pull off what you don't want.", he said gruffly and finished putting his own sandwich together. She glared at his back and sat down at the table, popping the top on her soda.

"Got any chips?", he asked her and she pointed at the cupboard to his right. He pulled them out and lay them on the table with his own sandwich, pulling out the chair and sitting down.

"What happened to your side? Right above your ribs?", she asked and as soon as the words left her mouth she wished she could've taken them back and swallowed them whole.

"You did it.", he said shortly and ran his fingers over the large purpling bruise that ran just underneath his chest.

She choked down what was in her mouth and took a sip of her Coke before looking back at him. His eyes were on his plate, his mouth busily chewing. She reached for a chip from the bag and her hand connected solidly with his own. Pulling back, she turned the bag toward him and he made a face at her, mouth full of food as he tipped the bag toward his plate and poured out a huge pile of chips.

"Are there any more IN there now?", she asked, grabbing the bag from his hands and looking inside.

"I don't know", he said and picked up three, stuffing them into his mouth.

"That's just gross.", she said as she finished up her sandwich and bit into one of the chips she'd pulled from the bag.

"Ummm... gwaahhhh... goooo...", he mumbled around his full mouth and she threw him a look and got up from the table, taking her things to the garbage bin and throwing them away.

"Where you going?", he asked her, food swallowed, mouth against the top of the soda can.

"What business is it of yours, Kouga?", she asked and turned on her heel, flouncing out of the kitchen. He watched her go. Damn her for being so fucking HOT! Damn her for NOT having the attitude of a girl that knew she was HOT! It just made him want her more... No, it made him want to make HER want HIM more.

"Draw me?", he shouted from the kitchen and she sighed, putting her hands over her ears and jumping up and down right there in the hallway where he couldn't see her. Was he just trying to drive her to distraction?

"Draw yourself.", she said snickering silently at her comeback and went into her room, closing the door firmly behind her. She picked up her sketchbook as well as the photos she'd taken and laying on her tummy across her bed, flipped through them one by one.

Kouga cleaned up the mess in the kitchen and finished his soda, then grabbed an apple and made his way into the lounge. Flipping on the TV, he found a movie and lay back, getting himself comfy on the sofa. He slid his fingertips into the waistband of his shorts and closed his eyes. Sleep would be nice. Just a nap and then maybe... if she was NICE, he'd take her out to dinner somewhere tonight. IF she was nice. Big IF...

...He was awakened by the soft touch of her fingertips against his side, pressing down gently against the bruise that had welled up. He was almost afraid to open his eyes, afraid she'd see him and turn away from him once more. He bit his bottom lip and sighed, felt her remove her fingers and cursed himself for moving at all. Just as he was ready to reach out for her, he felt the soft warmth of her lips against the skin of his torso and he nearly cried out loud. He did open his eyes then just to be able to see her. To be able to remember what she looked like when she had her eyes closed and her lips against any part of his body. Her hair had fallen over the side of her face, he couldn't see anything at all, but he could swear he felt the tip of her tongue as it swept over the sensitive bruised flesh. He held his breath, feeling her hands sweep across the flat of his tummy, her lips moving inside, hovering just over his belly button. Reaching out, he HAD to... just had to pull her hair back behind her ear and as he did, she looked up at him. Mischief sparkled in her brown eyes, lights danced there.

"Don't you dare leave me, Kagome...", he whispered as he let his finger trace the line that ran from ear to jaw. She closed her eyes, enjoying the feel of his touch.

As he watched her this time, she kept her eyes on him, but lowered her head and kissed just over his navel. He knew she'd be able to see his arousal if she wasn't feeling it already. His gut was tight with wanting her.

"You're beautiful, Kouga. Beautiful...", she whispered against his skin and he closed his eyes... it was almost too much to comprehend. He reached for her hand, clasped it in his own and gently pulled her from the side of the sofa up onto him. She laughed but softly and made herself a place to lie between his upraised knees.

Her fingers slid against the soft line of hair that ran from his belly button down into his shorts. She then pressed her lips to that very line and kissed right in the center of it, pressing her mouth down for just the briefest moment and finally, closed her eyes.

He moved his fingers to her hair, running through the soft silken strands as his breathing sped up. Part of him was afraid for her discovery of his excitement. God knew he was afraid of scaring her off. Yet part of him wanted her to feel, to know, to see what she was doing to him. What she was capable of...

She slid her fingers into the elastic waistband of his shorts, just the finger tips and opened her eyes once more, looking up into his.

"You're eyes are so blue...", she said and he smiled.

"Yours are so brown...", he whispered back. "Come here to me, Kagome. Come up here and let me kiss you...", he said softly. As he watched, she dropped her head once more toward his groin and kissed the skin just at his waist. He groaned so softly it was almost unheard... but she heard it and she smiled.

He reached for her...

"Kagome, come up here to me, please...", he begged gently, his hands searching, his fingers reaching.

"Kagome.", he said softly. Why was she ignoring him when all he wanted to do was love her? Kiss her? MAKE love to her?

Kagome closed up her sketchpad and tucked the photos inside, she'd done a bit more on the picture of Kouga sitting up on the branch of the tree. It was coming along just as she'd hoped, every bit of expression he'd conveyed as he'd sat looking down at her, she remembered and working diligently, she hoped it was making it to her paper. But she didn't want to push it, she wanted it to come naturally and she felt like stopping now.

She sat up on her bed and looked at the telephone. There was nobody she wanted to see, nobody she wanted to waste time with. InuYasha was the only one she'd have considered at all and he wasn't going to be home. That left Kouga and she wasn't feeling very "Kouga friendly" at the moment. He'd acted like a spoiled brat toward her earlier and she was still a bit annoyed with him.

"Well, maybe he went somewhere or he's taking a nap. Then I'll just sit and watch some TV.", she said to herself. "Popcorn might be good.", she grinned and opening the door of her room, she walked down the hallway. She could hear the drone of the TV before she reached the living room and realized he was probably watching something. Sighing, she walked in and saw him.

Her hand ached for her pencils and paper... She was half turned to go get them but she couldn't take her eyes off him.

He was laid out on the sofa, his dark hair tousled over his forehead. Whatever he was dreaming of wasn't nice and relaxing. He was working himself up into a right state and she felt ashamed to be spying on him but God help her, she was literally frozen!

He moaned in his sleep, his hands moving from where he had tucked them "man style" into the waistband of his shorts, up over his flat belly and to his chest, stroking over the skin there lightly. She heard a sound and realized at once it was she that had made the noise... and she dropped her eyes and bit her lip. What was she DOING?

"Kagome...", he whispered and she jerked her chin up looking at him, expecting him to say he'd caught her or was fooling with her and she was ready to give him a piece of her mind... but the intended words died in her throat. He was still fast asleep, his dream gripping his entire conscience it seemed. His hands were reaching... reaching... and he called her name again, more insistent this time.

"Kagome, don't leave me...", he moaned softly, just barely over a whisper.

Goosebumps washed over her arms and she rubbed them slowly with her hands.

Looking down, she realized at once that she was now standing by his side and had no idea how she'd gotten there. Eyes wide, she knelt down, sitting on her heels and looked down at him. She was actually clenching and unclenching her hands. The need to DO something- anything- so strong it was nearly overpowering her.

Her brain told her it was DRAWING she needed- wanted to do. Looking at him as he was - so innocent, so naïve... so... so beautiful in repose, gripped in a dream of what could ONLY be construed of as desire. She ached to draw him, to capture what she was seeing with her own eyes, to confine to her pencil and pad of paper what only she could ever see, what he was totally unaware of.

As a budding artist, she'd seen beauty in many shapes, sizes, colors, and forms. Something that was beautiful on the inside could be captured by a good artist if their heart was in their work, and Kagome's SOUL was in her work... it WAS her soul. Kouga had beauty inside and out. She knew this now without a shadow of doubt in her mind. Like many men his age, he choose to ignore it, cover it... the beauty that shone from within but times like this, when he was "unprotected" in sleep, times he had no control over... those were the true pictures SHE could capture.

Her mind was telling her this story but her BODY was telling her an entirely different one.

He moaned again, turning toward her and she sucked in a breath, just waiting for those blue eyes to open into her own. What would she do then? What would she say? What would HE say?

"Kagome...", there it was again and for the first time, it hit her that he was dreaming of, desiring HER. Yes, she'd heard the name, knew it was hers that came from his lips the first time but she'd been so intent on just LOOKING at him, observing him, that it hadn't registered with her that his obvious dream of desire was of her.

She scooted away from him, crawling crablike backward a short distance away from him and sat on her bottom, wishing like hell for a piece of paper, any piece of paper and a writing utensil. But she was afraid to leave him, afraid if she left and ran for her paper that when she returned, the moment would be gone and she couldn't afford that. This was too precious, too important, too much an insight into the real man... the man underneath. She brought her knees up and placed her chin on them, quietly letting her eyes travel his face.

Such a beautiful face, so classically handsome. Soft hair (she'd felt it's weight against her fingertips today whilst she'd checked his bump) that fell onto his forehead. The most beautiful blue eyes she'd ever seen, a shade so intense as to be nearly shocking to the senses. A tiny half moon scar that graced his upper cheek, his face wouldn't have been as beautiful without it... somehow it belonged there, it always had. Ears... ears she was sure he'd never liked, had most likely been teased over but lovely. Their tips gently pointed. A classic patrician nose... perfect. Lips, beautifully molded and full. The lips of a lover.

She felt her stomach flip, her pulse start to race and she took a breath.

Down to his neck; strong it was, thick, muscular...

Beauty marks covered the skin of his face, his neck, and torso. Beautiful, they were. His skin was a gorgeous tanned shade, all over from what she could see.

Her eyes moved onward as she heard him suck in a breath. A quick glimpse to see if he was awake... he wasn't. Back down his chest, muscular and thick. Gorgeously shaped pectoral muscles embellished with dark, nearly maroon colored nipples. She felt her throat click, tried to swallow, tried once more and looked away. A feeling like nothing she'd ever known was taking hold of her and she knew... KNEW she should get up and run away, run fast and hard because it was dangerous to feel this way. This meant no control and no control wasn't good.

But she still sat imprisoned by his sheer beauty; a beauty that just wasn't there as clearly when he was awake and aware; a beauty only growing up could hide.

Her eyes went back to his chest, back to the one sensuously shaped nipple that was revealed to her. The areola dark, thick... the actual nub of the nipple erect. He was aroused. She realized it at once and her eyes flew to his crotch.

She sat up onto her knees, hearing his low moan as if from very far away. Hearing him call her name once more, hearing a low buzzing in her head that left her feeling weak, wanting... but for what?

The shorts he'd chosen to put on after his shower were just casual, run- about shorts. Shorts he probably wore to wash his car in, nothing special. But they left nothing to the imagination.

She could clearly see he was wanting, needing... His hands brushed over his arousal quickly, a frown slid over his face, another moan and then the hands moved away. He was erect... fully. The only thing holding him back - confining him - the shorts and his undergarment.

She wet her lips, aware of the warmth between her legs, aware of the pounding beat of her heart, aware of every pore of his skin.

"Kagome, comeheretome...", he mumbled in his sleep and she scrambled to her feet quietly, fighting back tears, fighting her body and what it wanted... no, NEEDED for her to do. Swiftly she ran back to her room, closing and locking the door, grabbing her pad and pencils and throwing herself down into the chair. Her face was flushed, her breathing rapid as she furiously drew line after line, stroke after stroke just as if she'd been still sitting there looking at him. Every single detail was immaculate, every facet of him was there. Only the ringing of the telephone broke the spell she was under. She actually squealed and jumped, throwing her pencil into the air when it rang.

"Damn.", she whispered as she grabbed for the phone.

"Hello?", she said.

"Kagome, it's me.", InuYasha said and she felt something like warmth flood her very soul. Tears filled her eyes and she fought to keep from sobbing with relief.

"InuYasha.", she said and took a deep breath.

"Kagome? What's wrong?", he asked, at once picking up on her trembling voice.

"Nothing. I was napping, you woke me!", she said, crossing her fingers behind her back.

"Is Kouga ok?", he asked. She closed her eyes, the image of his body still burned into her brain. Was he OK? Oh God!

"Kagome?", InuYasha asked once more.

"Kouga's fine. He's napping too. Must've fell asleep taking a nap but he's much better, just grumpy!", she said.

"Then he's ok for sure. I just wanted to check on you two. How's your scrapes?", he asked.

"They're fine.", she said softly.

"Good. Well, my dad says hello. Says next time you and Kouga should come down.", he said.

"I will. Tell him hi back", she said.

"See you tomorrow afternoon, late I suppose.", he said.

"Yes. You be careful", she said.

"I will. Take care, honey.", he finished off and she nodded and held the phone tightly to her ear.

She wanted to tell him to come home. Tell him that something was happening to her that she didn't understand and she didn't think she even wanted. She wanted to feel the safety of him, the secure strength of him but she had no idea just how she'd say it.

"I miss you, InuYasha.", she moaned, tears sliding down her cheeks. "Come home, please...", she said as if he could possibly read her mind.