Between The Lines
By: Maggz
Disclaimer: InuYasha and Co. © Rumiko Takahashi.
Author Note: Hey ppl! Thanks for the reviews. I just wanted to let you know that the next chapter will be critical for the plot, but I won't post it here cuz it contains a lemon scene... So if you are interested in knowing exactly when I post it then join my notify list: www. inumag. notifylist. com/ maggzupdates. html (If you can see the address here, please go to my profile and find it there)
Warning: This chapter contains some citrusness...
Chapter 17
Kagome sat atop one of the old washing machines, sketch pad in her lap as her eyes followed the endless circle of clothes spinning around in the dryer. Her hand was poised over the pad, her eyes lost in thought.
"Penny for your thoughts!", she heard beside of her and turned with a jerk.
"Sango!", Kagome laughed, taking a deep breath and letting it out slowly.
"Whoa! YOU were somewhere far away, what's up with you?", she asked as she hopped atop the neighboring washer. She reached over and took Kagome's pad from her hands and looked at it, glancing up quickly at Kagome then looked back down at the pad, flipping a page.
"You're in love.", Sango commented and Kagome smiled and looked toward the whirl of drying clothes once more.
"These sketches are amazing, Kagome. You're work has always been good but THESE just about jump off the page! You were with him at the club last night, weren't you? You two came in together and danced after you and InuYasha did your little routine!", she said.
"Where were YOU?", Kagome laughed, taking her eyes from the clothes.
"At the pool tables for awhile… then at the bar… then on the dance floor but every time I started to come up and get you to introduce me to Mr. Sexy, here…", she said, tapping her finger over the sketch of Kouga laid out on Kagome's bed, "something happened or somebody walked up or you walked away.", she said. "So who is he and how is InuYasha taking this?", Sango asked.
"InuYasha?", she parroted.
"Yeah, your "he's not really my gorgeous boyfriend, he's just my best friend" InuYasha!", Sango said, rolling her eyes. She'd heard the reply a hundred times.
"He's NOT my boyfriend and he never has been, Sango. InuYasha is my best friend. Why do I even TRY to convince you anymore!", Kagome said and jumped down off the washer, jerking the sketch pad out of Sango's hands. Sango hopped down after her friend and touched her arm.
"Kagome Higurashi, what is WRONG?", she asked.
"I'm going mad, that's what's wrong!", she replied, tucking her pad gently into her backpack and fastening it.
"First things first. WHO is Mr. Wonderful?", Sango asked.
"His name is Kouga. He's a good friend of InuYasha's and STOP looking at me like that! He just moved in with us. There you go AGAIN!", Kagome said and crossed her arms over her chest with a grim look.
"Jeez, Kagome. You're living in a house with two gorgeous men, what am I supposed to do? Look uninterested?", she asked.
"It's not that way, or at least it didn't USED to be that way. I don't know what way it IS anymore.", she said and propped her elbows up on the washer, her head in her hands. Sango put a hand on Kagome's shoulder and patted it.
"Kagome? Is something happening between yourself and Kouga? Is that it?", she asked.
Kagome raised her head a bit and nodded, then laid it back down.
"So what's to be upset about? He's so sexy! I saw him and he's obviously crazy about YOU. He couldn't take his eyes or his hands off you for any length of time last night. What's wrong?", Sango asked.
"Nothing as far as Kouga goes. I'm happy, Sango. I feel… good. It feels right. I mean it's new and exciting and he's BEAUTIFUL! And yes, he's sexy! As far as he and I go, it couldn't BE any better!", she smiled, color suffusing her cheeks.
"You've slept together.", Sango stated and Kagome nodded and smiled.
"Oh God!", Sango said and Kagome laughed. "I ENVY you!", she said and Kagome laughed harder. "I MEAN it. My GOD, he moves like a devil. He's deadly, Kagome. Surely you SEE that!", she said.
"I know, Sango. I've got eyes. I know how he looks and what he gives off, trust me." she said.
"I already know that, stupid me. I saw the pictures you drew. Dear God, it's all right there.", Sango said.
"Is it, Sango, is it REALLY?", Kagome asked, her eyes wide.
"Of course it is, Kagome. I could feel it all when I looked at that first picture and I'll bet you two hadn't even slept together yet when you did that one, had you?", she asked.
"No, we- we hadn't", Kagome said softly.
"Is he your model for your nude then?", Sango asked.
"Yeah, that's how we- well, he agreed to pose. We've spent some time together, it just went from there.", Kagome smiled.
"Lord have mercy upon us, he's posing for you. My GOD!", Sango said.
"It'll be beautiful, Sango. He's… well, he's beautiful.", she said and looked down at her hands. "I just hope I can do him justice, that's all.", she said.
"I have faith in you, sweetie!", Sango whispered and Kagome giggled then burst out with a loud laugh.
Kouga sat with the paper in his hands, his eyes going over and over the same line a dozen times, his mind not registering it at all. Looking for a job, going back to school. What was he doing? What did he want to do? He NEEDED to make a choice. He could just HEAR his dad right now and he frowned and looked back down at the paper, intent on finding something to occupy his mind until Kagome returned. His need to see her was strong. InuYasha had made him doubt himself and he needed to find the firm footing he'd had the night before. He needed to recapture what he'd found with her.
His eyes drifted from the paper to the clock on the wall over the TV and he swore. She wouldn't be back for another two hours yet, InuYasha was gone to classes, he was going stir crazy and he needed to get some air.
He balled up the paper and walked into the kitchen, throwing it into the dustbin.
"I've got to get out of here for a bit, get my head clear.", he muttered and grabbed a can of soda from the fridge before going back to his room to change into shorts and a t-shirt.
He grabbed his basketball from the floor and left the flat, jogging over to the park. The court was empty when he arrived and he hooked a shot over his shoulder, grinning when it slid effortlessly against the net. Grabbing it, he continued to sink basket after basket until he was breathing harder and had worked up a sweat. He took off his shirt, mopping at his chest to dry the sweat that ran down his belly. Jogging back down the court, he hooked a few more shots until he was well winded. He bent at the waist, hands on his knees to catch his breath and watched the droplets of sweat that plopped onto the pavement at his feet. Looking up, he swiped a hand over his brow and stood his full height, enjoying the fresh breeze that swept thru the balmy afternoon. His eyes caught on the familiar figure of a girl standing against a tree less than twenty yards from him. He squinted against the sunlight that broke thru the tree branches and smiled.
It was Kagome and she had come for him.
She smiled back and pushed herself off the tree, hooking her thumbs in her jean pockets as she strolled toward him. He felt his heart leap at the sight of her. He'd only THOUGHT he needed her earlier… this was so much stronger. He gulped in fresh air then blew it out.
"Hi handsome, come here often?", she purred as the wind blew her hair into her eyes. He wanted to kiss her, wanted to touch her face and run his fingers over her mouth. Was she his? Was she really falling in love with him and what was he feeling? It sure as hell FELT a lot like love and that scared the fuck out of him.
"Hi Kagome, how was school?", he smiled and reached for her hand, pulling her toward him.
"Longest day of my life but it was OK. I got the go ahead on the finale of our work! It's cool to go ahead with the nude, aren't you excited?", she teased and giggled when he pulled her against him. He held her there for a brief second and she closed her eyes and let her fingers slide over his warm belly.
"I think you ARE excited.", she murmured and looked up at him, a sly smile on her lips.
"I missed you Kagome. Is that crazy or what? But I just missed the hell out of you!", he said and ran his hands over her hair.
"If it's crazy, then I'm a nut too cause I missed you as well. I just wanted to get back to you as soon as I could. I wanted to get to you and lay with you and kiss you and OHGOD! Listen to me!", she laughed nervously, pushing her face into his chest as she held to him.
"Keep talking Kagome. It makes me feel good.", he grinned.
"I just bet it does, Mr. "I'm such a hottie" Shimura!", she said and lifted her blushing face to his.
"I meant to know you feel like I do. I've spent all day thinking something was wrong with me, Kagome. I nearly walked to the campus and pulled you out of classes. The feeling was THAT strong that something was up, are you telling me you feel it too?", he asked and held her face cradled into his palms.
"You should kiss me, Kouga. Right here. Now!", she said softly.
"If I kiss you, I don't know that I can stop. And if I can't stop I'll take you right here in this fucking park. So you tell me, Kagome. I can go either way.", he said roughly, his voice catching as his breath hitched in his chest. He could feel his heartbeat thrumming against his ribcage and he swallowed and looked into her beautiful eyes.
"Should we go back home? Where?", she asked, her pulse racing. She could feel the heat coursing thru her veins and it felt so good.
"No. Not home. Let's go- shit! Just… let me drive… somewhere.", he said and took her hand, walked over to grab his basketball and, slinging his shirt over his shoulder, walked to her car. She handed him the keys and he grabbed them, pushing her against the door of the car as he did. She sucked in a breath; his eyes were blazing into hers with a brilliance that was nearly blinding in its intensity.
Before she could think or move or speak, his lips were covering hers and his hands were pushing up underneath her shirt. She could hear the soft grunts that came from him as he kissed her thoroughly. He was near to consuming her with his passion and it took her breath from her to realize he was articulating exactly what her body was feeling.
He pressed himself to her and started to kiss down her throat, teeth nipping at the skin, lips and tongue sucking and licking to take the heat away from his little bites. She was gripping his forearms, her nails digging into the strong biceps as her blood pounded thru her body.
"Kagome… Kagome… Kagome…", he was softly whispering against her skin, over and over again as his hands slid further and further up into her shirt.
"Kouga.", she spoke softly, her fingers moving up to his shoulders as he kissed over her throat and back to her lips.
Her hands caressed over his face and she pulled her lips from his sweet lovemaking.
"Take me somewhere so I can love you the right way.", she said, her eyes sparkling in the late afternoon light.
"You… I want… baby…", he stumbled over the words and she took his face in her hands and kissed him softly and gently, her fingers moving to the back of his head to stroke thru the dampness at the nape.
"I want what you want and I need what you need. I trust you. Take me there.", she said as she released him and with that, she walked around to her side of the car, leaving him looking after her, wondering who needed who the most… or did it even matter...