Chapter 6: The Tender Heart

Kagome heard the animal-like shriek that shook the house from her room where she was changing into some casual clothes. She thought Inuyasha was maybe about to claw an appliance and ran downstairs, then into the kitchen, surprised to see her mother standing over Inuyasha with a frying pan and Inuyasha on the floor, a huge lump on his head. "Inuyasha?!"

"Ow..." He whispered from where he lay.

"HOW DARE YOU TOUCH MY BABY GIRL!!!" Her mother shrieked, her eyes full of angry fire. "I'LL KILL YOU!"

"MOM!" Kagome ran in, putting herself between Inuyasha and her mom, who looked like she was going to do what she'd said she would. "It's not just his fault, mom!" She cried, spreading her arms out, trying to keep the enraged house wife from killing the man she loved.

Inuyasha stood, putting Kagome's arms down and moving her. "Kagome, don't do stuff like that when you're..." He stopped himself when he saw the fire in the mom's eyes return.

"WHAT?!" Her mother shrieked again, lunging towards him, only to be caught by Kagome. "YOU GOT MY BABY PREGNANT?!"

"Go nee-chan..." Sota's voice said from the door, and everyone turned towards the wide eyed boy, who was sitting next to his grandfather and eating chips.

Everyone stared at the boy, who looked like this wasn't anything unusual, and he shrugged. "Mom found out I have a girlfriend a day or two ago."

Kagome managed to coax her mother into a seat and a soothing cup of tea into her hand. "Mom, please, listen before you fly off the handle again...Jii-chan, please, this is between mom and us...Sota, please, go to your room..." She looked at them, pleading mentally, making her eyes go dewy for effect.

They went.

Mrs. Higurashi stared at Inuyasha over the rim of her teacup. "I want to know EVERYTHING that happened since the last time Kagome came home..." She said softly, dangerously. "And I mean EVERYTHING."

Kagome nodded slowly, and began her tale. Occasionally, Inuyasha would interrupt with confirmation or some of his side and thoughts. When it was over, her mother didn't look pleased, but she didn't go for the skillet either.

"Well..." She began, looking disapprovingly at the pair. "You've put yourselves in quite a fix. I'm not sure I approve of Kagome marrying a demon, but it looks like I don't get the option anymore. You two made sure of that. You will marry her because you made her pregnant." She said simply. "But you will never be part of my family." She stood up and walked from the room, her face irritated.

Inuyasha lowered his head, his ears flattening against his skull even more. He would never be accepted anywhere. He was the black sheep that didn't belong. The only person who accepted him as he was at any time was Kagome.

She heard soft whimpers emitting from his throat and wanted to cry for him. She reached over and put her soft hand over his clawed one, feeling him flinch. Gently, she wrapped her fingers around his hand, holding it gently. "Daijoubu." She said softly. "She'll come around, don't worry."

"What if...she doesn't?"

There was so much fear in his voice she ached. Gently, she caressed the back of his hand. "Come on, let's go out...we need to get you some clothes so you can stay with me while I'm here..." She said softly, pulling him away from the table.

"Huh?"

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That expidition in shopping was interesting to say the least. Kagome drug him out to a discount store, buying him some pants, a belt and a shirt (Which he changed into in the store), then took him to the mall.

Inuyasha ignored the looks he was getting from people about his ears for awhile, then resorted to trying to hide them. Kagome giggled, buying him a hat at a stand and dropped it on his head. He looked cute like that, she decided. Then again, he always looked cute to her. Somehow, he looked right in clothing from her time, even if it was just a white button down shirt and jeans.

Inuyasha felt rather awkward as she took him into another store, he noticed he was getting odd looks from some of the guys and one's that made him uncomfortable from the girls. It felt like some of the girls were undressing him with their eyes.

Kagome wrapped her arm around his, oblivious to the other girls in the store, then helped him pick out some clothing that she thought might be more his taste. After picking out some, she sent him into the dressing room and waited outside. After a few moments, she heard him speak from inside.

"They're too tight." He said evenly, not even trying to lower his voice.

She shook her head. "Come out and let me see." She said softly.

He came out, all right. In a pair of black leather pants that Kagome had picked out. They fit just right in all the best places and Kagome felt a blush color her face. To add to it all, he wasn't wearing a shirt, just the pants.

ALL the other girls were clapping for him and cheering him on.

Inuyasha blinked, looking from Kagome to the other girls and felt a blush head his face. "What are they doing...?" He asked, pointing back.

Kagome turned, seeing some of them had money out and were headed over. Kagome grabbed his wrist, yanking him into the dressing room and closing the door. The dressing room was small, so it kept the pair almost embarassingly close to each other. She held up a pair of jeans and handed them to him. "Try these on next." She fiddled with one of the shirts she'd picked out. It was soft and she lifted it to her face, rubbing it against her cheek.

"Are you sure about those other pants? They sure seem to draw alot of attention?" He asked, looking towards her.

"Yeah, I'm sure." She lifted her eyes to the ceiling, sighing heavily. "Just remember to put on a shirt next time." She teased.

He zipped the fly then pulled her against his chest. "Why?" He asked, grinning evilly. "It get's attention from you, too..." He murmered, kissing along her neck and shoulder. He felt her weaken in his arms and pulled back, looking down at her, longingly. "Kagome..." He whispered.

She caressed his face gently. "Let's find you some more clothes." She watched as he changed back into his original shirt and jeans, blushing since he had to go commando and making a mental note to buy him some underwear. When they left the store, there were loud sounds of disappointment.

At lunch, Inuyasha had his first hamburger, eaten with some decency, since he knew that he'd embarass Kagome otherwise. When they'd almost finished eating, Kagome's friends entered the restaurant. They ran towards her, greeting her. When they saw her companion, they stopped dead, then stared at her.

She just chuckled awkwardly. "Um...guys, this is Inuyasha..." She said weakly. Don't bring up Hojo...Don't bring up Hojo...

They didn't need to.

"Higurashi-san!" Hojo appeared, smiling brightly.

Inuyasha blinked. "You're popular..." He said blandly, looking at the three girls who looked stunned and the boy who seemed to only have eyes for Kagome.

She groaned, waving. "Ohayo, Hojo-kun..."

"Can I join you?" He asked, smiling.

"H-hai...you ALL can join us..." She looked pointedly at her friends, since it was partially their fault Hojo thought she'd accepted his courtship.

Her friends sat next to Inuyasha, except one, who sat on Hojo's other side, as he had deemed himself worthy to sit beside Kagome...as close as possible. As though he were trying to send a message to Inuyasha.

"So, what's been going on? We heard that you had the measels...was it just an excuse to play hookie with this guy?" One of the girls pointed her thumb towards Inuyasha who looked HIGHLY uncomfortable.

"Actually, they're just recently gone..." Kagome said, scooting away from Hojo slightly. "Inuyasha's from...out of town and we were doing some shopping."

"Oh..." They arched an eyebrow. "So he's gay? Pity..."

Kagome massaged her temples. "No...He's straight...he's..." She bit her lip, trying not to hurt Hojo, but not wanting to lie either.

"I'm her fiancee." He said evenly, his face completely serious.

Silence fell over the table. Hojo looked furious. He turned towards Kagome, who was cringing away. "Fiancee?! Then why were you letting me date you!?"

Kagome jumped to her feet. "Look, I like you, but you never stood a chance! I've known him longer, and...and...I was never interested in you like that in the first place!" She admitted, seeing the horror on her friends' faces.

He stood there, his eyes wide in shock. "D-demo...I love you..." He leaned towards her, putting his hand on hers.

She pulled her hand away from his. "No, Hojo, you don't. And I don't love you. I've tried letting you down easy, but my friends thought it would be better..." She half-glared toward them. "If I gave up the person I DID love, for you." She shook her head. "You are naiive to think you love me when you hardly know me."

He backed away from her, then ran from the restaurant, his face hurt.

Drained, Kagome sat back down, putting her head in her hands. Her she felt a gentle hand petting her hair and saw one of her friends was doing so. She looked at Inuyasha from across the table and saw the worry in his warm eyes. Her other two friends looked incredibly guilty.

"We're sorry, Kagome...we knew you loved that two-timer...but we were so worried that he was going to hurt you...we wanted you to be happy..."

Kagome stood, her legs shaking. Inuyasha was at her side in less than a moment, his arms at her elbows, ever attentive, ever caring. "I know." She said, nodding. "But...you should apologize to Hojo, not me. I didn't want to lead him on, but you guys kept answer for me..." She shook her head, finding her balance, and feeling Inuyasha gently release her. "I gotta go. I have some more shopping to do..."

They watched her go, noting the gentle care her companion paid to her. "D'ya think maybe he was the guy...?"

The curly haired one, frowned a bit, the nodded. "I think he was. And if he is, then it's no wonder she fell in love with him. Two-timer or not, he treats her like she's the only woman in the world when she's with him."

They nodded in agreement. "You're right.

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Kagome walked along the street, Inuyasha beside her, helping her hold all the bags. She was fighting against tears so hard, and loosing quickly. She knew being pregnant makes a woman emotional, but she always heard that it was later in the cycle.

Inuyasha had been quiet since the scene in the restaurant, thinking about what she'd said. "Kagome..." He asked softly, looking towards her. He saw her jump and watched as she dashed tears from her eyes. "How long ago did you realize you loved me?"

She looked at the ground, walking along. "I think it was a month or two ago. But I think I've loved you from the beginning. You frightened me, but I loved how fierce and passionate you were. Then, those first few weeks, I began to scratch the surface of what was underneath it all, the tenderness, the fear...you always had a good heart, Inuyasha. It was just abused for a long time."

He looked at the ground again. "I think I loved you since we fought Yura of the hair. I wouldn't have been so worried if I hadn't cared about you alot, but...I didn't know what love really felt like. Kikyou had taught me...how to feel greatful, I think...mother taught me how to care. But you taught me what love was like." He felt her stop beside him and stopped as well, looking towards her. "Kagome-!"

There were tears in her eyes.

She sniffled, trying to find what she wanted to say, but couldn't. Two hot tears rolled down her face and she threw her arms around him, dropping the bags to the ground, and embracing tightly. "Oh, Inuyasha!" She cried into his shirt.

He held her, stroaking her back, awkwardly. "It's okay...shhhh...I promise, it's all going to be alright..." She calmed a bit and he paused for a moment. "Kagome, you took me out and did something for me. Now...I want to do something for you."

She nodded into his collar, feeling him pick her up and carry her the rest of the way home. When they got there, he changed back into his usual outfit, and searched her closet for something similar. When he found something, it was a short robe and some sweatpants. She changed into those and gasped when he grabbed her around the waist and jumped out of the window with her.

"You showed me what your life was like...I'm going to show you mine." He ran, jumping into the well, and jumping out on the other side. When they landed, Kagome looked confused. He elaborated. "In your time, people shop for fun, right? Everything is fast paced...well...I'm going to make your head spin." He scooped her onto his back, jumping into the nearest tree and leaping with pin point precision through the branches, one tree to the next.

Kagome let out a light scream, her eyes widening, her hands fisting against his shoulders. She'd never moved this fast, even on a roller coaster. He must have been going faster than a jaguar. He grabbed her wrist and carefully flung her into the air, jumping and catching her as he went to the next tree. She screamed that time.

He let out a wild laugh, breathless. He'd forgotten how much fun this was. He hadn't shared this with anyone before, not even Kikyou. But this was Kagome. His equal, his mate. He wanted to show her everything.

Slowly, the wonder of her wild ride over came her and she hitched herself higher on his back, lifting her face to the wind. It whipped her hair back, tangling the ends, but still, she screamed again, this time, out of sheer excitement. She felt his shoulders and back muscles rippling slightly from his movement and purred softly, wrapping her arms around his neck and pillowing her head with her arm.

He'd never felt so wild, so abandoned with her before. And he knew that it was having the same effect on her. When he dropped to a feild, she jumped off his back, running ahead of him, and he smiled, running after her and catching her, spinning her to the ground. He lay over her, knowing his eyes were wild and passionate, but she said she liked that, so he didn't try to hide it.

She lifted her hand, cupping it to his face. "You are amazing, Inuyasha." Her voice was full of life and laughter and love. She leaned up, kissing him gently, nuzzling his neck. "My fiancee...my lover..."

He nuzzled her back, his eyes closing, his face having a strange kind of peace to it. "My wife...my mate..." He whispered back, smiling and caressing her face. "Did I frighten you?" He asked, concerened, rolling over to his side and staring down into her face.

"Iie." She said, smiling. She felt his hand rest on her lower stomache and closed her eyes. "I like it when you're wild." She put her hand over his, her eyes reopening, a tender expression in them. "I'm happy..." She murmered, holding his hand against her tummy.

"Me too..." He said, stroaking her soft skin. She looked happy, too. He could see it in the way she smiled so peacefully, and feel it in how she snuggled closer to him. "And this..." He murmered, his thumb caressing the soft flesh of her tummy. "This makes me beyond happy."

Her eyes got a bit watery, but he kissed her tears away.

Author's Notes: Isn't it just getting disgustingly sweet? So, what do you think of Inuyasha's first time in Kagome's time? I enjoyed writing the mom's reaction until the very end of it. I like thinking of Kagome's mom as kinda cool, ya know? Anyways, love it? Hate it? Review me, PLEASE! Domo!