Hey guys! PLEASE forgive me for not updating in so long! Plus, if you haven't already check out my latest, 'Woman-child's Curiosity' … Anyways… I'd like to dedicate this chapter to Darci and also to Ty-Goddess of All! On with the story!

Sesshoumaru's eyes slightly widened at the sight before him. Never in his twenty-three years of existence had an old man had the nerve to Haishu Uchi him with a small slip of paper. It was damn downright embarrassing, standing there while you watch your supposed fiancé scold said old man for 'harming guests'. He stood up to his full height and stared down at the small old man that was currently staring at him in a slightly crazed way, silently daring him to do, no TRY, to do that again! He gave him a cold glare and then turned to stare at a blushing Kagome who was giving him an apologetic smile.

"You see Sesshoumaru… um… he's kind of, well… err… meet Grandpa!"

Sesshoumaru nodded to the old man, his eyes never leaving Kagome.

"A pleasure… I'm sure."

He listened in amusement as her grandfather threatened to hit him again.

He looked at her in concealed surprise at watching her squirm under his hard gaze. One would think she'd get used to it after a while. His gaze softened with the newest idea he had as he moved closer to her. Payback time… He watched as her eyes widened at the soft look he knew he had in his eyes as he embraced her in a lover's fashion. He heard her mother sigh in a womanly way and then shoo her grandfather out of the room to 'let them have a moment' as it were. He stepped back and looked at the furiously blushing girl that still lie in his arms. Really… nowadays one shouldn't be so embarrassed by a simple embrace. He smirked down at her and watched as she nearly snarled at him and jumped away from his body only to stomp her foot at him and shake her finger in his direction.

"That was low Sesshoumaru!"

He shrugged his shoulders and turned away from her to look at his surroundings. Her house had this certain… quality he guessed, about it that made him want to relax on the couch cuddling a lover, if he had one that is.

"Yes well… it had the desired effect."

He watched as Kagome gave a most childish pout and plopped down on the couch. He looked at her as she stared up at him and patted the seat next to her. A peace offering of sorts. He felt that still unfamiliar feeling of a smile creep up again. Yes… he smiled before about… four times earlier maybe. But none of them but one were real. So it was very unfamiliar to have an unconscious tug of the lip come at him. A small sigh came from the girl next to him as she settled herself and snuggled into the inviting cushions of the couch and lay her head against it's back. Placing her hands across her stomach she turned her eyes towards him and gave him a small relaxed smile.

"So…"

He looked at her confusion marring his face. He raised his eyebrow in silent question and watched as she smiled a little bigger.

"How do you like my family? Now that we'll be here for a week, I need to know if we have to 'leave early' as it were."

He looked at her eager eyes and knew she wanted him to say that there'd be an emergency that they needed to see to. He didn't know if he'd survive or not, but it'd all be worth it to watch her squirm.

"No, I find them quite amusing, we'll be staying."

He watched her frown and stare up at the ceiling. He wondered what half-baked scheme she was thinking of, trying to convince him to leave so she could as well.

"You know… my grandfather will probably hit you again…"

He smirked at her, as she tried to pretend total seriousness in hopes of 'frightening' him off.

"Indeed."

He heard her sigh and say, "And those women will be all over you, and I know you value your personal space."

"They're beautiful women…"

He felt her slap his arm playfully and then watched her stare back up at the ceiling.

"And my little brother can be really annoying…"

Sesshoumaru rolled his eyes at that one. The boy looked to be about 15 or 16, of course he was annoying.

"Perhaps…"

The was slight desperation in her voice now as she frantically searched for some reason, any reason to leave this place. Old memories were coming back, and now she was remembering why she left in the first place.

"And my mother will try and feed you every second, and will try and pry into your personal life."

He leaned against the arm of the couch and relaxed against it in a bored fashion.

"As a mother should. After all… she's heard nothing about me, nor seen me for that matter. Never met me in her life. Shame on you Kagome for keeping your mother in the dark about our love."

Sesshoumaru said all of this in total seriousness. He watched, his eyes sparkling as Kagome snarled at him and shoved him down towards the end of the couch muttering, 'smart ass' under her breath. She blew a piece of unruly hair out of her face and then turned her back to him.

"You are a smart ass… I don't want you near me so… don't talk to me and I might not hit you."

Sesshoumaru smirked and then wrapped his arms around her back, giving a silent 'yes' when he felt her stiffen. She was falling into his hands…

"Hit me? Now Kagome, will this marriage really need to resort to domestic violence?"

He turned her around and watched as she rolled her eyes and swatted his arm playfully.

"Jerk…"

She looked up at him and gave him a small smile before she turned away from him again, and turning on the TV. He raised an eyebrow at her and then settled himself against cushions staring at the TV as she 'flipped' through the channels. He closed his eyes in content and felt his breathing slow and suddenly the sounds around him were much louder… more distinct… And suddenly, he belonged. He felt at ease here with Kagome, this strange girl with her family. Her typical crazy family. And with that last thought, Sesshoumaru fell into a light slumber. He almost heard Kagome gasp and he almost felt her run her hand down his cheek in affection.

But he didn't see her smile for him…

Sesshoumaru woke up to a darkened room… it was quiet, was he alone? He would have guessed so had it not been for the slow deep breaths, and the small body pressed against his chest. One small delicate hand clutching the fabric of his shirt tightly, and small mumbles spilling from her lips. Sesshoumaru tried to pry her fingers carefully from his shirt, but she just snuggled into him deeper and tightened her grip. Growling at the unknowing creature he tried once again to pry her long fingers from his now thoroughly wrinkled shirt, growling in annoyance when it produced similar results.

'She's a drooler…'

He thought in half-amusement as the front of his shirt was now dampened with the salvia spilling out of the corner of her slightly parted lips. He grasped onto some soft object in the dark and began wondering who in the hell had put a blanket on them? He inwardly groaned at the thought of anybody in her family witnessing them in such a, intimate position. God forbid it be her crazed grandfather! But he supposed that was better than her mother, who would probably have pictures by now.

Giving a small chuckle at the mussed head of black he was staring down at, at least he thought it was mussed; otherwise the dark was playing tricks with his mind. The slight vibrations caused Kagome to stir as she growled and in half-awareness punched him lightly in the stomach. Sesshoumaru raised a pale eyebrow at that, still with the violence huh? Giving a most childish smirk he started scheming ways to get the woman to release his person. Smiling unconsciously when she turned over and snuggled further into him he took one long finger and started to run them over her long, dark curled eyelashes softly. Just as he thought she swatted at his hand with a scowl and then settled herself once more against his chest. Frowning at the thought of somebody else catching them in this predicament he lightly shook her shoulder.

'This could prove to be awkward…'

Giving out a silent sigh of relief when he felt her slowly lift herself off of him.

"What, Ahh, time is it?"

She said as a rather large yawn took over her. Sesshoumaru smirked and mentally counted how long it would be before her sleep laden mind cleared and she realized the position they were currently in.

'1…2…3…4…5…6-'

"Oh my god!"

He saw her darkened form jump off of him faster than he would of thought she was capable of doing so. He couldn't see her but he could imagine the red tint to her pale cheeks at that moment.

"Is this how you treat all of your guests?"

Sesshoumaru said in mock-seriousness. He could already see her glaring at him her small fists at her hips.

"No… I guess you're just special."

Sesshoumaru smirked at her tone. She really was quite the entertaining little thing.

"Indeed…" He said indifferently, knowing it would get on her nerves. She hated it when he was indifferent.

"You little jacka-"

The lights turning on and her mother walking in silenced her.

"Well I thought I heard voices! Good, ya'll are finally awake!"

Kagome's face paled slightly before burning a bright red.

"You saw us?"

Kagome's mother gave her a confused look and said, "Well, yes… is that a problem dear?"

Kagome slightly shook her head, and turned to Sesshoumaru, pleading with him for help with this. She was only irritated further when she saw him smirk and stretch his protesting muscles before standing. She mouthed the word 'jackass' to him and was slightly relieved when she saw him glare playfully at her. All that came crashing down when she heard her mother speak again.

"Oh, young love… hehe ya'll made such a cute couple I couldn't help but take a few pictures!"

Sesshoumaru groaned and Kagome paled, for what he didn't know.

"Mama…" Kagome said, licking her suddenly dry lips. She didn't DARE look at Sesshoumaru while she said this. "How many pictures did you take?"

Her mother stopped dusting and tapped her chin in thought. Kagome groaned that was never a good sign!

"I don't know, not more than a few rolls though!"

She heard Sesshoumaru sigh and watched as he shook his head. The effect wasn't as he intended it to be because his hair too was mussed and it caused Kagome to begin to giggle slightly behind her hand. Sesshoumaru gave her a questioning glance but his only answer was a shrug of her shoulders and the biting of her lip to stifle more giggles from escaping. He looked up when her mother, too, began to giggle.

"I do believe I'll go get you two a hairbrush…"

Then she left the room, her joyous laughter following her out. Hairbrush? He felt the slight tangles in his long mass of silver and groaned. That was going to be hell getting out! Kagome smirked and Sesshoumaru raised one amused eyebrow at her small form, her black inky mass was all knotted up and frizzed. If he were the type he might laugh at the humorous sight before him, but sadly he was not. The silence around them was awkward and he realized he was not the only one feeling this way when Kagome began to switch her weight foot from foot and nervously chewing on her bottom lip.

"He, I wonder what's taking Mama so long…"

Sesshoumaru smirked, she was so embarrassed, now would be a perfect time to poke at her but he wouldn't. He really wasn't feeling up to it at the moment. The quiet rumbling of his stomach didn't help matters. He was messed, hungry, and irritated for once at the silence. But damnit he wasn't going to strike up a conversation, hell, he didn't know how!

'Her mother is taking an awfully long time with that damn brush…'

He looked calmly down at Kagome who was blushing slight for some unapparent reason.

'Strange girl…'

No many how many times he thought that, it never got old. How could it? The more he got to know he, the stranger she became, and his earlier declaration's of 'strange girl…' just didn't seem up to par with the new strangeness of her. But that sounded ridiculous… But then again, what didn't when it came to her? Whatever other thoughts he was about to dive into were abruptly stopped as he heard Kagome sigh.

"I guess I'll go get a brush, stay here, going elsewhere might prove to be dangerous…"

Sesshoumaru smirked and nodded his head slightly. Dangerous? Thinking back to earlier that day he decided it was best to hold his tongue lest those woman heard him and came crawling back onto him. That was an unpleasant encounter that strangely wasn't as normal as one would think. Maybe his standoffish attitude caused one to merely appreciate from afar?

Kagome's mother peeked her head in the door as soon as her daughter left the room causing Sesshoumaru to give an amused smirk. Really, was this whole family as strange as Kagome? Somehow, that put him more at ease than it should have. Noticing the serious line of her lip he slipped his indifferent mask back on. She sat down on the couch and patted the seat next to her in silent offering. He nodded his head and complied silently. What could she want?

"I need to talk to you…about Kagome."

Sesshoumaru nodded his head and watched in a calculating way as Kagome's mother sighed and looked elsewhere.

"There are many things you need to know about Kagome. I'm sure she hasn't told you of her previous flame huh?"

Frowning Sesshoumaru shook his head, clearly displeased with the way in which this conversation was headed. Kagome's mother scratched her head and said, "I'm not sure I'm the right person to tell you this, but all I'm saying is, she isn't as she appears. She suffered heartbreak in the past and hasn't quite let it pass yet. Do you understand?"

Sesshoumaru's frown deepened. He nodded his head slowly and growled mentally.

'Does she think I am stupid?'

Kagome's mother patted his hand and stood up, casually dusting off her skirt as she picked her duster back up and headed towards the door. Following her with his eyes he watched as she grasped the doorframe, back facing him, before saying, "Talk to her Sesshoumaru… she needs you now… don't let her past haunt her forever…"

With that she walked out of the door. Sesshoumaru sat there in deep thought a few moments before Kagome bounded into the room smiling.

"I got it!" She said as she held up the hairbrush triumphantly. She met Sesshoumaru frowning eyes with a scowl.

"What?"

Sesshoumaru merely shook his head and collected the brush from her hold, running it through his hair, wincing as he caught a tangle. A small hand on his, stilled his movement.

"Here let me…"

Sitting down on the now all too familiar couch he sighed as she ran the brush through his silken strands humming quietly to herself. Cutting his eyes back to her, he noticed her smiling face, yet slightly troubled eyes… Frowning to himself, he decided to question her later.

'What indeed…'

Hey guys! Sorry for not updating in so long! I don't know when I'll be able to update so I hope you enjoyed this chapter! Remember to R&R!