Ok this chapter is dedicated to inulover13 but only on threat! Haha, I love it when reviewers threaten me, it makes me feel loved! Weird? Yes… but completely me!

Speaking of which you should thank inulover13 for getting me to continue this chapter! -

Kagome rubbed her injured appendage and sat crankily on a stool watching while Sesshoumaru continued cutting up potatoes. He really did look silly, sitting there in her mother's 'Kiss the Cook' apron, his long hair tied into a high ponytail.

'Where'd he get the tie?' Kagome wondered. Last time she saw him, his hair was pooled around his shoulders.

Shrugging her shoulders she began tapping her fingers on the counter while watching her mother bustling about, adding things, stirring things, it really was a complicated process, one Kagome feared she'd never learn.

'Instant Ramen' came to mind every time the word 'cooking' came into play. Yeah, she wasn't exactly a gourmet, but nobody said anything about it. Souta really liked her ramen, although he did say she made it too crunchy sometimes.

'Great, I forgot,' she thought, rather glumly actually, 'I can't even make that right!'

She furrowed her brow and bit her lip, glancing at Sesshoumaru. Ok, call her crazy but she was beginning to think… things.

'Things like, what if he really does want to have a relationship? What does he expect? If it involves knives, pots, steam, and burning eyes of death then I might as well back out now.'

Kagome counted out on her fingers how many things she couldn't do that were useful to know. She stopped when she ran out of toes, which she wiggled for her own pathetic amusement. She ran a hand through her hair, which she decided, she'd need to brush before dinner, and sighed. Everything was just so… complicating, confusing, and terribly wonderful.

'I think I like that wonderful part…' Kagome's mind replayed, as she lay her head on her palm and sighed. She gave a quick glance at Sesshoumaru who had his usual frown on, but somehow she could feel he was content. Why did he always scowl around other people? Not saying of course that she minded, Kagome concluded shaking her head.

'In fact,' she gave a small smile, 'I think I rather like the fact that he only smiles for me.'

She got up and turned on the radio as some unknown slow song came into play. She grabbed her mother's hand, despite her protests, and began spinning her around the room laughing. She turned towards Sesshoumaru and gave a mirth-filled laugh as she mocked bowed and held out her hand. He raised an eyebrow at her and gave a small smile and shook his head no. Kagome growled at him playfully and did it again, and once again he declined.

Kagome sighed, disappointed that he wasn't being playful. She started walking back to her seat and looked out the window, listening to the birds as they began to settle for the night.

She felt a slight tap on her shoulder and she turned around, watching as Sesshoumaru bowed and extended his hand to her.

"I believe," he said in that velvety smooth voice, "That this is the proper way, is it not?"

She glared playfully at him and took his hand as they began dancing around the kitchen, her laughing as he twirled her out. Kagome's mother watched nearby, the kitchen spoon clutched to her chest.

'My… I haven't seen her so happy in so long…'

Returning to her stirring, a secret smile on her face, she listened as her daughter cursed slightly for stepping on his toes, and then grinned as she heard him reply playfully, "Well, maybe if your feet were not so large…"

She heard a TWACK and a, "You're so rude!" before she began laughing silently. She could already see Sesshoumaru, grasping one arm, glaring at Kagome, who would probably be blushing right now.

Kagome glared at Sesshoumaru, feeling the blush stain her cheek.

He was so rude! And yet, as he glared back at her, she couldn't help but smile. She was so happy… whoa, what a weirdo. She's happy when they're arguing? She watched as Sesshoumaru's face softened and he whispered, as if her mother was not in the room, "Who is this who sits there looking so prettily at me?"

Kagome felt her cheeks burst into flame as she gave him a shy smile and said, "Kagome…"

Sesshoumaru smiled gently at her and walked up to her stool and placed a gentle kiss on her nose, over each eyelid, one both cheeks, and then hovered over her lips, smiling as if he had the world in his pocket.

Kagome's breathing hitched at the close contact, and she felt her heart begin to beat faster, as it always did when he was so near. She stared at Sesshoumaru, who was looking deeply into her eyes, searching for something, what, she didn't know. She guessed he found it, for he smiled gently again and leaned down ever so slightly and laid a gentle kiss at the corners of her mouth and walked back over to his part of the kitchen.

Kagome's opened her eyes and stared incredulously at his back. That was it?

'Damnit…' she thought, glowering at his back. He was such a tease. Even still, she couldn't help but smile softly at him.

'Yeah… but he's my tease…' she decided silently.

Sniffing the air delicately she released a heavy sigh and felt her stomach grumble lightly against her hand. Glancing back at Sesshoumaru and her mother, who were both now concentrating, Kagome rolled her eyes and headed into the den where she saw her brother watching T.V. with his feet propped up against the coffee table and his arm strewn across his stomach, which he scratched from time to time. Kagome quirked an eyebrow at him and shook her head, passing the dining room where all of her relatives were beginning to gather.

'Like a pack of wolves…' she thought with distaste. Come to think of it- not of course that she was complaining- but she hadn't seen a whole lot of them in the past two days. She'd have to ask her mother about that later on.

'Not like not seeing Sukai bothers me…' Kagome thought, 'She looks at Sesshoumaru a little too intently…'

Shrugging her shoulders Kagome trudged upstairs and plopped down on her bed, where she sat and stared at the little designs stucco had caused on her ceiling. When she was little she swore she could see faces in them, but as she squinted her eyes now, all she saw was how ugly it made the ceiling look. Groaning she covered her face with her hands and peeked her eyes through them. She was just so confused.

'What does he want from me?' She felt like screaming into her pillow, but that wouldn't serve any purpose.

Smiling she remembered their very first meeting, err… well- greeting she should say. He was such an ass it made her snort now. Not saying, of course, that he wasn't still an ass… but now he was… so.

'Charming…' Kagome finished with a sigh.

Sitting up she decided to take a shower before dinner. Glancing at the mirror she made a face and turned away.

'A nice hot shower, with lots of conditioner…'

Grabbing a pair of jeans and a dark blue baby-tee she padded her way to the bathroom, locking the door and setting her stuff on the edge of the counter. Grabbing a huge pink fluffy towel she set it on the toilet lid and began shedding her clothes. Turning on the hot water she stepped into the still slightly chilly water, shivering as she wet her hair and thought about her and Sesshoumaru.

'What else is new…' she snorted, squeezing a large amount of shampoo into her hands and lathering her hair. She was so out of it, she almost didn't realize she got it in her eye, although that stinging got her attention.

"Shit!" Kagome yowled, running it under the water, cursing even as water got in her mouth, "Shigh, Shigh Shigh!"

Finally settling down, Kagome sunk against the cold tiles and felt the rest of the soapy suds slide down her back. Growling she rubbed her eye irritably and grabbed the conditioner and lathered her hair once more, paying more attention to what was going on around her.

Washing it out quickly and pulling it up in a quick messy bun- she didn't like the way it felt against her back- she grabbed the cherry blossom shower gel her mom always kept in there, and quickly washed her body. Turning off the water she stepped out into the chilly room and hurriedly dressed, put deodorant on, brushed her teeth and dried her hair, pulling it into a high ponytail. Smiling at her reflection, looking revitalized and not nearly as crappy she jumped down the stairs and bounced into the kitchen asking her mom if there was anything she could do to help.

Catching Sesshoumaru's approving glance she smiled shyly at him and blushed lightly under his gaze.

"Well, if you would set the table…" her mother said, smiling at the two as they stared at each other.

"What?" Kagome said, blushing as she turned back to her mother, who was giving her that 'knowing' smile.

"Never-mind dear, will you just put the food in the dishes they are closest to?" She asked, moving past Kagome, not waiting for an answer.

"Sure…" Kagome said dazedly, staring at Sesshoumaru who was smirking at her.

As soon as her mother left the room, Sesshoumaru untied his apron his moved over towards Kagome, wrapping his hands around her waist, kissing her forehead.

"Well… at least you don't smell anymore…" He said in a dead-pan voice, no hint to him joking at all.

Kagome's mouth dropped as she punched him in the arm and moved to get out of his grasp. Chuckling softly Sesshoumaru pulled her back against his chest, murmuring in her ear, "Calm down my little spitfire, I was only joking…"

Kagome glared at him, still unconvinced… Sesshoumaru smiled at her and quickly captured her lips, grabbing the back of her neck with his free hand. He heard her sigh against his mouth and pulled away. She smiled at him, the now common blush sitting oh so prettily on her high cheekbones. Coughing lightly Kagome pulled away and said, "I should- should probably do what Momma asked…"

Sesshoumaru smirked and took the food in his hands into the next room, leaving Kagome to her thoughts.

'Oh my god…' Kagome thought, grabbing her wildly beating heart… the realization dawning on her.

'I'm in love with Sesshoumaru!'

Ok! There it is! I hope you liked it!