Chapter 3

Inuyasha slowly drifted towards conciseness, feeling no hurry to wake fully. His eyes fluttered slightly, then opened fully, their gold color seeming almost to glow in the sunlight. He flinched slightly and looked down at the girl in his arms and smiled. He leaned over and kissed the area right below her neck than got up.

Sunlight shown into the bedroom, almost two feet of snow casting reflections everywhere. Inuyasha's gaze avoided the sunlight and he went into the bathroom, deciding that he would take a bath and then make his guest some breakfast. He started the water, allowing the water to fill the tube as he went into this bedroom and picked out his cloths for the day. He chose a blood red dress shirt, and midnight black pants, wanting to look good for his visitors.

He went back into the bathroom and put his things down next to the tube, then sat next to it as he waited for it to finish filling up. when it was finally full he climbed in with a sigh, finally feeling his muscles relax.

'What has she done to me? It's almost as if she's all I can think about, she's taken over my thoughts. I haven't thought this much about a woman since her, and even then it wasn't this complicated. She has been here less than a week and already feel like I have to protect her no matter what. What the hell has she done to me?' he thought, then dunked his head under the water to try and block out his thoughts.

Finally he climbed out and got dressed, fed up with trying to think things out. He walked out and into the main hallway, only to hear footsteps downstairs. 'If Kagome's still in her room, then I guess my visitor has arrived.' Inuyasha thought, and headed downstairs.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Kagome woke with a start, heart beating fast and breath coming out faster. Something had startled her into being awake, but she couldn't remember what. After a moment she calmed down and looked around, only then realizing that Inuyasha was missing. "Maybe it was a dream..." She whispered.

She flopped back down on the bed and sighed, her mind a jumble of emotions. 'What is wrong with me? Even if it was a dream, why would I want him to stay? And why did I cry so hard when he died, why is he so important to me? What has made him so important to me that I would care so much? Do I, could I possibly...?' before she could finish the thought she heard a door closing downstairs, and she decided to investigate.

Hurrying to her closet she pulled out a deep green floor length dress, with a simple square neckline and long sleeves. Putting it on quickly she snuck out the door and crept downstairs, trying to place where the noise had come from.

She wound down several hallways before she saw a door with light peeking out from underneath it. She walked very slowly over to it and almost held her breathe, trying to make as little noise as possible. She held her ear up to the door and almost screamed when she felt the door go out from behind her and Inuyasha stand blocking the doorway instead.

Kagome opened her mouth to say something but was cut off before she could say something.

"I'm sorry but I need to talk to this person in privacy. I thought you were still sleeping. I will meet you in the library later alright?" Inuyasha ordered.

Kagome just nodded and left, not exactly thrilled at being kicked out. 'But really it isn't any of my business. It's not like we tell each other everything, and I work for him. It's not like we're...friends...or anything.' She thought, a frown quickly forming on her face. For some reason it hurt more to think that they were not friends then the thought of being left out.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Inuyasha sighed as he closed the door behind him and turned toward his visitor. "I'm sorry about that, I have recently taken in a new maid and she has a bit of a curious streak." Inuyasha explained calmly.

Mr. Higurashi just nodded and waited as Inuyasha sat back down in his seat. "Now back to what we were talking about. My eldest child and only daughter Kagome is missing, and I would appreciate it if you would aid in my search for her." Mr. Higurashi ground out, tense lines forming around his jaw.

Inuyasha stared at him for a while than let a small smirk cross his face. He knew just how much effort it took this proud idiot to ask his help, and he took joy in knowing that he suffered. 'It might only be a small amount of revenge, but forcing a girl into a loveless marriage is definitely something that should be punished.' Inuyasha thought, than said, "Well, I'm surprised that you asked for my help, but I'm sorry to say that I can't assist you in any way. You see I've already located this young woman and it's hard to tell you this, but she was murdered by a group of bandits that tried to get through here. I of course took care of them as quickly as possible, but there was nothing I could have done to save the girl."

Mr. Higurashi's face seemed to falter for a moment, as if he had never thought that she could be dead. "A-are you sure it was her?" he asked, his voice cracking.

Inuyasha felt a pang of guilt for lying to the man, but knew that there was no way to get him to leave her alone unless he thought her dead. "Yes, I'm positive, scents never lie, and hers was very close to yours." Inuyasha told him, than stood abruptly, wanting to get him out of here before he saw Kagome. "Now I'm sorry to be so rude but I have things I must do today, so please leave." Inuyasha ordered and practically shoved him out the door and led him to the front door to make sure that nothing happened.

When the door closed behind Mr. Higurashi Inuyasha leaned against it and sighed, glade that he was done with dealing with that man. Now to go deal with his daughter...

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Mr. Higurashi arrived home still in a daze. He had never thought that she could be dead, that she would have been harmed. He had always thought that she would be fine and he would punish her a little and she and Koga would get married and everything would be fine.

Now he regretted wishing her dead, and pushing her out of his home. 'I did this too her! I forced her to leave and she wound up dead because of it!' he thought with anguish, tears forming in his eyes for the first time since his wife's death.

He walked into the dining room and ran into Souta, who the second he saw his fathers face knew what had happened.

"She's dead? How could you let her die! What have you done!" he screamed, pounding on his fathers stomach. Souta fell to his knees and sobbed, his heart wrenching.

'What have I done...'

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Kagome sighed as she tried to read her book, unable to concentrate. She had never been very good at waiting and now that she had to wait for Inuyasha to come and hopefully tell her what was going on she was having even more troubles.

She groaned and stood up to pace back and forth, not able to sit for a moment longer. She was bored and her curiosity was driving her insane. It was expected that she be a little jumpy, so when Inuyasha opened the door she naturally jumped a foot in the air. Inuyasha froze, then he smiled a little and walked all the way into the room.

Kagome glared and crossed her arms, then sat down in an overstuffed chair and waited, not sure what she should say to start the conversation. After a few moments Inuyasha started to speak.

"I know this is going to sound harsh, but you can not interrupt me during meetings, as lord of these lands and younger brother to the current King I have a lot of political meetings that are very crucial to what happens to the people I look after. Now that that has been said, that particular meeting was not political but personal. Your father has come to me for help looking for you, but I turned him down." Inuyasha told her, giving her the watered down version.

Kagome lowered her head and nodded. She had forgotten that Inuyasha was more important then her father could ever become and even he hadn't allowed her to interrupt him during a meeting.

"Good, now that that is out of the way I was hoping you would be able to get the house ready for some...important guests I am having. They should be arriving in a few days, that should be enough time to prepare at least 10 guest rooms and the dining hall, as well as create a menu for their welcome dinner."

Kagome's face slowly went from surprised, to shocked, to completely worried. She didn't even waist her breath saying goodbye and ran out of the room and up the closest stairs.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

After almost two days straight of cleaning Kagome finally got enough time to rest. She had been going insane, running around the castle like they would be there any moment. 'Of course it would be nice to know who they are but of course Inuyasha refuses to give away that tidbit of information.' She thought as she sat down on the main staircase.

With a sigh she let her head fall onto her knees, her mind still whirling with worries about what she had to do. She didn't even turn to look at him as Inuyasha walked down the stairs and sat next to her.

"How are things going, everything ready?" he asked.

Kagome shook her head no and answered, "No, I've got to still make up the welcome dinner, I've got to clean the entrance hallway again so they are greeted in a clean room, and I have to go to the market to get the food."

A pang of guilt shot through Inuyasha, he hadn't meant to drop all of this on her at once, and he knew that she had never done anything like this before. Last time his brother had come to visit he had had a whole team of servants to prepare for them. He had forgotten how demanding his brother could be.

"Don't worry about the meal, I will take care of the menu and hire a temporary cook for the occasion. Just get the entrance hallway cleaned soon, because I believe they should be arriving tonight." Inuyasha told her.

"Inuyasha," Kagome said, "who exactly is coming? Why won't you tell me?"

Inuyasha sighed, he had been avoiding telling her because he wasn't sure how she'd react to knowing the King of her country was coming. He would have to introduce him to her eventually though, and she should probably know before hand. He had been debating it for the past couple of days, and now he really didn't have any choice. "Sesshomaru has decided to pay us a visit."

Kagome froze, eyes widening in surprise. "The KING is coming and you didn't think of telling me until now? Damn it Inuyasha that isn't fair! If I'd known I was getting the King's rooms ready I would have rearranged some things, seeing as your interior decorating skills are a little lacking." She ranted.

Inuyasha glared at her and crossed his arms, "I think the designs are fine, they are just the same as the last time the bastard came to visit."

Kagome just groaned and got up, hurrying down the rest of the stairs. She finished cleaning the entrance hall about an hour later, and for the next two hours she really had nothing to do. Inuyasha had left to get a cook and collect some groceries, and she didn't have anything else to do.

She went to the library and picked out a book to read, getting comfortable in a large, overstuffed chair.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Time seemed to fly by for Kagome and Inuyasha, until the next thing they knew it was dark outside and the moon was far along in its cycle. Inuyasha had been successful in finding a new cook but she wouldn't be able to come until the morning. Kagome had finished her book and moved on to another, and then another, occupying her mind to distract herself from the thought of meeting the King.

'Ugh, I don't know what do to anymore. Things have been so frantic around her for the past two days that I have barley seen Inuyasha, and I really think I miss him, but why should I? He's just a way to avoid my father isn't he? And now I have to deal with his brother coming to visit, who just happens to be the King? This is insane, having a demon in the house, let alone someone other than Inuyasha, is going to be so weird. I just want this to be over with.' She thought.

A little while later Inuyasha entered the room, the stress of the day making him look worn out. "If he hasn't arrived by now I highly doubt he will be coming tonight, he probably has already stopped for the night. I suggest you go to bed; tomorrow will be a long day when he arrives." Inuyasha told her and then turned and started to walk out of the room.

"Wait!" Kagome called standing up quickly and catching up to him. "Are you going to bed now?" Inuyasha nodded and Kagome gave him a small smile. "I'll walk up with you; sometimes this place gives me the creeps."

Inuyasha gave her a small smirk and replied, "Of course you may walk with me, though of anything in the castle I believe I am the one with the most threat to you."

Kagome just laughed and shook her head, unable to believe that he would harm her at all. He had done nothing but protect her, be kind towards her, and help her when she really needed it. As silence closed in around them Kagome took a quick glance at him, admiring how dim lighting made him look mysterious and more handsome all at the same time.

With a deep blush Kagome looked away, not believing what she had just thought. 'He is not handsome, I just met him, I can not be attracted to him already!' she scolded herself.

If she had been looking at Inuyasha right that moment she would have seen a smirk on his face and a cocky look in his eyes. 'So she's attracted to me hmm? I can feel her warming up, I can smell her attraction.' His smirk grew when he heard her muttering under her breath that she needed to get a grip on herself.

When they arrived to the two doors next to each other that were their rooms Inuyasha paused, turning to see what she would do. Kagome looked up at him, staring him straight in the eyes. Her pulse sped up, and a slight blush was painted across her cheeks. Her mind seemed to go blank, not sure what she should do. All she knew was that all the blood seemed to be rushing to her face, and she had never been so aware of a boy in her life.

Inuyasha could almost feel the blood rushing through her and it was more tempting then anything she could have done. He mentally groaned and thought 'Of all days to wear a low neckline, why today? I have to take blood by tomorrow evening, and she just has to smell so good right now!'

Before he knew what he was doing Inuyasha had pulled her into his arms, holding her tightly around the waist and cradling her neck with his hand. His head was buried in her neck and he could feel the pulse quicken underneath her skin. Unknowingly he kissed that pulse, causing Kagome to say his name in a breathy tone.

Hearing her say his name like that made him lust for more than just her blood, but it also jolted him back to reality. Slowly he pulled back and looked her in the eyes. Her eyes were half lidded and she seemed to be in a sort of trance. With a small smile he kissed her cheek and leaned down to whisper in her ear, "Goodnight Kagome."

Next thing Kagome knew she was staring at Inuyasha's closed door, more confused than she had been in a long time. 'What the hell just happened?' she thought, 'Did that really happen or am I delusional all of a sudden? It must have happened, but if it did then why did he run away like that, and why did I let him even get that close? What the hell is wrong with me?'

With a small shake of her head she walked over to her door and when inside. She climbed into her nightgown and was asleep as soon as her head hit the pillow.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

End of Chapter 3

I am so sorry it took me this long to update, things have been so crazy lately. First I went to visit my grandparents, then I got the flu, then my boyfriend of over a year broke up with me, and then we got back together, it has been CRAZY! Now my parents are fighting all the time, but I swear I will try and update soon, certainly no as long as this took!

Thank you so much for your patience!

Review Responses:

Bloodinkwriter: Thanks! I've been into a lot of vampire books lately, especially the Anita Blake series, so I thought I'd give a vampire fic a try!

Kitz the Kitsune: haha, I love fluff too, I'm glade you liked it!

Janellius: haha, I miss the snow...come back! Actually, I wish it would be warm...or snow...but pick one::mutters: stupid weather...but anyway, less mushy parts in this chapter, so less skipping!

Kagome M.K.: thank you! I'm sorry that it took so long

Hoshiko Leiko Taisho: thank you! I'm glade you liked it!

Nomadgirl66: thanks, and it's been so long since I updated that all the snow is gone...and spring has come...hopefully!

ChibiRin: I really tried to put more of Kagome's P.O.V. in it, I hope it helps!

Selina: Thanks, I love inu as a vamp too!

hAzEl.EyEd.GiRl.: lol, here's the next chapter!

Siennakumguat: thanks, last chapter really was fluffy...

ZukoLover4EverEver: you said you didn't really like it because I changed something? Oh well, I'm glade you liked the fluff.

Lynnah: thanks .

Whitemoon3311: don't worry, I won't stop the story, I really like this one

Dreamer1010: lol, I'm glade you liked it!

Inuyashalover1o1: here's your update!

Inuyashalover12: I'm glade you liked it, here's your update!