Woohoo! I chose my betas! Their names are Insane-and-Psycho and Uwaki Aisu. Check out their stories, I promise they're both awesome writers. I know many of you would have made good betas, but I felt like these were the ones for the story. I've got a kick butt team now! I know, I'm selfish, getting two, but it's all for you guys, right? Right.

-

-

-

Reviews:

kitty-inuyasha, MidNite Phoenix - I can't wait for Christmas either! LOL. darkpriestessofhell, Blue Rhapsody3 - Good luck to you too! 1kenshinlover - I took your advice for my flamers, look at the a/n below, LOL. PurityFlower1989, Auron's Fan - Isn't Sess great insane, though? Tensaiga, sheenachi, lyn, Sueslalues, kawaii-baka4life, Youkai Sesshomarulover, Locket, Insanesk8rchick, Jazz-chan - No penguins, please! They're ferocious! sesshieobsessed, midnightloon, babygirl20008, allwitchesmustdie, Blood Red Moon, iLuvJaeWon, StupidLoserFantasyInc., Sesshie's Black Dominatrix, Iota Vixen

Flame Alert:

I just checked my reviews to find this on the record for Chapter Five:

I have a question...If Sess is Inus brother (relation)
And Kagome is Kikyous sister (relation) and Yasha and
Kikyou got married (now related) wouldnt that make
Kagome and Sess brother and sister? thats just gross
-SxyStallion666.

Which made me want to thank all of you that DO read my author's notes. The end.

-ac06

-

-

-

-

-

Two and a half weeks later.

Sango turned and looked at Kagome, who presently was drooling on her calculus book. Ick.

Miroku turned in his seat to speak quietly to Sango. Gesturing with his head to their sleeping friend, he furrowed his brow and asked what was wrong with Kagome.

"It's called sleep, Miroku," she said, rolling her eyes. She tossed her head, sending her dark hair over her shoulder.

"Har-har," he said to her sarcasm. "Well, why does she need it? Kagome never sleeps in class. She needs to pay attention. Who am I going to get to do my work now?"

"Yeah well, her Mom is becoming a total nut-case and Kagome is still hoping to get into college," she spoke back, her voice a little louder because of her strong opinion of the subject.

"And none of you are going to college if you keep disrupting my class, you two," the teacher's voice broke in, startling the two teens. Reluctantly, they turned back to their own desks.

Miroku and Sango went back to their classwork, until Miroku said calmly to Sango, speaking over his shoulder with a smile, "She's going to ruin her math book if she keeps that up."

Sango snorted loudly, waking up a disoriented Kagome.

-

-

-

-

-

Kagome laid on her stomach, hugging a pillow. Her bedroom was sometimes her only escape. It gave her a peace of mind, this slice of the world that was solely hers.

She had tried reading a book that evening, but it hadn't captured her attention. Only one thing, person, rather, had been on her mind all day.

Sesshomaru Taisho.

He had pricked her pride. Her first kiss, and what did the big idiot do? Send her on her way.

She didn't know his phone number; only where he lived. She knew he had no intention of talking to her again. Now that had put a damper on her spirits.

Why was he going to blow her off? She knew he liked that kiss. There was no way a person could enjoy a kiss so much, and the other person not. Why?

Kagome knew deep down that Sesshomaru was confused. She knew that he wanted to live happy, but didn't know how to go about it. She knew he wanted to feel, but couldn't begin to know how. She knew...

She knew all of this, but it still hurt to think of him pushing her back into her car, anxiously waiting her departure from his life.

He had really hurt her feelings, and she didn't like it one damn bit.

Burying her body down into the cushiony depths of her bed, she waited for sleep to come.

-

-

-

-

-

Sesshomaru sat up in bed, panting, gasping for breath.

The dream he had...

So strange. He never dreamt in the cottage. That had been his reason for moving in, never having dreams of his mother, or death, or any other nightmare he had suffered when he was a child. This had been unexpected. So realistic, so vivid.

He had been riding on his motorcycle in his dream.

He had not done that since he saw Kagome. Sesshomaru couldn't risk losing control of his own emotions again. He denied himself the simple pleasure. Sesshomaru knew secretly that he feared his own freedom. Breaking all the emotional chains and his cool aloof manner would mean the chance of hurt. He had learned that when his mother died.

However, in his dream, the sky seemed bigger, bluer, the noon day sun brightly shining for him. Suddenly, curving around a bend, he had to turn sharply. A large car was headed straight for him, about to crash. He swerved to miss, landing on the shoulder of the road, near a ditch. His eyes were closed, lying there, feeling so open.

When he looked up, Kagome was sitting with his head lying in her lap, stroking his cheek. Pursing her lips, she bent down to kiss him. That was when he awoke, his heart racing.

God help him, the girl terrified him.

-

-

-

-

-

Kagome twirled her plastic fork into the cold spaghetti, uninterested in her school lunch. The disgusting, burnt meatball didn't when her appetite either. However, she had to focus on her meal, or else she would focus on her friends.

Miroku and Sango. The new couple was nauseatingly attentive to each other. Puke-worthy, she thought.

Kagome realized it was jealousy, strong and raw in her stomach, but still thought her friends could tone down the touchy-feely, new-couple attitude. For her, at least.

Hearing them giggle, she stifled a groan. Sango had never acted so silly or girlish. It was her romantic side kicking in. How annoying. Miroku was always a flirt, but it really grated on her nerves for some reason today. He had his arm wrapped around Sango's waist as they talked and ate. Sango's cheeks flushed with a pretty pink, her eyes sparkling a bit.

Why are they happy? They shouldn't be happy. I mean, yes, they should be. They should be happy. But I shouldn't be sad. They should cheer me up. She groaned. I'm not making any sense!

Another girlish, flirty giggle sprang from Sango's mouth.

Glaring up at the two, who gave a bewildered look back, she stood up, grabbed her monstrous backpack and left the cafeteria.

But she didn't stop there. Oh no, she headed straight out of school, the rain from outside plastering her hair to her head, marching to her car.

She was going to see him.

-

-

-

-

-

The radio said a flash flood was occurring throughout the county, blocking most of roads that led to the shrine. Oh yes, today was her day.

Inside her small car, the small Nissan Sentra, she could hear the ringtone of her cell phone over the pounding of the rain. It was her mother.

"Hey Mom"

"Kagome, are you all right? It's time for you to be home from school now. You shouldn't stay out in this weather. I mean it."

Getting to Sesshomaru's cottage had taken almost an hour, and the rain had recently added another half our to the trip. It was too late and too far to turn back now.

"Well, Mama, here's the thing," searching for an excuse, any excuse. She hated to lie to her mother, but with as anal as Mama had been lately, it seemed much easier. "I uh..."

"Kagome, speak louder, I can barely hear you over the rain."

"Um, I had to do volunteer work at the nursing home a town or two away, for community service for Government class."

"So you're not in town?"

"No Mama, I'm not. But all the roads and underpasses have been closed, so I can't get home. I think I see a hotel up ahead, I can stay there," she lied, still driving through the dirt road. "I've got your credit card with me, so I can just get a room tonight and come back when the rain lets up. Would that be okay?"

After a long silence, which Kagome knew had nothing to do her cell phone signal, her mother replied. "All right Kagome. Just be safe. You've only had your license a few months. Take it easy."

"I will Mama. You know I'm a careful driver. I love you." How she hated saying that, right after she lied through her teeth. I'm such an awful daughter, she thought.

She didn't hear the reply her mother made, the static had become so intense. Waiting another second, she turned her phone off, tossing it into the passenger seat.

She had never seen, much less driven, in such severe conditions. The water pounded the small car, making the windshield become a huge gray blur. Water was almost a foot high already, causing her brakes to fail for a few seconds. Thank God she was on the seldom used road to Sesshomaru's house, and not the slick highway.

How much longer until his house?

Then she saw it.

-

-

-

-

-

Sesshomaru had left the office, his youkai abilities, dog-like, sensing a storm coming. Knowing it was severe, he told his staff to go home early before they were caught in the flood. Putting the finishing touches on a sale to a client, Onigumo, he heard a knock at the door.

He wasn't use to not having Jaken around. For the most part Sesshomaru nearly lived in his office, Jaken always at hand.

Getting up to answer the door, he tried to sniff out who it was. He belatedly realized he wouldn't be able to tell with all the rain dampening his senses. It was probably some stranded motorist, or a neighbor, seeing if Sesshomaru needed any help.

Opening the thick wooden door, his eyes widened almost noticeably, which was rare.

Kagome Higurashi, looking like a drowned rat, glared at him through running eyeliner, her arms crossed. She growled out rudely, "I need a place to stay tonight." His eyes narrowed at her tone. No way would he let her in now.

She sneezed.

"Damnit, get inside," he mumbled, moving to the side of the doorway.

-

-

-

-

-

Okay guys, well that was it. I hope you liked. If you did, please review, cause that would make my day! lol.

Well, I hope you appreciate the wonderful grammar and spelling, all thanks to Insane-and-Psycho and Uwaki Aisu! Woohoo! That tickles me pink, which is good, since I'm pale. Things are moving along, which is good, and I'm working with the betas to start the next few chapters.

I'm hoping everyone is enjoying this story as much as I am writing it. I'm sorry if weekly updates aren't your thing, but just nag me, and I'll do my job possibly faster, lol. Well, until next week, farewell, you wonderful readers!

-ac06

-

-

-