Disclaimer: Everyone wishes they owned Inuyasha. To bad none of us do.

Warning: This story contains explicit sexual content. Reader discretion is advised.

The One.

Chapter five: Arrangements

Silence. Unusual. Disturbing? Peaceful. Body? Cloud nine. Kagome was completely immobile. Her brain was starting up but her body was still in the numb state between waking and sleep. Now, where was her head? Pillow? It didn't quite feel right. It was smooth and warm. Then she remembered that she was in Inuyasha's bed. Maybe his pillows had some kind of special magicness that made them better than hers. At least, that's what her sleep induced mind wondered. Then she realized that her pillow was raising and falling. And shaking a little. With an icy splash, Kagome was affronted with the sudden realization that she was lying on Inuyasha. If her body had been capable of motion, she would have shot out of the bed. As it were she was still in her practically paralyzed state.

"Mmuhmmish." Kagome tried desperately to say.

"Are you awake?" Asked an anxious sounding Inuyasha.

"Uhmmun." Kagome tried again.

"Is that a yes?"

"Uh!"

"Thank all the heavens!" And he was up and off like a shot.

Kagome looked up from where she had been unceremoniously dumped onto the bed. "'Ey!"

"Sorry!" Came Inuyasha's voice from not to far away.

"Mumnishmer."

"Thanks."

"Uh?"

"Oh, I had to pee. Man you can sleep! I was lying there for almost three hours! I didn't want to move you. I was starting to get a bit desperate when you woke up." Inuyasha looked down on Kagome's prone form. She was still sprawled out on the bed, her eyes and ears were the only parts of her body that seemed able to function. "You know..." Inuyasha looked almost dreamy, "you look so sexy right now."

Kagome moaned and rolled her head so she was face down in the mattress. In no way did Kagome feel sexy. In fact, the polar opposite was true. "Numnu uh." She protested. Inuyasha laughed, a great deep belly laugh and he sat next to her.

"Poor Kagome. Not a morning person?" He teased.

Kagome lazed in the bright rays of sunshine as they flitted through the shuttered windows, warming her back and face. Gently, Inuyasha started drawing patterns over Kagome's back. She sighed as he trailed his fingers over her warm skin. She nearly fell asleep again until it suddenly computed (perhaps her body had finally woken up) that he was touching bare skin. Where was her shirt? Up under her breasts, that's where it was. Kagome's face flushed as she shuffled her hands up and found the hem of her t-shirt and then pulled it down. Inuyasha stopped drawing patterns on her back and she slowly sat up, sweeping all her long dark hair over her left shoulder and turning her face to look at him.

His breath caught in his throat as he looked at her, the sunlight streaming in behind her, bathing her in light. She looked like an angel, especially for him. "Morning." Was all he could think of to say.

Kagome giggled a little as she tried to blink the sleep from her eyes. She smiled. "G'morning."

It was over an hour later and Inuyasha was under the impression that Kagome had fallen asleep in the bath. Don't think about her in the bath! He told himself desperately. Where was his father or his brother when he needed them? Inuyasha was searching throughout all the rooms on the same floor as his bedroom. He would have searched down stairs but he didn't want to be that far away from his mate's tantalizing scent. He inhaled deeply. Shit.

"Inuyasha." Came his half-brother's cold voice from behind him. Inuyasha spun around.

"Sesshoumaru."

"I could hear you pacing around up here like a caged animal. I can only assume that you want to talk."

"You're damn right I do. Sesshoumaru, what's wrong with me? I'm practically a walking hard-on when she's around but I don't want to let her out of my sight! Is this some kind of torture everyone has to go through or did I just get stuck with the most seductive mate that ever had the misfortune to grace this planet." Inuyasha was panting slightly as he finished his tirade.

"Sexually frustrated?"

"As hell."

Sesshoumaru looked at his brother for a moment. "Then mate with her."

"I can't! She's not ready. Says she wants to know me better first. Arg! I can't wait much longer!"

"Calm down." Sesshoumaru scoffed and walked away, leaving a jittery Inuyasha to himself.

Why was it that Sesshoumaru always knew how to push his buttons. He wanted answers and he got them, it was jut to bad they weren't the answers he was looking for. Inuyasha banged his head against a wall and groaned as he heard Kagome sigh. He told himself that he wouldn't be listening to her bathe if he weren't to exasperated to move. He listened to her slosh around the water in her bath, sigh and then do it again. He wondered what she was doing that sounded so... interesting.

After her bath, Kagome felt extremely relaxed. She'd washed her hair and shaved her legs and then simply lazed in the bath for about ten minutes. It was one of the best mornings she'd had in a long time if you didn't count waking up to Inuyasha.

Oh, you liked it. Face it, you like him.

'I do not!'

Give it a rest. I'm you, I know how you feel.

'I need to stop talking to myself.'

Yeah, it's kind of weird.

'Urg!'

Kagome wandered out of the bathroom in a towel. She was relieved to see that Inuyasha wasn't around. Relieved, she stressed to herself. Wandering over to the closet, she examined her clothes and then pulled down her jeans and a yellow halter-top. She let her towel drop and dressed herself. Her dark jeans fit comfortably and sat low on her hips. She tied the three strings that held her top up and then looked at the selection of shoes she'd brought. Sandals and flip flops and flats. Not a huge selection and she really didn't feel like wearing anything open toed. She glanced around behind her and noticed Inuyasha's considerable shoe selection. Kagome peeked out of the closet door and noticed that Inuyasha was still absent. She found his sock drawer and pulled out a pair of socks and then nicked a pair of old looking boots from his collection. Putting on both articles of clothing, Kagome found that they were both profoundly to big for her. She huffed and decided to wear them anyways.

As Kagome clomped down the hallway, she was surprised when Inuyasha didn't appear in front of her or beside her or behind her suddenly. It was almost creepy. Hopping down the stairs, Kagome contemplated the argument she'd had with herself in the bath. Was she right? Did she really have feelings for Inuyasha? Who was she kidding? Of course she had feelings for Inuyasha - they were soul mates after all. But was it all superficial? That was what worried Kagome. Inuyasha was extremely attractive and obviously her body was reacting to his. Stupid hormones. She could feel her veins humming just thinking about him last night. A blush flooded her face as the memory danced through her thoughts.

Kagome was almost surprised that the front door hadn't been locked and bared. She slipped out and closed the door quietly behind her. The cool, crisp salty air that blew across her face was certainly a breath of fresh air. She inhaled deeply and a smile curved up the corners of her lips. The sun swam uncertainly behind fluffy grey clouds that seemed to drift endlessly across a sky that she was sure was blue underneath. It was just a hop skip and a jump down the stairs and then she was standing on the driveway.

With a growing sense of confidence, Kagome decided that she would explore the island. She turned and headed off around the side of the house. The gardens were tucked up against the brick wall, arranged perfectly to create an almost magical feeling. She sighed pleasantly and looked away from the garden to the sea. It was getting further and further into the distance as she walked further along the house and then became obscured by a wide forest of trees. Kagome was about to wander straight ahead and simply walk across the island until she became tired or hit the end when she noticed a building. She nearly shook it off as a massive gardener's shed until she saw its head.

A pleasant wave of shock and excitement washed over her. She hurried over to the building and poked her head inside. The barn was lined with stalls, most containing horses that were pleasantly munching away at what ever lay behind the walls that blocked their heads from view. She inhaled deeply and was pleased to smell the distinct scent that surrounded any stable. Some people assumed that it was the same as cattle, but it wasn't. There is something distinct about the smell of horses that any horse lover appreciates.

Kagome nearly jumped out of her skin as a stable hand practically materialized out of thin air. He was tall and skinny and wearing one of the ugliest shirts Kagome had ever clapped eyes on. Her little shriek had caused some of the horses to grow restless in their stalls and look up, their ears facing forward.

"Can I help ye Miss?" The hand asked.

Kagome smiled. "Actually I was wondering if I could take one of the horses out."

"Sorry Miss, only the Master and his fam'ly is allowed t' ride them horses." He crossed his arms. Kagome couldn't help but become a little bit irritated with his deplorable grammar.

"Well, that's fine," she informed him. "I'm Inuyasha's mate. That counts doesn't it?"

"Yes Miss! Of course Miss! Begging yer pardon Miss!" Being mated to Inuyasha would definitely have its perks.

The stable hand dashed off through the stable, crashing into what she assumed was a tack room and went about preparing a horse for her to ride. When he reappeared, Kagome followed him to a stall not far from the barn doors. The horse inside was of average height, somewhere around sixteen hands. He was dark grey in colour with a pie bald face and three white stockings. The name on the stall door read Phantom. Very appropriate Kagome decided as she held out her arm for him to smell.

……….

Inuyasha shifted uncomfortably in his leather seat. He and Akito and his father had been arguing for the last hour or so and had essentially gotten no where. It turned out that Akito wanted Kagome to live a regular human life for as long as possible. He didn't want her to be held back by Inuyasha. It seemed like he didn't want her to have a mate at all in fact. Inuyasha made it very clear that that was not an option. And so the arguing continued.

"When my daughter came here she didn't want a mate and I'm sure she hasn't changed her mind over night." Akito insisted stubbornly.

"I wouldn't be so sure." Inuyasha challenged, staring Akito straight in the eye. Neither backed down for a long minute. Akito looked away first, turning his attention to Inutaisho.

"I want to take my daughter home with me."

"No." Inuyasha cut in over his father.

"Inuyasha…" Inutaisho warned. Inuyasha leaned back in his chair, giving the illusion of being relaxed when really he wanted to tear Akito's head off.

"Look, Akito," Izayoi put in, "You know you and your family are welcome to come and visit any time you like. She will always be available. And she will come and visit you often. But we must insist that the royal family live in one of our houses."

Akito growled softly but stopped when Inutaisho bared his teeth and snarled. "I want my daughter to live as human a life as she can, for as long as she can."

"This is getting really redundant." Inuyasha stated irritably. There are only so many times you can say the same thing over and only so many ways in which to say it. "Kagome is staying with me. Period. I don't care what you say or what you want. I'll talk to Kagome about it and we can talk more over dinner. Okay?"

"Sit down Inuyasha." Inutaisho ordered as Inuyasha stood to leave.

"Urg!"

"Inutaisho, I can understand-"

"What my son says stands, Akito. You may leave." It was a blatant dismissal. Akito stood slowly, anger heating his eyes. He could not disobey.

The door closed softly and Inutaisho turned to his mate. She smiled and kissed his forehead gently before leaving Inuyasha with his father. There was a long, awkward pause as both father and son sat staring at each other across a wide mahogany desk. Both wondered who would speak first.

"Sesshoumaru says you're sexually frustrated."

Inuyasha wouldn't allow himself to blush. "That's right."

"So you haven't mated with her?"

"No."

There was another long pause. Inutaisho leaned forward, arms resting on his desk. "Do it soon Inuyasha."

Inuyasha was flabbergasted. "Huh?"
"If she doesn't feel so attached to you that she starts asking where you are then you may have a problem. If she wants to go back with Akito you know you can't stop her."

Inuyasha just nodded. There was another long pause. Inuyasha checked the time on the clock that sat on his father's desk. It was nearly three. Why hadn't Kagome asked where he was? He'd thought she would have wondered when he hadn't been waiting for her in their room. Their room. He already thought of it that way.

There was a knock on the door.

"Come in." Inutaisho ordered in his professional voice.

A shaky stable hand peaked his head in the door. "Um…" He squeaked. "Uh… Mr. Inu-Inuyasha Sir? We-uh-we lost her sir."

Inuyasha cocked his head. "Her? Misty?"

"N-n-no Sir, not a horse Sir, her!" He seemed wildly frightened. It took Inuyasha a minute to compute. Then he understood.

"Her? Kagome? My mate?" Inuyasha had the stable hand's neck in a death grip in the blink of an eye.

"Aye Sir!" he gasped.

Inuyasha threw the stable hand across the room and bolted toward the nearest exit.

……….

When Kagome awoke from her afternoon nap, she found that the sun was being hidden behind thick grey clouds and Phantom was no longer tied to the branch she'd secured him to before she fell asleep. Great. Kagome shivered as a gust of wind blew up behind her, pushing against her bare back. It may have been the summer, but that didn't stop the wind from being cold on this little island. Kagome turned her back on the sea and started walking. She figured the house was somewhere in that general direction.

As she walked, Kagome decided that it was going to rain again that night. The wind was picking up, the clouds seemed to be darkening and goose bumps were making the hairs on her arms stand on end. And then Kagome wondered what time it was. She hadn't grabbed anything to eat before she left and her stomach felt like it was gnawing on itself it was so hungry. It growled at her and she decided that her stomach and Inuyasha had a lot in common. That set Kagome's mind back to wondering what she had been contemplating most of that morning. Where had Inuyasha got to? He'd been missing when she'd finished her bath and she hadn't seen him on her way out and he most certainly hadn't followed her.

With a sigh Kagome carried on her walking, bored, a little tired and more than a little stiff form her bed of shady grass. It was quite a shock to Kagome's system when, abruptly, she stumbled in a gofer's hole. If it had been the Olympics, Kagome would have won the gold medal for face plants. Sitting up, Kagome pushed her hair out of her face and looked down at herself. Shoes? Or should she say shoe? Pants? Were they always missing a knee? And all those grass stains! Shirt? One of the ties had broken and there were green stains all up the front.

"That was a new top." Kagome told the gofer hole firmly as she stood up to retrieve Inuyasha's shoe. If it had been ten years later at the Olympics, Kagome would have taken home another gold medal in her specialty sport. Yes, you guessed it: face plants.

Kagome opened her mouth to curse the gofers and all of their ill placed holes and burrows when she was abruptly robbed of her opportunity by Inuyasha. He was running at her – fast – and yelling something. Her name? Who knew? At least now she knew she'd make it back before dark. In fact, she'd probably even make dinner!

"Inuyasha!" Kagome called out and waved to him while he was still a ways away. She was smiling until he got close enough that she could see his scowling face. Yeesh, Kagome thought, who spit in his bean curd? She stood up and brushed herself off.

"Kagome!" Inuyasha shouted when he reached her. "What are you doing? What were you thinking! You're so stupid!"

"Excuse me! What did you just-" Kagome's temper shot through the roof.

"Shut up!" He shouted and gathered her into his arms. Yes, it was nice that he worried, yes he was sweet and… sweet. But he didn't have to be an ass about it!

"Come on, let's go back." He started to lift her but she pulled back.

"Hang on, I lost your shoes."

There was a long, silent pause. "Sorry, did you just say you lost my shoes?"

"Yeah, sorry about that. They must be around here somewhere. Maybe the gofers ate them." She smiled, amused with her own joke.

"Kagome, did you fall of the horse and hit your head?" Inuyasha asked.

"No!" Kagome exclaimed indignantly.

"Are you sure? You sound like your suffering brain damage."

"I am sure thank you very much!" Kagome glared and then resumed her search for his shoes. "Yeesh! Did I fall off the horse? I'm not that bad at riding. Huff."

"Well I just wondered. You know you're close are looking pretty bad." He tried to soothe her ruffled feathers scanning the ground and indeed finding one of his own shoes.

"Yeah, I have an idea of what I look like, thanks. I'm a little clumsy and when gofers decide to put their holes right under my feet, I'm not quite graceful enough to avoid them."

Inuyasha looked up and examined her ripped clothing. She looked utterly sexy. For the next hour and a half he watched her attempt to find his other shoe, a gentle smile playing at the corners of his lips, listening to her muttering about one thing or another. Indeed, his mate was a strange one, but it was an endearing kind of strange.

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