Disclaimer: -growl- Now's she just being stingy. Please, oh please give him to me. I promise to behave. (Not)
A/N: Sorry for the wait. Merry Christmas everyone!
Chapter 5 – Princesses and Plots
Iki pushed the door to the suite open and smiled at the view through the sliding glass doors across from her. "Wow, this isn't bad. Inu Yasha, be a dear and bring that cooler in here." She stepped inside and to the small kitchenette. Inu Yasha followed her, carrying the cooler with ease into the small space. Kagome, Sota and Gramps spread out into the man sitting room. To each side of the living area there was a bedroom with its own bath. Sota went straight to the sliding glass doors and pulled them open. He disappeared onto the balcony. Kagome escaped into the bedroom on the left and tossed their bags on the double bed. It was the only bed in the room.
"Kagome, we haven't discussed sleeping arrangements yet!" Iki called from the living room.
"The rooms are identical, and I am not sleeping in the living room with no bathroom!" Kagome called back.
A moment later Inu Yasha followed her into the room. Kagome gave him a smile and a hug. He smiled down at her. "What was that for?"
"For you being you is all." She gave him a soft chaste kiss.
He pouted a little. "Is that all?" He eyed her hungrily. Kagome grinned and he took the opportunity to pull her too him and kiss her more warmly. The kiss was broken suddenly when a tapping came from the sliding glass doors. They turned to see Sota smirking at them through the glass. Inu Yasha growled and shook a fist at the boy, who bolted.
Kagome chuckled, her checks a bright red. "Hey, Inu Yasha, lets go swimming."
"Feh, whatever." He made another slight pout when she pulled away and went to her bag. She dug through her bag and his, pulling out their swim suits. She flashed him a quick grin and disappeared into the bathroom. Inu Yasha returned to the living area, where he caught Sota in a headlock as he tried to escape into the other bedroom. Inu Yasha smirked. "Better not do that again kid or I'll let Kagome take care of you. And you know how she gets when she's mad."
Sota seemed far more afraid of Kagome than of Inu Yasha in that moment. "Okay, okay! I promise!" Inu Yasha gave him a rather gentle nuggy before releasing him.
"Inu Yasha, come get dressed so we can go!" Kagome called from the bedroom.
"Are you going swimming? Can I come?" Sota bounced in place.
Inu Yasha grunted, but the response came from the other room. "No! Maybe later, Sota!"
"Sorry kid." Inu Yasha ruffled his hair and returned to the other room to get dressed. He caught his breath as he saw Kagome standing near the dresser, brushing her hair. She wore a one piece yellow swim suit with a low dip on the back that nearly showed her bottom. He could tell from her reflection that the front was low but not overly so and still covered her quite decently. She gave him a quick glance in the mirror and a little smirk crossed her lips. "Hey, stop staring and get dressed already."
Inu Yasha felt like his legs were made of lead. He couldn't move. She had him entranced. 'She's beautiful, like a princess.'
Kagome was becoming concerned and moved closer. "Are you all right, koishii?" (A/N: koishii means beloved)
The concern in her voice seemed to snap him out of the trance. He gave her a warm smile. "I'm fine, just admiring the view."
Kagome chuckled. "You were looking in the wrong direction for that."
"No, I wasn't." He smirked and retreated into the bathroom to change. He put on the red swim trunks and was attempting to tie the black bandana Kagome had gotten him. He growled. "Kagome!"
Kagome opened the door tentatively. She blushed slightly at the sight that met her. Inu Yasha's bare back was facing her, his muscular arms and shoulders flexed as he tried unsuccessfully to tie the bandana. Kagome moved forward with a little smile and gently brushed his hands away and tied the bandana secure enough that it would stay, but not tight enough to hurt his ears.
"There, all done." She grinned. "Let's go!" She grabbed his hand in one of hers and three towels with the other and started for the door.
"Kagome!" They turned just inside the door to Kagome's mother. "Don't forget your sunscreen." She tossed them the small bottle of lotion and Inu Yasha caught it.
"Thanks mom, see ya!" With that Kagome and her hanyou disappeared through the door.
Iki turned back to Sota and Gramps, who were sitting on the couch. Gramps was flipping through the channels on the TV and Sota was pouting. "What's wrong dear? I'm sure Kagome will take you swimming later. We will be here for two weeks."
"She's just mad because I caught her and Inu Yasha kissing." Sota slapped a hand over his mouth, a look of pure shock reflecting in his face. "Mom, I-"
Iki shook her head. "It's all right, Sota. Kagome and I have already had a discussion and I realize it's about time those two started admitting their feelings to each other."
Meanwhile, Kagome was dragging Inu Yasha toward the elevator. She pressed the down arrow. "Inu Yasha, remember we're on the seventh floor, just in case you have to come back without me or something."
Inu Yasha snorted as the doors opened. "You aren't going anywhere without me, wench."
Kagome merely smiled and entered the elevator. She slung the three towels over her shoulder as they began their decent. The doors opened on the fifth floor and three young men entered. They eyed Kagome with interest and Inu Yasha glared back. The three turned away and began chatting amongst themselves as the doors opened on the main floor. As the couple stepped out of the elevator Inu Yasha caught Kagome's elbow and took one of the towels from her, opened it, and handed it to her.
"Put it on."
She gave him a curious look. "Why?"
"Kagome don't question me. Just do it."
Realization hit her. He was jealous. "Inu Yasha, you're being ridiculous." She pushed the towel away.
He growled. "Wear it, wench."
She crossed her arms and pouted. "Or what?"
"Or we go right back up stairs and stay there."
"You can't order me around." She growled through clenched teeth, while trying not to raise her voice.
"Yes, I can! You're with me, aren't you?"
The intensity in his eyes, shouted his numerous emotions. Kagome blinked at him dumbly as slow understanding began to dawn. Miroku had explained to her once that demon males, especially inuyoukai, were always the dominant in the relationship. She sighed inwardly. She would allow this to a point, understanding that is was his nature after all. She took a half step back. "Fine." She snatched the towel from him and wrapped it around her loosely.
Inu Yasha crossed his arms and stomped toward the entrance, a scowling Kagome following him. Outside the sky was clear and blue, and a soft breeze blew. With it came the scent of the ocean. Inu Yasha led the way over the duns to the soft sand of the beach. They both paused to gaze at the sight before them. A group of teens played volleyball not far away to their left and a young couple with two small toddlers played in the sand at the water's edge directly in front of them. Beside the toddlers was an empty space. "Come on."
Kagome frowned at the back of his head. 'Why does he always have to ruin the mood?' She followed him none-the-less. Near the water in a dry cluster of sand, Kagome spread out one of the towels and sat on one end. Inu Yasha sat beside her with a sigh. "Kagome, I…"
Kagome gave an equally frustrated sigh. "Forget about it, Inu Yasha. I've come to expect that sort of thing from you." She gave him a playful smile.
"What's that supposed to mean?" He snorted.
She chuckled lightly. "I said forget it. Now would you help me put some of this sunscreen on my back?"
"Feh." He responded as she pulled her raven locks away to reveal the bare skin of her back. He squirted some of the liquid into his palm, wrinkling his nose at the smell, and began to gently rub the cream across her soft warm skin. He gently massaged some of the tense muscles as he did this. 'She so soft and warm, and she smells so good. I can hardly bare it.'
Kagome turned her head to watch one of the toddlers, a three year old boy, come in their direction and edge toward the water. Kagome's gaze never left him as he glanced over his shoulder at his parents, who were currently in a conversation and were not keeping a very good eye on the toddler. The small boy gave his parents another quick glance and when no one called out or scolded him, he made a dash for the water.
Inu Yasha jumped, as Kagome suddenly sprang up and dashed toward the water. He had been too wrapped up in Kagome's nearness to notice the toddler and the impending danger. He gasped as Kagome shot into the water clear up to her thighs and grabbed the toddler as his head went under the water. As he was pulled out he gurgled and sputtered. Then he wrinkled his little face and began to wail. Kagome cuddled the boy to her as she began to retreat to the shore. Inu Yasha watched in amazement as she comforted the child as his hysterical mother ran down the beach to her crying child.
Kagome handed over the boy. His mother clutched him protectively. "Oh, thank you, thank you." Tears streamed down her cheeks. The boy's father appeared and rubbed the child's back gently. He was big man with dark hair and kind eyes. The other toddler, a daughter of maybe a year, was in his arms.
Inu Yasha growled softly and went to stand beside Kagome. "You should keep a better eye on your pups. You're lucky Kagome was watching."
The woman wept harder. "You're right, I'm sorry Kinshin." She cried to her son.
Kagome elbowed Inu Yasha. "Be nice." Kagome bowed to them. "You're very welcome. I'm always happy to help."
The man raised an eyebrow at Inu Yasha for calling his child a 'pup' and then returned Kagome's gesture with a bow of his own. "You have our eternal gratitude. My name is Kitto and this Yuki my wife. We're staying in the hotel for the next two weeks. If there is ever anything we can do for you, just say the word." With that he put his arm around his wife and they walk back to where they had been sitting to gather their things. The young woman was far too upset to stay there any longer.
Inu Yasha watched them go. 'I wonder how Kagome knew that boy was going to go into the water. She'll make a good mother.' He blinked at himself for thinking of Kagome like that. He then smiled as the image of Kagome with his pups danced through his mind.
"Hey, Inu Yasha…"
He glanced at Kagome and threw a hand up in time to block the splash of water. "Why you!" Kagome laughed and made a dash for the deeper water. Growling playfully, he set out in pursuit.
&&&
A few hundred yards up the beach a young woman tipped her designer sunglasses down to gaze at the playful couple. She gazed at the handsome man with beautiful long silver hair. 'I think I just found a new toy.' "Hmm, that's a good looking piece of meat. Do you know who he is?"
Her younger sister flopped into a folding chair beside her with her little black dog. She scowled at the man in question. "Who? Him? You don't want him, Shina. He's a jerk. He frightened poor Puki and made him ruin my bathing suit."
"Oh, and that should bother me, how?"
"Because he's an ill mannered cretin, that's why! Besides, he's Kagome's boyfriend."
The dark eyes turned sharp and cold. "Kagome?" The name tasted foul in her mouth. 'That scrawny little bitch? What the hell is she doing here? I told her never to show her face here again.'
"Yep, that's her. She sure looks different doesn't she?"
"Hump, she's no better than her mother. Keep your distance from that trash or you'll start smelling like her." Shina continued to watch the handsome hanyou as he scooped Kagome into his arms and tossed her into the water again. 'She won't be much competition. He'll be mine before the week is out.' An evil grin crossed her lips. 'Yes, he'll be mine, soon enough.'
A dark shadow suddenly blocked her sun. Shina looked up to see her cousin. She flashed him a genuine smile. "Taro, nice to see you're back from Bermuda. Want to have a little fun?" She nodded at the couple.
Taro, who had broad shoulders and muscular arms with short cropped dark hair, glanced in the direction she indicated. "And what sort of 'fun' did you have in mind this time?"
"Recognize the little slut?"
"No, should I?"
"That's Kagome."
A scowl that rivaled Shina's a moment ago crossed his features. "I thought we took care of 'that' years ago." He turned to smirk at Shina. "What have you got in mind?"
&&&
Another pair of eyes watched the couple, but with far less malice. Iki sat on the balcony with a cup of tea. She smiled as Kagome tried to unsuccessfully to sweep Inu Yasha's legs from under him in order to dunk him. Each time he would simply scoop her up and toss her into the deeper water. Kagome finally tackled him and they both went under.
"It seems they're getting quite close." Gramps said as he sat beside her. Iki nodded. "He is a half-demon, you know?"
"Kagome has been with him for nearly three years, Father, and he has let no harm come to her. I trust him and you should too."
"But if their relationship continues, it would mean-"
Iki grinned broadly. "Grandchildren with little furry ears. I think I like that idea."
Gramps groaned. "You're a hopeless romantic, you know?"
Iki grinned again and chuckled. "I know. Come on, let's go get lunch ready. I have feeling those two will be hungry." She and Gramps rose and headed back into the air conditioning away from the summer heat.
&&&&
A/N: I know it was a little short, but I hope you enjoyed it none-the-less. I'm going out of town till Monday, so I probably won't update until Tuesday night at the earliest. Happy holidays everyone and to all a good night.
