Disclaimer: Nope, not yet.
A/N: I must deeply apologize for the wait. Things have been really crazy around here for the last few weeks. I'm thankful that you guys are still keeping up with reviewing even during my slow poke moment. Hehehe.
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Chapter 16- Clash of the Titans
Kagome was sure she was floating. Every hair on her body stood on end as if electrified. Her whole body tingled right down to her toes. His lips left a blazing stream in their wake. She gasped as he caught her ear lobe in his teeth.
Inu Yasha had been 'convincing' her for nigh on half an hour. Not that either of them had noticed the time. They had been completely wrapped up in each other, undisturbed for the first time. Kagome rubbed his ears while he rumbled his approval in her ear. She smiled as she heard another distinctive rumble. This one though, came from his stomach.
She chuckled and he rose up to look at her. "You're hungry." He smirked mischievously and she laughed. "I didn't mean it that way. I meant you want food."
He flicked his ears in the dimness, considering her assessment. "Feh, I can do without." He lowered his lips to hers again and ran his fangs teasingly along the tender flesh. She shivered and curled further into him. He tasted her once more and her hands tangled in his hair. Any protest she could have made was quickly lost to his soft lips. That is until the rumble came again and Kagome couldn't help the giggle that escaped her.
He sat back with a half scowl, half pout. She giggled again and cupped his face in her hands. "I don't think your stomach agrees." She smiled when his expression turned into a full pout. "Come on." She began to move from his lap, where she had been for the past half-hour, but his arms tightened around her.
"No." He smirked. "I want to stay here with you."
She smiled again. "I know. Maybe we can sneak off again later." He hesitantly released her as she stood and offered him her hand. He took it, but didn't use it for leverage as he stood beside her. He pouted again and she chuckled lightly. "Let's go have some s'mores." She paused long enough to replace the bandana over his furry appendages.
He let her lead him back to the bonfire. "What's a sa-mo-ro?"
"It's something you eat. It's really good." She paused suddenly and he pumped into her. She glanced at him. "Can you have chocolate?"
"What? What are you talking about?" One of his eyebrows wiggled in confusion.
"Dogs can't have chocolate, it makes them sick."
He snorted. "Feh, I'm half human too. If you can eat it, I'm sure I can."
"What if you get sick?"
"I won't."
She sighed. "If you're sure…"
"Don't worry so much, wench. I'm sure I can handle it." His fangs flashed in the darkness as he grinned.
She shot him a dubious look and then smiled slowly. "All right, but you'll tell me if you feel bad, promise."
He snorted and she glared. "All right, I promise."
She nodded and they began their trek once more. They emerged from the darkness into the ring of firelight. Their companions looked up. Eri smirked. "So what have you two been doing?"
Kagome blushed and Yuka chuckled. "You don't have to say a word, we can guess."
Inu Yasha growled and Kagome sighed. "Leave them alone, guys. I think it's sweet." Ayume grinned.
Kagome rolled her eyes as she walked back to their towel. She began to pull out the s'mores supplies as Inu Yasha came to sit beside her. Ignoring her friends' snickers and glances, she pulled out two drinks and handed one to her hanyou. "Did you guys bring the hot dogs?"
"Yeah, we were thinking of cooking them, but we wanted to wait for you two to come back." Eri shifted her position so she could pull out the hot dogs and pointed sticks.
Kagome smiled and snatched them away. "Well, we're hungry so we all might as well dig in." She took three hot dogs out, two for Inu Yasha and one for herself. She then handed them over to Yuka, who promptly did the same.
Inu Yasha watched curiously as Kagome placed the hot dogs on the sticks. She moved forward and held the two sticks over the flame. The three other girls did the same. Inu Yasha propped Tetsusaiga on his shoulder and leaned on it out of habit. "Hey is that sword real?" Inu Yasha turned to Fu.
"Feh, of course it is."
"Why are you carrying around a real sword on the beach of all places?" Kimaru asked.
"Feh, the wench wouldn't let me leave without it."
Kagome turned to glare at him over her shoulder. "You promised." She stated flatly. She saw the slight movement under the bandana and knew his ears had flattened even more. He crossed his arms and looked away from her.
"So, do you know how to use that thing or is it just for show?" Jake teased.
"Feh, of course I do."
"Really, would you show us some of your moves?" Fu asked.
"You don't even have a sword. How am I supposed to show you, if I don't have anyone to fight?" Inu Yasha retorted.
"I have some shinai in my car. I could run and get them. If you're interested that is? I'm pretty good myself." Fu smirked. (A/N: shinai are practice swords made of bamboo.)
"Feh, whatever."
Fu patted Yuka's arm. "I'll be right back." She nodded as he got up and disappeared into the darkness.
Kagome came back to sit beside Inu Yasha again. She lowered her voice so only he could hear her. "Inu Yasha, be careful. They're human remember." She fixed his hot dog and handed one over to him. He nodded and the hot dog disappeared in a matter of seconds. She chuckled and handed him the second one. He took his time with the second one as he watched her fix her own.
Fu returned shortly with his shinai. He settled back down beside Yuka, who'd fixed him a hot dog as well. "Don't get too full because after we eat, you're going to eat sand." He confidently smirked.
"Feh, as if a weak little-"
"Inu Yasha, want to try those s'mores, now?" Kagome cut him off. She pulled the bag of marshmallows out from behind her and plopped one in her hand.
He snatched it and scowled at it while sniffing it. "What the heck is it?"
Kagome rolled her eyes and plopped four others into her hand. "Trust me, you'll like them." He continued to sniff and scowl at the marshmallow, while she fixed the others to her stick. Once again she moved to the fire after passing the marshmallows around to the rest of the group. Kagome was careful not to burn the marshmallows, but cooked them just enough that they were squishy in the middle. Once done she moved back to sit beside her hanyou again.
Pulling it off the stick, she held one out to him level with his nose. He sniffed the cooked mellow and leaned forward to take a tentative bite. When he leaned back, it was everything she could do not to giggle. On the tip of his nose was a speck of marshmallow. He didn't seem to notice as he chewed the bite thoughtfully. "Hmm, not bad." He took her wrist and brought the rest of the mellow into his mouth in one bite, sucking on one of her fingers before he released her wrist. Kagome couldn't help the giggle this time at the still lingering speck of marshmallow. He gazed at her curiously. "What's so funny, wench?"
Kagome stuck her still sticky fingers into her mouth in an attempt to smother the rising laughter. His curiosity turned into a scowl, which was completely lost on her and only served to make her burst into laughter. He snorted and turned his head away from her with his arms crossed over his chest with a little pout. Kagome's laughter subsided into a small chuckle. "Oh, come here, will you?"
He grumbled. "You know I don't like trying new food from this time."
"I know. That wasn't what I was laughing at. Now, come here." When he still refused to look she sat up on her knees and put a hand on his cheek to force him to look at her. The spec was still there. She choked back another giggle as she flicked out her tongue and brushed it lightly over the tip of his nose.
Inu Yasha could have sworn the world was spinning at an incredible rate and the earth itself was trembling beneath him. He gasped and shivered in the same moment, before growling with something between possession and desire. Kagome gasped and nearly dropped the stick as he snatched her up and placed her in his lap. The things he could imagine that little tongue of hers doing….
He muffled a soft moan as her slight body weight sent a tingle erupting through his lower body. Kagome's cheeks tinted pink and she took a sharp intake of breath as a pressure grew to meet her bottom beneath the material of his jeans. She gazed up at him for a moment before he dipped his head and raked his fangs along the tender flesh of her neck. His voice was husky and deep when he spoke. "If you want to stay here with your friends, I wouldn't do that again if I were you."
Kagome's blush deepened and she nodded once. His arms wrapped tightly around her as she shifted slightly in his lap. "Let me fix you a s'more before the marshmallows get cold."
He murmured against her neck. "Screw the s'mores, your much sweeter." He flicked his tongue against her skin for emphasis.
She shivered. "Inu Yasha…" she warned. "We're not alone."
He grumbled something unintelligible but reluctantly loosened his hold on her enough so she could stretch to reach the chocolate bars and gram crackers. He watched as she slipped the marshmallows from the stick and placed them on the gram crackers along with the chocolate bars. After making three s'more sandwiches she held one up for him.
"Here."
He made a show of sniffing it before taking it. He took a tentative bite and his eyes lit up. "It'll do." The rest of the s'more had a life span of about a second. Kagome giggled at him and he eyed the extra s'more. She rolled her eyes and passed him the third s'more, while she nibbled her own. "Thanks."
Kagome smiled and leaned into his chest. "I knew you'd like them." He chuckled lightly and drew her deeper into him.
"Careful, I hear chocolate is a good aphrodisiac." Yuka laughed as Kagome's cheeks tinted.
"Are you ready to eat sand, Inu Yasha?" Fu challenged.
"Feh, not even in you're dreams."
Fu stood. "Big talk. You got anything to back it up?"
Inu Yasha snorted and gently slid Kagome from his lap. She made a face at the lack of his warmth. The wind had begun to pick up and it was becoming chilly in her little sundress. "Bring it on, weakling."
The other two boys stood up and began to argue about who would get to fight the winner as Inu Yasha strolled to a clear spot in the sand. "Inu Yasha, don't hurt them!" Kagome warned as she moved to sit beside the other girls.
Inu Yasha snorted. "Don't worry wench, I'll behave."
Ayume leaned in close. "You're awful confident that he'll win."
Kagome chuckled. "I have no doubts. Inu Yasha's a poor looser. In fact, I don't think he knows the meaning of the word."
Ayume grinned evilly. "Want to make another bet, Eri?"
Eri rolled her eyes. "I don't think so. Between Yuka and I, we'll be feeding you for over a month if we loose again."
"Which you would." Kagome stated flatly. The girls chattered while the boys rough-housed in the pale light of the moon. Inu Yasha quickly disarmed and defeated each of the teens. He laughed and easily dodged them as all three charged him. It wasn't long before they wore themselves out and the boys returned to the girls. Kagome yawned as Inu Yasha pulled her back into his lap. She cuddled close to his chest, enjoying his warmth. Somewhere between the sound of her friends' laughter and the complete contentment of being in Inu Yasha's arms, she drifted off into the haze of dreams.
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Kagome woke to the sense of security Inu Yasha's embrace always brought. He was wrapped around her so much that she was nearly underneath him. Slowly opening her eyes she smiled as she tilted her head to see his peaceful features dosed in the first rays of sunlight and the wind playing in his hair. She smiled again. 'I love the way the wind blows through his hair. Wait, wind!' Kagome craned her neck to look around. They were still on the beach. The fire had long died out and her companions slept randomly beside the remains. 'Oh, no! I fell asleep! Mama's going to be furious!'
She felt the rise of panic inside her and she tried to sit up. Inu Yasha growled and tightened his grip on her. "Inu Yasha, wake up." She shook his shoulder. He grumbled something and pulled her further beneath him. Kagome shook his shoulder again, her panic increasing so much that tears sprang to her eyes. "Inu Yasha, please wake up!"
He opened his eyes and blinked blurrily at her for a moment. Concern flickered into his gaze as he spotted the unshed tears. "Kagome, what's wrong?"
"We slept on the beach. We've been out all night. My mom is going to be really upset. We need to get back."
He nodded and allowed her to sit up. She shivered a bit from the sudden lack of his warmth. Quickly gathering their things, Kagome made sure to wake Eri and say a hurried goodbye before they headed back toward the hotel.
"We could go in through the balcony." Inu Yasha suggested as they neared the front doors.
Kagome shook her head. "No, it wouldn't make a difference. I have a feeling she'll know. Besides I left my bedroom door open last night." She sighed. "There's nothing for it. I'm doomed."
He scowled and repressed a growl at the exasperation in her voice and the anxiety in her scent. They moved through the lobby and into the elevator, completely missing the pair of dark eyes that watched them.
Kagome took a deep breath and slowly pushed the door open. She sensed her mother's presence before she saw her. Iki stood in the living room, arms crossed over her chest, glaring at her daughter with a distinctive scowl. Inu Yasha quietly set the cooler down in the kitchen floor behind Kagome.
Kagome fidgeted, twirling her ring nervously. Her mother's silence was worse than being scolded. "Um, Mom…I…will you say something, please?"
Iki took several deep breaths before she was able to trust her voice. She tapped her foot on the carpeted floor. "And just where have you been all night?"
Kagome's chin dropped, unable to meet her mother's perceptive gaze. "I, uh, fell asleep on the beach…"
"On the beach!"
Kagome's chin dropped another notch and she shuffled her feet. "Well, it was an accident and my friends were there and…"
"Do you have any idea how dangerous that is!"
"But Inu Yasha was there and he'd never-"
Iki took a step forward her hands on her hips. "That is beside the point! Do you know how worried I was!"
Kagome opened her mouth, but the formidable form of Inu Yasha stepped in front of her followed by a low growl. "Kagome said it was an accident. If you want to blame someone, blame me. I was awake long after she fell asleep. I could have brought her back last night."
Kagome latched onto his arm. "Inu Yasha…"
Iki rubbed a hand over her tired eyes. She'd gotten up in the middle of the night for a glass of water and had found that Kagome had never returned. She'd stayed up since then, too worried to sleep. She sighed. "Go clean up. We're having lunch in the hall this afternoon." She lifted her gaze to give her daughter a pointed glare over Inu Yasha's shoulder. "And I expect you to be there. I'm going to shower." She turned on her heel and disappeared into her bedroom.
Inu Yasha glared at the closed door for another long moment before he snorted. "Now, I know where you get your temper."
Kagome smiled weakly. "She was just worried."
"She ought to know by now, I don't let you out of my sight." He drew her forward into his chest.
Her smile widened. She reached up and removed the bandana. His frustrated appendages shot up and twitched. She giggled lightly. "I've missed your ears." She caught one between her fingers and began to massage it.
He began to rumble deep in his chest while leaning into her touch. "They've missed you too."
"You know it really was my fault."
"Feh."
She leaned up and brushed a feathery soft kiss across his lips. "Thank you." Her breath left moister lingering on his skin.
He groaned and scooped her up playfully. "You better quit teasing me, wench." Kagome squealed as he swung her around just a little. "Shhh, you'll wake the old man." He nodded at the still sleeping form of Gramps.
Kagome wondered wildly, how he had managed to sleep through her mother's tirade. 'He must be getting deaf in his old age. Either that, or he's pretending so he won't be caught in the crossfire.' She placed a finger to her lips and pointed to the bedroom. He nodded and carried her through the doorway. He set her on her feet and closed the door behind them. When he turned back, he found Kagome darting for the bathroom. "I'm first!"
"Hey!" He made a dash for the door, but it closed before he could get to it. "That's not fair!"
"You snooze, you loose."
"I'll remember that!" Kagome's laughter could be heard through the door. Despite himself, he smiled. 'I love that sound.'
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Two hours later, Kagome and Inu Yasha were cleaned up. Inu Yasha was wolfing down some leftover rice balls, while Kagome poked at her own food. She glanced across the room at the balcony doors. Iki was outside leaning on the railing. She hadn't really said much since their argument and Kagome was feeling quite guilty about the whole thing. She sighed and pushed her plate away before standing.
Inu Yasha looked up at her with a rice ball half way in his mouth. "What's wrong?" he mumbled around it.
She patted his shoulder. "I'll be back. You go ahead and eat, okay?'
He made a face as he swallowed the rice ball. Then he glared past her out the glass door. "You want me to come with you?"
She shook her head. "No. You eat." She graced him with a small smile before turning toward the balcony door. 'I'll just apologize. I hated knowing she was worried and I hate when she's angry with me.' She tentatively pulled open the sliding door and stepped onto the balcony. "Mama?"
Iki turned to gaze at her daughter with a distant look in her eyes. She stretched a hand out to her. Kagome knew then that she had been forgiven as she took her mother's hand. Iki pulled her into a hug and wrapped an arm around her shoulders. "There was a time that I could wrap my arms around you and protect you from all the things that could harm you in the world." Iki's voice was low and fringed with a touch of sadness.
"I still feel safe in your arms, Mama." Kagome gave her mother a tight squeeze.
Iki took a step back and shook her head. "I wish that was true, but it's not. You haven't relied on me in a long time." She smiled sadly. "Not for nearly three years now. Not since you met Inu Yasha."
"Mama, Inu Yasha didn't-"
Iki shook her head again. "It's okay, Kagome. That's what happens when you find someone you love." She turned her gaze to the rolling waves. "I realized something this morning when you two came in. I realized that somehow without me noticing, you had turned into a woman." She sighed. "It seems only yesterday that I held you in my arms for the first time. After your father got sick, I promised him that I'd always take care of you. With you running all over feudal Japan, I don't think I've done a very good job of that. Or at least I thought I hadn't until today."
Iki turned back to her daughter a small smile turning her lips again. "He's very protective of you. He has taken such good care of you while you've been away. And I can tell that he loves you very much."
Kagome smiled, absently touching the necklace with her left hand. "Yeah, and I love him very much, too."
Iki's eyes sparkled in the late morning sun. "That's a very pretty ring and necklace."
"Oh!" She glanced at the ring and blushed. "It is, isn't it? Inu Yasha gave them to me."
Iki smiled knowingly. "Oh, did he now? Where did he get them?"
Kagome blinked for a moment. "He didn't tell me."
Iki began to chuckle. "You mean, after all the trouble he went through, he didn't tell you?"
Kagome began to shake her head, but stopped a narrowed a suspicious gaze on her mother. "You were in on it, weren't you? You knew all along."
Iki's chuckle increased. "Of course, I was. Inu Yasha doesn't have money, dear. He had to pay for the tickets somehow. And he's promised to bring me back some special things from the feudal era in exchange, even though I insisted there was no need."
"Tickets?"
Iki laughed out right at her daughter's confused expression. "For the raffle. He did a good job of hiding those from you and I'm pretty sure he defeated the whole purpose of the raffle by making sure his were the only tickets in the bowl."
"You mean, he cheated?"
"Well, maybe. But he probably didn't see it that way, so don't blame him. He just wanted to make you happy." She smiled a truly warm smile and hugged her daughter again. She lifted Kagome's left hand. "Interesting choice of fingers."
Kagome blushed from ear to ear. "Inu Yasha put it there. He said it was a promise."
"A promise, huh? You know in America there used to be a tradition of giving promise rings. It was a kind of pre-engagement ring."
Kagome ducked her head as her pink blush turned red. "Um, I don't think he meant it like that. He isn't from this time after all. He doesn't know our traditions."
Iki lifted Kagome's chin with a finger. Her smile was wistful and all-knowing. "Maybe he doesn't but maybe he meant it that way anyways. Or maybe he meant it as something more." Kagome slowly smiled at her mother. "You have grown into a beautiful woman Kagome. You have done more and seen more than most old women in this time could even dream of. Your life is yours, and I can't make decisions for you anymore. But know that whatever you decide to do with your life, if it is to stay here or return with Inu Yasha, I'll understand and I'll support you." She kissed Kagome's brow and chuckled sadly. "I'll just have to get used to the idea that you don't need your mommy anymore."
Kagome shook her head vigorously. "I'll always need my mommy."
Iki chuckled. "Come on. You better go eat before Inu Yasha comes to get you." She slid open the door and nudged Kagome inside before closing it behind her.
Kagome paused before retaking her seat at the table. "Mom, where's Sota and Gramps? I haven't seen them since I got out of the shower."
Iki sat on the sofa and picked up a stray magazine. "Gramps took Sota down to the hall. The children are supposed to be decorating it for lunch." Iki flipped on the TV and found the news before distracting herself with the magazine during commercials.
Kagome sat back down beside Inu Yasha. He leaned close. "Everything okay?"
She gave him a warm smile. "Yeah, everything is fine. We just talked."
He pushed an errant ebony lock behind her ear. "Good."
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Kagome gazed around the hall. Little paper flags and origami decorated the tables along with colored place mats obviously drawn by the younger children. Sota ran up one of the isles between the tables with Kahou close at his heels. "Mom! Kagome! Inu Yasha!"
Kagome ruffled her brother's hair. "You did a great job, Sota. It looks great!"
Sota scowled at her for a moment while he fixed his hair. Then his eyes lit up. "Wow, Kagome that sure is a pretty necklace!"
Kagome smiled and blushed at the same time. "Yeah, it is." Beside her Inu Yasha was blushing as well.
Kagome nearly jumped as Kahou rushed forward and grabbed her hand. "This is a really pretty ring too! Are you two going to-"
"Kahou, do you want to eat lunch with us? I'm sure your mom wouldn't mind. Why don't you go ask her?" Iki interjected before the little girl could say anymore. Beside her, Kagome let out a sigh of relief. She in now way wanted to embarrass Inu Yasha or have her hopes that he really had meant more by the gesture crushed.
"Okay!" Kahou spun on her heel and dashed back across the hall. Kagome smiled a little as she watched her rush to her aunt's side and tug on her skirt. The little girl was the embodiment of youth- energetic, bright eyed, and happy.
Sota led them to their table where Gramps was already sitting, his nose buried in a newspaper. Iki laughed as she picked up the little paper menu written in crayon. "Is this what we're having for lunch?"
Sota cleared his throat and straightened up a little. "Yep, and I'm your waiter, so tell me what you want."
Kagome read over the menu with amusement. "I think I'll have the fruit salad and corn dogs." She pressed her hand to her mouth to keep her giggles in check. She'd picked the most reasonable combination on the menu. The rest were down right hilarious. The children had obviously been in charge of picking the menu as well.
"I think I'll have the Jell-O with macaroni and cheese." Iki set aside her menu, trying to smother her own laughter at the same time.
Inu Yasha scowled at the paper with childrens' sloppy scroll on it. "What the heck is this stuff?"
Sota rolled his eyes. "It's food. Good food, too."
Kagome leaned on Inu Yasha's arm and pointed down at an item on the menu. "Why don't you try the peanut butter and jelly sandwich with a banana?"
"I don't even know what pea-nut-but-tur or jell-e is." Inu Yasha complained.
Kagome shrugged. "It's safe at least. There isn't a way to mess up either of those and they're not spicy at all. There's no telling what me and mom will find when we go to eat our food."
"Hey!" Sota crossed his arms over his chest and pouted.
Inu Yasha considered Kagome's suggestion for a moment. "You're sure I'll like it?" Kagome nodded. "All right, runt, get me that."
Sota nodded and turned to leave. Kagome's voice stopped him. "What about Gramps?"
Gramps snorted, finally looking up from the paper. "I had the misfortune of getting the carrot and raisin salad with beans and weenies. I swear that salad had crayon shavings in it." Gramps made a disgusted face and buried his nose again as Iki began to giggle. Sota rolled his eyes and stomped off. Kagome and Iki laughed as he disappeared into the kitchen.
A few moments later, Kahou appeared with her grandmother. Inu Yasha stood as the old woman came to the table and offered her his chair, the only other free on was on the far side of the table beside Gramps, but Kahou had already acquired it. The woman nodded and graced him with a warm smile. "Such a polite young man." She patted his hand before taking his seat beside Kagome.
"Grandmother, are you joining us for lunch?" Kagome smiled brightly.
"Oh, no. I've already had my fill. Kahou says she's joining you, but I thought I'd sit a spell while Sota gets your food." She reached out for Kagome's hand and paused to gaze at the ring. She smiled. "Well, I was wondering who won this."
"Oh, did you put this in the raffle, Grandmother?" Kagome asked.
"Yes, I'm glad you won it. They look simply wonderful on you." She patted Kagome's hand.
"Well, actually Inu Yasha won it for me." Kagome tilted her head back to look at her handsome hanyou, who stood behind her chair, a slight tint to his cheeks.
"Oh, that's wonderful!" The older woman looked again and a slow mischievous smile broke over her lips. "An interesting choice of fingers."
Kagome withdrew her hand, a dark blush staining her cheeks. "Uh, it's a promise."
"Ah, a promise, I see. I'm glad to see you two are thinking of the future. Speaking of which, there is something I've been meaning to-"
"Well, hello, Grandmother." Shina sauntered up to the table. Fushigi followed at a respectable distance. She bent to brush a kiss over her Grandmother's cheek. "How are you doing this afternoon?"
"Fine, Shina, dear. I was just admiring Kagome's ring."
Shina spared Kagome a glance. "Oh, what ring?" Kagome lifted her hand and Shina groaned inwardly. 'What the hell is that? It better not be what I think it is. But from where she's wearing it, it might just be. I'll put an end to that soon enough.' She plastered on a fake smile. "Oh, that's just lovely." She narrowed her gaze at her younger cousin. "I'm surprised to see you here."
Kagome didn't like that statement one bit, but she had to ask. "Why's that?"
"Well, I saw you two on the beach this morning and Inu Yasha was all over you. It appeared as though you'd slept there last night. So, what were you two doing out there?" Kagome turned three shades of red and buried her face in her hands. Inu Yasha placed his hands on her shoulders and growled.
Kagome's grandmother cleared her throat. "I'm sure Kagome has a perfectly good explanation for why she was there."
Kagome looked up and nodded quickly. "My friends invited me and Inu Yasha to have a bonfire party with them on the beach to celebrate Inu Yasha winning his round in the surfing tournament. It was really late and well, I kind of fell asleep. But everyone else did too."
Shina sneered. "And why was Inu Yasha lying on top of you, then?"
"He was not lying on top of me." Kagome growled.
"It sure looked like that from where I was." Shina gloated.
"She was cold!" Inu Yasha finally snapped.
"Ah, of course. You see, Shina? Everything had perfectly good reasons." Kagome's grandmother pointed out.
Shina snorted and turned away from Kagome in a blatant show of ignoring her. "Grandmother, would you mind helping me with something."
"Well, actually, I was going to speak with Kagome for a moment. I haven't been able to see much of her."
Shina turned and batted pleading eyes at her grandmother. "Oh, please, Grandmother. Fushigi and I need some help deciding last minute preparations for the wedding." Behind her Fushigi blinked at the mention of his name, until then he had looked on with a tired and bored expression that could have rivaled one of Sesshomaru's.
The elderly woman sighed. "All right, I'll help." She rose and patted Kagome's hand again. "We'll talk later, okay?"
Kagome nodded. "Okay."
Inu Yasha squeezed her shoulders as they watched them walk away. "Boy, I pity that guy."
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A/N: Hopefully I can update as soon as the next chap is written. Like I said things have really been nuts! Much love to you guys for your patience. –smooches-waves-giggles-
