Disclaimer: Nope, still not yet.
A/N: Thanks for your patience guys. A couple of comments: Some of you asked if that was Sesshomaru that Hojo's grampa ran into. Yes, that was him, not that Hojo's grampa would know that. Also I hope you guys aren't getting tired of the fluff. I warned you early on that this one was mostly fluff anyway. Hope you enjoy this chapter!
--WARNING--: This chapter contains a lime, sortof,and nudity. I'll give you fair warning ahead of time so you can skip that part if you don't like it. Also this is a M rated fic for a reason, so no flames, k?
&&&&
Chapter 17 - Spicy?
Fushigi watched as the old woman tottered away from the table he and his soon-to-be-wife were sharing. She had come up with some menial problem that she exaggerated on the importance of to keep the old woman occupied. He shifted his gaze from Shina's grandmother to the couple across the room. The man with silver hair leaned down and whispered something in the young woman's ear that made her smile and blush. She glanced around before leaning up to kiss his cheek. 'They are very much in love. It is a pity that I shall never know such a thing.' He glanced at his bride. She was scowling across the room at the couple with the fire of Hell in her eyes. "Why do you hate that girl so much?"
Shina spared him a bored expression, almost as though she'd forgotten he was there. "Who, that little slut? Isn't it obvious? She doesn't even deserve to be in the same building as someone with our class." She glanced back at the pair. "How she managed to get him is beyond me. She's just a child." Her eyes narrowed. "He deserves a real woman."
Fushigi sat up and glared at her. "The men in your family may be spineless when it comes to their women, but I am not one of them. I will not allow indecency in this union. Our fathers' merger be damned. You will honor me."
She glared back with defiance. "And you mean to tell me that this union is what you desire? Don't be stupid. I wouldn't deny you a play thing. As a matter of fact, you could even have the little slut."
Fire flared in his normally cool gaze. "I need no one, not even you. Defy me and you will regret it." He pushed his chair back and stood. "A warning, leave them alone. I have a feeling, if you push either of them too far they will teach you a lesson in manners. And I will allow it, because you will deserve it." He strolled away with a cold continence.
Shina glared after him for a moment before turning her attention back to the couple. They were standing up and Inu Yasha offered Kagome his hand. 'Damn, I've got to separate them somehow. He'll never realize his loss as long as she is hanging around. But how?' She watched as Kagome smiled and ruffled her brother's hair, before turning and heading for the door. 'Her scrawny little brother….hmm…Yes, he'll do nicely.' A malevolent sneer reached her lips. 'Yes, nicely indeed.'
&&&&&
Kagome pushed open the door to their suite. "Mom, we're back."
Iki set aside the paper she was reading to smile at her daughter and her guests. "Who are your friends, dear?" She rose to greet the young couple that followed her daughter.
Inu Yasha stepped further into the suite to allow Iki closer access to their guest. Kagome smiled. "This is my mother Iki Higurashi. This is Kitto and Yuki, and their children Kinshin and Sakura. Kitto won the intermediate level at the tournament today. I thought we'd take them out for a late lunch with some of those complimentary tickets to celebrate."
Iki smiled. "Oh, that's a great idea, dear." Her eyes locked on the two toddlers. "Would you like me to baby-sit, while you have a nice lunch."
Kitto and Yuki exchanged glances. The young mother turned back to Iki. "They're a bit of a handful."
"Nonsense, I've raised two children, three if you count Gramps."
"Hey!" Gramps protested from the sofa.
"I'd be more than happy to watch them." Iki grinned. "I just love children. I can't wait to have grandchildren."
Behind her Kagome and Inu Yasha turned three shades of red. Kitto chuckled and leaned in close to Iki. "With those two it's only a matter of time, and I doubt you'll be waiting long."
Iki chuckled as she glanced over her shoulder at the couple in question, only to see to mortified expressions. She cleared her throat and tried to suppress the giggle that rose. "Well, if you're going to the hotel's restaurant then you better get cleaned up. It's supposed to be a very nice one."
Yuki nodded. "Oh, yes. I've heard that as well. Come on, Kitto. We should go get dressed."
"Would you like me to watch the little ones while you dress?"
Yuki and Kitto exchanged another look before Yuki nodded. "All right." She handed Sakura to her, while Kitto set Kinshin on his feet. The boy immediately darted across the short distance and attached himself to Kagome's leg.
Kagome laughed. "They'll be fine."
"Thank you, we'll be back in about a half an hour or so." Kitto waved as he ushered his wife out the door.
Iki turned back to Kagome with Sakura gurgling happily in her arms. "They're very nice. Where did you meet them?"
"On the beach. Kagome rescued their pup from the water." Inu Yasha snorted. "How they could be so distracted that they didn't even realize he was headed for the water, is beyond me."
Iki glanced down at the little boy, who was now inspecting his surroundings with curious eyes. "Well, you did a very good thing dear. Now, I'll watch these two, while you go clean up. I'll dig out those tickets, while you're dressing."
A mischievous light flickered behind a golden pair of eyes. Inu Yasha turned and darted toward his and Kagome's bathroom. "I'm first!"
"Hey, that's not fair!" Kagome chased after him, but the door slammed before she could reach it. "Girls take longer to clean up than guys!" She pounded a fist on the door.
His snicker came from the other side. "In the words of a beautiful miko, 'You snooze, you loose.'"
She pouted. "You don't even like bathing!"
"Feh."
"Come on, it takes me longer!"
"Feh, shut up or I'm never coming out."
"Kagome dear, you could use the other bathroom, if you need to."
Kagome turned to look at her mother, a pout still evident in her features. "I can't. All my stuff is in there." She glared back at the door. "Where that baka is."
"Feh." was her response, just before the shower came on. Kagome sighed and shuffled over to the bed to wait.
&&&&
Inu Yasha pulled on the button down shirt and tucked the bottom into his pants. He frowned at his reflection. Even though he had hurried through his bath, Kagome had given him a thorough chewing out when he'd emerged. 'Feh, serves her right. She did it to me last time.' Kagome was presently using that deafening thing she called a hair dryer. He called it the-noisy-fire-breathing-beast-from-hell. He caught her gaze in the mirror's reflection and he flashed her a smirk. Kagome snorted and looked away, though he didn't miss the small quirking of her lips. 'Good, I thought I was really in trouble there for a minute.' His reprieve was short lived though, when there came a knock on the suite's door. He glanced over his shoulder at the bedside clock, trying to remember what Kagome had taught him about how to read it. 'That was fast.' He glanced at Kagome, who, thank kami, hadn't heard the knock over the raucous of the 'beast'. She was almost finished or at least he hoped she was. 'I'll stall while she finishes.'
He snatched up the bandana and stomped over to her. "Put this on me, wench." He tried to sound gruff, but the look she flashed him made him almost sound amused. The look was a paradox. Her eyes laughed at him, while she forced a frown. "Come on, wench." She sighed and shut off the 'beast' before setting it aside and taking the bandana. After she arranged the bandana, she turned back to grab the dryer again. He caught her wrist. "Are you still pouting, koi?" She glowered at him, but didn't respond. He tipped her chin up with his finger and brushed a chaste kiss across her lips.
Kagome couldn't repress the smile. "That was so unfair."
He chuckled as he turned toward the door. "Hurry it up, Kagome. We've got to be back before the sun sets."
Kagome glanced at the clock at his reminder and turned back to quickly finish drying her hair.
Inu Yasha stepped into the living room and nodded a greeting to their company. Iki looked up from Sakura. "Where's Kagome?" Sota lay on the floor with Kinshin, showing the boy how to color the pictures he'd drawn.
"She'll be out in a minute. She's almost done." Inu Yasha leaned against the wall and regarded the couple. Yuki and Kitto cleaned up well enough. Both were nicely dressed as he and Kagome were.
"Thank you again for watching the rug-rats for us. It'll be nice to have a break, even if it's only for a couple of hours." Kitto leaned against the opposite wall near the end of the sofa where Yuki sat.
Inu Yasha liked this Kitto guy. He was a real guy's guy. He seemed just as protective his wife and pups as Inu Yasha was of Kagome. He'd even asked Inu Yasha to return the favor of watching over them while he was in the water. 'He'd be good in a fight, the kind that would watch your back.' He mused a moment before Kagome opened the door. She seemed surprised that they had company already.
She shot him a look that plainly stated that she knew he'd known they were there and he'd kept it from her. She turned a timid smile on the couple. "Oh, I hope you haven't been waiting long."
"Oh, no, we just arrived a few minutes ago." Yuki dismissed Kagome's worry. "Are you ready? If you need more time…?"
Kagome waved her hand. "No, no, I'm ready."
Inu Yasha caught Kitto gazing at Kagome before glancing back at his wife as if comparing the two. When a smile broke across his lips, it was plain that he thought his wife was prettier. 'Feh, no one's better looking than Kagome.' He glanced at her out of the corner of his eye. She was wearing a blue spaghetti strapped top with a matching skirt. He felt his body react to the curves the outfit revealed. 'Definitely no one better looking.' He fought down the blush that came with the wave of heat that rushed over his body.
"Feh, let's go already." He stomped toward the door.
"We'll be back early mom!" Kagome called over her shoulder as she grabbed her purse and the tickets, and hurried after her hanyou.
Yuki and Kitto thanked Iki once more before following the couple into the hall. "Do you two have plans for tonight?" Yuki asked falling into step beside Kagome.
"Uh, yeah…sort of." Kagome glanced at Inu Yasha's back. 'We can't stay out past sunset or he'll turn human in front of everyone.'
"Oh, well we won't keep you out late then." Yuki assured her.
Kagome glanced at her watch. It was three now and as long as they made it back by six-thirty they'd be safe. "Thanks, but we've got a few hours before we have to worry about being late."
The couples headed for the restaurant. After presenting the tickets, they were seated quickly and presented with menus. "Someone will be with you shortly to take your order." The host informed them and stepped away.
Inu Yasha frowned and leaned closer to Kagome. "I don't know what half this is. Don't they have anything simple, like ramen?"
Kagome rolled her eyes. "Not in a place like this." She glanced at her menu. "Try the fettuccini. You can get it with chicken. I know you like meat." She shrugged. "It's sort of like ramen. It's noodles anyway."
"Is it spicy?"
"No, not usually, but we can make sure they don't put anything in it."
"Feh, fine." He folded the menu and set it aside. A low growl erupted from him.
Kagome glanced up. "What's wrong?" He nodded at the entrance and Kagome felt her appetite fade at the sight.
Sauntering toward them with the little black bundle stuck under her arm and the imposing shadow of Taro following after her, Kado paused before them. She stuck her nose in the air. "The quality of this restaurant has certainly gone down hill, don't you agree Taro?"
Taro shifted his gaze around the table, giving Kagome a bored look, Inu Yasha a glare and finally scowling at Kitto. "What the hell are you doing here? Come back for another ass kicking?"
"Not this year, bastard. I'm going to wipe the floor with you." Kitto scowled back.
"Keep talking you little punk and I'll make sure that pretty wife of yours is widow by the end of the tournament." Taro cracked his knuckles. Inu Yasha's growl escalated, drawing Taro's attention back to him. "As for you, we'll settle our little score later."
Inu Yasha snorted. "Any time, weakling."
Kado took a step toward Kagome, tilting her head to the side. Her eyes narrowed and her brow furrowed. Pure hatred flickered through her eyes. "That necklace is mine! I asked grandmother for it! You stole it from her didn't you!" Kado stepped closer and shot a hand out as if to grab the necklace.
Inu Yasha shot to his feet so fast that his chair clattered on the tile floor, drawing glances from the other patrons. "Touch her and die!" He snarled as he stepped around Kagome and shoved Kado back.
Taro caught her as she stumbled. "Be careful, little man, or I'll tear you apart right here and now."
"Feh, just try it."
Kagome shot to her feet behind him, grasping his arm. "Inu Yasha, calm down!" She glanced around her nervously. The customers were beginning to murmur. "You can't fight here." She hissed.
He snorted but relented a little. His stance, however, remained defensive. "Keep that little bitch away from my m- Kagome." He fought the flush that wanted to creep into his cheeks from his near slip with the anger he felt toward the two before him.
Taro snorted and started to push Kado back along the path to their table. "But she has my necklace! I asked grandmother for it! Why does she have it! I want it!" Kado stomped her foot and pointed an accusing finger over Inu Yasha's shoulder at Kagome. The action drew another deep growl from the hanyou.
"Forget it, princess. Have your daddy buy you one just like it." Taro informed her.
"But-"
"You don't want it after she's been wearing it anyway. You'd probably catch something, right?" Taro snorted.
"What the hell does that mean!" Inu Yasha roared.
Kado pouted but turned away and stomped off toward her table. Taro spared the table one last glare before following her.
Inu Yasha continued to growl. "I hate that guy."
"Join the club." Kitto muttered.
Kagome turned her head to look at him, while absently rubbing Inu Yasha's back. "You know Taro?"
"Unfortunately."
Yuki spoke up. "How do you know him?"
Kagome let out a frustrated sigh and flopped back in her chair. "He's my cousin."
Yuki and Kitto gasped. "He's your cousin! You mean, you're related to that!" Kitto shot a finger in Taro's direction.
Yuki looked confused. "How can that be? You're so nice and he's a…he's so…"
"He's a bastard." Kitto provided.
Inu Yasha snorted as he straightened his chair and sat back down much closer to Kagome than last time. "You can say that again." Under the table, he pulled Kagome's hand into his lap and squeezed it gently. Kagome repaid his silent comfort with a warm smile.
The waiter cleared his throat and everyone turned to look at him. He gazed at Inu Yasha for a moment. "Is there a problem here?"
Inu Yasha snorted. "Not any more."
The waiter relaxed. "Good. Can I have your orders please?"
They placed their orders and Kagome made sure that the waiter knew to tell the cook not to put anything spicy in Inu Yasha's food. Once he was gone, Kagome turned back to Kitto. "How do you know Taro?"
Kitto grunted. "He competes in the tournament every year. Since I've been competing for the last three years, he's won every one. He's in the expert level." His eyes narrowed. "I swear he must cheat somehow. Last year I could have sworn he put something on my board. That's why this year, I've kept them locked up the whole time."
Inu Yasha glared across the restaurant at the man. "I wouldn't put it past him."
They chatted some more as the food arrived. Inu Yasha poked his and sniffed it suspiciously. Finally deciding it wasn't spicy or dangerous, he began to eat. Before long he was devouring it. He couldn't smell as well or taste as well as he normally did, but he grudgingly accepted that it wasn't so bad. But it definitely wasn't ramen. Kagome ordered desert and the two women did most of the talking.
Kagome finally glanced at her watch. "Inu Yasha, it's getting kind of late. Do you want to head back, so we can, um, get ready for tonight?" He paused with the last bite of cheesecake in midair. Kagome saw the slight movement under his bandana as his ears flattened even more. 'He hates being human, he feels so vulnerable. But there isn't anything that can hurt him here. And I'll make sure that nothing ever hurts him, even in the feudal era.'
He stuffed the bite into his mouth and swallowed without chewing. "Feh, fine, let's go."
Kitto insisted on leaving a tip as they left the restaurant. The sun was nearly touching the horizon by the time they reached the suite.
"How were they?" Yuki asked as she scooped Sakura off the couch, where she was sleeping.
"Oh, like little angels." Iki assured her. "I fed them, so they should be full."
Yuki smiled. "Thank you."
Kitto picked up his sleeping son as well. "Well, we better be on our way. Will we see you two tomorrow?"
Inu Yasha nodded.
Kagome smiled. "You bet! I'll bring sandwiches."
Yuki chuckled. "Okay, see you tomorrow and thanks again for watching the tots." Kitto held Kinshin against his shoulder as he held open the door for his wife.
"There such a nice couple!" Iki mused as she settled back on the sofa.
Kagome chuckled lightly. "Yeah they are."
Inu Yasha grumbled as he glanced out the balcony door and stomped off into the bedroom. Kagome glanced out the glass door and sighed, before she followed him. "Inu Yasha?"
He didn't answer as he stared out their balcony door at quickly disappearing sun. She moved forward to touch his back, but hesitated as the sun's rays disappeared over the horizon. Before her, Inu Yasha's hair turned black and his ears disappeared. She frowned as his shoulders slumped. Kagome finally reached for him. He turned to face her with a frown of his own. His fangs and claws were gone. And although his eyes were no longer gold they were still his eyes. They still spoke to her soul and made the warmth grow inside her.
She smoothed away the lines of worry beside his eyes. "Don't look so worried."
"Feh, I hate this form. I'm so weak. I can't protect you like this."
She took his hands and led him to the bed. Sitting on the foot of the bed, she squeezed his hands. "We're safe here. We're surrounded by people that love us."
"Feh."
She smiled. "I know. We'll do something to distract you. So, you don't think about it."
"It's kind of hard not to think about it when I feel like I'm deaf and blind, and I can't smell a damn thing." He growled. The sound wasn't nearly as menacing in his current state. Kagome was wise enough not to mention it.
"How about we watch TV?" She turned to flop on her belly, kicking her feet in the air, and grasped the remote.
Inu Yasha sighed and lay down next to her. "Give me the remote, wench."
She shot him a quelling look. "Why? I can find something we both like."
"Feh, you'll find something girly."
"I will not."
"Will too."
"Not!"
"Give it to me, wench!"
"No!"
"Kagome!"
"Inu Yasha!"
"Give it, now!"
An impish grin crossed her lips as she tried to roll out of his reach. Inu Yasha caught her and, after a short wrestling match, was able to steal the remote. Kagome pouted as Inu Yasha took control of the TV. She suppressed the smile as she realized she'd succeeded in distracting him. He flipped through the channels finally settling on a sumo wrestling match.
The television only served to distract him for about an hour. When Kagome caught him staring down at his clawless hands, she frowned. "I'll be back."
He glanced up at her. "Where are you going?"
"Just into the living room. I said I'd be right back."
He frowned, but didn't protest. Kagome took the chance to step into the other room. Sota was sprawled on the floor with a bowl of popcorn in front of him. Iki was knitting something and Gramps was reading the paper. Kagome knelt beside her brother. "Say, Sota, can I borrow your game of Twister?"
He frowned. "Are you and Inu Yasha going to play it?"
"Yeah, what's the matter with that?"
"You won't let him break it, will you?"
"Break it…"
"Yeah, you know how Inu Yasha is, if he looses he might try to break it."
Kagome nearly laughed. "No, I won't let him break it. Besides, it would be kind of hard to break that game, wouldn't it?"
"Not if he breaks the arrow off the spindle."
Kagome raised her right hand. "I swear, I won't let him break it."
"Okay." Sota gave her dubious look, before getting up to retrieve the game.
"Thanks, Sota." She ruffled his hair.
He made a face and tried to straighten his hair back. "You promised." He reminded her as she moved back into the bedroom. She closed the door behind, so they wouldn't disturb the others.
"What's that?"
Kagome sat on the floor and opened the box. "It's a game."
Inu Yasha leaned over the side of the bed to watch her. "What kind of game?"
She took the plastic sheet out and spread it on the floor. "You'll see. It's physical, so you'll like it. And it's very simple."
He crawled over the side of the bed to sit beside her on the floor. He wrinkled his nose at the multi-colored plastic sheet. "So?"
She set the colorful cardboard spindle board between them. "It's simple. You spin this arrow and wherever it lands is where you put that part of your body. Whoever falls first looses."
"When I win, what do I get?" He quirked an eyebrow at her.
She frowned. "That's not the point of the game." He crossed his arms and glared at her expectantly. She sighed. "Okay, what do you want?"
His smirk was instantaneous and it made Kagome's body go weak. Luckily she was still kneeling on the floor otherwise she would have fallen on her bottom. "You have to kiss me."
She let out a breath. "Oh, so if I win you have to kiss me, right?" He nodded. Kagome giggled softly. 'That's not so bad. If I win or loose, I still win.' "Okay, I'll go first." She spun the dial. "Left foot, red. Got it." She hopped up and put her foot on the appropriate spot. "Now you spin it."
Inu Yasha snorted, but spun the dial as Kagome had done. "Right hand, blue." He moved to the spot and placed his hand on the circle. Spin after spin, move after move the couple continued the game. Kagome somehow ended up beneath Inu Yasha with her back to him, and him stretched across the sheet above her. She spun the dial and groaned. "Right hand, yellow."
"You might as well give up now. There's no way for you to reach it." Inu Yasha smirked above her.
Her left hand was presently on the blue row, her right foot was on the blue, and her left foot was on the green beside it. Yellow, however was all the way on the other side of he sheet. "I can do it, just you watch, dog-boy!" She swung her right arm over her head and aimed for the other side, her body now facing his.
"Hey, watch it!" Inu Yasha ducked his head to the side to avoid the flailing limb.
"Oh, stop complaining." She stretched as far as she could.
"Don't do it that way, wench! Or-" He was cut off as her foot slipped and kicked his foot which was on the green row just below hers. Kagome crashed to the floor beneath as he fell on top of her. Kagome's breath came out in a whoosh as his weight slammed into her. He sat up quickly, though he didn't get off her. "Kagome, are you all right? Kami, did I hurt you?"
Kagome coughed and took in a deep breath. She waved a hand to dispel his concern. "I'm okay."
He took a ragged breath. "Damn it." He grumbled as he sat back and drew her up into his chest. "I hate these slow human reflexes."
"I'm okay, really." She pushed against his chest slightly, so she could look at him. He growled and she stopped her struggle immediately. They sat there for a long moment, with him still straddling her legs. "Inu Yasha?" No response. "Don't you want your prize?"
That got his attention. He sat back a little more to look at her. "What?"
"You won. Don't you want your prize?"
A small smile grew on his lips and a sparkle danced in his light brown gaze. "Yeah, that's right. I did win, didn't I?" He grinned and allowed her to pull her legs out from beneath him. "So, where is it?"
Kagome giggled as she drew her knees up beneath her and rose up to meet his lips. Waves of heat shot through her, the sensation of falling and flying warred within her. His arms wrapped around her, drew her forward and crushed her against him. At first he allowed her to control the kiss, but his patience was short lived and he nibbled on her bottom lip. She gasped and his tongue darted into her mouth, tasting her, ravaging her senses. Her arms wrapped tightly around his neck. She moaned softly into his mouth and his reaction was tremendous. He groaned and pressed his hips against her. She gasped again at the pressure between them as he ran kisses down her throat, pausing to lick lavishly at her pulsing vein.
The television continued to play in the background, but neither noticed through the white noise of their hearts pounding. Vaguely she was aware of being moved and then being laid upon the soft coverlet. His mouth caught hers once more as his hand brushed against the skin of her belly. The sensation coaxed a vicious groan from her. Her body arched into his touch, her hips pressing against his. A ragged moan escaped him as he fought to breathe.
-LIME WARNING-
Kagome whimpered as he suddenly pushed off the bed. She blinked trying to see through the haze of passion. It less than a second he returned with a vengeance. Kagome shivered as his hand slipped up her shirt and tugged aside the bra. His mouth covered hers once more as he squeezed her breast tenderly. She trembled and writhed beneath him. She pulled on his shoulders needing him closer, devouring his warmth, his touch.
She could feel his hands trembling as they tried to unfasten the clip between her breasts. Only slightly aware of her own movements, she brushed his hands aside and unfastened it. He broke the kiss to sit up and gaze at her for a moment.
"Ka-Kagome, you're so beautiful…"
She could feel him trembling as he lowered his mouth again. This time he captured her breast. Kagome choked back the wail that wanted to escape her. She clung to his shoulders and arched against his mouth. He nipped at her nipple and she nearly lost her mind. "Inu-Inu Yasha…"
His name slipping from her lips in a soft hiss sent him on a new rampage. He caught her other breast in his lips and squeezed the scalding flesh of the first in his hand. Her arms tightened around him. He wasn't close enough, not nearly close enough. Her rampant heartbeat thrilled him, made his blood boil with fire. Running his tongue down the vale between her breasts to her bellybutton, he nibbled the edge of the concave hollow. She writhed beneath him, coming off the bed, and nearly shrieked. He shot up to capture her lips, to muffle her cry before it could escape. She whimpered, clinging to him with desperate strength as he drew her up against him.
He pulled away just enough to speak. "Shh, koi."
She shivered as his hot breath fanned across her lips. Mute, unable to form words under his ministrations, she nodded. He crushed her lips again, vaguely aware that her little hands were fiddling with the buttons of his shirt. It was his turn to gasp as her hands met the overheated flesh of his bare chest. She pressed against him and he stifled the moan that rose in his throat.
-END OF LIME-
There was a knock on the door and they both froze. "Kagome dear, we're going to bed. Please turn down your television."
Kagome cleared her throat, taking a deep breath before she dared to speak. "Yes, mom." She scrambled for the remote and fumbled with the buttons. The volume lessened.
"Thank you, dear. Good night, Inu Yasha." Iki called.
"Night." Inu Yasha responded in an overly polite tone. He glared at the door and willed her not to try to open it. He'd locked it, but if she tried… When they heard her move away, both let out their breaths of relief. Kagome sagged against him, her still bare breasts pressing against his chest. He stroked her back soothingly as she took several ragged breaths.
"Kagome?" She lifted half-closed eyes to his. He kissed her brow, perspiration dripping from his down his nose onto her brow. She smiled and his body relaxed, mostly. She sighed contentedly as he squeezed her. "I have to…I'll be back." He straightened her top and laid her back against the pillow. She frowned as he crawled away from her, a slightly pained look in his features.
Inu Yasha moved into the bathroom and closed the door. He slumped against it, a small groan escaping him. 'Damn it. What was I thinking? I haven't even told her yet. Then again, she didn't seem to mind, but if we'd….Damn.' He stripped his clothing off and climbed into the shower, letting the cold water seep into his skin. 'Next time….I need to tell her before…next time.'
Kagome pulled on her nightgown and shut off the lights. A few minutes later the shower shut off and Inu Yasha emerged from the bathroom. She flicked on the bedside lamp. "Inu Yasha, are you all right?"
"Feh." He grumbled as he went to sit beside the bed.
She caught his wrist. "Inu Yasha, you don't have to sleep down there."
"Feh, I never sleep on my human nights. You know that."
"But you're safe here. There're no demons. You can rest tonight."
"Feh, I ain't sleeping, wench." He tried to pull away, but she held fast.
"Then humor me. Come lay down with me. I sleep much better when you hold me."
The corners of his mouth twitched. "Fine, but I ain't sleeping." He crawled up beside her and wrapped his arms around her.
Kagome sighed contentedly. "Okay." She knew he'd fall asleep too. It was only a matter of time.
&&&&&
A/N: -Smiles sheepishly- Um, err, hope you liked it. See ya. R&R please!
