Chapter 26:
Inuyasha raised his head from his pillow, gold eyes bleary, his ears pinned back. Who the HELL was playing music at this ungodly hour? He grabbed the pillow and put it over his head. Oh, his poor sensitive ears!
"Yasha! Yasha! Get up!"
He had just enough time to pull the sheet over his naked body before his door crashed open and Colin and Ryan raced in to fling themselves onto his bare back.
"Wuf! Are y'tryin' to kill me?" he groaned as the two boys bounced up and down and tried to tickle him.
"Get up! Get up! Get up! " yelled Colin.
"Yeah! We gotta get the house cleaned!"
"How come?"
"Aunt Kelly and Uncle Christian are coming! They're back from Europe – Mommy said!" Ryan was having no luck finding a ticklish spot on Inuyasha's ribcage, so he transferred his administrations to the half-demon's ears.
"Hey! Leave off the ears, boys!" Inuyasha growled, trying to get up. He succeeded in making it to hands and knees, and the boys crowed with delight.
"Yay! Horsey ride! Horsey ride!"
Inuyasha collapsed back down onto the bed. "The horsey is dead, kids. If I'm supposed to be helping with the cleaning, you have to get off my back."
Kagome came to the door and looked in with a grin. "Come on, kids. Your mommies need you to pick up your toys downstairs."
The boys clamoured out of the room only a little more quietly than they had come in. Inuyasha put the pillow over his head again and groaned.
"What's with you this morning?" Kagome put a hand on her hip as she leaned against the doorjamb. "You look like death warmed over. You sick?"
"Naw. Just real tired. Couldn't sleep last night."
"Why not?"
He peered out from under the pillow. "You went into heat after supper, Kagome. And Fawn's in heat, too."
"Oh." There was a pretty blush on her face.
"I'm sleeping outside tonight, I think. No offense, Kagome, but it's just hell on my nerves, you know?"
"I'm sorry."
"Don't be sorry, koibito. I've always loved the change in your scent when you've gone into heat. It smells of … of promises."
He made the error of rolling over onto his back, and even though he was covered, there was no mistaking the effect her scent had on him.
"Oops!"
He rolled onto his side, but it was too late. Kagome was staring at him with wide eyes, her mouth gone dry.
"Sorry, sweeting. Maybe you should leave."
Kagome made a strangled sound and pulled his door shut. He heard her clatter down the stairs a moment later.
"Ah damn!" He put an arm over his eyes. "I really, really don't need this."
OoOoOo
Inuyasha clumped down the stairs twenty minutes later, dressed in his fire-rat robes. He still wore them now and then, although he had become used to the more modern clothes. He had not had the energy to deal with his hair, so it was tousled and hanging uncharacteristically over his shoulders.
Tamisé gave him an amused look from where he stood on a ladder, polishing the inside of the livingroom windows.
"What – were we too loud again last night, lad?"
"Ah – put a cork in it, Tam," Inuyasha growled. "I'm tired. I have a headache. And I definitely do not want to give horsey rides. Hi ya, little darlin'." He stepped over Breanna, who was crawling determinedly towards a stuffed rabbit on the floor.
"Poor darling." Kirsten came out of the kitchen with a glass of water and some pills. "Here's for your head." She handed him the glass and pills and gave him a kiss on his cheek. "Have something to eat, Yasha. It may help."
"Sensei, the only thing that will help me now is a couple of hours in the forest. By myself. And about six more hours of sleep."
"Then go after you eat something. We don't need your help cleaning."
Inuyasha instantly felt bad. "I'm sorry, sensei. I … I'm not trying to duck out of work."
"I know, dear." She pulled his head down towards hers and whispered in his ear. "I know what's bothering you, I can smell it too. Just go spend some time by yourself and get some more sleep if you can."
He kissed Kirsten's cheek and managed a weak grin. "Thanks, mom."
"I'll get you some eggs and bacon, Yasha," Fawn called from the kitchen. "I'm cleaning in here anyway."
"Thanks." He was never sure what to call Fawn. 'Mrs. O'Connor' made the beautiful young woman sound old, and he thought that calling her by her first name was a tad too informal. And he sure as hell wasn't going to call her darlin' or sweeting in case her husband got the wrong idea.
In less than fifteen minutes, he was tucking into a large plate of eggs and bacon, and slurping down a mug of tea. He ate quickly, since Fawn was still working in the kitchen and her scent was making him jumpy.
Before he could leave, Kirsten showed up with a hairbrush and proceeded to brush out his hair for him. He closed his eyes in ecstasy at the feel of the brush against his scalp. Kirsten also worked in a massage of his temples, neck and shoulders, which went a long ways to helping the headache. At his request, she put his hair into a loose braid, then sent him off outside.
Inuyasha decided to go out to the raspberry island. The children could not bother him there and he was far enough away from the house for quiet, but still within hailing distance if something came up. He let Jonathan, who was cutting the grass, know where he was headed.
Going down to the lake, he borrowed one of the canoes to take himself to the island. Once there, he pulled the canoe up on land and then went to find a shady tree. It did not take long to find what he wanted, but he did not feel up to trying to balance on a bough while he slept. Instead, Inuyasha curled up under the tree and let the buzz of crickets and grasshoppers lull him to sleep.
OoOoOo
Inuyasha was awakened by someone calling his name, while a gentle hand stroked his head. First instincts told him to leap to his feet, ready to defend himself, but the scent of the person lulled him into complacency. There was no need to defend himself against Kagome.
When he opened his eyes, the sun was beginning to get low in the sky. It had to be late afternoon, at the very least. He rolled onto his back and stretched like a cat under Kagome's amused gaze.
"Have a good sleep?"
"Mmm-hm. What time is it?"
"Nearly supper. We'll be eating later than usual tonight. Kelly and Christian still haven't arrived, but they're expected any time now. I thought you might be hungry, so I brought you a sandwich and some fruit."
"Have I told you today that I love you?"
Kagome laughed as he snatched the packet of food off her lap and devoured the contents in hungry gulps.
"How about some dessert?"
"I didn't bring anything else, Inuyasha. If you're still hungry, you'll have to pick some berries."
"NOT what I was talking about." He licked his lips at her, then leaned in for a kiss. "Yum."
After a moment, Kagome pushed him away, giggling. "What happened to my prudish half-demon?"
"Haven't seen him around. Come back here."
"Mmm. No. Fawn wants us to bring some berries back for dessert, so I'd better get picking."
Kagome got to her feet, gathering up one of several pails she had brought with her. Inuyasha got another pail and went to help pick raspberries. It took him longer to fill a pail than it did Kagome, for he was still hungry and more berries went in his mouth than in the pail.
After they had filled the pails, Kagome sat down under a tree, fanning herself with her hand.
"Geez, Inuyasha. It's so warm today. How come you've got your fire-rat robes on? Aren't you too hot in them?"
"Well, now that you mention it, I am a little warm."
"Take off your haori, at least, then."
"Just the haori?" He gave her a heated glance and raised an eyebrow. "Anything else you'd like me to remove?"
"Inuyasha!"
He laughed and got to his feet. "Alright then, lady mine. I'll take off my haori."
Inuyasha proceeded to remove the haori – slowly – making sure he had Kagome's attention. The spike in her scent as she licked suddenly dry lips gave him incentive to see if he could make things a little more interesting.
He dropped the haori to the ground, then went to work on the shatsu's ties, dragging the garment free of his hakama. He turned his back to her, loosing his hair from the braid it was in and shaking it free. He lifted the heavy mass off his neck and stretched sensuously as he let the strands cascade down like a silver waterfall. He allowed the shatsu to fall off one shoulder.
"What are you doing?"
Kagome's voice was unsteady and Inuyasha grinned to himself. He looked over his shoulder at her, gold eyes molten, then turned about slowly, allowing the sleeves of the shatsu to slide down his arms. But he didn't let it fall to the ground. Instead, he slung the garment into Kagome's lap, where she stared at it bemusedly. When she looked up again, his hands were at the ties of his hakama.
"No!" she shrieked, grabbing up the shatsu and burying her face in it.
"No what?" His voice was low and husky.
"Keep those on!"
"But you said I looked cute without my hakama."
"I said you looked funny! And you still had your haori on."
"Should I put the haori back on?"
"No!"
"No?"
"Oh!" Kagome flung the shatsu at him, colour rising in her face. "You're confusing me."
While her eyes were still on him, Inuyasha loosed the ties at his waist and let the hakama drop. Kagome shrieked again and covered her eyes with her hands. Inuyasha flung his head back and laughed.
"Come on now, lady mine, you're gonna have a hard time paddling a canoe with your hands over your eyes. Besides, I see you trying to peek."
"Oh! You are so… so despicable! So… Hey!" Kagome had lowered her hands to shout at him, but then noticed something. "You…you're wearing your bathing suit."
Inuyasha put his hands on his hips. "Well… yeah. Disappointed?"
"Yes! I mean, no. Oh hell! I don't know what I mean any more."
Inuyasha reached down his hand for Kagome to take, then pulled her up against him. He pressed her hand against his chest, as his other arm went about her waist to draw her even closer. At first, she kept her head down, suddenly shy. He waited. When Kagome finally tilted her head up to look at him, he wasted no time in kissing her.
Ah gods! He could taste berries on her mouth, was nearly overwhelmed by the scent that called to his most primal core. And then, her small pink tongue flicked out and into his mouth. He made a startled sound – they had never kissed in this manner before. He had a horrid suspicion that he knew where she'd learned to kiss like that.
"What's wrong?" she whispered up at him.
"Nothing. I'm adding 'kill David' to my to-do list, right after 'thank him for showing Kagome how to kiss like that'."
She grinned at him saucily. "How do you know it was David?"
He squeezed her. "If there was anyone else, he's added to the 'to kill' list too. Do that again."
But before she could, Inuyasha's sensitive ears picked up the sound of Tamisé's whistle, and someone banging on an empty pan with a spoon.
"Damn! They're calling us back for dinner."
"Oh, we have time for one more."
Kagome drew him down and proceeded to educate him most thoroughly. When she finally released him, his heart was pounding double-time and he felt curiously light-headed.
"I'm tempted to forego supper," he said, twitching his ears.
"No we're not. I'm hungry. For food! Get that grin off your face, Inuyasha. If you are a very good boy, I'll kiss you good night."
He grinned at her. "Oh, I plan to be. Come on then, let's get the canoes."
OoOoOo
Kirsten was watching for the canoes to come across the water. She turned to the auburn-haired young woman beside her and pointed.
"Here they come. Wait until you see him, Kelly."
The young woman took off her sunglasses and chewed on an earpiece. "I could use a fresh new model for this new client. They'd be happy with Tam, and I know he'd fit it into his schedule somehow – but they'd be ecstatic if I could bring them a totally fresh face."
"Well, he's expressed an interest, although I'm pretty sure he has no idea of the work involved. At the very least, maybe you could put together a portfolio for him."
"Sure, okay. He needs the money?"
Kirsten shrugged. "He actually does quite well without. Where he comes from, they're still on the barter system for a lot of things. He'll chop wood, hunt, do manual labour and kill a few demons for room and board."
Kelly's head swivelled around. "What?"
"Never mind, dear. I'll explain later. I just want your first impressions of him."
They watched in silence as the canoes cut across the water. Inuyasha and Kagome were having a bit of a race, and Inuyasha was letting her win. They landed the canoes and jumped out. Kagome gathered up the pails of berries, while Inuyasha pulled the canoes further up on the land.
"What the hell is he wearing?" Kelly asked.
"Oh – that's his shatsu – his undershirt, if you want. He was in full regalia this morning, but I guess he finally got too warm. He likes to dress in a traditional manner now and then."
Kelly watched as Kagome and Inuyasha came running up the slope.
"You're right. He's gorgeous. Look at him – he's like… like a wild stallion on the plains. What marvelous hair! And that build! If his torso is as well-muscled as his legs, he's got the job." Kelly turned to Kirsten. "And the girl's quite a beauty too. What lovely hair and skin!"
Inuyasha's head came up as he scented at least two new people. One of them was female; this would be Kelly. The other, the male, was very strange. Human, but also an otherness as different as Tamisé. It was an intriguing scent, and Inuyasha began to look around for its source. But he spied Kelly first.
Gods! She was pretty. Auburn-haired, green-eyed, she reminded him a little of Ayame. However, Kelly's hair was not as long as the wolf-girl's, and she was dressed in jeans and a t-shirt.
"Inuyasha! Kagome! Come meet Kelly," Kirsten called.
Kelly shook hands with them both, not noticing Inuyasha's claws until she felt them rake gently against the back of her hand. She had, however, noticed the ears immediately.
"Good lord! Look at those ears! Are you a mutant, Inuyasha?"
Inuyasha flattened the offending appendages. "No."
"Yasha is part dog-demon, Kelly. Not truly a mutant," Kirsten said.
Kelly chewed on her sunglasses again while she considered the young man before her. "You know – I like it! I could do a whole series of fantasy shots with him."
Inuyasha flinched back a little in surprise.
"Yasha – if you'd like to try being a model, I do have a job I think you'd be interested in." Kelly looked up. "We're losing the sun for today, but tomorrow morning bright and early, I want to take some shots of you. Are you wearing anything under that shirt?"
"Of course!" Inuyasha was taken aback a little by her brashness. "My bathing suit."
"Could you remove it for me? I meant the shirt, not the bathing suit. Goodness, what a blush! I'd just like to see what you've got to work with."
Inuyasha glanced at Kagome, who looked just as bemused as he felt. Shrugging, he undid the ties of the shatsu and took it off. He tensed as Kelly stalked around him, muttering to herself.
"Wonderful! You've done a great job with him, Kirsty. He's gorgeous. My client will go absolutely ape over him."
"Are you done?"
"Eh? Oh sure. Better go get a shirt on, kid. Fawn doesn't like anyone coming to the table bare-chested."
Inuyasha snorted and slung the shatsu over his shoulder as he marched towards the house.
Kelly laughed. "God – what a find! He even looks good walking away." She turned her attention back to Kagome. "And you, miss. I could use you as well, if you're interested. Not for the job I'm thinking of – the client wants a guy. But there's other jobs coming up."
"Me?" Kagome was flustered. "I don't know."
"Well, think about it. I'd like to use you too in some of the shots tomorrow. The two of you are an item?"
"Huh?"
"They're together," Kirsten said.
"How sweet!" Kelly said without a trace of sarcasm. "Tell me – is he always this prickly?"
"I think you scared him a little," Kagome said. "He gets a little anxious when he doesn't understand things."
"He's a real time traveller," Kirsty said. "He's from 500 years in the past."
"No kidding. Good thing we'll be around for a few days, 'cause I have a feeling it's a long story. Am I right?"
"Oh yeah," Kirsty chortled.
"Well, let's work on getting him to loosen up a little. If he's going to hold himself so tense, I won't be able to get the type of shots I'm going to be looking for." Kelly grinned at Kagome. "Please tell me he has a romantic side."
Kagome choked. "Well, maybe not romantic… but he sure can be… um, sensual?"
The older women looked at each other, then back at Kagome.
"He, uh – oh! He'll be mad if I say anything, but it was so… well, after I got through being mad, it was kinda funny."
"What did he do?"
By this time, Kagome was giggling. "I…I asked him if he wasn't too hot with the haori on and told him to take it off."
Kirsten began to grin. "Let me guess – considering the condition he came back in, he took off everything but the bathing suit."
"Oh yeah. Slowly. And right in front of me, so I'd have a good view."
"Why that little sonuvagun!" Kirsten laughed. "I wouldn't of thought it of him!"
"So, why is a strip tease so funny?" Kelly asked.
"Oh – you don't know our boy the way we do. He's…repressed, shall we say? Very prudish at times. You should have seen me trying to get him into the sensor suit!"
"Well, if he wants to try modelling, there's no room for prudishness."
"Oh, he's been improving lately. I don't think you'll have a problem with him if Kagome's along." Kirsten got an evil look on her face. "After dinner, let's have some fun with him, shall we?"
"What kind of fun?" Kelly was starting to grin.
"Oh – let me see if I have a certain recording. If I do, I'll tell you later."
OoOoOo
Sorry people – you'll just have to wait for it!
