A/N: Well, just got back from my trip today...and I am beat. I really, REALLY hate car trips since they seem to take forever and wear you out. The only good thing was I was able to get some quality time with Microsoft Word between my aunt asking me why I haven't chosen a college yet and my cousins mixing my name up with my sister's and thinking I'm still a freshman...

The only good thing was I wasn't stuck as a babysitter of the younger cousins as I am going to be a senior and allowed to be at the "adults but not quite" table that consists of all my college age cousins. Oh, and I was given an ironing board for my someday dorm while my cousins chatted about how much they hated term papers...

It's fun to see family for a while, but sometimes, it really makes you anticipate that horrid trip back home.

(If anyone from my family manages to track this down, I love you all, but it still feels strange seeing you when I don't see you 9/10ths out of the year.)


Chapter 19: Interference

My heart still races as I remember that kiss…There would be many, many more, but I don't think that anyone can forget their first kiss…despite the fact that it wasn't technically our first kiss, I know I shall never forget that one on the edge of the cliff…when we both desired to be free, for only a moment.

But that moment would last much longer. It didn't matter to us any longer about the problem of Naraku. We were together, and nothing seemed to matter in the world anymore. Perhaps it would have been better if we waited, but Inuyasha and I really did not care. Not even when our friends warned us to the dangers of what we were getting in to, did we decide to play it safe.

Reckless we may have been, but I prefer to call it blinded by our love. We truly believed that nothing could ever harm or separate us once we were together. Even at that first moment, I felt invincible, more powerful that I had ever felt before. And it was all because Inuyasha was beside me, loving me. The world never felt more perfect in that moment.

But despite the fact that we could barely stand it, and had broken free of the silent hold that Naraku had of our lives, we couldn't forget him. He was always there, watching, as we were soon to find out. He was always waiting for an opportunity to take us by surprise and ensnare us in his trap. But in our giving in, he must have found that opportunity, for despite that we couldn't see what Naraku was planning, we both soon learned that bad feelings were never to be taken lightly…


Kagome and Inuyasha didn't know how long they had spent in their embrace, but by the time they finally pulled away, with blushes and small, dopey grins on their faces, it was fully dark out. When they looked into each other's eyes, unsure of what to say after that, they soon found out that nothing needed to be spoken, as Kagome let out a laugh and launched herself into his arms, her heart still racing.

Inuyasha could hardly believe it. Kagome was finally his. His to hold, his to kiss, his to love. And even though at first kissing her like that had been awkward, he had soon learned that he was more than okay with it. In fact, he liked it. Who could believe it? A hanyou who had been lonely all his life had found love; love that had been returned.

He didn't know what to do, at that moment, he wanted to kiss her until the sun rose once more and tell her how much he loved her. He wanted to hold her and never have to let go, and promise to protect her always.

For once, Inuyasha was perfectly content.

"Inuyasha…" Kagome murmured, looking back up at him, before his mouth fell on hers once more, drawn in by her eyes. She knew that this, truly, was Heaven. Being here, in the arms of the one she loved, being loved. What she wouldn't give to be like this all the time.

They pulled away all too soon, neither one wanting to have left that embrace. Glancing at the sky, Kagome whispered, "We should probably get back. Sango and Miroku will want to know where we are."

The hanyou could only nod, entranced by her moving lips once more. "Yeah…" It was absolutely impossible not to kiss her once more, holding her tightly, before releasing her, staring in her seductive brown eyes, trying desperately not to close the gap between them and kiss her fiercely once more.

He settled for holding her close as they walked back down the path, feeling small tingles go up his spine as she leaned against him, her own arm wrapping around his waist as well. With his touch, he tried to tell her those words he wasn't able to say. Inuyasha pulled her closer, tucking her into the curve of his body. I love you.

Kagome snuggled closer, slowing her pace as they walked along, to enjoy this time with him. I know.

They continued along for a while, neither speaking, just walking and holding each other, content with this situation that now, finally, they had allowed.

Deciding to break the wonderful silence between them, Kagome asked, "Inuyasha?"

"Hmm?" He glanced back at her, his eyes instantly softening.

She looked away, embarrassed. "It's just…what are we going to tell Sango and Miroku? A-about us, I mean?"

That got a snort from the hanyou. "Keh. They don't need to know our business."

"Inuyasha!" she turned back, looking fiercely at him. "I mean…with us this way, it's going to be kind of obvious."

"Look, Kagome, we don't need to tell them right away—"

"But they'll find out sooner or later, Inuyasha," she finished, turning out of his embrace to face him, her eyes loosing their sparkly gleam by the second. "We'll have to tell them soon, or would you rather them find out by walking in on us?"

Inuyasha rolled his eyes. She was right, but that didn't mean that he had to like it. "Keh. But if I hear one thing from that monk, then I'll shove Tessaiga up his—"

"Careful, Inuyasha," Kagome warned, though her tone was more flirtatious than an actual warning. The finger she had pointed at him played with the kotodama rosary around his neck. "Even if we are like this, I'll still have to s-i-t you if you're a bad boy."

The fact that she had gotten closer, causing them to be leaning against a tree for support ensured Inuyasha that she was only teasing. "Bad boy, huh? Well, what do I get if I'm a good boy?" he grinned, making Kagome's heart thump loudly in her chest.

Any doubts she had before about Inuyasha's ability to flirt were thrown completely out the window. Smiling mischievously back, she whispered, "I suppose I'll think of something…"

"So am I being a good boy now?" Inuyasha's arms pulled her closer. He could get used to this.

"Oh, yes, Inuyasha. A very good boy," Kagome assured him, before she kissed him lightly on the lips, but however light it had started out, it became anything but seconds later.

Yep, Inuyasha decided he could definitely get used to this. He had never been a social creature before, scoffing at humans and their idea of 'love', especially after what happened between him and Kikyou, and he had never imagined that kissing could ever feel this…good. Whether this was reality or some dream that he was having, he didn't care, he just never wanted this to end.

Unfortunately, fate would be none too kind.

"Kagome! Inuyasha! Miroku and Sango wanted to know where you ar—Whoa!" Shippou's eyes nearly popped out of their sockets as he came across them, making Inuyasha and Kagome pull away, with the same look on their face. Both stared at each other for a second, eyes wide, red faces, until the kitsune scampered off as fast as he could.

"Get back here, runt!" Inuyasha roared, charging after him like a raging bull, Kagome trying to keep up but fell behind. After all, despite the fact that Shippou had ruined the moment, who would keep Inuyasha from killing him if she didn't?

"Miroku! Sango! Inuyasha's gonna kill me!" the kitsune wailed as he jumped into Sango's arms, out of breath from running for his life.

The exterminator looked slightly alarmed. "Why is Inuyasha going to kill you, Shippou-chan?"

"Because I saw him and Kagome kissing!" Inuyasha chose that moment to burst in after him.

"Come here, runt, I've got to kill you!" he yelled, but by seeing the surprised looks on Miroku and Sango's faces, his anger faded instantly into embarrassment on guessing what Shippou had just told them.

Kagome came soon after. "Inuyasha, don't kill Shippou-chan, he—" Her speech was stopped and traded for a blush as well by seeing the looks on everyone else's faces.

It was Miroku who spoke first after the long silence. "Well…isn't this interesting?"

Sango gave Kagome a questioning look, and Kagome replied silently by turning away once more, blushing profoundly. Inuyasha had still said nothing, finding the tree a few yards away very interesting.

"After all," the monk continued, "My dear Sango and I knew it was only a matter of time until you two got over your differences—"

"Monk…" Inuyasha's tone was a low growl, a warning. Cracking his knuckles, he growled, "Say one more word, and you won't live to say another."

In a rare stroke of good judgment, Miroku shut up.

Sango tried to change the subject. "So…we came out here looking for you, we found nothing but a ruined half of a puppet. Did you guys…?"

"Yeah," Kagome answered quickly. "Nothing."

"Well…" the exterminator looked up at the sky. "It's dark out already. We should set up camp…um…" Sango blushed. "Should we set up one camp or—"

"One!" Kagome and Inuyasha yelled at once.

Miroku stepped forward, grinning lecherously once more. "Excellent. Inuyasha and I shall gather the wood for a fire, while you ladies can get us set up."

"Wha...?" Inuyasha barely managed to ask before Miroku dragged him away from the girls, into the forest where they would not be heard.

The hanyou shrugged him out of his grip. "Now listen here monk! Whatever you're up to, then—"

"I merely brought you out here and away from our beautiful female companions because I wanted to talk, Inuyasha," Miroku said calmly.

"Talk?" the hanyou glared. "About what?"

Another grin popped up on the monk's face. "Oh, I think you know what."

Miroku wasn't sure if the redness that suddenly sprouted on Inuyasha's face was a blush or a look of anger, but both seemed apparent in his behavior afterwards. "That's none of your business, lecher!" he roared, smacking Miroku hard on the head, causing a bump to appear.

Rubbing the lump, the monk complained, "I didn't mean that! Though, I suppose it would be an intriguing subject…I only meant to ask if you and Kagome-sama know of what danger lies in your…friendship."

Inuyasha snarled while cracking his knuckles once more. "You're on dangerous ground, monk."

Sighing while rolling his eyes, Miroku continued, "With you my friend, anything is dangerous ground. I only mean to remind you, as a friend, that there are certain…dangers to these…friendships, that I, having experience, feel that I must, as a friend, warn you of. And since you and Kagome-sama have an unusual…friendship as it is, and in these uncertain times, there are other dangers that pertain especially to you and her."

Despite the fact that a second earlier, Inuyasha had snorted and folded his arms, turning away disinterested, he glanced back at the monk, with one eyebrow raised. "Keh. Like what?"

Raising one hand as if to begin a long lecture, the monk began, "Well, you know, the usual, Kagome-sama's mother might wish for someone better to entrust her precious daughter to, Kagome-sama may lose interest or get angry and split it off with you, and there's always the risk of pregnancy, in which both of the aforementioned are high possibilities…"

"I…I…I didn't mean that, you pervert!" Inuyasha yelled, smacking the monk over the head again, his face as red as his haori. "I meant what you said by the last part…about both of us."

"Oh, I see. Well, in that case, Inuyasha, I feel the need to warn you that Kagome-sama is…a woman."

"Are you ever going to make sense, monk?" the hanyou yelled in annoyance. "I know she's a woman! It's kind of hard not to notice with her walking around in those skirts of hers."

Rolling his eyes once again, Miroku explained, "And as a woman, and a human, she's in more danger of this than you are."

Inuyasha ceased his tirade, suddenly dumbstruck by the monk's statement. "What do you mean?"

"Think, you brainless idiot!" yelled Miroku. "Naraku is still after us, and if he finds out you two are…friends…then he could use it against you!"

"I already know that!" Inuyasha defended. "Look…Kagome and I already discussed this. We know what we're getting into. But I promised I'd protect her. Naraku won't lay a damn hand on her!"

"Naraku doesn't have to! He's hurt people by using others against them before. I don't want to see Kagome-sama hurt as much as you, but the fact remains that in these times, when he could be anywhere, watching, he could find a way to harm you both because of this."

The hanyou growled, "What Kagome and I do is none of your business, monk."

Miroku sighed in defeat. "I know. But Sango and I have forsaken what we would like because we both don't want to be tricked by Naraku. It would be wise if you and Kagome-sama did the same."

"Just because you're afraid to get close to Sango because you fear what will happen to her if you die of that curse doesn't mean I'm afraid to get close to Kagome," Inuyasha glared, turning away.

"Inuyasha, I'm sorry to lecture you, but I only said what was true, and you know it. I wish the best for you and Kagome-sama nonetheless, and hope things turn out for the best."

The hanyou grunted in reply before beginning to walk away, but the monk called after him one more time. "Inuyasha!"

"What?"

Grinning, Miroku asked, "Kagome-sama must be a good kisser, huh?"

The resounding thud radiated throughout the forest.


"So, Kagome-chan…you and Inuyasha, huh?"

Kagome nearly jumped when she heard Sango whisper that to her. "Y-yeah…I guess…" she blushed.

Smiling, the exterminator continued, "But I thought you said before that you never thought Inuyasha would ever come to you."

Kagome was unable to keep from smiling that that. "Well…I guess I was wrong." With that, she gently touched the necklace underneath her shirt.

"But Kagome-chan…you do know that right now is dangerous for you and Inuyasha? With Naraku still on the loose and all."

Kagome sighed, her mood deflating. "I know. We both talked about it."

"So what are you going to do?"

She paused before she answered. "I don't know. Before, we both wanted to wait, but after today…I just don't know."


Later that night, after camp had finally been set and their meal had been eaten, Kagome and Inuyasha managed to meet each other without too much of a hassle. Kagome was sitting on a hill, looking at the stars, when Inuyasha came to sit next to her. "Hey."

"Hey," she smiled back, unable to keep her heart from thumping at the feeling of his warm body next to hers.

After a slight pause, the hanyou looked away. "Miroku spoke to me today."

"About what?" Kagome asked, but Inuyasha gave her a single look that made her understand. "Oh…Sango-chan too. What did he say?"

Inuyasha's golden eyes lowered. "He told me that we shouldn't be like this…because of Naraku."

"That's what Sango told me," she replied, leaning closer to him, glad that the gesture seemed welcomed. "What are we going to do?"

After a pause, Inuyasha asked, "Do you want us to stop this?"

She looked back at him, her eyes full of emotion, and she shook her head."No."

"Then we won't," he told her, making her eyes widen.

"What?"

"I'm tired of doing what everyone else wants us to do." Inuyasha's eyes were wild…and passionate. "Kagome…we shouldn't let them get in the way of us. If we want to be this way, then we should. Don't worry about Naraku. I'll keep you safe. I promise."

Kagome stared at him for a moment, before nodding. "Yes…"

He smiled back at her, his arm snaking around her and pulling her against his side. He would let no one get in the way between him and Kagome. No one.


That was what I had agreed to, but I remember even then, one word went through my mind… 'Reckless'…