Chapter 18

"Kagome…Kagome?...Kagomeeee….."

The girl gently stirred and moved her face to the side. She could feel her skin peel from Inuyasha's chest, strangely moistened with sweat.

"Hm?" She muttered, her voice clogged with sleep as she struggled to open her eyes. She could still feel Inuyasha's arms wrapped, tightly, around her back and holding his shirts to her.

"Kagome…if you keep sleeping outside, you're gonna catch a cold!" said the raspy voice once more. Kagome recognized it this time. Her grandpa. Didn't he notice at all that she had been asleep, lying against an 18 year old boy that was shirtless?

'So clueless…' She thought as she pulled herself further off the hanyou.

"K-Kagome?" Said Inuyasha. Unlike Kagome's, his voice didn't sound clogged with sleep. Had he been awake? Since when? Why had he stayed lying there with her against him?

"What? Oh…Am I late again?" She asked, remembering that she had school yet again. Luckily, no tests until a few more weeks, but this was her chance to really get to review and study.

She peeled herself away from Inuyasha, their skin sticking together in an awkward way that made them both turn a slight red. She sat straight up and listened to the bones in her back crack in adjustment. The shirts remained around her shoulders.

"Mmm….It's 7:17..." Her grandpa told her as he turned over his wrist watch and squinted at the tiny numbers within.

"Agh! School starts at 8:00, Grandpa!" Kagome shouted as if it was somehow his fault, though she hadn't meant it to sound like that.

"So what's he gonna be able to do about it?" Inuyasha retorted, possibly defending her grandpa, or possibly just to have a reason to retort rudely to her. Most likely, the second one.

"I don't know! Just! UGH! Are my school clothes dry, yet? Oh! I hope they are! I have to wear my uniform or else…Oooohh!" She cried.

"Oh. This episode again…" Inuyasha muttered, referring to the day before when Kagome ran frantically around with her family staring wide eyed.

"Mmm!" She shouted through pressed lips. She shot her glance back to him, her lips ready to form the words of: 'sit, boy'. She was quieted when she saw the handsome hanyou sitting in the grass at the base of the tree, his chest bare, and his legs pulled apart, leaving the space for Kagome free to get to…as if free if she ever felt like laying back down.

"Kagome? Helloooo? You're goin' all starry eyed again!" He shouted to her upon her sudden freeze

"What? I'm fine." The miko stated back, standing up and brushing the small, green, blades of grass from her green top.

"I didn't ask if you were okay…I said you're goin' all starry eyed. " He said back, his tone mocking. Once again, she forced herself to ignore it.

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The slayer walked through the forest once more, periodically bending low to pick of a short stick or two for the fire back at Keade's hut. Her eyes were distant as she quickly shifted the pile she had collected, in her hands. Her thoughts were definitely elsewhere.

Suddenly, as she neared the village, she could hear soft spoken words. She squinted into the forest and tried to pick out the faint sound.

"Miroku…" She mutter as she recognized the voice. She'd know it anywhere.

She stood there, her foot tapping as it had before as she waited to hear those words. 'Will you bear my children?'

God, how she hated that. He was such a pervert, such a womanizer. Again, she couldn't help but wonder if he was really 'innocent' anymore…or did he just say those things. Or did he actually have children? She shook her head. It was hard to picture Miroku as a good father.

"So…Will you…bear my children?"

She finally heard it and cringed out of anger. An arm raised to her shoulder the hold to the strap of her Hiraikotsu. Some of the sticks that she had held, clattered to the forest floor as she walked in the direction of the voices.

Sango's eyes widened at the sight she came upon. Miroku had some young woman pressed against the trunk of an old oak tree. Their eyes were closed as Miroku's lips moved towards her.

'No! I can't let this happen! I don't think I'll be able to stand to see them kiss! I know I can stop it!' She thought as she leapt forward and shoved the remaining of her sticks into Miroku's arms.

"I thought we were collecting sticks, Miroku?" She said, her voice firm. She heard him utter a soft moan of defeat.

"Yes, darling…" He answered, turning away from the young girl, his face slightly red.

"Don't call me that!" Sango snapped, angry at him. He had called her 'darling'. Had he been expecting her to like it? After what he had been caught doing?

The girl muttered something under her breath and straightened her blue kimono as she started to take off back to the village, her freckled cheeks red with embarrassment. Now that Sango had another look, she could tell that it had been the same girl from before. Oddly, Miroku seemed to be hooked on that one. Could it be that she was possibly willing to bear his children? What if it got that far when Sango wasn't looking? What if….

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"Kagome!" The miko heard her voice being called as she walked across the campus of her middle school. It took her only a moment to realize who the handsome, young, boy that was running towards her, was. Hojou.

As she stood there and smiled, she could feel his lips on hers. She could feel his hands on her face as she had when he had kissed her. He had seemed so needy….so….why didn't she pull away? Could it be that she had actually liked it? It was a strange feeling…like maybe when she saw him, she wanted to do it again, yet she didn't. It's like when you have a cavity and you keep blowing air through it just to see if it still hurts.

"Kagome! I'm so sorry that I had to miss the prom!" He said in a truly apologetic voice. A small grin tugged at the corners of Kagome's mouth.

"It's okay, Hojou…I found another date." She replied, her grin never leaving her lips as the visions of Inuyasha holding her so gently as he danced…or…whatever he was doing on that dance floor.

The brown haired boy, a year and grade higher than her, seemed confused by this statement. Did he expect her to go alone? Not to go at all?

"Well…I should be getting home now!" She said, breaking the awkward silence. She swore she could hear crickets chirping.

She gave another sweet grin and trotted off towards home, eager to see Inuyasha again. She didn't like leaving him alone at her house for so long. Her better mood was obvious. Much different than yesterdays or the day's before as she was almost in tears about her education.

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"Inuyasha? Are you here?" She called into her house as she let her huge yellow backpack slide from her shoulder and drop to the floor. When she did not hear the reply of Inuyasha's deep, hypnotizing, voice, she walked to her room, dragging her bag behind her and up the stairs.

"Inuyasha? Hello? Anyone home?" She called again, her voice cracked softly in slight worry.

No reply.

She pushed open the door to her room and peered inside. A soft smirked pulled over her lips at the sight that met her milk chocolate eyes.

"Inuyashaaaa…." She said in a gentle, teasing voice as she crept over to the hanyou that lay on her pink bed. Sure she had told him not to sleep up there….but now…it was just so cute how he lay there, curled up like a little puppy in front of a fire.

Quietly, he stirred and Kagome perched herself giddily on the side of the bed, on her knees, staring down at the hanyou with a cheeky smile.

"Have a nice snooze?" She teased, her smile widening as a slight pink crossed Inuyasha's cheeks when his eyes fluttered open.

"Uhhh…I wasn't sleeping…" The hanyou replied, sitting straight up and widening his eyes to give the illusion that he had not just been sleeping. Kagome grinned and let go of the strap on her book bag.

"What were you doing then? Resting your eyes while you practice your snore?" She teased again, reaching out a finger to poke him in the ribs. He had a confused look that kept the smile on the miko's face.

"I wasn't snoring!…Was I?" He yelled, giving it away that he had been sleeping. His face turned red as Kagome giggled.

"Mmm….that's not funny…" He muttered and pushed Kagome's hand away and rubbed the spot where she poked him. It tingled.

"Well…" Kagome started to speak when a foul odor reached her nose. She recoiled in disgust. For the first time, she had realized how much the hanyou stank.

"EW! INUYASHA, YOU STINK LIKE A DOG!" She cried, jumping up from the bed and covering her nose.

"Who ya callin' a dog?" Inuyasha yelled back, looking insulted. He pulled his legs underneath him and stared at Kagome with narrowed eyes.

No matter what the young miko said that happened to have the word 'dog' in it, Inuyasha thought she was talking about him that way. It was actually quite amusing.

"No one! I said you smell like one, Inuyasha! You really need to take a shower!" Kagome replied as she moved her hand down further, covering both her nose and mouth so that he didn't see her smile.

"And what's this 'shower' you speak of?" The clueless hanyou asked, acting as if he wasn't curious by the least bit though he leaned forward. Kagome leaned back.

"Here. I'll show you. Follow me, stinky." She said, walking swiftly out of the room as she motioned for the hanyou to follow.

Inuyasha pulled himself from the bed, now, obviously intrigued by this "shower" that Kagome spoke of. His brows were angled inward but he made no response to Kagome's last comment as he followed her from a long distance.

Kagome turned, noticing how the half demon lagged behind. She reached out a hand and let her other drop to her side as she grasped the hanyou's hand. She raised them up to her face, as if examining them. The hallway was silent as Kagome moved her shimmering irises to meet his trembling ones. She didn't know what to say or do at this point. What had she been doing before she took his hand? Her heart pounded. She had forgotten. She forgot everything with his touch…it was so strange.

"Um…the shower, Kagome?" Inuyasha reminded her, breaking the awkward silence that had blanketed them for quite awhile.

"Oh…yeah…" She replied, a rosy blush spreading over her cheeks as she lowered their hands and tried to get her brain straight. The hanyou shifted his weight uncomfortably and waited for something to happen. Anything. Anything to break the silence between them. It was too awkward for the moment. Inuyasha had found himself lost in Kagome's eyes so many times before….but he always scolded himself about it afterwards. What would she think of him if she knew how soft he was inside?

Quickly, Kagome led Inuyasha down the stairs and into the tiny bathroom at the far end of the hall downstairs. She pulled aside the tan shower curtain and smiled back at Inuyasha, dropping his hand.

"That's a shower….now take one!" She ordered and started to sweep herself out of the room when Inuyasha suddenly spoke.

"Kagome? Do you practice being stupid…or does it come natural?" The hanyou insulted, an odd look on his face. He knew that she knew that he didn't know how to work a shower.

A scowl crossed the miko's face, removing her sweet smile and planting the mad look there as she grasped the doorknob and uttered those dreaded words.

"Sit, boy!"

Kagome was out of the room before she could see Inuyasha's face hit the floor.

The hanyou mumbled something under his breath as he rose from the tiled floor and peered at the shower head. His pain soon subsided and was replaced by pure curiosity. He slowly crept to the tub and carefully stepped inside. He rose a clawed finger and taped the head of the shower. He flinched lightly but nothing happened.

"Mmmm…I don't like this…" He muttered, looking around.

His eyes landed on the handles at the edge of the tub, below the shower head. The curiosity returned like a mischievous child next to a bag they were ordered not to open. Slowly, he bent low and turned the large knob in the middle.

Freezing water spurted from the holes in the shower head and pummeled Inuyasha's form as he thrust himself back, getting his face and clothes drenched.

He let out a loud cry and Kagome came crashing in.

"Inuyasha, you idiot!" She cried, watching the soaked half demon flail around in the cold water that sprayed down on him.

"Turn it off, turn it off, it's cold!" He cried, trying frantically to block the spray from his face with his hands.

"AGH! WHAT KIND OF CONTRAPTION IS THIS!" He screamed, going into hysterics.

"Chill out, Inuyasha! It's just a shower!" Kagome cried back as she made her way over the large puddles on the floor and twisted the knob back the other way. The water cut off and Kagome giggled at seeing Inuyasha all soaked.

"That…was a nightmare!" He said, still dazed and shocked.

"Heh. Now you just smell like a wet dog…Here, let me help." She replied, her face lighting up with a pinkish glow.

She hesitated to make another action. What did she mean to do? What did Inuyasha think she was going to do? She saw the wide eyed look on his face.

She shook her head and reached out to turn the knob back.

"Kagome- NO!"

She turned the knob, along with the one on the right, marked with 'H'.

"AH! NOW IT'S HOT!" The hanyou cried thrusting himself further to get out of the range of spray from the shower.

"Hold on and chill out! It's really relaxing, you'll see. I take one every night." Kagome replied as she turned the knob marked 'C' slightly.

"You torture yourself like this every night?" He exclaimed, shock in his voice. He really didn't understand.

"Yeah…now stand back…." She ordered, pushing her open palms into his chest and forcing him back into the shower.

She watched as the clear water soaked his hair and ran down his handsome features. She froze herself there with her hands on his chest as the water poured down on her as well. Neither of them pulled away. The water was warm and soothing…as soothing at Kagome's touch on Inuyasha.

The miko's heart began to beat rapidly as the water soaked through her shirt, making it transparent and showing what was underneath. She knew Inuyasha had seen her without any cloths before and even if he did happen to look down there, he wouldn't see all the way through. But it still struck her as odd or embarrassing.

She reached for the shampoo on the ledge next to them. She felt her white shirt and green skirt sticking to her skin with every move she made. She could feel amber eyes on her with every move she made. Her cheeks turned a slight pink.

"What are you…" The hanyou started as he watched Kagome squeeze a thick blue liquid from the black bottle.

"Shh…" She hushed him as she rose to her tiptoes and rubbed the shampoo in his silver hair. She moved slowly, relishing the feeling of each silver strand under her fingers.

"What the…." He muttered, crouching somewhat low so she could get to his head better though he acted as if he didn't want her to be doing so.

Their hearts beat rapidly as Kagome gently began the process of washing Inuyasha's hair.

She moved her hands to the back of his head and pulled the remains of his hair to the top of his head so she could shampoo it better and more thoroughly. She scrubbed his hair with her delicate fingers, feeling heat rise into her throat.

"Okay…." She said and let out a soft moan as she lowered herself from her tiptoes for only a moment as she let the suds of shampoo rinse from Inuyasha's hair. It slunk down his back once more as some of the suds rinsed out.

"OW! AH! IT'S IN MY EYES!" He screamed, throwing a hand up to wipe the stinging shampoo from his reddening eyes. Still, the stinging sensation remained.

"Calm down, I've got it, I've got it…" Kagome assured as she reached up her hand and pressed them lightly to Inuyasha's squeezed shut eyes.

She gently rubbed the stinging shampoo from his eyes. She could hear Inuyasha's shallow breaths. He wasn't able to hold them in. His heart was beating too rapidly and everything was happening so fast.

Kagome finally wiped the shampoo from his eyes and began to run her fingers through his hair to push out the rest of the suds as Inuyasha slowly reopened his eyes and blinked several times.

For the first time, his eyes traveled downward to meet with the transparency of Kagome's shirt. His eyes widened at the sight, at first, before his cheeks turned rosy. No matter how much he scolded himself to, he couldn't pull his eyes away. After all, he was a guy. Finally, he manage to pull his eyes to Kagome's brown orbs but his eyes just kept switching between the two. He almost couldn't control himself. The feel of her touch, the sight of her…it was all too much.

Again, Kagome let out a soft moan as she lowered to her heels once more. She heard Inuyasha groan in reply. She looked at him to see him clench his jaw.

"Would you quit moanin' like that, Kagome!" He yelled, startling her somewhat.

"Why?" She answered, her brows furrowing in confusion.

" 'Cause it's driving me insane!" He replied through clenched teeth.

"What do you mean, insane?" Kagome asked, not noticing how far she was really pushing him.

She heard a growl in reply, along with a " Because…Ugh! Kagome!" as he forcefully grasped her forearm and held it tightly as he began to loose himself, her soft moans echoing in his mind. Kagome's irises trembled. He slowly drew the wide eyed and slightly frightened miko closer as water poured down both their bodies.

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RAPE!

-Cough-

Wha? I had...a...yeah, a cough. Mm-hmm...