Disclaimer: The characters in my story are borrowed, not owned. If for any reason they must be returned, I will hide and claim I lost them! Just kidding. Seriously, I don't own the characters. Just the story. Don't sue me. I'm not worth much.

On with the story..

Chapter Four

Inuyasha reached for the bowl of strawberries on his night stand and gave it to Kagome. She gave a small thanks and began eating.

"I figured you'd be hungry and wouldn't be smart enough to eat before storming in my room like an idiot. Good to know you still like strawberries." Inuyasha said while plopping on his bed. He watched her take another bite. She looked at him strange before deciding to swallow.

"Good to know you still know something about me. These aren't poisoned right?" Kagome questioned as she examined her next berry.

"I have no need for a dead body in my bedroom." Inuyasha joked. "I once knew everything there was to know about you Kagome Higurashi. I know more than just strawberries." He moved aside on his bed and patted down. "Come here, princess. Let's get this over with."

Kagome stared at the spot on his bed. She hadn't relaxed by his side since the day she confessed and since then it seemed inappropriate to even think about laying on his bed again. But that was old news and old feelings. She took her bowl and laid next to him. She couldn't admit to him how uncomfortable he made her feel when he was too close. She couldn't let him know he had that power. Kagome took it one step further and positioned herself in his arm.

Inuyasha let out a sigh he didn't know he was holding. He didn't mean to invite her to lay down with him. It just felt so natural. They used to have all their talks laying down for comfort. It always made the conversation easier and less formal. He admitted to himself it felt good to have her there beside him like old times. He wrapped her in his arms and resisted the urge to kiss her forehead. He needed to focus.

"My parents found this amazing girl named Kikyo and I'll get to finally meet her face to face on New Years. We've talked on the phone and SKYPE and I really think we could make something promising. But as you know, I'm not as promising as I appear." Inuyasha looked up as he spoke, silently praying for the strength to admit his flaws.

"And I'm here because...?" Kagome waited while Inuyasha collected his thoughts.

"You know me best. Well, once knew me. And I need you to help make me suitable. Catching women is easy. That is something I know I can't fuck up. I just don't know how to keep them. I don't know how to get them to stay and put up with my shit. So I figured... if I get rid of as many flaws as I can before meeting up with Kikyo, I'd actually have a fighting chance. You're here because I need direction... and practice." Inuyasha concluded, finally turning to face her.

Kagome was quiet for a long time. She didn't know whether she wanted to puke or laugh. This had to be the first time she'd heard a request this desperate.

"I'm not a miracle worker Inuyasha. Some dogs just can't be trained." Kagome said trying to raise up off the bed. Inuyasha pushed her down and hovered over her.

"You trained Sesshomaru. He holds longer relationships than me now. You have to have some kind of magic in you." Inuyasha growled out.

"That's where you're wrong. Sesshomaru never needed training at all." Kagome laughed. As if someone could ever train the high and mighty Sesshomaru Takahashi. "He treats and maintains women just fine. If anything, Sesshomaru just needed to be tamed." Kagome moved her eyes to the door to stare at the familiar amber eyes of the Dog in question. He gave her a knowing grin before walking off and she returned it before looking back up at Inuyasha.

Inuyasha let out a warning growl and slowly pulled back off of Kagome.

"How is it he has this hold on you, even now princess?" Inuyasha accused.

"I'm not sure what you mean." Kagome replied, genuinely intrigued. She decided to address the issue with that nickname another time.

"You always spoil him with your attention. Whenever the three of us are in a room, your eyes always seem to choose his. How does he do that?" Inuyasha wondered and began rambling to himself the possible answers to his current dilemma.

"Do you want to know so you can take notes? Or is this just some sick jealousy sibling rivalry game you're trying to find the cheat code for?" Kagome gazed in his eyes this time to see exactly where all this was coming from.

Inuyasha laid back and pulled Kagome to him to lay on his chest. "Maybe a little of both," Inuyasha admitted. "So how does he do it?"

Kagome let out a laugh. Same old Inuyasha. "Easy. He's Sesshomaru," was Kagome's simple answer. He didn't find it very funny and was seriously reconsidering having her there for 6 months.

Inuyasha rolled his eyes and tried not to lose his patience. "Elaborate. What does that even mean?"

Kagome rolled over and straddled Inuyasha to make herself the focus of all his attention. "This is what Sesshomaru does." Kagome said, bending down closer to Inuyasha's face. "It's almost like he zeros in and gives me his undivided attention whenever our eyes meet. There's never any doubt that he'd rather be looking elsewhere. There's never any discomfort or impatience when he glances my way." Kagome kept her eyes focused on the amber ones below her. "For those seconds, sometimes minutes, he makes me feel like I'm the most beautiful girl or the most important thing in his life."

"I never made you feel important or beautiful princess?" Inuyasha asked, brushing a stray hair from Kagome's face.

Kagome rose up to sit on him. "You're missing my point." Kagome said. "I like what Sesshomaru sees in me and you've made it clear its impossible for you to ever see me in that way. I have a place he holds for me in his eyes, despite our current status. There will never be room for me in yours. I think I'm someone you'd rather hear." Kagome giggled and got up completely. She did her best to end the rant on a light note but she wasn't sure Inuyasha took the hint.

"How do I make it so Kikyo feels like I see only her? Is that something you can help me fix?" Inuyasha asked as he sat up.

If he was going to ever get out of this house he would need to make this situation with Kikyo work. Without a wife, Inuyasha would be stuck living at home until his trust fund kicked in at 35 and frankly he wasn't going to wait around 9 more years for that to happen.

"Oh yeah. Sure. Let me just write you a prescription." Kagome said sarcastically."It's not something you fix Inuyasha. God, maybe that's why so many relationships fail. You can't just make yourself see a girl that way. You can't just force yourself to love someone. You'll either grow to love her or you won't. There's no glasses. No lasik eye surgery. No one can alter your feelings for another person but you." Kagome was getting herself worked up.

"So what's it like when you look at me?" Inuyasha asked while grabbing her last strawberry from the abandoned bowl.

"Transparent" a voice from the door way said. "She no longer looks at you at all Takahashi. She looks right through you."

Kagome was forever grateful to dodge that question and would have to show that appreciation some how later that evening.

"I almost forgot you were here," Kagome chuckled. "Inuyasha, meet Rin."

..Until Next Time..

- Ordinary Extra

Rx4 ; Good night ;]