Prompts: "How long were you standing there?" and "Don't judge me— You're the one who sings Disney songs in the shower!"

Inuyasha had meant to surprise her. It was a weird thing, probably, to want to surprise a girl by doing her fucking dishes, and perhaps he was a little too excited about that, too, because damn he fucking liked that girl way more than he should. He had come right after his last class, since he didn't have basketball practice on Mondays, and Sango had opened the door at his first knock.

She had glared at him for a few moments, and he had simply waited. Sango wasn't his biggest fan, but he didn't blame her. Girl was extremely protective when it came to Kagome, and he would probably be the exact same, if he ever had the chance.

"If you hurt her," Sango said, very matter-of-factly, as she stepped out of the way to let him in, "I'll rip your heart out."

"Keh. I'd like to see you try, slayer," he answered, though if he hurt Kagome, he would probably let her.

She let out a dangerous laugh, but didn't reply.

"I'm going to train. Dishes are in the sink."

"Wait, where's—"

The door slammed behind her, and he rolled his eyes. How dramatic could she be?

He dropped his bag on the ground and looked around. The place was very small, much like the one he shared with Miroku, and the setting was just as terrible. The living-room was ridiculously small, and he wasn't even sure how he could fit in the kitchen. That wall, right by the sink, was stupidly placed, and from the look of it, the small room next to it was the bathroom.

Where he could hear water running.

Someone was taking a shower.

Shit.

So Kagome was in there, water running alongside her jaw, down her neck, her back, her legs, over her thighs, on her br—

Yup, nah, not going there. He swallowed with some difficulty and shook his head, trying to push the images out of his head. Fuck. Couldn't Sango have warned him? At least he couldn't smell her distinctly, with the shampoo and shit, but when she'd get out she'd be— tempting.

Dishes. He was there to do the dishes. Right. He needed to be doing that, not thinking about how good she'd smell when she'd come out, or about her long legs, her creamy thighs, her wet, parted lips, her small, lovely breasts, her—

Dishes.

But if he took hot water, she would probably notice, so, erm, he should… probably wait? He eyed the sink, and there wasn't much in it any way, meaning that if he started now, he wouldn't get to spend much time with her at all.

He couldn't believe he wanted there to be more dishes when him and Miroku almost fought over who would do them at their place.

He liked that girl so much it was stupid.

"If there's a price for rotten judgement… I guess I've already won that."

He almost jumped, but no, Kagome hadn't come out, and the muses weren't singing to him either. She was just singing, apparently, just when he thought he couldn't like her any more or could think she'd be any cuter.

"Who d'you think you're kidding, he's the earth and heaven to you."

And she was doing the voices. Inuyasha held back a laugh, half-sitting on the table as he listened to Kagome. For a moment, he closed his eyes, letting himself be enraptured by her voice. No one could see him, and that meant he didn't have to pretend, didn't have to worry about people laughing at the half-demon so hopelessly in love with a priestess — yes, yet another, who could break his heart again because he didn't deserve her either.

"No chance, no way, I won't say it, no no."

Same. That Megara girl really knew what was up, huh?

"It's too cliche, I won't say I'm in love…"

Ah, to be the one Kagome was thinking about when she sang that. To be the one who held such a place in her heart, to be able to hold her. He'd take far less than that, if he could. He'd be her friend, if she wanted him, he'd take being able to simply love her from a distance, even if that would crush his heart. He'd take anything if it meant he'd be able to keep her in his life.

"At least out loud, I won't say I'm in love…"

His eyes snapped open when he heard the door sliding, and next thing he knew, he was looking at a very wet, very naked Kagome, with a simple towel wrapped around her.

She screamed.

He, fortunately, held back a scream — that was the least manly thing he could have done and he would never have gotten over it — and turned around.

"Fuck— Sorry— Didn't mean to— Sango let me in for that dishes thing and I didn't want to take your hot water—"

"You scared me," she whispered, and she saw him tense. "I'll— I'll go change. Give me a second."

She slid in her room, and closed the door with a last look at him. She couldn't help but chuckle after that. His reaction? That was adorable. The look on his face, the blush, the way he clearly wanted to turn around but was holding himself back… And the thing he'd said about the hot water? Ugh. How could he dare.

She got out after having thrown on a tee-shirt and jeans. He had his hands in water, and she frowned when she realized he hadn't put gloves on.

"Aren't you going to burn yourself?"

He glanced at her, looking almost relieved that she was dressed now, and shot her a grin.

"Half-demon."

"That doesn't mean it would be pleasant, surely…" She tried dipping her hand in the water but he intercepted her right before that

"'m good, really, but it's still hot," he said, letting go of her hand almost immediately, like that touch was what had burned him.

She remained silent for a couple of seconds, not knowing what to do about this. About how fast he had stopped her so she wouldn't hurt herself, about how warm, how gentle and careful he was despite his brash exterior, about how… She cleared her throat.

"So, erm, how long were you standing there?"

He grimaced. "Not long, I swear, I— Don't judge me, you're the one who sings Disney songs in the shower!"

She was unbelievably grateful that he was focused on the dishes when he said that, so he didn't see her turning bright red. He'd heard that? Well, it made sense, because she was singing it when she had walked out but, still, he wasn't supposed to hear her sing that.

"Oh, c'mon, I have a nice voice!" she joked, hoping she sounded natural.

"Keh. 's alright, I guess."

She bumped her head against his shoulder to indicate her disapproval, which was about the highest place she could reach, and then, when it turned out to be surprisingly comfortable, chose to stay there. Inuyasha tensed briefly, then relaxed.

"You're leaving a wet spot on my shirt," he protested playfully, forcing himself to say something so he didn't just think about her body leaning against his, about how his shirt would spend like her after that, about how much he wanted her right now.

"Boo-hoo. So what, you can take almost boiling water, but wet hair is what sends you?"

He laughed, but didn't reply. "Do you really mind?" she asked curiously after a few seconds. "I can move if you do."

There was moment of silent, and then:

"…Nah. Nah, I don't mind. You can stay there."

For as long as you want.

I'm happy to see you're enjoying this, thank you for sending your support for this work! I'd love to read your thoughts on this chapter as well :) See you on the 8th if everything goes according to plan!

Dya.