Disclaimer: The characters of Inuyasha are owned by Rumiko Takahashi, but this story belongs to me.

How to Flirt with a Dog Demon

Be Yourself

Be yourself. -Inuyasha

The teapot was set gently on the table as Kagome listlessly flipped through magazine pages. With a sigh, Kagome closed the magazine and laid her head on the table.

Sigh.

"Kagome..." her mother sat across from her and poured tea. "Would you want Inuyasha to change?"

Kagome sat up, startled. "Of course not!"

"Do you think he would want you to change?"

Biting her lip, Kagome thought about it. Would he be happier if she was more like Kikyo?

"No."

Kagome spun around at the gruff voice.

"Inuyasha!"

Calmly, Mama Higurashi poured another cup of tea. "I think I'll go see if Grandpa would like some tea."

Before the young miko could sweep the magazines off the table, a clawed hand slammed down on top of them. Kagome couldn't make herself look at him. Instead she stared in mortification as he pushed the stack of magazines to the side, exposing over a dozen covers of teen magazines promising the teach young women how to flirt.

If only they had just ONE that said how to flirt with a dog demon, Kagome groused silently.

She watched as his hand closed, crumpling the paper of a couple of magazines as he made a fist. Then he released his grip. Her heart was beating frantically and she knew her face must be bright red.

"I don't want you..."

Tears pricked at Kagome's eyes as her heart broke. It felt as if her soul had shattered. She should never have hoped.

"I don't want you... to change..." Inuyasha struggled with his words. "You... you are exactly... everything..."

Kagome looked up at him. His golden eyes glowed.

With a growl he took her hand and flew out of the house with her. Scooping her in his arms he leapt up into the God Tree. Once she was safely seated beside him, Inuyasha crossed his arms and glared.

"It's stupid to try and be someone you aren't, because you're already... perfect."

Kagome put her hand to her chest, trying to calm her heart. After all the work she had put into flirting, she knew she had to find the bravery to tell him.

"I wanted you to notice me," she confessed.

"Feh. I always notice you."

Kagome sighed, he just wasn't understanding. And it was really reeeeeeally difficult for her to get him to understand. She wasn't sure she had the courage. But she knew she had to try.

"I meant... NOTICE me."

Inuyasha turned towards her, putting his hands on her shoulders. When his eyes met hers, Kagome's heart began to race and a shiver ran up her back. She had seen that look before, long ago. It felt like he was seeing her soul, and letting her see his.

"I notice everything about you, Kagome. I notice when you're sad. When you're happy. I notice when you are hurt. And happy. I notice if you get the smallest scratch. I notice how your eyes change with your every mood. I notice when you start to wake, and when you fall asleep just by the change in how you breathe. I notice how your heart beats faster when you are scared or... or excited. I notice when you have a pebble in your shoe by how you change how you walk. I notice how your smile can change everyone's mood. I notice your scent out of thousands. I notice every single thing about you, Kagome. Everything."

"I meant... I mean, yes you do, but I meant notice I'm... I meant feelings... noticing that I'm a girl... and my heart..."

Bashfully Kagome looked away, but Inuyasha gently took her chin and guided her eyes back to his.

"Kagome," he said gently, "I notice you."

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"Mama... I thought you said you were going to start dinner.

Mama Higurashi grinned as she spun Souta around and out of the kitchen.

"I think we might start just a little bit late today."

"But why?"

With one last glance out of the kitchen window, she shooed her son into the living room. Her heart felt near to bursting with happiness for her daughter and for the dog demon she fell in love with.

Though she was only giving them five more minutes before she sent out her father to break things up and bring them in for dinner.

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Author's Note:

It has been a crazy year! So sorry it has taken me this long to update. After the hurricane I had to move (I miss my house), then was hit with some health issues on top of that (had to learn how to write and type again). But I haven't forgotten about the story! I just had to decide how I wanted to finish it.

The best advice I have ever been given about relationships is to just be yourself. Someone is going to like you for who you are, not who you are trying to pretend to be.