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Itty Bitty Pretty One

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"So Inuyasha has been turned into a human," Naraku mused as a menacing smirk presented itself on his face, "How interesting."

In the corner, Kagura fanned herself lazily as she watched the events unfold in Kanna's mirror with an air of indifference and disappointment. Of course that wretched band of misfits would manage to get themselves into this type of mess and to allow him out in the open at all seemed to be a grave oversight. It never ceased to amaze her that they weren't more careful. They openly talked of their plans as though the thought never occurred to them that Naraku may be watching. He was always watching. Although, to be fair, she often tried to rebel against him whether he was watching or not so perhaps they had adopted a similar habit. If someone was always watching, there was no point attempting to keep secrets.

"It seems that young half-breed is easily manipulated," Naraku continued – obviously talking to himself as neither incarnation reacted, "Perhaps it is time for my latest incarnation to make an appearance. She has been warned of you both – Kagura and Kanna – but she is a fool child. This should be quite easy."

Rolling her crimson eyes, Kagura merely continued fanning herself while Kanna stared blankly ahead. At least she wasn't being sent on a fool's errand once again. She had no interest in being shrunken down to size.

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Sleeping seemed like a terrible awkward affair. He never slept while he was human but the prospect that he'd never sleep again seemed quite literally impossible and in truth, he was more exhausted than he'd ever like to admit.

"You have to sleep," Kagome chided gently from her place on the bed – watching him as he obviously fought to keep his eyes open from his place underneath the window, "I can tell you're exhausted."

"I'm not sleeping," Inuyasha growled back – the hoarseness of his voice from the effort to hold back tears for so long making him sound markedly more tired than even he felt, "I never sleep when I'm human."

"Well seeing as you might be human for awhile…" Kagome laughed softly, leaving the obvious unspoken as Inuyasha yawned and tried to get more comfortable against the wall. It was undoubtedly much more difficult to find a comfortable position in this form – already his ass was going numb and it was all he could do not to sprawl out on the increasingly inviting looking floor.

"Just go to sleep," he snapped – exhaustion permeating his tone as he closed his eyes and leaned his head back against the wall, "Don't worry about me. I'm still much stronger than the average human."

"I don't doubt that," Kagome cooed as she watched him struggle to stay upright, "At least you aren't tiny still. I'd hoped that maybe the spell would wear off when we came back here like it did for that one but apparently, she really got you good."

Grimacing as soon as the words came out of her mouth, Kagome sighed and turned to face the wall. Honestly, she wanted to invite him to sleep in her bed with him but just the thought made her blush redder than the fire rat and he'd never agree to it anyway. Despite them admitting their feelings for once another, they were both still incredibly private people and the thought of physical intimacy was daunting to say the least. Hell, if they did ever get married she'd probably end up having to coax him out of a tree. That wasn't to say she hadn't thought of what it would be like to be with him in that way but it was something almost forbidden, her own dirty little secret.

"Kagome," Inuyasha suddenly whispered then pulling her out of her less than appropriate thoughts, "Does it…does it really not bother you that I'm human now?"

Turning back to face him – a faint blush still on her cheeks – Kagome furrowed her brow and confusion for a moment before shaking her head, "No. Well, I mean, I hope we can get you back to the way you normally are but no, it doesn't bother me that you're human at the moment."

"At the moment," he repeated quietly as he lifted his hand to regard it before adding quietly, "But you'd prefer me as a half-demon, right?"

"I love you in any form you take," Kagome offered honestly, "Human. Half-demon. Full demon. Like I said, you could turn purple with green spots and I'd still take you."

Scoffing, Inuyasha rolled her eyes at the analogy before glancing over at her affectionately, "You're the only person who'd ever say that, you know that right?"

"Then they're blind," Kagome teased, "Any woman is nuts if she can look at you and not think you're good looking."

"Again, you're the only one," Inuyasha laughed good-naturedly before lolling his head to look at her full on, "I mean, you could have anyone. Humans. Demons. You've got guys falling head over heels for you and you still pick me. The asshole who insults you night and day."

"Well…you could work on that," Kagome chided gently as she gave him an affectionate grin, "It wouldn't hurt you to say I'm pretty every once in a while."

"I wouldn't say you're pretty," Inuyasha snorted once as he leaned his head back and closed his eyes…until they flew open wide and he gaped at the wounded looking girl who looked crushed, "I mean….well, shit. I'm not good at words, dammit. You're beautiful. You're not just pretty, alright? That's all I meant."

"You think I'm beautiful," Kagome teased slightly – her wounded ego rebuilt instantly, "What else do you think of me?"

"Well, we never see eye to eye," Inuyasha began slowly – as though mulling over the idea - grimacing at the way he phrased that, "I mean, you aren't afraid to tell me when I'm being an ass. Most people are scared to piss me off. You smile and notice the dumbest things ever but because you do, I can appreciate things. I like that you're feisty as hell. And…and I love you."

The last part came out mumbled and barely audible - a crimson blush blossoming in his cheeks as he squirmed uncomfortably. Those three little words had kinda just slipped out and despite her knowing, he had been right. Everything seemed ten times more stressful now that he'd said it aloud. This was real and it could all be taken from him in the blink of an eye.

"I love you too," Kagome cooed as she watched him struggling with himself and avert his eyes. Plucking up her courage, Kagome lifted the blanket slightly and beckoned him closer, "The bed is more comfortable than the floor. Why don't you come up here?"

Staring at her like she'd grown a second head, InuYasha but his lip for a moment - seriously considering taking her up on her offer before he sighed and shook his head, "I don't sleep when I'm human. I'll probably be fine in the morning."

"There's no demons here," Kagome pointed out softly, "No one is going to hurt you here. It wouldn't hurt to sleep."

"It might," Inuyasha muttered under his breath as the image of Kagome pressed intimately against his body wormed it's way into his mind causing him to release a shaky breath. Stupid human body. Getting worked up over every damn thing. Waking up to Kagome's screams when his body rebelled against him and had a mind of its own as it pressed against her was enough of a deterrent that it was all he could do to shake his head.

"If I have to I'll just sleep on the floor," he sighed as he adjusted himself against the wall once more, "Just go to sleep."

Unable to hide her disappointment, Kagome lowered the blanket and turned to face the wall once more as tears threatened to fall and for once, Inuyasha was blissfully ignorant of the fact that he'd managed to make her cry - something that was never his intent. For her part, Kagome was miserable. Now he probably thought she was some shameless vixen or something trying to share her bed with him, however innocently.

Miscommunication seemed to play a role in their relationship. Always had. Probably always would. As they each wallowed in their respective disappointment - Inuyasha glancing over at her occassionally biting his lip as he tried to fight the desire to just climb in next to her and Kagome miserable because she thought she'd taken it too far - each of them couldn't help but wish they'd handled it differently.