DISCLAIMER:
"Look Inuyasha! I got you a present!"
"I am NOT coming down!"
"Not even for a pretty present?..."
"Well... okay.." scurries down tree trunk
"Here! A pink vera bradley collar!!"
"Oh hell no." Scurries back up tree.
"Oh common! I'm not gonna own you, or any of your fellow characters! LOOK! It even has a matching leesh!"
¤¤ Thick Throaty Molasses ¤¤
¤ By: Telpelindewen ¤
¤¤ recap ¤¤.
Inuyasha was...not...happy.
He went into his apartment and turned on the news where of course they were honoring their local returning home hero, the bitch herself, Kikyo. He growling and slammed his fist on the set turning it off and then stomping off to work. The others just kind of scurried off away from him.
Elsewhere...
"Are you ready big boy?" He growled as she stroked him once, and twice, and then directed his tip towards her entrance.
He sank his length into her warmth and felt her nails dig into his shoulder blades and her legs wrap around his waist as he leaned their full weight against the wall of the shower tiles. He grunted into her neck licking and nipping their mate mark. A mark he would only give once, and to only her. She saw stars when his tongue would graze that spot, their spot which would send spikes of pleasure down to her groin area.
"Yes! Sessh faster." And him the silent type would only say her name once, usually and that he loved her before they would collapse against the wall completely satisfied, and then have to start the cleaning process all over again, which would need to be started again later even if they got out of the shower at all or even out of the bedroom.
When they were laying in bed later on that night Rin turned towards him. Implying about the question she had asked earlier when he first came home. She trailed her hand down his chest heading south, he was quickly losing his concentration., "It was that bad huh?
¤ Chapter Seven ¤
Two weeks had passed since Kagome's cell phone disaster, and two weeks since Inuyasha became a grump because of the local residential hero's return. She still hadn't made the trip into town to get a new cell because she was waiting for Inuyasha to drop the grump act first. The hands had stayed away at first, but then Inuyasha became irritable and the only person who had guts enough to work with him was Sesshoumaru, but that was of course because if Inuyasha annoyed him all he had to do was slap him a few times, or in Sesshoumaru terms just give him a few harsh words. Kagome on the on the hand tried to comfort him a numerous amount of times, by bringing his food to him or trying to sit on the roof, but each time he either ignored her or feh'd and walked away. Frankly it was getting on her nerves.
So she started to spend her time in the evening watching movies with Hojo or Bankotsu, and was learning how to ride from Kouga and then even sitting for a portrait to be painted by Rin during the day, Sesshoumaru even offered to teach her how to lasso a calf or two, meanwhile taking time out of the day waking up early to photograph during dawn or in the evening sunsets. She tried to capture the ranch hands as they were working, each separately, each breathtaking, except for Inuyasha who was only sulking while he worked. Even though he wore a hat Kagome could bet his ears would be flat against his head underneath it.
They had already missed two rodeo competitions, but there would be a fair in town this summer, they had the same one every year, only a week away with another competition. She read about it in one of those flyers on the table. A few of the ranch hands planned on riding in the rodeo competition they had. Sango said she may try the barrel race and Kouga and Bankotsu planned on trying out the calf roping, and everyone was practicing for each of their own considering the amounts of money that could be won in their competitions. The fair grounds had stables there so all they needed to do was trailer their horses over for the day and rent out a few stalls.
Kagome helped Kaede and Hojo sometimes in the kitchen too, cleaning up or baking. She knew Kaede was going to take a bandwagon full of pies of all sorts to sell at the booth at the fair. Rin was even going to draw charactitures of people and volunteer to do some face painting on children. But what would Kagome do?
She looked around. She had tried to make the rooms a bit more homey, adding curtains to the ranch hand quarters, and cleaning the windows as well as adding a few candles here and there. Kagome walked through the living room and lit one of the fresh smelling Yankee candles sitting on the table and then headed outside to get her daily riding experience with Kouga.
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A few hours after her lesson with Kouga, which resulted well until Inuyasha and Kouga had a brawl over touching her a little too personally during the lesson. While they fought Kagome sighed and took the horse she was riding out of the quarrel and headed towards Sango who offered to take her on a trail ride, the two boys not even noticing that she was gone until she had left. Kagome didn't really mind Inuyasha's protectiveness, he had been so ever since the cell phone disaster, but sometimes it interfered too much. She especially didn't want to offend him since she had heard how Kikyo had broken his heart three years ago.
After they both put away their horses Kagome walked out to the barn where a large truck had pulled up. Inuyasha, Kouga, and Jakotsu were pulling off bales of hay and loading them onto the back of the cart of an atv one by one. When the cart was full Rin would drive it over to the hay barn where Bankotsu and Sango would unload, Kohaku was driving the second cart. Kagome walked over towards Inuyasha intending to ask him to take her into town that day. Each of them in their hats and jeans as well as their pale work hand gloves.
"Inuyasha?" She asked leaning inwards on the frame of the truck. She ducked however when a bale of hay went flying past her face by two inches and landed on the ground where Jakotsu was loading the cart. And then ducked again when another landed less then a foot nearby.
He grunted as a response.
Okay well this wasn't the reaction she was hoping for... well then maybe later. "Um... never mind I'll ask you later." She started to walk off when Kouga grabbed her hand and pulled her towards his waist pulling her into a dramatic embrace which only had Inuyasha growling and Kagome wincing.
"Kagome, whatever you desire I would be more than happy to grant it than this mutt over here." He swept his arms in a grand gesture and smiled devilishly. She slapped his hands away again when he tried to hold her around the waist.
"Really? Are you planning on going into town then today?" She asked him seeing Inuyasha pause with the bale throwing.
"Well I hadn't planned on it but I can take you." His smile was a bit unnerving and she really didn't intend to be alone with Kouga for that amount of time alone.
"Well I was hoping..."
"Wait wench, I'll take you." Inuyasha hopped out of the truck and placed his hands on his hips daring Kouga to challenge him.
"She asked me dog turd." Ahh stupid... Kouga dared.
"WELL she came over here in the first place to ASK ME wolf breath." They were nose to nose growling at each other looking like some claws were going to rip through their gloves and into each other's throats.
Kagome sighed and pushed gently between the two, "Kouga, I did come over here to ask Inuyasha to take me into town. But if he had said no I would have gladly accepted the ride from you." She smiled sweetly hoping that this covered both bases and when the two backed off she let her guard down with relief, "I'm going to go help on the other end in the hay barn, Inu come and get me when you're ready to head out." He grunted a response which she took as an ok and they all went back to work even though Kouga shot him a dirty look.
Kagome headed over to the hay barn to help out Sango who was unloading from the cart and stacking, and was also very happy to accept any help from her. As they were working Sango was talking aloud for the summer ranch plans.
"Okay so fair tomorrow. Next week we'll being to pulling calves, the week after is branding and castration ::enter wince here::, then we'll have a week until moving the herd, and selling off some of the males, um what else, there's fourth of July weekend, and the mare is going to foal soon." She ending mumbling and Kagome helped her move one bale into the corner starting a new row.
"Hey Sango!" Bankotsu was on top of the pile which was growing very tall, "20 bucks says Sesshoumaru kicks Inuyasha's butt tomorrow." Sango blew a strand of hair out of her eyes.
"I don't play a fools bet." She grinned.
"I'll take that bet." They both looked shocked at Kagome's announcment, "What? Don't you think he can beat him? I've seen him ride and he can stay on a while."
"Well, I'm betting 20 on Kikyo ruining the whole day for all of us." Rin pulled up on the atv and put it in nuetral and then helped drop some bales on the ground as Sango walked over.
"She's going to be there?" Kagome asked looking at Sango who sighed a bit and then bent her knees to pick up the bale.
"Most likely, and I bet Inuyasha knows it too." Sango said dropping the bale by Bankotsu who threw it up in on top and then dropped down to help start a new pile on the other side.
"No wonder he's been so grumpy." Kagome grabbed the next bale and then threw it to Bankotsu who placed it neatly in the next hay nook.
"That and Kouga's teaching you to ride." She laughed as Kagome looked over at her friend dumbfounded.
"Sango, my riding has nothing to do with Inuyasha's mood." She said and leaned down to throw another one.
Rin laughed with Sango, "Not your riding, but your spending time with the wolf demon. Come on Kagome! We both see how you two look at each other." Rin smiled at Kagome's blush.
"I'm not looking for a relationship right now, and besides you're both wrong, Inuyasha is only trying to be a good friend." She ignored their aggravated grunts and they all went back to work discussing tomorrow's events.
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After the hands had stacked up the barn with hay and sent the truck off with it's check for payment, Inuyasha set up the grain to be fed to the horses while some of the others went off to check the water toughs outside in the fields for both the cattle and horses. He set up the grain and gave the instructions to Kohaku to feed the animals inside the barn and out then when he grabbed his hat he went off to find Kagome.
Kagome was perched on the fence feeding thick orange carrots to the gelding out in the field who was more than happy to come nuzzling for treats. He was a big black guy with a white stripe which ran from his right ear down to his muzzle, there was a paint gelding nearby watching and wanted some for himself. Soon enough Kagome was laughing as four of the geldings were tickling her for some more.
"I have no more guys you ate them all!" But some settled for ear scratches while the rest went off.
"You keep feeding them carrots and they'll just get fat." Inuyasha climbed up next to her where the black gelding recognized one of the many hands that fed him and nuzzled him for treats too.
"A few carrots a day doesn't hurt, besides we're becoming fast friends." She rubbed the black on the forehead.
"I'll take you into town if you're ready to go." She smiled greatfully and nodded, he noticed her sunburn cheeks and some freckles which were starting to appear.
"You need to get a hat." He said when she felt her heated cheeks.
"It's alright, I don't mind the sun much, but my hands do hurt a bit." He looked at to where she pointed out blisters which looked painful.
"Kagome, we have spare gloves you should have asked me for some. You shouldn't ever work on the ranch without gloves, especially handling the strings on the bales of hay."
"Well I would have asked you but you were such a sour puss lately who would want to ask you anything?!" She retaliated.
"Oh...well...I was..." He started but didn't look her in the eyes.
"Inuyasha, look I know about Kikyo okay, about the history you had with her." He looked up startled at that information, "And I know you and your brother are going to face her tomorrow in the competition, but I want you to know that I have complete and utter faith that you will kick the living horse crap out of her dumb butt." She nodded with pride, looking rather silly.
Inuyasha's face broke into a grin, "Is that so?"
"Yes, and I have 20 dollars on you so you'd better win dammit." He chuckled as she led the way to the blue truck by the house ready for the half hour drive into town wondering if it was because she had been around male ranch hands that she picked up a few dirty mouth words, and also his macho pride extremely pleased with the fact she bet for him to win, he snuck a glance at her again which when she was babbling about her excitement of only passing by town not actually getting to visit she blushed.
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"Ohh let's get some seeds!" Kagome went over to the garden section while they were in target looking for some groceries to pick up which were on Kaede's list. He looked down at her.
"Seeds? And who is going to plant them?"
"Me, duh stupid."
"Hey wench don't call me stupid!" She laughed and grabbed a few seed packets and put them in her own basket.
"I'll be back I'm going to go look for a hat." He nodded okay as she walked off.
Inuyasha pulled out the list and he continued to look for items she needed. Sugar, okay isle three I think. And beats, flour, icing..check. Filter for the water, check. Oh some popcorn for the movie nights, lettuce, dressings, chips, pretzels, some drink called Fuze for Jakotsu, sigh. Bananas, lots of bananas, meat, lots of meat. Inuyasha was walking around pulling things right and left when Kagome came back with style.
"Okay! What do you think?" She posed on the end of the aisle cap and waited for his response.
Inuyasha felt the blood pumping through his veins when he saw Kagome poised with a slightly off white hat and around the rim a silver sheen. But the look she was giving him as she was trying hard not to giggle and look sultry.
"Well I uh..."
"How stupid of me to ask a male on style." She laughed and then took off the hat looking at it. His reaction thinking maybe she didn't look good in the hat at all, and she looked down at it trying to brush off her hurt.
Ugh females. Inuyasha walked up to her and grasped the hat and plopped it back on her head, "It's hott." Of course, male response, he wasn't going to lie, it truly made her look western hott. She blushed when he tipped up her chin and he looked like he was going to lean in but Kagome was the one to pull away before they got in too deep.
She felt her heart flutter with disappointment at herself, "Uh did you get the bread?" She tried to shake him off, nervous as all hell at the prospect of kissing him in the middle of the store no less.
He looked at her as she turned away confused at why she was distant suddenly, and then figured maybe it was too soon for her after all, "No we can get that and then the rest of this. We still need to head to the grain store and put in an extra order for the next couple weeks as well as the horses for tomorrow's competitions." They pushed on.
Kagome had already gotten her phone at the wireless store. She had to pay them full up for the phone, they wouldn't allow her to have insurance anymore because of the repeated disasters with her phones. So she bought a cheap one knowing that something would most likely happen to this phone as well. Miroku also called Inuyasha's phone in the middle of her phone shopping asking them to pick up some leather cleaner at the grain and tack store. She also heard Inuyasha snap something nasty to Miroku after he said what she assumed was something dirty.
They headed out of the store and across the road to the grain and tack store, The Round Pen. They walked in and Kagome started to browse while Inuyasha went to talk to the owner Kagura, and discuss the feed order.
While Kagome browsed Inuyasha saw a rack with working gloves filled to the brim. He smiled and put a pair on the counter telling Kagura to add it to his tab, along with the leather cleaner, a new red halter, and a few other miscellaneous items. He told her to quickly bag the gloves because they were a surprise for the woman behind him. Kagura smiled devilishly at the prospect of one of the Takahashi brothers buying a gift for a lady.
"Hey Kagura I also need to pick up the horses for tomorrow's comp. I need Sesshoumaru's, mine, Kohaku's, and Miroku wanted me to pay his late fee for the pie eating contest." Kagura laughed and nodded handing him the three official packets with the information on the bucking bronc's they would be riding tomorrow.
Kagome finally bored wandered over and looked over his shoulder, "Well who'd you get?"
"Stone Sour." He frowned.
"Well, well, well look what the dogs dragged in." A figure sauntered over towards them acting sexy, looking stylish and rich, "If it ain't my ole fiancé, yashie baby how are you doing?" Kikyo paused in front with an evil grin on her face not even glancing at Kagome beside him, "Kagura I'm here for the pony drawl and I'll take a couple of those there horse magazines." She popped and gnawed on her gum and looked at the paper that Inuyasha was holding, "Well, isn't fate funny."
"I told you never to call me that again." He growled and Kagome moved a little bit closer sliding her hand into his giving him a supportive grip. Something that startled them both, but Inuyasha would think upon it later for now he was fuming with anger.
"Awww is yashie poo still mad about me kicking his butt three years ago?" She grinned and paid Kagura behind the counter finally noticing with a glare the girl who was holding her ex-fiance's hand.
"You know very well that if you hadn't..."
"And who is this?" Kikyo sauntered a little closer to which Inuyasha tried to pull Kagome behind him but she wouldn't have it. Kagome put her hand up to her nose and fawned that she was being nauseated by a smell which had Kikyo puzzled.
"Inuyasha we have to go, it's starting to smell like skank." And with that and Inuyasha's triumphant smile he grabbed the bags and before a stunned Kikyo could respond they were out the door with Inuyasha laughing and pulling Kagome closer.
Before they got to the truck Kagome asked, "What did she mean by fate is funny?"
Inuyasha sighed before answering, "I drew Stone Sour." He looked down at the paper in his one hand.
"So?"
"That was the horse I rode three years ago, against her." Kagome still held onto his hand and looked up to him taking away the paper.
"Good, now you can really whoop her butt." She smiled and he gratefully grasped her hand and quickly pulled her closer which startled her. He pecked a kiss gently on the tip of her nose no to scare her away but as a romantic thank you for telling off my ex-fiancé who ruined my life, and heart, "Thank you." He whispered and she blushed a pretty pink and he laughed and then told her to get in the truck. Kagome placed a hand on her chest listening to the music on the ride home, she leaned her head against the truck's window at the passing scenery and felt the racing beat of her heart. Inuyasha's kiss had startled her but it wasn't unwelcome, she wondered where this could be going or if it really was just a thank you for showing up my ex. Could Sango and Rin be right? What Inuyasha jealous of the time she was spending with Kouga and Hob... I mean Hojou?
"Don't worry Kags, I'll make sure your 20 dollars isn't wasted."