DISCLAIMER: Me no own.
¤¤ Thick Throaty Molasses ¤¤
¤ By: Telpelindewen ¤
¤¤ recap ¤¤.
He looked into the stream and quickly said before she could retort at all, "Let's just get back. It's dark anyway." It wasn't said in his usual way either.
He waded swiftly out of the water and back onto the pebble beach where the horses patiently waited for their riders to get dried off and remount them to head back on the newly darkened path. Sango lagged a bit behind unsure of how to take in this new side of her friend. Miroku even though angry didn't just leave Sango behind, but the whole way back he wouldn't look at her or even acknowledge anything she said aloud about work or what they needed to accomplish within the next few weeks. When they arrived back at the barn Kouga was setting up grain for the next morning's feed, he offered to take Miroku's horse for him and Miroku annoyingly took his horse to the end of the barn to silently take care of himself.
"What's up his butt?" Kouga asked her while pouring vitamin powered scoop into one pail with grain.
Sango sighed. She should have said something.
¤ Chapter Eleven ¤
A few days went by at the busy site of cattle drives. Inuyasha and Kagome had sat together a few nights in a row watching the silliest romances known to man, but if it made Kagome happy Inuyasha was willing enough to sit through them. Kagome swore at one point she saw a tear shimmering in Inuyasha's eye at one of the scenes in Titanic. As the next morning came Inuyasha and Kagome noticed something peculiar going on between their best friends. Sango was quiet and withdrawn and would hardly stick around long after dinner making excuses. Miroku was either not present for meals at all, or if he was, just jabbed his food bitterly. When the hands went out on Friday night to the usual bar, Miroku declined and grunted walking back towards the barn after dinner, which was followed by the scraping of Sango's chair against the tiled floor.
After a few meals like this, and not only Kagome and Inuyasha, but everyone else started to noticed it as well. Kouga only grinned thinking it was a lovers spat, or Miroku, at least, wasn't getting laid lately.
Kagome and Inuyasha gave each other glances when all this would happen. Mentally brainstorming what could have happened to make their friends so bitter so suddenly. Kagome had gotten some of her prints in the mail to check and proof before they were printed again and then framed for her show back in the city. She planned on giving the one of Miroku sitting on the fence looking over the cattle to Sango in a frame for a thank you gift, but now she wasn't so sure it would be a good idea after all.
It was starting to get hot again outside in the afternoon heat. The boys were working outside branding some of the cattle that needed it. The ranch's symbol burned into their skin and of course the younger ones bleated out to their mothers not to leave them alone with these half naked strong men.
Inuyasha and Sesshoumaru took one calf by the feet and flipped it side down and Sesshoumaru placed his knee gently on the calf's neck not to hurt it but to keep it pinned while Inuyasha gripped the flailing legs. Bankotsu came near with a brand iron hot to the touch and placed it on the calf's hind left leg. He heard the slight sizzle and they released the calf to run back towards the herd. This process went on quite long past lunch. Kaede had brought out some fresh water in a jug for the boys to drink out of. Kohaku and Miroku were roping the calves which needed to be branded, Miroku's negative attitude making his roping skills twenty times better.
"Man, Miroku is a sure shot when he's in a foul mood." Kouga said, "We should get him angrier more often."
"Shut up dumb ass." Inuyasha said to him in response, but silently agreed his friend was still in a foul mood.
Kagome at one point on the way to visit Rin to see some of her work, and to show her some of the prints, stopped by to see how the work was getting along.
"Inuyasha you'd better put on some sunscreen lotion or you're going to get burnt."
"How 'bout me lady, I'm hot enough I'll sizzle on the spot?" Kouga was aware Inuyasha had the claim on Kagome, but he still liked to push the wrong buttons.
Inuyasha started to say something when Jakotsu chirped in, "Sizzle my rizzle fo shizzle?" Which made them all slap their foreheads - moment ruined. Bankotsu walked over to him and smacked him over the head with his wound up rope and everyone heard a slight idiot remark under his breath.
"I have the hide of bearskin. No way this skins getting burnt. Besides I'm used to it." Inuyasha flashed her one of his priceless smirks which, had she not been ready for it, probably would have made her knees shake. Inuyasha walked over to the fence Kagome was standing on and hopped up to match her height on the boards. She laughed when he pulled the brim of her hat down over her eye sight.
"Speaking of sun burn, your cheeks are a little pink." Inuyasha said pinching one to make a point.
"Yeah but I bet it's not because of the sun!" Kohaku was passing by whispered, which of course made Kagome only blush and Inuyasha chuckle.
When she looked over towards Miroku who was wrestling a calf with his rope she asked lower in voice, "So, any idea what's going on with Miroku and Sango?"
Inuyasha pierced his lips together and shook his head, "No, I was hoping you could tell me."
"I was going to try and ask Sango tonight when I give something to her first, but maybe you could find out something from Miroku at the same time." Inuyasha glanced over at his friend who kicked at the dirt when one of the calves escaped his grasp.
"Em, well I was thinking more along the lines of locking the two of them in the grain shed together so they would have to talk it out. I don't really want to do the whole 'omg we're bff lets talk about your relationship problems' kinda thing."
Kagome laughed at this imitation of girls talking, "We do not do it like that." She gently wacked pushed him off the fence, and then hopped down herself. "I'm heading to see Rin, see you later, and put on some sun screen!" He chuckled at her and then shook his head as he went back to work.
The rest who had watched the transaction grinned, minus Kouga and Miroku who were either jealous, or angry.
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He was parked in a slightly beat up green truck along the road by the ranch. Had he known he was staying right next door to the ranch she was currently at, he wouldn't have bothered with the stupid plan anyway. But that Kikyo woman was persuasive in her own ways.
He sneered and sipped his small container of whiskey. He saw Kagome for the first time in months, and she was only some odd 50 feet away walking away from the fence where some men were working. His truck was well hidden within the thick brush and greenery, he had parked there when no one had seen, and would leave when no one was watching. He wouldn't jump start their plan yet... he was just getting some long deserved observation at his woman. He sat there silently pondering to himself if she would scream as he planned on making her watch him tear apart that white haired cowboy.
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Kagome arrived back to the house after dark. Sango was gathering some vegetables in a box with a pie on the side.
"Where are you off to?" Sango jumped when Kagome entered unannounced.
"Oh no where. I'm going to send Kohaku to deliver this to the ranch next door, Kaede's request for the fellow who runs the place." She setteled onto the couch next to her friend with a heavy sigh and flicked on the television.
Kagome pulled something from under the couch and presented it to her friend, "Ta da!" Sango looked shocked at the idea of a gift, indeed, it was randomly presented.
"What the heck is this for?" She said smiling a little.
"Just a thank you for letting me stay." Kagome handed it to her and Sango opened the gift.
It was the photograph of Miroku sitting on the fence line as dusk was settling in. A really beautiful portrait of a peaceful and calm scene. Sango's smile dropped a little when she saw it was of Miroku.
"Sango, I'm sorry, I didn't know if you would like it. Up until recently I thought you would love it, but..."
"I know Kags. I love it I really do, I'm sorry if I don't seem more appreciative. And no matter what I always want you to be here, we would love it if you stayed past the summer." Sango set it aside in it's frame planning to hang it up later on.
"Sango, you know you can talk to me if you need to about things."
"I know."
"So then what happened between you and Miroku?" Kagome asked her friend concerned.
Sango looked away outside the window nearby looking to see if the hands were around at all, some were hanging near the barn doorway, and the rest had gone to swim at the water hole near the edge of the fields in the forest to cool off at the end of a long day.
"I'm not really sure actually." Kagome waited for her to continue, "It was all fine, but then I guess our comments started to really bug him." Sango relayed what had happened the previous day when they had been swimming and Kagome was shocked to hear he pressed her up against a rock.
Kagome gave a low whistle. "Well apparently he likes you more than I thought." Sango blushed a little, "And I kind of agree Sango, I haven't really seen him be too perverted as of late. He only pretends to be interested in other women when you're looking Sango."
"A while back, Miroku brought home a girl from one of the bars. It was right when he claimed to start developing feelings for me." Kagome's eyes popped out at the thought of a guy ballsie enough to bring a girl back to a room full of ranch hands, "That hurt, and I really don't want to be subjected to it again." Kagome looked down at the coffee table.
"Thanks anyway Kags. It'll blow over eventually, and until then we'll move on, hopefully." But Kagome could tell Sango wanted to resolve things between her and Miroku, she could see the earnest and want for a relationship, but couldn't say very much more since her friend pushed up off the couch and headed out towards the upper part of the house. "But you and Inuyasha make a cute duo." Sango winked and chuckled at Kagome's sudden look away.
"And by the way," Sango said sticking her head back down the stairwell, "He's got a little sun burnt so he's bitching away in the barn." Sango laughed and disappeared. Kagome slapped her forehead, idiot.
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Kagome walked towards the open door to Inuyasha's loft apartment. The windows were open and letting in a slow steady breeze. Inuyasha was laying face down on the couch napping with the television on low. She saw a bottle of aloe sitting on the table nearest to his face, it hadn't been opened yet.
Kagome went to sneak past him as to not wake him up and shut the windows when one of his arms snaked around her knees as she was about to walk past. She almost screamed with fright.
"Jesus."
He chuckled, "You can called me Inuyasha." She rolled her eyes at this.
"Feeling a little cooked there buddy?" She asked knowing that she had been right about putting on sun screen earlier.
He groaned, "Please wench, no more lectures. I've gotten plenty from Kaede and Hobo already." Kagome chuckled at Hojou's nickname.
"Want some help with that?" Kagome asked him as he sat up to remove his shirt and put the aloe on his back. He nodded and turned around whipping off his button up shirt.
He moved towards the end of the couch so she could sit behind him, and turned the tv on mute. She sat down crossing one leg underneath him and looked at his toned back, "It's not so bad you big baby." He fehed at this comment. His back was only a little pink near the shoulders and a funny strip near the base where his shirt must have met his pants.
Kagome poured some of the aloe on her hands and gently spread it on his shoulder blades first, using her thumbs to rub small circles. Inuyasha jumped a little at the coolness of the gel but quickly settled comfortably at the notions she was making with her hands.
"Oi wench, you can press harder than that. That just tickles" Kagome wiped off the remainder of the gel on a towel sitting on the floor near their feet.
"Hey! What did I say about calling me that." She started to draw with her finger on his back letters, "My name is Kagome, Ka-Go-Me." She spelled each letter out and then tickled him for emphasis.
"Hey that feel nice do it some more, Ka-Go-Me." He was just being difficult now. But it only made her smile. It was quiet as she spelled out little words here and there. It started to become a game when he tried to figure out what she was spelling.
C-A-T.
"Cat. Duh too easy." Inuyasha scoffed enjoying the play on his skin.
"Alright tough guy." She spelled out another one, K-A-N-G-A-R-O-O.
"Kangaroo." Well that was impressive. He smirked at her over his shoulder, "Come on give me a good one."
Kagome nibbled on her lip. She knew what she wanted to spell out but was a little nervous at what would happen when she did. She held her breath and started to spell out.
K-I-S-S and then she paused and finished with .. M-E.
Inuyasha froze. Did he understand that right?
Inuyasha turned around quickly and Kagome was looking down at her hands really seeming interested in staring at her thumbs trying not to be as forward as she just had been. He smirked at her sudden shyness.
Complying to her every wish, and finally rewarding himself for being patient, Inuyasha scooped her up and placed her gently in his lap. He wanted her to seem like she would have control of the situation since she had been abused and dominated in her past relationship.
He took her chin between his fingers and leaned her head down towards his mouth slowly closing the distance.
Kagome's heart was pounding, it was a wonder he couldn't hear it jumping out of her chest. She felt a great urgency when he paused just before touching her lips to his, she could feel the whisper of their breath mingling together. Then instead of the burning movement and fast desire she expected to find in his kiss, Inuyasha slowly explored her lips. He savored the taste of just a peck and then he almost lost the calm demeanor in his kiss when she snuck out her tongue to taste his.
It was a warm and wet invitation into her mouth. He could taste the sweet sugar left from the lemonade she had been drinking shortly before coming over. Her finger skimmed through his hair and her tongue lightly played over his. He wouldn't allow this moment to be rushed and she sensed he was trying to keep himself from losing control in the heat of the moment.
He teased her mouth slightly with his, pulling back when she would try to deeply worship his own. She let out a small sound of frustration at his antics and heard his deep rumbling chuckle. Kagome felt the stirring feelings in her stomach when she heard Inuyasha's purr. She ran her hands up along his arm and hooked them behind his neck, locking him close to her lips.
As she wound herself around him, Inuyasha could only help to think how he was losing his senses over a simple kiss from this woman. All he could think about was how quickly he wanted to get his hands on her. His hand snuck beneath the hem of her tank top. She sighed against his lips in pleasure at his ministrations. He rubbed his thumb in circular motions near the side under her rib cage. Her skin was smooth as silk. He wondered if she could feel his raging hard on bellow her thighs. Thinking of her thighs only made Inuyasha harder.
When they broke for air Inuyasha gently nipped her ear and then her jawbone and then down to her neck, which made Kagome give out a resounding moan when she felt the cool lips against her heated skin. She stroked her fingers through his white strands and felt the final kiss on her collarbone as he gave her a toothy grin. She leaned her forehead against his and smiled right back at him both of their pulses hammering in their ears.
She squealed with laughter when he pressed her backwards against the couch and attacked her rib cage with tickling fingers.
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Kohaku stopped his horse near the gate latch to the next door ranch. There was a man who had just pulled up behind him. The truck was a rusty looking hunter green and looked as if it had seen better days. The man tipped his hat to the boy and rolled down the window. Kohaku wasn't stupid, the man was super awkward and had piercings all up along his left ear clearly meaning he hadn't grown up in the country, this man was pure city slicker. He had black long hair tied back in a ponytail, but the thing that bothered Kohaku the most was the way this man's eyes bored into you, as if he could see your soul. It freaked him out.
"Well howdy. What do you have there?" The creepy looking man asked motioning to Kohaku's bag.
"Sango asked me to drop of some food to a friend here." He said and Naraku held out his hand to the boy, "You could always hop in here and I'll drive you the rest of the way." At the boys hasty look back towards his own ranch Naraku chuckled, "Or you could hand it over to me and I'll be sure to give it to the boss." The boy looked more readily to agree with this plan and handed the bag over to the man. He tipped his hat back again and the boy set off on his chestnut horse at a brisk trot.
"See you soon kid." He whispered to himself.