Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha, or Playboy… Guess your wondering how they're going to be linked, huh? Don't worry, nothing perverted.

-gapes- Orlando-Inu-Lover: How the heck are you so perceptive? Yes, O.o I am from England and I'm a Georgia Nicholson fan… Whoa. You should totally go and be a detective or something. Arsonist: a person who goes around setting fire to places/things.

I totally wished for wings too… I wanted to be an angel. But then my friends brought out a more (fun) and evil side in me. XD Guess I'll have to settle for devil horns instead.

-wails- No one guessed where it was! Did I really leave not enough clues? Most people think it's the military school or a club or something.

Oh well, at least you'll be surprised when you read it. –winks-

OK… since no one guessed it correctly, I'll just have to dedicate it to someone really special in my life, then.

This chapter is dedicated to: strawberry cheesecake.

I like cake. :D

Make Me

"Inuyasha…" Kagome grasped a hand at her throat. "Choking…"

He grinned down at her. "Aw, don't be such a wuss." Inuyasha inhaled deeply. "Now that's real air."

Kagome looked up at him, baffled. His idea of real air is petrol fumes and chemicals mixed with dirt?

Inuyasha took hold of her hand, and smiled. "Come on." He led her, threading their way out of the crowd, not noticing Kagome blushing profusely.

Why am I…?

People should have a warning sign or something if they have a smile as nice as that! How can you hold a grudge against that smile?

I… don't like Inuyasha…

Do I?

Is Mama right? Am I just prejudiced against stars because of what happened with… Papa?

Gah! Kagome! Stop trying to make excuses! You don't like Inuyasha… and that's final!

Inuyasha looked behind to check Kagome was following and smiled again.

…Maybe I should write it on my hand.

Then the sight of the whole place came into view --- Kagome knew what it was now.

She sucked in a breath. "Oh Gods."

A racing lap lay in front of her, the ground smooth and slick black from the poured tarmac. The steel railings around it separated the racing cars and the people milling around, fascinated with the actual event. All were craning their heads, watching the racers gun a practise lap.

Kagome couldn't quite move. Inuyasha had pulled them to the very edge of the railing, close to the cars. Close enough to see the sleekness of them, the interiors, how they sounded like purring when someone revved an engine.

He noticed this and grinned. "Aren't they beauties?"

She gave a reverential nod --- only to be answered by another pull from Inuyasha.

"Come on then. You're going to love mine."

>>>>>>>>>

Inuyasha bit his lip. He was starting to regret taking Kagome here --- the sight of her running her small hands all over his car and crying out in fascination was more then just a little bit stirring. Could she transfer those hands onto me?

He scowled at the racing car. Goddamn lucky thing.

"Inuyasha?"

He complied by looking up at her pleasantly.

"You were right. I love your car."

Then she went back to smoothing her hot little hands on the deeply unappreciative, unfeeling, piece of metal junk!

Inuyasha had to admit, he loved his car. He'd had it customized many times, every point modified to his view on perfect, and the crimson paint gleamed with promise and confidence. Just the way he liked it.

But there were times --- like this, for example --- when Inuyasha just didn't feel quite feel as friendly as he normally did towards it.

A loud rousing cheer from the crowd brought him out of his (unfriendly) thoughts. "Come on. You can come and watch me race."

>>>>>>>>

Kagome ran over to his car at the end of the race. "You won!"

Inuyasha smirked up at her. "As always." Seeing her wondrous gaze roam over the car again, he felt inclined to make this trip special. And he knew just how to do it.

"Do you know how to drive?"

She looked down at him mystified. "Well, I learnt the basics and --- eep!"

"Get in." He slid out from the supple leather seat and pushed Kagome to where he'd been sitting.

"Don't fret, it's totally safe; the railing's made with the danger of people crashing into it in mind, and this car's been fixed with bumpers. Think of it as… those bumper cars you ride at fairs."

"That's hardly the same!"

"Sure it is." He waved a casual hand. "You just don't bump into other cars. Belt up, now." He shut the door with a reassuring thump and strolled to normal viewing distance away.

Kagome looked around inside the car, recognizing the basics. Brake, accelerator, gear stick, wheel… She swallowed. What is Inuyasha thinking? She twisted the key and the engine rumbled out a satisfying purr, feeling it run through the car and her, making her tingle.

If I can pull this off, I swear I'll treat everything with kindness and respect. Even bugs. Even Inuyasha.

She saw the checked flag hover, and then come crashing down, signaling the race to begin.

Kagome put her foot down on the accelerator.

Start.

>>>>>>>>

Kagome got out on shaky legs, trembling. I have to be nice to bugs now?

Inuyasha suddenly appeared in front of her, warm smile at the ready. "Well?"

She shocked them both by flinging her arms around him, quivering. "I can't believe I did it!" Kagome squeezed him before pulling back and looking up in amused golden eyes. She knew she was babbling, but she didn't care. "It was amazing! The speed, and the fluidity of the controls, and I was so scared, and I still can't believe I did it…" She broke off, shaking her head. Hitting him lightly, she scowled at him briefly before lighting up again. "Don't just spring things onto me again, you hear?"

Inuyasha took in the sprite of the girl before him. Her nut-brown eyes were blazing with the thrill still, and her cheeks were coloured with a tinge of red because of the exhilaration. The wavy hair framed her pretty little face like soft cloud, and all in all she was flushed and breathing heavily, like ---

Damn his dirty mind.

"Yo! Inukkoro! Second place?"

Kagome turned angrily towards the speaker. "Hey! It was my first time! I think I did pretty damn well!"

There was a short silence, and then an appreciative whistle. "Goddamn, Inukkoro! You sure know how to pick them!" A young man emerged, nonchalantly eyeing Kagome up. "Who's she?"

Inuyasha stood in front of her, shielding Kagome slightly. "None of your fucking business, Kouga."

…Kouga? Kagome's eyes widened. Kouga… Tintra?

Kouga sidestepped Inuyasha easily and made straight for Kagome. He lifted her chin up with two fingers, gazing at her admiringly. "She's gorgeous! Better then that skinny rake you were dating last."

Kagome blushed a bright pink, smacking his fingers away. "We're not dating!" She glanced at Inuyasha, glad to see that he was just as red as she was.

"You're not?" Kouga looped an arm around Kagome's waist. "Well, then…"

"Get your filthy hands of her, you louse!"

Kouga grinned, showing off a lot of sharp teeth. "She ain't yours yet. Why can't she be mine?"

"She just fucking can't, OK?"

Kagome maneuvered herself out of Kouga's grasp. "Look… Kouga. I'm not really anyone's, but I think I'm capable of choosing if---"

"Hold up!" Kouga gazed at Kagome again, this time a little harder. "You're that Higurashi girl, aren't you?"

"Well, I'm called Kagome, actually---"

"Oi, mutt! You picked a good one here! Thanks for bringing her here!" Kouga suddenly held her hands, not much unlike a certain, perverted houshi, Kagome realized. He looked deep into her eyes. "Are you a Kouga fan?"

…Why are the only guys that proposition me all superstars?

Whatever happened to nice, normal guys?

A picture of Hojo abruptly swam into her mind.

…Maybe not.

"Err… well, I haven't really heard of you before---"

"See! Now get your filthy hands off her! Kagome! Get your butt over here!"

"I'm sorry… excuse me," Kagome slipped her hands out of his and followed Inuyasha, who was stalking towards a fiery orange vehicle that clearly was marked as 'his' when he nearly unhinged the door by wrenching it open.

"I'll come see you real soon, Kagome." Kouga smiled tenderly at her, before turning on his heel and disappearing, presumably back to the racing grounds.

Shesweatdropped beforesliding herself into the leather seats. "God, what's your problem?"

"Problem? I don't have a problem."

Any hint of the warm, smiling Inuyasha had gone, leaving Kagome with the former jerk that Kagome knew. Slightly wistful for the he that had let her drive his car, she sighed. "You sure act like it."

Inuyasha slammed his foot down, starting the car with a shudder. "I don't act like it, because I don't have a problem!"

"…"

Feeling her pensive eyes on him, he turned to snap at her. "What?"

The eyes warmed slightly, the edges of her mouth curling up into a pretty smile. "I'm glad about this, you know. Showing me a part of you, and that place, and letting me try a race with your car."

"…Keh!"

"You know, though, you said it linked to your past… how?"

He replied stiffly, letting her know he was still not in the Happy Bunny Department. "I had a lot of… habits, in the past. I've just decided to focus onto this particular one, and forget about the rest."

He sneaked a glance at her, noting the fact she was unperturbed by his rigid tone. Turning his eyes back to the road, a jolt of surprise ran through him when he felt soft fingertips trace their way down his cheek.

"Thanks, Inuyasha."

>>>>>>>>>>

Dear Gods. Inuyasha was blushing.

Inuyasha was blushing.

Slightly spellbound, he watched the small pink tongue dart out and lap up some of the sweet filling from the chocolate doughnut Kagome was holding to her mouth, and then draw back to savour the taste. Wetting her pink lips, she repeated the process with a sigh of delight.

That was fine. Inuyasha could deal with that. So… Kagome was just… enthusiastic about her food. Inuyasha was totally fine with it.

But then she started moaning.

It just started off as a light purr of appreciation, which soon developed into a throatier version that had Inuyasha shifting uncomfortably. He nearly choked on his own doughnut when there was a particularly smoky, "Mmm…" from the unaware femme fatale.

How can she sound so bloody… suggestive?

He took a quick look around at the table --- Miroku was smiling his filthiest smile yet, and Sango was beet red. Oliver, the cook, was smirking at them all.

Miroku whistled and a large grin covered his face. "That 'food as a replacement for sex' notion? God, I never really believed that until now…"

Sango elbowed him with a mutter, and blushed further when Kagome gave a satisfied sigh.

"Oliver… you are a genius."

Oliver flicked a stray lock of his hair back. "That, I am." A slight smile grew on his face. "Although… you were really enjoying yourself there, weren't you, Kagome, dear?"

Her brow furrowed. "Huh?"

…She was voice acting an X-rated movie a minute ago and she wasn't even aware?

"Allow me to demonstrate," Miroku picked up his untouched doughnut and bit into it with a far dirtier groan then Kagome.

The afore-mentioned girl turned a shade of magenta that Inuyasha grudgingly admitted was impressive. "I… did that?"

"Kagome-chan," Sango finally picked her eyes off her plate. "I had no idea you were so… vocal."

Both girls blushed furiously, much to the mirth of Oliver.

"So… Inuyasha. Pants feeling a little tight?" Miroku winked at him, who growled a, "Shut up," with a pinked tinge to the face.

He cast a pondering look at Kagome, who was in an uncharacteristically meek position --- head down, hands folded in her lap, and eyes downcast at her plate, lashes so long they rested on her cheeks. She looked every inch the naïve young schoolgirl.

Inuyasha sighed. She was naïve. She was completely unaware she'd turned him on --- and possibly Miroku too, but then again, Miroku was always turned on, so…

Kagome was an innocent, he deduced. She'd never even been kissed before him --- a fact he had mixed emotions about. It was satisfying to know he had been Her First --- but slight guilt still remained. It'd been forced, not accepted, or given.

>>>>>>>>>

It was this thought that lingered in his mind, as he walked down the hallway to his bedroom. It was times like these he regretted having such a big house --- it took at least about fifteen minutes to go from his bedroom to the kitchen, a hated fact he cursed on cold mornings.

Inuyasha didn't realize his meandering had slowed to a stop until he heard a bright voice chirrup, "Good night!" and head his way. The sound of light footsteps, and then a standstill, with a curious comment. "Inuyasha? Aren't you going to go to bed?"

Wordless. He turned around, and loped his way to her, sliding his arms around her slowly. It was slow, to not scare her. The past times were always about starting her, and putting her off course, and he wanted to oppose that idea tonight.

Inuyasha used two fingers to tilt her chin up to hers, his gaze roving over her confused features, before lowering his head to touch his lips lightly against hers. The kiss was soft and sweet, his mouth moving leisurely on hers with infinite gentleness that surprised even him. He brushed his lips against hers one last time before pulling back.

Kagome looked up at him, her voice a little lower then a whisper. "Inu… yasha?"

A foreign wave of tenderness washed over him as he watched emotions play over that angelic face, and he had to grit his teeth the fight the urge to sweep her up and protect her every kind of danger the world had to offer.

"Sweet dreams."

Inuyasha turned around, and began walking to his bedroom, when a small voice stopped him in his tracks.

"W-wait."

He looked back at her, seeing her standing there so vulnerably, slender fingers touching her mouth; the lips he'd just kissed so lusciously, so tenderly.

"Why did you…?"

Inuyasha kept his face turned downwards. "Go to bed, Kagome."

He sensed, rather then see, her nod, as if hoping that gesture would clear her head. Opening the door, Kagome gave him a long side-glance, before ---

"Inuyasha!"

A high-pitched voice squealed out, making Kagome stop dead and look around curiously. Inuyasha did the same, looking around only to see thin air, when a sudden pain brought his attention down to ankle level.

"Ow! Goddamn it, Shippou! Can't you just call for me?"

A young, and only what Kagome could describe as adorable child pouted and crossed his arms, looking grumpily at Inuyasha. "I did, you moron! But you still didn't see me!"

He smirked down at Shippou. "Well, maybe you should grow a couple of inches then --- oh, not you don't! Shippou, you bite me again and I'll skin you slowly from head to toe while you're still alive."

The young kid started to reply but was caught up in Kagome's arms. "Oh, aren't you the sweetest thing I've ever seen?"

Shippou stared up with cocked eyebrows at the young girl. Registering the fact she was extremely pretty and smelled delicious, he allowed the stranglehold she had on him, and gave her his most innocent smile. "Oh, miss, you're beautiful."

Kagome squealed again, and hugged him tightly. "So cute!"

Inuyasha watched tetchily from the sidelines. "Wench, you'll choke him in a minute. Let the stupid piece of fur go."

Kagome glared at him, a complete contrast at how she looked at Shippou. "Well, actually, I think you could learn a lot from him."

Inuyasha 'Keh-ed' before narrowing his eyes at the child in Kagome's arms. "Oi, runt. What was so important to interrupt bedtime?"

"Oh, that." Shippou settled down more comfortably on Kagome. "Miroku says turn your TV on to channel two."

Inuyasha stalked into his bedroom, muttering. "If he tweaked my TV to the Playboy channel again, I'll kill the letch…"

Kagome followed him, curious yet wary of the fact she was in his bedroom. It was furnished much in the same way as hers, only his having a coffeehouse theme instead of the 'autumn season' that decorated hers.

"Oh no…" the horrified breathing of the child now on her shoulder alerted her back to the reason why she was in there in the first place.

"What is it?" One glance at the television told her everything she needed to know.

A reporter stood in front of what looked like a ransacked jeweler's store. "Moments earlier, this store was broken into. Surprisingly, everything was left untouched apart from one item --- a priceless necklace. There are only two necklaces like this in the whole world. In fact, the stolen one was a direct copy of the original: the Luna. The original Luna was owned by just one person --- Inuyasha Takahashi's mother --- Izayoi Takahashi."

>>>>>>>>>>

Well, hope everyone was satisfied with that chapter. Ho hum --- it's too bad even if Inuyasha can keep his mouth shut about his past, the press can't. Kagome's going to find out one way or another…

XD That reminds me of Coyote Ugly. Anyone seen that film? I love it, especially the bartending stuff. I really have got to learn how they spin bottles like that.

Um, I guess you weren't expecting that 'Paradise' was just a dirty old racetrack, eh? XD 'Paradise' is not the name, it's just Inuyasha's idea on what he thinks is 'Paradise.' Although, if that's his view on it, I'd hate to think what'd be his idea of 'Heaven.'

Arigato to everyone who reviews, as always. …How about reviewing now, onegai? And people who haven't reviewed yet: Could you? Pleeeaaasse?

Hugs to everyone who's been following this, and thanks again for all the encouragement. They make me smile, and seriously, you guys rock.

R&R!