Hello and welcome to another chapter of The Caribbean Cruise! Wow, I'm so glad you all reviewed again. It's taking a lot of hard work to write this again. I know that some of you are wondering when Inuyasha and Kagome are finally going to confess how they feel. Well I thought about it and...I have no idea. I don't know if I want it to be in this chapter or when the formal dance starts. I think that they have to realize that they have feelings for eachother before then. Well anyway, here is Chapter 4, enjoy.

Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha, that honor goes to Rumiko Takahashi. She's a brilliant woman and I can only hope that I become as good a writer as she.

Chapter 4

Recognizing feelings of Love

Well after the talent show, they had not heard hide nor hair of Kikyo since, which was a relief for Kagome. Sango sat in one of the chairs by the pool, laid back and tanning in her bikini. Reiko lay on the other side of Kagome, doing the exact same thing. It was Wednsday so there was nothing for the younger kids to do but play at the pool and relax. Kagome looked around at everyone sitting in the other chairs, wondering what they were thinking. She had become somewhat of a celebrity since the talent show. People would come up to her and aske for her autograph. The night after the talent show her hand was cramping up from writing so many autographs. She didn't mind though. She was thrilled that people thought of her as a celebrity.

Lost in her thoughts she didn't notice that a very special hanyou was walking towards her. He stopped infront of her, an eyebrow raised in confusion as to why she was staring at the ground.

"Kagome?" He called to her. Kagome jumped and looked up into his beautiful golden eyes. Her eyes widned and she smiled up at him.

"Hey Inuyasha." She greeted happily. He rolled his eyes and shook his head with a smirk.

"Spacey much?" He asked squating down in front of her. She laughed sheepishly and shook her head.

"I'm sorry, I was just thinking. So what's up?" She asked cheerfully. He shook his head and sat down at the end of her chair.

"Are you alright? You haven't been yourself since the talent show." He asked in his usual tone. Kagome shook her head and smiled up at him.

"I'm fine. Really. I've just got a lot on my mind." She said cheerfully. Sango opened one of her eyes and looked over at Kagome sadly. Kagome had indeed been spacey lately. She was starting to get worried.

"Reiko!" Came a voice from across the pool. Reiko sat up and looked around for the source of the voice and upon seeing Rin and Sesshomaru she smiled and waved. She stood up and started to walk around the pool to them.

"Hey guys." She said happily as Rin ran into her arms. Kagome giggled at the sight of them and shook her head. Inuyasha looked over at her in confusion and folded his arms.

"What's so funny?" He asked a little annoyed. Kagome smiled cheerfully at him and motioned for him to come closer. He obliged and moved closer to her with a curious look.

"Reiko likes your brother." She whispered to him. Sango giggled as Reiko and Rin pushed a fully clothed Sesshomaru into the pool. His hair flattened to his face and his clothes clinging to his body. Reiko and Rin laughed and upon Sesshomaru getting out, they stopped immediately and looked fearful. You could literally see the anger eminating from his body and his power overflowing in the aura. Reiko and Rin took off at a run around the pool and Sesshomaru chased after them with his lighting quick speed.

"KAGOME!" They screamed as they ran towards her. But before they could even reach Kagome Sesshomaru was right in front of them. He glared down at them with menace in his eyes and they hugged eachother in fear.

"How dare you push me into the pool!" He thudered at them. Rin cringed, not seeing her adoptive father this angry since Jaken had invited a woman in while he was in a towel from just taking a shower. Boy did Jaken get it then. For some unknown reason however, Reiko thought that she could stand up to him.

"How dare I? I just do what I please and it pleased me to push you into the pool, that's how I dare." She retorted to him. He glared down at her with furious eyes. Had she just talked back to him! No one talked to him like that! No one. He punished anyone who dared talk back to him. For some unknown reason however, when she did this to him, he liked it. He found it oddly attractive to have someone stand up to him like she did.

"You think you're going to get away with it?" He asked, a little calmer now, taking Reiko by surprise. She grinned and nodded, turning from him and folding her arms in the classic Inuyasha fashion. (No, she's not related to them) Sesshomaru smirked, getting the result he wanted. As soon as her back was turned he scooped her up and tossed her into the water, causing a huge splash and water to fly onto a few people lounging in chairs. Kagome gasped, worried that Reiko had gotten hurt. She stood up and ran over to the edge where Reiko had resurfaced and was now glaring at Sesshomaru.

"So what do you have to say to that?" He asked sarcastically. Reiko stood up, the water reaching just below her chest, and walked over to the edge where Sesshomaru stood, squating to the water.

"You want to know what I've got to say?" She asked, getting up right in his face. Rin blushed at seeing how close Reiko was to her father and hid her face in her hands.

"Yeah." He said, his hot breath tickling her lips. Reiko smiled seductively and grabbed his wrist.

"PAY BACKS A BITCH!" She yelled and pulled him into the water next to her. A loud slap could be heard as his face hit the water and Reiko laughed. Kagome and Sango both oohed at the painfully sounding smack of the water hitting flesh and leaned over the side of the pool to see if he was alright. Sesshomaru was trying to get a hold of Reiko but she was faster in the water than he was, especially since she was in a bikini and he was in normal clothes.

Kagome sighed and shook her head, this was how Reiko got into all her trouble. But that was why Kagome liked her. She was fun and sassy, and just a great friend. She looked over at Sango and smiled at her.

"I'm hungry, wanna go get something from the dinning hall?" She asked. Sango looked over at her and smiled.

"Sure." They walked over to their chairs and grabbed the small thin cloth that they tied around their waists and walked towards the dining hall, leaving Inuyasha and Miroku to watch with amusement as Sesshomaru tried to catch Reiko.

In the dinning hall Kagome went straight for the buffet table. She took a plate and put three kinds of fruits on it, a few sausage links, a pancake, syrup, and salt, and a cup of orange juice to wash it all down. She walked over to the table that Sango had saved for her and sat down.

"Okay, I'm going to go and get something to eat. Wait here alright?" Sango said, getting up and walking over to the buffet table.

Kagome and Sango ate their breakfast fast and then walked out onto the terrace where they found Reiko with a bump on her head and Rin laughing hysterically. Kagome walked over to her with an amused grin on her face.

"What happened?" She asked with a joking tone. Reiko looked up at her with a scowl, but Rin answered.

"She got out of the water and was running towards the girl's bathroom to get away from Lord Sesshomaru but he got to her first and hit her on the head." Rin giggled. Sango outright laughed.

"He's been chasing you since we were gone!" Kagome asked in shock.

Reiko nodded and huffed. "He's fast on land but I'm faster in water." Reiko said pouting. Kagome just giggled at her and and stood up fully. She looked over at Inuyasha who was talking idolly to Miroku and when he caught her staring at him he looked over with his confident grin. Miroku looked over in the direction he was staring in and upon seeing Kagome grinned pervertedly.

"Inuyasha, when will you just admit it to her and ask her the same question you always said you would." Miroku asked in a perverted tone. Inuyasha switched looks and glared at him.

"Stop thinking about it lecher. I won't until I know for sure she likes me that way too." He said and turned and walked away. Miroku sighed and shook his head at his stubborn friend. He looked over at Sango and shrugged. She sighed and looked over at Kagome.

"Hey Kagome, what are you so cheerful about?" She asked. Kagome followed Inuyasha's path and then shrugged to Sango.

"Oh, nothing Sango. I just feel overly happy today." Kagome said cheerfully. Sango was amazed to say the least. Her friend had gone through so much in these past few days and still came out with a smile. Sango admired her best friend for that exact reason. Kagome could be cheerful through anything.

Kagome smiled down at Reiko who was pouting out of stubborness, though Kagome could tell that her head hurt. Kagome stood up and walked over to Miroku, who was now looking down at the ground in aggravation. She walked over to him out of curiousity, wanting to know what was wrong.

"Miroku? Is something wrong?" Kagome asked kindly. He nearly jumped out of his skin at her voice and looked over at her with a nervous smile.

"Of course not dear Kagome. I was just thinking of how stubborn our little hanyou is." Miroku said the last part in a grunt. He hated it when Inuyasha got too stubborn for his own good. He left everything up to the other person to start and it wasn't right. He did the exact same thing with Kikyo, and it ended up hurting him. He couldn't take it if Inuyasha got hurt again. He was his best friend. Upon seeing Kagome's even more worried face Miroku smiled warmly at her and shook his head.

"I'm sorry Kagome. I don't mean to worry you. It's just...well...Inuyasha he...he's sensitive and well, he's afraid that you don't love him..." At the word love Kagome blushed deeply and turned her attention to her feet.

"Everyone can see that you like him, except for him."

"Miroku I..." Kagome stopped, about to say that she didn't love him, but was that really true? They say you never forget your first love, and she never stopped thinking about Inuyasha. Was he...her first love? Did she love him? Of course she loved him as a friend but did she really love him?

Reiko looked over at her and smirked when she saw Kagome was blushing.

"Hey Kagome, why's your face all red?" She asked sarcastically. Kagome jumped and blushed even more and turned away from all of them.

"I-I'm going to g-go for a walk." She stuttered and walked away from everyone, Miroku, Sango, and Reiko smiling like cheshire cats.

As Kagome walked along the boardwalk of the cruise her thoughts took over her mind.

'Do I really love Inuyasha? I...I don't understand. When I'm with him I get this strange feeling but...' To tell the truth Kagome was more confused than ever. She couldn't tell how she felt. Of course she would dream about meeting Inuyasha again almost every night, and she never forgot about him. He was always in her mind, having small conversations with her when she felt alone. She had missed him immensely and almost died when she saw him again. Her heart nearly stopped at his voice, at his gentle eyes. Her heart flutters every time he touches her, or talks to her...or hugs her. He's always there, no matter where she went. She could remember the day he left. Her mom was comforting her because she was crying so much. She could remember thinking that she wished she'd never met him because of the pain she felt. Then it hit her.

"I love him." She breathed out in surprise. Unconditionally. It was there, all along, unnoticable, unrecognized, but it was there.

"I'm...in love with Inuyasha." Tears came to her eyes at this realization. How could she not have seen it before. It enveloped her mind and heart and she couldn't believe she didn't see it before. Tears streamed down her cheeks and she fell to her knees. Staring at her hands as the tears fell freely into her opened palms.

"I love Inuyasha." She whispered again.

"I knew you did." Came a voice from behind her. She turned to find Hojo standing behind her. (Seriously, where do they keep coming from? I didn't see them on the guest list!)

"H-Hojo!" Kagome gasped out loud. Hojo smiled that doofy smile he always does and held out his hand to her.

"Hey Kagome. Long time no see." He greeted, helping her up. Kagome was still so shocked to see him she couldn't speak

"Well, I knew you loved him since yesterday anyway. After you sang your song. But that's not going to stop me from asking...Kagome will you go to the dance with me?"

"Oh, Hojo I..."

"I know, that's why I'm only asking you as a friend. After that I'll not bother you ever again. Promise." Hojo said with his hand raised like he was swearing to the court. Kagome looked at him sadly, wanting badly to tell Inuyasha how she felt and ask him to the dance, but the thought of Hojo never bothering her again was a pretty powerful thought. In the end the no bothering her thought won and she sadly nodded.

"Alright, but just as friends." Kagome said with a sigh. Hojo smirked and grabbed her hands into his.

"Oh! That's wonderful Kagome! I'll see you at the dance then!" Hojo said excitedly and ran off. Picking up the walkie talkie from his belt with a smile and speaking into it. "Phase 1 complete!"

"KAGOME THAT'S TERRIBLE!" Sango screamed at her after telling her the whole story. Kagome sighed, tears in her eyes and nodded.

"I know Sango, but...no bothering me anymore! No more asking me out left and right! No more Hojo interupting our conversations or coming over and sitting with us whenever he sees me! Can you imagine Sango!" Kagome asked, placing her hands on her best friend's shoulders and shaking her. Sango sighed.

"She's got a point you know Sango. No Hojo ever again is a pretty good contender." Reiko said matter of factly. Sango sighed, knowing that she too would have taken the 'no Hojo' route.

"Okay, so what about Inuyasha? When are you going to tell him?" Sango asked. Kagome sighed, knowing that she couldn't.

"I...I don't know. I can't tell him now. Not until after the dance." Kagome said sadly. Sango looked sympathetically at her friend and sat down in front of her.

"Kagome, you need to tell him. Before the dance or not, Inuyasha needs to know." Sango said softly. Kagome looked at her and nodded.

"I know Sango."

Hey everyone. I know that this was a really short chapter. But it was basically just a taste of what the 5th chapter is going to be like. In the next chapter the dance comes up and there is some a really big scene in that one.

Inuyasha: So you really love me Kagome?

Kagome: ... (blushing madly)

Inuyasha:(smirking uncontrollably)

Me: Don't even think about it Inuyasha.

Inuyasha: Aw pipe down wench!

Me: INUYASHA! (Starts chasing him around with a mallet)

Screen goes fuzzy

Miroku: Sorry everyone but Tori is busy at the moment beating our beloved hanyou, so now you get me! Come and get it ladies! (Miroku throws off shirt)

Sango: HENTAI! GET YOUR SHIRT BACK ON YOU PERV!

Miroku turns to Sango and walkes towards her.

Sango: What are you doing? Get away from me Miroku! Stop!

Miroku:Sango my love, come into my arms.

Miroku gets slammed on the head with a mallet by me. (Tori breathing heavily)

Me:Please review everyone. (Tori says in a sweet voice)