DISCLAIMER: I don't own Inuyasha. I'm just a fan of the show. All rights to the character belong to its creator Rumiko Takahashi.

NOTE: Whenever you see words or paragraphs at the beginning of each chapter that are italicized, it's referring to events that happened in the past. That's how most chapters in my story will begin.

CHAPTER 4: AND OUR FEELINGS

Kagome looked up at the little boy as squeals of laughter and excitement erupted from his mouth. She watched as his little body swayed back forth on the swing. He was wearing a green tee shirt with blue-jean overalls and a pair of all white Classic Chuck Taylor Converse. She smiled herself as he pushed his body forward, seemingly having the time of his life.

She'd been babysitting little Kenshin for a little over two months now. Though two months didn't seem like a long time, she'd already grown very much attached to him as he did her. Most days when she arrived at Sango and Inuyasha's house, Sango was already gone and InuYasha would be out back working on cars or painting since his architectural job wasn't too promising this summer. She usually had little Kenshin all to herself.

Today she decided to take him to Everglade Park. The weather was nice and warm with an occasional breeze dancing about the air. She was glad that she decided to dress for the weather. She wore a simple lavender tank top with a v-cut in the front and some little black shorts that exposed way more of her legs than she was used to showing and a pair of all black Ecko sneakers.

Earlier before she'd left to go to work, her mother complained that she was showing too much skin. Of course she ignored her because she didn't see anything wrong with what she was wearing. She was often told that she had great legs. Maybe she just felt like showing them off today. It wasn't like somebody was going to notice her. The person she wanted to notice her never gave her a second glance.

Well that wasn't entirely true. He would look at her, even steal a few glances, but that was it. Maybe she just wasn't his type. Either way she'd never know. Their conversations never went beyond Kenshin. She'd tried several times attempting to engage him in other subjects but he didn't seem interested in hearing her talk about anything other than his son.

Why want you notice me InuYasha?

Kagome folded her arms across her chest as intense feelings seized her heart. Why did this man affect her so much? Not that she considered herself drop-dead gorgeous or Kami's gift to men, but she never had a problem attracting male attention. In fact, she was even granted the opportunity of turning some away. And yet, this one that she wanted so much, who was so close to her, was still so far out of her reach.

"Aunt Kagome?"

The call of her name brought her out of her fervid thoughts and she found herself looking for Kenshin. He was still sitting on his swing which had come to a complete stop.

"Aunt Kagome?"

Kagome waved at Kenshin as a loving smile played across her lips. She'd almost forgotten that she allowed him to call her that. No, she wasn't his aunt, but he just began calling her that one day and she didn't have the heart to stop him. Sango didn't have a problem with him calling her Auntie and neither did his own father. So if they were okay with it then so was she. She walked closer to him and ruffled his long hair, his furry black ears twitching atop his head.

"Are you ready to go home munchkin?"

Kenshin laughed at his charge before replying to her. "I'm not little."

"You are to me." Kagome giggled.

"I'm not a dwarf!"

"No, but you're still my munchkin." Kagome replied playfully.

Kenshin smirked at Kagome and she ruffled his hair again. Whenever he did that he looked so much like his father. The only difference was his father had silver hair and his hair was the color of the midnight sky. She'd never seen a more beautiful pair in her entire life.

"Aunt Kagome?"

"What is it honey?"

"Do you think we can stop by Clara's Parlor for an ice-cream cone?"

"What's Clara's?"

"You've never been to Clara's Icecream Parlor?"

Kagome nodded no before replying back. "I'm not from this part of town Kenshin."

"Well you gotta try Clara's icecream. It's the best icecream in the world."

"Really?"

Kenshin nodded. "We'll pass it on our way home. I'll show you where it is."

Kagome nodded before looking down at her watch. It was time for her to get Kenshin back home. The park they were at was a good distance from Inuyasha's house. So if she wanted to make it back home in time to give Kenshin his bath and put him to bed, then she needed to leave the park soon.

"Ready for that icecream munchkin?"

"Can I get one last swing first?"

"I don't think that's a good idea. It's getting pretty late. How about a quick piggy-back ride?"

Kenshin nodded enthusiastically.

Kagome crouched down before him as he stepped off of his swing and climbed onto her back. She adjusted his little legs at her waist as he slipped his tiny clawed hands around her neck.

"Hold on tight munchkin, but not too tight so you won't cut my neck with your claws."

"Okay Aunt Kagome."

Kagome shook her legs before patting Kenshin's knee and he giggled happily.

"Are you ready little buddy?"

Kenshin nodded.

"Here we go!" Kagome shouted before taking off at super-human speed.

Kenshin squealed in excitement as the wind blew Kagome's hair against his face. He moved it out of the way with his nose as he shifted a bit higher on her back to get a better view of the world around him.

He could feel the warmth of the sun in the sky, although he knew that it would be setting soon. The clouds were hanging low and looked about as soft and snuggly as his bed at home. The tall trees seemed to extend all the way up to heaven as the sound of nature echoed in harmony all around him.

This is what he enjoyed most. Like his father, he loved to be around nature. He loved playing in the forest and tumbling into piles of leaves. He loved life and loved to feel it moving and dancing and breathing all around him. It was at moments like these he felt complete.

Kagome ran about wildly slipping between trees and away from the swings. She heard the cry of an owl in the distance as the color of the sky shifted, preparing for nightfall. It was such an exhilarating feeling and she relished in it as a warm summer breeze settled onto her face.

"Are you having fun munchkin?" She asked Kenshin from behind her.

"Yes!" He screamed.

Kagome giggled as she ran about a bit more before stopping. Without so much as a warning she pulled Kenshin from her back and set him on the ground before her. Then she grabbed him around his waist and lifted him from the ground and swung him around in circles over and over again.

Kenshin kicked his legs and laughed in between screams. He was having so much fun that he silently prayed that this day would never end. It had been too long since he'd had this much fun. He gripped Kagome tighter and laughed and laughed and laughed.

Kagome's heart flip-flopped as his warm laughter touched her soul. Kenshin was such a beautifully precocious child. She could tell he loved his Aunt Sango and his father very dearly, but she always wondered about his mother. Nobody ever said anything about her and Kagome always found herself wondering if she was dead. She wanted to know about her but she couldn't bring herself to pry because it wasn't really any of her business.

If she was indeed dead, then she truly felt sad for Kenshin. The little guy was just bursting with so much love to give. Any woman would love to have him for a son. Heck, she would herself.

Kagome pressed her lips together as that last thought registered in her mind. She found herself wanting to protect him as if he were her own. For reasons she couldn't explain she abruptly stopped swinging him and gathered him into her arms.

Kenshin was so dizzy and out of breath that he didn't resist her tight embrace. He rested his head against her belly as he felt her ruffling his long hair. He loved his Kagome more than anything in the world.

Kagome shuddered as she stared down at his ears. Something in the back of her mind told her that she'd seen Kenshin way before Sango introduced her to him over two months ago. He reminded her of this girl that used to babysit her when she was younger. What if she was somehow related to Kenshin?

Before Kagome had a chance to ponder her new found information any further, something wet fell from the sky and onto her nose. She brought her gaze skyward as she continued to cling to Kenshin.

"Oh great!" She groaned. She didn't feel like getting soaked today.

She finally released Kenshin and he looked up at her, a look of perplexity donning his beautiful face.

"What's the matter Aunt Kagome?"

Kagome smiled before shaking her head. She wiped her eyes only now realizing that she'd shed a few tears. Did his reminding her of her old babysitter affect her that much?

"I'm fine munchkin. I was just remembering an old friend."

"Don't cry Kagome. You still got me."

Kagome's eyes glittered as unshed tears threatened to fall from her eyes.

"I love you munchkin."

"I love you too Aunt Kagome.

She bent down and hugged Kenshin again but this time briefly. Then she released him and folded his small hand inside her own, careful not to pierce herself with his claws.

"Let's get out of this rain before it decides to attack us at full speed."

Kagome and Kenshin speedily walked hand in hand to Everglade Park's parking lot. She saw her bike resting against the rusted, silver gate surrounding the cars. There weren't many cars left which meant there were just a few people at the park, herself and Kenshin included.

By the time Kagome made it to her bike she realized that the back tire had a flat. She placed a hand to her forehead and groaned out loud. It was already raining and it was getting dark. The last thing she needed on top of that was a bike with a flat. Kenshin gripped her hand tighter before shivering and she looked down at him.

"Are you cold?"

"A little bit."

"My bike has a flat. So we definitely can't take it home."

Kenshin shivered again and Kagome knew that walking home was out of the question.

"Maybe I can call to see if your dad has made it home. Neither one of us needs to be out in this rain."

Kagome stuck her fingers into the pockets of her shorts and pulled out her cell phone. She was starting to shiver herself. Maybe she should've opted for a pair of jeans instead of the little shorts she was wearing. She made a mental note to herself to begin taking her mother's advice.

Flipping open her phone, she made an attempt to place a call to Inuyasha's home, but just as she did her phone died. She groaned irritably. The last thing she needed was to be stranded in the park with a little boy who was too far away from home. If it wasn't raining she'd walk but she didn't want Kenshin to get sick.

She stared around the parking lot momentarily, trying to decide on her next move. Besides her bike, there was a black Cadillac car and a navy blue Chevy van in the parking lot. She didn't want to ask a stranger for help but it looked like she was running out of options.

Still clutching Kenshin's hand, she walked a small distance from her bike and headed to the Cadillac. There was a guy sitting behind the steering wheel. She waved a hand to him and he quickly rolled his window down.

"Excuse me sir. My bike has a flat and I was wondering if you had cell phone I could use so I could make a call."

"Sorry Miss. I don't have a cell phone. There are some pay phones over by the east end of the park."

"Thanks." Kagome muttered before walking away.

The guy pulled away from her and drove away from the park. The only automobile left inside the parking lot was the navy van. She didn't know who it belonged to but she was hoping that whoever drove it had a phone she could use. She was already very wet despite the fact that it hadn't even begun raining hard.

Kenshin sneezed and Kagome brought his body closer to hers and rubbed his jaws. There wasn't much she could offer him being that she herself was thoroughly soaked. She heard footsteps splashing against the wet pavement and immediately she brought her gaze forward.

There were two guys nearing her. They looked about her age, possibly a year or two older. The taller of the two had brown shoulder length hair. The other had light blondish-brown hair and it was braided down his back.

Kenshin stared at them and immediately eased behind Kagome.

"Hey there little lady. Do you need any help?" The taller male asked her.

Kagome frowned at Kenshin before staring at both of the guys for a moment. Then she answered them. "Do you happen to have a cell phone I could use?"

"I sure do." The taller male answered cheekily. He had a blue PDA in his hand. He moved closer to her and then handed her the phone.

"Thank you. I'll only be a minute."

Kagome took the phone and began to dial Inuyasha's home number. It rang a few times and then went to the voicemail. She ended the call and decided to try calling him again.

"No answer?" The same male asked her.

Kagome nodded no before feeling Kenshin tug on her tee shirt.

"What is it munchkin?"

"I'm scared." He whispered to her, hoping the two males couldn't hear him.

"I'm not gonna let anything happen to you Kenshin.

He nodded no before tugging her tee shirt hard. She pushed the phone away and leaned down to him as he inched close to her ear. He knew what his nose was telling him.

"Aunt Kagome we need to leave. Those guys smell like blood and something else. I don't know what it is but I don't like it."

"Are you sure?" She whispered back.

"Yes."

Kagome shuddered as her breath hitched in her throat. She had to stay strong for Kenshin. It wouldn't do either one of them any good if she was to get scared now. She handed the male his PDA back before flashing a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes.

"Any luck?" He asked her.

"Yeah. I was able to reach who I intended. Thanks so much for your help."

"You're welcome. Do you need a ride?"

"No thank you. Now if you gentlemen would excuse me. I need to get going."

Kagome squeezed Kenshin's hand as she turned to walk away. Immediately she was halted as the other male who'd been silent, jumped in front of her.

"Excuse me." She said to him, trying to keep her voice steady.

"Don't leave just yet baby. My buddy and I was hoping we could get to know you better."

"Please move out of the way."

The male grinned at her widely before licking his lips. "I like your outfit."

She heard the taller male moving behind her. With one before her and the other behind her she knew she was trapped. Her stomach trembled as she tried to force away her fear.

"I need to take him home. Please move out of the way. Please!"

"If we let you walk away, what are you gonna give us?"

"I don't have any money."

The male before her moved closer, openly staring at her wet tee shirt. "Honey, I didn't even have money on my mind. Did you Mazuma?" He asked his friend behind Kagome.

"Not at all Tien." The taller male replied. "But I'm sure we can come up with an agreement."

Kagome felt the male called Mazuma grab a handful of her hair and grip her backwards. With his free hand he tossed his keys to his friend. "Get the backdoors open."

"Let her go!" Kenshin yelled.

"I almost forgot about the little twerp." Mazuma said before shifting his gaze. "Toss the keys back to me Tien. I'll open the van doors. You take care of him."

"No! Leave him alone! Don't hurt him!" Kagome screamed.

Tien smirked at her before snatching Kenshin from Kagome's grasp.

"Don't hurt him! He's just a little boy."

"He looks like a half-breed to me." Tien replied before grabbing the boy around his neck.

Kagome pushed against Mazuma and he slammed her against his van. He grabbed her wrist and she bit down roughly into his exposed arm. He yelped before slapping her hard across her face. The impact sent her scrambling to the ground.

She watched as Tien strangled Kenshin. Her eyes burned with anger. She had to get to him before things got worse. If by chance she made it out of this parking lot alive and Kenshin didn't she wouldn't be able to live with herself.

She felt Mazuma grab her again and lift her from the ground. Refusing to give him another chance to attack her she brought her head forward and slammed it against his as hard as she could butting his head with so much strength that this time it was he who fell to the ground. The impact sent him crashing down deadly and he cracked his skull as his body heavily came down onto the pavement.

She too had fallen to the ground but landed on top of him. Her head throbbed with a pain she'd never felt in all her sixteen years of living. She felt nearly close to fainting but she forced herself to her knees and crawled towards Kenshin.

She hadn't heard a word from him throughout his altercation or hers. In fact, she hadn't heard anything from Tien either. Forcing her gaze forward she noticed the two of them lying down on the ground and neither was moving. She felt her heartbeat quicken as she inched closer to them.

"Kenshin?"

She saw his ears twitch.

"Are you okay?"

He twitched his ears again before lifting his body from the ground. He stared at her for a long moment before growling like a wounded animal.

Kagome watched in horror as he moved closer to her. He had blood dripping from his lips. Without even looking around she knew that it came from Tien. His eyes were no longer the beautiful shade of gold like his father's. They were blood red and his fangs were longer than usual. The look on his face nearly frightened her more than the two guys that attacked both of them.

"What's the matter with your face?" She whispered.

He wiped his mouth with the back of his hand and then he advanced on her. Kagome sat on her knees frozen as Kenshin pounced on her. He knocked her onto her back and growled at her before baring his fangs.

"Kenshin? What's the matter? What happened to you?"

He growled at her again.

Kagome blew out a shaky breath before slowly touching his wrists. She rubbed her fingers across his hands trying to calm him. She was scared out of her mind at his transformation and tried anything to soothe him so he could return to normal.

She felt her hands grow warm as her body started to feel lighter. She sat up with Kenshin still in her embrace. His growls suddenly subsided and grew into soft whimpers. She stared up at his eyes as they shifted from crimson red back to their normal shade of amber.

He offered her a weak smile before drifting off into a sleeplike state. Kagome released a small sigh and crushed Kenshin to her chest. She looked around at the two bodies that lay sprawled out on the ground and then she broke down. The reality of what could have been their fate had finally settled into her mind and she found herself weeping her heart away.

With Kenshin still in her arms, she forced her body to stand. She felt pain all over and her head was pounding with extreme force. She looked around for a minute trying to figure out what to do. She was so physically shaken up that she didn't realize her hands were trembling.

She stared down at them and gasped. They were still very warm and there seemed to be a pinkish-white sheen about them. Her stomach churned as the pain in her head increased.

What was wrong with her hands?

Her body began to sway. She was gonna faint. She could feel it all over as waves of nausea ran through her nearly limp form at lightning speed.

"Kagome!"

As soon as she heard the voice she couldn't help but smile. She turned around and focused her gaze onto InuYasha. He was running towards her. Her eyes blinked with painful tears.

"Kagome!"

"You came." She uttered before closing her eyes. She felt herself slipping away.

InuYasha reached out and caught her before she could fall to the ground. With his son protectively shielded against her chest, he easily lifted the both of them and soared like an eagle to his red pick-up truck up and away from any more impending danger.

Kagome shifted uncomfortably in her bed of seven days. As much as she wanted to she just couldn't get comfortable in this bed. It also didn't help that it was a water bed. She hated water beds with a passion. Knowing InuYasha he probably gave her this room on purpose just to work her nerves and he was definitely working them, but not for long.

Her luggage finally arrived today and she was able to get into some of her own clothes. After her last altercation with InuYasha in the dining room she refused to wear another article of clothing that belonged to him. He had no idea how much he embarrassed her.

She lifted her body and sat up in bed. She needed to get a hotel room. Living under the same roof with InuYasha for two and half months wasn't her idea of a good summer vacation. Her leaving would probably upset his children but what else was she supposed to do?

The only reason why she came to Furigana was to check on him because he kept getting into fights and drinking. She had no plans to stay forever, but her brother in law refused to stay out of trouble. He needed someone to intervene. Sango tried talking to him as well as Miroku, even his best bud Koga, but InuYasha wasn't trying to hear any of them. She had no idea why she even bothered trying.

Kikyo. Her mind quickly reminded her.

That was exactly why. Inuyasha's children were also her dead sister's children. She felt her heart thunder wildly in her chest. She was in a deadly car crash two years ago that sent her to the hospital where she spent the last six days of her life.

Kagome clutched the front of her nightshirt tightly.

Why couldn't you have fought harder Kikyo?

She pressed her lips together forcing her thoughts away from her sister's death. All she had left of her were memories and her children. That's why she couldn't so easily walk away and let InuYasha live his life recklessly. She had to make sure they were okay.

Throwing the covers away from her body, she stepped out of bed. Her throat suddenly felt dry so she decided to get something to drink. She hated walking around barefoot but she wasn't about to flip the lights on to find her slippers.

She glanced at the clock on the nightstand. It was fifteen minutes after three in the morning. At least everyone was asleep. She quickly made her way to the door and opened it before stepping out. She walked as quietly as she could to the kitchen.

Once there, she headed for the refrigerator and opened it. She grabbed the carton of Mott's Apple Juice in the corner of the top refrigerator shelf. It was about half full. She closed the silver door of the Frigidaire and skipped over to the cupboard to retrieve a cup.

She quickly filled it and set it onto the kitchen counter. Then she placed the carton of juice back into the refrigerator. Walking back over to the counter, she sighed as the gentle winds of the fresh morning air blew her hair about her face wildly.

The window just above the sink was still open from earlier today. Kagome downed her mug of juice before leaning over the sink to close the kitchen window. Truth be told, she was quite enjoying the early morning breeze from the window.

She placed her cup into the sink and walked to the back door of the house and peered through the window of the door. It was about twenty minutes after three and it was still quite dark outside. Her eyes gazed around the large back yard searching for something. The moment she located it her eyes lit up like Christmas in Time Square. She punched in the numbers to unlock Inuyasha's security code and then she opened the door.

The gentle blowing breeze from the air hit her body and she shivered and rubbed her arms. She stared down at her sleepwear. She was wearing a pale pink night shirt that was about mid-thigh in length and she was still barefoot. Perhaps she should've grabbed a robe before leaving her bedroom. Well, she didn't plan to stay outside long. So a few minutes couldn't hurt.

She quickly tip-toed out of the house and across the grass to the coniferous tree she liked to sit under whenever she visited the Ishikawa family. It felt like the grass was tickling her feet. She giggled and bent to sit down with her back pressed against the tree. A feeling of contentment invaded her senses.

She stared up at the black sky admiring the stars that shined like tiny diamonds in the distance. If she could fly to the heavens she'd comb the sky and gather as many stars as she could and pile them high in a basket. Then she'd shower them down on the inhabitants of the world. All dreams would come true.

That was the child still inside her that refused to die. She'd made a wish on the stars too many times to count in her childhood. Of course most of them never came true but that didn't discourage her from making wishes. She closed her eyes for a moment as her mind reflected on this past week's events.

Kenshin called her house, frantic about his father's condition. She tried to give him a piece of her mind which angered him and he squeezed her wrist so tightly that it swelled and his claws punctured her skin. Then he accused her of not really caring for his oldest child which was so far from the truth. Then she tried to talk to him about it and he completely ignored her as if nothing happened.

And yet…..She was living in his house…For the summer at least.

She groaned inwardly. Why was she still so weak around him? They never even had a relationship, but that was his fault. He turned her away when she so boldly admitted that she had feelings for him. That still wasn't enough. She wasn't stupid.

She knew he desired her. She'd catch him staring at her way longer than a regular friend would. When she called him out about it he denied it and ignored her. The whole situation was too difficult to deal with, especially when she had to be around him while babysitting Kenshin. Though she'd never been in a sexual relationship, barely even a friendship, the sexual tension between the two of them was difficult to miss.

She had the strongest and strangest feelings for him as he did her. Although hers concerned matters of the heart. His were all physical. He desired her body. She was certain of it, and she would've gladly given it to him but he pushed her away. She was too young for him, as he so often told her.

She could still remember how crushed she was when he repeatedly rejected her. It always broke her heart but nothing compared to the hurt she felt when she found out he knocked up her sister. It took years for her to get over it. The worst part about it was that her sister and InuYasha both were drunk when it happened.

They didn't know each other. There was no physical attraction. There was nothing between them. Nothing. They just happened to run into each other in a bar one night. He was drinking away his sorrows because he was sexually attracted to a teenager. Kikyo was upset because her boyfriend Kurama cheated on her with her best friend Tsubaki. One thing led to another and by morning they both woke up naked in the back of Inuyasha's red pick-up truck.

Kagome sighed as her heart fluttered madly. That was the worst day of her entire life. It was worse than standing by and watching the two of them utter their emotionless wedding vows. She felt tears misting over her closed eyes and she bawled up her fists. It still affected her and that made her upset.

It was nearly seven years ago when that happened and it still bothered her to think about, which meant that she still had feelings for that obnoxious, thick-skulled half-demon and he probably was aware of it. That's why he always made inappropriate comments to her or openly stared at her lustfully.

Sometimes when he did it she'd feel like a deer trapped in headlights. Her body always had an uncanny knack of betraying her when she was in his presence.

The fact that his super sensitive nose could sniff her out didn't help either. If she was aroused or lying she couldn't ever hide it from him. It was so embarrassing.

She twitched uncomfortably above the cool grass. She knew he desired her when she was a teen but she wondered about now. He still looked at her the same way, but now he seemed bolder about it. Maybe he thought he was finally going to sleep with her.

She sighed inwardly as her stomach twitched into knots. That wasn't ever going to happen. Sleeping around may have been his thing but it wasn't hers. Not that she had anybody to compare him with. Her cheeks flamed red as feelings of embarrassment engulfed her psyche. She wondered if knew.

Not that she didn't want to. It was just…..well, the opportunity never did come up.

No. That wasn't it either. She had other boyfriends and she knew they were willing.

Then what was it?

Was it because she never stayed in a relationship long enough to develop serious feelings for them?

I'm such a loser.

Most of her friends were married. So of course they were having sex. Heck, even her friends that weren't married had by now. Everybody except her. It was pretty pathetic.

Who would've thought after 22 years she'd still be a virgin? Not that it was the worst thing in the world to be, because it wasn't. In fact, she was pretty sure she wouldn't have been one if that twisted, maniacal and masochistic ex-boyfriend of hers hadn't held his sword to her throat and tortured her in his apartment.

She shivered and shook off the chills spilling down her arms. The last thing she wanted to do was think about him. She didn't ever plan on seeing him again, but Sango had already mentioned that she saw him and he asked about her. The last time she saw him was six years ago and she still wasn't ready to face him. Maybe coming back to Furigana wasn't such a good idea after all.

"Why are you sitting outside in the dark at nearly four in the morning?"

Kagome's eyes flew open as her thoughts came to a complete halt. InuYasha peered down at her from above. She moved to stand and he waved a hand to stall her movement.

"You don't have to get up." He said before plopping down on the ground against the tree beside her. "Did you come out here to think or something?"

Kagome shifted a bit to face him; noticing immediately that he was shirtless and wearing a pair of tan silky looking pajamas. He was also barefoot but that was normal for him. The guy didn't like wearing shoes.

"I couldn't sleep." She finally replied to him.

"Really? Why not?"

"I don't know. I guess I had too much on my mind."

He turned a bit more inward as he took in her attire. She was wearing one of those short night-shirts that she liked to sleep in. He glanced at her bare legs as they lay against the grass. Her skin was wonderfully creamy against the pale pink of her shirt and her long black hair blew about wildly, tangling itself against the morning breeze.

He looked away from her quickly. Looking at her wasn't an easy thing. He always found himself thinking and wanting to do the wildest things to her. It didn't help that she didn't mind showing off that sexy little body of hers. He couldn't help it. It just wasn't fair.

He was a man used to getting whatever he wanted but he couldn't have his sister in law. If he ever thought of pursing a relationship with her she'd probably turn him down, which he'd deserve. She may have still had feelings for him but that wouldn't matter. She was a very loyal person and probably thought if she hooked up with him she'd be betraying her sister.

"What are you doing up yourself InuYasha? You're usually in bed till six in the morning."

He smirked at her. He guessed there were just some things about him that Kagome would never forget.

"Are you smiling?"

"Maybe."

"What for? I know I couldn't be the source of your mirth."

"If you say so."

Kagome rolled her eyes at him.

"You're so clueless Kagome."

"What? Are you trying to insult me?"

"No. It's just that you're so naïve and it's funny."

"I'm not naïve."

"Yes you are."

"Are you implying that I'm not smart or something? I'll have you know that I'm probably the only intelligent friend that you have."

"Before you get your panties in a twist, I'm not trying to insult you. However, you are naïve."

Kagome gasped.

"That's not a bad thing Kagome. You know I'd never try to make you feel bad about being who you are. There's nothing wrong with being who you are."

"What are you trying to say InuYasha?"

"You're candid."

"I'm candid?"

"Yes, and you're simple and plain and open."

"Remind me how any of those characteristics you just named are compliments."

"You're perfect Kagome. Those are all good qualities. You're a woman with simple needs. You give your love away as if it's the most natural thing in the world to do and I love that about you."

Kagome felt her chest tighten. Was she hearing right? Did Inuyasha just admit that he liked no loved something about her. She stared at him in utter shock.

"You're right. You are one of the most intelligent people that I know. And eventhough this is true you're still blatantly oblivious to noticeable things that happen right under your nose. Your innocence is adorable."

Kagome felt her cheeks flame with embarrassment. He was making fun of her. She suddenly got defensive.

"Inexperience?"

"What?"

"I think the word you were looking for was inexperienced. You just said innocent because it was a nicer word and you didn't want to offend me."

Inuyasha stared at Kagome as his eyebrows came together in realization. She assumed that he was implying something that he wasn't. Now he was gonna have to correct her inaccurate assumption.

"I know what I meant to say to you."

Kagome muttered something under her breath and he felt himself getting upset.

"For your information Ms. Know-It-All I wasn't trying to make fun of you. And further more I don't really know much about your personal life to call you inexperienced. It's not my business anyways. What you do or don't do behind closed doors doesn't have anything to do with me."

Kagome glared at him and folded her arms across her chest. "Well excuse me for assuming the worst. You joke so much it's difficult to tell when you're being truthful."

"I'm going back to bed." Inuyasha announced before standing up from the ground.

Kagome quickly shot to her feet before grabbing his arm. "Don't leave on my account."

"I'm not. I'm actually still tired."

"Liar."

Inuyasha shook Kagome's hand from his arm. "You know what you're problem is? You need to stop acting so childish all the time."

"Childish!" Kagome blurted in disbelief.

"Yes childish! You're a grown woman still carrying on like a teenager."

"I do not act like a teenager!" Kagome shouted.

"Well you sure are one hell of an actress."

"As if you can talk! You don't act any more like an adult than I do."

"Keh."

"Keh to you! You egotistical obnoxious blowhard!"

"Right back at you, Ms. Inexperienced Lin Higurashi!"

Kagome growled and flexed her fists.

Inuyasha laughed at her. "Are you planning to use those on me?"

Kagome growled again before lifting her leg and kicking Inuyasha in his knee.

"Keep it up wench and I'll break that little leg right off your body."

Kagome smirked and kicked him again. "You don't scare me Inuyasha. You talk big but you don't have the balls to do anything about it."

"Do you wanna find out?"

Kagome laughed and lifted her leg again but this time Inuyasha caught it and forced her back into the coniferous tree they'd sat under moments ago. He smirked at her.

"Let me go jerk!"

"Make me! After all, I don't scare you."

"You don't scare me!"

"No I suppose I don't." Inuyasha whispered as he moved in on her. "But I do intimidate you and there's nothing you can do about it."

Kagome's body went into shock as Inuyasha intentionally pressed his body into hers, forcing her closer to the tree. His cocky gaze stared into her eyes trying to read her emotions. She couldn't move. He held her prisoner against the tree.

"Get off!" She yelled.

"Why should I? You grab me whenever you want to. How do you expect me to keep my hands to myself when you yourself don't do it?"

Kagome turned her eyes away from Inuyasha's. She couldn't look into them because she knew if she stared long enough her body would betray her. She cursed herself for her weakness to him. It was something that she never did understand.

"Get off me Inuyasha!"

"Give me a reason to!"

"I don't want you all over me."

"Yes you do." He replied as her body begin to relax.

"Move!"

"No."

"Please!"

"Why should I?"

"Because you're making me uncomfortable."

"No I'm not. I'm making you horny."

Kagome stared at the ground, wishing she could find something to throw at him.

Inuyasha released his hold on her a bit before lifting her face so that she met his gaze. He slid her body up the tree until her hips were pressed intimately against his. A shuddering gasp slipped pass his lips.

Kagome's throat felt incredibly thick and her knees were wobbly. Her heart was slamming inside her chest and begging to be released. It felt as though if she was gonna pass out. He was too close to her. Her body pulsed with excitement and she could feel her resolve slipping.

Inuyasha stared at her lips, finding it hard to breathe. He wanted to taste her so badly, if only just to see if she tasted just as sweet as she did when she was sixteen. She forced that one on him but he never forgot about it.

"I wanna kiss you." He whispered breathlessly.

Kagome closed her eyes and nodded her head. "No!"

"You can't say no to me. You never could."

"I can't."

"Why?"

"Because I can't!"

Inuyasha groaned. "Don't say that! You want me! I can tell you want me. I can smell you and you smell so good."

"Inuyasha!"

"I want you too Kagome!"

Kagome eyes fluttered open and she found herself staring at Inuyasha's mouth and before she had a chance to reply he slammed his lips against hers. Her mouth was soft as it pressed against his exploringly. She'd kissed him before but this one he initiated. Her heart fluttered happily and she opened her mouth against his. Her tongue came out and licked his bottom lip before nibbling on it with her teeth. Inuyasha shuddered and moved his tongue against Kagome's as their mouths fused together in an age old dance.

Kagome trembled and slowly brought her arms up and slipped them around his neck before combing her fingers through his thick silver mane. She melted into his touch as her mind became fuzzy. Somehow they ended up away from the tree and were now against the door that they both had come out of. Her hips were still pressed against his as she wrapped her legs around his waist.

She heard Inuyasha opening the door before tugging her inside and by the time she focused her gaze she realized they were in his bedroom. She smiled at him as he pressed her body down onto his bed. He climbed on top of her and pressed his lips to her neck.

Kagome sighed in sweet contentment and slid her hands up his head and rubbed her fingers against his ears. He slid down her body; kissing at her collar bone. She slid up his body; kissing and nibbling on his ears. When she ran her tongue along the inside of his furry appendages he lost it. His ears were his weakness. He grabbed the bottom of her night shirt and ripped it from her body. Then he stared down at her body hungrily.

Kagome's eyes slowly popped open. Inuyasha loomed above her panting with a heavy lidded glare. His golden gaze held her still and she was captivated. She watched as his eyes roamed down her body, from her face to her breasts and beyond. Only her purple lacy boy-shorts saved her from being completely nude.

Inuyasha tugged on them as his eyes became misted with red. He was losing control of the demon inside of him and he was ready to set him free.

Kagome gasped as her heart fluttered about wildly. Her breath fanned across his face and before Inuyasha made another move warning bells went off in her head.

This was her sister's house. This was her sister's husband. This was her sister's bed. Feelings of guilt dug into her heart and she went rigid in Inuyasha's embrace. She couldn't believe what was happening and of her own free will.

"Stop!"

"What?" He mumbled against her skin.

"Stop it!"

He laughed.

"Stop it! I can't do this! We can't do this!"

"What? Why?"

Kagome shook her head before staring into Inuyasha's eyes. She felt tears welling up in her own.

"Kagome?"

"It's wrong!"

"No it's not!"

"Yes it is. I can't do this. Not to you! Not to my sister!"

"Kagome?"

"I can't do it. I'm sorry!" Kagome pushed out of Inuyasha's embrace and headed for the door.

"Kagome wait! Can we at least talk about this?"

"No! I shouldn't have let you kiss me. I'm sorry! There can't ever be anything between us."

"Ever?"

"I'm sorry Inuyasha! I'm really sorry!"

Kagome unlocked the door to Inuyasha's bed room and fled down the hall to the safety of the guestroom. She had to get out of this house and she had to get out of it soon.

Inuyasha looked on as she slammed and bolted the door to her bedroom. They both were too caught away in their drama to notice Kenshin standing in the hallway staring in utter confusion.

"Is everything okay dad?" He asked his father.

Inuyasha groaned and waved his oldest child off. He always had the good fortune of showing up at the most inopportune times.

Hello readers! Yes I actually found time to update. I hope you guys/girls have enjoyed this chapter, as writing this story has really become my favorite thing to do lately. Things are getting really crazy between InuYasha and Kagome and they're just gonna get even crazier in the upcoming chapters. For a second I forgot this story was rated T...LOL. I almost went overboard. There's still a lot I need to explain about their past which I will eventually. Hope this chapter was a good read for everyone. Big thanks to those who actually read and reviewed each chapter. If you enjoyed this chapter please let me know by reviewing. That lets me know that you're actually enjoying my story. Thanks for the love.

ASIAN****DELICACY