Ton Up
By: The Hatter Theory
Chapter 8
Disclaimer: I don't own the rights to Inu Yasha
AN: Late! I'm sorry, but I was kidnapped yesterday, and held for ransom! Seriously! Anyway, thank you for all of the reviews, they've been wonderful. And -winkwink- the chapter you guys have been waiting for. Also...This story isn't done. By a long shot.
The angry beeping of an alarm clock shattered the pleasant dream and forced her to sit up, eyes looking around wildly. Her first reflex was to rub palm her face, remembering the phantom warmth, eyes wide. Her next was to look around the room.
It didn't look disturbed, which meant she had been dreaming. Groaning, she fell back into the pillows, immediately surrounded by his scent. Sleeping in his bed and inhaling his scent with every breath had obviously messed with her dreams, otherwise she wouldn't have dreamed about something so...Intimate.
She needed to tell him. Probably that night, if feasible. It might make things uncomfortable, but she could get over her crush and move on. Then she wouldn't dream about him being sweet and treating her like something other than a friend.
"Are you alright?" Ayumi asked through a yawn.
"Fine," Kagome groaned again.
"You're cuddling his pillow," Ayumi pointed out. Kagome looked down and saw that she had indeed grabbed his pillow and was pretty much face first in it. Shoving it away she threw the covers back and walked over to her bag.
"I'm going to tell him," She finally said, rooting through her bag for her clothes. Her hat was still in Ayumi's car, but they would be taking it to the track so she wasn't overly worried. After tossing the clothes onto the bed she grabbed her toothbrush and toothpaste.
"You make it sound like a death sentence," Ayumi observed, walking over to her own bag and gathering her things.
"I just want to get it out there so I can get over it. Last time I stayed quiet the whole mess with Inu Yasha happened," Kagome sighed as she walked into the bathroom, leaving the door open. "Once I get it out he can tell me no and then I'll have to move on."
Ayumi eyed her skeptically in the mirror. Ignoring the pointed stare Kagome began brushing her teeth, determined to have fun at the race and not think about everything that would come later that night.
"He might surprise you."
"I doubt that," Kagome said, or tried to. Her mouth was foaming and she had a toothbrush lodged halfway in trying to get to her molars.
"What will you do if he reciprocates?"
Because that was not a possibility, however much she might want it to be, she shrugged. What didn't need an answer didn't warrant one, at least in this instance. Thankfully Ayumi left it at that, and Kagome rinsed her mouth out and got dressed while Ayumi took her own turn in the bathroom. By the time she got out, Kagome's stomach was growling at her, demanding food.
Within minutes they were banging on the door next to theirs and Eri was answering, still looking half asleep. Yuka was just rolling out of bed, hair sticking in every direction and her eyeliner leaving dark circles beneath her eyes.
"Come on guys!" Ayumi commanded. "We're going to be late!"
It was the right thing to say, even if it had been a bit of a lie. Yuka and Eri both turned into manic bundles of energy and stumbling limbs, both vying for the bathroom. Eri won and Yuka ran to her bag, quickly going through the different outfits she had brought with her.
Kagome wasn't ecstatic about the clothing her best friend decided to wear, but it was better than some of the other outfits she had been wearing while on vacation, so she didn't complain. Once Eri came out Yuka was in the bathroom, screeching about her makeup. Kagome and Ayumi both shared light giggles as Eri panicked, going through her bag before stealing a top from Yuka's and pulling it on with a pair of shorts.
When Yuka emerged there was a good natured exchange about the theft, light teasing as Ayumi ushered them out of the room and down to the car. Ayumi's behavior only heightened her own nervous anticipation. She'd seen clips of races on the internet, but the idea of actually seeing one, and seeing Kouga in one, made her feel excited and a little afraid.
Despite his assurances, she was worried something would happen to him. More than anyone she knew that all youkai were different, and healed differently. What Doumen could survive, Kouga might not be able to. It was with an iron will that she reminded herself of the feudal era and how well he had survived then.
Except the feudal era hadn't had motorcycles and cement walls.
"Kagome, are you alright?" Ayumi asked.
"Just nervous," She replied absentmindedly.
"It'll be fine. I'm sure he'll surprise you."
She blinked at Ayumi, not understanding for a moment. Unfortunately, her other two friends did, and immediately descended.
"Is she going to tell him?" Eri asked, turning around in her seat and staring at Kagome with wide eyes and an excited smile.
Kagome grimaced, wishing fervently her friends had not caught on to that. It was, ironically, the last thing on her mind at that moment.
"I'm worried he'll get hurt," She told them.
As if she had said magic words, the car went quiet and the giddy joy that had been filling it only seconds before was quashed.
"I'm sure he wouldn't race if he was inexperienced," Ayumi told her, leaning against her for comfort. "Besides, he worked through qualifying, and the guys told me those are more aggressive than the actual race."
"He'll be fine," Eri and Yuka said in unison, although they were much more subdued than they had been before.
Once they had arrived, it was difficult to find a place to park, worse than even at the hotel. Almost worried they would miss the start of the race, Kagome was tempted to get out and go ahead of them, stopped only by the fact that they were on a list, and her friends would probably have to be with her to get in. After a short eternity Yuka finally found a spot and turned to the back seat, brows furrowed.
"You should be excited. He'll want you to cheer for him."
"He wouldn't be able to hear it," Kagome sighed, opening the door.
"Doesn't matter, he'd still want you to," Eri said with a firm finality. Kagome nodded, getting out and putting her wide brimmed hat on. She felt a sense of guilt for overshadowing her friend's excitement with her own worry, but not guilty enough to refuse when Ayumi and Eri grabbed each of her hand's, Yuka taking Eri's as they walked through the parking lot and towards the ticket booths. Kagome pulled out her id card and showed it to the teller, surprised when they were each given bright badges on lanyards, the bright yellow letters VIP glaringly obvious.
There were others behind them waiting to get in, so Kagome didn't have time to ask where they were supposed to be sitting. However, someone in dark clothing and with a bright yellow badge marked 'security' noticed her confusion and directed her group to a flight of stairs and waved to where they would be sitting. It was right next to the track, and she called out her thanks as he walked away at a fast clip.
Nervous tension knotted in her stomach as they sat on the bleachers. The wall and angle of their seats made it impossible to see the pit lane, although she realized she wasn't far from where she had sat the first time she had come to the track. Her friends, quiet and supportive, sat close to her and continued holding her hands even as the crowd grew louder and more people filled the bleachers.
When a voice boomed clearly that the race was close to starting, Kagome leaned forward, lower lip between her teeth.
"He'll be fine," Ayumi promised.
"He's going to win," Eri added with a wink. "Don't forget to cheer."
In five minutes the race had started, and she had completely forgotten her friends and the crowd around her, eyes focused on the rider in blue that she knew was Kouga. Everything blurred and the vibrations of the crowd stomping and cheering thrummed through her until she was oblivious, caught up in the roar of energy created by the spectators.
Kouga wove in and out of the other riders, and she could only distantly hear the announcer talking about how much progress he was making as he went through lap after lap. Every curve he took, knees grazing the ground and bike looking dangerously close to tipping she held her breath, and every time he disappeared from view she cupped her hands over her mouth to call out his name. She glanced at the board now and again, unsurprised to see that he was ahead of everyone else each lap he made.
She cheered until her throat was raw, standing up in the seat and shouting out Kouga's name, not caring in the least that his jacket had the name Yuuma on it or that other people were shouting that name. She wasn't looking at the board anymore, or even at other racers. She was watching him speed in and out of sight, each curve a potential spill.
An announcer blared something she couldn't hear above the roar of the crowd, but she saw him pulling into the pit lane and scrambled down and ran over the walkway towards where the team was. By the time she got there he was dismounting and pulling off his helmet, face red and sweaty and his ponytail half pulled out. She leaned over the short fencing and looked down at him, her own excitement amplified when he grinned up at her.
He said something she wasn't able to hear, lost in the dissonant clash of the people behind her cheering, but Ginta was bending and cupping his hands and two seconds later Kouga's face was only inches from her own, his gloved hands holding on to the top of the fence.
"That was amazing," She breathed, smiling like he was smiling. "No one's going to beat that!"
He nodded, smiling a strange, goofy sort of smile while she tried to breath, still winded from her cheering and sprinting to him. He braced himself on the ledge and she threw her arms around his neck, whispering her congratulations to him again and again.
It only took him turning his head a fraction to kiss her, and for the first moment she was still, breathing heavily through her nose and shocked by the warmth and fullness of his lips and the sweat on his nose and cheek. His breath exhaled through his nose, misted over her skin as his tongue darted against her upper lip. Like electricity had jolted through her, she opened her lips and his tongue swept across the seam before tangling with her own.
It wasn't her first kiss ever, but it was her first kiss in a long time, her first kiss as an adult, and the first kiss that made her hair stand on end as a shiver ran down her spine. What had been was no longer relevant, because she couldn't remember what had been or really what was. Absorbed in the feel of his lips and his gloved hand cupping the back of her head, she gave as much as she was given, feeling bereft and breathless when he finally pulled away.
The sound of cheering filtered in, and she blushed hotly, realizing that they were cheering for Yuuma. Which meant Kouga. Who was no longer on the track. They were cheering for...Them?
But his grin made it impossible not to smile in return, because he looked like a feather could knock him down off of the ledge and he wouldn't notice.
"I've never had a kiss cheered for before," She admitted, wanting to break the silence between them.
"Me either," He admitted. Impossibly, his grin widened even more.
"Get your ass back down here! You can make kissy faces with her after you get off the podium!" Hayate shouted, barely heard over the crowd.
"Just a damn minute," Kouga snapped when he looked over his shoulder. He looked back at her rolling his eyes but still smiling like a loon. She felt his lips brush against hers briefly before he was bending and grabbing the ledge and dropping down.
She watched, waving when he waved at her, and ran back to her friends, knowing he would be back in the paddock soon. When she got to the bench again, she saw her friends staring at her, some with sly smiles and one in utter shock.
"They announced that you kissed!" Ayumi shouted, her shock only rivaled by her blush.
"I knew you liked him!" Yuka crowed. Eri was cheering for her, the hat Kagome had completely forgotten in hand. But it wasn't enough to dampen her spirits. She grabbed Ayumi's hand and tugged her to her feet before leading her to the pit area, their VIP badges being waved when security guards asked. When they were back down in the giant garage, she led them over to the area with Hayate's name and saw a woman standing there, brow raised in amusement.
"Can I help you?"
"I'm Kagome, we were just coming-"
"To see if Hayate and the boys were back in yet?" It'll be a bit longer, but not much. I'm Meina," The woman introduced. Kagome tried to correlate the impression she'd gotten from Kouga with the woman standing in front of her and somewhere, things disconnected. Meina was the picture of grace, her long black hair streaked with gray at the temples and a lithe form that moved easily around the toolboxes.
"And who are your friends?"
"This is Ayumi, Eri, and Yuka," Kagome explained. "Is it alright that we're all here-"
"It's fine," Meina said, waving it off. "Heard the crowd out there. Hayate owes me."
"For what?"
"I bet that Yuuma wouldn't hold off longer than two weeks, Hayate said three."
"I don't understand," Kagome said, feeling like she had missed something.
"It's impossible not to hear the crowd chanting for a victory kiss. I'm going to assume that was you. Hair mussed from gloves is hard to miss."
Kagome frantically smoothed her hair down, blushing furiously. The youkai only seemed amused, and far too feline despite her human disguise.
"Hayate mentioned you're learning to ride. He's a pain in the ass, but Yuuma is a safe jockey, a safe rider. Once things have calmed down here, you're welcome to use the track, for however long your stay is."
Kagome stammered her thanks, coloring under the female's knowing gaze. Her friends were too busy looking around and earning appraising stares to notice the awkward silence, but Kagome was painfully aware of it as Meina nodded once and walked off, obviously having decided something, although what Kagome couldn't begin to guess.
Several minutes later Kouga, Ginta and Hakkaku were jogging in, eyes bright and looking hurried. Kagome heard Ayumi shout out a greeting before she felt herself swept up and twirled, racing leathers digging into her uncomfortably. Ignoring that, she looked down into the happy gaze of Kouga, who's disguise had slipped just enough to reveal twinkling blue eyes.
"Let's get the hell out of here," He announced.
"Aren't they giving out prizes or something?" Kagome asked, staring down at him in amusement.
"Hayate can get it for me. I don't want it anyway."
"Kouga-"
"You promised. Wine, women and song."
"But-"
"Come on," Ginta laughed, already pulling on his jacket. "It'll be hell to get out of here in another half hour or so. Let's get a head start."
As if the track were burning down, she found herself being pulled behind Kouga, feeling almost like a delinquent skipping out on school as they ran past the security guards and other spectators. However, they came to a halt when Meina stepped out in front of them, brow arched in perfect imitation of Sesshoumaru's, which was something Kagome found funny, considering the species difference.
"Hayate is going to kill you for making him go up there," Meina told them, voice seemingly apathetic, although a smirk was beginning to form. "But excuses can be made for a pretty girl," She added after a moment of silence, leaning against the wall and gesturing for the group to go ahead.
Kouga only nodded, and Kagome followed him as he continued on the path she recognized as leading to the back parking lot where he and the others normally parked.
"Yuka's car is in the lot."
"There are some golf carts for transporting people, we'll get them on one and meet up back at the hotel," He muttered. "I need to get out of this fucking suit before it drives me nuts."
"I'm in a skirt," She tried pointing out.
"And I will keep you safe," He told her, voice thick as they ran. Once they were finally out of the building and in the sunlight, he seemed to breathe a little more easily, although he almost groaned in exasperation when Ayumi mentioned that their jackets and helmets were in Yuka's car.
"There's one," He muttered sullenly, waving at the man in the gold cart, who seemed disinterested even as he turned it on and drove over to them.
"We'll meet you at the car," Kouga said, voice flat. Kagome wondered at his sudden change of mood, waving at her friends, who seemed determined to leave her alone with him, not that she could blame them after what had happened on the track. Ginta and Hakkaku, likewise, seemed more than eager to give them space, already straddling their bikes and pulling on their helmets.
"Are you alright?" She asked, confusion swamping her excitement.
"I really want to get out of here before the race is over, we've only got a few minutes, and then Hayate's going to track me down and try to make me stand on the podium. I've been enough of a show dog today," He sighed, running a hand through his hair and striding over to his bike. He waited expectantly and she walked over, concern for his mood switching to concern for her modesty.
Her skirt was modest standing and even sitting. Not straddling.
"Do you need help?" He asked, obviously not understanding her concern. She nodded, not wanting to accidentally flash him or one of the few others in the lot. His hands gripped her waist and sat her on the seat, and she saw comprehension dawn when she swung her leg over the side and her skirt rode high up on her thighs. Positive his blush was as bright as her own, she looked down at the seat and said nothing when he got on, pulling the helmet on and turning the bike on.
Even if it was slow and he was only going through a set of gates into another parking lot, being without a helmet was strange, almost surreal after being protected each time she'd been on the bike itself. She directed him to the place where her friend had parked, grateful when she saw that Ginta and Hakkaku were already there, Ayumi pulling on her helmet before handing her the black and blue jacket and then helmet before getting on behind Ginta.
Kouga accelerated and left them behind the moment she had wrapped her arms around him, and she struggled not to scream at his sudden speed. Clinging more tightly, she wondered if he was that eager to get away or acting out of embarrassment.
Nervous tension returning, she tried to ignore her growing anxiety and held fast, eyes closed as he wove through traffic and got closer to the hotel. The closer they got, the more she worried about what would happen once they got there.
By the time he finally parked, she was a nervous bundle of manic energy, wanting to get down but afraid of exposing herself without his help, and afraid of his help because he would see her. He pulled off his helmet and she followed suit, surprised when he sat there for a moment, stiff and silent.
"I'm sorry," She murmured quietly.
"For what?"
"You just seem frustrated."
"I'm not frustrated with you," He muttered, getting off of the bike and helping her down. Though she avoided his gaze, she did glance his way once and noticed that he was just as studiously avoiding looking at her. Determined to change into jeans, she slid down and began walking ahead of him, offering praises to her foresight for slipping the key card into the pocket of her skirt. He took the stairs as quickly as she did, following closely behind as she swiped the key card through. However, once they were in the room, she felt caged in, stifled. Quickly walking for her bag, she had just opened it when his hand grabbed her shoulder and turned her around.
"Did I screw things up?" He asked bluntly.
"What?" She asked, dumbstruck by the concern and anxiety reflected in his gaze. In her determination not to look at him, she hadn't noticed his disguise slipping until Kouga the youkai stood in front of her, looking out of place in the racing leathers.
"Did I mess things up back on the track?" He asked, voice deepening.
"Why would you ask that?"
"Because it's like you've been desperate to avoid me."
"Desperate to-No!" She snapped. "I was worried you were mad or something."
"But you seemed nervous when I got down there, and last night you-"
"You didn't mess up," She began. "I kissed back didn't I?"
"But-"
And because he still looked worried, and because she was hoping that she hadn't messed up, she grabbed his shoulders for balance and stood on tiptoe, brushing her lips over his quickly before retreating. Or trying to, at least. His hand cupped the back of her head and he leaned down as she lowered herself, lips slanting over hers and tongue brushing against the seam, asking silent permission.
This kiss wasn't rushed, and she tilted her head, surprised when a rumble started in his chest and ended between their lips, making hers tingle as he nipped her lower lip, tongue sweeping over it as if to soothe. Only dimly aware of the leathers beneath one hand or the other moving to cup his cheek, she inhaled raggedly when he pulled away to nuzzle her, his chest expanding as he drug in a deep breath.
Feeling lightheaded, she didn't protest when he sat and pulled her into his lap. For several minutes he said nothing, and she didn't know what to say. He nuzzled her neck, inhaling deeply before a gusty exhale fanned over her skin, making her shudder at the unexpected flurry of sensations that accompanied it.
"I don't want to push where I'm not wanted," He finally said, voice so quiet she barely caught the words. "I've been scared of crossing a line or doing something stupid."
"Yuka was right," She muttered.
"About what?" Kouga asked, voice flat as if the mere mention of her friend was enough to put him off.
"We're idiots."
"What?" It was obviously his turn to be confused.
"I thought the touching and everything was because of pack dynamics. Tonight I- I feel so stupid," She chuckled. "I was going to tell you so you could let me down and we could get over the whole thing. I feel like such an idiot."
His arms tightened around her and he tipped back until they were both laying on the bed. Kouga shifted until they were both comfortable, although she still couldn't see his face.
"And I thought your comments about the affectionate stuff were gentle letdowns. At the track today-"
"I'm glad."
"So no more awkwardness?" He finally asked. She tilted her head up to look at him and nodded her head in agreement.
A second later the door burst open and they were both scrambling apart guiltily, like teenagers caught by their parents, and she -mentally- muttered a sour oath about how long that particular vow had lasted.
"Will you two just get over yourselves? The others want to go grab something to eat," Ayumi stated smartly, walking over to her bag and grabbing it, then leaving the room just as quickly and closing the door behind her quietly.
"You said she was the shy one, right?" Kouga asked, eyes wide.
"At least she didn't notice," Kagome said, desperate to change the subject.
"Notice what?"
"You're you right now," She pointed out. He looked at his hands and rubbed his face, groaning before the disguise began to take over his features.
"Not yet," She asked quietly, wanting to see the real him for a little longer. Her request obviously surprised him, but the slight traces of the glamor disappeared as he watched her, waiting for something.
Feeling brave, she scooted closer to him, hand reaching out to cup his face. He turned into it, nose nuzzling the palm as he inhaled deeply, reminding her of the dream.
"Did you come in this morning?" She asked quietly. He nodded, eyes closed as he inhaled again. "I thought I was dreaming," She admitted, surprised by the breath of air the burst out and fanned over her sensitive skin, ending in a chuckle.
"It's the only reason I had the balls to try kissing you," He admitted, eyes opening as he finally looked at her. "You're affectionate when you sleep."
She couldn't help the blush that stained her cheeks, but he leaned forward and brushed his lips against hers lightly. When a knock echoed on the door, he didn't jump away, although she did see his eyes narrow.
"I need to change, you too," He sighed, nose resting against hers. "And for the record, you will never see me treat anyone like I treat you, pack or not," He added, tongue darting out to touch the tip of her nose. She nodded dumbly, watching him go over to his bags and grab some clothing before walking into the bathroom.
The knocking started again and she walked over to the door, unsurprised to see her five friends standing outside expectantly, grins on their faces.
"Told you he would surprise you," Ayumi said, smiling widely.
"I need to change," She muttered, closing the door and ignoring the chorus of catcalls that sounded on the other side. Quickly going through her bag and pulling on a pair of jeans and changing into a regular shirt, she had just finished pulling the shirt down when the door behind her opened. She turned, saw Kouga with his eyes closed.
"Is it safe?"
"It's safe," She laughed, happy that when his eyes opened, they were still blue.
"I heard the others. You'd think with that amount of noise they'd have left us alone, but they're still there. I'm pretty sure at least one of them has an ear to the door."
She gave him a sly glance and walked over to the door, smiling widely as she raised both her hands and then slapped them against the wood loudly, smirking when one of the males on the other side yelped and there was a loud, feminine gasp. Opening the door she stared down at the tangle of her friends that stared up at her guiltily.
"Hear anything fun?" She asked archly.
"We just-" Ginta began.
"Wanted to make sure you were both-"
"Not dancing around the issue," Ayumi muttered as Ginta helped her stand. Yuka and Eri were helping one another up and Hakkaku was brushing off his pants. Everyone was blushing heavily.
"We're not anymore, happy now?" Kouga asked, offering Kagome her helmet and jacket. She accepted them gratefully, turning back to her friends, who all stared them down as if they'd announced an engagement.
"What the hell is everyone looking at? Don't you guys have your own faces to go suck or something?" Kouga demanded gruffly.
Kagome couldn't stop the gasp that would have been a laugh had it not been for the utter shock of the statement. However, it did have the intended effect. Her friends began walking down the stairs in single file, giving them a curious glance from time to time as they followed.
"If I had known they were going to act like this I would have just gone to Hayate's," Kouga muttered as he helped her onto the bike.
"That's not a bad idea," She offered. "The restaurants and bars are bound to be filled with people from the track."
"This is why you're amazing," He chuckled before calling out to the others to quickly grab their bags. There was a mad scramble as he and the other two youkai went back to their rooms and came down not only with the bags she and her friends had brought, but presumably their own and tossed them into Yuka's car. He got back on, shield up and she could tell he was smiling. "Thanks, this is an awesome idea." Glad he couldn't see her blush, she held on to him after he mounted, glad that the issue, however short and misguided it had been, had been dealt with. Which left her with a strange giddiness.
Determined not to act like a schoolgirl, she tried to force the elation down and to view it maturely. However, despite her best efforts, she couldn't fully contain her glee, clinging more tightly to him as he navigated traffic and took them further away from the city.
They stopped at a small grocery store, and Kagome felt a sense of belonging wash over her as they all walked inside, discussing what to grab for food while Ginta and Hakkaku picked out beer and went to pay for it. Kagome ignored her friend's sly glances and held the basket that everyone dropped their preferred items into. By the time they were done the basket had a motley assortment of junk food and fruit, and Kouga rolled his eyes, saying that they'd grab proper dinner on the way.
When they stopped at the restaurant from before, Kagome knew they were getting close, recognizing the place that had made the delicious steamed foods from their last visit. A sense of impatience overwhelmed her, and she tried not to fidget on the bike, afraid of tipping it over while Kouga was inside. Ayumi likewise stayed outside, the two youkai joining their alpha while her friends stayed in the car.
"Where are we going?" Eri asked, rolling her window down. Kagome slid her shield up and explained the getaway that Hayate had allowed them access to. Both Eri and Yuka nodded quietly.
"So did you two get everything sorted out?" Eri asked a moment later. Kagome hesitated, knowing how well Kouga could hear. Instead of vocalizing her thoughts, she nodded, glad the helmet hid her grin, which she knew would give away the giddiness she was trying to repress. Eri seemed to catch it in spite of that, and only laughed, nodding and turning forward again, rolling the window up and turning up the music inside of the car.
Minutes later the youkai were walking back out with bags in hand, quickly putting them in the back of the car before mounting their bikes.
It was easily late afternoon by the time they arrived, and Kagome pulled her helmet off, admiring the view of the small cabin and the sun shining off of the lake. Ginta was quick to suggest building a campfire and even Yuka seemed excited at the prospect of a camp out.
The males were relegated to setting up the fire and food while Kagome's friends grabbed their bags and dragged her into the small cabin, immediately bombarding her with questions. Questions Kagome knew the wolves would be able to hear. No matter how she demurred though, her friends would not let up, Yuka's questions and suggestions beginning to grow bolder and more mortifying by the second.
"We kissed, alright?" Kagome finally snapped as she pulled on her bikini top. "He didn't try to hump my leg. He's respectful."
"Then what took him so long?"
"He was giving me space," Kagome sighed, accepting the towel Yuka held out.
"Why would you need space? You've had space for years."
"Well, it's complicated, okay?"
"Everything in your love life has been complicated," Eri said, rolling her eyes. "Try simple for once. You two like each other. It's summer. Cuddle, make out, whatever. Just have fun."
It was a simple solution to the giddiness that had been a persistent plague since she realized that Kouga returned her feelings. And it was with sudden clarity that she realized her friend was right. Despite the past, she and Kouga obviously had feelings for one another, and the past really had nothing to do with it. So how hard could it be to just enjoy and see where it went?
"You're right," She admitted, sticking her tongue out when Eri gave her a smug smile.
"So do we need to get the condoms from the car for you?" Yuka added.
"You're awful," Kagome muttered, face hot as she prayed that Kouga hadn't heard that particular offer. Eri began teasing her, Yuka joining in when Ayumi asked them to stop. The advice soon turned to exaggerated jokes, all of them ribald and bawdy as they walked out of the cabin.
The three youkai were joking and laughing amongst themselves, bottles of beer open and food laid out on a blanket. A firepit had been set up, but not lit, less than ten feet away. Ignoring her friends, she sat next to Kouga and accepted a beer and one of the packages, which turned out to be a simple burger. Everyone ate in relative silence, and once finished, Yuka mentioned going for a swim.
As if it had been code, Kagome and Kouga were suddenly alone, watching their friends jumping off of the dock and swimming through the cold waters of the lake.
"It's like they expect us to jump each other the minute they're not looking," Kagome muttered sourly, accepting a second beer.
"We could, but I'm pretty sure we'd freak them out if we did."
"Ayumi and the guys maybe, but I think Eri and Yuka are betting on how long it'll take."
"They did offer condoms," He pointed out, making her flush hotly.
"Any time I need to have a private conversation I'm going to make sure to blast music if you're within a mile range," She groaned. His arm went over her shoulder and pulled her closer. Not protesting, she relaxed into him, watching her friends splashing each other and taking running jumps into the water.
They sat in companionable silence, and Kagome reflected how easy it was to just sit with him as they watched their friends. The sky darkened, and Kouga eventually pulled away. She watched him use his youki, or some trick of that nature, to light the fire. He grabbed a stick and a bag of marshmallows, quickly spearing two and holding them over the flames.
Kagome admitted she liked hers charred, and once the white fluff had caught fire, he let them burn for a moment before blowing them out and offering the stick to her.
"How do you eat them like that?" He asked, wrinkling his nose as she pulled them off.
"Like this," She said, popping half of the gooey mess into her mouth and savoring the burnt sugar. The others were walking over and he called out to greet them. Taking advantage of the moment, she shoved the over half in his mouth, laughing mercilessly as he sputtered and swallowed, eyes narrowing on her.
"Careful about shoving shit in my mouth," He muttered.
"Or what? You'll bite?" She teased. He eyed her intently, then shrugged blithely.
"I'll throw you into the lake."
She made a dismissive sound, mimicking his careless attitude by shrugging as well.
"You don't think I'll do it," He stated.
"You will, but I'll still have gotten you to eat charred marshmallows."
"Not if I toss you in first," He retorted.
"Mature."
"They're so cute," Eri breathed, effectively halting the conversation. Silence reigned for an awkward moment before everyone present except Kagome and Kouga burst into laughter. Kouga tossed a bottle cap at Ginta to no avail, and once the laughter died down Kagome rolled her eyes and shrugged.
Conversation finally steered away from the newly formed couple, and eventually led into ghost stories. Time passed and Kagome found herself leaning further and further into Kouga, who wrapped an arm around her when the night chill began to seep into her skin.
The fire dimmed down to coals, and Eri and Yuka both said they would sleep in the loft, and Ayumi followed shortly after. Even Ginta and Hakkaku yawned and said they would take the floor of the cabin and went in search of blankets, leaving her and Kouga alone, not that she trusted the illusion of solitude, given the sensitive hearing of the other youkai.
"So now that we don't have five weirdos playing big brother," Kouga chuckled. Kagome elbowed him lightly. He leaned down and kissed her, and ignoring the voice in the back of her head that told her five people were probably watching from the tiny windows of the cabin, she heeded the voice that sounded suspiciously like Eri telling her to just enjoy things as they happened.
Which, after three minutes of kissing, ended abruptly with a loud chorus of cheers from the cabin.
"I knew it was too good to be true," Kagome sighed heavily.
"I could throw all of them in the lake and lock them out of the cabin."
"Or we could sleep out here."
"You sure?"
"We'd probably need another blanket."
"I've got one right here," A voice said, and Kagome turned up to look at Hakkaku, who looked both pleased and smug.
"I'm surrounded by smart asses," Kouga groaned as Hakkaku dropped the blanket and sauntered back to the cabin.
"You wouldn't have us any other way though," Kagome snickered.
He nodded, a smile tilting up the corner of his lips as she spread the blanket out.
"It's been awhile since I slept outside like this," He admitted.
"After I first got back, I couldn't sleep in my bed," She admitted quietly. He went still, and she wondered if mentioning the past was a bad idea. "I still do it sometimes. It's nice to be able to see the sky. It's more clear out here though," She added. He immediately relaxed and she turned onto her side. His arm went under her head and she tentatively laid her arm on his chest, hand resting over his heart.
"Most people would think you're nuts," He finally said, eyes still on the moon.
"That's probably for the best," She chuckled, resting her cheek on his bare skin, inhaling deeply. "I don't want to share." The sentiment of the comment, or what it could be construed as, struck her the moment it left her lips, and she looked down, afraid to look up at his face.
"Me either," He chuckled, eyes closing slowly. Kagome felt his fingers threading through her hair, which had spread and fanned out everywhere. Her fingers spread over his skin, and she could feel his heart, steady and strong, pulsing beneath the sensitive pads of her skin.
"Goodnight," She whispered, feeling shy, although why she couldn't fathom.
"Night," He said, tilting his head to brush his lips over her forehead. She hummed in contentment, snuggling closer into his side as a content sound rumbled in his chest, something too rough to be a purr and not angry enough to be a growl. It was the last sound she remembered hearing before she fell asleep.