CHAPTER 4

Kagome woke with a stretch the next morning and realized that her flow had lightened somewhat. Remembering the doctor had mentioned that since she was starting the pills while on her period, her period might be shorter. Excited about that idea, Kagome decided to take her pill in the morning, so that maybe her period would only be a day or two instead of 4. This way Kagome could always take her pills in the morning and she figured Inuyasha would be less likely to notice the smell of the pill in the morning when he was impatient to start the jewel shard searches. Kagome popped a pill out of the foil and carried it to the bathroom. Swallowing the pill with a handful of water, Kagome hopped in the shower.

Feeling a lot fresher, Kagome came back to her room to get dressed. She had just finished dressing in a tank top and yoga pants and was combing her hair when she heard a tap at her window. Looking up she saw Inuyasha at the window sill. Feeling a flash of ire, she motioned for him to come inside. Pushing the window open, he flashed a quick look of gratitude as he climbed inside. Discreetly trying to take a deep breath, he could smell her shampoo, her period, and a different scent that he couldn't quite place. Taking another sniff, he realized that for some reason the scent of her cycle was less obvious to him and had less of an effect on him. Shooting a glance in her direction, he realized he wasn't as subtle as he had wished because she had an odd look in her eye and she asked if she stunk. Shaking his head in the negative he went to prop himself on her bed, in order to talk to her. Placing his back against the wall, he sat cross-legged on her bed and patted the spot next to him.

"Kagome, can we talk?"

Kagome's eyes were wide with surprise because no man willingly ever said those words. However, her hanyou was braver, or stupider, than most men, so she decided to hear him out. Cautiously she approached the bed, but before climbing up next to him, she shot him a glance from beneath her lashes.

"Will it bother you if I si…have a seat beside you?" Kagome quickly caught herself before she sat her hanyou because that would have totally killed her chance at getting anything out of him.

"Feh. I'm not some weak-willed mangy wolf who'll lose all control just cuz you sit next to me."

"You didn't come here to talk about Kouga, did you?" Kagome eyed the hanyou dangerously.

With an audible gulp, Inuyasha shook his head no. After a couple of seconds of staring, Inuyasha grabbed Kagome's wrist and gently tugged her onto the bed. Kagome eeped and sprawled, unprepared, onto the bed, but Inuyasha wrapped his hands around her waist and propped her against the wall with the reverence of a child lining up his stuffed animals.

"Silly wench. You know I wouldn't hurt you." Inuyasha snorted with his trademark smirk.

Kagome glanced coolly at him without saying anything. The smirk fell from his face as he realized she had just told him without saying a word that she was hurt by the way he was treating her. Deciding it would be better to just rush everything out a la verbal diarrhea as Kagome phrased it, he took a deep breath.

"Kagome, I know I never say it, but you're my best friend. You've been there for me when most people would have just let me die or suffer alone. I know I've been treating you strange and Miroku told me that Sango told you that it was because of your scent. The thing is, I'm at the age where my demon is trying to take a mate and I am sensitive to smell. I would never hurt you and neither would my demon, but I don't want other demons to think you are a target. If a demon thought you were the target of a hanyou, he would try to claim you just to spite me for my blood. Not that you aren't pretty or that you smell bad, cuz you actually smell really good, it's just dangerous for you to be with me or any demon really when you are bleeding."

Feeling Kagome stiffen when he called her pretty, he was worried he was about to break her bed when she sat him, but he had promised to say it all, and he had. Drawing in another breath, he stole a peek at the frozen girl next to him. Realizing he wasn't going to get sat, he let a little fang peek out as his lips quirked.

"Why are you telling me this now? This has been going on for a year now and it just keeps getting worse. You are my best friend, Inuyasha, but I'm really hurt at the way you've been treating me. Do you feel guilty being my friend when you have Kikyo? You said I smell good, but you jerk like I burn you when I touch you anymore and I don't know what to do anymore. I miss you and I want my friend back, but I don't know what you want from me. "

Inuyasha blanched as he smelled salt and heard Kagome sniff. Looking at her profile, he could see her eyes glisten, but didn't see any tears fall. Grasping her chin, he heard her quick intake of breath as he turned her face to his. After searching her eyes to make sure she wasn't scared or about to really cry, he dropped his eyes to his lap.

"Look, I'm confused, too. I was trying to pretend I didn't see how I was hurting you cuz it bothers me if you're upset. This isn't about Kikyo, it's about us. I'm not gonna lie – my demon sees you as a potential mate, and when you are bleeding, like now, your presence overwhelms me and I don't want to scare you, so I run away rather than make you uncomfortable. I know I'm asking a lot, but I just want my friend back. Whaddya think?"

Kagome hesitantly reached her hand out and cupped Inuyasha's cheek. His amber eyes darted to hers and waited. Kagome stroked his cheek and breathed his name. Mesmerized, Inuyasha barely realized he was leaning in towards her face. Kagome chose that exact moment to reach up her other hand and yank on a hank of Inuyasha's hair, hard.

"Ow, bitch!"

"Listen here, dough head. I've never stopped being your friend, or at least never wanted to stop being your friend! I know it's hard for you to talk to me, but don't hide from me. If you can trust me with your human night, you could have trusted me with this, too. After Sango talked to me, I came back and thought about what I could do to make it easier for you. There is a pill in my time that lets me have a period only 4 times a year instead of once a month. I started that pill yesterday, so hopefully there will be less problems in the future."

Inuyasha sat in shock as he thought about what Kagome had done to help him with his problems. She was so selfless! Then Inuyasha realized that pill must be the slight change in her scent. Inuyasha leaned in and breathed in her scent. While it was still the same scent Kagome always carried during this time, he still felt less of a pull towards her.

"Those pill things won't make you sick will they?"

"No, Inuyasha, they won't. I'll just take one every morning and they will alter my period cycle. However, it will probably be better for me to come home every three months when it is time for my cycle just in case."

"Keh. We'll see wench."

"Inuyasha…"

He heard the warning in her voice and looked at her. He was shocked to see the smile in her eyes and was even more shocked when she launched herself into his arms. Feeling fairly safe since he hadn't been affected too strongly by her fragrance, he wrapped his arms around her. He felt her snuggle into his chest and felt her nose nuzzle its way towards his neck. Worried about the angle she was twisted, he pulled her across his lap and tightened his arms.

At first she had stiffened when he placed her in his lap, but when he didn't seem to have any negative effect, she relaxed against him. Soon his arm loosened and he combed his fingers through her slightly damp hair. Humming in relaxation, Kagome didn't realize she had dug her face even further against his neck until she felt her lips brush his neck. Kagome felt his hand falter briefly, then resume the stroking of her hair. Slowly relaxing under his ministrations, Kagome melted into his body and let her eyes drift close. As she let herself drift towards sleep, she brushed a kiss across his throat and tightened her hand in the hair at the nape of his neck where her arm was still wrapped around his other side. A rumble worked its way out of Inuyasha's chest and as it reverberated in Kagome's chest, she sighed, blowing a gust of sweet air across Inuyasha's throat. Chills ran down his spine and the rumble intensified. Kagome fell asleep as Inuyasha held her to his chest, caressing her hair and growling lowly.