Chapter Twenty-seven: More than Friends

(Happy Birthday bee1313!)

Kagome ran to the bathroom and turned on the hot water to warm herself up. She only stayed in for a few minutes however, having spent most of the evening in the rain and didn't think she could get any cleaner. Once she had warmed up, she jumped out and quickly pulled on her pajamas before she gathered up a few towels to clean up all the water from her room. Only when she was finished, did she feel that it was safe to go downstairs and confront the rest of her family. She tossed the water-soaked towels into the laundry basket and headed straight for the kitchen to where she heard voices.

Her mom and Sota were there, going through their many shopping bags. Mom looked up at Kagome's wet hair and robe before she said, "Hello, dear. Did you have a good time with your friends?"

"Huh?" Kagome asked stupidly, forgetting why she went out in the first place. It seemed that Inuyasha's kisses made her brain melt or something. "Oh… oh, yeah. I got back a little while ago and decided to take a quick shower."

"You want to see what we got?" Sota asked excitedly as he rummaged through one of the bigger bags.

"Sota," mom warned, and eyed the bags carefully. And Kagome knew from her tone that that some of her Christmas presents where in there.

"That's alright," Kagome said, taking the hint. "I can wait a little while."

She went to the fridge and got out an apple before her mom asked, "So dear… when will we get to meet that guy of yours?"

Kagome choked on her own apple and coughed for several minutes before she looked at her mom with watering eyes. "G-guy of mine?" she repeated with a stutter.

"Yes, hun," mom said excitedly as Sota lugged some of the bags upstairs.

"Kagome, why didn't you tell me about Inuyasha?" she asked, looking at her carefully. "How long have you both been going out?"

"What's there to tell? I barely know him." Kagome replied, her face turning red.

"But you both seemed so friendly the day that he walked you home," mom persisted with a bright smile. Now, Kagome loved her mom—really she did. But if there was one thing that you needed to know about her, it was that she doesn't give up. Especially when it comes to Kagome getting a boyfriend. Trying to talk to her about that is like banging your head against a brick wall—nothing budges and you end up with a big fat headache. Just like the one she had right now.

"Mom," Kagome said slowly and carefully. "Inuyasha's not my boyfriend! He's just a friend!"

"Then why are your cheeks all red?" mom asked smiling.

Of course that blush would betray her. "I got it from a scalding hot shower!" Kagome said loudly. "Honestly, Inuyasha was just walking home with me and…"

But now that she had said it… she couldn't help but wonder… what was he to her? I mean… they had to have been more than friends from all the times they locked lips… her cheeks turned even redder at the thought. But what were they? They weren't dating… but they were more than friends… so then what?

She shook her head hard. "It's nothing, mom." She walked behind her and said more forcefully, "We're not dating mom. Really…"

What else could she say? She didn't really have a good answer, but what else was there? No, it wasn't like she had feelings for him, which she didn't, it's just that… she barely knew him.

But why did she feel this way? Every time he touched her, she felt as if a she were complete. Like he was a part of her heart… and every time that his lips brushed against hers… oh… she had to conceal a groan.

She slowly walked upstairs, trying to figure out what was happening to her. That was when she heard a slight noise on her left once she got up to the next level, and looked up to see Sota sticking his head out his bedroom door.

"Kagome's got a boyfriend," he teased in a sing-song voice.

Her face got red again, but out of anger this time. "Shut up!" she yelled at him.

He grinned and ducked into his room. Kagome marched up to it and knocked so hard that she almost broke the door down. "Where did you hear that?" she demanded through the thick wood.

"Mom said you did," he called back.

Kagome griped her hair, fighting the urge to scream. "I don't have a boyfriend!"

"You really are a bad liar sis," he teased back. Deciding not to push it, she marched back off to her room. Honestly, who came up with little brothers? Why does it feel like their only point in existence is to make things harder for everyone?

She had gone to bed that night, so wiled up that she could shut her eyes until far past midnight… and trying hard not to dream of those beautiful golden eyes.

*Two days later*

Kagome had spent most of the next two days looking up everything she could find on the Sacred Jewel and the feudal era—for some kind of clue to where it was, but she didn't have any luck. She found a great deal on demons and monsters… but not a word about a jewel or vampires.

How was she supposed to help them find it if she didn't have any idea where to start? It was lucky that it was Christmas vacation as well—so aside from all the messages left on her phone—which she ignored—she didn't have to worry about confronting her friends about Inuyasha.

And so after two days of fruitless searching, Kagome laid back on her bed late one night, wondering when she would next see a vampire. A couple days not having to worry about Inuyasha and the others had been good for her. She was able to act like she did before she knew there were real vampires around and any superstitions they had seemed to have faded within that time. But later that night—just after midnight, did he come again.

Kagome was dreaming peacefully in bed. She was sleeping so deeply that at first, she didn't hear her window open letting in a clad figure walked in and over to sit on her bed. Then he leaned in closer to Kagome's lips and captured them with his. That kiss was enough to wake her up. Her eyes snapped open and she smiled when she saw the golden eyes looking at her through the darkness.

Thrilled, she sat up and captured his mouth once again. Funny, how the two of them couldn't seem to pull themselves away from each other's lips for too long. In fact, Inuyasha seemed to crave this as much as he did her blood. The two of them enjoyed the feeling of the warmth they gave until he finally pulled away. The kiss ended abruptly, and for one second in time she waited. She allowed herself to memorize the dark tint of his gaze, and the passion that resided there. He must have felt her tense, must have guessed her intent, for his hand reached forward, his fingers caressing her cheek in reverence.

"I need you to come with me," he whispered.

"What is it?" she asked as she got out of bed and went over to her closet.

"We need to start looking for the jewel… tonight," he told her with a roll of his eyes and Kagome gave a look as she pulled out a pair of sweat paints and sweater. As she pulled them over her pajamas she asked, "You know where to look?"

"No," he admitted. "But that's why we have you here."

"You mine telling me what you're talking about," Kagome said as she grabbed her coat and her boots from under her bed, Inuyasha watching impatiently.

"We need to start looking for the jewel and hunt down Naraku," he hissed as he walked over to her. "We split into two groups. You'll be coming with me and a few of the others while the other half will start looking for Naraku."

"I don't know what you think I can do," she told him grumpily as she grabbed her yellow backpack and allowed him to drag her to the window. "But alright."

"Finally catching on?" he grinned as he hoisted her up onto his shoulders and jumped down from the window sill. The cold air burned her lungs and Kagome had to pull her coat up to protect her face. "Hang on!" Inuyasha called out and the two of them bolted straight into the darkness.

Little did they know that they were being watched by a pair of scared eyes.

*Sota*

Sota—who had been up late watching a few cartoon reruns—and had just turned off the TV when he noticed something outside his window. If he had turned off the show just a second later, he probably would've missed it. But his curtains had been open just a hair—and he saw something flying past it.

Frowning, he dragged himself from bed and went over to his window to open the curtain a little wider to see someone out on the front lawn. At least it looked like someone… he watched as a figure, dressed in red, jumped up and to his sister's window… slid it open and slipped inside.

Sota blinked a few times and rubbed his eyes to make sure that he hadn't been seeing something. He opened them and glared more closely to the now closed window but nothing happened. Thinking that he was just seeing things he was about to forget it when he saw the window open again. The dark figure with long silver hair jumped down from the window as if he was merely jumping down from the bed. He landed on the lawn…

And Sota gasped. His sister was on his back! He stared horror-struck at that until the figure took off running into the darkness with his sister.

Sota stood there—terrified—not having the slightest clue what to do. Something came into his sister's room and just jumped out with her? How could that have happened? What was going on? He stumbled around his room, desperate to find his phone and call the police or the doorknob so that he could go screaming to his mother…

At least until he felt a cold hand on his shoulder.

He spun around in time to see a pair of crimson eyes looking at him through the dark.

Sota gasped. "W-Who are you?"

(I hope you liked this quick update. I wasn't planning on doing another one this soon. But I got an email from bee1313 on how she liked this story and it was her b-day today. So I really hope you liked it bee1313! And I also hope you have a great birthday! But who is it with Sota? What is happening next? Find out soon!)