Yay! This is my fourth chapter. I will have to apologize for the lateness because I sliced the skin on my left index finger pretty badly so I can't type as fast. T.T it hurts really badly. I obviously can't type as fast with a finger not working. Well anyways here we go with chapter four!

Feelings in Denial

Sango's pov (will go between Kagome's and Sango's throughout the chapter)

School became a regular routine after a week of doing so. I enjoyed my class with the boisterous teacher, Nakamura-sensei*, very much. He had been true to his word about not giving me special treatment as I had hoped he would. He soon found out though, that I could best any and all of his students without even breaking a sweat. He even trusted me to spar against his students allowing the use of weapons, which was a privilege only given to the students by a teaching deeming them worthy.

Today was no different then any other day. I had the respect of the entire class because of my skill and level of strength and mastery of all the weapons in the class and martial arts taught in the class. I was surprised no one was envious of me. I was also happy that I was allowed to dress separately due to my neck injury, which I really needed in order to keep my secret.

In my other classes in fighting styles I had also impressed all the teachers and students with my abilities in each of them. I was surprised that the Akido class I attended was actually made up of about 60% of the class. I, however, liked the class because although the class was primarily female not many of them, if any, actually fawned over me or flirted with me. They were truly dedicated to learning in this class and though they did think I was handsome and a "pretty boy" they did not flirt during class and they gave me space when I had expressly told them about my "girlfriend". They were so endearing and normal that I became fast friends with them and pretty much all the other guys in the class. I had been lucky that all the other teachers in all of my other martial arts classes had understood my situation. I had explained my bruised neck and that was all they needed. My neck had felt better by the 6th day after the incident that I started talking, albeit almost all of my sentences were short and clipped I was still able to talk a bit.

My archery class, I decided, was my dullest class but also the most exciting because of all of the free space allotted for the class. This class also had the kind of dedicated and normal girls in it and I was also good friends with the entire class, being that I was one of ten guys in a class of 30 I was appreciated as another "male" in the bunch.

My Feudal History class was another matter I could not dismiss so easily and it was a battle, war even, all in itself at times. I would have to battle for a way out and I was even forced to use my ninja arts to disappear from the crazy girls that just wouldn't leave me alone despite the fact that my "girlfriend" Kagome actually picked me up some classes. They would refuse to leave me be even though they could see that Kagome most certainly was special to me the way I treated her so gentlemanly. It was becoming tiresome. As for the males in the class they were always gushing and complaining about how envious they were of me for having all of the girls "tailing" me. None of them however could say they hated or disliked me for being a "chick magnet" and such. I never really understood what any of those words meant.

I sighed yet again as I walked over to where Kagome was waiting for me. It became a routine for her to wait for me just outside of the building seeing as my Feudal History class was so chaotic and hectic do to the crazy girls in the class. I smiled at her as I came within a step of where she stood and held my hand out for her to take. I hesitated before I called her for attention, "Um … Kagome," I paused and she looked up to show me I had her attention, "I was wondering something … or rather I've been wondering something." I paused and she nodded for me to continue. Since it had been a whole week since the incident, my bruise was still very dark though it had faded somewhat, I had been able to talk in normal conversations but they were always short or I paused often to let my throat rest a bit. "What does the term … um … "chick … magnet", was it, mean? Also what does it mean for … um … girls to … "tail" me? I don't know what those words mean. These guys in my Feudal History keep telling me that I'm a "hunk" and a "chick magnet" and those girls are "tailing" after me. I don't understand it … at … all, is it … a bad … thing … they speak of? And what does the term "pretty boy" mean?" She had tensed up a bit when I had said the terms they used.

She gave my hand a reassuring squeeze before shaking her head at me with a slight smile on her face. "Well … how to explain … "chick magnet" refers to a guy who is … popular with girls … mostly due to facial features and build. As for a "hunk" … well that's usually a term a girl uses to say a guy is good looking, or masculine in some cases. And um … what they mean by "tailing" is those girls are … um going after you excessively pretty much. When they say you're a "pretty boy" they are saying you have a good looking face … a pretty face … you know what I mean?" She paused and looked thoughtful as I shook my head in disapproval of what they said and the terms they used to describe me. "Kaoru-kun, you can actually look at it as a compliment you know? They are only trying to say you're lucky and good looking."

With a sigh I took out the spare key, which Kagome had given me the second day of my stay, I unlocked the door. Something had been nagging me in the back of my mind since I got here two and a half weeks ago. I noticed that there hadn't been a day since I got here that Kagome hadn't been there with me the entire time, excluding going to the grocers and such for other necessities and school, she never left the house. I wondered how she paid for the bills of the house other then what I was paying her for rent.

"Kaoru-kun … is something wrong? You look like you're troubled about something?" She obviously noticed that something was wrong. I smiled and decided to write a response since it had been a long school day for me and I had talked much more than my throat could take. 'I was just wondering something Kagome.' I wrote, at a nod of her head as a sign to continue I wrote, 'well … I was curious as to how you pay the bills for rent since it seems you don't work …" She looked startled at my question as if she had expected something completely different and well … more serious. She chuckled for a moment before she answered, "with the look on your face I had thought it would be something serious, I apologize for laughing though," she looked a little embarrassed with herself and I smiled at her reassuringly and she returned the smiled gratefully. "Well … it is a bit … embarrassing to say. Y-you promise you won't laugh Kaoru-kun?" I nodded and she smiled again before answering, "Well … you see … I'm sort of … well off. I was a bit famous in my hometown." I furrowed my eyebrows in confusion, not quite following her words. "Um … how do I make this clear? I … I'm a reincarnation of a … miko back in ancient times. And well … I found out when a demon attacked my town and I … was near the forest when it came out to attack. It was about to attack me when … this … light appeared, coming from my body and it was purified. Well … after that a lot of people from other towns and cities nearby would ask for my services and well … my mother and grandfather didn't want to endanger me in anyway … but money was tight … and they were willing to pay a large sum of money so they had to accept." She looked up at me to see there was no smile or hint of a laugh but a serious look on my face instead. 'That's not something to laugh at Kagome … that's pretty serious. That must have been a very terrifying experience for you. How old were you when you found and started purifying demons?'

To say she was surprised was quite the understatement. She was quiet for a moment, stunned by my response, before she responded, "uh … well I was due to be 13 in less than a month when that demon attacked and … when other cities first started asking for help it was about two months after my 14th birthday." I suddenly wrapped my hands around her back in an embrace before I realized what was happening. She gasped, slowly she returned the embrace. "It's ok Kaoru-kun. It happened a long time ago. The past is the past. No one can do anything to change it you know, Kaoru-kun?" I nodded

After a moment I pulled back and looked into her eyes to see her strong and determined sapphire, at the moment, blue eyes. I went for the white board and wrote, 'I know it must've been tough at the time, but now you're stronger for it so I'm glad at least something good came out of it for you. And I wouldn't have met you if not for that right?" I smirked at her and she her face turned an adorable bright pink. She looked away and she whispered, 'I suppose that's true', which I was sure she had not meant for me to hear.

"Do you have any homework to do Kaoru-kun? I myself do not have very much but for a few pages of math to do and a few paragraphs to read for English so it might be an hour or two before we can do anything together. Oh we haven't anything to eat yet, are you hungry Kaoru-kun?" I heard a rumble before I could respond and realized that it was my stomach. Embarrassed I sat there silently while my face undoubtedly turned a dark red and a few moments later I heard laughter erupt throughout the entire apartment. "I … guess … you … didn't … need to … answer … since your stomach … did for you," she said in between fits of laughter.

I growled before I pushed her forward and she fell from where she was standing onto the couch but before she could fall she instinctively grabbed onto my arm. Caught off guard I fell forward with her and I heard her grunt. My face fell on something really soft and when I realized what that "something" was I stood up quickly, my face turned ten times redder than it had when my stomach growled earlier, if possible. She looked up at me her face just as red if not redder.

"I … I-I … didn't … mean to … K-Kagome!" I stuttered very embarrassed and ashamed of myself. "I-I … um … I'm sorry … for … um … pushing you … and … um … falling on top of you … like that!" Feeling flustered I bowed my head in apology. When I didn't hear a response from her I looked up a little to see her still lying on the couch with a dazed look on her face and a dark blush on her face. I could hear her breathing was shallow. I walked over to her and waved my hand in front of her face and she still did not respond.

I bent over so I could look at her face and as I called out her name she seemed to come out of her daze. She looked up at me with her blue eyes, which had darkened considerably when she was dazed. Her gasped when she realized that I was leaning over her. I jumped when I realized the same thing. "I-I … um … you were in a daze … so … uh … well I wanted to make sure you were ok Kagome." I stuttered I could feel my face burning with embarrassment.

" … I um …" she got up quickly from the couch saying, "I'll go make us some dinner Kaoru-kun." I would've offered to help but I needed to go wash my face over with cold water to calm myself down.

Kagome pov

I was in such a daze after he had fallen on me his face had landed on my chest. I could still feel his hot breathe blowing against me and the feel of his lips rubbing against the area between my two breasts. I felt my face grow hot again at the thought and remembering how it felt. I went to grab a large steel pot with handles on the side to make some fried rice, with lac xuon, (Vietnamese sausages are THE best ever^^, seeing as I really hate meat but I'm not a vegetarian that says something about them, I hate American sausages) shrimp, carrots, peas, broccoli, and eggs.

Just as I was finishing up with cutting the sausages Kaoru-kun came into the kitchen, startling me, I cut into my finger with the knife and blood started leaking out of the cut. Kaoru-kun was immediately by my side and before I could react my finger was in his hot mouth and he was sucking on the cut. I felt my face flush and my breathing quickened as each second passed. I felt dizzied and feverish when I felt his tongue fun over my finger where my cut was located. When he pulled away I was met with a look of concern and worry at my dizzied state. I looked down at my finger to see his saliva all over it.

"Are you all right Kagome?" Startled out my query I looked up at his face full of concern, he had bent down at some point so that we were face to face and mere inches apart. Without thinking I leaned forward towards him, startled he pulled back and held my shoulders to stop me. "Kagome …? I'm worried about you, you're not being yourself. Are you ok? Maybe you should go lie down in your bed and relax or try to get some homework done?" I looked up at him and shook my head to clear it for a moment before looking up at him again and nodded. He took my small hand in his comfortably larger ones and led me to my room. He gently sat me down and asked me if I wanted him to get anything for me like my bag or some water. I nodded at him and thanked him when he came back with my books.

Half an hour later I was finished with my math problems and I had started on my English reading. After I read my first paragraph I heard a knock at my door. "Come in Kaoru-kun!" I yelled. I looked up from my reading to see he had changed into a pair of dark green shorts with some blue on the tips of the bottom and a light green button up shirt with a light green long sleeved t-shirt underneath.

"Are you almost done with your homework Kagome? And if you're done or when you're done I made some fried rice for us to eat. I have a bowl set out for you to add as much as you want to eat." He smiled at me. I had to marvel at how well his throat was healing. The bruise was still fading but he could talk a lot more than he was able to a few days before. I nodded at him in appreciation and looked down at the book my class was reading to test our comprehension of the material and subject of the book and concept.

"I still have another three paragraphs to read before I'm done with the chapter we were to read Kaoru-kun." I smiled and he returned my smile and nodded. "I'll be there in about half an hour or 45 minutes." He hesitated at the door before he turned back around and looked at me and hesitantly called out my name. "Yes?"

"Um … well … if it's all right with you … I think I'd rather wait for you to finish reading before I go eat so we can eat together." He said bashfully scratching the back of his head. I looked up at him stupidly before I nodded and smiled at the idea.

"Um … I don't mind if you stay in my room with me so you don't get bored waiting for me to finish reading Kaoru-kun that is if you don't mind." I said with equal shyness. He blushed for a second before he nodded and closed the door. "Um … you can sit anywhere you want Kaoru-kun," I said with a slight smile on my face, looking at the way he stood uncomfortably, I realized he know what he was allowed to do in my room. He looked around my room still unsure of where he should sit.

I smiled again at how could he was when he was shy like this. I patted the space beside me on my bed and moved over to my left and laid down again and got myself comfortable as he made his way over to my bed and sat at its' edge. He looked around my room and his eyes ended up settling on my face before he looked away again and I suspected he was blushing.

We sat in silence for the next half hour and I was just finishing up my last paragraph. He had shifted so that his arms were behind him a few inches and so that his arms were supporting his weight. Another five minutes and I finished and I closed the book and looked up from my position and saw that he had not even moved a muscle. I gently put my book down onto my desk, which was sitting at the bottom edge of my bed, and got off.

When he still did not move I walked over to stand in front of where he sat. I saw that his eyes were closed and his breathing was slow and steady. I leaned down a little and realized that he had fallen asleep in his sitting position. I smiled a little and held back the urge to laugh. My smile faded when I felt his hot breathe blow against my face and my eyes darted down to his lips. I felt a blush grow on my cheeks as I looked at his slightly parted lips in a daze.

I leaned forward until my face was but an inch within his. His breathe caressed my face at a gentle steady flow. What am I thinking of doing to him? W-what's wrong with me? I can't take advantage of the fact that he's sleeping and do whatever I want with him. Even as these thoughts crossed my mind I couldn't bring myself to pull away from a vulnerable Kaoru-kun … but … what about his feelings? I can't force my feelings onto him like that. I don't even know how he feels about me other than friendship. Am I … willing to risk his friendship … for a kiss?

I sighed and pulled back quickly when his emerald green eyes snapped open all of a sudden. Surprised he looked up at me and saw confusion in those emerald orbs I'd come to adore so much.

"H-how … long … have you been done … Kagome?" His voice sounded strained and raspy in my ears. Perhaps it was from sleep, I wasn't entirely sure.

I looked over to my digital clock on my desk and saw that it was nearly six before I answered him. "Not long Kaoru-kun." I smiled and his gaze wandered over in the direction of my clock and he snapped his head back in my direction in surprise and looked like he was about to apologize but I cut him off. "It was my fault Kaoru-kun, you looked so peaceful sleeping I didn't have the heart to wake you up. Besides it really hasn't been that long since I finished up my reading." His eyes softened up at the mention of me not being able to wake him up and he smiled at me gratefully.

"Thanks for being so kind and considerate Kagome! You're always so nice and you go out of your way to help me with … um you know … the crazy girls … I'm just glad they're not stalking me at this point you know Kagome?" He said smiling at me brightly, I felt like I had died and gone to heaven in that moment with him smiling at me alone that way.

"It's not a problem Kaoru-kun, really I'm glad to help out. Well let's go eat before it gets to be too late Kaoru-kun!" I said brightly and I held out a hand to help him up. He smiled at me just as brightly.

Once we had had our fill of rice and I helped Kaoru-kun wash the dishes we found ourselves sitting on the couch relaxing again. It was about seven in the evening and I sat leaning onto Kaoru-kun's shoulder. I felt so comfortable and at ease laying my head on his shoulder and holding his hand in mine.

There was a shift in our seating arrangement and Kaoru-kun's head somehow ended up lying against mine gently. I felt so content at the moment. "I'm kind of getting bored Kagome … can we turn off the TV? I'd rather talk than watch TV at the moment." His voice broke me out of my train of thought. I smiled at him and nodded my head in consent. He returned my smile and turned off the TV for a moment a comfortable silence enveloped the room and then he turned his head so that he faced me. I looked up at him and smiled again, "so what do you want to talk about Kagome? Anything in particular you want to get out of your chest? I'm speaking figuratively of course," he added quickly in a bashful tone of voice when he realized what he had said. I giggled and he pouted.

"You know you shouldn't pout like that at anyone else but me Kaoru-kun," he looked at me in surprise and confusion and I continued, "well what I mean by that is … if you pout like that around girls they would go even crazier about you because … because you look so cut when you pout." I looked down as I said that and I felt my face flush darker with each word.

"B-but," he pause seeming to not know how to respond to that, "I-I'm a guy! Guys can't be cute!" He looked so flustered that it only added to how cute he looked and was acting right now. I couldn't help but giggle at him in response to his flustered reaction to what I said.

I waited until I calmed down a bit before I continued to tease a flustered Kaoru-kun, "but you are really cute Kaoru-kun! It doesn't have to be your appearance, it can be your personality but in this case it's pretty much both. You have a very cutesy face at times and your personality is just absolutely adorable and cute! That's why so many girls are so hung over you and trying to get you! Did you really never realize that was the reason why girls are always after you? I'm sure you must have been very popular with the girls in your village Kaoru-kun." I cringed inwardly as I said those words.

He looked at me hesitantly before he answered, "well … I actually wouldn't know about that Kagome. I never really paid attention to things like that. I was always too busy training to notice things like that, if anyone had ever looked at me like that or if I had ever caught someone's attention I'd never know unless that person specifically told me. I was never one for pursuing love and friends. I'm actually very naïve about those kinds of things Kagome." I looked at him and I felt such relief hearing that. "Kagome …?" he hesitated again.

"Yes? What is it Kaoru-kun? You can ask me anything and I'll answer as best I can." I said with a smile, which he returned.

"Hmm … well … how exactly can you tell if you have romantic feelings for someone? How can you tell if you like someone? I heard it is a wonderful feeling to be in love … but … how do you know if you're in love with someone? I can't quite figure this out." He looked very perplexed with this question.

I looked at him thoughtfully for a moment before I answered. "Well … it's kind of hard to explain this to someone who's never experienced these kinds of feelings but … well. Do you understand what it means to um … experience butterflies in your stomach? Or how about feeling a 'flutter' in your heart? There are also things like your heart beats out of control or your face flushes. Have you ever experienced any of these 'symptoms', I suppose I could call it?" He thought for a moment and seemed to remember something the way his face turned a light pink and he nodded slowly. I felt my chest clench painfully at the thought that he did like someone.

"I um … I think I understand what you're saying. I … I never even realized …," he paused for a moment to take a deep breathe to calm himself down before he continued, "I … um … I only ever remember feeling … um … some of these 'symptoms' once." I felt my free hand clench at his confession.

"Then do you know who it is you like romantically? Do you remember when you felt this feeling Kaoru-kun?" I felt anxious waiting for his answer.

This is the first time I've ever left a cliff hanger in my stories.^///^ I'm feeling a little devious at the moment. Well I apologize, again, for the lateness of this overdue update, but in my defense my finger is taking forever to heal and it's killing me just to type this much. Anyways enjoy! I will actually be using the other characters I mentioned in my first chapter in my next chapter if anyone was wondering. Read and review if you wish! Until the next chapter then!

Himemiya, Hikaru