Chapter 4: Lunch

Kagome pulled up to the driveway of Inuyasha's house just as it began to snow. By the look of things it could be a nasty storm. Locking the door with an obnoxious beep that scared her every time, she sighed and brought herself to Inuyasha's patio. Christmas lights were already up, and Kagome smiled as she remembered first meeting Inuyasha. When she was seven, she had gone to call Kikyo inside for hot chocolate when she saw that Inuyasha, the neighbour boy, had gotten himself tangled in a line of lights and Kikyo had him pinned to a tree with a fistful of mistletoe held above their heads. Cousin Kikyo always had her eyes on Inuyasha. And she always got her way.

An argument could be heard beyond the front door. Kagome was about to press the doorbell when Inuyasha yanked the door open. When he saw her, he hollered, "It's Kagome! Who - else- are you expecting?!" gave her a look, then ushered her in.

"Our daughter to be born!" Kikyo yelled back before she got to the door. "Kagome! I'm so glad you're here!" she exclaimed, then in a quieter voice, "Did Sesshomaru come?"

She hugged her cousin, or tried to around her future niece, then replied, "Not this time, he has paperwork to do so…"

"Good!" Kikyo gushed, with a gleam in her eyes. "You know all this would be much harder with him around."

"Feh." Inuyasha huffed. He received a glare from Kikyo and quickly flattened his ears.

"Dear, I think the laundry's done." said Kikyo sweetly, and flashed him a smile.

Glaring back and huffing again, he took Kagome's coat to hang in the front closet. "Everything's set up in the kitchen," he sighed, then with even less enthusiasm, "come get me when you're ready."

"Everything…?" Kagome looked over at Kikyo. The continuous twinkle in her eyes was starting to become suspicious.

"Let me show you!" Kikyo took Kagome's hands and brought her to the kitchen.

Kagome arrived at what appeared to be their dining table and chairs, only they were covered with pages of Kikyo's handwriting. In the center of it all was the oh-so-famous-book.

Kikyo made a move to rid the nearest chair of papers and asked, "Did you want something to drink, Kagome?"

"I'm fine with water," as Kagome smiled unsteadily. "What's all…?" and motioned to the papers.

"Oh, just some notes." Kikyo fussed. "I just finished translating it all from the old language and did further research in how everything would apply to hanyou's." she said with the same twinkle in her eye. "Inuyasha's been…let's say 'helping'." and handed Kagome her water and grinned. Organizing all her notes into piles, she yelled in the hall, "Inuyasha get down here!"

Grumbling with his ears flattened, "I can hear just fine, you don't have to yell."

"Speaking of ears, darling, come here." Kikyo's voice sugar coated her command. "Kagome, you can have a seat, and here, you can start with this." and handed Kagome several pages titled, "Ears".

"Now I know all of that book writes about is of the inuyoukai, but the same principals apply when it comes to hanyou." Kikyo coaxed Inuyasha to sit in another chair opposite of Kagome. "There are three main parts of the ear: behind, inner, and tip."

Inuyasha's ears were still flattened against his skull, for he knew what was coming next.

"Sweetie, I need to show Kagome." Kikyo said sternly.

Still getting used to being submissive, Inuyasha slowly relaxed his ears, and quickly added, "You know, Kagome, that I'm ONLY doing this because you're going to be my sister-in-law someday."

Kagome was stunned. "What?"

Inuyasha froze, "I mean, well, you know, right?"

Kikyo stood awkwardly between them, looking at them both. "I'll just go make some tea…." and turned on her heel towards the stove.

Inuyasha hesitated, then continued, "Sesshomaru hasn't really -been- with anyone. I mean as far back as I remember, he was always alone. You were the first person he really warmed up to. Before you came around he was a pain in the ass."

"Butt!" yelled Kikyo from the stove.

"Yeah, yeah, I know. No profanities around the baby, I got it." Inuyasha called back in a tired voice.

Kagome was at a loss. She thought that Sesshomaru had been somewhat of a player before they started dating. They had officially met in their college years and seemed to hit it off as acquaintances, despite the constant whispers and rumours around the girls on campus. Granted she had seen him a couple times when she was younger. On occasion she would visit Kikyo, and Sesshomaru would be visiting his half-brother.

"But when I met Miroku, he said to watch out for him, and that too many girls were after him for his own good." Kagome recalled, "But then again it -is- Miroku we're talking about. He was always jealous of your brother."

"Yeah, that's Miroku for you. Was that before or after he met Sango?" Inuyasha asked.

"Before?" Kagome asked back.

"Definitely before." as Kikyo returned with tea for her husband.

"He was probably trying to hit on you." Inuyasha stated.

"Who? Miroku or Sesshomaru?" Kagome was puzzled.

"Both, actually." Inuyasha recalled, "More so Sesshomaru."

Kagome was speechless.

"Psh, well he really had a hard time trying." Kikyo scoffed. "Kagome, the whole world knew that Sesshomaru had it bad for you. And -you- asked -him- out. Remember that?"

Kagome did. It was the most awkward asking-for-a-date moment ever. She wouldn't really call it an -accident- per se, but it wasn't exactly intentional either.

"Yes, I remember," Kagome said grouchily, "don't remind me." and blushed in embarrassment at the thought.

"Well it was cute," Kikyo stated, "from what I hear anyways." After a pause, "Anyways! Back to the ears." and grinned wildly.

Inuyasha growled. Kikyo growled back in her own way, and he huffed in defeat.

"So the first part is behind the ear. On Inuyasha it would be here," Kikyo pointed to the base of Inuyasha's perked ears. "On Sesshomaru it would be similar to our human ears, except that whole sensitive area extends to the base of the skull and along the neck." Inuyasha purred in relaxation as Kikyo proceeded to rub and scratch him in said area.

Kagome referenced the notes she was holding. Reading along as Kikyo recited, "Now you have to be careful with this area because it is a pressure point, just as humans have one right behind the jaw, so tread lightly. It helps mostly with relaxation."

"That's my favourite spot." Inuyasha mumbled as he angled his head for a better scratch. His foot started to tap on the floor, and Kikyo grabbed a couch pillow and smacked him in the face.

"Stop it." Kikyo said annoyed, and dropped the pillow into his lap. Inuyasha frowned. Kagome laughed.

"Now the second part, the inner ear, is also sensitive." Kikyo pointed. "Never touch the inner ear, Inu's sense of hearing is much more powerful than a humans, and even though healing time is quicker than humans, it still is excruciatingly painful to have scratched or injured."

"Does he have to wear the cone of shame?" Kagome joked.

"Ha ha, very funny." Inuyasha retorted and glared at Kagome. She stuck her tongue out at him.

Ignoring his comment, Kikyo continued, "The -third- part is the tip." and brushed her fingertips along it. Inuyasha started blushing and turned away from Kagome. His ears twitched in social discomfort.

"You can imagine some parallels this part may have." as she started stroking both of his ears. His face turned beet red, and he clutched the cushion in his lap and stared at the floor.

It was Kagome's turn to blush now. She watched as Kikyo let go of Inuyasha's ears. He visibly relaxed and was relieved to be saved from further humiliation; but he jumped when Kikyo lightly blew in his ear. Growling a warning he stood up with the cushion clutched to his front, gave her a glare, and stalked off down the hall, grumbling about women and their need to understand everything.

"Dear, you forgot your tea!" Kikyo called and smiled warmly at his disappearing form.

"I'll get it later!" he growled back, and promptly shut a door.

Kikyo turned to Kagome with a twinkle in her eyes, "And -that- is just about the ears. Just remember, B.I.T.; behind, inner, tip."

Kagome was still blushing at the new knowledge. What else did that book have?

"Oh look at the time," Kikyo stared at her bare wrist, "I'll give you my notes to go." and started collecting all her papers and stuffed them into a folder.

"Um.." Kagome stuttered.

"We're meeting for dinner right? On Sunday? I'll see you then." as Kikyo ushered Kagome out the door. "Study hard! I'll be asking questions later." she winked at Kagome, "Drive safe!"

Kagome stood again on the porch, unsure of what she just witnessed. Another argument was heard beyond the door, and she blushed again. She probably shouldn't stick around to hear what was going to happen next. She got in her car and tossed the folder into the back. Things were definitely going to get interesting with Sesshomaru.