Taste Of Love

Kagome ran away from her demanding family and found herself right in the arms of Takahashi Inuyasha. Caught up in his world, it's getting hard for her to leave, for she has had her first taste of love.

Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha. Rights are reserved fully to Rumiko Takahashi. This plot too isn't as original, so to those who have attempted before I have, they have full rights to this plot too. Anything else that is mentioned that isn't a figment of my imagination, I also disclaim.

Age Brackets: Kagome – 20, Sango – 22, Miroku – 25, Inuyasha – 26

-x-

Surprise Party

There was exactly a week left until Ai's sixth birthday. There had been no contact from Japan within the past two weeks and it had calmed Kagome's nerves ever so slightly but she was still jumpy every time the phone rang.

The previous night Ayumi had offered to plan a surprise party for Ai since there was exactly seven days and counting to her sixth birthday and everybody was pretty exciting since she was entering the first grade. That day, Miroku and Sango were going to make plans with the chef on what to cook for her party. Ayame, Kouga, Hayabusa and Yuka were planning on décor and the others were to keep the kids busy for the entire day.

Kagome, Inuyasha and Kikyo decided to go to downtown to buy presents for Ai. The next day, another batch would go until everybody had purchased presents for Ai. Just before Kagome, Inuyasha and Kikyo left, Sango pulled Kagome aside.

"Keep watch of her eh," Sango whispered to Kagome's ears as Inuyasha and Kikyo left the house. Kagome raised a brow at Sango.

"Uhm… okay?"

"No seriously," Sango whispered to her best friend, "every time you were around her you had one of us. Kagome she isn't normal."

"I know that Sango." Kagome whispered but Sango shook her head.

"No, listen nobody knows this but she slept with Miroku…"

Kagome's eyes widened as she forgot how to breathe. The look on Sango's face was so serious, so…so somber that Kagome knew that Sango wasn't bullshitting here this time around. Frowning, after the course of the initial shock, Kagome opened her mouth to speak.

"How…come you didn't tell me earlier?"

Sango sighed. "We wanted to keep it hidden…"

"Wait," Kagome stopped Sango, "when?"

"Third month with Ai…" Sango whispered and Kagome was in even more shock.

"You mean you two were married?!"

"She drugged him." Sango gulped. "That woman goes to any lengths to get what she wants… she wanted Kouga too and you wouldn't believe what she did just to be close to him… Kagome for your safety, I've seen you getting closer to Inuyasha. Just…for your sake and his, keep off her bad side."

Kagome felt shock radiate through her remembering what happened the day she and Inuyasha first shared a kiss in front of Kikyo. Eyes locking with Sango's Kagome asked what she did for Kouga.

"She tried to physically hurt Ayame. They were engaged and she tried to run Ayame over. Eventually because of Ayame's stubborn streak she gave up on Kouga and turned to Inuyasha, who was a bachelor at that time. Nobody standing in her way, she got him…"

Kagome felt like falling over. So the sweet innocent porn star had a deadly secret. Quite interesting, really. Nodding and hugging her friend, Kagome took a step back and glanced at the door where Inuyasha and Kikyo left a little while ago.

"Does he know?" Kagome asked turning back to Sango.

"Inuyasha? He knows that Miroku slept with her but he doesn't know that Kikyo drugged him. Inuyasha thinks that Miroku was drunk when it happened. As for Kouga and Ayame's case, he has no idea about that. He was in Japan the time that happened and we decided not to tell him, to save everybody from a hell of a lot of yelling. He wouldn't have believed us anyways." Sango took a deep breath. "He was planning on proposing to her, according to Miroku and Kouga."

Kagome's eyes widened even more, if possible, as Sango nodded.

"Yeah so just stay away from her bad side. I wouldn't have been worried as much if one of us were with you but with just Inuyasha and Kikyo, just—if you need any of us call us okay?"

Nodding, Kagome hugged her friend before running outside seeing Inuyasha in the drivers seat of his car and Kikyo in the passengers side. Raising a brow at her, Kagome didn't react as she ran to the car and got into the backseat, slamming the door shut as Inuyasha took off.

Remnants of hers and Sango's short conversation stung her insides as Kagome idly glanced at Kikyo.

Is she really capable of doing that?

-x-

It was a long drive, four hours since Inuyasha's summerhouse was in the outskirts of the city. Coming to a stop at a red light, Kagome marveled at the lights and action of downtown. People selling trinkets in sidewalk booths and others singing and dancing for money… she felt like she was back in the heart of Tokyo.

Slowly pulled up to the side of a store, Inuyasha parked his car as the three of them got out. Putting the alarm on, they walked inside of the air conditioned store, Kikyo slipping her arm into Inuyasha's. Acknowledging that his girlfriend was holding onto him, Inuyasha's sights were only on Kagome was she ran her hand over a beautiful jewelry box.

"Kagome," he called and she looked over her shoulder, seeing that Kikyo and Inuyasha were headed to the other side of the store, "if you need us, call okay?"

Kagome nodded before turning back to what she was staring at. It was an originally oak carved wooden jewelry box that had a glass piece on top, allowing the owner to peer into the box where a lining of velvet lay. There was a distinct section for rings, one for necklaces and bracelets and even a section for nose rings and earrings.

This is gorgeous. Kagome thought as she opened the beauty box. The fresh scent of oak filled her nostrils as Kagome examined the insides of the box. It was beautiful, just as the box was and Kagome knew that Ai was a fan of makeup and jewelry, making that the perfect gift to a child from hr godmother. A sales attendant walked up to Kagome, a tall and friendly looking man who had on a pair of casual khaki slacks and a black tank top.

"Afternoon miss," He greeted her as Kagome smiled.

"Afternoon. How much is this?"

"It's on sale for just fifty dollars, but for an added ten dollars you can get a name personalized on top in gold calligraphy."

"Really?" Kagome murmured looking back at the box. "And how long would that take?"

"We can do it now," The man smiled, "while you mingle in the store I can get it done for you just now. What name would it be?"

Kagome smiled, "Ai. Make it out to Ai."

"Ah," The man chuckled. "What a wonderful name. Can I safely assume it's you?"

"Oh no, my goddaughter. She's turning six next week."

The man smiled at her taking a fresh jewelry box from underneath the stack. "She's lucky," he commented, "I'll be back just now. If you need me, tell the cashier to page David."

Kagome nodded as the man disappeared behind a stringy curtain to a back room where Kagome assumed that they made fine adjustments to their toys and trinkets. Turning around, Kagome started wandering aimlessly through the store, finding really neat things put on display.

There was a princely cape put on display with an entire prince set: a staff, a crown and a utility belt. Chuckling to herself, Kagome admired it finding that it'd look extremely cute on Ichiro, since he had an admiration for Feudal prospects.

Maybe another time. She thought, knowing it'd be unfair to all the children if she bought Ichiro something without an occasion and not the others. Turning around to see if David was done with her beauty box, she saw Inuyasha and Kikyo at the cash register, paying for what they had purchased. Strolling over to her two acquaintances, she smiled at the cashier before turning to Inuyasha and Kikyo.

"Got something?" She raised a brow at Inuyasha who nodded smirking.

Holding out a small velvet box, Kagome took it from Inuyasha's hand and opened it, gasping at the glittering jewel sitting within the small box. Inuyasha had gotten Ai a small diamond necklace with the letters A and I dotted with diamonds. Spelling out Ai, it was a small necklace that could be hung around her neck at all times.

"I ordered it a few days ago and had to come today to pick it up." He said as he put the box in his pocket.

Glancing at Kikyo, Kagome raised a brow. "And what you get her?"

Snorting, Kikyo flipped her hair. "I couldn't be bothered getting these brats something."

A dark expression flashed in Kagome and Inuyasha's eyes hearing what she said. Ai was dear to both of them and either of them hated it hearing somebody badmouth Ai or any of the other kids. Opening her mouth to retort, Kagome broke off seeing the salesman from earlier walk towards her with the box wrapped neatly in pink wrapping paper.

"Here you go madam," he said smiling, handing Kagome the box. Flashing him a glamorous Miko smile, Kagome thanked him.

"Thank you so much! You even wrapped it!!"

"The least I can do for a beautiful woman."

Feeling a growl concoct in the pits of his throat, Inuyasha placed a hand on Kagome's shoulder, much to Kikyo, and the man's, displeasure.

"Kagome we have to go soon."

Nodding, Kagome turned to the cashier and paid her due. Just as she turned to leave with Inuyasha and Kikyo, the salesman from earlier ran to them and caught up with Kagome at the door of the store.

"Here," He said as he passed her a piece of paper, "if you're ever bored I mean."

Eyes widening, Inuyasha grabbed Kagome's upper arm and pulled her out. Kikyo gasped as she felt herself being forcefully tugged into the streets. Kikyo was still clinging onto Inuyasha and was being dragged wherever he went.

"Oh she'll call you man, I'll make sure of it!" Inuyasha said to him, his voice laced over with extreme sarcasm. Shooting Inuyasha a dangerous glare, Kagome had a lecture already formulating in her mind as he pushed her into the backseat. Staring his car rather suddenly, Inuyasha expertly reversed out of the parking and started driving straight.

"Oh! Inu! Inu!!" Kikyo squealed as Inuyasha glanced at her.

"What?"

"Stop for a second! I need to go to that store!" Kikyo was pointing to a clothing store that housed Kikyo's own clothing line, Purification Arrow. Grumbling, Inuyasha pulled up to the side of the road as Kikyo bounded out and into the store. Sitting in the awkward silence, Inuyasha decided to speak first.

"I don't like the way you flirted with him." He snarled and Kagome's eyebrows shot up.

"Coming from a man who continuously lip-rapes me when his girlfriend is in the house?"

Growling, Inuyasha turned his head and gave Kagome a piercing stare. "You were all over him."

"ME?" Kagome shrieked. "Me or HIM?! Who gave who their phone number, tell me that Takahashi." Oh she was angry. Beyond angry. She never had called him by his last name and here she was, not calling him Inuyasha, not calling him Casanova but instead, calling him Takahashi. Hiding his wince, Inuyasha bore his fangs in a physical growl.

"You implied the fact that you liked him."

"I implied nothing!"

Not taking any more if it, Kagome crashed the door open and barged out, glaring at Inuyasha with everything she possessed. "Go home with her! I can walk dammit!"

Stalking towards the store Kikyo entered, Kagome was cursing under her breath over the guts and gall of that man. She was not his mistress, wife, girlfriend or whore for that mater. He had no right to control her when he pointedly at a girlfriend. It was blatantly obvious that Kagome was not flirting with David, but a man of Inuyasha's persona looked at one situation in more than one way. The likely way.

Scowling, Inuyasha jumped out of the car, ready to give Kagome a piece of his mind. Glad that she had stopped at the entrance of the store, Inuyasha opened his mouth to say something but instantly it snapped shut. Kagome's gaze was glued onto one thing and one thing alone.

Kikyo.

Eyes widened, Inuyasha felt his heartbeat quicken at the sight before him. Just on the other side of the counter, Kikyo was with a man in the store uniform, thoroughly kissing him.

Oh-my-god… both Inuyasha and Kagome thought at the exact same time.

-x-

Kouga, Ayame, Hayabusa and Yuka and fully decorated the playroom and Kouga locked it behind him, pocketing the key. The streamers and confetti were in perfect places and they decided the morning of the party they would blow up helium balloons. Walking back to the main room, Ayame was amused to find Hojo giving Hikari a Horsy ride.

"Having fun, Asuki?" Kouga teased seeing his daughter grin at him from atop of Hojo. Smirking, Hojo lifted himself up diligently dropping Hikari who was laughing like a madwoman.

"Much." Hojo responded as Daichi twirled Kasumi, who clapped her hands, feeling the rush of excitement course through her.

"They are kids themselves," Eri rolled her eyes watching her Hojo play with Hikari and Kyo.

"Where're Sango and Miroku?" Hayabusa asked and Ayumi shrugged her shoulders.

"They were in the kitchen last we saw them."

"Dirty thoughts! Ew! Oh god!" Kouga clutched his head as his wife smacked him.

"You're just as much of a hentai as Miroku is. That is definitely not good." Ayame teased causing the others to roar in laughter.

"I'll go check on them," Kouga grumbled as he headed to the kitchen. Laughing, Ayame followed her husband, keeping Hayabusa and Yuka to join Ayumi, Daichi, Eri and Hojo to entertain the children before them.

"Who wants to play House?" Daichi offered and all the kids screamed a chorus of ME!

-x-

Kagome blinked several times, making sure she wasn't imagining it and Inuyasha, instead of feeling angry like how he did with Kagome and that salesman, felt like laughing at the irony of it all. There he was, developing feelings for his best friends wife's best friend (Miroku and Sango) and thinking that he was cheating on his girlfriend who he was planning on proposing to and ta da! Irony rears it's ugly head and bit Inuyasha straight in the ass as he witnessed his girlfriend swapping spit with the salesman in the store.

"Now that," Kagome murmured, "is irony working at it's best."

Turning around, Kagome raising a brow at Inuyasha's goofy grin. Poking his rib, she caught his attention and he wrapped his arm around her shoulder, pointing to Kikyo.

"Ever notice how her head tilts to the side when she makes out with a guy? Her head will never move—I never noticed that."

Chocking on air, Kagome shoved Inuyasha before turning around and heading back to his car. "You're disturbing," She murmured as she went to open the door and get into the car. Laughing, Inuyasha got into the drivers seat, somehow feeling lighter than before knowing the fact that Kikyo was, obviously, not emotionally attached to him.

"Shouldn't you be astoundingly pissed off now that you found out your girlfriend is cheating on you?" Kagome raised a brow and Inuyasha shrugged.

"Nope. No idea why not. Can't say I'm not any better than her. I've been doing it too," winking at Kagome through the rearview mirror, Kagome groaned in disgust as she rolled her eyes.

"Oh lord! And I've been taking part of it… Zeus shoot me with lightening, now!"

"I'm afraid that won't be possible," he teased, "if you're gone, who's gonna dress up as a porcupine?"

Before Kagome could answer, a flushed Kikyo came back to the car and sat in the passengers seat.

"Oh my," She fanned herself trying to calm the reddening in her face, "it's so hot in the store."

Snorting, Kagome looked out the window. "I bet it is Kikyo." She murmured, wondering what Inuyasha was thinking, up to and feeling when it came to her and Kikyo.

Kikyo is his girlfriend, she thought to herself, but he obviously cared more when David was flirting with me than he did when he found out his girlfriend was- ischeating on him.

Glancing at Inuyasha driving the car, Kagome felt her heartbeat quicken. What exactly does he want from me?…from Kikyo…?

-x-

"Where is your sister?" Akira asked Souta who was sitting in his bedroom, staring up in fear at his father. His father has never, and never will strike him but the anger radiating off of him was close enough to a physical slap.

Souta's parents had cut off his cell-phone line and sent a rather personal bodyguard wherever Souta went. Souta was clearly forbidden to use any phones what so ever and his parents had relocated all of the home phones to near their sleeping quarters so if Souta ever needed to use the phone, a servant, guard or his parents would notice him.

Souta hadn't contacted his sister. He couldn't have.

"You already know where she is!" Souta roared back, daringly. If Kagome was dancing with the Takahashi Inuyasha than she was obviously in Hong Kong, that was a given. Where in Hong Kong though, nobody knew. Akira had figured that since Sango and Miroku lived there, Kagome would be staying with them so he sent some of his men over to the Lin residence.

Nobody was present.

Daily for the past week and a half, his men would check up on the house to see if anybody arrived but never had anybody been present.

"Where is she?!?!?!" Akira demanded, his voice raising with each syllable.

"I don't know!!" Souta replied, his tone also rising. What could his father do? Hit him? Walking onto a movie set with a bruise on his eye would really call up questions with his director and producer.

"DON'T USE THAT TONE WITH ME! IF YOUR SISTER ISN'T AT MIROKU'S HOME THEN WHERE ELSE COULD SHE BE?"

Anger surged through Souta as protectiveness for his sister kicked in. "I don't know dad," Souta said in a deadly whisper, "without any contact to the outside world I don't think I could remotely FIGURE OUT where Kagome went!"

"YOU'RE HER BROTHER!" Akira roared as Korari stood by the door. "YOU TWO SHARE A BOND! TELL ME WHERE SHE IS!!"

"But you're her father," Souta replied, again, daringly, "Don't you have a fatherly bond with her? How about you Mother."

Korari winced knowing that Akira was, possibly, overdoing it but Korari never stepped in.

"You insolent brat." Akira hissed as he turned on his heel and left the room. Korari shook her head at her son.

"You should've told him Souta." She murmured.

"Why?" He raised a brow. "So you can sign her life off to the devil? Face it, even if I knew where Nee-chan was, I would never have told you guys. She's old enough to make her own decisions so stop ruling her life."

Korari stared at her son hard before turning and leaving, following her husband. Collapsing onto his bed, Souta stared hard at the ceiling.

Wherever you are Nee-chan, he thought, just please be careful.

-x-