A.N. Behold, I live! I'm sorry this update has taken so long. I'm still making payments to my neighbor for a strip of land so that I actually own where my utility lines are (thatnk you city for plotting everything wrong, and nothing getting fixed in the multiple times this property has been sold). I'm using money from my job, which is writing. If I don't write, I don't make money. Which means fic has mostly taken a back seat in favor of getting paid. Then there are the upcoming holidays, trying to beat the clock and find out if my father has ALS or MS, and several fics with upcoming deadlines that pushed them higher on the list of things to do. And I just recently found out that the mortgage life insurance we took out on my husband so that the house is paid off in case something happens to him? They did the paperwork wrong. So guess whose disabled ass has been hanging out uncovered? Mine. :)
For two and a half years.
And instead of waking up and taking twenty minutes to answer health quetions, my husband rescheduled for after Christmas. And I can't even kill him because I'll lose the house. :)))))
As you can imagine, stress, anxiety, and panic have been high.
Still, I'm finally catching up on things (Just have to string 1,164 size 11 seed beads and whip out a necklace for a christmas present, *sob*) so updates should come a bit faster. Plus there will be a few one or two shots releasing soon! In the meantime, here is 10,438 words of our favorite couple stumbling their way into a relationship. (Next update will include a trip to Disney that does not meet Inuyasha's attempt at a G rating, the Wolf Who Came in Out of The Rain, and Kagome using the age old practice of using art to send a subliminal message.)
A sense of deja vu overcame Kagome as she contemplated the various pairs of pants discarded around her room. Her late-night research had emphasized the fact that canine youkai were drawn to a nice ass-something that had Kagome wondering if Miroku should question his ancestry. She had decided to go through all of her pants and skirts to see which ones set that particular feature off to the best advantage, but she wasn't sure she was making any progress. As far as she was concerned, it was just...there. Somehow, she had managed to narrow it down to a handful of outfits, and now all she had to do was select what she was going to wear today. Obviously, something casual, so most of the skirts were out. She wasn't feeling like shorts, so...jeans it was.
With an eye on the clock, she began to dress, pulling on the dark-washed jeans and the dark purple shirt with the words, 'I have a good heart...but this mouth.' A quick search under her bed produced a short pair of heeled boots that gave her rear an added lift, which she figured couldn't hurt. As a final touch, she pulled her hair into a high ponytail, leaving just a few tendrils to brush against her neck. She took a few moments to inspect herself in the mirror hanging from the back of her door. Good; it didn't look like she was trying too hard. She tossed her phone into her purse and went out to the living room to see if Inuyasha was ready.
Inuyasha was sprawled on the couch, his head thrown back on the cushion with his eyes closed. It had been a long night, and he hadn't gotten much sleep. Apparently, his decision about Kagome had allowed his Repression Closet to burst open because his mind kept coming up with ways that their encounter in the kitchen could've gone. He wasn't sure if it was years of hanging around Miroku or if his youkai was just a natural pervert; either way, he was going to have a hard time looking her in the eye today.
Time won't be the only thing that's hard, part of his mind cackled, but he quickly shoved that thought aside. He had control. He was going to be a fucking gentleman. Strictly PG. Okay, PG-13, but only because of his fucking mouth.
He also still needed to talk to Miroku-well, Miroku with a Sango filter-because he felt distinctly out of his depth. Surely he could make it through lunch. Most of that was just chewing, and he'd been doing that since he was a year old.
"Sorry that took so long. Are you ready?" Kagome asked as she came into the room.
Inuyasha raised his head to answer her but was momentarily distracted by her hair. Or rather, the lack of hair. Kagome usually let it hang past her shoulders, but today she had pulled it up, leaving the long column of her neck exposed. His fangs practically vibrated with the need to sink into the soft skin, leaving a mark to proclaim that-
"Inuyasha? Are you alright?"
His eyes snapped up to her face to find her staring at him in concern.
"Ah. Yeah. Just had one of those nights where you can't quite shake the dreams off the next morning, ya know?" He asked, trying to give her a reassuring smile.
It must have worked because her expression cleared. "Oh! I hate those. What were yours about?"
I'd be more than willing to show you, Inuyasha caught himself thinking before pushing himself up from the couch.
"They were all over the place," Inuyasha settled on answering honestly. He just left out the part that it was the two of them all over the place, with a distinct lack of clothing. "C'mon, I'm starving," he added when it looked like she was going to ask another question.
Kagome headed for the door. "You seem excited. Is it really that good?" She asked as they reached the porch.
"Let me put it this way. Wouldst thou like to live deliciously?" he rumbled from behind her, leaning forward, so his mouth was near her ear.
"That good, huh?" Kagome squeaked, giving a shudder as his breath brushed against the sensitive skin.
"Even better, actually. Go ahead and get in the car while I lock up," he said, turning his back to her to regain some control.
Inside, he was screaming at himself. Where the hell did that come from? He was beginning to think that his youkai side was a complete horndog, and while that held promise in the future, he didn't want to constantly bombard Kagome with cheesy lines. He didn't have the slapping fetish like Miroku.
He turned to join her and nearly tripped down the steps. He had parked at an awkward angle, and Kagome had to contort her body to get in the passenger side of the Amigo, which was too close to a tree stump. The denim of her pants was stretched across her backside deliciously, making it look...grip-able. Slam-able, even. A whimper caught in his throat; if this was how bad he was within twenty-four hours, what was he going to be like in the next few weeks? Months?
"Sesshomaru always did say I was gonna end up being committed," he muttered, dropping his eyes to the ground as he made his way to his side of the car.
It was a short drive, and Inuyasha was thankful that the combination of hunger and having to pay attention to the road was enough to pull his mind from its current resting place in the gutter.
A few cars were already in the freshly painted parking lot. The building itself had clearly been updated; Inuyasha had recommended the diner, but they hadn't been able to try before now because it had been closed for renovations. It was a cute little place, with flower boxes under each window and two fox statues placed by the front door. A freshly painted sign with a sly white fox proclaimed it to be 'Tomiko's Place.'
"It's adorable!" Kagome said, smiling in delight at the colorful wind chimes that were tinkling in the light breeze.
"Hn. As long as they haven't screwed up the menu," Inuyasha grumbled. He was all for repairs and improvements to keep pulling in customers, but he hated it when perfect recipes got tossed out of the window and replaced with frozen crap.
Kagome walked beside him, keeping fairly close. Most youkai were, by nature, protective of their personal space and were very selective about who they allowed within it. By not moving away, he would be proclaiming that there was a certain level of intimacy to their relationship. Technically that was nothing unusual; she, Sango, and Miroku were all usually in that category anyway. But this would pave the way for casual affectionate touching, which for many youkai was considered a big deal in public.
As they reached the door, Inuyasha moved ahead enough to push the door open for her. With a quiet word of thanks, she brushed her fingers over his outstretched arm as she passed.
The contact caused Inuyasha to shiver delightfully, his skin forming goosebumps along the path her fingers had taken. It was only a short moment, but he had to blink away the fuzziness in his head as he followed her in.
"C'mon, I usually like to sit back here," he said, leading her to a booth near the back of the building.
Kagome slid into the slick green booth, her attention focused on the large mural on the opposite wall. It was a forest scene full of playful kitsune weaving in and out amongst the trees. It had obviously been a labor of love, and Kagome found herself already becoming attached to a place that would put so much focus on art.
"Not bad. Dogs would've been a better choice, though," Inuyasha said with a smirk.
"Would you like me to paint a mural of frolicking Sesshomarus on your living room wall?" Kagome asked slyly.
His eyebrows dipped down in a glare. "You're really gonna say that right before I eat? Cruel wench," he grumbled.
Before she could do more than snicker, a fast-moving waitress with bobbed hair appeared at their table, briskly setting down a pair of menus.
"Here're your menus; Ai will be your server today," she informed them. She looked like she was going to say more to Inuyasha, but there was a sharp sound of shattering glass, and she dashed away.
With a sympathetic wince for whoever broke the dishes, Kagome cast an eye over the menu, her mouth already watering.
"It all looks so good; I don't know what to get!" She lamented.
Inuyasha had only looked long enough to reassure himself that the items hadn't been changed. The layout of the menu had been updated, but thankfully anything important had remained the same.
"It's all great, so just pick a few things that appeal to you. We can always come back," he said, hoping to make this a regular thing.
Inuyasha was patting himself on the back. This was going smoothly; how had he ever thought dating would be hard? Pick a place and go. And Kagome could always be won over with good food, so this was a guaranteed success.
And then the universe judged that he was too relaxed and decided to step in.
"Ai!" A voice called out in the kitchen, just loud enough for human ears to catch. "I got bad news—Sex On Legs came in, and he has himself a girl!"
Normally this would be fairly meaningless or amusing. But today, Inuyasha and Kagome were the only customers, aside from a single elderly man at one table and a woman with two little girls at another.
Inuyasha felt the insides of his ears flame red as he raised horrified eyes to meet Kagomes. She had leaned forward and was resting her chin on her laced fingers, an amused smile splitting her face. 'Sex on legs?' She mouthed at him, chortling at the strangled noises coming from his throat as he slid lower in his seat.
"Whaaaaaat? No! I was one step away from bringing that delicious little doggie home for some quality stud service!" A high, breathy voice wailed.
Inuyasha frantically shook his head, causing his hair to whip around his face. Kagome was smothering her laughter, but she couldn't contain the tears that leaked from her eyes.
"I just come for the fried food and milkshakes!" He hissed at her.
"You come for the milkshakes, huh?" She couldn't resist teasing.
"Ka. Go. Meeeee."
Their conversation was interrupted as another waitress approached their table. Kagome blinked; her mind had conjured up an image based on the voice she had heard, and the reality did not match. She was expecting something small and waif-like. Someone in their early to mid-teens, working at their first job, who probably didn't know any better than to make those types of comments. What she got was the living, breathing embodiment of the Trunchbul from the movie she used to watch when she was young, Matilda. Ai, if that was who it was, had to be between forty and forty-five, and she may have been a couple of inches taller than Inuyasha, who was hardly short. She had the body of someone who did shot-put, and her waitress uniform barely contained her muscular thighs when they flexed as she walked. Her light, frizzy hair was pulled up in a bun, and her small, beady eyes glared at Kagome as if sizing up the competition and finding it wanting. In short, this was most definitely an adult that had no business making those types of comments about customers.
"Hey there, hot stuff. Can I take your order?" Ai asked, positioning her body so she was angled toward Inuyasha with Kagome at her back.
Inuyasha felt the vein in his forehead pulse. He didn't have a problem with tall women. He didn't have a problem with muscular women. But there was something about someone who sounded like they were just getting ready to start middle school hitting on him that just set his teeth on edge. That, and the fact that she was probably old enough to be his mother.
"Let her order first," he said gruffly, trying to be polite.
Ai huffed and reluctantly turned to face Kagome. "Salad?" She asked dismissively.
Kagome wasn't sure if the implication was that she looked like she needed the salad or if she looked like the type where that was all she ate when she went out. Either way, she was a little pissed.
"I'll have the shrimp and clam basket, an order of cheese curds, and an order of onion rings."
Ai's mouth gaped open as Kagome rattled off her order. "Will...that be all?"
"Oh!" Kagome said, shooting Inuyasha a sly look. "I've heard so much about your shakes. Vanilla, please."
Inuyasha handled this maturely. Rather than sticking out his tongue, he gave her a light kick to the shin.
"I'll have the cheeseburger, extra bacon, cheese fries, and an order of fried pickles." An idea struck him, and he leered over the menu at Kagome. "Actually, I'd like a shake too. I'm in the mood for peach."
Kagome flushed deeply, and Ai darted her eyes between the two, realizing there was some type of private joke.
"Right. I'll get your order in," she said, sulking as she stomped back to the kitchen.
After that little display, both of them were expecting to be forced to wait a long time for their food, so they were pleasantly surprised when, after the span of a short conversation, another waitress trotted out with their food and a pleasant smile.
Kagome's stomach gave a growl as she breathed in the scent of the steaming fried food set before her. The breading was a perfect deep golden color, and she could already tell it was going to have the perfect amount of crisp.
"Holy fuck, I wish I knew what they did to these to make them taste so good," Inuyasha muttered around a mouthful of burger.
His enjoyment was derailed by the intense moan Kagome released after popping a cheese curd into her mouth. Her head was thrown back, eyes closed in ecstasy. Inuyasha's mind helpfully provided an explicit list of scenarios in which he would be able to cause that same reaction.
"Oh my wooooord, these are better than drugs!"
Inuyasha raised an eyebrow. "And you know this…how?"
Kagome snickered. "Don't you know that the two biggest pastimes in the country are drugs and sex?"
"Wait, seriously—"
She rolled her eyes. "No to either one. Drugs have never appealed to me, and anyway, I was too focused on my work."
"Okay, that rules out the drugs, but you're suspiciously quiet about the sex," he smirked. "Weren't you basically the beautiful city girl all the locals chased after?" He knew he was wading into dangerous territory and might not like what he was going to hear, but cats didn't have a monopoly on curiosity.
Kagome dunked a shrimp into the container of sauce and stared at it thoughtfully, pretending to ignore the warmth that spread through her at the offhand way he called her beautiful.
"I know that's kind of how movies and books show that playing out, but the reality is a lot more boring. The truth is, by college age, most have either paired off or have moved away."
"So there weren't any prospects?" He asked, trying not to show the relief he had no right to feel.
Kagome chewed on a clam strip as she considered what to say. Should she gloss over the subject or play it up? She wasn't the type to set out to intentionally make someone jealous, so she would normally go with the first option. Then again, she was also fairly honest, and if Inuyasha thought she was hiding something, he might get the wrong idea.
"There was one," she answered.
He had braced for that, but he was still surprised to hear it. "Oh?" His voice came out a bit harsher than intended, but she didn't seem to notice.
"Yeah. Katsuki was a sweet guy. Cute and funny. We got along really well, and when he asked me out, I thought it would be a good chance to get over-well, you know, my lack of dating," she finished, embarrassed by what she almost let slip.
Inuyasha dropped his gaze to his plate, understanding what she had meant. She had been going to date someone to get over him. While that apparently hadn't worked, it hit him just how close he had been to losing his chance with her.
"So what happened?"
Kagome smiled faintly. "Hotaru. She was a friend I made while I was staying there. She reminded me of Ayumi-from school, remember?" At his nod, she continued, "I could tell just by watching her that she was in love with him. And when he started to get interested in me, she was crushed. I mean, she didn't take it out on me-she was still really friendly. But I could tell she was just...bravely bearing it. And I couldn't do that to her."
No, she probably couldn't, could she? He thought. Not when she knew exactly how that would feel. Sometimes Kagome is too nice for her own good.
"But it all worked out!" Kagome said brightly. "They started going out a couple of months later, and I just got an invitation for their wedding next spring."
Inuyasha was stuck. While he was glad to hear that Kagoke had no regrets, it hit him that this probably wasn't the best topic for something he wanted to feel like a date. He was supposed to be easing her into a romantic connection with him-not bringing up other guys she might've had a chance with!
While he was thinking, he noticed that her attention had shifted back to the mural. Not too surprising, given her interest in art. Too bad she hadn't moved back earlier; he knew she would have loved a chance to work on-waitaminute.
"What would you think of doing somethin' like that at the house?"
Kagome's attention jerked back to him, and she blinked rapidly as she processed what he had said. "You mean, a mural? I didn't realize you were taking me seriously when I suggested the naked, frolicking Sesshomarus."
"Not that-and when did they become naked?"
Kagome lifted a shoulder. "It just sounded more classical. But seriously, it would be amazing to work on something like that! What would you like? And which room?"
"Think you could do the living room and master bedroom to start? And not my brother, naked or otherwise."
"Oh? Does that mean you're volunteering to model?" Kagome asked with a smirk.
Inuyasha paused as he was reaching for his shake, his smile becoming predatory. "Nah, I don't think I'd get a lot of...enjoyment outta that. But if the artist wanted to do a self-portrait..."
"I don't think that would be very inspiring," she muttered, flushing deeply.
"Clearly, we have different perspectives," he retorted, his eyes intent.
Kagome squeaked, breaking eye contact and trying to get the sharp burst of arousal under control.
Inuyasha was pleased by her reaction but knew he couldn't take it further while they were in public. While he was feeling confident, he decided to try something; Kagome probably wouldn't recognize it for what it was, but it would appease his raging instincts.
"Here, give these a try," he said, taking a few of his fried pickles and setting them on her plate.
Under the table, Kagome pinched her thigh to keep herself from reacting. This was big. Very big. There was no way that Inuyasha didn't know what he was doing. Right? Wait. It was instinctive, so what if his parents, mainly his dad, never actually verbalized it? Did being a hanyou alter the meaning in any way? For youkai, sharing food was highly intimate, in some ways even more so than physical contact. It could be nurturing or erotic, and in some cases, both. The only question was, did he recognize that on a conscious level? Well, even if it was just instinctive, she wasn't going to waste the opening.
"Oh, it's delicious!" She said, showing that she accepted the offering. It clearly had some sort of effect because his eyes dilated as he watched her chew. Encouraged, she decided to meet him move for move. She plucked up a cheese curd and bent her wrist back.
"Here, open up," she instructed.
Inuyasha felt his breath hitch as his body automatically complied with her request. Holy fuck. Not only did she accept his offering of food—taken from his own plate, no less—but she was fucking feeding him.
Never before had he been aroused by fried mozzarella, but he was quickly discovering that if Kagome was involved, his fetish list was in danger of rapidly expanding.
"Here," he said, unable to keep the hint of a growl out of his voice as he scooped some of his fries onto her plate.
Oh, my. She might have to up her exercise routine if he was going to make a habit of this, but she was hardly complaining. She watched him from beneath her lashes as she ate several of the fries, noting the way his gaze remained fixed on her mouth.
It wasn't meat from a fresh kill, but it was enough to satisfy his instinct to provide for her. He didn't have long to wonder if she would reciprocate again because as she was swallowing the last of the fries, Kagome selected the largest shrimp in her basket and gently set it on his plate.
Oh. Oh. She was good.
Not only was she sharing food, but she was also giving him the choice bits. That was courtship in capital neon letters. He'd be almost sick at the possibility he was getting his hopes up for nothing if Sango and Miroku hadn't clued him in. There was still the possibility she didn't understand what she was doing, but he at least knew there was some sort of intent there.
That knowledge did something to him-something that ensured he wouldn't be able to stand up for a while without embarrassing himself.
He barely waited for her to move her hand away before he ate the shrimp, immediately picking up his knife and cutting off a portion of his burger that he hadn't eaten; it still had the most bacon on that part. Not trusting himself to speak, he added it to her plate, taking note of the way the stormy gray of her eyes had deepened to almost blue.
Kagome struggled to swallow a portion of the burger. All of her awareness was focused on the hanyou across from her, who was leaning forward in a predatory manner. All of his muscles were tensed, and he looked like he might leap across the table at her.
She didn't think she would complain if he did.
All of the moisture in her mouth had evaporated under his heated gaze, and with an unsteady hand, she reached for her milkshake. Perfect. It was cold and wet, so it would solve two problems at once. Unfortunately, in her desperation for relief, she tried to swallow too fast and ended up choking hard enough that some of her shake leaked out of the corner of her mouth.
The teasing comment he had been about to make died on his lips as the whitish fluid beaded at her lips, and he had to physically restrain himself from digging his claws into the surface of the table when Kagome used a finger to swipe up the excess, her plump, pink lips wrapping around the digit to give it a light suck.
Instantly his mind was assailed by visions of dark rooms and sweat-slicked skin, Kagome's face upturned as he told her to take every last drop...
His erection pressed into his jeans hard enough to make him wince, and he wasn't sure how much more of this he could take.
It was almost a mercy when a buzzing noise came from the booth beside Kagome, and she twisted around to fish her phone out of her purse. Inuyasha watched the emotions play across her face, and the scent of sadness was enough to cool his heated blood.
"Kagome? Is somethin' wrong?" He asked, concerned with the way her shoulders had curved into a slump.
With a start, Kagome blinked up at him, giving herself a shake.
"Ah. No, nothing is really wrong. It's just that my aunt—dad's sister—died a few months ago. My uncle just now finally got to a place where he was able to go through her belongings, and he found several things of my dad's and a bunch of old pictures."
"Crap, I'm sorry," he said, knowing that had to be hard for her to think about.
"It's alright. Anyway, that was mom texting me; my uncle dropped everything off earlier, and she wants me and Souta to go through it with her."
While Inuyasha had wanted to spend the day with her, he couldn't help feeling slightly relieved; he was overwhelmed with all of these sensations, and as much as he hated it, he needed to talk with someone.
"Want me to drop you off at the shrine?"
Kagome shook her head. "You don't have to do that. I can take the truck."
He frowned at her, noticing the slight tremors in her hand. "Nah. Look, you're already shaking a little bit, so you're gonna be even worse when you're done. It ain't safe to drive like that. I've got some stuff I wanna do, so it's not like it would be a bother or whatever crap you're worryin' about."
Kagome traced a line in the condensation on her glass, keenly aware that she might end up regretting all the fried food. While she had come to terms with her father's death years ago, she still had a strong emotional response whenever it came up. This was especially true whenever she had to watch her mother wade through the bittersweet memories. She didn't want to bother Inuyasha, but not having to focus on driving would be a relief.
"If you're sure," she agreed softly.
He was already reaching for his wallet. "Wouldn't have offered if I didn't mean it. You know that. Go ahead and go on out while I pay."
His voice was gruff, and the frown he wore cut deep lines between his eyes, but Kagome could easily look past it to see the genuine concern he had. As much as he could grumble, Inuyasha was always there for her and was always looking out for her, even when he didn't have to. The thought warmed her heart, and without thinking, she reached out and squeezed his shoulder as she passed.
"Thanks, Inuyasha."
Startled, he looked up, his expression stating that he was surprised and confused by her words. It lasted only a few seconds before he gave her a small smile, the very tip of one of his fangs poking into his lower lip.
"Don't thank me. You know I'd do anything you need me to, anyway."
A family pressing by her to get to their table prevented Kagome from answering as she moved out of the way of the foot traffic. As she thought about his words, she realized how true they were. Inuyasha would do anything for her. He'd always been that way. He might swear, grumble, and complain but would help while doing so. Many times she hasn't even needed to ask.
As exciting and sexy as the food play and conversation had been, Inuyasha had also touched her on an emotional level with the way that he so easily made her needs a priority. She hadn't thought it was possible, but she found herself falling even more deeply in love with him.
The drive to the shrine was quiet but not uncomfortably so. Inuyasha knew she needed time to emotionally prepare herself for going through those pictures and that this was a time to be quietly supportive rather than actively trying to distract her. WHich was perfect because that way he wouldn't fuck things up with his inability to word correctly.
He came up the street in the direction that put her door closest to the stairs.
"I'm gonna go harass Sango and Miroku for a while. You can text me when you're ready, or I'll check in if it gets late and I haven't heard from ya. Will that work?"
Kagome nodded, giving him half a smile as she slid out of the Amigo. "That's fine. I don't think this will take too long; it depends on the photographs."
"Hey, don't rush it. I know Souta doesn't have any real memories of your dad, so these might be some pictures he's never had a chance to see."
He could tell by the way her eyes widened that she probably hadn't thought of that.
"You're right. And sometimes the memories hit mom and Gramps pretty hard. I'll text you later to let you know what's going on," she promised.
He nodded and waited for her to walk up the stairs before pulling away, not bothering to bring up the fact that she might have as hard of a time as the rest of her family. Kagome could be stubborn when it came to that, but he knew she'd be fine as long as she was with her family.
Standing in front of the door of Sango's apartment, Inuyasha was having a very Groundhog's Day moment. He was hoping he would be welcomed less violently than he had been the day before.
"Inuyasha? Is everything okay? I thought Kagome mentioned you were having lunch together today," Sango said, sticking her head out into the hallway as if she expected Kagome to be hiding off to the side.
"She had some family stuff come up, so I dropped her at the shrine after we ate. Can I come in? And is your worse half here?"
Sango laughed and stood aside, waving him in. "Yes, he's cleaning up the mess he made in the kitchen, but he should be finished soon. Go ahead and have a seat."
Inuyasha plopped down on the couch, and Sango curled up in the squat armchair off to the side. She was wearing black leggings and a coral moisture-wicking athletic top, which meant she didn't have plans to go anywhere. Inuyasha relaxed, knowing that meant they had time to talk.
"So, how is it going? She didn't make a beeline for the animal shelter, so you can't be doing too badly."
Inuyasha squirmed on the couch. "It's…going okay? I think? Fuck, this is part of the problem," he sighed, the force of the air ruffling his bangs.
"Wait a minute!" Miroku's voice floated from the kitchen. "Don't get to the good stuff without me!"
"Miroku is a natural-born gossip," Sango said wryly. "He fits in perfectly with all of the other housewives in the complex."
Before Inuyasha could voice his opinion about that, Miroku dashed into the room, hurriedly untying the pastry-patterned apron with the words Stud Muffin blazed across the chest. He didn't even bother sitting down, instead choosing to stand in front of Inuyasha with an expression of maniacal intensity.
"Tease all you want, Sango, but he's here for guidance two days in a row, and I'm not missing out on a miracle of near-divine proportions."
"So glad that I can provide entertainment," Inuyasha huffed with a roll of his eyes.
"Ignore him. What's the problem? Isn't Kagome being receptive?"
Inuyasha ran his hands through his hair, his ear twitching as a few strands tickled the inner skin. "I think so, but I can't be sure. I mean, part of what I'm doin' is pure instinct, and as a human, I know Kagome doesn't have that. So I dunno how much she understands, or if I'm even sending the right signals."
"What are you worried about?" Miroku asked. "You've got your looks. Your pretty face. And never underestimate the importance of body language!" This last was said over his shoulder as he gave some bizarre combination of hip wiggle and thrust.
Inuyasha stated in slack-jawed shock, his face pale and stomach rolling like the time he had food poisoning on a human night. He looked at Sango beseechingly.
"Please. Never let him do whatever that was again."
Sango motioned for Miroku to sit down at her feet as she explained, "He helped me watch the Suzumiya girls from down the hall while they had a Disney marathon. Sorry about that."
"Even if you didn't appreciate the delivery, it's still sound advice," Miroku sulked.
"Why don't you tell us exactly what happened, so we'll have a better idea of what is going on," Sango suggested.
Thank fuck; at least one of his friends had sense.
Inuyasha gave them a run-through of (almost) everything that had happened since he had gotten home to Kagome the night before. Once he finished, he waited nervously as the pair glanced at each other.
"I don't see what the problem is," Sango finally said. "So far, it sounds like things are going really well."
"You don't think the food thing is too weird for humans?"
Miroku shrugged. "I don't see why it should be. Most humans don't randomly share food. For a lot of people, it has intimate connotations. Besides, it's not unlike Kagome is completely unfamiliar with demons. I'm sure she's picked up a few things over the years."
Sango, who already knew about Kagome's cram session at Google University, nodded. "I'm pretty sure she knows at least the basics. Especially if she reciprocated so easily. How often does Kagome share food with you rather than steal yours?"
Absolutely never. His ears perked up hopefully before dropping down, his eyes darting nervously to Sango when he remembered exactly why he had wanted to talk to Miroku alone.
"Uh, I know this is weird and somethin' I'll probably regret, but can I talk to just Miroku?"
Miroku gave an understanding nod. "Of course, it's never too early to take advantage of my particular expertise. Much better by far to learn early than to disappoint a lady when—"
"Not like that!" Inuyasha spat. "I mean, related, but….dammit, why does this have to be so fuckin' weird?"
Sango rested her chin on her fist as she observed the beleaguered hanyou. "Inuyasha, is this about sex?"
He flinched at her bluntness; it was one thing to talk about the subject in general and quite another when it was about him specifically.
"Maybe?"
"Then just say whatever it is you have to say. You see what I'm dating. I promise you there's nothing strange enough to phase me anymore. I'm numb."
Any further protest died on his lips. As Miroku's girlfriend, she'd probably been subjected to a certain amount of depravity. Now that he thought about it, his problem had to be downright tame in comparison.
"Okay, fine. Just remember that I gave you an out," he warned, still not making direct eye contact. "Ever since last night, my reactions to Kagome have gotten really...intense. And it's almost constant. Whenever I talk to her, it's a struggle to keep my youkai side from takin' over and making it sexual."
"By intense, you mean..." Sango gestured vaguely, seeking clarification.
He gave her a seething glare. "Intense. Do I have to fucking spell it out?"
"Inuyasha, please tell me I don't have to explain to you what hard-ons are," Miroku said from the floor, his expression showing he was only half joking.
"No, I don't need a fuckin' explanation!" Inuyasha barked. "I just wanna know why it's happening all the time! I've been able to repress 'em for years when it comes to her, so there's no reason-"
"Wait, wait, wait," Sango interrupted sharply, springing into a more upright position. "Are you telling me you've had feelings like that for Kagome for that long? And you've repressed them? Do you have any idea how dangerous that is for a youkai?"
Why was he subjecting himself to this again?
"I've always managed just fine," he mumbled.
"No, but seriously Inuyasha. Didn't your father talk to you about things like this?" Miroku asked, his eyes darkening a shade in concern.
Oh, didn't he just. As soon as Inuyasha hit thirteen, there was his dad busting down his door. Manual in hand (titled, So Your Balls Have Dropped), Touga had proceeded to give him an in-depth talk of all the workings, complete with an enthusiastic PowerPoint presentation. He knew it was going to be bad when Sesshomaru arrived, noise-canceling headphones strapped to his head and a large bowl of popcorn in hand. Inuyasha had been mortified and attempted to drown out the whole thing. He was on the verge of throwing himself out of his window when his dad suggested bringing his mother in so he could have a clear picture about the human-woman side of things. At that point, Sesshomaru had dragged him out, declaring that there were some ways even he considered too horrible for Inuyasha to die.
"I didn't pay all that much attention, alright? And I always was able to make it go away while I was dating Kikyo."
"Okay, I don't want details, but did this feeling transition to Kikyo while you were dating?" Sango asked, not wanting to pry more than she had to into a delicate subject.
"No," Inuyasha answered in a clipped voice.
"I think I get it-it's because you're hanyou," Miroku said, his expression thoughtful.
"What does that have to do with anything?" Inuyasha asked. He knew Miroku well enough to realize he didn't mean anything negative by the statement, but he was still confused.
"Okay, feel free to point out anything that doesn't make sense," Miroku said, gathering his thoughts. "Normally, a youkai will make up its mind and pursue a partner without a lot of the hang-ups inherent to humans, and you belong to one of the types that typically excludes others once that choice has been made. With me so far?"
Both Sango and Inuyasha nodded.
"Good. So, here's where the human side comes in. It can be confused and swayed for a variety of reasons. So while you were single, your youkai side would make its preference known but would go dormant during your time with Kikyo because it couldn't act in a way that would be considered disloyal. Now that you've fully made up your mind, the youkai side is making up for lost time."
Sometimes Inuyasha forgot that just because Miroku was a pervert and dramatic extrovert didn't mean he was an idiot. When he actually got serious, he usually came through.
"That makes a disturbing amount of sense," Sango agreed. "Especially since you can have trouble regulating yourself when the youkai emotions are strong. I know that's usually only ever been anger, but clearly, the mating drive is just as forceful."
"That's great and all, but how do I get it to stop?" Inuyasha asked with a small growl of frustration.
"Why would you do that?"
"Because, Miroku, I don't want Kagome thinking this is just a…a…sex thing!"
Miroku shook his head. "I doubt she would think that because that isn't what this is. Kagome, of all people, wouldn't have an issue with you listening to your instincts. They're part of who you are."
"Look, let me give you a woman's point of view," Sango said, noticing how frustrated and dejected the hanyou was becoming. "You've been making an effort to make Kagome feel special, right? And you've been thinking about her feelings and needs?"
"Of course I have," Inuyasha answered, not understanding where she was going with this.
"And you're not doing all of that just to get her to have sex with you, are you?"
His eyes blazed at the implication. "I'd never do that to Kagome!"
Sango sat back, her expression clearly satisfied. "Then there really isn't a problem. You want to do right by her. You're both passionate people, and there's no point pretending that sex isn't going to be part of your relationship. Has she acted uncomfortable with anything you've done?"
"No," Inuyasha dropped his gaze with a blush as he remembered the changes in her scent; Kagome had reacted very favorably.
At his expression, Sango gave a shark-like grin. "Listen, I can promise it's not going to be an issue. You know why Kagome doesn't really drink? She gets too honest. Believe me; I have heard waaaaay more than I want to about all the ways she wants to test your stamina and flexibility."
Miroku released a choked snort, but Inuyasha didn't hear it. His eyes had glazed over at Sango's revelation, and his mind had darted off after it like a dog after a plump rabbit. Kagome was well aware of his physical capabilities as a hanyou, so her ideas of how to test him would have to be….
"Um, Inuyasha?" Miroku coughed. "As much as you look like you're about to enjoy a spontaneous orgasm, I think Kagome will murder Sango and I if we see that before she does."
His mouth, which had been hanging slightly open, snapped shut with a click. The wave of embarrassment was enough to erase the effects the thoughts had on his lower body, and he settled for shooting his snickering friends a withering glare.
"So, is that all you've been worried about?" Sango asked, finally taking pity on him.
"Yeah, pretty much. I just wanna make sure I don't fuck this up by scaring her off."
Miroku clicked his tongue. "I doubt Kagome would be scared off by anything you would do. She's been happy enough with your moves so far, so as long as you listen to her and watch for any cues she's uncomfortable, you'll be fine. We are still on for the Disney trip, right? Sango and I both have time off and can easily get away now."
Crap, he hadn't had a chance to mention that to her yet.
"As far as I know, it's still on. I need to make sure with Kagome, but I should be able to text you with a good date tomorrow," Inuyasha said, doing a quick check of the calendar on his phone. He didn't have anything pressing coming up for at least a month, so now was a good time to do this.
"That will work. If Kagome hasn't texted you yet, I can always pull out the cards if you want to kill some time," Sango offered, standing and stretching her arms up over her head.
There had been no word from Kagome, and he wasn't interested in wondering around stores until she was ready. He was feeling at least a little better about things, so he might as well relax for awhile.
"Sure. We can take turns hittn' Miroku when he tries to cheat."
Ignoring Miroku's indignant squawk, Inuyasha made sure his ringer was on as he settled in for a game.
Several hours later, Inuyasha noticed by the light coming in through the window that it was getting close to evening. With a frown, he checked his phone again, just in case he had somehow missed a message. She was doing family stuff. Should he interrupt her, or leave it alone?
"I think it would be okay to text her bow," Sango answered his unasked question. "I'm sure Kagome has gotten caught up in the emotion of the moment and just hasn't thought about getting ahold of you."
With a nod, he tossed his cards onto the table and sent a quick text, letting her know that there was no hurry but that he could come and get her whenever she was ready. He'd barely had time to take a sip from his sports drink before his phone vibrated and slid a few inches across the table. Snatching it up, he saw that Kagome had returned his message and asked that he come in when he got to the shrine since her mom wanted to say hello.
"I'm gonna head for the shrine. Kagome says she's ready, and she's probably tired if things took this long."
"Dredging up old memories can have that effect, even when they're good ones," Miroku said, his face taking on an unusually somber tone. Seeing this, Sango slid her hand across the table to rest on top of his, and in return, he gave her a soft smile.
Inuyasha knew that Miroku was referring to his own father, but he also knew from experience that he didn't like to dwell on it.
"That's what I told her, so I'm gonna get her home in time so she can take one of those ridiculous baths that leave the bathroom looking like a rainforest for an hour afterward," Inuyasha snorted, popping his back as he stood.
"See? Excellent boyfriend instincts. You're doing well," Sango said with an approving nod.
"I don't know, Sango; I think an excellent boyfriend would be in the bath with her, to massage away all that...tension," Miroku said with a sly smirk in Inuyasha's direction, his earlier melancholy forgotten.
Rather than lowering himself to a childish response, Inuyasha simply threw his half finished bottle at Miroku's head on his way to the door.
"Later, guys. I'll text you soon about plans," He called over his shoulder, his mind already on Kagome.
As he made the return trip to the shrine, Inuyasha began to get nervous. Was it a good idea to go inside with her family? What if he started spouting lines like some bad seventies porn? What if he got hard in front of her mother? His face paled at the thought. Oh, yeah, that would go over well.
"Hi, Mrs. Higurashi. Lovely night, huh? Don't mind me, just standin' over here thinkin' about desecrating your temple with your daughter. But it's okay, because I love and respect her, ya know?" He grumbled to himself, his foot hitting the gas a little harder than he needed to as the light above him turned green.
He had to park a little farther down the street but made up the time by taking the stairs in just a few hops. The lights were already on for the evening, and he could see the shadows of Kagome's family moving around. He hesitated at the door for a moment, worried that he might be barging in on something that should be private. But Kagome had said that her mother wanted him there, so with a shrug, he knocked on the door.
"Inuyasha! Please come in-I'm afraid we kept Kagome so distracted today that she never had a chance to text you," Kagome's mother greeted him, standing aside to let him come in.
The older woman had always had a youthful quality, but today, there were shadows in her eyes that, for once made her look her age. Kagome had always told him that her parents had adored each other, so Inuyasha wasn't too surprised that going through pictures of her husband had brought back her feelings of loss.
"It's fine. I spent some time over at Sango's, and I didn't have anything else to do today," he assured her.
"Oh! I didn't expect you to get here so soon!" Kagome said, coming down the stairs.
Inuyasha felt his ears twitch back and made a conscious effort to straighten them. If anything, Kagome looked worse than her mother. All of the vibrancy from earlier today had been sucked out of her, and her face was pale. If he thought she wouldn't fight him on it, he'd pick her up and put her on the couch to get some rest.
"Did Kagome tell you I was hoping you could stay for dinner?" Her mom asked.
His initial answer would have been no, if only to get Kagome home so she could take a bath and crawl into bed. But her mom always cooked to help relieve stress, and Kagome needed to eat a decent meal. If he took her home now, the most she would do would be to have a junky snack.
"Yeah, if it isn't a problem," he agreed, following them into the living room where Souta and Kagome's grandfather were sitting.
"No problem at all! Kagome, why don't you stay here and sit with Inuyasha; I'll call you when dinner is ready," Her mom said, eyes already gleaming at the challenge of making a full dinner on short notice.
"Hey, Inuyasha," Souta said from the floor, looking relieved by the distraction.
Inuyasha sat on the couch and pulled Kagome down next to him. With a nod at the book Souta was holding, he teased, "What, you're not puttin' that off until Sunday night?"
Souta stared at the book mournfully. "I wish. But I have extra soccer practice this weekend, and painful experience has taught me that I'll be too dead on Sunday night to even pretend to study."
"Soccer practice? And here I thought you were going on a date," Kagome snickered, her expression lightening at the chance to torment her brother.
The textbook in Souta's hands snapped shut, his face flushing maroon. "It's not a date date!" He snarled.
"Oh? Then what is it?" Kagome shot back.
"I'm just feeling her out to see if she would want to date me!"
Inuyasha was torn between amusement and sympathy, both of which dried up when Souta continued.
"You know, go to a casual restaurant, that way, if it doesn't work you can back out, and if it does, you can try for a second date," Souta looked at Inuyasha for some backup and froze at the bug-eyed, facial twitching glare that Inuyasha was shooting him. "I mean, it was an idea?" Souta said weakly, having no clue why the hanyou suddenly looked like he was going to murder him here in his own living room.
"Hm, is that how it works?" Kagome said, her voice tinged with amusement. "Where are you taking her?"
Souta gratefully leaned around Inuyasha to look at his sister. "I'm not sure about that yet. Know of any good places?"
"Sango mentioned a few places today. Let me text them to you," Inuyasha offered in a bright, cheerful voice that had Souta's skin practically crawling off his body.
Inuyasha pulled out his phone, and after a few moments of furious typing, Souta felt his own vibrate in his pocket. To his surprise, there was actually links to several restaurants. What really held his attention was the message under them.
Inuyasha: Here! Now shut the FUCK up, Souta! Dammit you knew I took Kagome out for lunch—don't mess this up!
It took Souta two times reading the message through before the truth dawned.
Souta: DOES THIS MEAN I FINALLY GET TO CALL YOU DOG BROTHER FOR REAL?!
Inuyasha: Souta, you're a good kid but if you give this away to Kagome I will bite you. Hard.
Souta: Please. Save the kinky shit for my sister. Seriously though, it took you long enough! Don't worry, I'll let you figure out how to tell her. I'm a little brother, not a complete dick.
"So, did he send anyplace that looks good?" Kagome asked, a little miffed that Inuyasha kept the phone angled away. Souta wasn't the only one that was interested in good food!
"Uh, yeah! What do you think about a fancy pizza place? Would that be a good choice?" Souta asked, knowing that Kagome could always be distracted by asking her advice.
Kagome tilted her head thoughtfully. "Pizza would be good. There's enough variety that she should be able to find something she likes."
"Then that's what I'll go with," Souta agreed before steering the conversation in a direction that would get Inuyasha to stop looking like he was about to give his best impression of the Hulk. "Hey, have you tried anything with the glass you mentioned last time you were over?"
At that, Inuyasha's eyes brightened, and he sat forward with enthusiasm. "Nah, I haven't done anything with the actual glass yet, but I've drawn up some ideas," he said. Lately, he had gotten the idea of incorporating stained glass into some of his metal pieces and was itching to try it out.
The three of them continued that line of conversation for a while, before they were called into the kitchen to eat. Waking up their grandfather, they all took their usual places at the table, with Inuyasha sliding into the seat beside Kagome.
"It's nothing exciting, but there's plenty, so please feel free to take as much as you want," Kagome's mother said before taking her own seat.
There wasn't much conversation as people filled their plates; Inuyasha was under the impression that they hadn't eaten much today, if at all. Souta, in particular, was eating his food as if it were going out of style.
"Are things still going well with the house?" Mrs. Higurashi asked him after everyone had had a chance to take the edge of their hunger.
He nodded while giving himself time to swallow. "Yeah, you can definitely see some progress. It'll be awhile before it's really finished, but we should have you out sometime soon to see it."
Both Mrs. Higurashi and her father-in-law shot him penetrating looks at the use of the word 'we.' The way he phrased it made it sound like Kagome was a permanent resident rather than a temporary tenant.
"That would be lovely," Mrs. Higurashi agreed, a small, pleased smile lighting up her face.
"Hm, yes. I would like to inspect the place my granddaughter is living—especially if she's going to be there for a long period of time."
Kagome rolled her eyes. "Grandpa, the house is old, but it's perfectly safe!"
The old man matched her tone of exasperation. "Well, of course it is! The boy wouldn't have you out there if you were going to be in danger!"
Inuyasha paused with his chopsticks in front of his mouth. Holy crap. Did this actually mean that the old man might actually be on his side? Kagome was distracted by something her mother was saying, so she didn't notice when her grandfather gave Inuyasha a small, almost imperceptible nod.
Looks like all those years of hauling heavy-ass boxes have finally paid off in my favor, he thought, a weight he didn't realize he'd been carrying sliding off of his shoulders. The Higurashis had always welcomed him into their home, but he was relieved to see that they might be alright welcoming him into their family, as well.
The meal passed quickly; everyone was too emotionally exhausted to linger long. When Kagome offered to do the dishes, her mother shooed her away, saying she would take care of them after they had a chance to soak.
When Kagome let out a jaw cracking yawn, Inuyasha put his arm across the back of her chair and let her lean into his shoulder. "Are you about ready to go?" He asked softly, knowing that she was minutes away from falling asleep.
Kagome nuzzled her cheek against his shoulder. "Yeah, I'd like to go home."
Inuyasha felt his heart swell at her words. She was sitting here, with her family, in the house where she grew up, but she still referred to where she lived with him as home. He had no clue that the expression on his face was one of infinite tenderness that wouldn't normally be associated with the hanyou, but if he had, he wouldn't have cared.
"Don't forget your purse—and let me get a bag so you can carry those photos," her mother said, pushing herself up from the table.
"I'll be ready in just a minute," Kagome said, reluctantly leaving the warmth of his shoulder.
Kagome's grandfather rose from the table as well, and began shuffling to the door. As he passed Inuyasha, he said in a low voice, "Nice to see you're finally pulling your head out, boy."
Inuyasha whipped his head up, but the old man was already at the door, his reedy chuckle hanging in the air.
"That went surprisingly well," Souta noted.
"Well, he didn't try to purify me, so I'll take that as a win," Inuyasha agreed, glad that Kagome was out of hearing range.
"Just don't keep her hanging too long, okay?" Souta said, suddenly looking more like an older brother than the annoying brat he could often be.
If things kept up like this, he was gonna have to ask for a rag to mop up his puddle of nervous sweat.
"Don't plan on it. Figure I've kept her waitin' long enough, haven't I?"
Souta nodded, but the small smile on his face assured Inuyasha that he didn't hold it against him.
"I'm ready when you are," Kagome said as she came into the kitchen, her purse over her shoulder and a large, reusable shopping bag on one arm.
Inuyasha sprang to his feet, ready to escape before her family said anything that might give him away. He waved goodbye to Souta, and thanked Mrs. Higurashi for dinner.
"You know you're welcome anytime," she said, giving him a quick one-armed hug.
Kagome promised to call her mom when she was done with the pictures, and she walked beside Inuyasha as they made their way down the shrine steps.
"I'm guessing you're gonna scan all those?" He asked with a nod at the bag she was carrying.
Kagome hummed in agreement. "Mom wants all of us to have copies, and it's safer this way in case of a fire or general wear and tear."
"Are you doing okay?" He asked. She had been pretty quiet all evening.
She gave a slow nod. "Yeah. It was hard, but there were a lot of good memories, too. Thanks for waiting for me, though. I'm really tired, and I don't think I'd be good to drive."
"Since you've yawned three times in just the time we've left the house?" Inuyasha snorted. "Probably not."
Kagome gave him a dirty look, but the effect was spoiled by yet another yawn.
"Big words coming from the man that fell asleep under the kitchen sink."
He grinned as she climbed into the Amigo. "What can I say? It's surprisingly comfortable under there."
Although she fought against it, Inuyasha wasn't surprised when she fell asleep less than fifteen minutes into their drive. He thought about turning on the radio, but didn't want to interrupt her sleep; for one reason and another, she'd had an emotional two days, and he wanted to make sure she got enough rest. He would ask her about the trip to Disney tomorrow.
His mind drifted aimlessly during the drive, and it was with a start that he realized that so much time had passed that he was already nearing the turn that would lead to the house. Kagome still hadn't awoken by the time he pulled into the driveway, and he couldn't bring himself to wake her. Instead, he slipped out quickly to dart to the house and unlock the door, before coming back to the passenger side to scoop Kagome into his arms. He wasn't worried about waking her accidentally since he knew that once she was sleeping this deeply, it would take a small marching band to rouse her. Cradling her to his chest, he used the hand under her knees to snag the straps on her purse and shopping bag. Kagome only moved enough to burrow closer to his warmth, her nose rubbing the material of his t-shirt.
He was careful not to hit her head on the door jamb as he entered the house and again as he went through the doorway of her room. He hitched her a little higher so he could set her purse and bag on her desk, and then he walked over to carefully place her on the bed. Gently, he removed her shoes and hair tie and took the blanket and sheet that had been flung to the side, and tucked it around her body. He watched her for several moments, the moonlight from the window illuminating her face with a soft glow.
Of its own accord, his hand reached out to brush away a strand of hair that had fallen across her cheek, and in response, Kagome leaned into it, her lips forming the ghost of a smile as she mumbled, "'Yasha."
A short rumble vibrated his throat; his inner youkai was pleased that she would seek him out even in sleep. He was filled with an intense burst of protective affection, and it was with reluctance that he removed his hand from the smooth warmth of her cheek.
As he turned to leave the room, it struck him that not once during the whole evening had his body reacted, not even when he was putting her into bed. In fact, his thoughts hadn't strayed in that direction, either. His youkai was, at least right now, perfectly content with taking on a protective and caring role. This realization greatly eased his mind, showing him that he wasn't devolving into some type of uncontrolled sex maniac. (He was honest enough to admit that the sex maniac part would come, but it would be controlled, dammit.)
So what if he was going through some type of weird second puberty? The worst that would happen would be that he might embarrass himself sometimes, which Kagome might as well get used to if she was gonna be with him. It wasn't like she hadn't seen him at less than his best. Honestly, whatever he did now had to be a step up from asking her for advice about dating another woman.
Inuyasha came to a decision. He was done denying his instincts. They had Kagome's best interest in mind, and she'd seemed happy so far, so there wasn't much point. He wouldn't fight anymore; he would just let Kagome set the pace.
A film of red clouded his eyes, and one fang peeked over the edge of his lip to glint in the moonlight as he recalled Sango's earlier revelation about Kagome's desire to test his stamina and flexibility.
He would let her set the pace, as well as put him through his paces.
Deep within, his youkai purred in agreement.