It really had started out innocently enough.
Her older, half-sister, Sango had invited her to a party. Not just any party, but a party thrown by the most notorious fraternity on campus. Of course, it took a lot to convince Kagome's mother, Kagami, that there was nothing wrong with an older sister wanting her much loved younger sister come down to her college and spend a weekend with her. True, Kagome was only sixteen, and Sango's college would take her four hours away from the safety of her quiet, suburban life, but once their mutual father stepped in, what else could Kagami do but let Kagome visit the daughter of that woman? Kagome and Sango were all too happy with the results. Actually, despite the bitter rivalry between their mothers, Kagami, and Sango's mother, Setsuna, their daughters had quite a strong relationship. Sango, being older by four years, was roughly eight years old when she learned that her father's philandering ways had finally caught up with him. Of course, she still deeply loved her father, but she was also no idiot-she had far outgrown the hope of ever having a "normal" family, with a father that was loyal to her mother, and a mother that didn't force her own, stressful expectations upon her only daughter. In fact, the main reason her mother was still with her father, Takahiro Kohryu, was because she was mainly married to his wallet. Not that Sango ever complained; if there was one thing she could say about her father it was that he could definitely take care of business and that he genuinely loved her, even if the same couldn't be said about her mother. Takahiro loved his daughter and whatever she needed or wanted, he provided for her, which is why she had been more understanding than her mother about his infidelity. But, it was inevitable-Takahiro wanted his two daughters to meet and be true sisters, and the only way for this to be so was to have Kagami and her daughter move into their lavish estate. Of course, they'd live on a separate part of the estate, but Sango knew nothing infuriated her mother more than having her husband's "whore" living such a comfortable lifestyle as well. So, when the day came that Sango needed to meet "that woman's child", she expected a child just as awful as Setsuna had described Kagami; "vile, disgusting, and uncouth". Instead, Sango was introduced to an adorable little girl no older than four years old and dressed in a soft pink summer dress. Her short, midnight blue was unique, just like her vibrant blue eyes. She hid behind her mother, who looked rather angelic in her long, white sun dress and large, white hat. Even Kagami was surprised to see Setsuna's daughter (much unlike Setsuna herself) was quite a lovely child, even while wearing the rather boyish overhauls with the red shirt beneath it. She had inherited Takahiro's dark, brown hair and chocolate eyes. Fortunately, the child resembled Takahiro more than Setsuna, which would make Kagami able to stomach the child's presence all the more.
"Kagome-chan," Kagami smiled at her shy daughter. "This is your big sister, Sango."
Kagome looked up at her mother for a minute with her blue eyes full of happiness. Kagome had always wanted an older sibling, even though she was so used to being her father's only child. Setsuna, dressed in a sharp, black business suit with a form-fitting skirt ushered Sango forward.
"And Sango, this is your...sister, Kagome." No one missed how she practically spat the word "sister" as if it were venom. Kagami promised to have words with the little cunt later, but for now, she had to honor the wife of her lover, no matter how heinous Setsuna truly was. Takahiro watched as Sango and Kagome walked towards one another, albeit shyly. When Kagome hugged Sango unexpectedly and Sango returned the hold on her tiny body, he knew he had nothing to worry about. Now, the feud between his wife, Setsuna, and his mistress Kagami? Well, that was a different story.
As hoped, Sango and Kagome grew up well together, despite how Setsuna and Kagami were always at each other's throats and trying to force lies and slander about the other's child. Of course, there were times when the rivalry between the two women often produced negative results with Sango and Kagome: because Setsuna didn't want her daughter losing her inheritance to Kagami's daughter, she forced her daughter to excel in everything, from school to sports, whereas Kagami forced the finer, more traditional arts upon Kagome, such as fine music, flower arranging and tea ceremony. While Sango had grown up wearing the most expensive, name brand clothing, Kagome had grown up wearing formal, lavish kimono. Both girls lived very different lifestyles on opposite ends of their father's estate.
But this didn't deter their friendship or love that they held for one another. Their relationship continued to blossom, even to the point where Sango would lend Kagome some of her modern clothes and take her to the mall, and Kagome would insist on Sango taking some of her precious kimono to wear and would sit patiently and teach her to play the shamisen, or even her geisha-esque style of dance, which Sango found incredibly difficult, while it seemed naturally suited to a graceful beauty like Kagome. The girls attended the same schools, one right after the other, and while one half of the estate was celebrating Sango's completion of her prestigious high school and acceptance into one of the most distinguished colleges in all of Japan, the other half was rejoicing in Kagome's acceptance of her arranged engagement to the son of Takahiro's business partner, Kibamaru. Even now, the mothers were bitterly jealous of the other's daughter: Setsuna was furious that Takahiro had practically delivered Kagami's daughter into a comfortable, financially life and marriage, whereas Kagami hated all of Setsuna's daughter's accomplishments. Both of their daughters had set futures, yet it never seemed to be enough for them, whereas it was for said daughters. But did it really matter what their mothers wanted for them? Of course not. This was the main thing Sango and Kagome had always agreed on.
When Sango left for college, Kagome, being only fourteen at the time, was devastated to not have her older sister around any longer. Who would be there for her to give her advice about the boys in her class? Not that it mattered; no one dared approach Kagome without her insanely jealous fiancĂ, Kouga by her side.
Even still, Kagome missed Sango terribly, but every time Kagome asked her mother to go and see Sango at her school, the answer was more than not a "Hell no", so the only time she got to see Sango was when she came home every weekend, and even then, that was at the behest of Setsuna. But, oh, how Kagome loved having her home. They would talk about anything and everything, including Sango's new life as a college freshman and all of the parties she was attending, and all of the boys she was now secretly dating. The world Sango described was one that seemed like one so far out of Kagome's reach, she wondered if she'd ever get a chance to experience it. Little by little, Kagome began to rebel. When she should have been studying her music, she was busy reading the latest teen magazines she had the servants sneak out and buy for her. And of course, when she should have been practicing her dance diligently, she was learning kenga (street fighting) from some of the more rowdy boys in her class. This is where wearing kimono came in handy; because of the long sleeves and heavy clothing, the brusies and scrapes she got fighting all the time were easily hidden. But, she was getting better-to the point where she'd start flawlessly winning her fights.
Then, just two years later, after Sango had turned twenty, and Kagome had made sixteen, Sango had decided that it was time for Kagome to break free of her life consisting of arranged marriages, dance lessons, school, and everything else her insane mother had forced upon her. Sango had learned of true freedom the day she left for college, and while Kagome still had a couple of years to go, there was nothing stopping her now from experiencing little tastes of freedom every now and again. So, Sango invited her sister to join her for a "fun" weekend down at her college. Given everything Kagome had heard about college from her sister, she was all too eager to go. Only later, after they'd gotten permission from Kagami, did Sango let slip to Kagome that she was really inviting her up that weekend because there was going to be an amazing party at one of the frat houses. The second the train pulled off, Sango was already making plans to take Kagome shopping, get her some actual modern clothes of her own, get her hair done...the works! Kagome was so excited, she could barely contain herself, but given that she'd been brought up to be rather reserved, despite her street fighting, so she managed to keep herself calm, even as they arrived in Tokyo, and Sango took her on a shopping spree and to the salon. For the first time, Kagome received a perm, which added beautiful waves to her naturally straight hair, and she gladly traded in her expensive kimono for a pair of tight, black pants and a sexy, emerald-halter top that exposed breasts her modest kimono kept covered. Add a pair of strappy, black sandals borrowed from Sango and she was all set. Sango had even sprayed her with her most expensive, sensual perfume that was "certain to entice". Kagome almost felt bad about the "enticing" part-she did have a fiancĂ at home, after all, but what he didn't know wouldn't hurt her, right? Once Sango was dressed in a black, mini skirt and a tight pink baby-t, they were set. As they walked towards the fraternity house, Kagome realized she was getting a lot of stares from quite a few men on the college campus, but nothing prepared her for the blaring music, hot and sweaty dancing, and obscene amounts of alcohol within the Master Elite Youkai Fraternity house. Sango seemed to fit in just fine, and Kagome knew it was because she belonged in this world. Kagome felt completely out of her element and more than a few men had spent most of the night hitting on her. Never having a taste for beer, Sango did all she could to keep supplying her with ginger ale. Kagome was still a minor, after all. She never strayed too far from Kagome, and always stepped in when the boys were getting a bit too rowdy for her taste.
And then...it happened.
The most perverted, lecherous member of the frat had set his sights on Kagome. Sango was more than familiar with the infamous playboy, Kurokaze Miroku. In fact, he was the reason that she was no longer a virgin, and why she had to continuously lie to her mother about it. Miroku had already been looking a little more than wasted, and despite Kagome politest, most valiant efforts to try and keep him from getting too frisky, no one had anticipated the sharp left hook that she delivered to his jaw after he grabbed her ass. Kagome went off and Miroku went down. Hard. Sango was shocked that Kagome had even landed an effective punch, but then again, so was everyone else who watched as Miroku fell backwards in the middle of the dance floor, prompting jeering, cheering and excited whispers. Before Sango could get her sister out of there, Kagome was yanked backwards by her new top and forced to face off with the fraternity's top dog. Despite everything Sango had told her about Kuroiitsuki InuYasha, Kagome knew that as she stared him in his dark and sexy eyes, he wasn't all that intimidating. Okay, fine, he made her a little nervous, but it might have had something to do with the fact he had at least an entire foot and some inches over her, making him roughly six-three. The fire in his eyes was almost as red as the red button-up he wore that complimented his long, dark hair, which matched his jeans.
"Hey, you little bitch...!" he snarled out. "You'd better fucking apologize!"
Before Sango could say anything, Kagome shoved him backwards; a ballsy and damn stupid move.
"And you'd better get out of my face. He grabbed my ass!"
InuYasha's eyes widened. Not at the news of Miroku playing grab-ass with anyone (hell, that was hardly news), but at this little hellbitch who had the nerve to mouth off to him. She was probably a freshman and if anything, it was his job to put all the freshy bitches in line. Then again, most girls arrived at this campus knowing not to cross him, so how she missed the memo, he wasn't sure. Either way, when he told her that he would show her a better use for that smart mouth of hers, she screamed at him that maybe she'd be interested if he had a dick to suck. Sango was aghast. Kagome acted so differently back home.
"Fine!" Kagome smirked. "Let's take this outside!"
Kagome stormed towards the door, followed by Sango begging her to just apologize, and half the party flooding outside and onto the front lawn. InuYasha mocked her for a few minutes, saying that she didn't stand a chance and just to be fair, he'd let her hit him once. Kagome didn't hesitate. She threw all she had into a single punch and knocked him on his ass twice as hard as she had Miroku. Enraged, InuYasha broke his one promise: he'd never hit a woman, but he wouldn't mind fucking up a smart-mouthed little bitch. Just like that, the onlookers watched as InuYasha and Kagome went at it. No matter what, Kagome always protected her face, but more shocking was that Kagome was holding her own, even though she and InuYasha were taking equal licks. The sound of police sirens caused everyone to scatter into chaos and make a run for it. Unable to find Sango, and knowing she was one the targets the cops were after, she took off running into the night. She ran until she came to a nearby park and hid herself inside of a tunneled slide on the playground. She thought she was safe until she was nearly pushed down the slide by someone else trying to hide. She looked up to see whose fucking feet were currently shoved into her spine, only to see InuYasha staring at her as if she'd been the one to intrude on his hiding spot!
"Get out of here! Find your own place!" Kagome hissed quietly.
"Like hell! You go find..."
"I think one of them ran this way!" a cop yelled.
InuYasha reached forward, snaking his arm around Kagome's body and pulling her closer to him. Her fucking feet were hanging out of the slide and damned if he was going to jail because of her. He clamped his mouth shut over her mouth, forcing himself to ignore how soft her lips felt against the palm of his hand. They remained as still as death, cramped in that tiny slide as a few cops could be heard looking around the park for them. They heard their breath the second they could see a sliver of light from one of the police offer's flashlight. Something else must have distracted him because he turned the light away from them just before it shined on Kagome's silver-painted toenails and walked away with his partner. They continued to listen for any other signs of police still trolling the area for a good ten minutes. In these ten minutes, Kagome learned something about InuYasha: he wore cologne that almost seemed complimented by the smell of sweat and blood. It almost gave her a heady sort of high. As for InuYasha, he discovered that his little hellcat had incredibly soft skin and by completely accident when his lips brushed her shoulder, she tasted as sweet as she smelled. Finally, when the coast was clear, Kagome slid down the side and stuck her head out before standing up. She stretched and sighed, extremely thankful that her parents wouldn't have to find out that the police were actually looking for her. Only when she heard InuYasha clamber out of the slide behind her did she realize she wasn't exactly safe just yet. She whirled around, focused her eyes on him and prepared to take him on again if another ass kicking was what he wanted. He stood up straight and stared at her for a minute. This chick had bigger balls than most of the guys in his fraternity. He had to admire her for that.
"Look," he sighed. "We can either stand here and continue to fuck each other up, or we can get outta here before those cops come back. Personally, I don't give a damn what happens to you, but you're the sister of my friend's main squeeze, so if something does happen, then I look like the biggest cockblocker in history. Not exactly a rep I wanna have on campus."
Hesitantly, Kagome lowered her guard. She tried taking a step forward, only to fall into the woodchips that surrounded the play ground. She quickly sat up and looked at her heels. It shouldn't have surprised her that sometime in between the fight and her little jog through the park, not only had she broken the heel off of her left sandal, but also the straps were coming out. Instead of bitching and complaining like most girls would in her situation (girls he knew personally), she took off her heels and carried them back to the frat with her. Despite the brave face she tried to put on, he could see her wincing everytime her bare feet hit the gravel. He commended her for not stopping and not asking for a piggy back ride or anything like that. Not that he wouldn't have given it to her. Thankfully, by the time they'd gotten back to the frat house some five blocks later, InuYasha was personally relieved to see Miroku and the other members had already taken care of the police-with a rather large sum of money-and the cleanup had already begun. When Sango saw InuYasha walk inside with Kagome by his side, she didn't know whether to be pissed off or relieved. She vied for the second one and ran to her sister, hugging her like she'd been away at war. InuYasha didn't say anything else as he left the girls to their reunion, but Kagome did have something to say:
"Thank you, InuYasha."
He paused for a second, but didn't turn around. Just gave something of a chuckle and walk away. Kagome had sounded like she was smiling, but he wouldn't know as he kept his back to her. Sango hurried Kagome back to her apartment where she began to treat Kagome's wounds. Despite her getting into an all-out fistfight with a man nearly ten years older than her, she had held her own surprisingly well. Kagome had kept her face protected perfectly, so the only thing they had to worry about was her bruised, cut and banged up arms, legs and torso, and this was one of the few times Kagome was glad she knew how to wear traditional kimono. When she went back to Kyoto on Sunday, Kagami grilled her for hours on what had happened, but Kagome reminded on silent the entire time and said all she and Sango did was take in a movie, hang out around campus, and spend quality time together. Thankfully, her mother was satisfied with that response and dropped it. Kagome, however, couldn't help but feel a little shaken up from the entire experience. Not from the fight she'd had with InuYasha, but the after effects. When InuYasha hit her in the chest, had hit struck her so hard that now her heart constantly began to beat wildly whenever she thought of him? That had to be the reason! Maybe he knew some sort of age-old ninja tactic where the more she thought about him, the more her heart beat, and eventually, because she'd always be thinking about him, her heart would explode out of her chest or something! Well, fine! The only way to take care of that problem was to throw herself completely into her studies, her dancing, and whatever else her mother had lined up for her! That way, she wouldn't even have to think about that asshole!
Kagami was more than pleased with her daughter in the following weeks. Kagome's dancing had become more profound and filled with emotion, her grades had escalated quickly, and she just seemed to excel at everything ten-fold. Almost enough to the point where now even members of Setsuna's family were paying positive attention to Kagome's achievements, and that included Takahiro. Even Kouga, Kagome's fiancĂ who was older than her by five years, was starting to take great notice in Kagome as more of a woman. No one knew where her drive was coming from, but it certainly was making her the talk of the Kohryu household.
Sango, however, noticed the change in Kagome whenever she came home, and she figured it might have had something to do with a certain, raven-haired boy back on campus. True, Kagome was engaged to an extremely powerful heir, but was it really Kagome's fault that her first encounter with love had left her with more than a few love taps? Even Miroku had said that InuYasha had been acting a little funny, and by "funny", he meant that InuYasha's hoardes of women had stopped coming around the Frat. InuYasha Kuroiitsuki loved women, so this had all of the boys in the frat house on edge. What had caused this change in their hardened, playboy leader? No one knew...until Miroku answered the door one day and found Kagome, clad in a beautiful and expensive looking midnight blue kimono with baby-pink peonies. Her hair, which had been wavy when he'd last seen her, was straight and sleek and he could smell the expensive fragrance coming off her in waves. Miroku ushered Kagome inside, which is something she began to regret once the other members eyed her like she was a piece of meat ready to be ripped apart. But, Kagome regained her composure. She was, after all, a young lady, even if she had shamed herself quite a bit the last time she'd been there, but she couldn't back down now. She had been working up the courage to get on the train by herself and return to Tokyo. Sango had insisted that this "curse" InuYasha had put on her would simply vanish if she saw him again. So, she donned her best kimono, lied to her mother-something she'd been getting increasingly good at-and booked a train ticket to Tokyo. Of course people stared at her because hardly anyone wore kimono in this day and age, but she didn't care. Nothing would keep her from seeing InuYasha and giving him a piece of her mind. Miroku had invited her in to sit down in the parlor, simply because no one was allowed into InuYasha's room when he wasn't there. Kagome sat on the grungy couch, looking very much out of place amongst the beer-stained wooden floor littered with red and blue plastic cups. Kagome's floral perfume must have overwhelmed the smell of beer, grunge and sex, because interestingly enough, more boys had come from their rooms upstairs to sneak a peek at the lovely little vision. At the very least, they guessed her age to be nineteen or so, which wouldn't make hitting on her a felony. Before any of them got the chance, InuYasha announced he was home. Kagome could hear Miroku inform InuYasha-rather smugly-that he had a guest. Kagome heard him groan loudly.
"Tell me you didn't let Sachiko into this house!"
"Nah," Kagome heard Miroku chuckle. "Not one of your girlfriends, InuYasha."
Kagome wouldn't act like she wasn't miffed by this. Then again, why should she even care? She heard InuYasha walk into the room and when she turned around to look at him, he looked as if he were staring at the ghost of Christmas past! It hadn't been that long. Was she really that forgettable? Or did he just not want to see her? Either way, she forced a smile and asked him how he'd been.
"Uh..." he sat his bagpack down on a nearby chair. He wiped his hands on his black pants of his tracksuit and sighed. "Pretty good." Silence. "You?"
"Can't complain. Anyway, I didn't come all this way to make small talk. I would like to speak with you..." She noticed the accumulating boys hoping to catch something good and glowered at him. "...alone."
InuYasha wouldn't lie and say he wasn't floored. He hadn't seen her in almost three weeks. A very long, painful, sexually frustrated three weeks, a part of his mind reminded him. Then again, judging by how intense she looked, he knew the nature of her visit had nothing to do with any of his sexual frustration. He should have taken her upstairs to his room, but instead he grabbed his backpack and told her to follow him.
"We'll talk at my place. My bedroom upstairs is more like an office for work only..." He wouldn't elaborate as he escorted Kagome to the door. She gave a deep bow to Miroku, sort of her way of apologizing, even though he really didn't deserve it, and walked out. The other college students stared at them as if they were the oddest couple on campus. Then again, it did look rather stranger: InuYasha, dressed in a rather casual, black track suit was walking next to a walking next to a beautiful young woman dressed in a kimono that looked like a piece of art. Of course, the rumors had been circling for a while now: InuYasha had given up his flirting and playboy ways, it seemed. At first, it was up in the air if he "played for the other team". It wouldn't have been unheard of, given there were a few closeted gay frat boys, and with InuYasha being the top dog, he could do whatever to whomever. But, he was quick to squash these rumors and with him walking beside Kagome, he actually looked pretty happy. Funny, how he would be the type of guy to go for a girl in a kimono. As they approached his apartment just a few blocks away from the frathouse, he glanced at Kagome out of the corner of his eye. She was clenching the handle of the silk purse as if she'd meant to break it. He would have never pegged her for a rich girl. She didn't even look like she belonged in Tokyo. She looked more like she belonged in Kyoto somewhere.
"Hey," he said as he pulled out his key. "It's warm, you know? Aren't you uncomfortable in that kimono?"
Kagome shook her head and looked at him in earnest. It seemed strange he'd actually be concerned about her, but she wouldn't admit it made her happy. She extended her arms, revealing the long, draping sleeves.
"Not really. This is a kimono made of thinner fabric for the warmer months."
"And you always wear them?" He stared at her in surprise.
"Everyday."
He chuckled to himself before stepping inside. He'd been right-only those with money could afford to wear such expensive kimono on a daily basis. Well, at least he knew he and Kagome were cut from the same cloth, but why had she acted like such a hellcat then? When Miroku had first told him he had a guest, he honestly wouldn't have known the spry and spunky little brawler from a few weeks ago, and the vision of womanhood in a midnight blue and pink kimono were the same person. But, it was her eyes that gave her away. He hadn't been able to forget those beautiful eyes that had burned hot with fire the night they first met. Inuyasha invited her in and kicked off his shoes. She properly welcomed herself and thanked him for having her. His apartment was huge, and it almost seemed too big for him alone. She would have thought it to be a regular, studio apartment, but then she saw the thin stairs attached to the wall. The entire apartment was heavily furnished with expensive items, such as a massive, HD television in front of an Italian leather sofa set and a mahogany coffee table. It was neat and clean, from the custom built chef's kitchen to the bathroom with a large, Jacuzzi bathtub and separate shower. Inuyasha motioned for him to follow her upstairs. Inuyasha had converted his attic into a large, beautiful bedroom, which was something she'd never seen done before. Kagome examined the room-There was an expensive white carpet that covered the room, a fireplace against the back wall and an enormous canopy bed with a strong and expensive headboard in the center of the room. The sheer curtains were closed, but because of the dim lighting coming from the lights inside of the canopy, she could make out a black sheet with a black comforter. Good Lord, she wanted no part of why his room was so salaciously decorated, but because of that damn curse on her heart, she couldn't help but be affected. He sat his bag down and kneeled in front of the minature fridge. Kagome glanced over his shoulder and could see it was filled with beer, junk, and water. Interestingly, she had never considered how old he might have been. She had assumed that he was around Sango's age: nineteen. But now, she wasn't so sure.
"You want one?" he offered her a bottle of mineral water, but she shook her head and politely refused him. He shrugged, placed the bottle back into the fridge and closed it with his foot. Taking a seat over on his bed, he figured it was finally time to get down to business.
"So, what can I do for you?"
Wasn't that the million-dollar question. Kagome couldn't help it; she got mad all over again. He just seemed so casual about the whole thing. Didn't he know what he'd put her through in the past few weeks? Yet, he was probably here partying his ass off, drinking his expensive beer and water, and just living it up! When she began skulking towards his bed, he half expected her to knock him out. He unzipped his black track jacket, revealing a white muscle shirt beneath it that he tossed across the room his desk chair. If she'd come all this way just to fight, why the hell would she have come in a kimono? A tense moment passed between them before she reached for his shirt.
"What have you done to me, InuYasha?"
He stared at her as if she'd blown a fuse. What the fuck was this chick's problem? He didn't remember fucking her, so there was no way she was talking about knocking her up. He grabbed her wrists before her nails sliced through the material of his shirt and into his skin.
"Are you high or something? What the fuck did I do to you?" Not counting that brawl they'd had a while back.
Kagome dropped her head, leaving her bangs to shadow her eyes. He could feel her tremor slightly. He was so lost for words that he didn't even know what to do when he could hear her crying softly. She balled up her hands into fists and shook her head.
"Do you hate me that much, InuYasha? Is that why you put this curse on me?"
"Curse?" Oookay, now he was really fucking confused.
"You know damn well what I'm talking about!" she screamed as she yanked her wrists away from him. She placed her hand over her heart and stared at him with teary eyes that dared him to even try and lie to her right now. "You did something to my heart. Whenever I think of you, my heart..." Suddenly, she was overcome with embarrassment. Her face felt flushed and suddenly, it became hard to talk. Why is my throat so dry? She swallowed to dislodge that huge lump in her throat. "My heart starts beating really fast and I get dizzy..."
"Bet you get warm too, don't you?"
Kagome's head snapped up and she found him looking at her through narrowed eyes and with a rather devious smirk on his face as he stood there with one hand in his pocket and leaning to one side. So, he did know what he'd done to her! Before she could lash out again, he advance on her and tilted up her chin with one finger. She wanted nothing more than to belt him in his mouth and knock that smug grin off his face. She tried retreating, but found herself caught in between him and the large, wooden bedpost of his bed. He closed off all distance between them and Kagome's breath hitched in her throat when she could feel something hard pressing against her through the material of her kimono. How dare he...!
"Tell me, Kagome..." he whispered into her ear. "You get warm, right? Your face starts to flush a little bit too, doesn't it?"
Unsure of what he was playing at, all Kagome could do was nod. She wasn't sure what strange sensations this curse he'd placed on her was doing to her body, but everything he described was happening to her. Shuddering at the feeling of his warm breath against her ear, she turned her head away.
"Even my kimono feels too hot for me, InuYasha." She clenched her eyes shut. "What have you done to me? I can't stop thinking about you..."
"Babe," she heard him chuckle darkly. "You ain't cursed, but you'd better believe I have the cure for what ails you."
"Sango said the cure would be to see you again."
"Smart girl."
Kagome's eyes flew open when he began to undo her obi. She grabbed his wrists like a vice and he stopped, clearly seeing the outrage burning in her beautiful, storm-colored eyes.
"What do you think you're doing?"
He pulled back his hand and gave her a look that asked her the very same question. She pushed him away from her and took another step back him. Damn this girl was frustrating! She clung to the collar of her kimono with the tenacity of a bear trap and glared at him.
"Just because I'm hot doesn't give you permission to undress me! How dare you!"
"Listen, you little tease, you come to my apartment telling me how just the very thought of me gets you all hot and bothered! If that's not lust, then what else can it...?"
His sentence came to a screeching halt. No way. There was just no way she...For him? Couldn't have been! But, he couldn't keep the rather smarmy grin from forming on his face. This bitch was so proud, she probably didn't even know what was wrong with her, and yet she placed all the blame on him for "cursing" her? This was too rich.
"I know exactly what's wrong with you. You're in love with me."
She looked at him as if the prospect absolutely horrified her. InuYasha scoffed at her expression as if he were the one offended. Well, if that's the way she felt...! He prepared to haul off on her when he stopped. No, he couldn't just go off on her. He wasn't sure what sort of curse she'd worked over on him, but because of her, no other girl had been able to satisfy him. Not sexually, not emotionally.
Never that he really ever involved himself emotionally.
Still, she did seem extremely stunned, shocked even, at the very suggestion. Didn't this girl know what it felt like to harbor feelings for another person? She had to have been over twenty. What, was she some hideous duckling when she was little? She didn't look as if she'd ever been ugly. How could she not even acknowledge a crush? And if it certainly wasn't a physical lust, then there was just no doubt in his mind that she was falling for him. Oddly enough, this should have horrified him. He didn't do love; he didn't go serious relationships. So why give this bitch the time of day? Was she even worth it? Probably not. Would she fuck him over? Without a doubt! But, there was something different about her. Different than the flirty, airheaded bimbos that made her stand out. She did something no one, be they male or female had ever done:
She stood up to him.
Fearlessly. When her cheeks began to tint red and her face began to flush, he couldn't help but grin. Maybe he'd been right.
"Fine, we'll do this," he said sitting on the edge of his comfortable bed. He patted the space beside him and hoped his smile was more of an innocent one than an "I'm going to get you outta that kimono one way or the other" smile. Kagome tensed up before hesitantly sitting down beside him. The bed was rather soft. When InuYasha knew he had her attention, he continued on. "We'll act like a couple for one week. Each day, we'll add on something that regular couples will do. That way, you'll either find the cure to your so-called "curse", or I'll know you're definitely in love with me. S'not like I'm seeing anyone right now. Are you?"
Kagome quickly shook her head, only to remember the certain son of a certain bank president that she was engaged to. But, certainly she'd be able to do this little test for a week, right? InuYasha clapped his hands together and stood up. He turned around and grinned at her.
"Then it's settled. Today will be Day One. How about tomorrow, I pick you up from school?"
Still a little dumbfounded by the whole ordeal, she nodded slowly as InuYasha escorted her back downstairs. Unsure of what to say as they stood on the stoop of his apartment, she looked off to the side, not quite ready to meet his eyes. At least she knew he hadn't cursed her. But love? There was no way she could have loved him. Well, at least she'd find out by this little simulation.
"Where do you go to school? Which university?"
Kagome blanched and looked at him. Hadn't Sango told him? Not that she expected Sango to be close with him, but surely he...
"InuYasha, I'm only sixteen. I attend Ritsumeikan Private High School in Kyoto."
He stared at her for a minute. Well, how about that? His little Hellcat was a Hellkitten! Things suddenly got a lot more interesting...
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
The next day, it was all Kagome could do to keep from driving herself insane. Her mother had demanded to know why she'd skipped school, to which Kagome had told her that she needed to see Sango about a personal matter. To back this up, Kagome was quick to text Sango and like the good older sister Sango was, she quickly came up with an alibi. After that, she'd gone to school, sat through her classes and actually managed to focus, but was constantly unnerved by the thought of Inuyasha coming to her school, but more so by the fact that she'd summed up the courage to ask Sango how old Inuyasha was.
"Oh! Didn't you know?" her sister said in a tone that suggested she was smiling casually on the other end. "He's twenty-four. I think Miroku said he would be twenty-five next month. He's one of the best in the Graduate Program here too."
Kagome had nearly dropped her cell phone. Well, at least Inuyasha had guessed her age wrong too, but twenty-four? He was eight years older than her and she wouldn't be eighteen for another two years! When he was twenty-six! Kagome remembered groaning into her pillow loudly to keep everyone else in the estate from knowing her anguish. Now, as she stood waiting outside of the pristine school while gripping the handle of her school bag, she wondered if perhaps this simulation was a good idea. How could she possibly be in love with someone that she couldn't exactly call herself fond of. She was so busy listing off all of the negative qualities in her head, she hadn't heard any of the sudden whispering from the girls and guys until the topic of their excitement was standing right in front of her, dressed in a tight, red shirt that did nothing bit emphasize his musclar torso, and a pair of black jeans that only complimented his already long legs. His long, dark hair was pulled back and out of his face, and the way he wore his black messenger bag with the university logo for Tokyo University engraved on it let everyone know he was proud to be a student there. Kagome gasped a bit, opening her mouth to tell at him for sneaking up on people like that when he broke into a boyish smile.
"Hey, sorry about that Kagome. Were you waiting long?"
Kagome's rant died on her tongue and she tried to blame her stomach falling to her feet on bad fish in her bento. Then, abruptly, she felt it again: the flushing of her cheeks and the erratic beating of her heart against her chest. It only intensified when he reached down, intertwined his fingers with hers, and raised their joined hands up so that the back of her hand was facing him. He kissed it softly, only inciting more whispers and the start to gossip from her peers.
"Sorry I'm late."
Kagome opened her mouth to say something, but all that came out was a dry squeaking sound. She cleared her throat, trying not to focus on how warm his hand felt, or how it seemed larger, yet her hand seemed to fit perfectly in his. Instead, she tried to clear her throat one more time and give this whole "talking" business a try again.
"N-no problem. I...um, wasn't waiting long at all."
"Good. Well, let's go."
As he led her away from the school and down the rural, old-fashioned streets of Kyoto, he couldn't help but notice how the red and black sailor fuku looked on her. Actually, he was more focused on how the thigh-high stockings clung to her legs like a second skin, making them look rather shapely. And she's really only sixteen? He knew he'd better keep her age under wraps or there would be hell to pay. Kagome had hardly said two words to him since they began their walk, but with a little provocation, he managed to get her to open a little more. Somewhere in between stopping at an old-fashioned teahouse, and leaving a confectionary store, he learned quite a bit about her: things that he'd already made assumptions about. She was rich, she did come from a highly traditional family, and she was every bit as spunky as he knew she was. As they sat down on a bench beneath the maple tree to enjoy the mitarashi dango he'd purchased, he asked her how a girl like her, who had been raised to be a timid and structured woman got introduced to fighting like a man and getting down and dirty. Kagome stuck the skewer with the miniature, sweetened buns in her mouth as if thinking about it. Honesty was the best policy after all, right?
"It's an outlet. I..."
Inuyasha noticed the strained look on her face. As if she were struggling just to tell him. She released a sharp breath and before she even realized it (or realized why) she telling him everything about her life, from how she was the daughter of her father's mistress and even about the bitter rivalry between her mother and Sango's mother. Inuyasha had a hard time keeping his utter shock to himself about how Kagome went looking for fights, especially with the boys at her school. She may have been a Hellkitten, but she certainly had the claws and fangs of a hellcat. And that meant she had potential. The sun had just begun to set when he offered to walk her home. As far as Day One went, things went smoothly enough. Hell, he had learned all he needed to know about her. Sure, her little fiancĂ would be an issue, but not a major obstacle-one that could be cleared easily enough. As they walked towards the massive estate, with the sun setting behind them and illuminating the beautiful, almost different era that Kyoto seemed to be, he figured he had a better chance now than ever to make his first move. Kagome hadn't even noticed that he wasn't walking beside her until she felt his arms snake around her from behind and pull her against him. With her back to his chest, and his arms tightly around her, she felt paralyzed on the spot. She clenched her eyes shut as if to shut out the feelings enveloping her entire being. She felt as if she were falling and flying at the same time. She couldn't give in so easily! She looked over her shoulder, ready to tell him off until his ears bled, but he placed his hand on the side of her face and kept her head looking over her shoulder long enough to kiss her. Kagome's eyes went wide with shock, and then slowly, she felt her lids lowering before closing all together as she fell into the kiss.
Who was she kidding? She didn't need a week to fall for him. She'd already fallen.
He broke the kiss, long enough for her to turn around and face him, and then leaned in once more. This kiss was more heated than the last one. Had she been wearing her kimono, he was certain he'd be able to charm her out of it this time. When he pulled away the second time, he could see her face was flushed and he could see the sheen from the sweat that had begun to cover her forehead. He hadn't released her completely, so he could feel her body trembling. He couldn't blame her; he was pretty excited himself. But, now that he actually had her...He expected her to lecture him about how it wouldn't be proper, and run the subject of their age difference into the ground, but instead, she'd responded. He wanted to know why, but at the same time, why look a good thing in the mouth?
And speaking of mouths...
Inuyasha leaned in once, hinting at wanting another kiss. Kagome closed her eyes and waited, with her heart fluttering in anticipation. Her eyes flew open when she felt his fingers press against her lips instead. She looked at him, confused at first, and even feeling rejected when he smiled and shook his head.
"If you want more..." he paused for a minute, carefully gauging her reaction. "You have to promise me you'll come to my place tomorrow."
"T-tomorrow? But, what about the other six days?"
He shook his head and insisted that he already knew how he felt about her, and if she needed time to get her feelings straight, he wouldn't mind waiting. But, Kagome knew what she felt, even if she couldn't put it in words. Sure, she had dance practice tomorrow, but she'd gladly blow it off for a chance to be with him-to kiss him-just one more time. She spent half the night wondering what to wear for her trip to Tokyo, and decided on a light pink mini skirt with a simple, white blouse. On the train, she could hardly sit still and couldn't help but wonder what he had planned for day two. She felt as spoiled as a princess when she stepped off the three-hour train ride and saw him waiting there. He even ignored a few girls hoping to get his number in favor of walking over to her and greeting her with a hug, leaving the two girls to sulk while they walked away. Kagome was feeling more and more free with herself around him. Even though this was only the second day, she knew Inuyasha would have a very special existence in her life. She could be herself around him, and in the end, wasn't that what mattered? Like the gentleman he was, when they arrived at his place, he opened the door and allowed her to step inside first. She kicked off her sandals by the door and turned around, all smiles.
"So!" she beamed happily. "What are we doing for day..."
She had no time to react to Inuyasha clamping his hand over her mouth and nose. She was faintly aware of the wet, white cloth keeping her from breathing, or the strange smell that was permeating her senses and making her tired. She tried forcing his hand away from her mouth, but with her vision blurring and her muscles going weak, it was hardly a struggle. The last thing she could make out as she fell limply to the ground was Inuyasha standing over her with his hands in his pockets...and then the four, masculine, shadowed figures appearing by his side. |
