Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha and co...just playing out my fantasies with them... evil Laugh

Two Halves

By Goth Chick Tiff

Summary: Kagome has had a hard life and has a secret she can never tell anyone. Then two brothers transfer to her school that seem to know a part of her past she's blocked out. Now the misfit must handle one brother vying for her attention and the other being a pain in her ass, all the while protecting her and her brother from her corrupt father.

Two Halves

Chapter 7

"Are you crazy?" A voice bellowed, the body it occupied pacing back and forth in the living room of Naraku's home. "How could you be so stupid? If that girl says 'No' in just one of those tapes, you're screwed! You may be flesh and blood, but Kagome is too. How can you do that to your own daughter!"

Naraku growled at his older brother, "Do you think I don't already know that? Why the fuck do you think I called you?! You're the best damn lawyer there is in this country; you've been able to get all your clients off!"

Hakudoushi turned on his little brother, "Not anymore I'm not. The Taisho's are back in Tokyo. They get calls worldwide and get paid exponentially for their services. Now how many lawyers do you know that travel to other countries to defend their clients? They are that fucking good, Naraku. And the kicker? That strapping young man that you're so damn jealous of… he's their fucking SON!" He exclaimed, once again resuming his pacing. "Even if I somehow, miraculously, got you off the rape charges, there's still statutory rape, possession with intent to sell, and prostitution, among countless others! There's no way you're getting out of this!"

"Prostitution? You've gotta be kidding me!" the younger man said.

Seething, Hakudoushi clenched his fist and seriously contemplated smacking his brother across the face. "You sold your own daughter for sex! Now I know I experimented with drugs when I was younger; I'm not entirely innocent; but I did my time and made a name for myself. While you were screwing your own fucking daughter, I sat in jail trying to figure out how to turn my life around. And I have. Sure, I get a few bad guys off of rape charges, but it's my job. You I can't help, Naraku. I won't help you. You deserve everything that you get. What you did to that poor girl is despicable. Find someone else to defend you, I sure as hell won't," he said before storming out of the house, not bothering to shut the door behind him.

Blinking her eyes open a raven-haired beauty brought a hand up to stifle a yawn. Stretching, she released a small moan of pleasure when she felt the kinks in her back pop, only to start at the feel of an arm around her waist grip her tighter. Her beautiful chocolate orbs widened in surprise as she took in the décor of the room she woke up in. 'This isn't my room,' she thought, hastily trying to pull away from the body she was pressed intimately against, her actions waking the other occupant of the bed.

"Kagome, stop. It's just me," Sesshoumaru said, tightening his grip around the girl and sighed when he felt her relax in his arms. He released the girl from his embrace and looked behind him at the alarm clock, grunting when he saw that it read 5:06 A.M. "Sleep, we still have an hour before he have to get up."

Kagome, now visibly calmed, turned so she could look upon the silver-haired teen she'd spent the night with. "Sorry for freaking out on you, I sort of forgot that I came in here last night," she whispered as she snuggled against his hard body. "I think I might go for a walk, I like the early morning breeze."

Sesshoumaru smiled gently down at the girl and placed a feather-light kiss upon her forehead. "If you let me get dressed, I'll accompany you," h7e said stretching and rising into a sitting position.

With a mischievous glint in her eyes, Kagome hopped off the bed. "Why bother with the clothes?" she asked, her eyes slowly turning gold. Her nose and mouth turning into a snout as she fell to her haunches, growling lowly as her human arms and legs turned into that of a wolf's. Her clothes ripping to shreds as her transformation continued.

When completed, Kagome stood before Sesshoumaru in her wolf counterpart. She stared at the man in front of her, the mischievous gleam still evident within her eyes. Letting out a howl, she took a running leap at the stationary figure only to blink in surprise when she didn't catch him. Hearing the door open behind her, she turned around to see him leaning against the doorframe. Without a thought she dashed out of the room, her tail wagging behind her.

Sesshoumaru smirked at Kagome's retreating figure. With the grace of a practiced loup-garou, he changed into his own wolf counterpart. His transformation taking mere seconds, looking thoroughly like a wolf had appeared in his place. He gave chase; catching up to the female wolf within minutes and tackling her to the floor. Gently, he nipped her ear then bounded down the stairs.

With a growl Kagome took off after her playmate 'I'm gonna get you for that, you ass,' she thought as she rounded a corner, narrowly missing an end table with a vase of flowers atop it as she did so.

'You have to catch me first,' said a voice resounding in her head, causing her to stop short. Having noticed that she'd given up the chase, Sesshoumaru turned around and jogged over to the startled female wolf. 'Kagome, are you alright?'

'We can communicate while in this form?' she moved to a sitting position, her head tilted to the side.

Sesshoumaru stared at her quizzically. 'You didn't know?' he asked before explaining. 'Because we are an advanced species we can communicate telepathically as well as with barks and yips.

Hearing footsteps coming rapidly down the steps, Kagome and Sesshoumaru padded their way over to the living room, Kagome shrinking behind Sesshoumaru's larger form. Seeing her friends rushing down the stairs, her younger brother in the lead, she let out a small whine. 'What's wrong?' Sesshoumaru yipped at her.

The silver and black wolf stretched her body across the floor, her paws covering her face. 'I never told Sota about what I am,' She whimpered out.

Sesshoumaru gently nuzzled Kagome with his snout, hoping to comfort her while Inuyasha went to get two blankets to cover their nude forms when they reverted back to humans. When he returned with both blankets, Inuyasha draped them over both wolves, ignoring the looks he was getting from the other occupants of the room.

With a snort, Sesshoumaru reverted back to his human from. He ignored the collective gasps from four of the room's occupants and pulled the blanket tighter around his body. He turned to Kagome and gently stroked one of her silver-tipped ears, smiling when he heard a rumbling purr escape her. "C'mon Kagome, You need to show them."

Whimpering, Kagome returned to her human form and clutched the blanket closed around her. "Hi guys," she said as she stood up and hid behind Sesshoumaru's looming figure. "How'd you sleep?"

Sota stared at his sister wide-eyed before running to her and hugging her around the waist. "That is SO cool, sis!" he exclaimed as he pulled away envy shining in his chocolate orbs. "Can I do that, too?"

Kagome laughed in relief and mussed her little brother's already messy hair. "I'm not sure, kiddo. We'll see after school, if not I'll change whenever you want. Ok?" She smiled when he saw his enthusiastic nod, then shooed him upstairs to get ready for school.

The remaining teens walked over to the couch, Sango muttering under her breath about 'hybrids that don't understand the meaning of beauty sleep', forgetting entirely that three of the teens had enhanced hearing. She looked up to glare at Kagome and Sesshoumaru, hell-bent on making them pay for ruining her sleep, and saw them smirking her way as they sat on the loveseat. Confused, she quirked an eyebrow in their direction. "What the fuck are you two smiling about? I don't see anything funny at being woken up at 5 in the damn morning," she growled.

"Damn, I forgot what a bitch you are in the morning, Sango," Kagome said smiling. "I don't envy Miroku."

Everyone but Sango snickered at Kagome's remark, only quieting when Sango glared at them all. "You didn't complain last year, sweet cakes. You remember right? That night when we worked on that school project and you ended up falling asleep in bed with me? You didn't forget did you? Please tell me you didn't forget…it was such a special night for me…"

Miroku's eyes widened at the implication of Sango's words and looked over at Kagome. He waited with abated breath, hoping beyond hope that the two girls had gotten it on last year, never once thinking it could be a joke. Sesshoumaru, Inuyasha, and Koga weren't fooled.

Kagome, never one to back down from a challenge, merely stood up and walked over to the brown-haired teen. She briefly wondered how far Sango would take the joke but figured there was only one way to find out. "Aww, baby, you know I would never forget that night. It was special for me too," she said as she brushed a lock of hair behind Sango's ear, clutching the blanket she was wearing closed tightly with her other hand. "The way your hair looked in the moonlight that filtered through window, how adorable you looked as you slumbered peacefully, how your body felt against mine as we slept in each other's arms. I'd never be able to forget such a perfect night…nor would I want to.

"You're my angel, baby. You touched me in ways that night that no one ever did. You're in my blood," her voice lowered until it was just a whisper. "But the next morning, you were so afraid of what it would mean that I never pursued anything. You were so into Miroku then, and all I wanted was for you to be happy, so I acted like it was nothing. I never forgot about it, or how at peace I felt with your arm around my waist, pulling me closer until we were like one."

By now the four males were near to drooling. Miroku was leaning so far off the chair that if he moved any further he would certainly fall. Inuyasha and Koga both looked on wide-eyed, mouths agape. Sesshoumaru, while the least mesmerized of the four, still looked on captivated.

Sango looked up into Kagome's chocolate orbs, a small blush coloring her cheeks. Throughout at the jokes Kagome and she had played, things had never progressed this far. She almost regretted starting it...almost. But at the moment she couldn't help wondering what it would be like to kiss the raven-haired beauty. 'Ok Sango, you've got to stop this. No more thinking about kissing your best friend!' she thought frantically, her blush deepening. She was fully aware of Kagome's hand stroking her hair at the nape of her neck, and before she could back away she found her lips firmly planted on Kagome's.

Three thuds were heard as Miroku, Koga, and Inuyasha fell out of their seats. All three scrambled to get up so that not a moment of the kiss was missed, but only succeeded and getting knocked down again as the bumped into each other.

"Hmmm. Different, but good." Kagome said after she pulled away from the short kiss. She smiled at the three males on the floor. "Really guys, you have got to stop believing that Sango and I are bisexuals. It's just too easy to play you." With that said, she skipped up the stairs, chuckling as she did so.

Inuyasha looked around confused as he sat on the floor. "What just happened?"

"The minx has managed to fool you once again, little brother," Sesshoumaru said as he stood to follow Kagome upstairs, ignoring the growl that was sent his way. He had other things to attend to…like a very cold shower.

Sango stared unseeingly across the wide expanse of the living room, a hand touching her lips. She didn't hear the loud exclamations of the rooms other occupants. Nor did she feel the hand of her boyfriend slightly gripping her shoulder as he tried unsuccessfully to get her attention. Only when she was forcefully shaken by her beau did she come out of her stupor. After shaking her head to clear it of her less than innocent thoughts, she looked up into Miroku's violet eyes, giving him an oh-so-intelligent reply. "Huh?"

"I asked if you were ok. You've been standing there, spaced out, for ten minutes." Miroku explained while rubbing her arms soothingly.

A soft blush stained the brunette's cheeks and she looked over Miroku's shoulder to see Inuyasha and Koga smirking at her. "I'm fine, just got sidetracked thinking of different ways to kill Kagome. Or at least get back at her for that damned kiss." She said huffing before turning around to go back to her room to get ready for school.

Memories of her shared kiss with Kagome bombarded Sango as she bounded up the stairs. Her lips still tingled from the brief contact, and she panicked at the thought of what it might mean. 'No, I can't have feelings for Kagome. She's my best friend, it's wrong…on so many levels.' She thought frantically. 'It was just a joke, it didn't mean anything. Just a kiss. A kiss isn't anything to get worked up over. Besides, I love Miroku, even though he doesn't know how to keep that hand of his to himself.'

Her thoughts never ceased as she tried to rationalize her feelings after the impromptu kiss. She didn't think that Kagome would take the joke that far, though she should've remembered that Kagome never backed down from a challenge. She sighed as she walked out of the room that she'd used the night before, heading unenthusiastically towards the stairs. She didn't know how she should act around Kagome; sure she was up for a little bit of teasing, but kissing! That was never in the playbook!

Working up her resolve, she descended the stairs and headed for the front door. She could hear her friends' laughter coming from the other side and steeled herself for the taunts that were sure to be sent her way when she opened the door. She wasn't disappointed.

"Hey there, lover, I was starting to miss you," Kagome said with a smile that only increased when she saw the girl blush. There was nothing she wouldn't do to make that reddish tint stain her best friend's cheeks.

Time and time again she teased Sango to receive that outcome, and seeing the guys fall over themselves was a bonus. It was only harmless flirting, and she'd learned that a person's day could go from bad to good just because she'd openly flirted with them. Some good attention can easily overpower bad attention; a simple wink can make a person smile when they've done nothing but frown all day. And that was her main goal – to make people smile.

Sango glared at the smiling raven head. "Shut it, Kagome," She growled out. "And while you're at it, stop making the guys believe that we're lovers!"

Inuyasha and Koga chuckled, both knowing full well that Kagome would never stop her attempts at getting Sango flustered. "Sango, you know about Kagome's bisexual tendencies. The key is to not get worked up over it," Koga said as he crossed his arms.

"Oh, c'mon. You know full well that if you were a girl and you saw Sango that you'd go lesbian on her! She's a fucking babe," Kagome said as she adjusted her trench coat and handed her bother a helmet as he walked past her. "And I'm not bisexual, I just love to see her blush. And you guys can't tell me that you don't secretly love it."

Miroku snorted at Kagome's response as he crossed his arms. "You may not be bisexual, but you're definitely bi-curious," he said with a grin. "You get way too much satisfaction out of making Sango flush in order not to be."

Everyone laughed while Kagome huffed. "The only thing I get pleasure out of is watching you guys drool."

"All you have to do is give them one of your smiles and they'll be putty in your hands, sis. And Sango, if you truly hated it when Kagome acts bisexual towards you, you wouldn't go along with it. The truth is, you like it because it makes you feel rebellious. You may be straight, but that doesn't mean it isn't flattering when Kagome dotes all that attention on you," Sota said, his arms crossed over his chest. Noticing the looks that he was getting, he sighed before saying, "I'm 11, not an idiot. Now can we get some food? We've still got half an hour before school starts and I'm hungry."

Kagome shook her head, a small smile gracing her features as she walked over to her motorcycle. Her little brother was exactly like her; street smart with a brain to boot. "Who do you wanna ride with, squirt?" she asked her little brother.

The youngest of the group looked between Kagome and Inuyasha before coming up with a decision. "If Inuyasha doesn't mind, I think I'll ride with him. I know how you are in the mornings; like a caged animal that's finally been let free. It must be the wolf in you, which is seriously wicked by the way."

The raven-haired beauty looked up at the dog-eared teen in question and smiled when she saw him nod. "He's all yours Yash. Anyone else want a ride?"

"If you let me drive I will," Koga said, knowing full well that she'd say no, but still he hoped for the best. "It's just weird for a guy to hang onto a girl while on a bike."

Kagome thought about Koga's statement for a minute before sliding back on her motorcycle. "Let's see what you've got, Koga. Yash, do you have an extra helmet?"

The tan skinned teen smiled as he accepted the offered helmet, and then tossed his keys to Miroku. "No sex in my car, perv," he said before hopping onto Kagome's motorcycle. "We'll meet you guys at school." With that said, Koga peeled out of the driveway, causing Kagome to quickly wrap her arms around his waist so that she didn't fall off.

The rest of the group watched the duo speed off in silence. "Kagome's in a seriously good mood," Sango said, breaking the silence. "She doesn't let anyone drive her bike but her."

Koga and Kagome reached the High School parking lot in record time. Kagome's arms were outstretched at her sides as if she were flying. Slowing down, Koga pulled into the first parking space and pulled off his helmet and laughed. Kagome's arms were still outstretched and though he couldn't see through her helmet, he would bet the world that there was a blissful smile plastered on her face. "You can put your arms down now Kags, we're here," he said chuckling.

She took her helmet off and smiled radiantly. "That was awesome," she said as she got off the motorcycle, only to start spinning round in circles, her arms once again outstretched. "God, it felt like I was flying. Like I was free!"

Koga laughed at his long-time friend, having not seen her this happy in years. "You should try it without the helmet," he said, and then grabbed her hand, causing her to stop short. "That's when it really feels like you're flying. At first the wind stings a bit as it hits your unprotected skin, but after a few minutes that goes away. The next thing you notice is the way it sounds as it rushes by your ears. It sounds like the ocean before wave after wave crashes on the beach. And then it'll whip at your hair, and the sensation is so soothing that your eyes will close just so you can preserve it. It's like you're free falling into life. All your worries, your fears, all the cares in the world disappear and you're only left with the freedom of the moment. The wind caresses you like a passionate lover and all the bad just washes away until the only thing that matters is how it makes you feel… and you never want it to end."

"So, it's like really great sex," Kagome said with a smile.

Koga laughed and sat down on the curb of the sidewalk. "I wouldn't know, would I? The only girl I ever really loved was you, and the thought of having sex with Kikyo made me want to retch."

Kagome walked over to her friend and pulled him into a hug. She'd known about his crush on her since she was 11. When she turned 15 he had started asking her out on dates, but with her home life the way it had been, she had been afraid for his safety as well as her own. Naraku had said in no uncertain terms that he'd 'kill anyone who had the gall to touch what was his'. Excluding, of course, the people who paid top dollar for her 'services'. "Oh, Koga," she whispered as she stroked his hair before pulling away from the embrace. "There's a reason why I didn't go out with you, Koga, and it's not because I didn't like you. It's because I was scared. Scared of what Naraku might do if he ever found, and scared that our friendship would be ruined if something were to go wrong. You have to remember that you didn't know what was happening behind closed doors, and I was terrified of what you might think of me, let alone if you were to find out that I wasn't entirely human. I was terrified of having a real relationship, I still am. But I can tell you this, if things were different and if I weren't so fucked up, I never would have said no."

A smile slowly crept onto Koga's face. "Yea?" He asked quietly, as if he were almost afraid that she would retract her previous statement. When he received an affirmative nod in answer, he pulled her into a crushing embrace. "Thanks Kags."

"For what? All I did was tell you the truth," she said with a small smile.

"For being the best friend a guy could have, even if there aren't any benefits involved," he explained with a wolfish grin.

Kagome laughed heartily. "I seem to remember you seeing me clad in only a bra," she said grinning. "And don't forget about when you kissed me in 10th grade at the Spring Fling Dance. Those seem like credible benefits to me."

It was Koga's turn to laugh, and he did so with fervor before replying. "Those don't count, Kags. For one, you were making out with another guy when I caught you topless. It's the same thing as walking in on you while you're getting dressed; an unexpected moment of PERFECT timing," he explained and held up a finger as if he were making a point. "And you slapped me at the Spring Fling Dance after I kissed you. So yea, those don't count."

"Yea, well, we were supposed to go to that dance as only friends. There wasn't supposed to be any kissing and it freaked me out, so I acted on impulse," she said laughingly. Looking around the campus she saw a sprinkling of students arriving for class and briefly wondered where the rest of the group was. "When do you think they'll get here?"

Koga shrugged his shoulders before answering. "Dunno. We got here pretty early." He said as he leaned back on his hands, watching as the parking lot slowly filled up. He never noticed Kagome get up and walk over to the snow covered field.

Petals fall around her,

dancing their dance only for her

as she sits beneath one of many trees -

Cherry Blossom - catching a few

of the falling petals in her hand,

a smile on her lips, before she lets

the wind play with them as it will.

With a devilish smirk, the raven haired beauty picked up a handful of snow and masterfully packed it into a small ball, ignoring the numbing affect it had on her fingers. "Hey Koga! Think fast!" Kagome threw the snowball just as Koga turned his head to look at her, hitting him smack dab in the face. She covered her mouth and clutched her stomach at the pure hilarity of the moment.

After a few minutes of laughter, Kagome saw Koga stand up and run after her. Letting loose a shriek, she ran around a Cherry Blossom tree as she giggled with glee. She'd managed to dodge his reaching hands a few times before he finally caught her by the tails of her coat and dragged her to the ground with him. He gave Kagome an evil smirk as he straddled her waist before he exacted his revenge. Mercilessly, he tickled the struggling girl, but he never stopped his torment. Neither acknowledged the students that passed by, laughing at the scene that the two caused.

Only when Kagome started struggling for air did Koga relent. He stood up and helped the huffing girl to her feet, a smile plastered on her face. "Play with fire and you'll get burned, little girl." He said then walked over to the Cherry Blossom tree and sat down. "These guys better get here quick or they're going to be late."

Watching her in her Heaven,

I know, I must protect her -

This fragile innocent with my face.

My innocence...

The thought seems so far-fetched,

but there she is, ethereal; luminescent.

Beautiful.

"Koga, do you think my mom was like me?"

"What do you mean?"

Kagome sighed as she raised her head to the sky. A light wind played with her hair as the cold air caused her cheeks to redden slightly. She closed her eyes when she felt a few drops of snow fall on her face. "My mom never told me about what I was. I found out when I was 5. I caught Naraku beating my mother and she looked at me with these horrified eyes. She kept telling me to run, but I couldn't move. Naraku looked at me then and started walking towards me. Momma jumped on him and was hitting him as she screamed at me to go. Like a good girl, I did what my mother told me. I ran for over an hour and came to a small section of woods. It was snowing then and I hid in a small cave to get away from the cold. Sometime during the night I fell asleep and woke up when I heard a howling not too far away from where I was hiding. I guess I was in their cave, because the next thing I knew there was a pack of wolves heading my way. Somehow I knew exactly what I had to do; I lay on my back slowly, making sure to not seem threatening and started whimpering, never looking them in the eye. The alpha came over and after a few minutes of sniffing walked away, deciding that I wasn't a threat. I ended up falling asleep again, snuggled up against two females, but the next morning when I awoke I wasn't me. I ended up waking the others with my whining and they tried to comfort me, but I was afraid. So, I ran again."

Her crimson Renaissance gown flowing

like a blanket around her, oblivious of all

the pain that surrounds her. Wanting

only to stay in that one moment.

To forever stay in the only place

she's ever truly felt at ease.

Happy and carefree as the wind

playing with her raven-colored hair.

"I was missing for over a week before the cops found me. I stayed as the wolf for most of the time, mostly because I didn't know how to change back and forth, and because of that I had managed to stay alive. It was by chance that they found me as a human instead. When they brought me home, Momma was pretty much healed and anything that wasn't could easily be covered up with make-up. I never told her about what happened, thinking that she wouldn't want me anymore. I kept it to myself for years, never thinking that maybe, just maybe, she was like me.

"Now, though, I'm not sure. I got run over by a car and I was healed within a day and it would take a week and a half for Momma to not look like a punching bag after Naraku beat her. I've never been sick a day in my life and two weeks before she died Momma found out that she had Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma. If I look at the facts, Momma wasn't like me at all. But if that's true, then that means that I'm either cursed like some of the beliefs say, or that I have a dad out there that I know nothing of. And if that's the case then how come he didn't stay? How come he didn't save us from that evil bastard? Why didn't he come to Momma's funeral? Did he not love us enough? Or am I so undesirable that the only person who would take us was a self-absorbed, sick asshole that used us to get what he wanted?"

I silently vow to never let her see

the darkness in which I dwell.

To never let her lose the innocence

that makes her so beautiful.

I'll protect her - protect me -

from ever truly being lost.

Koga stared at his friend with tear-filled eyes. He didn't know how he could've missed the years of depression and horror that Kagome must have gone though, but everyday he kicked himself in the ass for it. And every day he vowed that he'd never see her cry, and that he'd protect her with everything that he was worth. Pulling Kagome into a crushing embrace, he consoled her until her silent sobs dissipated. "Oh, Kags, anyone would be lucky to have you in their life, let alone as their daughter. Maybe he didn't know, or maybe your mom wanted to keep him safe, but if he ever knew you there would be no way that he'd ever turn his back on you. You are perfect; beautiful, selfless, loyal, strong, and so hard-headedly stubborn that it can grate on people's nerves. But that's why we love you," he said and smiled when he heard his friend chuckle. He gently pulled her away from his embrace and wiped away the tears that marred her flawlessly beautiful face. "Sesshoumaru met you a total of three times and spent six years searching for you. Doesn't that tell you how special you are?

"Every single guy in this school wants to date you, granted about 90% of them is terrified of you, but it doesn't take away from the fact that they'd kill just to get near you. And I'd bet that if you so much as winked at them that they'd all die happily right then….or at least become your willing slaves," Koga said with a laugh, hoping to cheer Kagome up. "Now, let me see that dazzling smile that your brother says can turn all us males into putty, which he is entirely right about, by the way."

Kagome laughed at her long-time friend and gave him a kiss on the cheek before smiling. "Thanks, Koga. You're the best friend a girl could have," she said and gave him another lingering hug, content to just be held in his arms. Friends comforting friends.

"We leave you guys alone for a few minutes and you're already all over each other," interjected Miroku, a grin plastered on his face as he walked towards the two embracing friends. "You might want to watch where you put those hands of yours, man, or Sesshoumaru might think that you're making a move on his girl."

Koga laughed as he let go of Kagome and waited for the rest of their group to reach them. "Only you would think a harmless hug is actually a plot to get laid," he said as he pulled his perverted friend into a head-lock to give him a noogie. With another laugh Koga released the struggling teen then started walking with Sesshoumaru to the front entrance of the school. "So what took you guys so long?"

"We grabbed something to eat before we dropped Sota off at school. Plus there's the fact that you and Kagome are the only people in this group that love to speed. I swear you two were related in a past life," Sango answered as she followed behind the tan-skinned male.

Kagome smiled when she saw Sesshoumaru and ran over to him at full speed and jumped onto his back. The elder teen stumbled a bit at her added weight but managed to catch himself, his arms instinctively wrapping around her legs to keep her from falling. "Nice reflexes, hon," she said and gave him a kiss on the cheek as a reward. "Next time I'm riding with you, I was starting to miss having you close to me."

"They come in handy around crazy wolf hybrids," he retorted with a smirk that only grew when Kagome slapped him on the shoulder.

The raven-haired beauty snuggled into Sesshoumaru's back as she reveled in the feel of his hands on her legs, knowing that he'd never drop her or let her fall. Feeling particularly naughty, she kissed her way up his neck before starting to nibble on his elfin-like ear. She wrapped her legs tighter around his waist when she felt him falter in his step and smirked in satisfaction when she heard a rumbled growl escape from his throat. She forgot about her friends entirely as her mouth returned to his neck, where she proceeded to nibble and suck before deciding that she really didn't want to sit in class. "I propose that we skip school today. I can think of much more fun things that we could do instead," she whispered huskily into his skin.

Instead of answering, Sesshoumaru merely turned around and headed back to their parked vehicles, ignoring the confused looks that he was getting from all but one person. Said person only smiled and shook his head before following his brother. "C'mon guys. School seems to be a no go today," Inuyasha said as he walked down the sidewalk with his hands in his pockets.

"And where do you six think you're going?" A voice interjected, interrupting the group's walk back to the parking lot. All of them looked to where the voice same from and noticed Jakotsu heading their way.

"Hey Jak, what's up?" Kagome greeted before she slipped off of Sesshoumaru's back. She smiled pleasantly at her teacher and friend when all she wanted to do was run away. She didn't want to answer the questions that he was bound to have. And she also never wanted to see the slight fear that he had in his eyes ever again. The one thing she never thought would actually happen, did. She'd managed to terrify her oldest friend in the world and it ate her up inside.

Jakotsu almost didn't want to have this confrontation, but he knew that it was bound to happen. He had the girl and all of her friends in his class, and he saw them every day. He wouldn't lie, the way Kagome had looked the other night scared the shit out of him. He'd only seen the fierce determination in her eyes and the blazing anger that conquered it a few times before, and the look was usually held by someone who'd endured horrible things and severely wanted revenge. But what scared him more, was that he never knew. He prided himself on being the best 'uncle' in the world and he'd obviously missed something huge. "School is in session. You should get to class," he said, chickening out at the last minute.

"I can't go in there, Jak. Not now. I can't take knowing that you're afraid of me, and I definitely can't take seeing that fear for a full hour while I sit in your class. It'll kill me. Just give us this one day Jak, and I'll come by after school and explain to you and Bankotsu about what's going on. But you have to promise me that you'll leave after that ok. Take a vacation, or something, but don't stay here. Don't make me worry about you two as well. And whatever you do, please don't talk to Naraku. Don't let anyone know where you're going, not even me. Just pack you're things and leave," Kagome said shakily as tears rolled down her cheeks.

"Wh- Kagome? What's wrong? Tell me what's wrong!" Jakotsu exclaimed as rushed over to the girl he'd considered his niece. He gripped her shoulders as he stared at her with tears in his eyes. "Don't shut me out, please!"

Kagome shook her head violently as she wiped her tears away and backed away from his arms. She almost sobbed at the hurt she saw in Jakotsu's eyes when she wouldn't let him near her. "Promise me Jak. Promise me or I don't come. You promise me that you and Bank will leave as soon as I'm gone. Please Jak. That's all I want," she pleaded.

"Alright. I promise. Now go before another teacher sees you," he said, not looking Kagome in the eye. He walked away without another word, not looking back. He didn't care that his life might be in danger, all he cared about was that Kagome was hurting and she didn't want his help. It hurt more than a blade sinking into his flesh. She wanted him out of her life and it was worse than a slap in the face, it was like somebody cut his heart out and put it in a meat grinder. But if it was what she wanted then so be it.

Kagome watched him leave and told herself it was for the best. With him and Bankotsu leaving, she could have them take Souta and she wouldn't have to worry about either of them getting hurt. She shook off the hand that she felt on her shoulder and walked to her motorcycle. "Let's go."

Two sets of eyes watched the group of friends with intensity from afar. One with pure hatred and anger the other with worry and sympathy. The latter turned it's gaze to a black Ford Mustang GT with tinted windows. 'Brother is being foolish,' he thought when he saw the car follow the small group of friends out of the Tokyo High School parking lot and down a main road.

"Not that he was ever very smart," the figure stated. "Best I go talk to the Taisho's. They'll know what to do better than I."

Hakudoushi ripped his cell phone out of his pocket and set up a meeting with the Taisho's secretary, only saying that it was an urgent matter that needed to be dealt with as soon as possible. With one last glance at his brother's car, he slowly walked off the roof of the high school and into the stairwell. His brother was making a royal mess of things, and while he'd never met his niece, blood was blood. And you don't harm blood. Not even if you're family. Naraku was going to get what was coming to him; he'd make sure of that.

Naraku watched silently as he saw 'his' girl pull into the school's lot. He saw the interaction between her and her friend and fumed at the boy's audacity to touch what was his. Then the silver-haired one arrived. He really wanted to hurt that one. No, hurt wasn't the right word. Maim was more like it. Fuck it, he just wanted him dead. And he wanted it to draw it out until the kid couldn't scream anymore…then he'd prolong it out of sheer pleasure.

He smiled sinisterly when he saw Jakotsu arrive. He'd forgotten about him and his brother. No doubt they were probably hiding Souta, and Souta was his only key to reigning in his wayward daughter. Perhaps he'd pay them a visit tonight. Not only would it get him the boy, but Kagome would be so distraught over their deaths that she'd come back willingly. Hmm, yes…maybe things were actually starting to look up for him.

He didn't bother to follow his daughter. No, he had plans to make. A bunch of cops owed him a favor and he'd be collecting quite a few of them today. He wanted his toy back, and if he had to, he'd bring her kicking and screaming. 'Oh what fun it will be to break her again.'

Sango watched Kagome as she sat on the couch her arms wrapped around herself. She looked lost and all the brunette wanted to do was make her hurt go away. But the only thing she could think of to get her out of her funk was to make her laugh. "Hey Kags, if it'll make you feel better, I'll let you kiss me again," she said with a smile. "If that won't help, seeing the boys drool should do it." The guys may have been out picking up some pizza at the moment, but the thought of what they looked like this morning should be able to get at least a smile out of her.

Kagome smiled at her friend. "Yea, seeing them drool probably would help. You're not mad at me for kissing you, are you? I was just messing around, and I totally understand if you are."

"Nah, I was a little confused at first, because it was different from kissing Miroku, you know? And it scared me, not knowing what that meant. You know me, I've gotta have an explanation for everything," she said with a giggle. "But I've got to know. Was I good? At kissing I mean, was I good?"

The raven-head laughed before answering. "Actually, yea. Gave me goose bumps," she answered then scooted Sango over so she could lie down and rest her head in her lap. "Who'd ever thought that we'd be having this conversation? So, what's it like kissing Miroku? Does he make your lips tingle or does he give you butterflies?"

"Definitely butterflies. Yours has the tingling affect," Sango answered as she ran her fingers through Kagome's dark tresses. "And Sesshoumaru? They way you were all over him today, I'd bet his kisses provoke more than just butterflies."

Kagome couldn't help the smile that crept onto her face. "Mmmm. With Maru the butterflies are everywhere, not just in your stomach. He can make you forget about everything and everyone. He doesn't hold anything back," the raven-head sighed contentedly. "Do you think it's possible to fall in love with someone in only a week?"

Sango smiled, she'd never heard nor seen her friend this happy. "Honey, Sesshoumaru fell in love with you the day you guys met, and you weren't even human. So yea, I think that it's entirely possible fall in love with someone in only a week," she said giggling.

"What are you guys so damn cheerful about?" Inuyasha questioned as he walked into the living room. "Wait, did I miss something…You guys didn't have sex while we were gone right? 'Cause I'd pay to see that!"

Inuyasha managed to dodge the pillow that was thrown at him as he placed the pizza down on the coffee table, chuckling all the while. "You're a pig, you know that?" Sango said glaring at the obnoxious boy.

"Oink oink, baby, oink oink." Inuyasha replied with a smirk. "C'mon guys, dig in."

Kagome pouted at Sesshoumaru, who was sitting on the couch next to her. "No," he said, looking away from that irresistible lip, knowing that it would be the end of him. He heard her shift closer to him and felt the press of her body against his own.

"Please, Maru?" pleaded the raven-haired girl as she twirled a lock of silver hair around her finger. She subtly winked at her friends before placing a feather light kiss upon the older teen's shoulder. Inuyasha had said that she'd never be able to get Sesshoumaru to agree, but she was a master at persuasion. "Pretty please?"

Sango already knew that Kagome was going to win, so she got up and dragged Miroku, Koga, and Inuyasha to the kitchen, leaving the other two teens alone. 'I don't know why he doesn't just give in,' she thought with a smile. 'Women always have a way of getting what they want. Even if it doesn't seem that way at first.'

Kagome, not wanting Sesshoumaru to follow after their friends, climbed onto his lap. Her legs, bent at the knee on either side of his own, effectively trapped him where he was. She smiled as his hands automatically went to her waist. "Please Maru? Just once?" she asked again, her hand making little circles over his clothed chest.

Sesshoumaru tried in vain to repress the feelings the fiery vixen in his lap was provoking within him. He suppressed a shudder at the feel of her warm breath on the skin of his neck as she leaned over to whisper something into his ear and his resolve broke with her next words. "Pretty please, with Kagome on top?"

With a growl he crushed his lips to hers in a bruising kiss. 'This woman is going to be the death of me,' he thought as he dragged her body flush against his own. His hands never moved from their resting place on her hips, his body never moved to create the friction that it direly craved. Content was he to just feel her lips pressing against his; losing himself in the passion that welled up inside him when their tongues met.

Far too quickly he pulled away from the kiss and rested his head upon her shoulder. "What am I going to do with you?" he whispered into her skin before raising his head and looking into her chocolate eyes.

Kagome smiled at him softly. "You're going to let me drive your car. And before you say no again, here's why," she said stopping his protests with a finger. "I'll only drive to the mall, which is less than a mile from here. Sango and I will then proceed to go shopping for something that will make you drool for when we go out tonight. Just me and you, so we can figure out this thing that's going on between us."

Sesshoumaru brushed a wayward lock of hair behind Kagome's ear. "I already know what this thing is, Kagome. You do too. Don't fight it. I swear to you that it'll never be something you'll regret. You can trust me," he said as he let his thumb graze lightly over her full bottom lip. "I love you too much to ever intentionally hurt you. So much so that it scares the shit out of me. I'd give my life to protect you; to see you smile every day without it being some kind of façade. But the last thing I will ever do… is let you drive my car."

"Ugh! Fine you big jerk!" She exclaimed, jokingly, when she saw him smile. She wiped away a tear that made its way down her cheek and snuggled into his chest. She'd longed to be loved this way for years, and for the first time in her life she wasn't afraid. Her eyes slid shut as she sighed happily. "I love you too Sesshoumaru. I wouldn't tease you so much if I didn't."

They stayed together like that for many minutes, neither of them willing to let the other go. Not a word was said after their confessions, lest the tranquility of the moment be ruined. Both forgot about the four other occupants of the house; only remembering them when a flash of a camera disturbed the peaceful mood.

"I only have two words to say: Kodak moment," Inuyasha said before taking off like a bat out of hell up the stairs. The couple stumbled off of the couch trying to get to the infuriating teen, which only fueled their anger more before giving chase, leaving behind a trio of laughing teens.

"I'm almost afraid of what they're going to do to him," Koga said, snickering.

"He'll live… hopefully," Sango said with a smile as she snuggled into Miroku's arms. "He'll probably have a few bruises, maybe a broken bone or two."

A/N: Hiya! I know it's been forever...but finding time to write hasn't been easy. Though I'm happy to inform that my friend with lymphoma is doing great. 4 of the 5 tumors are gone and the last one has shrunk exponentially. We're in the home stretch. :) I'm not sure how regularly I'll be able to update since I'll be volunteering as a camp couselor for those with special needs this summer, but I'll try my best. The poem in this chapter is called Cherry Blossom Heaven and actually has a picture to go along with it that you can check out at my myspace account. While it doesn't neccessarilly go with the chapter, the sentiment is still present. I wrote it before I wrote the chapter and thought that it would go ok if i put it in there. Thank you all for sticking with me and for the reviews. Love you all! Oh! I'll be posting this story at Dokuga, I've been re-reading it and editing it here and there so it may look a little different. :)

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