I wanted to taste you, before the half-breed took you.

What was he saying? That he thought her some kind of slut, who would sleep with Inuyasha after one night out? She was far from easy. And having lived her entire high school life in Kikyo's shadow, she had never been on a date, let alone had a boyfriend.

Or was she was just something else for them to fight over? Their rivalry was far from brotherly. And if Sesshoumaru had had any plans for her, Inuyasha seemed to have beaten him at getting to her.

Kagome sighed and her hands fell from her hair, which she had been trying to decide how to style for the evening. Her fingers came almost unconsciously to her lips. She could still feel his warm mouth connected to hers. No, she decided. Sesshoumaru had not implied either of those meanings. The gentle firmness of his kiss attested to that.

What, then? Could he… possibly like her as more than a friend? Was that what he had tried to convey to her? Was she courageous enough to hope? Then, when she had been willing to continue, why had he stopped?

Kagome released her breath in an exasperated huff, and forced her thoughts away from matters that would only serve to dampen her mood for the evening. Instead she returned her attention to her hair, only to become annoyed.

She did not like worrying about how she would look when they went out. Kagome had been frustrated when she took twenty minutes to finally select an outfit. Dressing up for someone was different. Now, though, her objective was not to impress Inuyasha. Rather, she wanted to dress appropriately for their location, which Inuyasha had declared was a surprise and would tell her nothing more about.

As she continued to fiddle with her midnight locks, the conversation that had led to her current troubles came to the forefront of her memory.

"Hey, Kagome," Inuyasha asked calmly. "I was wondering if you'd like to go out with me Saturday night?"

She was about to decline, for more reasons that she could count, but he kept speaking before she could get the words out.

"Miroku has gone with me a few times. I'll tell him to invite Sango, and the four of us will go together. C'mon. It'll be fun, and we can get to know each other better."

She was still uncertain, but as long as Sango and Miroku were there too, she supposed one night could not hurt. So she agreed.

"Great! I'll pick you up at your house."

Kagome finally decided to leave her hair down and sat at her desk to work until Inuyasha arrived.

- - - - -

Sesshoumaru heard a loud knock at the front door, soon followed by Inuyasha's bedroom door opening and slamming shut and the hanyou's running footsteps.

Sesshoumaru leisurely stood from his reclined position on his bed and walked to the window, reaching it in time to see his half-brother get into his car, along with several others. A low growl rumbled through his chest. The baka was taking Kagome out with those fools?

There was nothing he could do, though. The band had decided earlier to not have a practice session on Saturday since their show was on Friday. Still, if anything happened to his Kagome this evening, Inuyasha would pay dearly.

His growling ceased abruptly as he reminded himself that Kagome was not his. Inuyasha had gone out with many females besides Kikyo, and every time he brought them home afterwards. Every woman he dated he slept with, and almost never dated again. Kikyo had been one of the few exceptions until she caught him cheating on her.

The thought of Kagome in Inuyasha's arms, let alone his bed, would not leave him, so he turned his music up loudly in the hope of drowning the images, and sat down with a stack of blank music sheets to write.

- - - - -

A knock at the door brought Kagome downstairs. With a shouted goodbye to her family, Kagome walked toward the expensive car with Inuyasha. She quickly masked her surprise at the group of teens already in the vehicle, none of whom were Miroku and Sango.

"Are Miroku and Sango going to meet us there?" Kagome inquired.

"Nah," Inuyasha replied, recalling Miroku's response to the invite. I thought you stopped hanging out with those people? You know I don't like to go there anymore, Inuyasha. I'd certainly never bring Sango. I advise you against bringing Kagome. Damn Miroku. Then, seeing that Kagome was waiting for an explanation, he added, "He couldn't make it."

"Oh." Kagome was much more hesitant about going with Inuyasha, her anxiety only increasing when she noted that, though they were from their school, most of the people in the car were known for not always being on the right side with the law. But she did not want to be impolite or cruel by declining at the last minute because her friends could not come.

I could still have fun, she told herself, not liking the doubt that permeated even her encouraging thought.

Inuyasha still refused to tell her where they were going, but from the conversations and dress of the others, as well as the passing scenery, she discerned they were going to a club. She was glad she had stuck with fairly casual clothing, which consisted of a black top and knee-length black skirt.

Finally, they stopped and parked, walking to the doors of a club she knew of only by name. Kagome doubted she would ever have walked into it by her own choice. Looking again at their company for the evening, she did not like the notion that was adding up in her mind.

The group, six including Kagome, and including one female other than herself, found a table to accommodate them all. And then the alcohol came.

The sound system was of too poor a quality for her to decide whether the music was good or not. The lighting was dull, in both senses of the word, and the cleanliness of the entire facility was questionable. The others continued to drink. A few pulled out packs of cigarettes. Occasionally they danced, though Kagome declined any offers. Mostly, though, they drank. No intelligent or pleasant conversation existed whatsoever.

Kagome was not enjoying herself. She refused to drink, smoke, or dance. Instead, she sat rather stiffly beside Inuyasha, who had not even been civil enough to make introductions. Intermittently he would wrap his arm around her shoulders or waist and attempt to press her body against his side, but she easily escaped his hold each time.

She was finally about to ask him if they could leave, when one of the males stood up, followed by the others. Inuyasha stood as well, and pulled on her arm to indicate she should come too.

Relieved, Kagome followed them as they headed towards one of the doors.

Stepping through the doorway, however, she did not find herself outside in the fresh evening air. Instead, they were in a room darker than before. It was small, and filled with various chairs, sofas and tables, all dull, dirty and worn.

When packets of white powder were removed from pockets Kagome drew the line.

"Inuyasha, I want to go home."

A minute passed before her words registered in his alcohol-laden mind, and then he replied, "Just a little longer. Aren't you having fun?"

Kagome's jaw clenched. He thought she was having fun? Obviously she had not been the focus of his attention this evening. "Please take me home," was all she said, her voice unyieldingly firm and the words reaching his ears with slow deliberateness.

He looked about to object, but then one of his friends nudged him with an elbow while the others made suggestive noises and gestures. Kagome did not object. So long as she could leave, she did not care what they thought or implied.

Finally Inuyasha nodded, and with a smirk led her from the facility.

Once in the open air, Kagome heaved a sigh of relief, only to notice that Inuyasha could hardly walk in a straight line. Several options ran through her mind. Allowing Inuyasha to drive was not one of them.

Reaching a decision, Kagome plucked the car keys from Inuyasha's hand as he fumbled to find the right one. "I'll drive." His clouded eyes narrowed and he opened his mouth to protest, but she continued, "Please, Inuyasha. I promise I won't tell anyone."

He shrugged and got into the passenger seat when she unlocked the car. After making certain that Inuyasha had fastened his seatbelt, Kagome secured her own before starting the car and carefully beginning the drive back to Inuyasha's residence. She only had her permit, but at the moment she was certainly the more qualified driver.

Suddenly, his face was next to hers, causing her to squeak in surprise. "You know, my dad's away on business trip."

Kagome knew what he was implying. Inuyasha and Sesshoumaru lived with their father. When Sesshoumaru's mother had divorced Mr. Taisho, she had moved to England and started her own business. Mr. Taisho had remarried to Inuyasha's human mother, but she had died in childbirth.

She resisted the urge to roll her eyes. He was acting like a really drunk asshole. The moment the thought came, she realized that was exactly what he was at the moment. "Don't make me smack you," she grumbled.

When Inuyasha made no reply, Kagome glanced over to see him passed out against the cool glass of the window. At least he was quiet now. Sneaking another glance in his direction, she hoped he would be okay.

Kagome reached Inuyasha's house without incident. Parking the car in the driveway, she shut off the ignition before exiting the car and approaching the passenger side. She thought he was still asleep, so she was shocked when he opened the door and stood, slamming it behind him. He flung an arm around her shoulders, and said, surprising clearly, "Wanna see my room?"

He began leading her towards the front door, but only succeeded in walking a few steps before the alcohol in his blood overran his macho act and he stumbled. A few steps more, and he was almost completely relying on Kagome to remain standing. She had to press her hand to his chest keep him from tumbling forward, the arm closest to him wrapped around his waist to keep him from falling sideways.

The door that had been only a short distance away before seemed to lengthen before her now that Kagome's small frame was supporting almost all of Inuyasha's weight. What felt like an eternity, but was probably only a few minutes, passed before she found herself before the large wood door. She found the correct key on Inuyasha's keychain and let them in.

She brought the pale hanyou to the couch—the closest thing she could lay him down on. Wondering what she should do next, a voice answered the question for her.

"I'll take care of him."

Kagome looked up to see a tall figure in a black business suit that contrasted sharply with his silver-white hair. Familiar golden eyes looked at her from above a single jagged, dark slate-blue stripe on each cheek.

"Hello, Mr. Taisho," Kagome greeted politely. "Inuyasha told me you were on a business trip."

The elder dog demon nodded. "I was, but I returned early." Eyeing his youngest son, he added gravely, "And it seems it was good that I did. Thank you for bringing him home, Kagome."

She smiled faintly. Mr. Taisho had always been kind to her, and was the closest individual in her life to a father figure. She handed him the Inuyasha's keys, explaining that she had driven them home. He nodded in approval and asked if she need a ride home.

Kagome declined politely. "I'll take the bus. Goodnight." She smiled before departing. As she closed the door quietly behind her, she wondered if Sesshoumaru was still awake and if she could have at least said hello before she left.

Inuyasha's father shook his head at his sleeping son. "I don't know whether to call you lucky or unlucky this night."

- - - - -

Sesshoumaru had not heard the car pull in over his blasting stereo, but he did hear the door slam. Turning off his music, he moved to his window, denying the ache in his chest as he watched Kagome and Inuyasha's entwined bodies with haunted golden eyes until the couple disappeared into the house.

Grabbing his headphones, he turned his portable music player on loud enough to drown out any sounds he might hear from his half-brother and Kagome, and fell despairingly onto his bed. Staring at the song he had written, resting so innocently on his desk, he wondered what he should do with it.

See, I did get this one out faster! Arigato to Do a DAMN GOOGLE SEARCH, midnightloon, mimi86, XD Cute little Fox Girl XP, The Squabbit, Wretched-Cursed, pure-sweet, KougaSesshomaruAnime, royal blueKitsune, Kakiomae, inugrldemon, TenshiYoukaiNeko, Lady-Tsukiyo, Kagome21, fluffy li, Ana, darkangelicdemon, tru, KiTsUnEoOkAmI, Copper Kitty, Veata, ceresCmaiden, Saturn-fox, and Yasha'sGurl101!

Youkai Sesshomarulover: You have my official permission to use part of my plot line for your story. I am not upset, but not everyone will be as generous and you could get into trouble, so make sure to get into the habit of obtaining permission first, at least before publicly posting.

I can always be reachedby private message faster than a review, if such is ever needed.