The Importance of Being Kept

"Kagome!"

Kagome nearly fell off the bench when Inuyasha's loud voice startled her. She sat up quickly and then groaned at the dizziness in her head. She would have fell over if Inuyasha hadn't caught her. He sat beside her and pulled her into his lap.

"What are you doing way out here? I've been looking for you everywhere. You scared me to death disappearing like that. Do you know how hard it is to track down your scent in a room full of people?"

"I needed some air," Kagome said.

Inuyasha sniffed her breath. "Have you been drinking?"

"The punch was spiked," Kagome said.

"Great, no one I know would do that in my house unless it was..." Inuyasha sniffed again. "That mangy wolf! Why is his scent on you Kagome? Did he kidnap you? I'll kill him when I see him! He's always showing up at my parties uninvited!"

"No Koga brought me out here to get some air. I got a little sick after drinking the punch."

Inuyasha sighed and kissed her forehead. "I leave you alone for ten minutes and this happens."

"Sorry, if I'm not as socially confidence as Kikyo, I'm sure she knows how to take care of herself at a party." Kagome said sarcastically.

"Where did that come from? I wasn't comparing you to Kikyo, I just meant you're innocent. I just have to keep a better watch on you."

"Hmph," Kagome said.

"Kagome, what's wrong with you? Did something happen after I left?"

Kagome struggled to get out of his lap. Inuyasha let her. She sat on the bench beside him. "I met your little cheerleader friend, Amy. She introduced herself to me."

Inuyasha winced. This was not going to be good. He knew Amy had been after him for a while. She probably felt slighted after seeing Kagome.

"She told me that the only reason why you're with me is because I look like Kikyo."

Inuyasha looked surprise. "Kagome, you know that's not true."

"I don't know, Inuyasha. What she said made a lot of sense. She said you two were intimate together and that she was your favorite."

Inuyasha winced again not liking where this was going.

"She said that she was sure you would end up with her because you've known each other for a long time, but along come me, looking like Kikyo and suddenly I'm kept and made your girlfriend in a very short amount of time. Why is that Inuyasha? Why do you like me so much?"

"Wow, she really got to you didn't she?" Inuyasha asked. He reached for her hand. She snatched it away.

"Just tell me the truth, I want answers, I have to know. If you are just using me to get back at Kikyo or because I look like her, then it's wrong. You're playing around with my feelings."

"Kagome, I know it seems that way, but it's not. I can't help it if you look like Kikyo and you happen to be her cousin, but I will be honest, since you asked. Deep down, I sort of thought the same thing when I first met you and I had to question my motives for liking you so much. You see, I didn't want to start confusion between us either. I kept asking myself did I only like you because you looked like an innocent version of Kikyo? Was I over Kikyo? Then the truth came out when we were at the club, she hit you, I wanted to kill her. I kind of wish you didn't look like her. I heard how people were comparing your face to her at the party and I felt bad. I wondered how you felt about that. As long as you're at the university, you're always going to walk in her shadow and people are always going to compare our relationship to hers. I'm sorry, there's nothing I can do about that. But you have to understand, Kagome, I'm with you because of you, you are nothing like Kikyo, not even close, you just resemble her."

Kagome thought about what he said. "It's hard being constantly compared to a cousin that hates my guts."

"I know," Inuyasha said. "Kagome, don't let people like Amy turn you against me. Most of the girls here are going to be jealous of our relationship. They will say anything to destroy us so they can have a chance with me. I care about you a lot more than I should, to tell you the truth I've never went this fast with girl before, it's just as new to me as it is to you."

Kagome looked at him as if seeing him for the first time. Inuyasha was always so sure, so confident around her, she never thought their fast developing relationship was new for him also. She hugged him tightly. "I'm sorry, I don't know what I was thinking," she hiccupped loudly.

Inuyasha smiled. "Perhaps you're a little drunk..."He said softly.

"I'm sure I am," Kagome giggled. "But I'm glad we had this talk."

"Me too," Inuyasha said staring into beautiful brown eyes.

"And I'm glad that you're my boyfriend, it's just that, I'm a little intimidated by you. I don't know if I can live up to your standards as a girlfriend. I mean being "kept" sounded easy enough. You only wanted to take care of me and all I had to do was be around whenever you wanted my company. As a girlfriend, I feel there's so much more responsibility, you're the wealthiest guy I've ever dated, I don't know what you expect of me. Do I have to attend social functions? Do I have to join a country club and talk to other rich people I know nothing about? I mean there's nothing glamorous or extravagant about me, I'm just plain Kagome, no money whatsoever."

"Kagome, slow down!" Inuyasha laughed. "You don't have to do any of those things if you don't feel comfortable, but I do expect you to show up at my games and I do expect you to escort me to some parties, not all, but some. We'll take it one day at a time, okay? I just want you to be yourself, the girl that I fell in love with, I don't want you to change cause of my status."

Kagome gasped. "You fell in love with me..."

Inuyasha looked surprised. "I can't believe I said that so easily."

"Inuyasha..."

He grinned. "Damn, now I know it's official."

"Inuyasha..."

"Yes, Kagome?"

"I think I'm going to be sick." Kagome pulled off of him, but not in time to stop herself from throwing up on his shoes.

"Oh no! I'm sorry, I'm so sorry," she started crying from pure embarrassment. 'The guy tells me he loves me, sort of, and I throw up on his shoe, if he wanted to dump me now, he'd have every right,' she thought to herself. She expected to hear him yell, scream at her, act disgusted, call her a dumb broad like any guy would have done, but he didn't. Instead he took off his shoes and left them there, then picked her up.

"Are you okay, Kagome?" He asked looking at him with genuine concern.

"I don't feel so good, still dizzy," she laid her head on his shoulder and closed her eyes.

"I'll take you to my room so you can lay down. No more alcohol for you, you certainly don't take well to it."

"I've never had it before," Kagome said.

"Well, damn, that explains why you're so sick." Inuyasha took her to his room which was on the second floor of the huge mansion. The bedroom was bigger than the one at his dormitory. The entire room was decorated in red and white.

Kagome felt sick again. "Bathroom!" She urged trying not to throw up on him again.

Inuyasha hurried took her to the bathroom. He stayed with her, holding her long hair back from her face until she finished. Kagome asked for a tooth brush and mouthwash. He waited until she was finished brushing her teeth and rinsing her mouth, then picked her up and carried her to the bedroom.

Kagome watched him kneel and take off her shoes. "Why are you being so nice to me?" She asked.

Inuyasha smiled. "You're sick, I'm suppose to take care of you."

"You're not angry or disgusted?"

"It's not your fault you're sick," Inuyasha said lifting her to pull back the covers. "Lay down," he ordered. She did as he told her. He covered her, then went into the bathroom and came back out with a cold wet towel. He knelt down on the side of the bed and laid it gently against her cheeks. Kagome leaned into it, the cold towel felt good against her hot skin. They stared into each other eyes for a long quiet moment as Inuyasha continued to dap her skin with the towel.

Kagome began to get drowsy. She pulled his head down to her lips and whispered in his ear. "I love you..."

Inuyasha's heart pounded loudly at her words. He stared back at her, feeling completely vulnerable. He'd never felt vulnerable, ever! This girl who he'd known for only a short amount of days had managed to do something no other girl had done, not even Kikyo. She held his heart in the palm of her hand.

"Kagome..." he whispered hoarsely, but she had fell asleep. He didn't want to disturb her. "I love you too," he whispered and kissed her lips tenderly. He stayed with her for awhile watching her sleep, before he left to return to the party. He was hoping they hadn't left, Inuyasha smiled darkly when he saw the cheerleaders outside by the pool.

Amy actually smiled when she saw him walking towards them. "Inuyasha! Great party as always," she gave him her brightest smile. A smile that he use to find cute.

He stared at her wondering what had he ever seen in her, she was just as shallow as Kikyo. He had never had any bad thoughts about Amy until now. She was usually cheerful and happy, but she had shown him a different side when she hurt Kagome. "I'm glad you think it's great, Amy since you won't be invited to any of my parties after tonight."

She looked stunned. "What?" The other girls suddenly got quiet and stared at Inuyasha in disbelief.

"You heard me."

"Why?" She asked looking hurt.

"You have some nerves coming into my house and talking down to my girlfriend. Did you really think I wouldn't find out?"

Amy glanced at her friends. "We didn't mean anything by it Inuyasha. She's Kikyo's cousin and look just like her. Everyone is saying that's why you're with her."

"It's a lie, stupid gossip and rumors, that's all. I'm with her because I love her, Amy. She's mine, get that? No amount of gossip and rumors are going to stop me from being with Kagome. You may have gotten to Kagome because she's innocent and not use to conniving bitches like yourself, but you won't get to me. I will not let you or anyone else destroy our relationship. Even if Kagome believed your lies, did you really think I'd let her go? Never! So stop wasting your time. Stay the fuck away from Kagome or next time I won't be so nice. "

"Inuyasha, please don't. We had some good times together. We belong together. We were happy until she came," Amy begged. "Don't let her destroy our friendship."

"You destroyed our friendship by disrespecting me in my own house and disrespecting my woman. I was never happy with you Amy, not you, not Kikyo, not anyone. I didn't know what true happiness was until I met Kagome. Now get out of my house before I put you out myself."

"Inuyasha!"

"Leave Amy, I won't tell you again," Inuyasha eyes glittered dangerously.

"Let's just go, Amy," Susan said pushing her away.

Inuyasha watched the cheerleaders hurry away. He suppose it would take a while for people to accept Kagome. She was new, she was different. Well, they'd better get used to it because Kagome was in his life to stay, she wasn't going anywhere.