Tease Me, Taste Me, Take Me

Disclaimer: Good grief people, how many times do I have to say this? I don't own Inuyasha, because if I did, I would be in the show... okay? Okay... glad we have that settled.


Definition(s);
1. Hanyou: Half-demon
2. Inu-Hanyou: Dog Demon
3. Youkai: Demon
4. Kun: A word often used by girls to call their male counterparts of the same level or grade/addressing a male friend
5. Ne: Yes


Author's Note: I am so sorry for taking about another month to update, I hope you can all forgive me. Honestly, this is coming from the bottom of my heart and I put a lot of time into this chapter, so I hope you guys like it. ::crosses fingers::
I would also like to thank my beta/friend Tammi. Thank-you for bearing with me, I know you've read this too many times, more than enough, but without you, this story wouldn't be as great as it is. Thanks for the suggestions! Because of you, this chapter came out... better than the last one, at least in my point of view. Love ya!

Now onto the reviews, I just want to thank;
Ever Rin,

Isis; sorry about that, but leaving the end of a chapter at a cliff hanger, only makes the readers want more and that's exactly what I want

FoxFireDemoness; well if you thought the little scene with Shippou and Hiten was sexy, then you'll love what happens in this chapter

Hieisprettylady1,

lonelylulaby; wow... um well I don't mean to be cruel, but I thought it was a good place to stop, plus leaving cliff hangers makes the readers want more

Anon,

SexyHanyouBabe,

vtchachi; yes, that moment between Hiten and Shippou was incredible, but wait until you read this chapter, it's better, ne?

Egyptian Kiss; Thanks

SailorTee,

TricksterGoddess; trust me, Kagome won't be giving into Inuyasha anytime soon, although...Inuyasha is a dog demon and dog's do whine, so I'd consider that as begging, but don't worry a lot of things will be coming up, and I mean a lot and there's a new character or rather a few characters being introduced in this chapter

Kit; if you thought the last chapter was juicy, then you have to read this chapter

dvs; thank-you so much, your words meant a lot to me and as you can see, I am continuing with this story and besides a lot of things will be coming out

jem,

Naia,

CHIBIchibi; Thanks, your words really meant a lot to me

Ebony,

mysterious1; Thanks!

Shizuka Kaze; Wow, so many questions, I sometimes wonder if you're psychic because Sesshoumaru is actually in this chapter, but being with Kagura, well you'll just have to keep reading

Jennifer,

Dreamie,

fumetsu~hinami; Wow, an interesting name... I don't see a lot of that coming in now-a-days, but about Hiten being gay, well it's crucial to the plot that he is, you'll see what I mean later on in the fic

fallenangel7583,

Lisa,

Shizuka Kaze; Wow, two reviews for just one chapter, must be my lucky day, ne? As for your question about Kagome, you tell me, is she sluttish in this chapter

ChibiSamuraiX; Actually Sesshoumaru is in this chapter

MariB,

DaddysLittleGirl,

Anon,

foxcat; Actually I was talking about Hiten. Hiten is gay, not Bankotsu, well actually he is. Oops! Did I just say that out loud? Anyway Bankotsu and Hiten are two totally different people, as for sending out the update thing, I send them out to everyone who reviews and leaves an email address, so the next time you review, just leave an address where I can reach you

mary; Yes, actually Sesshoumaru is in this chapter

Sess Kag=Lemons; Sorry, I don't mean to, honest!

Shyneamor; I wasn't playing around, I was actually adding things and editing it, I hope you like this chapter

sesshy_lover; Thank-you

chanda,

Demonic_Daeth_Note; Thanks!

KitKat,

Anonymous; Interesting, it seems that you put no email address for me to contact you, are you afraid? Funny though how you seem to shoot off your mouth without knowing the facts, ne? Hmmmm, funny seeing as how I put a note on the bottom of chapter three, indicating that I was editing and fixing some errors. It seems that you're too lazy to look at the bottom of a page to see what I wrote. These are the kind of reviews that annoy me. If I clearly stated what I was doing, why bother to bring it up? You swear you know what you're talking about but if you just looked at the bottom of the page, you'd notice that I put a note clearly stating what is happening. It's not my fault AFF pushes my fic to the top when I click the edit button. Maybe if you'd read the note, you'd realize what I'm doing. Next time, try doing that before you shoot off your mouth.

Bibsta; Thanks, you made my day and as for Kagome rejecting Inuyasha... well that's bound to happen, sometime later on in the story

Kiiru; Actually Kagome has fallen for a playboy before, but he won?t show up until later on or rather for two or three more chapters in this fic? I think, lol

Myztik Shadows; It's reviews like these that make me happy. Thanks, I think so too!

and Kari.

Anyway, let's move on, shall we? I've kept you waiting long enough...

Chapter 4: The Truth

His orange and red swirled orbs stared at her, piercing into her soul, bringing forth all of her secrets. He lowered his eyes, black lashes sweeping downwards and fanning his reddened cheeks. His red mouth quivered, until he bit his bottom lip, trying to stop the trembling. She reached up, running her fingers through some of the black hair, pushing away some of the stragglers that fell into his eyes.

Beautiful eyes like that should never be hidden she thought, her eyes lowering until they saw his trembling mouth.

"I-I... Hiten" she whispered, her brown eyes softening.

"I'm sorry Sango, I didn't mean to hurt you" he whispered, hugging her.

Her plump, pink lips parted in a silent gasp of shock, before she pulled away from him, shaking her head.

"No, it was my fault for... for overreacting" she said, her voice wavering.

She swallowed the salty, burning taste of tears that hung in the back of her throat.

It was overwhelming, consuming, and disgusting.

Hiten shook his head, his mouth forming into a small frown. Sango saw the shadows in his eyes, despite the fact of the dim lighting covering their forms. Of course, she expected no less, seeing as how they were in the back of the pool hall. Then again, she didn't want anyone to hear their conversation.

She blinked and focused once again when Hiten began to speak.

"No... I just blew up at you in the hallway, I didn't mean for it to slip out, you know the whole Kagura and Miroku thing" he said and instantly regretted it.

He saw tears forming in her brown orbs.

He mentally kicked himself in the head.

Stupid, stupid, stupid! He cursed himself mentally.

He opened his mouth, trying to comfort her, but he knew that all his words would do was end up hurting people. After all it was what he was notorious for, but despite that fact he knew he would have to do... something... to comfort his younger cousin.

"Sango..." he whispered, regret laced in his tone and yet, there was a deep sense of anger in the tone, anger directed towards himself.

She shook her head, desperately blinking away the tears. She didn't want to seem... weak and she didn't want his pity. She tried to smile, but the only thing she could offer was a grimace.

"No, no you're right, if I weren't such a coward... if I could t-tell him how I feel, then maybe I could actually get somewhere with him, but... but he lov- he- he loves K-Kagura" she said stuttering, all the while silent tears, running down her cheeks.

Hiten shook his head again, sorrow radiating off his form in waves.

"I know Sango, nothing hurts more... nothing hurts more t-than unrequited love" he whispered quietly.

She gasped quietly, her eyes catching his own in a pained stare.

"You... you... I mean, what happened today?" Sango asked, biting her lip and wringing her hands together nervously.

Hiten smiled bitterly, but something about his smile caught Sango's eye and what she saw scared her, or maybe it was his eyes. His eyes, after all, were always the most dangerous thing, at least, that's what Sango thought.

Then again, the eyes are the windows to your soul she thought, her lips curling up briefly.

Hiten began to speak and once again there was something about the way he spoke that sent shivers crawling up Sango's spine.

"I almost betrayed Souten. I almost kissed Shippou and betraying Souten was the farthest thing from my mind, I was so close..." he whispered, and then paused. There was a slightly awkward silence. "I was so close to touching those soft, alluring lips and yet I was so very far away, and then Souten came and she took it all away."

Hiten began to cry.

Tears of guilt...

... Tears of sorrow...

... Tears of pain...

"I didn't care, I didn't think about the consequences Sango, I just wanted... wanted to feel and I wanted to drown in Shippou's taste, I wanted to drown in his scent. He smelled so good, I bet he would've tasted even better, but then Souten came and I realized what I was doing, and you know what Sango..." Hiten paused again. "I just wish... I wish that Souten wasn't my flesh and blood, I wish she wasn't my sister, I love her so much, that I can't help but feel guilty, but the temptation is right in front of my face and I want it. I want to live in temptation, and I want..."

He choked up, tears running down his cheeks, he barely saw his cousin now, everything looked blurry and it hurt to speak. His throat was dry and the pain was raw.

"I can feel the need consuming my body Sango and I want Shippou and I will have him, even if in the end I hurt Souten, but I... I don't want to hurt Souten. Argh, I hate this, I hate knowing that I'm the cause of everyone's pain!" He yelled angrily, clenching his eyes shut.

"No Hiten, no, not just you, but Shippou and Souten as well and even me" Sango whispered, crying.

She hated seeing Hiten like this... she hated him looking so... broken... so... torn, and so tormented.

He pulled Sango close, seeking her warmth.

"I love you Sango" he whispered quietly.

She blinked back tears.

"I love you too Hiten" she whispered.

"Sango?"


- - - - -


"Sango?" Kagome called, wondering why her best friend looked so sad and lost at the moment.

She tried to ignore Inuyasha's piercing gaze on her back because right now, right at this moment, she just couldn't face him, not after what happened earlier. She clenched her eyes shut momentarily.

Kagome Higurashi, you are a fool. How could you just call his name when he stepped into this pool hall? She asked inside her head.

She shook her head, her hair whipping in her face. She just needed to ignore Inuyasha... for the time being. Her blue eyes landed on Sango's profile and her eyes narrowed suspiciously. For a brief moment, Inuyasha left her mind, although she could still sense his presence, could feel him, almost as if he were a part of her. She tensed at that thought, but at the moment her thoughts were focusing on Sango.

Maybe it had to do with what happened earlier. What happened between you and Hiten? Kagome thought, murky eyes focusing on Sango's form. She tried to figure out what had happened between both Sango and Hiten to make them so... teary-eyed, so lost, so wrapped up in each other.

Misery loves company ne?

"Huh?" Sango said, blinking rapidly and trying to focus her attention on the person who called her name.

"Oh Kagome" Sango said, blinking a few times, telling herself mentally to just... stop and let everything go.

"Are you all right?" Kagome asked genuinely concerned for her friend, her body, stiff and rigid.

Sango glanced around the room to see what made Kagome so tense and understood why.

"Inuyasha?" She said, confused.

"Why is Inuyasha here?" Sango asked, brows drawing together.

"That's what I'd like to know, care to explain Miroku?" Kagome asked, through gritted teeth.

She glared at Miroku, her eyes burning fiercely with hatred.

Miroku laughed sheepishly, rubbing the back of his neck in a nervous gesture, something Kagome immediately noticed.

"Kagome, do you remember the conversation we had earlier in the lunchroom?" Miroku asked, putting on the most innocent face he could muster.

Kagome gave a long, hard sigh and tried to think, but nothing was coming to her mind at the moment.

She glared at him, tapping her foot on the ground impatiently.

"No... I mean- what're you talking about?" She quickly corrected herself, hoping Miroku didn't notice the slip up.

Miroku gave a helpless sigh while shaking his head.

"And you're supposed to be my friend, what loyal friends I have" Miroku said sarcastically, although the glints of humor in his topaz colored gems kept Kagome from believing him.

"Kagome, in the lunchroom..." Miroku started off, but was cut off by a deep voice, a voice that sent shivers spiraling throughout Kagome's spine

"My, my Higurashi, you act like my being here affects you, does it?" Inuyasha asked, quirking a thick brow. He gave Kagome a saucy smile and her cheeks infused with an ugly red blush, her eyes, once again widening for the umpteenth time today, before she gained control of her actions and glared at him, blue eyes sparkling in the dim lighting.

"No..." she hissed, although her eyes said otherwise.

"Oh really?" Inuyasha asked, his voice holding a mocking and yet challenging ring to them.

Kagome quickly averted her eyes.

"You're a disgusting, cold, heartless beast Takahashi. I hate you, you're just... you're just like..." Kagome paused, a lump in her throat, her eyes, welling with tears.

She quickly blinked them away, but it wasn't something Inuyasha missed. After all he was an Inu-hanyou by birth and Inu-hanyou's could smell the salty, bitter taste of tears. He cocked his head to the side, his eyes unknowingly softening.

You're just like... him Kagome thought, frowning.

She felt her heart give a familiar painful lurch.

How many times have I gone through this? How many times have I suffered? How many times have I cried because of him? He's not even worth my tears and yet... Kagome paused, in her motion of thoughts. She gasped and closed her eyes tightly. Her fingers curled around her uniform shirt, near her heart. Her mouth formed into a soft, bitter smile and she faintly heard Sango, Miroku, and even Inuyasha's calls of worry.

... Yet my heart won't let me love another, because I love him so much. I guess what Hiten always says is true, you can't help who you fall in love with, ne? Kagome looked up with murky, dull blue eyes, only to meet liquid amber eyes.

Amber eyes... the color of brandy... Inu... Inuyasha's eyes Kagome thought, her eyes widening a bit.

Surprisingly, Inuyasha's eyes weren't cold as they usually were, instead they were soft and filled with worry.

But why would he be worried about me? He hates me... right? But I... I can't deny that I love the color of his eyes, I've always loved the color of his eyes, I've just always hated his cocky, arrogant attitude. But his ears...

She paused once again in her thoughts and smiled, a small, almost invisible smile, something Inuyasha didn't miss.

I've always loved his ears... but I've always wanted to know... what they feel like Kagome thought.

She didn't realize what she was doing until it was too late. It was as if her hands were moving on their own accord because before she knew it, her hands had reached out and had taken hold of Inuyasha's surprisingly warm, fuzzy ears. Her fingernails lightly ran over the base of his adorable ears and Kagome felt Inuyasha shudder, before he placed his hands on her waist and pull her body against his own in a rough manner and she barely felt his claws sinking into her flesh. She closed her eyes, giving a soft mewl and felt the evidence of his arousal being pressed against her stomach, unconsciously grinding her pelvis into his own and heard him... growl?

Slowly Kagome realized what she was doing and felt color quickly rising to her cheeks and she put her hands on Inuyasha's chest to give both she and Inuyasha space, but only found herself getting turned on even more by him because she felt the ripples of his muscles, when her fingertips lightly touched his uniform shirt, then she applied pressure, trying to push him away. She mentally sighed and knew that she wouldn't be able to push him away without hurting him and instead she decided to pry his fingers away from her body, suddenly realizing that his claws were digging into her skin. She didn't like the warm tingling feeling she had when she was around him. It just didn't seem... right, or maybe it did and that's what scared her the most.

"Wha-what-what're you doing?" Kagome stammered nervously, but Inuyasha only intensified his grip on Kagome making her let out a cry of surprise, and arching against him, her breasts molding against his hard, solid chest.

"Inuyasha!" Kagome shouted, scared, scared because of the fact that her body was reacting immediately to Inuyasha's touch and it shouldn't.

It shouldn't she told herself mentally, willing herself to believe it.

She closed her eyes, trying to think. Inuyasha's strong grip was painful and Kagome let out a soft, quiet whimper.

"Please let me go" she whispered, so that only he could hear.

Her voice seemed to affect Inuyasha, because he immediately let go of Kagome. He looked at her with... something... she couldn't quite place and she took a step back, afraid.

What did he see? And what was... that? That look he gave me... it was so different from the Inuyasha Takahashi at school Kagome thought, her lower lip trembling.

Inuyasha's eyes widened considerably, while he was holding Kagome, he felt his blood stir. But that was wrong, because she wasn't his mate. Only one person was his mate and she... she died.. a long time ago... because of him.

That's right... Inuyasha thought bitterly. She died because of me... because of me and my damned hands... I will never put myself through that again... I will never allow another woman's blood on my stained hands... I will never allow another woman to affect me like she did... ever again...

Inuyasha looked up and met Kagome's crystal blue eyes. Something about the way she whimpered, something about the way she let out a soft cry made him realize what he was doing. Her voice was laced with fear and anxiety.

Something about the way he held Kagome scared her half to death, but what was it?

Inuyasha pondered this for a few seconds, but then he realized something else that made his jaw drop.

She called me... Inuyasha... not Takahashi, but Inuyasha. He thought, astonished.

Was she really that scared?

Of course, you are, after all a monster his demon side snarled harshly, almost tauntingly.

No his human side cried out. I'm not...! not a monster.

Oh but you are Inuyasha, you are, or did you forget...? his demon side asked maliciously, although his human side still heard the bitterness in his counterpart's voice.

I've never forgotten his human side whispered longingly to his other half.

You shouldn't have. You killed her! You killed her! You killed he--

No! You killed her! It was all because of you and your damned hands! His human side yelled.

I never asked to be a hanyou. I never asked to be born, I never asked to... fall in love... his demon side snarled, hurt laced in his tone.

Nor did I. But we did... his human side said softly.

"Inuyasha?"

He was startled to feel a pair of hands on either side of his cheek, thumbs caressing them and he pushed his head deeper into the soft hands. He closed his eyes and inhaled deeply. What he smelt was roses and jasmines.

Roses and jasmines...? They smell nice, it would be nice to drown in this scent... forever...

He opened his eyes and focused on frightened blue eyes.

"Kagome?" Inuyasha breathed, confused.

"Are you all right?" Kagome asked, getting up the nerve to touch him, especially because of what had happened earlier. The glimmer of red in his eyes startled and frightened her to no ends, making her wonder just what exactly was she getting in to?

And then she saw the confusion filling his normally emotionless eyes and knew she wanted to know the real Inuyasha.

Kagome gave a mental sigh of relief and watched with bright blue eyes as Inuyasha pulled away from her and she immediately missed the feeling of cupping his face in her hands.

"I'm fine Higurashi..." Inuyasha snarled, reverting back to using her last name.

She flinched, hurt and then glared at him to hide her feelings, to hide her thoughts, to hide herself.

After all, she was an open book.

"There's no need to be an ass about it" she hissed, angry at herself for getting so into this... thing, this thing she had no name for.

"Hmph!" Inuyasha and Kagome fumed at the same time.

He turned away from her and met the amused eyes of both Sango and Miroku.

"Eh" he said, hoping that the flush he felt, wasn't too visible.

Too bad it was.

"Miroku, is it me, or does Inuyasha look flushed to you?" Sango asked, looking at Miroku with innocent brown eyes.

Miroku spared Sango a glance and smiled, his lips curling into a boyish grin.

"Indeed he does, my dear Sango."

Sango froze and felt her heart begin to beat crazily.

He didn't mean that her conscious whispered.

But I wanted him to... she mentally answered back.

I know her conscious whispered back, soothingly.

Sango's teeth dug into her bottom lip... hard... to stop the sob that threatened to come out of her throat.

"Sango?"

"Huh?" She said, cocoa colored eyes meeting pale blue ones.

"I-" Miroku started off and was cut off by Inuyasha's loud, obnoxious voice.

"Are we going to play pool?"

Miroku's eyes met Inuyasha's and Inuyasha was stunned to see the deadly glare directed at him, before his lips curled into a smug smirk.

My, my Miroku. Do you actually have feelings for this girl? Inuyasha, thought, his eyes moving from Miroku's blue ones to Sango's brown ones.

"Yes we are" Miroku hissed, angry at Inuyasha's smirk of satisfaction, cobalt orbs flashing dangerously.

Inuyasha's eyes slid back to Miroku's and they both exchanged deathly glares.

"Then let's get started" Sango said, but she didn't gain the attention of the two.

A vein protruded down the center of Inuyasha's brow and twitched. He clenched and unclenched his fists at his sides. Miroku on the other hand was stiff, his eyes narrowing and settling on Inuyasha's orbs, as if daring him to say something. He barely moved and looked as though he would lose it any second.

"Ahem!"

A loud cough interrupted the glaring contest between the two and brought them back to reality and they watched the positively, infectious smile unfurl on Kagome's mouth.

"That's better" she said, her smile not faltering.

"Let's play pool" she said, laughing lightly and picked up a stick, looking at it thoughtfully and couldn't help wondering - what could one round of pool do anyway? It was, after all, just a game.

She would never know that this game would turn out to be something more, something more passionate, something more physical.


- - - - -


He gave a sigh of defeat.

I'm never gonna finish this sketch he thought, biting his bottom lip. He felt tears forming in his forest colored gems and tried to blink them away.

Why am I... why am I crying? It's just a sketch... right?

He was startled when he felt a pair of small hands cover his eyes, blinding him momentarily.

He put down the piece of charcoal and felt soft breath blow into his ear making goose bumps travel up his flesh.

"Boo!" Someone breathed into his ear, followed by a light giggle.

"Guess who Shippou-kun" the person said, teasing him.

For the first time today, he felt his mouth twitching into a smile, but quickly stopped himself.

He would know that voice anywhere.

"Who do you think you're fooling Rin?" He asked, his mouth curving into a full-fledged grin.

The hands were removed from his eyes and he was grateful to see the light once again. He shifted on his bed, before turning around and facing her. He was met with big brown eyes; light and happy. He noticed her thick black lashes blinking at him and saw her red mouth forming into a small pout. Raven colored bangs fell into her brown eyes, concealing them from him. Her long black hair was pulled back into a sloppy bun; wisps of black hair framing her heart shaped face and brushing against her creamy skin. She still wore the school uniform, which meant she had come here first, instead of going home.

"Awww, you're no fun Shippou-kun" she said with a breezy laugh.

He made a face at her, but a light had kindled in his green eyes.

"You're so childish" he said and she laughed again.

"So are you" she said, brown eyes twinkling with mischief.

"I am not!" He cried and saw her smile of triumph.

He mentally cursed himself knowing he fell into her trap.

"See what I mean" she said, blinking at him innocently.

He ignored her and looked at his bedroom door which was currently open.

"How'd you get in here?" He asked, brows furrowing.

She flashed him a coy smile and took off her book bag, beginning to rummage in the small pocket, while mumbling to herself.

Shippou raised a brow.

Just what exactly was she up to?

"Rin?" He said, hoping to gain her attention.

"Just a second" she mumbled, brows furrowing in concentration.

Now where did I put them? Rin thought, chewing her bottom lip thoughtfully.

He sighed and decided to try again.

"Rin?" He called.

"Hold on" she mumbled, ignoring his calls.

He gave an aggravated sigh, shifting on his bed.

"Rin!" He shouted and finally gained her attention.

He tried to stop the grin that threatened to overcome him as she jumped with fright and dropped her book bag, along with a bunch of pens and pencils on to his carpet, but knew it was useless. She glared at his smile and picked one thing off of the floor. Shippou watched her with curious eyes.

"Here" she said, holding out a pair of keys or rather his house keys!

His grin faltered and he snatched the keys away from her.

"Where did you get my house keys?" He demanded.

She smiled shyly and looked at him through lowered lashes.

"Well let's just say that Souten dropped them by mistake" Rin said, making a face when she said the name Souten.

He frowned at her, giving a helpless sigh.

He knew the meaning behind her words.

"You pick-pocketed them from her, didn't you?" He asked, his eyes desperately trying to catch her own in a stare, but she kept eluding his green orbs.

"I did... not!" She said, her mouth forming into a small smile, a smile of guilt.

"Yes, you did..." He said with a small sigh.

"Okay so I pick-pocketed them from her I, what?! She bumped into me first" Rin said, defending herself and gave a mental sigh of relief when she saw Shippou visibly relax.

Besides, you only gave her a pair of keys to shut her up. You're an idiot, willing to please everyone but yourself. You're such a fool! Rin thought, looking at him sadly.

Shippou gave her a lazy smile that made her feel at ease.

"Fine" he said, tossing the keys from one hand to another and watched them glow in the light that caught them.

He looked at the keys, then at the sketch pad in his lap and made a face, throwing the keys across the room, not wanting to look at them. They only mounted to his list of guilt and he felt confused, lost in his own turmoil.

Why am I with Souten if I'm pining after her brother? He thought, looking at the sketch pad and piece of charcoal before looking back up and met Rin's excited orbs.

He rolled his eyes and muttered to himself, "you delinquent."

"What did you say?" Rin asked, black brows drawing together.

He looked back at her again and smiled.

"You heard me" he said, challenging her.

She glared at him, brown eyes filled with mirth. She shrugged her shoulders and plopped down next to him on the bed.

"I guess I am a delinquent if I can pick-pocket something from your girlfriend and to think she's a youkai whereas I'm a lowly human" Rin said, shaking her head and tapping her chin thoughtfully.

Shippou looked at her, disbelief flashing in his green irises. He shook his head, folding his arms across his chest.

"Hmph! I let you get away with murder" Shippou said, more to himself than Rin.

Her eyes caught his own and she grinned wickedly.

"I know" Rin said, leaning forward.

But I let you get away with murder too

"So... what're you drawing now?" Rin asked looking at the sketch book in Shippou's lap.

"Wow..." she breathed, totally amazed.

The picture was of a boy, - more like a man - and his face was positioned slightly to the left, his mouth curled into a smile, some shading around there and his face but the thing that caught Rin's attention was his eyes. They were so detailed and vivid that Rin could've sworn that he was alive.

Then again, she was always amazed with Shippou's talent, but then she noticed the picture wasn't finished.

Wow, he's looks so alive and the picture still isn't finished. Amazing!

"He's beautiful" she breathed and was shocked at Shippou's next words.

"I know..."

Brown eyes met emerald and Shippou blinked in shock at what he just said.

Did I just say that out loud?

"I mean..." he started off and was cut off by Rin.

"Is this Hiten?" She asked, her brown eyes wide with innocence.

He nodded his head and waited for her reaction.

"Wow...! He's a beautiful subject to study, not that he's Sesshoumaru, but he is beautiful. I wish I had your talent" Rin said with a small smile, her eyes tracing the lines and contour's of the sketch.

"He is... a very beautiful subject to study" Shippou said, reluctantly agreeing with Rin.

She smiled, not noticing Shippou's uncomfortableness when she spoke about Hiten.

She gave a light laugh and looked at Shippou, her eyes light and playful.

"You're in love" she said, but then she saw the red blush heating Shippou's face and instantly knew the truth.

"Oh my God" she whispered in bewilderment, brown eyes filled with shock.

"No... wait" Shippou said, his voice desperate.

She blinked again, her eyes kindling with a dawning light.

"You're in love!"

Shippou gave her a pained stare and swallowed the lump in his throat.

"And wha-what do you think of it? Are you disgusted by it?" He asked, his voice trembling.

Rin tilted her head to the side, her eyes softening. She heard the hidden tears in Shippou's voice and knew he was afraid of her reaction. She smiled.

He's only afraid because I'm his best friend she thought, twirling a strand of black hair that was brushing against her cheek.

And then Rin made the most wonderful sound that Shippou had ever heard in his life; a snort. A beautiful contemptuous, disbelieving snort.

"Are you kidding me? To each his own, Shippou-kun. I always knew that you and Souten weren't right for each other and besides if Hiten is as beautiful in real life as the picture right here then, why not? Who says it's wrong to love another guy if you're a guy? I know, it can be wrong, but if it's wrong, then you'll know, but I trust you and I want you to follow your heart, but... Shippou, promise me one thing" Rin said, her voice changing from light to serious.

Shippou looked at her expectantly, wondering why she had become so serious.

She's never serious, she's always happy he thought with a small frown.

He blinked and focused on her when she began to speak.

"Promise me that you won't get your heart broken. Hiten is older than you and he's more... experienced." Rin said, trying to choose the right words and saw the confusion in Shippou's eyes.

Rin pursed her lips, looking away from him and around the room, wondering if she should tell him and then realized that this was her best friend, the little boy she had known since she was four. The boy who she could never hide secrets from. The boy who saw right through her.

She sighed loudly and made a descision.

She decided to tell him.

"Shippou, come with me" Rin said, getting off the bed and grabbing one of Shippou's arm.

She then proceeded to drag him out of his room.

"H-hey... where are w-we g-going?" Shippou stuttered, surprised by Rin's determined face.

She flashed him one of her best smiles.

"You'll see" she said, not telling him where she was taking him.

"Wa-wait" he stuttered once again.

"What?" Rin said impatiently.

"Let me get my keys" Shippou said.

"Oh..." Rin said, letting go of his arm.

She watched him go back to his room, her eyes looking forlorn.

I am doing the right thing... right? He needs to... to know... and what better way than to see what he's doing and let's see where it takes them. I hope you can forgive me... Hiten.