The Importance of Being Kept

The club on campus was a distance away from the dorm. It took quite a walk to get there, but Kagome was enjoying it. She could see all sort of people and youkai dressed in colorful clothing and holding sparklers in the night running pass her and Inuyasha. She stopped walking when a big orange balloon with a huge smiley face on it floated in front of them. It stopped in front of Kagome. She grabbed it and stared into its face smiling. Suddenly, it burst into sparkling lights and she found herself holding the sides of the face of a young man. He grinned goofily. "Hi ya!"

Kagome screamed and hid behind Inuyasha.

"Shippou stop terrorizing my date!" Inuyasha yelled. He pulled Kagome from behind him and smiled. "I'm sorry Kagome, Shippou tends to be a brat at times."

"Sorry," the young man named Shippou said. He took a step to Kagome and sniffed her. "You look like Kikyo, but you don't smell like her, thank goodness!"

Kagome giggled at the statement. "We're cousins."

Shippou gasped when he saw Inuyasha's bracelet. "She's yours?"

Inuyasha nodded . Kagome swallowed. Just wait until after the club, she thought to herself.

"I think she's much prettier than Kikyo," Shippou said.

Kagome grinned, she was going to like this kid. He definitely was a cute one. He was an inch shorter than Kagome, and a little on the stocky side. He had the cutest bushy orange tail that twitched when he talked and beautiful green eyes.

"For once I agree with you squirt," Inuyasha said smiling down at Kagome. "Shippou is a softmore. He's a fox youkai. I rescued him last year from a group of youkai beating up on him. They like to pick on the freshman, especially the weaker ones."

"I am not weak, take that back!" Shippou yelled highly embarrassed.

Kagome smiled. "I don't think you're weak at all. That was really cool trick you did," Kagome said trying to make him feel better.

"Most girls know it me, you must be new here," Shippou smiled at her and began to walk with them.

"Yes, I transferred from community college."

"Eww," Shippou cringed.

Kagome laughed.

"Go pester someone else Shippou, I doubt Kagome's in the mood to start listening to your chattering." Inuyasha said wanted to spend time alone with Kagome.

"Oh look it's Shippou, he's so cute! Let's get him!" A group of girls charged towards Shippou who yelled and ran away. "Aww come on!"

Kagome watched them chase him in amusement. "What was that about?"

"Human girls adore him. He has a fan club," Inuyasha laughed.

Kagome laughed. "Well he certainly is cute."

"Feh," Inuyasha scoffed.

They stopped in front of a big building. Kagome could hear the music from outside. There were crowds of people hanging around outside and going in and out.

"This is it!" Inuyasha said grinning at her and taking her hand. "Prepare to have the time of your life!"

He led her into the big building through a crowd of people into a huge room looked like an auditorium. Colorful lights flashed through the room lighting it up and giving Kagome a glance at the faces on the dance floor. She held onto Inuyasha's hand tight as he maneuvered them through the crowd to the front of the stage where the band was playing.

"See someone you know?" He leaned over to say in her ear since the music was so loud.

Kagome stared at the stage and then gasped. "Oh my gosh, Sango!" She had never known anyone that gave a live performance. Sango was a professional. She looked so glamorous and beautiful on stage. Her voice was amazing and the way she moved to the music with such ease and grace made Kagome acutely aware of how she herself was not a good dancer. The young man she was singing with looked like a model off a cover of a magazine.

"Who's the guy she's with?" She asked Inuyasha curiously.

"That's Miroku, he's the lead singer of the band. Watch out for him, he's a huge letch."

He certainly was a handsome devil dressed in those black leather pants and white shirt. His shoulder length straight black hair swung wildly as he performed with Sango. They were a perfect match together, they looked good together and was certainly in sync with each other. Kagome could only watched, mesmerized at their performance. When they finished, the people in the club went crazy applauding them. Miroku introduced himself, Sango and the rest of the band members before bowing and leaving the stage amidst the loud applauding and declaration of love to both of them. Kagome giggled wow they were very popular people and the crowd seem to love them.

Miroku was the first to notice Inuyasha and Kagome. He raised his eyebrows. "Kikyo?"

Kagome was getting a little annoyed from everyone thinking she was Kikyo, if they looked harder, they would see she looked nothing like her.

"I'm her cousin, Kagome," she said with a smile.

Miroku looked at Inuyasha who stared back at him. "Aren't you going to introduce me to your new friend?"

"Nope," Inuyasha said.

"Kagome!" Sango screamed in excitement. "You came! I"m so happy!"

"Oh my gosh, Sango. You look beautiful up there. You should make a career out of singing!"

Miroku looked from one girl to the next. Sango sighed. "This is Miroku, the one I was telling you about," she said.

Kagome suddenly found herself swept off her feet. Miroku grabbed her and dramatically bent her backwards. "You are simply adorable." He stared deeply into her eyes.

Kagome's heart began to race. Oh my, she thought.

"Let her go you idiot!" Inuyasha yelled vastly annoyed. "I knew you were going to try that crap with Kagome that's why I didn't bother to introduce you."

Sango smacked Miroku upside the head and Inuyasha caught Kagome when Miroku let her go. Miroku winced in pain and rubbed the back of his head.

"Dumb ass, can you behave like a gentleman at least once in your lifetime," Sango scolded him.

"Isn't she gorgeous when she's angry?" Miroku pointed out laughing in good humor. He was as tall as Inuyasha with a lean muscular built to him. He pulled Sango in his arms and nuzzled her neck affectionately. She pushed him away, blushing slightly.

"Come on Kagome, let's get something to drink," Sango grabbed her before Inuyasha could stop them.

"Hey this isn't girls night out, you know!" Inuyasha yelled after them.

Kagome giggled.

"Soo!" Sango asked after they sat down at the bar and ordered a daiquiri.

Kagome blinked. "What?"

She held up Kagome's arm with the bracelet on it.

"Oh that...he sort of sneaked it on me. "

"Really? So you haven't told him?"

"I don't want to ruin our night, I'm waiting to after."

"I don't know Kagome. The longer you wait the more people are going to see this", she pointed at the bracelet , "and think that you belong to him whether you have it on or not by the next day."

"So, what if they think it, it doesn't change anything."

"Well, if you want to date other guys, no one is going to ask you."

"Date? I'll probably be studying too much to think about dating."

"Then leave it on if you don't plan to date," Sango said. "Like I said, it's good protection."

"Miroku doesn't look like a youkai," Kagome commented changing the subject.

"I know, everyone thinks he's human until he does something crazy like lift a car with one hand or leap on top of a building. Miroku does have one distinguishing trait that makes him very dangerous. You've heard of the black hole right, in space? Well he's the living version of it. There's a hole in his hand that appears when he's angry that sucks up everything in its path."

Kagome looked at her in disbelief. "No way, that's impossible!"

"I thought so too until I saw proof for myself. It's the most horrifying thing I've ever witnessed. Believe me, Kagome when I say Inuyasha and Miroku maybe friendly and laid back, but both of them can be very ruthless. They have another side to them and it's very scary."

Kagome stiffened. "What exactly can Inuyasha do?"

"Well for one thing, Inuyasha can extract very long, sharp claws that can cut anything in half. He also has a very bad temper. He's fast, he's strong and he's a badass when it comes to fighting. He never loses, believe me."

"Okay, now you're scaring me," Kagome shivered.

"Sorry," Sango said. "That's the last thing I want to do. Don't worry, let's just have fun and pretend I never said those things."

"Said what things?" Inuyasha asked popping up behind Kagome.

"Nothing, just girl talk," Sango grinned.

Inuyasha grabbed Kagome's hand. "She's mine tonight, you live with her, you can talk to her later," he told Sango and pulled Kagome on the dance floor.

"Inuyasha what are you doing?"

"Let's dance."

"I'm not very good at this."

Inuyasha grinned. "We'll see."

The song that was playing was fast. Kagome started off awkwardly and stepped on Inuyasha's toes a couple of times. She blushed furiously and decided to give up, but he laughed and pulled her against him, at that moment a slow song began to play.

"I told you I was bad at this," Kagome mumbled totally embarrassed. She was glad her back was against him so he couldn't see how red her face had become.

Inuyasha chuckled, "just relax and move with me." His lips were very close to her ear causing her to shiver a little. He wrapped his arms her waist and pulled her body tightly against his. Kagome began to move with him as he swung his hips from side to side.

"Okay, I can do this, this is simple," she whispered.

"Told you so," Inuyasha whispered back.

For a moment they dance to the slow rhythm quietly getting lost in the beat. Kagome began to get very comfortable with Inuyasha. His chest was hard and warm against her back. She leaned into it liking the way it felt.

Inuyasha knew he should have been a gentleman and stopped as soon as he began to get turned on, but for some reason, he couldn't. Holding Kagome felt so right, it was as if she belonged in his arms. Everyone else in the club was forgotten, nothing existed except Kagome. Her soft warm body molded against his perfectly and her scent, he could drown in such tantalizing aroma. He bent down and ran his nose along the side of her neck inhaling deeply.

Kagome shivered as she felt Inuyasha nose rubbing gently against her neck. Her hand automatically came up behind her. She ran her fingers through his long hair. It felt like corn silk, white corn silk. Her hand ended up resting on the back of his neck.

Sango sat at the bar watching them in shock. Miroku came over and sat beside her.

"Umm...How long have Inuyasha known Kagome?" He couldn't seem to take his eyes off the couple either.

"He just met her today..." Sango answered.

Silence...tension...

"She's human," Miroku said intrigued by the possibility.

"You're not thinking what I'm thinking are you?" Sango asked.

"Have you ever seen another youkai display so much intimate affection to someone he just met?"

Sango thought for a second he was joking since it was exactly what he had done the first day he met her, but she wanted to know where he was going with this so she said nothing.

"Besides, " Miroku continued. "That's so not Inuyasha's style...if he's acting like this...it could mean...

Sango gasped..."She's his mate?"

"Ditto!"

"Oh my gosh!"

They continued to watch.

Kagome had no clue what had come over her. She was dimly aware they were in a crowded club surrounded by people, but nothing matter except Inuyasha. She wanted him to go on holding her forever. A long tremble ran through her body when he began to place warm tentative kisses against her neck. "Kagome," he whispered hotly in her ear.

"WHAT THE FUCK IS GOING ON HERE?" A loud shrewd voice screamed in front of them causing Kagome to jump in fright.

She opened her eyes finally coming back to reality and saw Kikyo standing in front of them. Two other females were standing behind her looking at them disapprovingly.

Kikyo grabbed Kagome and yanked her out of Inuyasha's arms. "You bitch! You really are trying to steal my man!"

Kagome stared back at her in confusion.

"Don't try to act all innocent with me. I saw what you were doing. You were all over him, you little hussy!" Kikyo slapped Kagome hard.

They both heard a low threatening growl and turned to Inuyasha at the same time. Kagome gulped. Inuyasha was furious. The muscles in his body strained against the shirt he wore and his long white hair crackled and stood up at the tips as if surrounded by electricity. Kagome could actually feel the power coming off of him. What was most terrifying was those beautiful golden eyes, sparks of red were shooting off in them. He moved so fast, Kagome had barely time to get out of the way.

Kikyo found herself shivering in pure terror as she laid on her back on the floor. Inuyasha had sprung on top of her and leaned over her threateningly. "If you ever touch Kagome again, I will rip your fucking throat out! "

In the next second, he was gently escorting a stunned Kagome out of the club as Kikyo watched them leave. "Inuyasha!" She called after him crying from fright and humiliation. "Inuyasha, why!" Why would he treat her so cruelly? He had never been so angry with her and had never ever threatened her until now. Her friends tried to help her up, but she pushed them away in anger and got up on her own. How dare he humiliate her this way in front of everyone!

"Wow..." Miroku said.

"This is bad..." Sango replied. "Kagome doesn't know what's going on."

"Perhaps, Inuyasha doesn't either, after all who has experience in finding their life mate?" Miroku said.

"Yes," Sango said backing away from him slowly. "I suppose it's a learning process. I mean it's not like it happens all the time like falling in love right?"

"Exactly," Miroku said, "It only happens once after all, although, I have heard that when a youkai does find his mate, deep down, he'll know it even if he doesn't ."

Sango laughed nervously. "Which is why I'm glad I'm human, who wants to go through so much trouble," she continued to ease away from him.

Miroku suddenly turned to her. "Where the hell you're going?"

Sango ran out of the club as fast as possible. She didn't need to deal with Miroku right now especially when she got the most frightening feeling that she could be his mate!

Inuyasha carried a stunned Kagome back to the dormitory. She hadn't noticed that he had picked her up until the wind started blowing through her hair. She looked around and gasped loudly. Inuyasha was running faster than a car. He zipped through the crowded campus as if it was nothing and flew up the steps as if he rode the wind. She remembered what Sango had told her. 'He also has a very bad temper. He's fast, he's strong and he's a badass when it comes to fighting.'

Inuyasha sat her down in front of her door. "Are you okay?" He asked looking at her in concern. He gently stroked the cheek Kikyo had hit. "Did she hurt you?"

Kagome's heart began to beat a little faster. If he didn't stop, she would end up having feelings for this guy and that was something she did not want. "I'm okay, just a little stunned over what happened. I've never known my cousin to be the violent type."

Inuyasha snorted. "You don't know her very well."

Kagome shook her head. "Inuyasha, I don't know what happened back there between you and me, but I think I need to put a stop to it before it gets any further."

Inuyasha watched her take off the bracelet he gave her. An vast amount of emotions overwhelmed him that he didn't understand, what he did understand was that he did not want to see his bracelet come off her. "What are you doing?" He asked quietly.

"I'm giving your bracelet back. I know I'm new to all of this and I really don't understand all the rules, but I do know that I don't want to be anyone's "kept" woman. I'm too independent for that."

"Independence around here will get a human girl killed," Inuyasha said. "Kagome, I know we don't know each other, but you can't say you didn't feel something back there too."

"It doesn't matter, Inuyasha, you and I will never work. You're a youkai and I'm a human and I don't know a damn thing about youkai or the rules on this campus, so if I did anything to mislead you into thinking I wanted something from you, I'm sorry. I..." she stopped because he suddenly grabbed her wrist and held her hand in front of them. He gently touched her fingertips with his, a static of electricity snapped between them sending a sharp zap up Kagome's arm. She gasped. Inuyasha closed her fingers between his and used his other hand to slip the bracelet back on her arm.

Inuyasha stared down into her eyes. "Did you feel that? I felt it too. I also felt it this morning when we touched."

Kagome bit her lip in uncertainty. "It's just static between our bodies, it happens all the time."

Inuyasha raised an eyebrow showing he didn't believe her and gently began to run his fingers up and down her arm. Every time he touched her, she felt a strange shock zap through her. Kagome began to tremble visibly. Inuyasha began to look at her as if really seeing her for the first time. His beautiful golden eyes studied her face closely. He ran his fingers over her cheek noticing how smooth and soft it felt. Then buried his fingers deep into her hair feeling each silky raven black strand. Suddenly he dipped his head down, his nose brushed against the swell of her breast as he inhaled deeply. "Gods, your scent is addicting," he mumbled.

What on earth was he doing to her? Kagome panicked and tried to push him away. She froze when he began to growl softly as if to warn her to be still. She gulped loudly. What had she gotten herself into?

Inuyasha finally lifted his head and stared deeply into her eyes. "You're pure," he whispered staring at her in wonder.

Kagome frowned. Could he tell she was a virgin just by smelling her? She watched a slow grin appear on his face and wondered just what in the hell was he thinking? "If you're finished man handling me, I'd like to go in my apartment now."

"Do not take my bracelet off, Kagome. Make sure you wear it when you wake up in the mornings, if you don't, I'll have to find another way to let people know you're mine." Inuyasha said in a serious tone that made Kagome slightly afraid.

"I just met you today and you are taking ownership of me already? This is one human who will not let a youkai boss her around. I'm not afraid of you."

Inuyasha acted as if he didn't hear her. "Good night, Kagome." He began to walk away.

"What the hell is so special about me anyway? We just met. You don't even know me!"

Inuyasha stopped, turned around, and smiled. "I know you, Kagome. You're sweet, you're innocent, you have never been with another man in your life, but you can be damn sexy without even knowing it, you're naturally beautiful and you're the only person on this campus that isn't "taken" that acts like a real person. Do you know how refreshing that is to me when I'm constantly surrounded by shallow girls who's only concern is how I look, how much money I have to give them and what kind of car I drive? You don't expect a damn thing from me. I'd be a fool not to keep you."

Kagome blushed heavily at his description of her. Wow, no one had ever said such things about her or described her so...charmingly. Yet, she still felt the need to fight him.

"What if I don't want to be kept?" she asked defiantly.

"You're awfully cute when you're stubborn," Inuyasha said. "But, sorry, that's not your decision to make. Your family must not have been aware of how dangerous this campus can get. I can't always be around to watch you. I wouldn't want anything to happen to you while you're wandering around by yourself. Besides, I've got no doubt everyone who was at the club already thinks you're mine, by tomorrow afternoon, rumor will have spread that you belong to me. You should still wear the bracelet, just in case there are those who don't know." he winked." Good night, Kagome. I'll see you tomorrow."

Kagome watched him walk to his room and close his door. The audacity of that dog! How dare he have the nerves to tell her she don't have a choice with her own life and then so casually dismiss her. She went into her apartment and slammed the door shut. She stared down at the bracelet on her arm, snatched it off and threw it on the floor.