Innocent Beginnings

Innocent Beginnings
By: Maggz
Disclaimer: InuYasha and Co. © Rumiko Takahashi

Chapter 40: It's A Luv Thang

Waking up for the second time that morning, I snuggled down deeper against Kohaku's warmth and pressed my nose into his skin, inhaling his unique masculine scent. I felt his arms tighten around me, pulling me as close to him as was possible before dropping a soft kiss atop my head.


"How are you feeling?", he drawled as he pulled back to look down into my face.


"Like a fleet of tanker trucks ran over me, backed up, then ran BACK over me once more for good measure. God! My head huuuurrttts!", I moaned, closing my eyes against the brilliant light that shone through his bedroom window.


"Ummm, Rin? How forgiving are you feeling this morning? How charitable?", he grunted, scooting up to prop against the headboard as he reached for his smokes on the table next to him.


"Why?", I whispered, snapping my shields firmly into place. I was getting very good at noticing when the conversation was going to turn to Sesshomaru... or something equally unpleasant.


"Sesshomaru... well, before he left... well, when you first went to sleep on the sofa, he said to be sure to tell you... aww... never mind, Rin. Come here a minute.", he said and reached for me.


"No, Kohaku. Tell me what Mr. OHSOHIGHANDMIGHTY said!", I frowned.


"Jeez, Rin. I know you don't feel like getting into this right now and I know he probably told you himself at some point. I wish I hadn't said a thing now-"


"You heard us talking last night...", I interrupted.


"Well, yeah.", he admitted, taking my hand and pulling me up toward him anyway.


"So what message did he leave for me? That I deserved the rotten hangover? That now maybe I'd learnt my lesson? That I just couldn't seem to stop disappointing him and others around me that loved me so? That I was on a downward spiral and fast losing control?"


"Basically.", he murmured, reaching for his smoldering cigarette perched on the edge of the empty beer can he was using as an ashtray.


"See? No big deal. You didn't even HAVE to tell me because I already knew what he would say. Too bad he couldn't stick around to tell me himself.", I sighed, wrapping my arms around Kohaku's waist. He was warm and soft and responded so sweetly to my touch. Who could help but love him to bits?


"I should call home...", I mumbled drowsily, looking up at him, my cheek pressed to his chest.


"Yeah. Got your story ready?", he grinned, stubbing out his smoke and dropping it into the can.


"Yeah. I'll just tell them that you called and said you'd pick me up from Naomi's - if that was OK and that we're going out for a late lunch and that I'll be home early this afternoon... or LATER this afternoon." I smiled.


"Good girl. Do you think Sesshomaru kept his trap shut about where you were last night?", he asked, watching as I reached over him for his phone.


"We'll see, I guess.", I muttered, punching the numbers in automatically.


Kikyo answered on the fifth ring, calling for Aunt Reika when I asked to speak to her. After a few moments, she came on the line and right away I could tell that nothing was amiss. Relieved, I plunged headlong into my fabricated evening and rang off after letting her know I'd be home sometime before dinner that evening.


"You're getting pretty damned good at these lies...", Kohaku mumbled, pulling me into his arms as he rolled me to my back.


"Hey! Don't say that! I hate lying but I hate being grounded even more! I can't WAIT `til I'm gone and off on my own!", I said firmly.


"Where are you going, Rin? You're gonna travel this big bad world alone?", he asked, nudging his hips suggestively against mine.


"Maybe...", I smiled.


"With Sesshomaru?", he asked.


"NO!", I answered, anger flaring for a brief moment at the mention of his name.


"Why not? You'll be legal in two years... Well, a year and some months, right? He can claim you with no problem then!", he grinned.


"You think I'm gonna wait around that long for him to figure it out?", I asked, blowing out a breath.


"Yeah. I think you'll wait as long as it takes for the moron to come to his senses. But until then...", he growled, wiggling his brows at me as he bent to nip at my neck.


"Kohaku, do you sleep with Kanna?", I asked him suddenly.


"What the fuck-?", he yelped, snapping his head up to stare into my eyes.


"Well, it's just a question. A simple yes or no. Do you?"


"Fuck NO!", he said, rolling off me at once to lay on his back, hands clasped firmly behind his head.


"What are you getting so mad about? It was only a question, Kohaku!"


"I have no reason to WANT to sleep with Kanna. She's a friend, that's it.", he said, sitting up with his back to me.


I slid toward him, wrapping my arms around his waist and laying my head against his back, listening to his heartbeat.


"Why did you ask me that?", he asked after a few moments.


"I wanted to know."


ld ild it make you feel better if I'd said yes?", he asked.


"No. Selfishly. It wouldn't.", I admitted without hesitation. "I know it's not fair of me to expect you to be exclusive only unto me but damn it if I could stand the thought of you with another girl."


"So stop thinking it then.", he muttered, unclasping my hands from around his waist as he bent for his boxers.


"You've got such a sexy ass!", I smiled, laying back to bury my head in his pillow.


"Flattery will get you nowhere, Rin. I'm taking a shower.", he grumbled and stomped into the bathroom.


I lost myself in silent contemplation as I heard him start the water, the sound of the old pipes banging into life. Soon I heard him start to sing and laughing, I hopped out of bed and banged on the door, interrupting the torture he'd decided to inflict upon me.


"Come in here and take a shower with me. I'll wash your back!", he shouted.


"You sure?", I asked, opening the door and stepping inside. I was freer with him than with anyone I'd ever known. It never crossed my mind to be shy or embarrassed around him for I knew everything about him and he knew everything about me. He'd shared my body, I'd shared his. Everything between us was natural and free.


"Hurry up before the water gets cold!", he laughed, pulling back the bright orange shower curtain to grin at me. I'd never seen him look more beautiful, water streaming down his face and over his body. It made me want to cry.


Running to him, I smiled as he slid the wet plastic aside and allowed me under the warm spray of water. Pressing myself against him, I folded my arms around his waist and pushed my face into his chest as his hands slid warmly over my back.


"Head still hurt?", he murmured as he soaped the wet cloth in his hands and ran it in smooth circles against my skin.


"Yeah, but it's OK.", I breathed, allowing him to `pet' me for as long as he would. Shamelessly, I craved it, needed it and lapped up all he would offer me without a second thought.


We were soon squeaky clean, not just a bit breathless and ready to emerge from the rapidly cooling water. Reaching for a towel, I wrapped myself in it before stepping down and handing one over to Kohaku. I watched him as he scrubbed at his hair to dry it before moving down his dripping body. He was so intent on his task that he didn't look up to meet my eyes until he'd firmly wrapped the towel about his hips.


"What're you grinning at me for?", he asked, raking a hanck tck through his hair.


"No reason.", I said, edging past him to reach for his toothbrush. He grunted as he walked around me, opening the door and striding back into his bedroom.


I finished up and went in search of my clothes, remembering too late that I'd gotten sick all over what I'd worn to the club and that I hadn't been in any condition to check my bag out when Sesshomaru had taken me out of the place. Sheepishly, I smiled up at Kohaku as I sat upon his bed still wrapped in my damp towel.


"I don't have anything to wear.", I said, brushing a hand through my hair.


"You can have a t-shirt of mine. Hmmmm...", he murmured as he looked around the room. "Ah ha!", he grinned, walking over to his closet. Reaching down onto the cluttered floor, amid socks and shoes and God knew what else, he rose and waved a dark blue garment triumphantly my way.


"What is THAT?", I asked, wrinkling my nose. I was no stranger to the weird and nasty things in Kohaku's closet! I knew it was sometimes weeks before he did laundry or even sorted through the mess in his CAR that had to be washed.


"A pair of sweats.", he said, looking at me as if I'd lost my mind.


"I can see that!", I laughed. "I can't wear your sweats. I'm not sure if you've noticed this or not but you're a good foot taller than me!", I giggled.


"They're not mine, smart ass!!", he smirked.


"Ohhhhhhhhh, then whose are they?", I asked, my smile fading. "Some girl's?"


"Damn, Rin! NO! They're Shippo's!", he said with a frustrated growl, throwing them my way.


"Now THAT'S a visual I'll never get out of my head!", I laughed, squealing as he made a dive for me across the bed. I rolled away from him and off the bed, clutching the sweatpants to my naked body as I hit the floor.


"SHIT!", Kohaku yelped, reaching for me too late. "You OK?"


Giggling harder, I nodded, holding my belly from where it ached with laughter. I pushed my feet into Shippo's sweats - which fit me perfectly - and rose to slide them up my hips.


"How do I look?", I hiccupped, moaning when I sharp pain slid into my head. Hangover wasn't gone yet!


"Much better than Shippo in those things!", he grinned, his eyes sweeping my bare breasts. "Put this on before you make me get into trouble!", he laughed as he scrounged around in his dresser for a clean t-shirt before throwing it my way.


I put the shirt on and padded barefoot past him through the living room and into the kitchen. I needed tea and I needed it NOW!


"Make us some tea?", Kohaku called from the bedroom and laughing, I continued with the task as I waited for him to join me. It wasn't long before he came into the kitchen, wrapping his arms around me as he nosed my hair away from my neck.


"Ahhhhhhhh, this is the life...", he whispered, his lips grazing my ear. "Waking up in bed next to a beautiful woman, showering with her, having her dress in my clothes and then watching her make tea for me."


"Damn it, Kohaku!", I laughed, pushing my bum out to solidly connect with his manhood. He yelped playfully and bit down on my earlobe, suddenly turning me toward him, his expression at once serious.


"He's a fool, Rin. I promised myself I'd keep my mouth shut but sometimes... I... shit -", he whispered, lowering his mouth to mine.


...and OH how he kissed me. I swear as long as I live I'll never forget that kiss. It said everything that he couldn't, or wouldn't say aloud to me. It told me all I needed to know and even some things I didn't want to. It was gentle and sweet and he held me as if I were truly something to be cherished, as if he loved me more than anything in his world and I think at that time, he very likely did!


Forehead pressed to my own, he held my face captive in his two large hands and I closed my eyes, not wanting to cry and spoil the moment between us.


"I'll always be here...", he said softly, his lips, once again, pressing softly against mine for a brief second. "No matter what goes on, no matter who I'm with or what I'm doing... I am always here for you, Rin.", he said.


"Kohaku, don't...", I moaned in anguish.


Yeah, I was afraid of him finding a girl and booting me from his life as THE MOST IMPORTANT PERSON in it forever. Damn! That sounds selfish even now! Yet I ached deep inside because I knew what was going on wasn't fair to him. I couldn't have them both but I wouldn`t choose!


"You know what, Rin? I just love you. It's as simple as that. I don't try to rationalize it. I just accept and go on. I figure you must love me a lot too or you'd not be here like this, you know? I'm not sure it'll turn into something more, I'm not sure Sesshomaru will ever get a clue, but I am sure that I like how I feel when we're together and I have no problem with our age difference. I'd claim you in a second and I'd never hide you if you were all mine! I've always respected you, Rin. I hope you know that. I never have and I never will take advantage of you.", he said.


"Oh God, Kohaku...", I breathed.


"So stop worrying about me. I can see it in your eyes every time something happens een een me and you, between you and Sesshomaru. I've always been free and easy, Rin. I should've been a flower child of the sixties!", he grinned, pressing a kiss to the very center of my forehead. "Easy come, easy go.", he laughed. "Now let's drink our tea and get you home, OK?", he smiled, pushing my hair back and thumbing a tear away as it slid helplessly down my cheek.