The Heir and the Spare

The Heir and the Spare

The Continent of Japan is in danger; humans and demons are engaged in a deadly war. To avoid calamity Princess Kagome, a human, finds herself betrothed to the heir of the demon-dominated Western Lands, Prince Sesshomaru. Too bad she finds herself falling for her future-husband's younger brother, Inuyasha.

.xx.

Stupid, stupid, stupid! Inuyasha thought as he paced the circumference of his room. Why? Why'd I kiss her?!

After their brief moment of romance, Kagome had looked rather shocked and quickly excused herself. Inuyasha remained in solitude for just a few brief moments before he lunged off of the solarium balcony and raced off to his room. For the time it took to run there, Inuyasha did not stop cursing himself and wishing the earth would split in half and swallow him.

Brother's bride, idiot! He yelled at himself. Your ass just kissed your brother's bride and now your brother, father and mother are going to—Inuyasha paused mid-thought. Shit! Mother is going to kill me! Inuyasha visibly paled and stared at his door; he was half expecting his mother to barge in and rip his ears off.

Not before decapitating him.

I need to talk to Kagome!

But he just kissed her… would it be too early to approach her to talk about it?

I am one dead dog. I hope there's room for me in doggy heaven. Inuyasha threw himself onto his bed and tried to smother himself with his pillow. Grandfather, if you're up there and love me, please save me a nice seat beside you. I don't think I know anybody else up there.

His ears twitched.

Was that—did he hear…

Knock knock

Inuyasha sat up with a momentary look of horror on his face when he realized that the scent coming from the other side of the door was Kagome's. He was unsure on whether he should be relieved that it wasn't his mother wielding a magical ax ready to chop his demon-parts off or worried that Kagome, who he just kissed moments prior, was coming to confront him.

Composing himself, Inuyasha did a few quick breathing exercises before going up to his door and opening it, slowly. He mustered up the most nonchalant look he could under the present circumstances and greeted his future-sister-in-law. "Hey." He tried to keep his voice calm, cool, and collected. He felt like he was doing a great job. Kagome, who was still dressed in what she was earlier, was visibly nervous. "Did you forget something from earlier?"

The urge that had become something very familiar to Inuyasha returned. His stomach began to do somersaults and his heartbeat slowly became faster. Why was he so physically charged whenever he was near Kagome? She was to be his brother's bride and he had no right to stake a claim on her. Granted his brother had run away with his tail between his legs and Inuyasha was the only chivalrous character around.

But still! That gave Inuyasha no right to openly check out Kagome.

"Why?"

The simple question that echoed from Kagome's lips meant a thousand different meanings to Inuyasha. Why did I kiss her? Why does she make me feel such surreal things? Why? Why? Why my brother's bride?!

Inuyasha sighed and shrugged. "I could answer truthfully, which you probably would prefer but would rather not hear my reason, or I could lie, which you would not prefer but the lie would sound a hell of a lot better than the truth. Your call, Highness."

Kagome stared into his ochre eyes for a few moments before she felt herself whisper: "Lie to me."

Inuyasha didn't miss a beat as he said to her his reasoning behind has to why he kissed her. "You don't make me feel strange as hell feelings that compel me to want to be close to you. You aren't the most beautiful woman I've ever laid my eyes on and I'm not at all jealous, at the least, that you're getting married to my brother instead of me." Inuyasha took a step back into his room and Kagome, almost hypnotically, followed him into his room. "I absolutely don't want you for myself and I sure as hell would not want to kiss you again. Your lips are not inviting, you don't smell nice, and face it, you're a human."

Kagome cracked a stupid grin. "That last one was the truth, Prince Inuyasha."

Despite the situation, Inuyasha chuckled softly. "I had to throw some form of truth into there. So, does that answer your question why?"

Nodding, Kagome took another step into his room. "Yes, it does. But now I have another question." Without waiting for Inuyasha to invite her to ask him what that question was, she continued. "Would you do it again? And if you do, how often would you do it? Will you continue to do it between mine and Sesshomaru's wedding? And if you don't want to do it, then, well, that's another flood of questions altogether."

"Yes I would, and I'd do it a lot. I'd probably try it to do it between yours and Sesshomaru's wedding and pray that I don't get caught and I'd have to be a demon with no balls and a lack of testosterone to not want to kiss your lips." Inuyasha resisted the urge to reach forward and rub the pad of his thumb over her bottom lip.

So plump.

So juicy.

So kissable.

And not his.

Kagome nodded, slowly. Her initial intention when she came to Inuyasha's room was to ask him about the kiss. On her walk to her bedroom it was eating her up to know why he kissed her and she wanted to figure out why she instigated it. But confronting Inuyasha brought up new questions and although she wanted answers for them she knew that if she asked… well…

The solarium event would probably be recreated. Although she wasn't going to complain but she had to remember that Inuyasha was her future brother-in-law and she was to marry his elder brother. It was to stop the war that was raging and, politically, it was the correct, smartest, and wisest thing to do. Her brain was telling her that she had to follow duty and maintain honour and respect for her people. For the humans.

But the age old internal battle raged within Kagome. It was her heart versus her mind. Her heart wanted to get to know Inuyasha more. She wanted to learn his likes and dislikes, learn about his past, inquire about his future, his hopes, dreams and aspirations. Her heart wanted to know about him and not his brother.

But her mind was against it.

"Okay. That's all I wanted to know." Kagome bowed her head a bit and, robotically, turned to leave. She made all but three steps when she felt strong fingers clasp around her wrist. Within a heartbeat she was whirled around and found herself flat against Inuyasha's hard and muscular chest. Her heart began thudding against her ribcage and she, shyly, looked up at him. His eyes were glazed over with a look of hunger and desire—something that made Kagome's core melt.

"It's very hard to not kiss you right now." He admitted. "I don't know if you want me to, I don't know if you like it—all I fucking know is that you make me feel things I've never felt before and it pisses me off that my asshole of a brother gets to spend his life with you and I don't even get a chance to get to know you in that way."

Kagome shut off her mind. She shut off all that was rational. She decided to follow her heart, listen to her soul, and do what felt right.

She kissed him.

If Inuyasha was dumbstruck he sure didn't show it. Fluidly, as if it was the most natural thing in the world, he wrapped his arms around her waist and intensified the kiss. Using one hand, he reached forward and swung at his door so that it slammed shut before he returned his full and undivided attention back to Kagome. Her hands were placed gently on his chest so he decided that he'd move them for her.

His left arm was still securely around her waist as he used his right hand to move her hands to his shoulders. Kagome got the hint and wrapped her right arm around his neck as her left hand began to comb through his hair. A throat growl reverberated from the back of his throat and Inuyasha began to step backwards. Left, right, left, right; he tumbled onto his bed. Kagome landed on him but their lips remained locked. His hands began running up and down the length of her back and her left hand cupped his cheek. She was still combing her fingers through his hair as they parted, momentarily, to breath before locking their lips once more.

"I've learned that I'm addicted to your lips," Inuyasha said in between kisses. Kagome didn't know what should possibly say in response to that so she simply smiled and returned her full attention to kissing him. Flipping them over, Inuyasha straddled her before moving his lips down from hers and onto the column of her neck. Arching her head back and thrusting her chest forward, Kagome allowed more room for movement as Inuyasha kissed, licked, and gently nibbled on her smooth skin. His hand roamed over her torso and came to a rest right at her hipbone.

His other hand was propping him up.

"This isn't right," Kagome said, for the sake of saying it. Her mind was struggling to turn back on but Kagome was managing to supress it rather well.

"Anything that feels amazing is never right," Inuyasha said in response. His lips were still snug against her neck and he managed to kiss every area of her skin. "But you're right, we shouldn't be doing this."

"We still are."

"You haven't said no yet."

Kagome lip twitched into something that resembled a smirk. "Neither have you."

"Highness, you've been here for a mere few days and you're already thinking like me." Inuyasha placed a gentle peck on her lips. "I do wonder what a few centuries would do to you."

"I'll be driving away any and all possible suitors you may have to woo over at the Miyaji River." Kagome responded, her voice soft. "Centuries, hmm?"

Inuyasha silenced her. He didn't want to think about her being so close but so far for the rest of eternity. He wanted to relish the here and now—and presently, that was Kagome. Only Kagome.

Just Kagome.

.xx.

Kagome and Sango were taking a stroll through the gardens. Inuyasha and his father had to call forth a meeting amongst all of the warriors of their lands and Izayoi wanted to pamper herself in a nice long bath. Silent at first, Kagome decided to figure out how to tell Sango that—"Inuyasha and I kissed."

Sango stopped and jaw dropped. "You and—you do know he's your brother-in-law right?!" She all but screeched.

"Not until his brother and I tie the knot." Kagome harrumphed before relenting. "Fine. I know, horrible idea but he's just so sweet and… he makes me feel things."

Sango wrapped an arm around her friend's shoulders. "Kagome… think about what you're doing. Sesshomaru—"

"Isn't here." Kagome interrupted. "What do I do? His brother is a chivalrous, kind, sweet demon and he's a chicken that left at the first utterance of marriage."

Sango sighed loudly and squeezed Kagome's shoulder gently. "I know you were forced into this—" Before she could continue, Kagome cut her off once again.

"I agreed to this marriage, Sango. I wanted to do it—"

It was Sango's turn to cut her off. "To stop the war. Because of duty. Face it, Kagome, you didn't want to marry Sesshomaru but you're still here. However that doesn't give you rights to go gallivanting with his brother."

"I am not gallivanting!"

Sango raised an eyebrow and Kagome sighed. "Fine! Maybe I'm gallivanting a little."

Sango raised both eyebrows.

"Okay! A lot!"

"Just guard your heart Kagome, that's all I want." Sango dropped her arm from around Kagome's shoulder and they both continued their stroll through the gardens. A comfortable silence enveloped them and Kagome decided to think about what Sango said.

Even though it feels right, it's the wrong thing to do. I can't do it anymore. I have to stop!

"So how was it?"

"Amazing." Kagome replied before her eyes widening. She subconsciously answered Sango's question and her lady-in-waiting burst into laughter. Sheepishly giggling, Kagome hid her face in her hands and Sango nudged her gently.

"That good, eh?"

"Better than good." Kagome sighed dreamily. "It was perfect."

"A lot better than the Prince Hojo?"

Kagome had a horrified look on her face. "Oh—oh my. He slobbered all over me like a… like a…"

"Dog?" Sango smirked and Kagome smacked her playfully.

"Let's not insult my future in-laws."

"Especially your brother-in-law?"

Kagome didn't reply but simply grinned. The relationship between her and Sango was amazing—they didn't act like employee/employer but more like friends. Kagome felt like she could confide in Sango with just about anything and everything and she would give her the best possible advice. "I wonder when Sesshomaru will be returning."

Sango shrugged as she stooped over to take a whiff of a blooming rose. "Who knows? I'm sure at this point it's more fear of his parents that's keeping him away, not you."

"Alas, I must agree with your lady-in-waiting."

The girls turned around to see Inuyasha grinned widely at them. His hair was tied into a high ponytail and he was wearing peasant-style clothing: baggy dirt brown pants, high rider's boots, and a white blouse with an open v-neck.

"How was the meeting?" Kagome inquired as she watched Inuyasha pluck two blooming roses, one white and one red, and stride over to where she and Sango were standing. Without a word he handed the white rose to Sango and the red one to Kagome.

"Uneventful. Tactical strategies, words of wisdom, lack of Sesshomaru."

Sango stifled her laughter and Kagome resisted bursting into chortles. Inuyasha grinned wolfishly and bowed gallantly to further prove his point in being the nicer, smarter, and better-looking brother of the duo. Sango raised an eyebrow and conspicuously pinched Kagome's elbow. The Princess yanked her arm away for fear that she may, indeed, begin laughing uncontrollably.

"Are you two enjoying yourselves?"

Sango nodded and Kagome vocally responded. "Yes, Prince Inuyasha. The garden is nothing like I've ever seen before."

"Then the Cistern Waterfall will surly take your breath away," Inuyasha bowed low. "May I have the honour of taking you to this majestic place by horseback?"

Sango was about to blow-up due to the cuteness but managed to maintain her composure. She looked over at Kagome who seemed to be beaming—I don't blame her.

"Horseback? But isn't that a not-so-demon way to travel?"

She was teasing him and he loved it.

"No, but I believe it's time I embrace your method of transportation. The Cistern Waterfall isn't too far away, we can detour through the village and stop by the markets if you desire."

Kagome felt herself nod and glance over at a snickering Sango. Her lady-in-waiting grinned stupidly and said: "I think I'm being beckoned. You two have a wonderful," stress on the wonderful, "time at the waterfall." And she scurried off. Inuyasha's eyes, the entire time, were trained on Kagome.

"Well then," Kagome ushered down to her black kimono, "I can't very well ride wearing this, can I?"

Inuyasha smirked languidly and crossed his arms in front of him. "Why, Highness, I would never dream of letting you ride alone. You're going to be riding with me and I don't mind if you side-saddle."

Kagome's heart was slamming right against her chest. Inuyasha's ears tweaked and laughter bubbled out of his mouth. "Ready?"

Dumbly, Kagome nodded.

No matter how many times I tell myself, I can't help the fact that I think I may be falling for my brother-in-law.

.xx.

Thank you guys soooo much! This story has been nominated for the Best AU/AR category in the Feudal Association awards fanguild. Cross your fingers that I get a place!

Anyway, things are heating up but it makes you wonder… when is Sesshomaru coming back? *insert my evil laughter right here*