Insatiable

Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha. Rumiko Takahashi does.


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CHAPTER 07: DRUNKEN REALIZATIONS
 

Her legs became jelly as they kissed fervently. Angling his head, he swallowed her sighs as he alternately sucked and stroked and nibbled with his tongue and teeth. She kissed him back matching him stroke for stroke. She should not be doing this, making out with her fiancé’s friend and in the hallway no less. Her mind demanded for her to stop. But her stubborn lust-crazed body wouldn't listen, as in their own accord, her hands moved sinking deeply into his silver tresses. Her other hand trailed down to loosen his shirt buttons until she touched hot, hard and smooth skin. She palmed his muscular chest tracing slow sexy sinful caresses down his abs.
 
Inuyasha forgot reason when he felt her dainty hands against his bare chest. He had been close to convincing himself to release her from his kiss and leave right away. But the pleasure of feeling her hands all over him was capable of blistering what was left of his brain cells.

“Kagome,” he hissed her name at the contact and roughly ground his hips to hers, making her pant as she wrenched her mouth from his.
 
“You drive me crazy.” He was now attacking her neck and throat, relentlessly sucking and kissing her sweet flesh as his hands moved to loosen up two shirt buttons, enough to reveal her cleavage and her black laced bra-clad breasts.
 
“You've been driving me fucking crazy.” He cupped her breast, massaging it against the fabric of her bra as he moved his mouth lower to her cleavage, sucking her luscious mounds making her toes curl. His other hand cupped her backside pulling her hips closer, lifting her up on her tiptoes as he surged up and down setting a rhythm.
 
“Mmmm… Inuyasha…,” she moaned loudly, clinging to him desperately. All thoughts of Shun gone as she felt his growing desire firmly pressed against her crotch, which was starting to get wet. She panted against the side of his ear and pushed his head down to her chest where he sucked and nipped leaving a bruise.

This was crazy. She felt wanton. She hummed his name against his ear as the hand massaging her breast snaked around her back to unclasp her bra when…
 
BANG!

The door beside Kagome's flat burst open and a very irate middle-aged woman cursed upon seeing them both.
 
All ministrations stopped. Panting, they hugged each other. The irate woman disapprovingly hissed a “Get a room!” before roughly shutting the door in their faces.

Heavy rasped breathing resounded in the silent dimly lit hallway. A small whimper resonated softly as Kagome turned to look at a dazed Inuyasha.
 
“You should go,” she whispered against his ear as the hand trapped in his silver tresses unconsciously and gently massaged his scalp. Inuyasha sighed and buried his face against her neck, slowly licking the bruise he had left there. She shivered fisting a lump of his hair.
 
“I know,” he said, nodding his head all the while trailing kisses on her throat, particularly paying close attention to her collarbone. She unconsciously pushed his head down as she tiptoed herself pushing her chest closer to him. He took hold of her leg and raised it to his side, hooking it around his hips, opening her to him as he started grinding his hips against hers once again.
 
“You should go, Inuyasha,” she breathlessly whimpered, but her voice held no conviction at all. What was fucking wrong with her? She should let him go. But what was she doing? She nipped at his ear down his neck and jaw to capture his lips for a demanding kiss. Their hips grounded each other like their already deep into sex but they were not. They still had clothes on.

Blood sizzled and skin tingled to be touched. More skin, more kisses, more caresses. Much more… much, much more.
 
“Kagome,” he crooned her name as a husky plea, a plea he himself could not fathom.
 
She nodded, silently understanding whatever he intended to say and breathlessly whispered, “Door.”
 
He groaned opening the door quickly, taking the keys out of the lock before roughly kicking it close. He threw the keys, not caring where it landed and took his shirt off as he roughly pushed her against the wall. He yanked her shirt open, ripping the last buttons off. She gasped, the motion knocking her breath away. She did not get the chance to breathe at all because Inuyasha was already there devouring her mouth in a bruising kiss. He cupped her butt, squeezing both cheeks as he lifted her up. Her legs automatically wrapped around his waist, as he carried her to the couch.
 
Inhibitions were completely forgotten as Kagome rid of her shirt and unclasped her bra, spilling her breasts as they continued to kiss. She held him close and Inuyasha gasped at the feel of her naked chest against his. He laid her down the couch straddling her as he stared at her half-naked form with smoldering hungry eyes.
 
“God, you’re beautiful,” he whispered, his manhood straining against his pants. He had always thought of her as heavenly even if she had serious temper issues, but God…
 
“So beautiful,” he huskily purred as he moved to cup her breasts. She gasped closing her eyes and biting her lip to control the moan from coming out as he massaged her breasts with his palm, and then played with her nipples.
 
“I've always dreamt about you,” he said causing her to open her eyes to lock with his lust filled amber gaze.
 
“Dreamt of kissing you,” he murmured into her mouth as he fervently kissed her.
 
“Dreamt of touching you,” he said nuzzling her neck and throat, caressing her with his lips and hot breath. Tilting her head, she gave him more access. And he did not miss that chance; he devoured her. Licking, sucking, nipping. His hands moved down to her firm tummy, sliding to her hips. He unbuttoned her pants, taking it off in one swift and smooth motion.
 
He smirked. She shivered.
 
“Kagome, have I ever told you…,” He caressed her legs with both hands and moved closer to stare at her, “… that I have dreamt of…” She held her breath in anticipation as he looked at her with smirking naughty eyes.
 
“…Eating you?” he rasped as he moved to give her nipple a single lick at the same time stroking her clit and core through her panties, which was already soaking wet. All that time his gaze pierced hers, and she watched him strangling a moan.
 
“N-no…oh…” she tried to reply, arching her back as he continued his ministrations, now sucking the nipple and massaging her other breast. He inserted a finger into her and slowly pumped in and out all the while brushing her clit with his thumb. She soared exponentially with every pump and pass of his thumb.
 
“Ahhh… Inu…” she moaned squirming beneath him.
 
“I’ve always dreamt of you squirming underneath me,” he murmured switching nipples as her shaking hands fumbled with his belt and pants. He added a second finger and pumped faster as he sucked her nipple even harder causing her to leave his pants and just hugged him desperately.
 
“Oh… god… Inu… yasha…,” she whimpered moaning out a seductive plea. God, his name on her lips called out so passionately made him soar and his desire growing hard… rock hard.
 
“Dreamt of hearing you cry out and call my name… just for me… just like that… as I make you cum… over and over and over again,” he huskily whispered against her mouth as he felt her squeezed his fingers tight. And she released reaching a slice of sinful heaven, her cry lost in his mouth as he kissed her fervently. She helplessly kissed him back, drowned by him and the feelings he evoked in her. She did not know why; but drunk or not, this just felt so right to be wrong. He just felt so right that she wouldn't mind if this was wrong.
 
They panted, locked at each other's gazes, both equally dazed, equally reflecting each other's emotions, each other's thoughts, each other's hearts, and each other's desires. Lust, passion, excitement, anticipation. Happiness in the midst of conflict. Completeness in the midst of hunger. And… a flash of… love. Then it was gone, lost in the depths of their swirling emotions.
 
“I have dreamt of making love to you. Ever since we’ve met, I’ve dreamt of loving you, Kagome.”

Her breath was caught in her throat as she listened to his words. He sounded sincere. He looked sincere. Staring at him, she cupped his face with both hands. Somehow, something swelled inside her as she gazed at the depths of his eyes. Had she ever felt something like this before? Had she been this affected when she gazed at Shun?

No.
 
 The revelation was cut short by a…

RING… RING… RING…
 
It was picked up by her answering machine. “Hello, you’re calling Kagome. I am not here right now, probably at work or out for a jog. So just leave a message after the beep.”
 
There was a pause.
 
“Hey Kagome… It's Shun.”
 
Inuyasha froze hearing his friend's voice. That quickly snapped him awake from all his lust for the woman in his arms. He released Kagome from his embrace, immediately sitting up. “Shit!” he cursed lowly, as he brought his head down.
 
 Shun was still on the phone. (Sigh) “Are you there? Please pick up.” (Silence…) I'm sorry I ruined the day. And about dinner, I promise to make it up to you before I go for my 2 week business trip next week. (Sigh) Kagome, will you please pick up?”
 
Kagome could not breathe. She was frozen on the spot. Oh God. It was Shun! Shun was calling her. What should she do? Answer or not? She thought frantically. Quick hands retrieved her shirt to cover her breasts. She sat up when she heard a curse. She turned to look at her side, a gasp escaping her lips. Inuyasha was staring at her, his eyes still amazing and intense as ever. But now, it had cleared from its daze and was filled with… guilt. His form was broken. Shoulders were slumped but tense nonetheless, and his hands fisted on his lap. Her heart broke and went out to him.

She did not know what to say to him, what to do at the very moment, so she stared back mirroring his own image. Inuyasha turned his gaze away from her, unable to look at her as she stifled a sob and looked down. Her shoulders shook. Oh God, what had she done?
 
Shun’s voice on the phone was not helping her torment either. “Kagome? Can you please pick up the phone? You must be mad at me right now, aren't you? Please Gome… Even if you'll shout at me, just pick up the phone, baby. (Sigh) Okay. I understand if you don't want to talk to me right now, but I'll talk to you tomorrow. Okay? (Sigh) Bye.” The machine beeped once again, ending the call.


She remained silent sitting, staring down, and burning holes on the floor. She hugged herself, unaware that Inuyasha had stood up and had taken a quilt off the top of the center table. He walked towards her. She stiffened gasping, as she felt the weight of the fabric fell on her shoulders.

Inuyasha knelt down in front of her and pulled the quilt around. “I'm sorry,” he whispered.

She snapped up to look at him. But before she could see his face, he had hugged her tightly.
 
“I am so sorry, Kagome. Bye,” he weakly whispered in her ear and placed a gentle kiss on her cheek, as he abruptly stood up, He walked straight towards the door, taking his discarded shirt from the floor quickly, and left closing the door gently.
 
Kagome stared at the door as her tears fell. She kept her sobs to herself, as she wiped her tears with the quilt. Hugging herself tightly, her gaze caught her discarded bra and pants.
 
“Oh god,” she whimpered burying her head in her hands.
 
They went too far. And they had been so close to having sex. What had she done? She had been so lost that she had even forgotten she hadn't been with a man like that before. No man had ever touched her like that before. Shun had not even come close. But she could not stop herself… she didn't want to. Inuyasha awakened something in her that overpowered rational thought, feelings that refused to be ignored, and a hunger that she knew would consume her if she wouldn't act on it. She had suspected that weakness ever since she had met him. During the times she saw him, she controlled it and caged it within her. But all her inhibitions fell apart once he kissed and touched her. And not to mention the sake...the damn sake. She had acted like a wanton. She had initiated the contact, an act she shouldn't have done in the first place. Yes, she had been drunk but she would never put the blame on an inanimate object. She grew up responsible of her actions and she wouldn't start doing otherwise.
 
She was embarrassed with herself. She was already engaged and she had not even thought of Shun when she was in Inuyasha’s arms. What was worse was that she was still lusting for her fiance’s friend. She felt guilty for putting Inuyasha in this tangle. Having had listened to her friends talk about the two friends, she could tell that Shun and Inuyasha had a fragile relationship. She might have not known the details but she was totally aware of the invisible tension between the two, even if they had tried to hide it.
 
However, the cause of her tears puzzled her. She had been shocked when she had heard Shun's voice. But seeing Inuyasha so broken and guilt-ridden as he walked away had shaken her, urging her to comfort him and just run to him and kiss that sad expression out of his handsome face. But she did not do it. Because she should not do it. She already belonged to someone else. She was engaged to his friend.

Sitting, unmoving, she watched him leave and let her tears fall. “What is wrong with me? I am not supposed to feel this way. I've only met him for a week. What are you doing to me Inuyasha?”
 
 
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 
 
Inuyasha took the stairs, as he did not want the feeling of being shut in inside the elevator. Right now, all he wanted to do was just to get away. It took him two minutes to reach the bottom of the building. Sweeping through the lobby, he jogged towards his car closing the door roughly behind him. An angry sigh left his lips as he glared at nothing in particular. His hands gripped the steering wheel tightly.
 
What the hell had he been thinking? What the fuck had he been doing? Kagome was off limits. She was Shun’s fiancée.
 
He fiercely hit the steering wheel. Better yet, he should hit himself. He was angry and disgusted with himself. He had lost control and had gone too far putting himself and Kagome in this mess. He knew he was a bit drunk. And so was she. But he would not make excuses for himself and blame his drunken haze. People who said they were too drunk to notice were lying. Because a person could never be too drunk, and then notice something – much more get involved in a strenuous activity such as sex. If a person was too drunk, he’d just drop on the floor and pass the hell out.

In his part, that was not the case because he knew he was no way near that drunk. Between the two of them, he was more aware of what was happening. Between the two of them, he was still capable of a sound judgment. But he failed to do all of those things. Instead, he had taken advantage of her lapse in judgment. That fact tripled his guilt. He considered himself selfish sometimes; but when it came to his family and friends, he had always placed them ahead of him. However, this time, he had not even stopped to think what would Shun have said, or how he would have reacted. The thought of how his actions would have affected Kagome and the people around them had not come to mind. He had acted in pure instinct. An instinct to claim, to take, to touch the first woman who had made him ache this much.

And he might have condemned himself for his actions, but, by God, he did not regret seeing and feeling her flushed in his arms. In fact, he relished it – her touches, her kisses, her taste. How her body felt against his. How she moaned his name, as he brought her to the brink. The memory of how her eyes dazed because of him, and how her breath hitched with just a touch was still fresh in his mind. That night in Sacred Arrow, when he saw her for the first time, he had wanted her. Immediately after tasting her sweet kiss, he had found himself addicted to her taste. Now that he was able to see her in the throes of passion, he craved more of her. And that was a problem because he knew what he felt towards her was forbidden. He knew that he needed to curb this extreme lust he felt for her. He needed to still the growing desire for him to claim her, to have her completely. He ought to stop feeling possessive around her. Kagome was not his.

Why was it difficult accepting that fact?

And why was he staring at her window instead of going home?

“This is insane,” he uttered under his breath. He had been watching her window longer than necessary. Why was it hard for him to leave?

“What have you done to me, Kagome?”

She was making him ache – literally. He was feeling a slight ache in his chest, as he decided to start his car. He stepped on the accelerator wanting the distance between them. His emotions mirrored his driving – fast and furious. He roughly stepped on the brakes drifting on a sharp turn as he approached the highway.  

He arrived at the mansion in record time only to find a seething Sesshomaru opening the door for him.
 
“Where have you been?” Sesshomaru asked. His face appeared stoic but his left eye twitched out of irritation.
.
“Nowhere,” Inuyasha answered walking straight passed his brother.
 
“Nowhere?” Sesshomaru wailed following him inside.

Inuyasha was headed for the kitchen.

“You have been to nowhere while I rot at the airport waiting for you to pick me up. You assured me that you were going to pick me up. But you never came, Inuyasha.” He watched Inuyasha open the refrigerator and took a bottle a beer. Frowning, Sesshomaru watched his younger brother drank half of the beer in one go.
 
“Oh shit!” Inuyasha cursed putting the bottle on top of the counter. Because he was preoccupied with Kagome, he had forgotten Sesshomaru was supposed to arrive today from Hongkong. His older brother had called him early in the afternoon about his flight details. He was staying in Japan for two weeks to assist Inuyasha with the family business.

Sesshomaru, however, thought Inuyasha did not need the help. But right now, Inuyasha could definitely need the help in explaining to him why he had not picked him up at the airport.

“That’s right, baka. Oh shit is right! You could have called Totosai to do it for you – no – you should have informed Totosai about picking me up if you were too busy. But you didn’t. You even failed to inform anyone in the mansion that I was arriving today. Had you forgotten? Because if you had, I’d be fucking pissed off.” Sesshomaru crossed his arms across his chest looking at a slightly defeated Inuyasha. He knew that look. And he did not like that look.
 
Inuyasha sighed. “It was a lapse.”
 
“A lapse? Or just pure Inu-stupidity?” Sesshomaru was still annoyed, but he smirked at his little brother. They had not seen each other for a long time and he missed making Inuyasha squirm. That had been half of his intentions with his earlier actions. The other half was the fact that he had missed Inuyasha. It was true – big brother Sesshy missed little Inu.
 
But Inuyasha seemed unable to get message. “No ass!” He fumed. “I was…”
 
Sesshomaru raised a brow when Inuyasha’s shoulders slumped.
 
“I was distracted,” Inuyasha uttered. His voice resigned.

Sesshomaru had not expected this reaction. And he was seeing that look again. It always pissed him off when Inuyasha looked so pathetic. He wanted that look gone from his brother. And the only way to do that was to taunt the hell out of him.

“Oh, I see. A woman.” Sesshomaru said automatically, earning a glare from Inuyasha.
 
“That's none of your business, Sess. And what makes you think it is a woman anyway?”
 
Always worked like a charm. Sesshomaru smirked. “Baka. Because that's the only thing that will qualify as a distraction to you.”

Then, he eyed Inuyasha heatedly.

Inuyasha blinked.
 
“And besides your disheveled hair, well-kissed lips and unbuttoned shirt gave it all away,” Sesshomaru smirked as Inuyasha cursed.
 
“Wha-? FUCK!”
 
Sesshomaru chuckled evilly, as Inuyasha fumbled with his shirt. “Oh, and Inuyasha, you have forgotten to zip your pants.” He was totally enjoying this.
 
“Ass!” Inuyasha spat back.
 
“You're such a baka, Inu.” Sesshomaru grinned.
 
“And you're still an ass, Fluffster,” Inuyasha retorted, grinning at his older brother. Tilting the beer bottle to his lips, he flashed a fang. Sesshomaru showed his too.

Passing by the kitchen, Myouga paused chuckling when he saw the two brothers. Up to now, he still could not believe how much the two looked like their father. Like Inutaisho, his sons had the same long silver hair and intense amber eyes. And judging by the way the brothers were smirking at each other, they both had similar smirks as their father. Shaking his head, Myouga left the kitchen. He’d give them the privacy to talk.
 
“So, how was she?” Sesshomaru asked, not losing his devious grin.

Inuyasha dropped his grin as he blankly stared at his older brother.

This puzzled Sesshomaru. Looking thoughtful, he took a seat. “Speechless… Hmm, let’s see. It either means that she’s worth forgetting about me and leaving me to collect dust in the airport, or you have just turned deaf out of stupidity. Wait, something’s wrong with this. You’re already a baka, Inu. So that leads to reason number one. This woman must be something else, little brother.”
 
“You have a nasty sense of humor, Sess,” Inuyasha told him.
 
“That wasn't a joke. It was a presumed fact, baka,” Sesshomaru simply replied giving him a you-know-I'm-right look. He knew his brother. With the exception of Kikyo, Inuyasha had never played with women or relationships. Though he had suspected Kikyo had ever been Inuyasha’s girlfriend. He believed his brother had the good sense to avoid such torture.

He had known Inuyasha all his life. Modesty aside, he and his brother were certified babe magnets. They did not go after women. Usually, women went after them. Moreover, like him, Inuyasha was picky when it came to women. So if he had forgotten to pick him up all because of a woman, that woman must be worth talking about.
 
“Well?”
 
Inuyasha sighed at his brother's determined look. He knew he had to tell Sesshomaru something. Or else he would have Fluffster tailing him for the rest of the night and the next day and the day after that, until he caved in and spilled the goodies. His big brother had always been a persistent ass. Moreover, he could not and would not talk to his friends regarding what he felt for Kagome because he feared that it would cause trouble. His circumstances were a pain, and they only left him with one choice. Sighing again, he opened the refrigerator, grabbed two bottles of beer and tossed one to Sesshomaru.
 
“Let's go to the rooftop.”


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Miroku, Hiten and Kouga walked along the familiar cobblestone pathway towards the Takahashi mansion's outdoor pool. Rubbing the obvious bump on his head, Kouga looked at his side to see Hiten rubbing his sore butt.

When they arrived, they saw Myouga and Totosai having morning tea over at the garage while doing the routine check to the cars. Totosai held his wrench as he checked the engine while Myouga checked the suspension. It was the weekend so the two old men got to do their favorite past time. Myouga and Totosai had been bestfriends even before they had worked for the Takahashis. In fact, both were notorious drift riders back then in the old days.

The two senior men were just chatting and minding their own businesses when the three young friends peaked inside and greeted them.
 
This would have been a wonderful start in the morning – three juniors greeting their two seniors a pleasant day. But Miroku knew it was the opposite. He had seen this scene hundreds of times before and he knew this would not end pretty. Kouga, Hiten and the 2 old geezers had never been a good combination. These two tandems had always clashed every single time they’d encounter each other. They had a history of violence – all right, that might be too farfetched. But these two were in an on-going war. During senior year in high school, Kouga and Hiten pranked the two old men replacing their hair conditioner with toothpaste mixed with fabric softener. The bad joke had caused more than enough falling gray hairs from Myouga and Totosai’s heads. When the two old men discovered the act a week later, they had chased the two teenagers throughout the mansion. Eventually the two old men got tired, and Kouga and Hiten got away all smug and victorious. Of course, the two old geezers swore vengeance and ever since then, they had been throwing pranks at each other.

Their meetings would always end up somewhat like this.
 
Kouga: “Yo, old geezers, Wazz up?” evil smirk
 
Myouga: “We're doing great, Kouga-sama.” equally evil smirk while left eye twitching
 
Kouga: “Oh really? How's the hairline going?” more evil smirk
 
Myouga and Totosai growling lowly, temple vein popping.

More Kouga and Hiten deviously smirking.
 
Hiten: “You don't need to ask them, Kouga. It's obvious. See?” pointing at Myouga and Totosai's heads
 
Kouga: “Oh yeah… Ahahahahaha… Still receding I see, and…” moving closer touching Myouga and Totosai's gray hairs. “Oh hell no! It's so thin! Here Ten, touch it!”
 
Myouga and Totosai now fuming, ears steaming.
 
Hiten: “Hell yeah… I see what you mean.” passing wayward looks to Kouga
 
Kouga: “What's your conditioner, old geezers? I say you need to switch `cause…”
 
BONK!
 
Totosai pummeling Kouga with the wrench.
 
Kouga: “Awww… That's a wrench old man! I could have a concussion with that!”
 
Totosai: “You two shut your pie holes and SCRAM you brats!” slapping the wrench to Hiten's butt
 
Hiten: “Awww… my poor butt cheeks!”
 
 Miroku laughed at the state of his two friends. “That's what you get for disrespecting your elders,” he chided.
 
“Shit, Roku. Don't laugh,” Hiten growled. “It burns. My butt burns,” he complained massaging his butt. He turned to Kouga. “Kouga, my butt burns!”
 
“And what the hell do you want me to do about it, Ten?” Kouga roared earning a chuckle from Miroku. His face turned dark. “The old geezers got us this time but next time the last laugh will be ours. Mwahahahahahahaha.”
 
“Ah, Kouga, still crazy I see,” Sesshomaru said when they reached the poolside. He was eating his breakfast and reading the morning paper when he heard Kouga's sinister laugh. He smirked. “I'm surprised Ayame hasn't committed you yet to a mental institution seeing your current mental state right now.”
 
“Hey there, Sess. Good to see you again,” Miroku greeted sitting across Sesshomaru. “When did you arrive?”
 
“Yesterday,” Sesshomaru replied sipping his tea.
 
“How long will you be staying?” Miroku said.
 
“2 weeks.”
 
“Where's Inuyasha?” Miroku asked and Sesshomaru pointed towards the pool. Inuyasha was doing laps. Hiten immediately walked towards the pool after taking a football.
 
“I wouldn't do that if I were you,” Sesshomaru said stopping Hiten from hitting Inuyasha with the football. “Not if you want a rabid Inuyasha breathing fire on your neck,” he finished turning to sip his tea, only to come face to face with Kouga whose face was crunched up in a calculating frown. His electric blue eyes danced with naughtiness as he tapped his chin and smirked, a fang peaking out.
 
“Hey there, Sess,” Kouga started.
 
Sesshomaru seemed unaffected. “What is it, Wolf? I know that look. It says you're going to say or do something stupid and I will have to knock some sense into you by kicking your ass,” he uttered knowingly.
 
Unfazed, Kouga just smirked. Maybe not getting laid for over two months had finally taken its toll on his sanity that he risked taunting Sesshomaru.
 
“Sess, how do I say this but… you look OLD… DER,” he said.
 
Piercing icy amber met laughing electric blue. Hiten suppressed a laugh but Sesshomaru noticed it and gave him a chilly glare, which froze him instantly. He pointed a shaking finger to Kouga.
 
“He said it, not me,” Hiten squeaked.
 
Sesshomaru simply hit Kouga's head knocking him to his chair. Kouga had to be seeing stars right now. That blow was hard.
 
“He badly needs a lay,” Sesshomaru concluded. “Roku, you better call Ayame and tell her that her boyfriend needs to be fucked ASAP.” His tone was business as usual while Miroku laughingly agreed.
 
“Sess, what the hell is Inuyasha doing?” Hiten asked as he watched Inuyasha tumble for another lap.
 
“He's clearing his mind,” the older Takahashi simply replied.
 
“Clearing his mind? Can't he just simply sit down and ponder? Or meditate or do some yoga?” Hiten asked.
 
Miroku snorted. “Yoga? That is so gay Ten. Inuyasha will never do that Yoga-shit. He does shadow boxing if he needs to clear his mind.”
 
“But it's really great, Roku! And it's very rewarding… and not to mention satisfying.” Hiten wiggled his eyebrows.
 
“I just know that that look means the word rewarding and satisfying have nothing to do with Yoga,” Sesshomaru said causing Hiten to smirk.
 
“And what makes you a Yoga expert, Ten? You can hardly bend a joint in your body,” Miroku asked.
 
“That's because I have dated one,” Hiten answered.
 
“Slept with one,” Sesshomaru countered him causing Hiten to smirk even more.
 
“Bingo, Sess.”

“Why am I not surprised?”

“So sweet, I could still remember her clearly in my head. We fucked each other to hell and back.” Hiten was this depraved so early in the morning. “I swear she could do any position listed in the Kama Sutra.”
 
“Hiten, it's still too early in the morning. Shut up.”

Hiten scowled as Miroku interrupted him. He turned his attention to Inuyasha. “Damn, Inu has done 30 laps already!”
 
Hearing this, Miroku gave Sesshomaru a puzzled look.

Sesshomaru raised a brow and calmly explained, “He has told me that if he works out his body hard enough, he will not have the time to think, therefore… clearing his mind. You know Inuyasha, he rarely loose control over his emotions, but he's not so good with bottling them up so he tends to exhaust them through physical exertions.”
 
Miroku nodded but still not getting it. What could bother Inuyasha when he had just arrived last week?
 
“It is work-related, Roku. Something to do with the new project the corporation plans to build. A senior executive has challenged his capabilities in managing the corporation and he's pissed by it,” Sesshomaru lied.
 
Inuyasha had told him everything last night, and he knew why his brother was reluctant to tell his friends about it, since the situation was utterly similar to what had happened six years ago. With only one exception, he was very attracted to this Kagome Higurashi. Sesshomaru could see the potential trouble Inuyasha’s predicament would cause if any of his friends would know, especially Shun. Inuyasha had the good sense to not jeopardize that.
 
But from what he had seen last night while talking to his brother, he knew a confrontation was inevitable. Perhaps, not now, but it would surely happen. He was sure of it because he had never seen Inuyasha act that way towards a woman before. How he had spoken about her so fondly and so longingly, telling him that the woman kicked his butt at the park like it was the best thing that ever happened to him, that she had stolen his ramen at the grocery store and that she was such a lousy drunk. What Sesshomaru saw that night was pure desire, longing, yearning, hunger, and at the back of his mind, he knew that his little brother had fallen for the woman. Though, he doubted Inuyasha knew this.
 
One thing that set them apart as brothers was the fact that Inuyasha was reckless and tended to decide instinctively. He, on the other hand, rationalized and weighed his decisions before doing anything. When Inuyasha tended to fall in love fast and furious, Sesshomaru would take his time. But both of them always loved truly and deeply.

Talking with an almost drunk Inuyasha was revealing because the effort on Inuyasha’s part to try to bottle his feelings was evident. But Sesshomaru knew his brother would snap at some point, and he would be there to see it when it happened. He had promised himself that. It sounded like he was a bastard of a brother but he was not. He was just curious how Inuyasha would handle this tangle and how this would all end up.
 
“That's why I came to help him,” Sesshomaru supplied another lie and smiled at Miroku. “How's Shun by the way?” he suddenly inquired.
 
“He's doing great with managing his family's business. He's the VP right now but he will replace his dad once he retires,” Miroku answered.
 
“I see,” he sipped his tea.
 
“I've heard he's engaged?” Of course, he already knew the answer. He just wanted to milk some information from Miroku to grasp Inuyasha's predicament clearly. This would prove to be his recreational activity while he stayed here. You could not blame him; he was just the inquisitive type.
 
“Yeah, he is.” Miroku grinned.
 
“The fiancé is unlike the past one I suppose since you're grinning ear to ear?”
 
Miroku grinned more widely. “Her name is Kagome. She's 24 and an architectural engineer. She knows self-defense and I bet she can even kick yours and Inuyasha's asses anytime.”

Sesshomaru chuckled. Miroku sure looked mighty proud talking about Kagome Higurashi. And judging by the glint in Miroku’s eyes, Inuyasha was right when he said she was a feisty woman. And intelligent to boot. Architectural engineer, huh?
 
“And she's not a scheming bitch, that's for sure,” Miroku finished.
 
“Hmm…” Sesshomaru hummed. He suddenly wanted to meet this Kagome Higurashi even more and be the judge himself. He would have his chance before his short visit ended. He would pester Inuyasha to introduce him to this Kagome. He smirked. But for now, he would get his little brother for failing to remember picking him up at the airport yesterday. And he had the perfect way to do so.
 
“Miroku,” Sesshomaru called.
 
“Yeah...”
 
“Will you do me a favor?”
 
“What kind?” Miroku asked.

“The brotherly kind.”
 
 
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 
 
“Roku, why the hell are we here?” Inuyasha asked, irritated as Miroku pushed him to sit down. Miroku brought him to an oxygen bar called Oxygen Haven.
 
“We are here to relax. You know, clear our minds,” he replied giving Inuyasha a look.
 
“Okay, what have my ass of a brother told you?” Inuyasha crossed his arms. He knew Sesshomaru had spilled something to Miroku, he just did not know what.
 
“Nothing, he told me to accompany you on this fine Saturday afternoon and… you know… do stuff.”
 
Inuyasha's jaw dropped. Had his brother asked Miroku to babysit him? What was he? A drooling three year old or something?
 
“FUCK THAT ASS!” Inuyasha cursed loudly and the guy bringing their orders squeaked.
 
“Here's your order of two liters of oxygen sir,” he said shaken.

Inuyasha glared at him and he scampered away. Inuyasha glared at the oxygen cannula in front of him.
 
“And why the hell are we in a fucking oxygen bar anyway? I am not sick and I am fine breathing just the air around me,” he ranted. “And why will I pay a 1000 yen for oxygen, an element that is already available in the air that I breathe?” He glared at the oxygen cannula as if talking to it, which made Miroku laugh.
 
He glared at Miroku. “He made you do it, didn't he?” Inuyasha asked, agitated as Miroku continued to laugh.
 
“That ass!” he cursed again.
 
“No, Inu, he just told me to accompany you. Well actually, this was what he said, `Miroku can you take my dear brother for a stroll this afternoon, I am so worried about him. You know how I adore Inuyasha and seeing him so stupid like this breaks my kind heart.' He said that with big puppy eyes by the way.” Miroku grinned. “Honestly Inu, playing the good and kind big brother doesn't suit Sesshomaru. He looks like a clown if he does.”
 
“Fluffy sure is an ass.” Inuyasha scoffed. “But why an oxygen bar?” he asked holding the oxygen cannula.
 
“Kouga said,” Miroku started.
 
“KOUGA! He made this suggestion?”
 
Miroku nodded.
 
“And you actually took his suggestion seriously?” Inuyasha was incredulous. How on earth had Kouga convinced Miroku into doing some shit like this?
 
“Yes, he said oxygen relaxes the mind,” he replied.

Inuyasha gaped at him. “Miroku, Kouga is out of his mind nowadays. He has not gotten laid at all for nearly 2 months. He is close to insanity. He's not the best person to give advices. Hell, he's the worst to give any at the moment.” Inuyasha went on shaking Miroku's shoulders.
 
“All right, all right. We'll go to another bar. My treat,” Miroku said as they walked out of the bar.
 
“I just wanted to check this place out. I've heard some random guy say that the women in this place are hot, but I guess they’re not,” he added smiling lecherously. “And there aren't any dancing or stripping here. Lame.”
 
“Sango’s going to have your ass for that comment. But I can't believe you actually took Kouga seriously,” Inuyasha said shaking his head.
 
“Wha…? He was so serious when he had suggested it. You would be convinced yourself if you were there.”
 
“Miroku, I will only trust Kouga's advices once Ayame returns from Kyoto, because by then his brain will already be jumpstarted. And why the hell are you with me when it's a Saturday, you're supposed to be with Sango.”
 
“Sango's with Kagome right now,” Miroku replied.

Inuyasha froze and stopped walking.
 
“I asked her if she could move their date to Sunday but she said it was a very important girl-talk. You know women and their…” He stopped when he noticed Inuyasha had stopped walking.
 
“Inu?”
 
“Huh?”
 
“What's wrong with you?”
 
“Nothing. I just thought about something,” he answered and continued walking.

Miroku shrugged.
 
“I'll take you to Rhythm and Blues. It's a new bar in this complex. It has just opened 6 months ago and they really offer awesome drinks there. They also have a regular band and plays great music. It's not the club-type of bar. Perfect for you, since you don't like crowded and annoyingly loud type of bars.”

Reaching the bar, they went inside and took the stall seats when Inuyasha spotted something... someone.
 
“Oh hey!” Miroku called when he saw what caught Inuyasha's attention.
 
“What are you doing here, Shun?” Miroku started shaking Shun's hand. Then, his attention caught the woman beside Shun.

“Kagome?”

Kagome smiled back at him, and gave a quick glance at the frozen Inuyasha.

“Hi,” she said lowly.
 
“I thought you were with Sango, Kagome?” Miroku asked.
 
“I was… a while ago, Miroku,” she answered.
 
“This is just great, isn't it? We haven't seen each other since the night at Sacred Arrow. Why don't we sit together?” Miroku offered.
 
“Sure, that would be perfect,” Shun answered. Both he and Miroku were oblivious of what the other two thought of the arrangement.
 
Yeah, just perfect… torturously perfect. Inuyasha and Kagome thought miserably. This was dejavu – like that night at Sacred Arrow. But both knew the circumstances would not be the same, they told themselves though. He wouldn't insult her. She wouldn't slap him. He wouldn't be an ass. She wouldn't cry this time.
 
They would be civil.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

R & R!