"I win!" Shouted Kagome as she put her last Go game piece into it‘s place.

"Damn it!" Inuyasha exclaimed throwing one of his white pieces across the small hut. "You always win." Inuyasha jumped to his feet. "Why do you even want to play these stupid games anyway!"   

"Don't be a sore loser! Just because you can't win doesn't mean you should take it out on me!" Kagome yelled back as she stood and faced Inuyasha.  

"Just leave it at home next time."  

"No! I'll bring whatever I want here! Or I could just stay away from you and never talk to you again. Then you'd be sorry you ever said anything!" Kagome stooped to pick up the pieces to her Go game.   

"Honestly, Inuyasha," Shippo chimed in. "You need to take a chill pill."  

Inuyasha slammed his hand onto the small fox demon's head, gripping and lifting him off the floor. Shippo's arms and legs flailed.

"AHHHHHHHH!" Shippo yelled.  

"What did you say to me, you little runt?"  

"WAAHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!! He's hunting me!!!!!"  

"Inuyashaaaaaa!" Kagome yelled as she reached for Shippo.

"You are so childish, my dear." Kikyo said as she poured tea for everyone. She passed two cups to Miroku for him and his wife, Sango.   "Arigatoo." the two of them said and did a small bow.  

"Doitashimashite." Kikyo replied.  

"Apologize!" Kagome yelled as she cradled the crying, overly dramatic, fox demon child.  

"NO!" Inuyasha said as he got right into Kagome's face.

Kikyo sighed and walked over to Inuyasha. "Calm down, my husband." she whispered in his ear as she slid her hands around his waist. She nuzzled his neck and gently kissed it. "You two fight as though you were brother and sister."   

Inuyasha ignored that comment and turned toward her. She smiled and looked up at him. Inuyasha was intent on keeping his angry look but melted when he saw his wife's gentle eyes looking up at him. He kissed her soft lips and drew back to look into her beautiful eyes once more. "Kikyo, you make it impossible to stay mad about anything." He whispered as he lowered his head to hers once more. He kissed her. Softly at first but quickly  grew more intense. He placed his right hand at the small of her back and tangled his left hand into her hair.

Kikyo parted her lips allowing him entrance and then thought better of what they were doing. She drew away from him. His hands released her.  

"What's wrong?" he said with a puzzled look on his face.  

"We shouldn't be doing this." She replied.  

"I didn't hear any complaining last night." He snorted as he released her and turned away.  

Shippo stopped crying and his face went pale. I'm just a kid! He yelled in his head. Don't talk about THAT! His inner exclaimations almost came out of his mouth when Kagome covered his ears.

"I don't mean I don't want to, Love." She said glancing around the room at all the faces staring at them in surprise. "I just mean not here."  

"Why not?" Inuyasha turned to her.

Kikyo looked at him in shock. "Inuyasha!" she exclaimed.  

"Just kidding!" He smirked.  

"Okay, before you guys make this any more weird," Miroku said as Kikyo and Inuyasha sat with their tea, "Are we couples still going off tomorrow? To the river I mean. Tomorrow night is going to be excellent camping weather I think."   

"Oh," Kikyo said showing that she'd forgotten. "I do apologize. It had slipped my mind." She looked toward Inuyasha. "Dear, do you still wish to go?"  

"Yeah, why not." Inuyasha laid back with his arms under his head. "Not like we have anything better to do." He yawned and let his eyes drift shut. He felt a gentle touch on his knee. His right ear to twitched in reply. He peaked out of his left eye.  

"Lets go home, dear." said a smiling Kikyo.

Inuyasha sat back up. "Alright" he said and stood. "We can pick up where we just left off." He smirked at her.  

"Ewwwww!" Shippo exclaimed as he made a disgusted face. "That's gross."  

"You want another beating, twerp?!"  

"Inuyasha!" Kikyo said and laughed. "Let's just go. Leave the child be." She kissed him on the cheek. "You won't get anything if we stay here."  

Inuyasha grabbed his wife's hand half pulling her toward the door. "Let's go!"  

"We'll see you tomorrow." Sango called after the young couple as they lifted the tatered white blanket that covered the doorway. A small wave was Inuyasha's only reply as he held the blanket up for his wife and then followed out after her.   "I'm leaving too." Shippo said standing from his place. "Bye Kagome he said as he ran to her jumping and hanging onto her neck for a moment. Kagome laughed and kissed him on top of his head in a maternal fashion. "Good night, Shippo." Shippo released his grip and bounded off towards the door, not bothering to move the blanket as he exited(only because he's not tall enough to actually reach it. )  

"Well," Kagome said as she stood and brush off the seat of her kimono. "I guess I'll go to. I have to get home. I'll see you guys Monday right?"  

"Well, yea but..." Sango said as she stood and handed Kagome her bag. "Don't you want to come with us tomorrow? We're going to river. It'll be fun." Sango smiled.

"Well," Kagome started, "I heard Miroku say ‘are we couples going'. I'm not a couple. I'm just me. I don't have anyone to go with." Kagome smiled. "But it's okay. Really. You guys go and have fun."  

"Not without you." Sango persisted. "If not having a man is the only thing stopping you then fine. I'll make sure there is a man there for you tomorrow. I'm setting you up on a blind date." Sango winked. "It's about time you got oe anyway. I'm tired of you being the only single one in our group. You need someone too. Be here tomorrow morning just after dawn." She turned away and started walking back towards Miroku. "oh," she exclaimed turning back in Kagome's direction. "Bring some kind of food. Everyone is taking something different so we'll have a variety. I'm taking sushi and Miroku made some kind of vegetable crap."  

"Hey!" Miroku half yelled as an expression of annoyance mixed with anger flashed across his face. "It is not crap. I admit it is a questionable stir fry though."

Sango chuckled. "Also bring a bed roll. If you want to camp with us that is." she said as she gave a small smile. " Other than that just be here right after dawn. Good night, Kagome"  

"Night, and I will." Kagome said as she grabbed he Go game and hurried to the hut's entrance. "Arigatoo for tonight!" She called as she exited.  

"Doitashimashite!" Called the couple as Kagome disappeared behind the tatered blanket.  

A blind date! Kagome thought to herself as she ran through the moon lit village. I've never even had a purposeful date. I'm nervous already. But excited too. 

She reached her house and entered. It was a small, one room hut with a wooden platform and a fire pit right in the middle. She slipped off her Geta shoes and stepped up onto the wooden floor. Kagome sighed as she slipped her tabi socks off allowing her feet to breath. Next she removed her obi. She hung it on a rod that ran along the wall of her small abode. She swiftly removed her flowered kimono and laid it over the rod as well. Last was her Juban. She slipped it off reveling her nude body. It felt good to be out of those cloths. They could get so hot in the summer time. Even if the kimono was for the summer it was still very hot to wear in this heat. She took a bucket from beside the wooden platform and washed her hot, sweaty skin with the cool water inside. Flower petals floated through the water giving it a sweet fragrance. She finished and dried off. She grabbed a short, white kimono off of her futon and put it on. It only went to mid thigh and the sleeves were cut off. The fabric was so thin that you could almost see her fragile frame through it. A thin green ribon tied around it finished her bed time look.    

"That's better." She said as she pulled the blanket on her futon back and settled down onto the thin mattress. As she drifted from the land of the living into the world of darkness and dreams she voiced one last thought.  

"I wonder what he'll be like?" Darkness enveloped her as she slipped into an unconscious dream state. 

   Radiant light spilled into Kagome's hut as the birds sang their morning song.    "It's about time." Kagome said hearing their beautiful tune. "I've been up for hours waiting for you." Kagome stood, pulled her hair up tying it with an orange ribbon and grabbed a cloth wrapped dish that was the food she was supposed to prepare. She has risen early and made onigiri. She had already dressed in a simple summer kimono and obi and was all set to go.   

"Alright. I'm going!" She smiled, grabbed her bed roll and headed out the door. After a short walk through the villiage she arrived at Miroku and Sango's house.

"Ohaiyo! Good Morning!" she said as she lifted the blanket and entered the hut.

"Kagome!" Sango said as she ran up to her, giving her a tight hug which Kagome returned. "Now we're just waiting on you date. Then we can go." she handed Kagome a cup of tea.  

"Okay, then." she smiled and accepted the tea. "Arigatoo."  

"Doitashimashite." Sango went around the room cleaning up. She rolled up hers and Miroku's futons and slid them against the wall. She then proceeded to fold their blankets.   "May I help, Sango?" Kagome said as she started to stand.  

"No, no," she said as she waved her hand gently. "I'm fine. I do this every day alone. What makes today different."  

"Liar." Miroku said as he came up behind Sango and gave her a tight hug. "I help you... sometimes." He kissed her check.  

"Okay, so not all he time just most of the time I do this my self." She giggled.  

"Thank you." Miroku said, clearly pleased with her correction. He placed another kiss on her cheek and released her. "I'm going to get the food and blankets together, darling."  

"Okay."

Kagome sat and enjoyed her tea as the two love birds bustled around the hut. Their's was considerably larger than her own home. They had a bigger common room and two bedrooms attached to the back of the house. Their walls were adorned with odd paintings and old demon slayer's weapons.  

"I hope I'm not late." A smooth deep voice came from behind Kagome. It was coming from the door opening.  

"Hey Sesshomaru." Miroku said as he tied the last of the food into a large blanket. "How are ya today?"  

"I am well," he said closing his eyes and bowing his head slightly.

Kagome was caught by surprise. Was this her date? He sounded so sexy. If he looked half as good as he sounded then... She let out a small gasp as her eyes began to widen.   

"Who's the girl?" Sesshomaru motioned toward Kagome.  

"Oh, This," Miroku replied crossing the floor toward Kagome. He reached down and helped her up. "is you date. Kagome Higurashi. Kagome, Lord Sesshomaru." He gestured behind her.

She cleared her face of shock and slowly turned. She stopped when she was completely around. Head bowed, she could not see his face. She wasn't sure if she was ready to or not. She bowed. "It is an honor to meet you mi'lord." she said softly. She herd foot steps and realized they were his. She kept her head down. His feet were in view when he stopped. Kagome lifter her head slowly. She took in every part of his being as she looked up. His black hakama looked as though they were made of cotton but shined in the morning sunlight like silk. He wore an open haori. It was white with black decorations on the sleeves and hem. On the back was a large kanji that said "West" Then what was under the haori caught her eye. His muscled chest, bare and chiseled looked flawless save for a small scar near his left collar bone. She was so impressed that she almost forgot to continue to look up. Reluctantly she pressed on. She continued her trip up his body with her eyes. Around his neck hung a small fang on a leather chord. Up. She urged herself to move. On to his face. She was awestruck. She had never seen a face so handsome. So Beautifully handsome. His features were soft though still masculine. His eyes were like liquid gold. There were two thin lined markings of a dark magenta on each side of his face and his hair was as smooth as the finest silk kimonos worn by the princesses in great kingdoms. It's silver tone captured the light and seemed to show brighter.  

"The honor is mine," Sesshomaru took her hand gently and rose it to his lips, pressing them softly on her smooth skin. "mi'lady." He stood and released her hand.

A wave of heat crashed through Kagome. It was like someone had dumped a bucket of hot water out on her insides. Heat rose to her face and stained her cheeks a bright red. She looked away just as Sango came up next to her.

"Why don't we get going?" she practically sang as she placed a hand around Kagome's shoulders reassuringly. Kagome looked at her with thanks in her eyes. The four exited the small house with food and bed rolls in hand. Miroku walked with Sesshomaru talking and catching up with one another. Sesshomaru was the Lord of the western lands which meant that he could not visit them as often as he should like.

Kagome lagged behind as far as she could. She didn't want to be close to this handsome stranger as red and nervous as she was.   

"Kagome?"

Kagome looked to her side and saw Sango walking beside her. She had been so engrossed in her thoughts that she didn't even notice her friend come to her aid.  

"Are you alright?" She asked worried about her friend.  

"Sure, Sure!" Kagome replied excitedly as she could. "Why wouldn't I be alright?!"  

"I don't know," Sango replied focusing her gaze forward on her husbands back.

"You just don't seem yourself."  

"Well," Kagome said starting to crack. "I'm not really myself. I mean. How could you guys set me up with someone like him!" She pointed to her date. "I mean, he looks like a god!"  

"He's a Demon actually."  

"A Demon? Like Shippo?"  

"Well, yea," Sango answered  turning her focus to Kagome. "He's actually Inuyasha's older brother."

Kagome looked at the dazzling man ahead of her a ways. "Oh, so he's only half?"   "No. He's whole."

Kagome looked confused. "But if he's Inuyasha's brother and Inuyasha is half then how is he not half too?"  

"Inuyasha's mother was a human. Sesshomaru's was not."  

"Oh," Kagome replied with down cast eyes. "They have different mothers."  

"Yep," Sango said Cheerfully. "Now come on! Let's catch up to the guys."

Sango started to sprint toward the two masculine figures walking ahead of them. Kagome followed suit.

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"So, what do you think of Kagome?" Miroku asked as he and Sesshomaru walked.

"She very cute. And seems like a nice young woman." He hesitated slightly bebore continuing. "I love her sent. I've never come across anything like it. I've traveled leagues, seen many sights and met many people but I'v not once caught a sent as intoxicating as her's. I think she and I will get along fine." 

The two of them continued walking on conversing over small maters but somehow ended up on Kagome again.

"I like how she tries to hide her face when she blushes." Sesshomaru said with an expressionless face.

"Yea?" Miroku laughed. He scratched his head.

Sesshomaru's sensitive ears picked up the two girl's conversation and herd them when they started running up to them. "The girls are coming." He said to more himself than Miroku. 

Sango cut in between the two men who were talking and grabbed her husbands arm. Miroku almost fell at the surprise of his wife clutching him suddenly.

A few seconds later Kagome was beside Sango but also on her left was Sesshomaru. His golden eyes looked down on her small form. He was considerably taller than she was and he liked that. He took in her beautiful face. Her chocolate eyes seemed to sparkle in the early morning light. Her hair, long and flowing in it's pony tail form looked as black as a moonless night. Her simple blue Kimono and golden orange obi accented her completion perfectly. She wore simple geta shoes, not uncommon but as he studied her he noticed how at ease she was walking on the high shoes.   

"'Bout time you guys got here!"

A voice calling out woke Sesshomaru from his trance on the fair maiden. "Little Brother," Sesshomaru started as and impatient Inuyasha came toward them.  

"Dog!" Inuyasha called as he saw his older brother. "Who invited you! What are you doing here!?"  

"I'm here for the same reason you are. Couples day out."

Inuyasha, now in front of his brother, was right in his face. "Yea? And who would be stupid enough to go with you?!"

Sesshomaru simply wrapped one arm around Kagome's shoulders.

The mortal Girl was taken by surprise at the suddenness of the touch and tightened every muscle in her body. She looked up at him and met his golden gaze. He smiled and she blushed.  

"Kagome!" Inuyasha yelled at her, now he was in her face but not for long.

Sesshomaru knocked the hanyou into the nearest tree almost breaking it in half.

"Don't bother her or show her disrespect. She is with me and I will kill you if you treat her that way again." Sesshomaru lead Kagome away to the blanket that Kikyo had spread near the water. He and Inuyasha's wife exchanged greetings. Despite what he'd just done to her husband, Kikyo was very nice and hospitable to The western lord. Miroku and Sango rushed to Inuyasha's aid, laughing the whole way. 

Sesshomaru sat gently pulling Kagome down next to him. He draped an arm over her should and started questioning her. They talked for what seemed like hours to Kagome. At the beginning of their conversation she was tense and didn't know what to expect but now she was beginning to feel a trust build for this strange beautiful man she had met this morning. She was oblivious to anything else around her but this magical, silver haired creature.  

"They sure seem to be getting along well." Sango said looking at the couple who had moved under a near by oak tree for shade.  

"Yea," Miroku agreed. "I didn't think they'd hit it off so good so soon." Miroku laid his head on his wife's lap. Grrrrrrrr! "Ugh." he looked down at his stomach. Relaxing again he looked up at his wife. "I think it may be time to eat."  

"I agree." Kikyo said standing. "Inuyasha get you brother and Kagome."  

"But...!"  

"Do it or those ‘special plans' we made for tomorrow tonight will be no more." Kikyo turned as she saw the defeat in Inuyasha's sad eyes. He reluctantly trudged to the tree and came back moments later with the new couple on his heals.   

"I did it." he said reluctantly as he sat beside his wife and nuzzled her face gently. "Now lets eat."

Lunch was excellent and by the time all of them were done there was just enough left for them for dinner later that night.  

"I can't eat another bite." Kagome let out a satisfied sigh and laid on the ground.  

"I'm going to get in the river." Inuyasha said after a while of waiting for their food to digest. "Are you coming, Babe?" He asked his wife who smiled and said

"Of course!"  

"Us too!" Miroku and Sango followed their friends.  

"Do you want to swim, Kagome?" Sesshomaru asked looking down at the girl who rested beside him.  

"I, actually..." She trailed off and adverted her eyes. Kagome was afraid of the water. She‘d nearly drowned when she was younger and since then had avoided water. Though at that time she had been saved by a strange man she was not willing to try her luck again. "No. Not really. You see...well...never mind. I just can‘t go swimming."  

"I understand ." He said after a moment of agonizing silence. "Well then shall we assume our position under that tree over there?"  

"Sounds good." Kagome replied as Sesshomaru helped her up. They sat and talked some more about any and everything they could think of. They didn't seem to be board with each other at all. As the sun began to set the two of them grew silent. Sesshomaru sat leaning against the tree and Kagome sat with her head on his shoulder.  

"Kagome?"  

"Hmm?"  

"What would you say if I asked if I could see you again?"

Kagome smiled and looked up at him. "I'd say absolutely yes."

Sesshomaru looked into her captivating eyes and her into his. Without any warning, Sesshomaru leaned over pressing his lips softly against hers. In the same instant the kiss started it was over. Kagome lingered where she was, waiting for more. After that small taste she wanted the whole meal. Just a peck wasn't enough. She craved him like nothing she had ever before. She wanted him to lean back in and kiss her passionately but he pulled away and she looked toward the river where the sun was setting, happy because he'd given her a small kiss but a tad disheartened because that was all that there was at that moment.

Sesshomaru, feeling her disappointment, kissed her cheek for a moment and then drew back putting and arm around Kagome. She felt a little better and smiled at him as she snuggled into his side.  

"I want to see you again." He whispered as the last rays of sun started to slip below the horizon.  

"and I you." Kagome replied.   

"I'll be able to see you every day for the next two weeks but then I will have to go back to the west lands. But if things go the way I think they will I will be back often to visit."  

"Okay." Kagome yawned and leaned into Sesshomaru closer. A few minutes later she was in a dream land filled with replays of her day or at least the part that involved Sesshomaru's fragile kiss.

"Kagome," Kagome herd her name whispered in her ear repetitively. "Kagome,"

No. she thought. I want to sleep. She ignored the voice.  

"Kagome!" it said with more force behind it this time.

Though she didn't want to, she willed her eyes to open and found herself cradled in strong muscular arms against a hard chest, staring into those golden eyes. She smiled as she realized who had woken her.  

"I think I may still be dreaming." She said. "You might want to try to wake me again."

He smiled. "Look." He said looking to the sky.

Kagome looked up to see the most wondrous sight she'd ever seen. Hundreds of shooting stars darted across the night sky. They lit it up in a pale white light. Sesshomaru lay back, gently placing his new found love interest beside him. He inhaled her sweet sent deeply. He loved how the gentle sent of flowers that danced on her skin and how it mixed with her natural aroma to create an irresistable sent that was uniquely Kagome. They lay that way for some time. Sesshomaru, with his arm around Kagome, pulled her tighter to his body and Kagome laid her head on his naked should and put one had on his bare rock hard abs. She wasn't sure when but sometime between when thy were at the tree and now he'd shed his Haori. She'd have given anything if that moment could have lasted forever.

As they lay in the grass watching the stars and listening to the soft snores of the other two couples, Kagome made a wish. A wish that she prayed it would be answered. She wished that somehow she could stay with this Inuyoukai forever. She loved his touch and the way he felt to her. Though she'd only known him for a short time she felt as though she known hims for years. She wanted more of him in her life. And with that last thought she drifted back off to sleep.

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