Kagome stared at the envelop in her hands.  It was addressed to her from some apartment office.  Hastily she opened it and read it.  “Mama…”  Her hand passed the letter over to her mother.

Mrs. Higurashi regarded to letter.  “I don’t understand… I thought you were staying in the dorms.”

“So did I… What does this mean?”

“It says your application went through for the apartment.”

“What apartment?”

“I don’t know, dear.”  Mrs. Higurashi passed the letter back.  “We can go and see, if you want.”

Kagome nodded and stared at the confirmation.  It was rather unusual.  Barely even a week ago the college had sent her information on her dorm room… but it never mentioned switching to an apartment.  How could she afford an apartment near campus?  Who put the paperwork through for her?

Kagome nervously walked down the hall with her mother in tow.  Her hand rested on the handle for the manager’s office for the apartment complex.  In one swift movement she was through and standing at the desk.  “Excuse me… I got this letter in the mail… there must be some mistake.”

The woman behind the desk stared at the letter and shook her head.  “No… I just went through that lease.”

“Did my daughter sign a lease?”  Mrs. Higurashi asked, frowning a bit.

“No…”  The woman at the desk shuffled through the papers on her desk.  “Her signature was left blank.  The form was filled out by her fiancé.”

“Fiancé?”  Kagome and Mrs. Higurashi exchanged confused looks.

“Yes.  He already picked up one of the keys and said the apartment was a surprise for your engagement.” 

“Is he… here now?  I mean… in the apartment?” 

“I believe he’s moving in… Want to go surprise him?  Your apartment is number 317.” 

Kagome nodded and hurried out the door, followed by her mother.

“Kagome, dear… why didn’t you tell me you were engaged?  Who is he?” 

Kagome shook her head and pushed the door open for the stairs, easily climbing the two flights to the third floor.  Both mother and daughter walked quickly down the hall to the door.  Kagome rapped on the door  with her knuckles, silently dreading who it could be that claimed her as fiancée.

Footsteps moved inside and the door swung open to reveal a half dressed Inuyasha.  “Kagome!  I wasn’t expecting you… come in, come in.”  The boy opened the door wider for the girl and her mother.  His eyes shyly cast to the floor at his half clothed state.  “Just let me go put on a shirt and I’ll give you the tour.”  The door was firmly shut before he led them to the living room.  A woman sat on the couch, blinking up at them.  “Mother… this is Kagome’s mother, Mrs. Higurashi.”  The boy hastily excused himself after the introduction and stumbled off to the bedroom.

Inuyasha’s mother stood, smiling at the newcomers.  “At last we meet.  I’ve heard so much about you…”

Mrs. Higurashi stared nervously at the ground as she bowed.  “I regret… I haven’t…”

“Isn’t it exciting having our children settling down together?  Of course, in my time we didn’t settle down until after we married… but under the circumstances… We must pick a date, of course…”

“A date?”  Mrs. Higurashi looked like a deer caught in the headlights of speeding car.

“For the wedding!” 

“Excuse me…” Kagome began with a blush.

“Call me, Auntie, dear… at least until the wedding.  Then you can call me Mother.”  Inuyasha’s mother beamed.  “I’ve always wanted a daughter.”

“Auntie…”  Kagome echoed, turning red.  “I think I’ll go see how Inu… my fiancé is doing.”

Auntie waved her off and smiled at Mrs. Higurashi.  “So tell me what dates you have in mind…”

Kagome made a beeline for the bedroom, not even bothering to knock as she barged in.

Inuyasha looked up from where he sat on the bed, still shirtless.  “I guess… I should have told you about the apartment, huh?”

“Your mother is discussing wedding plans with my mother.”

The young man gave a hopeless sigh and flopped back on the bed. 

“Inuyasha… What happened?”

His eyes stared at the ceiling.  “I couldn’t stay in the dorms anymore… My whole college career is a little shaky thanks to my brother.  And I had told mom that I had been with you… so she insisted that I get an apartment with you before the wedding and continue my education.  I thought I could just… go along with it and tell you later.  But she had me put your information down on the lease, especially after all the questions she asked about marital status and whatnot.  I didn’t know you would find out so soon.”

“They sent me a letter saying my application was approved.”

“You don’t have to stay here.  I could just make it look like you live here with me… in case she drops by.” 

Kagome sat on the bed, staring at his knee as his foot lightly kicked from where it dangled off of the bed.  “Do you want me to live with you?”

A smile crossed his face, easing up the worry lines on his forehead.  “I could sleep on the couch… it’s a comfortable couch.”

“That’s not what I meant…” 

“I know what you meant.”  His arms pushed his body up into a sitting position.  Gently, his face nuzzled hers.  “You can stay if you want…”

Her face pulled back a bit and she smiled.  “What do we do about the wedding plans?”

Inuyasha shrugged carelessly.  “Let our mothers discuss it…” 

“Inuyasha…”  Her fingertips lightly brushed his cheek. 

“I won’t let anything bad happen to you… ever.” 

Kagome nodded and stood.  “We better go back out there… before they… wonder what we’ve been doing.” 

Inuyasha smirked and pulled on a shirt before joining her at the door. 

Kagome stood in the kitchen, stirring a steaming pot, oblivious to the dripping man that entered with a towel around his waist.  His footsteps brought him silently behind her.  “Having fun?”

Letting out a shriek, she turned to regard a mirthful Inuyasha.  “You… scared me!” 

Inuyasha rolled his eyes and turned away, leaving the kitchen.  “Shower’s open.”

“I’ve barely been here a day and you’re already teasing me!” 

Inuyasha’s head poked back through the doorway.  “If I was teasing I would do this…”  His towel was tossed at her feet as he left the doorway.

Kagome frowned and picked up the wet towel.  “Are you going to take over making breakfast if I go take a shower?” 

“Sure.”  His voice drifted in from the bedroom.  A few moments later he reappeared in the doorway, this time wearing pants.  “Go ahead.”

Clutching the wet towel to her chest, she left the room.  The bathroom was still muggy from his shower.  Carefully she hung up his towel before undressing and stepping into the stall.  As the water ran down her body she pondered the day before.

It had been moving day.  Most of her stuff had been packed into boxes and brought over to the apartment.  Inuyasha had greeted her with delight.  That night she slept in the bed and he on the couch.  Had she misinterpreted him?  Did he really intend to sleep on the couch for as long as they shared the apartment?

The water was turned off and she reached a dripping hand out… to find her towel missing.  With a groan, she remembered the exact box it was still packed away in.  Kagome weighed her options carefully.  She could either drip dry… or… with a snatch, his towel was taken from its place and wrapped around her body.  It was cold and damp, but it would suffice to get her to where her clothes were.

“Kagome, breakfast is…”  Inuyasha broke off, staring at her from the doorway of the kitchen.  “Is that my towel?”

“Sorry… mine is… packed.”  Her cheeks flushed red and she took a step towards the bedroom.

“I don’t mind.”  His words were slow and heavy.  For a moment he stood, staring at her before self consciously looking away.  “Breakfast is ready.”

Kagome nodded and escaped into the bedroom.  There were many things she had to do that day.  School didn’t start for another few days but she had to unpack.  The door to the bedroom opened and she swung around to see Inuyasha in the room, staring at her naked form.  A squeal escaped her lips as she made a snatch for something to cover herself.  “What are you doing?”

A nervous smile touched his lips.  “I…”  Suddenly scowling, he turned away.  “I’m sorry.” 

“What for?”

“For… everything.”  His hand rested on the doorframe a moment before he passed through without looking back. 

^.~

The first day of the semester was fast approaching.  Kagome found herself feeling anxious to begin classes.  Life with Inuyasha was bearable at best.  They rarely saw each other except at mealtimes.  Every night he slept on the couch and she slept in the bedroom.  When they lived in the dorm, he had at least shared the bed with her.  Now, even though the bed was larger, he made no move to join her.  This worried her.  Did it mean he didn’t want her in that way? 

“Ready for classes tomorrow?”  Inuyasha asked from where he sat, across the table from her.

Kagome broke out of her thoughts, glancing at him as he ate dinner.  “Yeah.”

“What are you taking?”

“Like last semester… only the next level… nothing new.”

Inuyasha nodded.  “I have to complete my classes from last semester.  I have to turn in a final art project for one of my classes…” 

“You didn’t do it over the break?”

“Didn’t have much time… or a model.  My classmates had a model in class.  I missed that.”

“Do you need a model?”

Inuyasha nodded, staring at his bowl.

“Want me to do it?”

The young man blushed.  “I didn’t think you would want to… it’s a nude.”

Kagome turned red and stared at her own bowl.  “I don’t… mind.  When does it need to be done?”

“I see my professor tomorrow…”

Kagome dropped her chopsticks.  “Tonight?”

“It’s such short notice… maybe I’ll just take another incomplete…”

“No.  I’ll do it.”  Kagome stood and did her dishes.  “When?” 

“I need to gather my things.  Just… get undressed and I’ll have you sit on the couch.”  The look on Inuyasha’s face was a mix of embarrassment and shock.

Kagome nodded and left the room.  Quickly her clothes made a pile on the floor and she put on a bathrobe before leaving the room.  Inuyasha was still in the kitchen as she entered the living room to sit on the couch, unsure what else to do or say. 

Inuyasha entered the room, glancing at her before pulling sketchpads and a variety of mediums out of his bag.  “Ok… take off your robe…”

Kagome obeyed, letting it slide off her shoulders and onto the floor before sitting back down on the couch.

Inuyasha audibly gulped, watching her as he set up his easel.  “Don’t pose… do something natural…”

“How do I look natural while sitting naked on a couch?”  Kagome countered, blushing.

“I don’t know.”  His charcoal was poised over the paper.  “Just… lay there.”

Kagome stared at him with an uncertain look on her face.  Slowly she lay lengthwise on the couch, resting her head on the arm. 

Inuyasha’s eyes took in her form.  “Perfect.  Don’t move.”  His hand began to move across the paper.

For a long time neither of them said anything.  Inuyasha drew and Kagome stared at him from the couch, feeling exposed and raw under his gaze.  Finally he stepped away from the easel.  “I think that’s…”  A shiver seemed to pass through him as he wiped his hands on a cloth. 

“Can I see?”  Kagome asked, sitting up.

Inuyasha nodded and wandered to the kitchen to wash his hands.

Kagome stood and pulled her robe on loosely around herself before moving to the easel.  There she was, staring back at herself from the paper with a hungry look in her eyes.  “Is this me?” 

“Yes.”  Inuyasha breathed behind her. 

Kagome glanced back over her shoulder at him for a moment before she turned and wrapped her arms around him.  “Now you’ve seen me naked…”

His arms wrapped around her.  “You should get some sleep.  It will be a long day tomorrow.”

“What about you?”

“I can stay up a bit longer.”

Kagome stared up at him.  Her hand idly opened her robe as she pressed her warm body to his.  “Why do you stay up each night and sleep on the couch?”

A shiver passed through him as his arms tightened.  “I don’t know… what you want.”

“I want to know… what you want.”

“What I want doesn’t matter…” 

“Why doesn’t it?” Kagome demanded.

“Because my life is screwed up!  Yours still has hope left, but mine doesn’t.  What I want doesn’t matter.  It’s all been decided!”  Inuyasha seethed, stomped over to the couch and sat down.

Kagome sighed and glided across the floor to sit beside him.  “Inuyasha…”

“And now I’ve dragged you into this… mess.”  His arms hugged a couch cushion.  “I’m sorry.  I’m so sorry.” 

In one swift movement she pushed herself against him, kissing him. 

His arms released the cushion and instead held her, pulling her legs to straddle his body as his fingers fumbled with her bathrobe to cast it aside.  Charcoal stained hands caressed her ivory skin, seeking her soft ass.  Gently they squeezed, pulling her hips closer.

“Inuyasha…” Kagome moaned against his lips.

With a feral growl he pushed her down onto her back and lay above her.  His hips pushed against hers, rubbing his jeans against a sensitive spot on her.  There was a need within him he had to itch… had to satiate.  Like an animal in heat, he rubbed against her, feeling the delicious friction of her warm body against his.  One final thrust and heated liquid filled the front of his pants.  Inuyasha cursed, pulling himself off of her and stumbling towards the bathroom. 

Kagome lay for a moment, panting on the couch.  What had THAT been?  Had he just… cum?  Because of her?  The sound of the shower alerted her to his whereabouts.  Still a bit shaky, she got off the couch and stumbled to the bathroom door.  Cautiously she opened it and stared at him standing under the stream of hot water. 

His eyes opened and he stared at her quizzically from the shower.  “What is it?”

Wordlessly she got into the shower with him.  “Shall I wash your back?”

Inuyasha turned his back to her, staring dully at the tile. 

“Are you alright?”  Her hands worked up lather and caressed his back.  “Did I do something wrong?”

“It’s not you…”

“I think… maybe I have…”

Turning to face her, his eyes fell on hers.  Sometimes they were a shocking shade of blue and other times they had a golden glow to them.  At that moment they seemed to be on fire.  “It’s not you, Kagome.  It never was you.”

The girl stared down at her hands, watching the water rinse away the soap.  “I… understand…”

His hands touched hers.  “I don’t think you do.”  Lightly they were placed between his legs, letting her feel what was there.  “I want this… with you… but…”  With a regretful sigh her hands were pulled up from his manhood and brought to his lips where he gently kissed them.  One of his hands softly traced the outline of her cheek.  “I can’t take your freedom from you.”

“You said… you wanted to stay with me, Inuyasha.  Remember in the shrine when you told me about the other girl your family wanted you to marry?  I told you I didn’t mind if my reputation was tarnished… that you could tell your family that you already filled your oath with me… I meant that.”  Water vapor rose up around her in the hot shower, dampening her hair as she stared up at him with deep brown eyes.  “You’re… the first guy I ever…”

Wordlessly he turned to turn off the shower.  They both stood, dripping.  Reaching out, he grabbed his towel and began rubbing her free of water. 

Kagome blushed and watched him dry her off.  “I can do that myself.”

“I know.”  Inuyasha turned her around and rubbed at her damp hair before using the towel on himself.  “Go to bed.”

The girl frowned and glanced back at him.  “What about you?”

“I’m going to bed too.”

Shakily her feet crossed the shower stall rim to the bathmat outside.  “Fine…”  Frustrated, she left the bathroom and entered her own room.  For a long moment she stared at the bed.  Each night she had slept on one side, hoping she would wake up with him beside her as she often had in the dorm.  Without bothering to get dressed, she flicked off the light and crawled in between the sheets.  Her body sprawled to fill the queen sized bed.

The door opened and shut, someone moved stumbled across the floor and a small curse filled the room.  The blankets moved and a warm body got into the bed, trying to move Kagome’s arms and legs aside for space.  The body settled into the bed, giving a soft sigh.

“Inuyasha?”

“Hmm?”

“Do you want to be married to the first girl you give yourself to?”

“It depends on the girl.”

“If the girl had been Kikyou…”

“I was young when they gave me Kikyou.  Neither of us knew what boys and girls did.”

“But had you been older…”

“I suppose we would have… if she hadn’t have gotten that crush on that bastard, Naraku.”

“You would have married her?”

“She was my friend… my only friend.  I’d have probably done anything to keep her my friend.”

“What about now?”

“What do you want to know, Kagome?  Why can’t you just ask me?”

Kagome bit her lip, staring up at the dark ceiling.  “Do you want… me… in that way?”

His body rolled over to face hers.  “After Kikyou died… I never thought I would be happy… but I am.”

“What does that mean?”

“It means… for once… I’m grateful for my family’s stupid oaths.  Marrying the first girl I share myself with… makes it seem… more permanent.  And yet… I want to be sure it’s what she wants.  For me it may be permanent, but to her…”

“But you already told your family that we…”

His arms reached out and pulled her to him, lightly caressing her back.  “I know… And Mother is already planning the wedding… But there are ways to prove your purity if plans get too far and you change your mind.”

Her body snuggled against him, feeling his warm skin against hers.  Idly her hand ran down his side to his hip.  “You’re… naked.”

His arms tightened on her a moment.  “Yes, I am.  So are you.”

“I missed sleeping next to you.”

“I will from now on if you want.”

“Yes.”  The hot shower had relaxed her muscles.  For a moment she felt her consciousness waver.  “Goodnight.”

Beep… Beep… Beep…

Kagome groaned and rolled over to hit the alarm clock.  Beside her Inuyasha shifted in his sleep and mumbled something.  Lightly she kissed his cheek and got out of bed.  His class didn’t start until around noon, there was no reason he couldn’t sleep in.  Her on the other hand…  She pulled on her bathrobe and stumbled out of the bedroom.

Sitting in the kitchen, she ate dry cereal, thinking about her first class.  Her thoughts were interrupted unexpectedly by the sound of someone knocking on the door.  Hastily she got up and retied her bathrobe before answering the door. 

“Kagome, is my son awake?”  Inuyasha’s mother asked, stepping into the apartment.

“No, he’s asleep, Auntie.”  Kagome answered.

“Is he in the bedroom?  This is urgent.”

Kagome nodded and followed helplessly as Inuyasha’s mother took the lead to the bedroom.  The door opened to reveal an embarrassed Inuyasha, trying to cover his nakedness.  “Mother!” 

His mother sat on the bed, staring at her son.  “Inu… I just received great news.  You remember that art school you wanted to attend?  They’ll send you a full scholarship if you attend next semester.”

“What?”

“It would mean you’ll have to move again… but this is a once in a lifetime opportunity.” 

“Auntie…”  Kagome sat down on her side of the bed, giving Inuyasha’s mother a confused look.

“Of course, we can move up the wedding date.”

“Mother, we just got settled here.” Inuyasha answered.

“Just think about it.”  His mother stood and beckoned Kagome to follow her. 

Kagome closed the door to the bedroom behind her and re-entered the kitchen.  “Auntie…”

Inuyasha’s mother turned on her.  “Kagome… you are his fiancée.  This is something he’s always talked about, ever since he was a little boy.  He’ll listen to you if you ask him to go.”

“But Auntie…”  The girl stared desperately at the older woman.  “I’m not really his fiancée.  We haven’t… done anything.”

Inuyasha’s mother looked like someone had hit her.  “Not his…”

“He wants me to be sure I’m ready.  So we haven’t… yet…”

“Do you want to stay with him?”

Kagome sat down at the table and nodded.  “Yes.  I do.”

“Then… I suggest you don’t make that common knowledge.”

Kagome stared at the table.  “I know he trusts you.”

Inuyasha’s mother sighed.  “Yes.  I’m glad you trust whom he trusts.”

“Auntie…”

Inuyasha cleared his throat from where he stood in the doorway of the kitchen.  “Kagome, your class starts soon.”

Kagome blushed, got up and excused herself from the room.  Inuyasha took her place at the table, laying his head on his arms. 

“Inu…”

“I won’t leave her.  If she wants to stay here… I won’t go.”

“You have a great loyalty to her… like Kikyou.”

Inuyasha snorted.  “Only difference is… I would have lived my dream regardless of what Kikyou wanted… it’s not that way with Kagome.”  His face contorted as he thought over his own words, trying to figure out if they were true. 

“What do you mean, son?” 

“I never really thought about what Kikyou wanted… only what I wanted.  With Kagome… I want what she wants.”

His mother smiled at him.  “You are growing up.”  The older woman stood to leave.  “Regardless… think about it.  You have a few months to decide.  I must go.  Tell Kagome goodbye for me.”

Inuyasha stood and escorted his mother to the door.  “Yes, Mother.”

The older woman patted his shoulder and smiled as she left.  “Be good to her.”

“Of course.”
 
Part 4
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