InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Jewel Shard's Bail Bonds ❯ Movie Night ( Chapter 9 )

 

Chapter Nine:

 

It had been nearly a week since Halloween and Kagome had been avoiding Inuyasha the best she could. On more than one occasion, he had tried to corner her at work, but Sango had rescued her every time. She sighed, shouldering her backpack. She had just finished with her math class still and had one more class left for the day. She walked through the center of campuses main square on her way to her last class, when as she walked past the school cafeteria she noticed Rin talking with someone with white blonde hair. Her first thought was that it was Inuyasha but she got a good look at him. It was Professor Takahashi, and she could not help but feel her heart drop a little, as awkward as she felt around him she still wanted to see him. Rin noticed Kagome and called out to her,

“Kagome!”

“Hey Rin,” she called back.

Rin said something to Professor Takahashi and walked over to Kagome, she saw a ghost of a smile play across his lips. `He looks like Inuyasha when he smiles like that,' she thought. `Stop it,' she chided herself, `I need to forget Inuyasha. He made it more than clear what he thought of me that first time he held me. He's my friend that`s all.'

“Hey Kagome what's up?” Rin said when she reached her.

“Oh nothing,” Kagome said dismissively.

“Thinking about Inuyasha?” Rin said knowingly.

“Yes,” Kagome moaned, “I don't know why but I can't get him out of my head and I can't face him either its tearing me apart.”

“You should just talk to him, hear him out,” Rin said kindly.

“I'm afraid to hear what he has to say,” Kagome admitted.

“Sesshomaru seems to think you remind him of someone from his past,” Rin supplied.

“Yeah I know Kikyo,” Kagome said dully.

“No someone from a very long time ago,” Rin corrected.

“When? From high school you make it sound like it was centuries ago.”

“Oh yeah… I think it was high school,” Rin said hastily, “Well I better get going see you later Kagome,” She turned and left before Kagome could form a reply.

`That was weird,' Kagome thought, `what she said though only strengthened my resolve to keep Inuyasha as a friend only, he's not seeing me, he's seeing someone else. I want to be loved for myself not because I`m a reminder.'

Kagome's thoughts were interrupted by her cell phone ringing. She pulled it out looking at the caller id. It was Kouga, and she'd been so mad with him since Halloween she had been ignoring all his calls, and ever since Halloween she was not sure where they were going, anymore. She could not be with someone who was that possessive. She looked at the phone thoughtfully and decided to answer his call.

“Hello,” she said.

“Kagome, I'm so glad you answered. I've been trying to reach you all week. We need to talk.”

“I'm mad at you Kouga, you can't treat me like you did on Halloween and get away with it,” she stated.

“Please just hear me out,” he begged.

“Alright,” she conceded, “Pick me up from school and we'll talk then.”

“Thank you Kagome. I'll see you then,” he said gratefully.

“Good bye, Kouga,” she hung up her phone; looking at it darkly her thoughts swirled in her head. She was not sure of anything anymore Inuyasha had up turned her entire life with that kiss and she was not sure how she could face Inuyasha. She sighed once more heading to her last class.

 

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Kouga pressed his foot to the floor as he headed to Kagome's school. He had to get her to quit that job. She could not be around that dog-shit Inuyasha anymore. It was obvious to him Inuyasha had seen what he had seen that night. Kagome was `her' reincarnation, the one they had fought over all those years ago returned to him. When she died he never thought he would find her until Kagome. He had not realized she was her until he saw her in the clothes of a miko. Then that bastard had kissed her, his woman. She was his future mate he could not let this lie, he would take his revenge for what that bastard did. He would repay him for what he did to his face. It had taken several days for his wounds to heal. Thank the gods he was a Youkai or he would have had to have gone to the hospital.

He pulled up to the front of her school. He saw her sitting on a bus bench wearing a short green skirt that showed off her creamy white legs. He watched as she walked over to him with the grace of a princess, because she was his goddess and would be his mate soon enough. As soon as problems with the clan were resolved, he could mate with her. It would be a struggle knowing there were those among the Youkai community that would look down upon him mating with a human, but pure blood Youkai's numbers were dwindling daily, and it was becoming necessary to intermix with the lesser race. Kagome opened the car door filling his nose with her sweet scent.

“Hi Kouga,” she said flatly.

“Hi Gorgeous,” he said smoothly, she gave him a fake pout.

“Don't try to butter me up, I'm still mad.”

“I'm sorry,” he said, he had to regain her confidence to get what he wanted.

“For Halloween or for just now?” she said.

“For everything,” he begged, “I don't know what came over me that night. I said some terrible things that I didn't mean, I just couldn't believe he would take advantage of you like that,” he said giving her the puppy dog eyes that always broke her resolve. “I'm crazy about you Kagome. I don't know what I would do If I lost you,” he added.

“Oh Kouga I'm sorry I never even considered your feelings, that whole night was just so confusing,” she sighed.

“It's okay you have every right to be mad,” he lied, `I won't stand for that once your truly mine,' he thought.

“I just want to make one thing clear though Kouga. I am not your property and I won't stand for you to think of me as such, understood?”

“Of course,” `not' he added mentally.

“I'm so glad you understand,” she said happily. He could feel the tension melt away. Now he had her where he wanted her.

“I do have some bad news however,” He said leadingly.

“Oh?” she said turning deep brown eyes to him.

“Yeah I have some family issues and I need to return to Japan.”

“Why is that bad news don't you miss it?” she said sounding confused.

“Yes but the worst part is I'll be gone for the rest of the year.”

“Oh,” she said quietly, obviously thinking.

“I thought maybe you could come with me, you did say you wanted to visit Japan,”

“Well.” she began.

“Schools nearly over and you don't need that job when we get back. I'll give you a job at my bank,” he cut in.

“Kouga I can't. The holidays are coming up and I have finals soon. This just isn't a good time for me to be traveling around the globe, as appealing as it sounds.”

“I understand Kagome, but at the very least will you consider my job offer, I don't trust that guy you're working for. Who knows what types of perverted things he's plotting.”

Kagome looked thoughtful from the passenger seat, “I'll consider it,” she said after a few minutes.

That was enough for him, for now, he needed to get things taken care of back home then when he came back he would claim Kagome.

They arrived at her apartment shortly after and he jumped out of the car to open her car door. He took her by the hand and lifted her up. Then he wrapped his arms around her waist as she put her arms around his neck.

“I leave tomorrow for Japan, but I wanted to leave you with this,” he brought her to his mouth, he kissed her deeply and passionately and he could feel her melt into him. He could smell the intoxicating scent of her arousal, he needed to keep control of himself, he only needed to keep her wanting him until he could come back to claim her.

He left her at her apartment driving back he thought, `I will return for you Kagome and you will be mine.'

 

 

 

 

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Kagome, she filled his every waking thought, his entire being since that night. She thought she was a replacement or just in the shape of someone he had once loved but she was not. She was everything he wanted and more. She was his destiny. He had waited five hundred years for her, crossed continents in search of her and now he had found her once more.

Inuyasha let the night breeze wash over him as he stood on the deck to his town house. The sound of the crashing ocean filled his ears. He had been standing there for a long time deep in thought, how could he explain it to her? How could he make her understand? She was avoiding him; he could tell she was, and Sango was helping her if only he could get her alone he knew he could make her understand.

Sango's words from that night echoed in his ears.

 

“….just leave her alone for now let her come to you.”

 

But how could he standby and watch while that bastard was planning to do what he did to Kikyo all over again. There was truth in Sango's words though pushing himself on Kagome wouldn't get her back, hadn't that been obvious on Halloween?

These thoughts could tear him apart and he needed to feel wind in his hair. He jumped down silently from his balcony landing quietly on the sand below, his bare feet feeling the sun's warmth in the sand. He took off down the empty beach because no one would be out right now. The ocean crashed besides him as he ran along the water's edge. He ran down the beach until he could go no further turning around. As he approached his house however, he had a change of plans and veered to the right to run off into the silent city night.

He ran without purpose, and he didn't want to be still or else his thoughts of Kagome would consume him. He drifted through the city through the night until an intoxicating smell drifted to his nostrils. `Kagome?' Somewhere in his wanderings, he had ended up very close to her apartment building. `Maybe I did it on purpose,' he thought heading to her building. The window to her bedroom was cracked slightly letting in an evening breeze.

Her scent gently wafted to him, and he could not help himself; he jumped down to the ledge next to her window gently prying it open. He was in full view of her sleeping form that was so helpless, so innocent. If only he could just touch her, hold her. He jumped down from the ledge landing neatly on the floor of her bedroom.

Her chest rose and fell gently in sleep, `gods she's so beautiful,' he thought. He gently caressed her face pushing away a stray hair. She turned in her sleep and his heart stopped, it would be terrible if she found him in her room in the middle of the night. She opened sleep heavy eyes looking at him blurrily.

“Inuyasha?” she said sleepily.

“Kagome…” he said caressingly.

“Why are you here?” she said in a daze she was only half-awake.

“To make sure you're safe,” he said soothingly, “I'm here to protect you.”

“Oh good,” she murmured, “I know you will.” Then she rolled over.

“I always will,” he whispered, he kissed her brow gently before jumping off into the night.

 

 

 

 

 

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Kagome woke up in the morning with a chill. She pulled the blankets tighter around herself, `why am I so cold?' She thought opening her eyes hesitantly the sounds from the nearby street drifted in through her window, she looked behind her. Her bedroom window was wide open. `Did I forget to close my bedroom window?' she thought. She grudgingly got out of bed to shut her window. Once it was closed she sat back down on her bed trying to shake of the chill, and make sense of the dream she had the night before. She could have sworn Inuyasha came into her room in the middle of the night, and told her he would protect her. But how could that be possible, her window was not near anything climbable and she was on the second floor, so it all had to be a coincidence. She shook her head; obviously, her own confusion over their situation was seeping into her subconscious.

She showered and dressed for work, it was Saturday so she would be there all afternoon, luckily it would only be her and Sango today so she wouldn't have to face Inuyasha. She was not sure if she could, especially after that strange dream. Kagome grabbed her giant yellow backpack and headed to the bus stop. The bus arrived right on time and the trip there was uneventful. She walked the few blocks from the bus stop to Jewel Shard's Bail Bonds when she walked inside Sango was sitting at her desk typing on her computer,

“Good morning,” Kagome said cheerily.

“Morning,” Sango said distractedly.

Kagome set her backpack down and walked over to Sango's desk she pulled Miroku's chair around to sit next to Sango.

“What are you doing?” Kagome said plopping down.

“Oh Nothing,” Sango said closing the window she was working on, “What's today's schedule like?”

“Not sure let me pull it up. Be right back,” she hurried over to her desk and she noticed Sango continuing whatever she had been doing before, as Kagome walked over to her desk. When Kagome got to her desk she pulled up the application that held the schedule; it was completely clear, they had no appointments. `How do we stay in business?' She thought before heading back over to Sango,

“We are free and clear all day,” Kagome said excitedly. When she sat down she noticed Sango was sending an email but she didn't see the name of the recipient. “Who you emailing?” Kagome said casually.

“Oh, no one, just a client,” she said in a hurried tone, “so I was thinking tonight we should all have another movie night like on Halloween.”

“That sounds great you, me and Rin?” Kagome said excitedly that movie marathon they had done on Halloween had been the only bright spot in her Halloween.

“Well, I was thinking of letting Rin bring Sesshomaru, and maybe Miroku and…” she paused.

“Who else?” Kagome said leadingly even though she knew the answer.

“Inuyasha?” Sango said hesitantly.

“Oh,” Kagome said thoughtfully, it's not that she didn't want to see Inuyasha. She actually really did want to see him. It's just she felt so awkward around him since their kiss and she was afraid of talking to him to hear what he had to say. Plus, that strange dream she had last night didn't make matters any better.

“If you're still uncomfortable around him we cannot invite the guys. We will make it a girl night.” Sango said defensively, Kagome wanted to say, `yes girls only', but she couldn't do that to her friends, Rin would want to be with Sesshomaru and as much as Sango denied it, she wanted to be around Miroku. They had only recently gotten back on friendly terms.

“No its okay they can come it'll be fun,” Kagome said smiling.

“Are you sure?” Sango prodded.

“I'm sure. I can't avoid Inuyasha forever,” Kagome said sounding surer than she felt. She had hoped she could avoid him forever but she couldn't, it was time to be an adult and face the music.

Work went by at a snail's pace after that. Sango and Kagome talked for a while when a client came in and was with Sango for over an hour. Leaving Kagome staring at the door, waiting for something interesting to happen. At around six o' clock in the evening, they locked up the office and headed to the movie store. When they got to the movie store there was a crowd around the outer ring of the store looking at new releases so they decided on older films. Sango went straight for horrors, and they walked up and down the aisle looking for the perfect movie. Sango picked up a movie about some kids at summer camp that get chased around by a crazed killer.

“NO!” Kagome said looking at the cover and the back, “I want to be scared not afraid to sleep for a week.”

“Okay so a no on that one how about this one,” she said holding up a movie about a clown who lived in the sewer system killing children.”

“No I'm already terrified of clowns. I don't need to add that to my nightmares,” Kagome said resolutely.

They went through several more movies, a couple more gory than scary when Sango held up another movie.

“How about this?” she said.

Kagome looked at the back of the cover of the movie. It was about a little kid who sees ghost, `that couldn't be that bad could it.'

“Sure I think I can live through this one,” Kagome said handing it back to her.

“Great now let's pick a romance,” Sango said heading towards the romance aisle. Kagome's initial thought was `great I love romances,' then she remember who was going to be there. `Inuyasha, can I really watch a romance next to him? Wait what the heck am I thinking? This is my boss and my friend. There's nothing to worry about I'm sure what happened on Halloween was all a big misunderstanding, right?'

 

When Kagome caught up with Sango, she already had a pile of movies she was looking at.

“Kagome help me choose which of these you haven't seen?”

She handed her a couple movies; the first one was a huge blockbuster almost everyone had seen about a young couple who rode on a ship that sank in the Atlantic Ocean.

“I've seen this one a billion times,” Kagome said handing it back to her.

The next one was an older movie about a couple who met in college and developed a friendship. Only the whole time the guy was telling her men and women couldn't be friends without getting sex involved. Eventually they end up together and it got really complicated, she wanted to pass on that one it reminded her of herself and Inuyasha too much.

“I don't think so,” Kagome said handing it back to Sango.

The last movie was something she never seen before. The back of the movie described it as being about an elderly man reading a story from a notebook to an unresponsive elderly woman in a nursing home, about a young couple and their love story. `Seems harmless enough if there's old people in it,' Kagome thought.

“I think I want to watch this one,” Kagome said handing it to Sango who looked at her with a devilish grin.

“Have you ever seen this movie?”

“No why?”

“You'll see when we watch it,” Sango said happily.

Kagome wasn't sure what that was supposed to mean but shrugged her shoulders and followed after Sango. They stood in line for what seemed an eternity until they got through the line with their movie rentals. Sango's house was only a few blocks away from the video store and they were there in a matter of minutes. It was a modern looking building with a glass front. They parked in an underground garage and took an elevator up to her apartment. Her apartment was a one bedroom with a decent sized living room and kitchen attached to it. The entire place had a comfortable lived in feel to it. She had two-leather sofas and a leather chair facing a decent sized television.

“Sango your apartment is so YOU!” Kagome said cheerily following her in.

“Thanks! It's just the right size for me,” she said proudly.

Kagome plopped down on one of the cushiony leather couches, while Sango busied herself making popcorn and getting some drinks together for the guest who would be arriving shortly.

A few minutes later Miroku and Inuyasha arrived together. Inuyasha shot her a fleeting glance and she watched him out of the corner of her eye. He noticed her watching and he just stood in the doorway not saying anything. He just held her gaze while she did the same. She felt a chill run down her body. It had been a while since she looked him in the eyes, those strange amber eyes.

“Sango my dear,” Miroku said breaking the silence, “what have you prepared for us?”

He said walking into the kitchen ready to put his hands in all the food, she had just lain out. Kagome looked away from Inuyasha quickly and he did the same, she chanced a look at him again and apparently, he was doing the same. She turned away before she would get trapped in his gaze.

“Me and Kagome rented a scary movie for you guys and a romance for us girls,” Sango said reverting Kagome's attention to them, Inuyasha finally moved from the doorway and planted himself on the couch farthest from Kagome in the farthest seat.

“Is this a trick to get me to cuddle with you Sango because you only need to ask,” Miroku said jokingly, which Sango replied to with a sound slap.

“NO!” she said hotly walking away; Miroku had a look of pure bliss on his face as he followed after Sango.

Rin showed up a few minutes later her clothes looking disheveled, and she tried desperately to flatten her hair, Sango, and Kagome gave each other a knowing look before both of them shook their heads at Rin, who shrugged her shoulders. When Sesshomaru came in after looking as pristine as ever Inuyasha shot out of his seat.

“What is he doing here!” he demanded.

“He's Rin's boyfriend,” Kagome shot at him, but he didn't seem to hear her. Inuyasha and Sesshomaru were too busy having a staring match in the doorway. Rin came over and placed a hand on Sesshomaru arm smiling up at him while Sango came over with a bowl of popcorn.

“Come on Inu can't we just have a good night?” she said giving him the puppy dog eyes,

“Keh,” he said, stomping away.

They all got their drinks and snacks situated then settled onto the couches, Kagome was last to get her drink and was left with limited options. Sesshomaru and Rin had taken seats on the single leather couch; Rin firmly planted on his lap his arms wrapped around her waist as she nuzzled into his neck. Sango and Miroku sat on the love seat with a pillow between the two of them, but Kagome could see the sideways glances they gave each other. Then there was the final couch where Inuyasha was carelessly spread out like the night he had come to apologize to her. It was a large sofa and it couldn't hurt to sit on the same sofa as him `right?' She sat down and it was as if she could feel every inch of space between them. Apparently, Inuyasha could as well because he watched her from the corner of his eye.

Sango put in the first movie. Kagome was glad for the distraction. It was the scary movie and it started out tame enough, but there were a couple scenes that made Kagome jump closer to the center of the couch. She looked over to Sango and Miroku near the end of the film; they were sitting right next to each other hands nearly clasped. Kagome looked down at the space between the space between herself and Inuyasha she noticed it had decreased dramatically; she was only a hands breath away from Inuyasha. He watched her carefully from the corner of his eye but she made no motion to move. `There's nothing wrong with me sitting this close. Its perfectly fine,' she thought. Then a scary part of the movie came up, it was replaying a scene from earlier in the movie. The main character's house was broken into and he was looking around the room for the intruder, Kagome inched closer to Inuyasha, closer and closer until she was right next to him. Then there was a gunshot and she grabbed Inuyasha's shirt. The moment she did it, she realized her mistake; she unhooked her arms from him then planted herself on the opposite end of the couch. She could see him looking after her. No words were spoken and no one else in the room seemed to notice. As soon as she was away from him though she wanted to be near him again, `I'm pathetic,' she thought `there's nothing between us.' The movie ended and everyone got up and stretched.

“I did not see that ending coming,” Rin said.

“Really?” Sango said, “Maybe it's only obvious when you've seen it before.”

“I agree,” Miroku added.

Kagome got up and walked down the hall to the bathroom, when she exited Inuyasha was standing in the hallway.

“Hey,” she said lamely.

“Hey, can I talk to you?” he said pleadingly.

“You followed me to the bathroom to talk?” Kagome said panic rising, she wasn't sure if she was ready for this.

“No I just…”

“Kagome are you ready? We're going to watch the next movie!” Rin called from the end of the hallway.

“Yeah coming,” she called back, “Inuyasha can we finish this later?”

“Yeah of course,” he said sadly.

Kagome headed back to the living room thanking Rin up and down for her good timing, both Rin and Sango gave her meaningful looks as she sat down once more. She smiled at them and acted as if everything was okay. Inuyasha came back a couple minutes later and sat on the opposite end of the couch she was on.

Sango started the next movie and Kagome wished she hadn't picked it almost immediately. It was love story, and it was two teens that loved each other but couldn't be together. If she could feel the tension between herself and Inuyasha before the air was so thick with tension now she could swim in it. Every couple of minutes she found herself glancing in his directions. Every time the pair on screen kissed she watched for his reaction, every despairing moment she watched to see how he reacted. And she could see him watching her too. Throughout the movie, Kagome forgot that there were even other people in the room besides the two of them. Then near the end of the movie the old woman the story is being told to regains her memory, and Kagome nearly wept it was such a touching moment. Then she loses it again, for some reason she felt compelled to look at Inuyasha, he was watching her expectantly. His amber eyes were penetrating her soul and she felt compelled to move closer and closer to him, they were right next to one another in the middle of the couch, staring into one another eyes as she started to lean in. She wanted to be close to him to feel him against her when a sob from Rin caught her attention. She tore her eyes from Inuyasha and looked at her friend with concern. She had her hands balled in Sesshomaru's shirt, and she was crying. `What's wrong,' she thought. She looked at Sango who had silent tears rolling down her face. She looked to the television screen to see the old couple were wrapped in each other's arms and it was panning away. `They died together,' Kagome thought. She wasn't sure if it was the movie or the moment but Kagome felt tears welling up in her eyes that silently spilled down her cheeks. She felt a gentle hand on her shoulder and Inuyasha was watching her with concern on his face. He gently wiped away her tears. It was so soft it reminded her of her dream.

“Inuyasha?” she said quietly.

“Yes?”

“I…”

“That movie always makes me cry,” Rin moaned from Sesshomaru's lap, the spell of the moment was broken Kagome sat up straight and moved away from Inuyasha slightly.

“Me too,” Sango conceited.

“I don't get what's so sad about it,” Miroku chimed in.

“They were in love and died together. Don't you find that even a little romantic?” Sango said.

“I would if it was you and me,” he said wiggling his eyebrows.

Sango slapped Miroku across the cheek.

“Well I guess that's our cue to leave,” Rin said standing up.

“Yes, thank you for an enjoyable evening,” Sesshomaru said politely to Sango.

“Oh of course thanks for coming,” Sango said.

They left leaving Miroku, Inuyasha, Sango and Herself. Kagome looked between the three of them. She wasn't sure how she was getting home. Before she could voice her concern, however, Sango chimed in.

“Miroku could you help me clean up and Inuyasha it wouldn't be too inconvenient to take Kagome home would it?”

“Keh, it's not a problem,” he said casually.

Kagome shot Sango a worried glance trying to transmit her thoughts to her, `is that really a good idea?' All Sango did was give her a thumbs up as Inuyasha dragged her out the door.

 

The first half of the car ride was so deadly quiet Kagome could slice through the tension with a knife. She tried different conversation starters over and over in her head but all of them fell flat, all it came down to was she wasn't sure what to say. Eventually she just went with the easiest route bluffing.

“Inuyasha about Halloween,” she started.

“Forget about it,” he said quickly, she wasn't sure whether to be hurt or relieved.

“You're a great guy, but I really think we should just be friends, I mean I have a boyfriend and I feel like there's a lot of confusion…” she said trailing off because she felt like she was rambling.

“Don't worry Kagome, I understand completely no need to explain,” he said diplomatically.

His words should have been comforting but they weren't she wanted to wrestle out of him his real reason for kissing her that night but something in the back of head stopped her. The rest of the car ride was silent. Finally, he pulled into her parking lot and as she got out of the car he grabbed hold of her wrist, she stopped her heart beating in her throat. This was it, this is what she had been waiting for… the reason.

“Kagome…”

“Inuyasha,” she said facing away she couldn't let him see the panic on her face.

“…be careful,” he let go of her wrist and she walked away even though everything in her body was screaming to turn around and demand the truth from him. She opened her apartment door and closed it quickly slumping down behind it. Tears fell down her face. He hadn't even said anything and she felt more confused than ever but he didn't need to say words his actions spoke loudly enough, there was a truth here somewhere a truth she would find out.

 

Inuyasha watched her door close; it had been so hard to let her out of his car once he had her alone. He wanted to tell her everything there in that last moment, his entire story. He knew she was the one and he couldn't stop from feeling like his heart was breaking every moment she wasn't by his side. It had taken all the persuasive power he had, had to talk Sango into setting up this one moment alone with her to clear the air. The air was clear, but being so close to her tonight without being able to hold her to cherish her like he wanted was nearly painful. When he saw her cry, even though it was over a stupid movie, it broke his heart because he knew he had hurt her and those tears weren't entirely from the movie. He could only hope for the chance to prove himself to Kagome to prove that she could trust him and then maybe then he could tell her the truth. He stayed outside her apartment until all the lights dimmed and he was sure she was asleep only then was he able to drive home.

 

 

 

A/N:

This story sometimes feel likes the little engine that could it just keeps going! Thank you to Deipurple and Inubaka for their amazing Beta skills and for making this story all shiny and lovely to read. We're so close to being caught up only two more chapters to edit and then the brand spanking new chapter of `Jewel Shards Bail Bonds' thank you all for your continued patience with me and my editors through the editing process.