InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ The Tragedy of Inu Yasha and Kagome ❯ Act 1, Scene 5 ( Chapter 4 )

The Tragedy of Inu Yasha and Kagome

By Oshidori

A/N: Just to warn you, this is a very long chapter. I couldn't stop writing! Plus, I didn't really want to break it up. Just to let y'all know you're in for the long haul ^_-

Sorry for the delayed update!

It's come to my attention that this theme has been used before. Eep! Silly me to think I would be the first to experiment with this theme! 0_0;; Ah well, such is the way of the world. So before I get flamed, I honestly did not know of the one to come before me. I've briefly skimmed through the first chapter, but I don't really want to read it until I've finished mine, because I don't want to be influenced by another's writing, or for the other author to think I'm ripping off his/her ideas or approach to this theme, because I know how frustrating something like that can be. So if anything, feel free to compare the two ^^ In a fair world, maybe the other author's version will appeal to one side of the fandom, and maybe mine will appeal to the other, and we won't clash. We'll see how things go, though.

Also, please feel free to correct any terminology or spelling that might be wrong ^_^

Disclaimer: All IY characters are the creations of the great Rumiko Takahashi. The storyline and characters they represent are inspired by the even greater William Shakespeare. I am simply standing on the shoulders of artistic giants for my humble fanfic, so to speak ;)

Act 1, Scene 5

"Inu Yasha!" Miroku whispered, "go and look for her already! You aren't going to find her rooted to that spot!"

"Keh! If I keep moving, and she keeps moving, we'll never find each other that way!" replied the hanyou stubbornly.

Miroku sighed and put up his hands with a shrug. "Suit yourself, Inu Yasha," his eyes had already caught a few somethings that were both young and pretty, and he began to walk in their general direction, "I for one will eat when the table is set! A starving man cares not what is put on his plate, and welcomes all that is presented to him. Jya!" And the man hurried off.

"Except you aren't ever starving, not while you can scheme your way out of it, bouzu!" Inu Yasha growled under his breath as he watched his friend go. Now he was all alone, and feeling a bit nervous and out of place. Shippo had loosened up the moment he saw a pretty human girl with brilliant red hair, and scampered off to try to `impress' her, or something equally as stupid, Inu Yasha had thought. He knew that he was safe from being recognized with his mask on, but he was never one to like `parties' such as these, or any parties for that matter. He was glad that his family was more of the private type that could care less about throwing extravagant parties, surrounded by people. He could count on his brother to have at least that much in common with him.

He was itching to take the mask off, since it was so uncomfortable to him, and looked around to see if he could find a side room or somewhere he could slip into to remove the mask in solitude for a short while, when it dawned on him… wouldn't Kikyo be wearing a mask too? How would he find her??

The hanyou's temper flared again as he berated himself for not thinking about that before putting himself and his friends in danger like this. He could try to sniff her out, but there were so many people and so many overpowering smells that it would be near impossible, even with Kikyo's distinct scent of grave soil and bones. He punched the nearby wall in frustration, cracking it.

"Sumimasen," A servant ran up to the now startled hanyou, "But is something the matter sir? Is something not to your liking?"

Inu Yasha began to panic, and looked around the room frantically for an excuse, or better yet, Miroku. He stuttered all the while.

"No! I…uh…I mean…there was-"

Inu Yasha's breath caught in his throat as his eyes caught the vision of delicate beauty before him. At the other end of the ballroom was a young girl, maybe a few years younger than him, but she carried herself in the way a mature woman would. Her smile was bright, and it warmed his heart to look at it. Her ebony tresses flowed softly and silently about her as she walked, framing a sweet and honest expression on the young girl's face. He nearly groaned in pain when an older girl following her closely handed her a mask, which she stopped to put on before walking out to the dance floor, covering her angelic face.

"Sir…?" The servant prodded.

"Oi, who is that girl? Over there?" Inu Yasha continued to stare at the girl that appeared to have a gown and mask that resembled that of an oshidori. He realized with an odd excitement that Miroku had also bought him a mask with the same bird's feathers, which he touched unconsciously. The coincidence made his heart beat faster.

"I'm not sure sir. Gomen ne." bowed the servant.

Inu Yasha turned and scowled at the man, "Nani?? Don't you work here? Shouldn't you know who the guests are and all that crap!?"

"Forgive me sir, I'm only a temp." The man replied humbly, before bowing and turning to make a hasty escape from the angry hanyou. `Whew!' the man thought, `talk about a short temper!'

Inu Yasha snorted impatiently before turning to gaze at the girl across the room again. But to his dismay, she was gone. His heart thumped in panic, as he set out across the dance floor in search of her. But as soon as he did, a man in a wolf's mask bumped into him, followed by two others. Normally Inu Yasha would have taken that as a threat and returned the challenge, but on this rare occasion, he let it slide. There were more pressing matters on his mind for him to even notice that sort of thing.

********

As the three young men passed through the gate, Kouga had caught a whiff of something very unpleasant, even from under his wolf's head mask, and proceeded to follow the owner of the scent.

"Inukkoro!" he growled, as he motioned for Ginta and Hakkaku to follow him as he tailed the half dog-demon. The scent began to lose its strength however, as the group of trespassers entered the main ballroom. Kouga knew his uncle would probably kill him if he attacked the wrong person and made the family look bad, so he had to make sure. As his prey made their way to a wall to stop and watch the masquerade, Kouga's comrades finally made their way up to him, panting.

"Kouga! Who is that?" asked Hakkaku, who wore a hyena's mask and was trying desperately to catch his breath.

"It's that idiot Inu Yasha, who else?" sneered the wolf, as he kept his manic pace towards the group. Ginta, wearing the mask of an oni, ran in front of him, trying desperately to calm down his leader, putting his hands on his chest in an effort to stop him.

"Wh-wh-what are ya gonna do, Kouga?" he asked worriedly.

Kouga stopped and looked at his comrade annoyed, and growled,

"To tell him to take off that stupid mask so I can make sure it's him!"

"And then what?"

"And then kill him, baka!"

"But Kouga," Hakkaku pleaded, "Naraku said no killing under any circumstances during the party!"

Kouga crossed his arms and gritted his teeth, glaring at the hanyou who was now talking to one of the servants, his friends nowhere around him.

"Is that so?!" Kouga didn't want to miss this chance, since Inu Yasha was now pretty much alone. He'd be easier to take out without his meddling friends involved too.

`Fine,' he thought, `I still need to make sure it *is* that bastard anyway. Besides, Naraku will let me take him out back as soon as he finds out who it is, I'm certain he will!'

"Hmmph!" Kouga resumed his path, a bit slower than before, with Ginta and Hakkaku following suit.

"Fine, let's go ask my uncle if we can kill him now. I'm sure he'll want in on it too!" he grinned, malice touching his masked lips.

At that moment, Inu Yasha began to walk out onto the dance floor. Seeing his chance to make a positive ID, Kouga hurried to cross the hanyou's path, making sure to bump into the young man. `Heh, maybe he'll push me back, and I'll be forced to defend myself!' hoped the wolf, only to be disappointed. Regardless, he caught a nose-full of the dog demon's scent. Aware of the hanyou's infamous short temper, Ginta and Hakkaku looked back at Inu Yasha in shock as he blatantly ignored Kouga's `challenge', which was very unlike the young man. Kouga only walked on to where his aunt and uncle sat.

Naraku and Kagura looked on to the wolf with bored expressions, Kagura's face tainted with impatience on top of the boredom. Kouga kneeled next to Naraku and lifted up his mask slightly to speak to the nobleman.

"You came as a wolf," Naraku mused, "how original, nephew…"

Kouga gritted his teeth, his temper on edge. If he wasn't his beloved cousin's father, Kouga would have killed the arrogant half-breed nobleman long ago. He tried his best to swallow his pride with his anger, something nearly impossible for the wolf youkai to do.

"Whatever," Kouga spat, "anyway, I came to let you know that a stinking Taiyoukai is here at the party! "

Naraku chuckled, as his gaze panned the room.

"Ku ku ku, is that so?"

"Yeah, that's so," growled the increasingly impatient wolf,"it's that idiot Inu Yasha. Can I kill him?"

Kagura cackled, muttering the words `idiot wolf' under her breath as she fanned herself, warranting a look of death from the young youkai. Naraku flashed an annoyed glance at his nephew, warning him of committing such an act.

"Did you not hear what that royal brat has proclaimed the other day? If we kill a Taiyoukai, who knows what he'll do to us. We can't do something like this in a place that the whole village can bear witness to!"

"But Naraku!" Kouga nearly whined," we're just going to let him freeload at our family party?? He should be killed just for daring to even step foot in here!"

Kagura looked on to the guests in the ballroom, a smirk spreading across her face as her eyes stumbled upon an advancing patron. `Things might finally get interesting at this stupid party, after all', she thought. She leaned over towards her husband, never taking her eyes off the new person.

"Naraku-"she began.

Naraku ignored her and continued his discussion with Kouga.

"Kouga-kun, be patient. There is a time and place for everything-"

"Uh…Naraku-"

"-we will handle that insolent Taiyoukai in due time-"

"NARAKU!!"

The lord stopped what he was saying and calmly looked over to where the angry voice came from before drawing his brows together in slight anger. Kagura rolled her eyes and smirked, continuing with her vigorous fanning in no real attempt to hide her gleeful expression. Kouga looked on in surprise.

A young, deathly pale woman with a bow and arrow drawn for attack made her way through the now parted crowd. From the guests could be heard sharp gasps and excited whispers. The young miko stopped a short distance away from the nobleman and his kin.

"Kikyo…" Naraku began as he rose to his feet.

********

Miroku looked about frantically for a way out as a young, portly hime clung to his waist as she threw him about the dance floor. He had danced with her older sister earlier, before the younger begged to take her elders place. Miroku had pleaded with the girl not to comply, to no avail. And now he was stuck, his poor feet becoming increasingly sore from being stepped on.

"Oooohh, what a lucky girl I am to be dancing with the handsome Houshi!" she squealed, as the man tried to hide a grimace.

Miroku sighed as a sweatdrop formed on his head.

"Ano, hime-sama, I must bid you arigatou, as I am needed elsewhere. Gomen, I was so awestruck by your beauty, I didn't have a chance to inform you of my short stay at the start of our dance." Miroku smiled the most charming smile he could muster, as the hime pouted.

"Awww Houshi! When will I see you again?" She attempted to cling onto the exasperated man again, who had managed to wiggle out of her embrace.

"Only kami-sama knows that for sure!" he bowed and hurried away, only to continue under his breath, "and kami-sama willing, will never be so cruel!" He decided to duck into a nearby room, figuring he could wait a while for the hime to become distracted so he could resume his `hunt' on the dance floor again. But upon opening the door, he was greeted with a sight that made him glad to be alive.

A young woman was in the midst of changing into a costume before she noticed the intruder. She had quickly covered herself in the kimono before letting out a startled shriek. Miroku, afraid someone would hear, quickly slid the door shut behind him. Now he and the gorgeous, albeit angry, young woman were alone. He couldn't even try to hide his grin as he soaked in the sight before him.

"GET OUT YOU HENTAI!!" screamed the now infuriated woman, who promptly ripped off a geta from her foot and flung it at him. He quickly ducked out of harms way, before bowing in mock apology to the woman.

"Sumimasen," he replied coyly, "I did not mean to walk in on you madam." His expression turned to one of mock embarrassment now as he let out a heavy sigh, continuing his dramatic apology.

"It would be my luck that I would bring anger to such a delicately beautiful face with my thoughtlessness. I would not blame you if you hated me for all eternity for my insolence…" he put a hand to his head to shield his eyes as he frowned and sighed once again.

"Please forgive me!"

The young woman quickly tied her obi as she eyed him suspiciously.

"Well, I suppose you didn't know. You're forgiven sir. Now if you'll please leave me so I can continue changing for the masquerade…"

Miroku's face changed to one of utter joy. He advanced towards the woman and clasped her hands before she had a chance to back away.

"Please," he asked breathlessly, never letting go of her hands as she struggled to get away,"do me the honor of letting me know your name!"

The woman stopped and looked at his deceptively charming and sincere face. She suddenly noticed how handsome this man was, and blushed at how her heart suddenly skipped a beat. Her anger began to slowly melt away.

"M-my name's Sango." She said, never taking her eyes away from the man. Her face blushed an even deeper red.

"Well than Sango-san," grinned Miroku, "may I ask you one more thing?"

Sango could only nod her head as she succumbed to the man's enchanting gaze.

"Will you bear my child?"

Sango's delicate blush now turned into a furious red as a vein began to pulse in her head. She freed a hand from the man's gasp and brought it down hard against his cheek, causing him to stumble backwards. His hand rubbed his sore face as he sighed in resignation at the failed attempt to woo this girl.

"Who do you think you are!!" She scolded at him bitterly.

"Miroku desu" he responded coolly as he bowed at his introduction. This only proved to infuriate the woman more.

"Well, Miroku, I'll be sure to curse your name in my dreams for all my life! Don't ever come near me again!"

As Miroku sighed, a twinkle could be seen in his eye, "Well then, I guess I will have to suffice myself by only being in your dreams every night…"

Sango glared at him before collecting her things and stomping past him, only stopping to grab her shoe, then hastily pulling the door open, then sliding it shut with an audible bang. Once outside, she held her hand to her face and blushed again, smiling secretly to herself. She then shook her head as if to chase away her girlish thoughts, before hurrying away, not wanting to give him the satisfaction of seeing what he'd done to her.

Miroku chuckled to himself, his heart thumping from the encounter. He had hesitated before deciding to follow after her, when suddenly a commotion could be heard outside, followed by a female voice shouting out the name `Naraku!'

His eyes growing wide in recognition of the voice, Miroku hurried out of the room to find Inu Yasha.

********

Inu Yasha was almost ready to give up, when he espied the girl walk out of the ballroom towards the veranda, alone. He could feel his heart beat in his throat as he followed her, a million thoughts running through his head as he came closer, being careful to keep quiet. He was never good with words, so what would he say to her? But before he could further mull on his thoughts, she stopped short, and walked towards the railing, causing him to spin behind a nearby tree to hide. Unfortunately for him though, he caught himself on a protruding ornament that hung from the tree. It was of a glass cupid armed with a bow and arrow on the ready, which had ripped through his furisode, holding him fast to the tree. The sound of the cloth ripping echoed throughout the surrounding courtyard garden. Inu Yasha froze as he prayed that the girl had not heard. He soon learned his prayer would go unanswered, as he heard her nearing footsteps.

"Kuso!" he muttered under his breath, turning his head to the side and squeezing his eyes shut, not knowing what else to do. His heart stopped when he heard the girl gasp. He then heard her giggle, as he felt one of his ears being rubbed and tugged at.

"HEY!" he growled, baring his fangs and snapping his eyes open. His expression softened however, when his eyes looked upon the cheerfully smiling face of the girl he had been pursuing.

She looked at him curiously, "Are you stuck or something?" she smiled her warm smile again. He refused to lose his composure in front of this girl though.

"Keh!" He replied haughtily, turning his head away before he became too mesmerized to think straight. "Shows what you know! I was just sleeping!" he mentally patted himself on the back for coming up with what he thought was a clever cover. She only crossed her arms and looked at him, not easily fooled by such a lame response.

"Oh well, in that case, I won't disturb your `sleep'" she replied as she turned to walk back to the party.

"Wait a minute!" Inu Yasha held out his hand to the girl, but the glass arrow still held him to the tree. He struggled before growling in resignation, furious that he'd be caught in such an embarrassing position. She turned to look at him expectantly.

"Ano, do you think you can pull out this stupid thing?" He asked while looking down, his face somber as he made the request.

Kagome walked up to him and proceeded to figure out how to get the handsome young man out of his predicament.

"See? Was that so hard? You don't have to act so macho just because I'm a girl." She chided, causing the hanyou to grow even more angry and embarrassed at his situation. She pulled off her mask and let it hang around her neck, causing the trapped hanyou's heart to skip a beat, as she began to try and wrench and twist the glass object out of it's spot, when it suddenly shattered in her hands.

"Eh?!" she exclaimed, stumbling backwards. The broken shards began to twinkle in the light of the thumbnail moon that hung above, giving them and almost pixie dust-like effect. Finally free, he rushed to the girl and caught her before she fell, grabbing her hand.

"Baka!" he scolded as he quickly examined her delicate hand, a small cut beginning to bleed on her palm, "what were you thinking twisting it like that!! You could have really hurt yourself badly!" She drew her eyes together in anger as she pulled herself away from the clumsily doting hanyou.

"I was trying to help you!" she yelled back, clutching her hand as she glared at him, mad at his ungrateful behaviour. "What, do you think I meant to break it and hurt myself?! You're the baka if you really think that!"

Still scowling at her, Inu Yasha tore a piece of cloth from his furisode, and roughly pulled her to him so he could wrap her hand. The girl looked on in astonishment, confused between his rough mannerisms and his gentle and caring ministrations to her wound, intrigued by this strange young man. She touched a feather on his mask, causing a small smile to creep across her face.

He looked up at her, startled that she had touched him again, his heart beating loud enough for even this human girl to hear now.

"What??" he demanded pulling off his own mask, trying to remain undaunted by her sudden action.

"It's just-" Kagome forgot her words as she looked into his wild amber eyes, before going on to explore the rest of his gruff yet gentle features. Her heart skipped a beat.

`What am I thinking??' she scolded herself, `I'm engaged to someone! I shouldn't be feeling like this about some stranger, at my own engagement party, no less! I don't even know who this person is!' She then realized bitterly, `ha! What's the difference, I'm engaged to a person I hardly know either, let alone know whether or not I can love! Why should I feel like I'm cheating?! I don't even really know who I'm cheating on!'

She suddenly became very aware that he still held her hand and blushed, before swallowing hard to continue her speech.

"It's just, we're both wearing costumes made from the feathers of the oshidori. I haven't seen anyone else here with anything like that."

Now it was Inu Yasha's turn to realize their touch and blush in return, before gently releasing her injured hand. He abruptly turned away, unable to handle how he felt.

"So?" he shrugged, crossing his arms.

Kagome smiled at the hanyou's boyish response, and then continued, her heart beating fast.

"Well, it's kinda weird, isn't it? Only two of us wearing oshidori feathers in our costumes out of everyone here? I mean, that's if you believe in silly legends like that, I guess." She finished hastily, too nervous and embarrassed at what she started to continue.

This however, piqued the young man's curiosity, as he turned to face her again, a childlike wonder on his face.

"What legend?" he pressed.

She swallowed hard once again, the beat of her heart creeping up into her throat, making it harder to breathe.

"That…a...uh…well… you know… about the pair of oshidori symbolizing eternal-" she breathed in sharply,"-eternal love. And to ever separate them would be unlucky." Kagome felt very lightheaded suddenly, as her blush crept further up her face.

Inu Yasha's expression had softened considerably, as he slowly moved towards the girl, their eyes locked, drinking in one another. Both their hearts thumped loudly, almost in unison, as the distance between them grew smaller and smaller. The hanyou almost had a dreamlike quality to his face as it neared hers, inhaling deeply to take in her flowery scent. She suddenly whispered, breaking the silence,

"I-I don't even know your name…" she kept her face close to his.

"Inu Yasha… it's Inu Yasha." He replied breathlessly.

"Nice to meet you, Inu Yasha," Kagome smiled sweetly, never taking his eyes off of his," I'm Kagome-Higurashi Kagome."

"Nani?!" Inu Yasha looked at the girl wide-eyed, unable to believe what he had just heard. Before she could question his startled response, Sango burst out of the doorway that lead to the ballroom, running up to her lady.

"Kagome-chan!" the older girl yelled out, "come to the ballroom! Your father is in trouble!" Sango stopped short as she saw who her friend was with. She glared at Inu Yasha, who was confused at the older girl's sudden hostility towards him.

"Gomen nasai." She bowed, eyeing the hanyou suspiciously, before grabbing Kagome's arm and pulling her away. Kagome looked towards the ballroom worriedly, before turning back to look at Inu Yasha longingly. After a moments hesitation, she broke free of Sango's grasp, and ran up to the young man, planting a kiss on his cheek and whispered,

"We will meet again!"

shocking both her nurse and the startled half-demon. She then turned to catch up to her friend, before the two of them hurried back to the ballroom.

"What happened to your hand?" interrogated the young nurse.

"I had an accident. It's nothing" Kagome replied dreamily.

Sango stopped before they reached the door, turning to face Kagome. Kagome was confused by her friend's odd behaviour.

"Kagome-chan, don't you know who that was??" queried the girl. Kagome could only frown in her bewilderment.

"No, Sango-chan, who was it?" she asked curiously.

"Inu Yasha, the half brother of Sesshoumaru! Kagome, he's a Taiyoukai!"

Kagome could feel her heart fall, as Sango continued their walk, dragging Kagome along.

"A-Taiyoukai?" she repeated, shocked.

********

Inu Yasha, still reeling from his kiss as he gingerly touched his cheek, barely noticed as Miroku and Shippo ran up to him, both equally breathless and excited. After a few moments of excited speech from the duo, and no response from their friend, Shippo jumped up to bop the hanyou on the head to bring him back to reality.

"What the hell's wrong with you, Inu Yasha??" the kit demanded. "We've been looking everywhere for you! Didn't you hear what I just said?"

The now annoyed hanyou clenched his fists and shook it threateningly at his cousin.

"Baka! What the hell was that for?!" He loomed over the fox menacingly.

"Inu Yasha," Miroku panted, "Kikyo is here, and… she's trying to kill Naraku!"

Inu Yasha whipped around to face his friend.

"NANI?!?"

********

"Naraku!" Kikyo spewed venom, as the party was now brought to a standstill.

"Ku ku ku," replied Naraku, "what an ungrateful guest you are Kikyo, after I took the time to invite you to my daughters engagement party, you still want to kill me?"

Kagome and Sango were soon at her mother's side, looking on in fear at the angry woman whose arrow was posed at her father's head. Kagura simply blocked the girls with her fan, a warning that they should keep back.

"Quiet!" Kikyo shouted, her arm quivering as she held her bow and arrow taut, her eyes burning with hatred. "Tonight, you will die for killing me, you bastard!"

"Ku ku ku," chuckled Naraku, as he smirked at the undead miko, "I think you're mistaken, Kikyo, for tonight you will finally die!" He gave Kouga a sideway glance, prompting the wolf and his men to hurry out of the room. Kikyo took no notice and released her arrow. Kagura's eyes went wide as she watched the arrow advance towards her and her husband. Kagome screamed.

Naraku laughed as the arrow hit his barrier, only to mimic his wife's expression as the arrow purified his shield a moment later, causing him and his wife to part to either side, floating above harm's way. Sango grabbed Kagome, and leapt with the girl towards the safety of the crowd. The onlookers gasped at the narrowly avoided strike.

Naraku glared at the miko, as she already had an arrow out for another try.

Suddenly, a loud grinding sound could be heard, as the seal on which the undead woman stood on began to move, revealing an opening on the ballroom floor. Her eyes grew wide in surprise.

"Wha-what?!" Was all she could say before she stumbled backwards into the pit of miasma. Naraku laughed wickedly once again as the young woman plummeted into the pitch black depths of his trap. Several women in the room fainted.

At the moment Kikyo fell, Inu Yasha and friends entered the room, re-masked, stopping short at the horrible scene that unfolded before them. His two comrades were quick to hold the emotional hanyou back.

"KIIIKYYOOOOOO!!" Inu Yasha screamed, struggling to be released from his friends' grasp.

"NARAKU YOU BASTARD! YOU'LL PAY FOR THIS!!" he threatened the nobleman. Kagome turned to see who had threatened her father, only to be shocked and dismayed upon her findings.

"No, Inu Yasha…" she lamented, before returning to her father's side.

`Kagome… is Naraku's daughter?' the youth realized, feeling his heart fall at a steady decline. Miroku and Shippo took advantage at the hanyou's momentary relaxed state and began to drag him towards the exit.

"Uhh…I think it's time to go, Inu Yasha!" Shippo squeaked. "We'll worry about Kikyo later!" They continued to drag their stubborn friend, who looked back sadly at the girl who had captured his wild heart.

As Kouga returned to his uncle's side, Naraku quickly ordered the wolf.

"Now you can kill him."

The wolf grinned as he cracked his knuckles, ready to pounce the dog he hated so much, along with his friends.

"Gladly!" he sneered.

But before he could get a chance to rip his sworn enemy to shreds, the crowd erupted in a panic, and began to stampede, scrambling wildly for the door. Inu Yasha and his friends were conveniently enveloped by the crowd as they made their way out, which also blocking the advancing wolf youkai. Kouga tried his best to push the interfering guests out of the way, but to no avail. He growled in frustration, and cursed his bad luck.

"Kuso!" he shouted.

Kagome, now standing near her parent's throne, only stared on as she watched her father's enemy get dragged out by his friends. She felt a small pang of jealousy as she wondered who the girl that tried to kill her father just now might be to the handsome young man. She looked over to her parents, who were looking on at the chaos in sheer delight, and felt disgusted at them. She turned back to look for Inu Yasha as he made his way out the door. Her delicate brows drew together upon her declaration of rebellion.

`I don't care who he is!' she vowed, `all I know is what's in my heart."

She slowly brought her hand to her chest, mulling over what her heart was telling her head. It startled her to even think it, but she forced herself to question what she thought.

`I-I love Inu Yasha?' her face was now set with resolve, `yes! I love Inu Yasha… and that's all that matters! I have to see him again!'

"C'mon Sango! Let's get out of here"

Sango looked on worriedly at the room.

"Ano, Kagome-chan, shouldn't we look for Hojo-kun in this mess somewhere?"

Kagome felt a pang of guilt at the name. She shook the feeling out of her head,

"No. I'm sure he'll be fine. I don't even know if he showed up yet, so don't worry about it." She still looked a bit worried.

Sango sighed in resignation, and followed her mistress out.

********

Inu Yasha was now hurrying away from the Higurashi palace, his head swimming with mixed emotions. On one hand, he was still reeling from Kikyo's murder, if you could even call it that since she was already dead. But as much as he tried to concentrate on that, another feeling kept creeping in and pushing it aside. And suddenly, all he could think of was Kagome.

"Higurashi Kagome…" he whispered to himself sadly. His family's sworn enemy. He looked ahead to his two friends who were further ahead, and snorted in defiance.

`Keh!' he growled, `who cares what her last name is! All I know is I need to see her again… tonight!'

The hanyou smirked at his decision, and picked up his pace. He knew what he had to do tonight, and he didn't care about any of the consequences. As soon as he caught up to his friends, he scooped up both of them before leaping high onto a tree branch.

"You guys run too slow! Hurry up already! We need to get home!"

Shippo looked at him annoyed,

"What's your hurry all of a sudden? A minute ago we could barely get you out of there! You got a date or something tonight?" the kit snickered.

Inu Yasha smirked as he leapt from tree to tree, holding tight to his `bundles'.

"Heh, you could say that I guess." He muttered under his breath.

Shippo and Miroku, tucked safely under the hanyou's arms, glanced at each other before shrugging at the young man's sudden change in behaviour.

~End of Act 1~

********

A/N: Next chapter will be the balcony scene! Woohoo! =Þ

Sorry for any misspells…I was very tired when I wrote this!

Revised:with the help of Merith's suggestions ^_^

Following in the spirit of Ericedwyn, I've decided to also include a glossary.

Ano- umm, well, excuse me

Arigatou- thank you

Baka- stupid

Bouzu- derogatory term for a Buddhist priest

Furisode- long sleeved kimono

Geta- Japanese wooden clog

Gomen ne, nasai- I'm sorry, excuse me

Hanyou- half-demon

Hime- princess

Houshi- Buddhist priest, also Miroku's nickname for his sacerdotal personality.

Inukkoro- dog-face, dog crap

Jya- bye

Kitsune- fox

Kuso- damn, shit

Miko- priestess

Nani?- what?

Obi- kimono sash

Oni- ogre

Oshidori- not only my namesake, but a mandarin duck ^_^

Sumimasen- excuse me (formal)

Youkai- demon