InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ To Bear Witness ❯ Rin's Plan in Action ( Chapter 23 )

Disclaimer: Come on folks. I had to retype 'disclaimer' four times before I got it right. Do you really think I own it?

Chapter Twenty-Three: Rin's Plan In Action

*Friday, 6:05 PM*

Kagome ran down the stairs quickly, trying to keep from falling down the stairs head first as she zipped up the side of her boots. "Hey fellas!" she chirped as she stopped before Ah and Un. "How do I look?"

"Lovely as always Kagome," Ah replied, Un nodding in agreement as Kagome spun around. She curtsied, a light blush staining her cheeks.

"You guys really know how to give a compliment."

"We know. Follow us if you please."

Kagome did as they requested, pulling on the yellow plastic jacket that came with her costume as Ah and Un lead her outside and to the garage. "If you don't mind us asking, why is Takamada-sama already at the party?"

"I kinda figured that it would look funny if we were to arrive together for everything," Kagome reasoned. "I'm supposed to be undercover after all. But don't worry. One of my friends from the FBI is looking after him for me until I get there." She peered over Ah's shoulder as he unlocked the garage door.

"Do I get to drive a car?"

"Yes, you do." They escorted her into the garage. Kagome gaped as she looked around the warehouse-sized building, then at the cars inside it.

"Oh wow!" she gasped. There were six sports cars, three limos and four motorcycles, all painted black except for one.

"Is this an Austen Martin?" Kagome asked as she approached the silver vehicle. Un nodded as he walked behind her, leaving Ah standing by the key locker.

"It's beautiful. I've always wanted to drive one of these."

"Then you shall." Ah tossed Un the keys, who then turned them over to Kagome. He smiled as she took them, silently laughing at her as she bounced around in glee.

"Really! Thanks you two!" Her brow furrowed slightly. "Are you sure Sesshoumaru won't mind me driving this?"

"No, not really. He's not very fond of this car. He barely drives it. But it does have gas in it."

"OK then!" Kagome scampered inside quickly, closing the door and adjusting the seat. Ah opened the garage door as Un leaned inside to explain a few features.

"This is the On-Star system," he said, pointing to the navigational system in the dashboard. "It's already programmed to guide you to the banquet, but you can ask it about other things as well. Is there anything else you need explained?"

"No, not really." Kagome waved to them, then stepped on the gas and pulled off with Ah and Un standing in the driveway watching her.

"Do you think Rin's plan is going to work?" Un asked. Ah shrugged. "I don't even know what it is, but I hope it does."

*7:45 PM*

Sesshoumaru flicked a piece of fur away from his face, glancing around the crowd for any sign of Kagome. 'I knew this was a bad idea,' he grumbled as he looked at the buffet table. 'After all, it takes the woman at least 20 minutes to take a shower.'

"Excuse me?"

Sesshoumaru turned around, mentally grumbling at the jester behind him. "Yes?"

"Are you Sesshoumaru Takamada?"

"I am he."

The jester stuck his hand out, motioning for Sesshoumaru to shake it. "It's great to meet you. You have no idea how refreshing it is to see someone dressed as one of my characters."

"Excuse me?" Sesshoumaru asked, confused. The jester smiled. "I'm the C. E. O. for SquareSoft, the company that makes the Final Fantasy games."

'I'm going to kill her.' "Yes," Sesshoumaru nodded as he shook the gentleman's hand. "I remember now."

"A woman dressed you, didn't she?"

"As a matter of fact, she did. How did you know?"

The jester laughed. "It's the look on your face. I have yet to meet a male that was willing to dress like the game without a female's assistance. You know," with this he reached inside the cuff of his costume. "I've wanted to speak to you for a while about producing one of the future FF games. Would you be interested?"

Sesshoumaru mentally smirked, imagining Rin's and Kagome's faces if he were to accept this. "I think I would be."

The jester smiled and handed Sesshoumaru his business card. "That's great! Here's my card! I'll be in touch with you soon!" Sesshoumaru watched as he danced away, then began to mill through the crowd. A familiar voice called to him just as he reached the other side of the room.

"Sesshoumaru-sama!"

'Not him,' Sesshoumaru groaned as he stopped and turned around. 'Anyone but him…'

"Hey!" Kouga greeted as he caught up. "How are ya!"

"I could be better," Sesshoumaru grumbled. Kouga frowned as Sesshoumaru glanced him over. 'It would figure the wolf would dress as Prince Charming. What an oxymoron.'

"Where's my-"

"Mr. Takamada!"

Sesshoumaru glanced over Kouga's shoulder to Sutaasafaia as she walked to them. She wore a black wig that reached about mid-shoulder, with a white blouse and a green skirt that reminded him of a school uniform.

"How are you Mr. Takamada?" she asked as she stopped beside Kouga. "Kouga's not getting on your nerves, is he?"

"I was just going to ask the inu-kurro here where my woman was."

"Hey! I resent that!" Sutaasafaia chided angrily, her hands on her hips. Sesshoumaru chose to ignore the comment. "What are you dressed as?" he asked her. Sutaasafaia smiled back at him. "I'm supposed to be my favorite anime character. Aren't you Squall?"

'I'm really going to kill her now.'

"Where's my woman, Sesshoumaru?" Kouga interrupted. Sesshoumaru barely shrugged. "Kagome decided to arrive at a different time. She is la-" He stopped as a familiar scent wafted through the air, drowning out the scent of the other humans around him. He turned and followed it, leaving Kouga and Sutaasafaia behind as the scent of jasmines led him to the center of the ballroom.

The jester was there again, this time talking to a young woman about something. "Are you sure you wouldn't like some help finding him?" he asked her. She shook her head, the tips of her waist length hair flicking from side to side.

"No thank you. I'm sure he'll find me." She turned around as the jester walked away, then smiled at Sesshoumaru and the others. "Hello Sesshoumaru. I've been looking for you."

Sesshoumaru stood as Sutaasafaia and Kagome greeted each other, admiring Rin's choice of costume. It was a sort of fireman's costume; with a white, midriff baring top, yellow suspenders, blue pleather daisy dukes and a pair of thigh high white boots. The costume accentuated her figure, from the long black hair pouring from under the plastic fireman's hat to her toned stomach and long legs. Kagome tipped her hat at him, a shy smile on her face as Kouga leered at her.

****

Silver Fox: If you guys are having doubts as to what this looks like, think of Jewel's 'Intuition' video, minus the star spangled bra. I think SF should have kept that idea though.

Kagome: {::mumbling under her breath::} Hentai…

****

"Why are you so quiet?"

"You are late," he muttered as he grasped her hand. "What took so long?"

Kagome huffed irritably, gesturing to her costume in annoyance. "Have you ever tried to put half of this crap on? I swear Rin doesn't like me!"

Sesshoumaru smirked at her distress, missing the queer looks Sutaasafaia and Kouga were giving them as he lead her to the dance floor. Kagome rolled her eyes when she registered where he was headed, giving a near inaudible sigh as Sesshoumaru draped an arm around her waist.

"Do you still fear embarrassing me?" he whispered in her ear, mentally chuckling at the blush staining her cheeks. Kagome shook her head. "No, not anymore. It's just that…"

"That…"

"Oh, never mind. Forget it."

Sesshoumaru nodded. "Are you sure? If you want, I can tell you what people are saying here too."

"No thank you," she whispered as she rested her head on his shoulder. "I don't think I'll need that."

Sesshoumaru smirked down at her, catching a few of the envious remarks from male and female alike as they danced to the song. 'That's my girl,' he complimented when Kagome closed her eyes and relaxed in his arms. 'You're learning so quickly. I shouldn't be surprised.' The melody changed to a tune he knew, but hadn't heard in a few centuries.

'I wonder how they found this,' Sesshoumaru pondered as he glanced at the other couples around them. It seemed as if they knew the music like he did, recognizing the court waltz from his father's time. 'I know Kagome doesn't know it. I should teach her.'

He stepped to the side, his right hand grasping Kagome's left as the music slowed to a mere crawl. She glanced at him in confusion, her eyes traveling his body before a grin spread across her face. The music sped up, and so did the dance as she stepped to his left and brought her left hand to touch his right. They stepped back quickly, circling around each other before repeating the first part of the waltz.

Sesshoumaru watched her in amazement as Kagome performed the dance, pulling her toward him to watch as she spun out of his arms. He reached for her again, finishing the waltz with her facing him as the music slowed back to the original bars.

"How did you know that?" he asked her. Kagome blushed, glancing to the side to avoid his eyes. "Well, I told you I took dance. Plus this dance is on that game you seem not to like so much."

Sesshoumaru quirked a brow, forgetting the others around him as he cupped the side of her face. Kagome finally made eye contact with him, her eyes startling in their starlight intensity. To Sesshoumaru, it seemed to take forever for her to blink, watching as her lashes brushed the top of her cheeks before gracing him once again.

"So beautiful," he thought, unaware until Kagome's blush that he'd spoken this aloud. He paid it no mind, preferring to drink in her features as his thumb brushed against her lower lip. Her eyelids lowered shyly as Sesshoumaru traced a slow path on her cheek with his finger. "Kagome, I-"

"Hey!" Kouga chirped, interrupting the moment. "Can I cut in?"

Kagome sprang back instantly, blushing furiously as Sesshoumaru glared at Kouga in contempt. "I-I need some air!" she stammered before turning and disappearing into the crowd. Sesshoumaru turned to Kouga, irritation crackling in the air around him.

"Was that necessary?"

Kouga stammered as Sutaasafaia caught up to them. "What did you do now Kouga?" she asked as Sesshoumaru walked away.

Sesshoumaru followed Kagome's scent eagerly, it leading him to the balcony. He reached it just as the organizer for the fundraiser spotted him.

"Mr. Takamada?"

'Damn it!' Sesshoumaru grumbled as he turned around. "Yes?"

"What a pleasure it is to see you!" he said, smiling as he shook Sesshoumaru's hand. Sesshoumaru mentally grimaced. 'I'll never get the stink of humans off of me.'

"We honestly weren't expecting you!"

Sesshoumaru quirked a brow at this. "You weren't?" The organizer shook his head. "We were told by your assistant a few months ago that you would be unable to attend this evening and that a Mr. Tarentino would be here in your stead. I'm glad to see you here anyway! We do appreciate your donation."

"Of course," Sesshoumaru replied, feeling as if someone set him up for something. "Now if you'll excuse me, I'm looking for someone."

"Who? Perhaps I could be of assistance?"

Sesshoumaru inwardly sighed, then shook his head. "No, I believe I know where she went. Thank you."

Sesshoumaru finally opened the balcony doors, closing them behind him and leaning against them.

Kagome stood ahead of him, leaning over the balcony rail. She watched the people on the street 12 floors below, her gaze wistful as she turned to the stars above. "Hold me now," she whispered to the wind, sighing as she did so. "I'm six feet from the edge and I'm thinking…maybe six feet, ain't so far down." She propped her elbows onto the rail, resting her chin in her hands as she gazed at the stars.

'Who am I kidding?' she asked herself. 'I mean, so what if he called me beautiful. Why did I run like that? He must think I'm such an airhead, but…' She watched a shooting star streak across the sky, a wistful smile gracing her features. 'I can't help falling for him. He's so charming, and so gentle. It would never work though, not now.' She plunked her head onto the rail dejectedly. "Besides, I bet he thinks I'm a brainless git."

"Now I wouldn't say that."

Sesshoumaru smirked as she started in his arms, resting his chin on her shoulder as he too stared into the sky. "I think you're a lot smarter than most of the gits I've met."

"Gee thanks," Kagome replied sarcastically. Sesshoumaru nudged her with his chin gently. "I meant that you're not as annoying as you should be." Kagome shook her head, then leaned it against his. "Thanks, I guess."

"I'm sorry if I embarrassed you," Sesshoumaru whispered, knowing the apology in itself would shock her. She glanced at him out of the corner of her eye. "You are?"

"Of course I am. However, I'm not sorry for what I said. You are beautiful, especially today."

Kagome blushed prettily, turning away from him so he wouldn't see it. "Thank you."

Sesshoumaru turned her to face him, then pulled her closer to him. "I'm bored Marshal."

Kagome giggled quietly. "Me too. Do we have to stay?"

"It was your idea to come."

"Hm! Well, it was a bad one. Can we leave now?"

Sesshoumaru furrowed his brow thoughtfully. "I believe so. We weren't supposed to be here anyway."

"But Rin said-"

"I know what Rin said. I don't understand either. I just want to get out of here, but how to do that without being noticed?"

Kagome looked up at him, a devious smile on her face. "Are you forgetting something?"

"What would that be?"

In an instant they were in the parking lot below, standing beside the Austen Martin. Sesshoumaru quirked a brow as the keys appeared in Kagome's hand. "How do you do that?"

"Simple," she unlocked the doors and sat in the driver's seat. "I can get anything that exists and can go anywhere, just so long as I have a good mental picture of where I want to be. Now where to?"

"Anywhere but here."

"Alright," Kagome tampered with the navigational system, then smiled. "Perfect!" she cheered before starting the car and pulling off. Sesshoumaru glanced at her, then out the passenger window. "I've never heard of this instant transmission. What is it exactly?"

"It's kinda new," Kagome explained as she stopped for a red light. "A miko can create some of her own spells at a certain point of her power level. The most powerful ones normally come before her Limit Break. The transmission just happens to be pretty powerful."

Sesshoumaru nodded in understanding. "So that's why you fainted after using it Wednesday. It drained you somewhat."

Kagome shook her head, pausing to let a car pull in front of her before resuming down the street. "I fainted because I'd used so much of it trying to get to the garage." She glanced at him a moment, then gave a sheepish grin. "I was chased across the rooftops, tossed through one and the entire time purifying anything dumb enough to touch me. It was rather tiring, and the transmission was the last straw."

"I see."

"Good." Kagome pulled into a park, parking into a space before turning off the engine. "Before you ask, I can transmit things as long as it's level, like with the motorcycle."

"So if another plane crashes…"

"Then I'd have to do it while it was level in the sky, before it started to fall. So we'd still be screwed, in a sense."

"I see."

"Come on!" Kagome jumped out of the car, tossing him the keys as she ran across the playground to the swings.

"Why are we here?" Sesshoumaru asked as he looked around. Kagome sat down in one of the swings and began to guide the swing. "We're here because it's a lot more fun than that fundraiser. Now swing."

Sesshoumaru sat in the swing beside her, watching her swing her legs back and forth before shaking his head. "I don't think so."

Kagome let the swing slow to a stop. "Why not?" Sesshoumaru glanced at her, then shrugged. "I've never been on one of these."

"Really?" Kagome gasped. "Why not?"

'We didn't really have swings when I was a pup.' "I didn't have time for these when I was a child."

"Oh wow," Kagome muttered as she lazily swung her legs. "Um, Sesshoumaru?"

"Yes?"

"What was your childhood like?"

Sesshoumaru glanced at her, seeing the expectant look on her face. 'She must deem this important. I guess it wouldn't hurt to tell her something.' "Well, my father was a busy person. He honestly didn't have time to do much but train me. My mother died when I was the equivalence of five."

'Equivalence of five? Why would he say it like that?' Kagome wondered. She decided not to ask, waiting patiently for Sesshoumaru to continue.

"For a while, my father and I were alone. Then he…married Inuyasha's mother. I wanted to hate the woman, but I guess I learned to respect her."

"That's why her bow is in the dojo, right?" Kagome asked. Sesshoumaru quirked a brow inquisitively. "Who told you that?"

"Ah and Un. They told me it was hers. It must be an antique. It's so old."

Sesshoumaru nodded. "Yes, it is rather old. You could say its an heirloom."

"I'm bored again," Kagome groaned as she stood up. "I know!" She lightly tapped Sesshoumaru's arm, then sprinted away. "Tag!"

Sesshoumaru sat still, watching as she ran away from him before standing up and jogging after her. They chased each other around the playground equipment, Sesshoumaru catching Kagome every now and again before allowing her to catch him to begin the game over again. Though Sesshoumaru felt a little foolish, (after all, the last time he played this game Rin was only eight) it didn't seem so bad with Kagome. She seemed truly content, giggling as she ducked and dodged his advances.

Sesshoumaru dropped his regal propositions, becoming but a mere pup as he lost himself in their antics. He reminded himself of Kagome's frail human state, but otherwise had more fun than he had in ages.

Kagome stopped beside the slide in front of him, glancing between the ladder and Sesshoumaru warily.

"I don't think you'll make it," Sesshoumaru warned as Kagome inched her way toward it. "I wouldn't do that…"

"But I would!" Kagome grasped the highest rung, jerking herself up just as Sesshoumaru made a swipe at her. She ran across the board to the pole at the other end, glancing over her shoulder for Sesshoumaru. "Where is he?" she wondered as she grasped the pole and slid down.

Hands instantly pounced onto her waist, Kagome giving a shrill yelp as Sesshoumaru pulled her away from the pole.

"Got you!" Kagome giggled, trying to pry his hands free when thunder rumbled in the sky above them. "Uh-oh…"

Sesshoumaru glanced up as large raindrops started to fall. "Oh well Kagome. Time to go."

"Not yet. Hold on." Sesshoumaru watched as Kagome's hand glowed pink. She muttered something as she touched his chest, pressing her palm against it as the drops multiplied. "There. All done."

Sesshoumaru raised a hand to his face, Kagome scampering out of his grasp as he glanced at the pink ki surrounding him. "What's this?"

"It's a weather shield," Kagome yelled over the rain. "It's supposed to protect you against elemental youkai, but it seemed like a good idea here."

"Elemental youkai?"

"Yeah, youkai that can control either lightening, fire, wind, water, earth or ice."

Sesshoumaru nodded, then frowned as Kagome danced. "You are going to get sick."

"No I won't."

Sesshoumaru signed, ignoring how alluring she was with the rain beating down on her. "Yes you will."

"No I-"

"Don't argue with me." He pulled her closer to him, secretly marveling at the strength of her shield as he held her closer to him. He could feel how cold she was and how soaked her clothes were, but he himself stayed dry and warm. "You know better than to try."

"Yeah yeah," she yawned, grasping the fur around the collar of his coat. "Whatever."

Sesshoumaru shook his head, scooped her up and carried her back to the car. He laid her across the back seat, then moved to the front and started the car.

"Kagome, how long is this shield going to last?"

"Until we (yawn) get inside," she mumbled. After a few minutes she was fast asleep. Sesshoumaru glanced at her through the rear view mirror, not minding the water dripping off the leather seats in rivulets.

'She makes a pretty picture like that, with her fist covering her nose like a paw. Perhaps she was a dog in a past life.'

Sesshoumaru mentally groaned, returning his attention to the rain-slick road ahead. 'Not you again.'

'Why do you always say that? I'm rather offended Sesshoumaru.'

'Whatever.'

The voice laughed merrily. 'Since when was 'whatever' in your vocabulary? I think she's rubbing off on you.'

'I think you're an annoyance.'

'You would. All I want to do is help you sort out your feelings for the girl.'

Sesshoumaru shook his head. 'I feel nothing. She is but a possession.'

'That's what you say, but that's not the way you behave. You are infatuated with her.'

'I'm supposed to appear that way. I'm trying to get her to love me, remember?'

'Ah yes, that silly plan. But have you noticed that you've stopped pretending a long time ago?'

'Again, whatever.'

'Ah, more of the miko's influence. Answer this for me: What would be so wrong with mating the creature?'

'You mean, besides the fact that she's human and that any pups would be hanyou?'

The voice sighed irritably. 'That may be, but they would not be weak.'

'All hanyou are weak compared to me.'

'Compared to you, but if Rin were in any danger and you could not get to her, you would rather Inuyasha be with her than anyone else.'

'And…'

'And any pup born from the miko would be blessed with her power. Imagine, a youkai that can purify youkai with your strength. And you never know. They might be born full youkai. No youkai has ever mated a miko before. None have become close to one as you have and lived.'

'And that is why she'd make an acceptable pet.'

'Pet! Bah! You should know better than this. You are playing with fire Sesshoumaru.'

'Nonsense. She is already obedient, and is already displaying feelings for me. Soon she will be madly in love and unwilling to leave my side. You will see.' Sesshoumaru parked in front of the marble outer steps. 'It will work.'

'But it just seems wrong to me…' the voice called as it faded into Sesshoumaru's conscience. 'Very wrong…'

Sesshoumaru ignored this, turning around to fetch Kagome from her makeshift bed. He cradled her against his chest tenderly, gazing into her peaceful face with admiration. 'She's shivering,' he noticed. Sesshoumaru got out of the car, placing Kagome in the driver's seat as he figured out what to do. 'Her shield is keeping me dry. Does that include parts of me that she can't see?' He checked for any sign that Kagome might wake up, then released the sealing spell on his tail. He brought it to his face, watching as the rain bounced off the pink shield around it. 'Well, isn't she a resourceful creature.'

Sesshoumaru wound his tail around Kagome like a papoose, then picked her up and carried her into the house. True to Kagome's word, the shield fell as soon as he crossed the threshold, and it took all of Sesshoumaru's self control not to rudely drop his soaking wet package to the floor. He shivered as he climbed the steps to Kagome's room, softly closing it behind him and shrugging off his coat.

He left it on the floor, smirking when Kagome sighed and snuggled deeper into her furry blanket. He reached inside her closet for a thin blanket, then sat on the edge of the bed and draped it over his legs. Sesshoumaru sat Kagome in his lap, uncurled his tail from around her and puffed it out to dry. Kagome whimpered slightly from the lack of warmth, then sneezed.

"I told you you would get sick," Sesshoumaru teased as he unsnapped the suspenders. He pulled them off easily, then stared at the shorts and top she was still wearing. 'No wonder she complained,' Sesshoumaru thought as he gently peeled the wet articles away. He ran a slender finger along the shoulder strap of her bra, shaking his head slightly. 'This will have to go to. Too bad. I don't think my tail is completely dry.' Sesshoumaru wrapped the tip of it around her chest, it resembling a furry bandeau top, before slicing through the straps and flinging it behind him.

Kagome began to stir when the tip of Sesshoumaru's tail flickered across her face. "Buyo you stupid cat," she mumbled as she waved it away. Sesshoumaru quirked a brow, then tapped her nose with it.

"Stop, you crazy thing you!"

Sesshoumaru bit back a chuckle. 'She's even amusing in her sleep.' He opened a nearby dresser drawer, digging around until he found a nightgown to his liking. It was long; the same purple intensity as her power, with spaghetti straps and slits on either side.

Sesshoumaru's tail snaked around Kagome's arms, holding them up as he slipped the nightgown over her head. It flowed over her figure like water, Sesshoumaru's tail coming from under it to wrap around her wrists. It gently suspended her in the air as Sesshoumaru adjusted the nightgown, the silk settling over her hips to her ankles creating a stunning silhouette.

****

SF: Someone, anyone, grace me with a picture of this! It would be such a great one! {::sighs, then smiles:} Oh, but back to the story.

****

'Absolutely perfect,' Sesshoumaru mused. Kagome's head lulled to the side, dark wet hair spilling over her shoulder as she slept unawares. Sesshoumaru used the blanket to dry her hair, then lowered her to his arms as he pulled back the covers on the bed. He settled her down tenderly, his gaze constantly on her face as he replaced the sealing spell and tucked her in.

"It would seem that I'm doing this more often."

"Sesshou…"

Sesshoumaru blinked, then looked into Kagome's sleep-heavy eyes. "You should be asleep."

"Would you…"

Sesshoumaru sat down beside her, brushing aside a stray strand of onyx hair. "Would I what?"

She grasped his pinky finger tightly, then yawned. "Would you stay here with me?"

"But Kagome, I have to-"

"Please?"

Sesshoumaru paused, taking the time to think as he observed her hold on him. Her entire hand was wrapped around one finger, something that hadn't happened since Rin was a child. 'She's so…innocent,' he mused as he considered her request. 'How is it possible for a being as powerful as her to remain so pure?'

"Is it the dream again?" Sesshoumaru asked. Kagome shook her head, blinking slightly. "No, it's just that I'm just a tad…oh never mind. You go ahead and do whatever it is you were doing." She rolled over and went back to sleep, curling into a tight ball underneath the blankets.

Sesshoumaru moved to the other side of the bed, kicked off his shoes and tank top, then slipped under the covers beside her. He pulled her closer to him, pleased at her instant reaction as she uncurled and opened her eyes.

"I thought you had something to do."

"I'm doing it."

Kagome sighed, accepting his decision as she rested her forehead against his chest. "This is so out of protocol," she told him with another yawn. Sesshoumaru shrugged, wrapping his arms around her waist and nuzzling his face into her hair. Without another word, they both fell into a blissful, eventless slumber.

*

Ah and Un materialized beside the piano, dusting a white substance from their hair, clothes and the phone.

"He didn't see us," Ah said into the phone as Un proceeded to wipe away the powder. "The invisible powder worked as always Rin, but was it necessary?"

Un swept the remains in a dustbin, listening to Ah's part of the conversation.

"Well, not a lot happened. Sesshoumaru-sama came in carrying her. Lady Kagome seemed to have stood in the rain for a time. I haven't heard or seen anything else."

Ah blinked, then shook his head. "I don't think that's a good idea. Sesshoumaru-sama plans for her to go up there, but I don't believe he's ready."

He sighed miserably. He should have known better than to try to talk Rin out of this. "Of course Lady Rin. We will do as you suggest."

"We just hope you can save us from Sesshoumaru-sama's temper," Un called to her. A laugh was heard, then Ah hung up. "We're going to end up in a lot of trouble, aren't we?"

Ah nodded, the shock of white hair drooping slightly as he tugged on the end of his shirt. "If all goes the way Lady Rin planned, then yes. We are."

----

SF: Aww… more fluff.

Silver Fox: When do I get to do my thing?

SF: Huh?

Silver Fox: My thing? You know, exhibit my godliness.

SF: Who told you you were are god?

Silver Fox: I'm not telling.

SF: {::sigh::} Whoever did was crazy, and has successfully blown up your head. I tell you what, you can do your thing in the next chapter.

Silver Fox: Good. Oh, and I'm thinking of writing a one-shot.

SF: You are. Why?

Silver Fox: I was listening to a Nickleback song the other day when you hit me. It seems that you have the same effect on me as I do you.

SF: Really? {::glomps Silver::} That's so cool! I'm a muse! Oh, the summary is below.

-

Chapter Twenty-Four: A Confession of Love and Kagome's Finding

She took a deep breath, then opened her eyes and turned around. … 'It's time to pull a little song and dance.' … "I don't know when it started, but I'm falling in love with you." … "To use Lady Kagome's words, we are so dead." … "Why Sesshoumaru; if you wanted a lap dance, all you had to do was ask."

… "You mean it can get better than this?" … "I don't know," Sesshoumaru replied. "You're the one who started this." … "I'm very sure, my dove. But could you ever feel the same for me?"

-

SF: Oh yeah. The dance Kagome and Sesshou did is on FF8, but it's also a variation on a dance performed in the English Victorian era. The only differences in this dance and the original is that the original required that both hands stay in contact with your partner at all times. And you thought I just entertained you guys…

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{Silver Fox: Oh, don't tell SF, but I've stolen one of her missing disks and started 'A Role Reversal' early! Look for it at Sesshoumaru: The Killing Perfection under the penname BellaMira!)