InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ You Are Never Alone ❯ The Magic of the Sakura ( Chapter 3 )

[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]

By: cu-kid

A/N: Wow, I`m only on chapter 3? Jeez, it feels like I`ve been writing this forever! For some reason, I'm very uncertain of these next few chapters. They're fillers, more than anything else, and I feel like everybody is on the verge of going out of character. Anyway, once again, I can't stand to look at this any longer ^_^ Thanks to Strack45 for looking over it and for the constant encouragement no matter how frustrated I got. I have 40 pages of the next chapter already written, so as soon as I find a tying-off point, I'll post it (probably at the end of this week).

Thanks for the reviews. I'm having a difficult time with getting this story where I want it to go. Amid the constant re-writes and chasing down plot-monsters (I don't have bunnies, I have monsters ^_^), it's nice to have some words of encouragement and to know that this is liked by some of you out there.

Enjoy.

Chapter 3

The Magic of the Sakura

“Kagome, dear, are you okay? You look terrible! And what on earth are you wearing?”

Kagome sighed as she walked slowly up to the small table where her mother sat. The elder Higurashi was, in Kagome's mind, a more elegant version of herself with her dark hair swept up in a loose bun and her sunny yellow cashmere cardigan. “I'm sorry I'm late.” She bent to kiss the older woman on the cheek.

“You haven't answered my questions, Kagome,” her mother pointed out. “And who is this handsome young man?”

Before Kagome could answer, Inuyasha smiled brightly, clasped his hands in front of himself and bowed slightly. “Takahashi Inuyasha,” he said. “Kagome, you didn't tell me you had a younger sister.”

Kagome narrowed her eyes. “What are you playing at?” she asked under her breath. He ignored her, but she knew he heard when she saw his left ear twitch slightly.

Kagome's mother laughed and extended her hand, which Inuyasha grasped lightly. “You are as charming as Sesshomaru-kun,” the elder Higurashi said. Inuyasha gave Kagome a smug smile. “It is a pleasure to meet you Inuyasha-kun. I'm Kagome's mother.”

“Ah. The loveliness must run on your side of the family. I was wondering where Kagome-san received such beautiful eyes.”

“Very charming,” Kagome's mother said, as Kagome felt her cheeks heat. “Would you join us for lunch, Inuyasha-kun?”

Kagome opened her mouth to protest, but Inuyasha was shaking his head. “I would love to, but I have some things I must take care of at the restaurant,” he said, sounding truly regretful. “I was just trying to make sure that Kagome-san didn't get herself into anymore trouble on her way here.”

“I-“ Kagome began, instantly ready to argue again.

“Another time, then?” Kagome's mother asked, cutting her daughter off.

Inuyasha gave the older woman that charismatic smile again. “I would be honored to be in the company of two such beautiful women,” he said.

Kagome narrowed her eyes, suddenly realizing who Inuyasha sounded like. “Do you take lessons from Miroku on how to sound like a total slime?” she asked.

“Kagome, be polite,” her mother reprimanded. “Thank Inuyasha-kun for taking the time out of his day to drive you here.”

Inuyasha gave her that arrogant grin again and Kagome clenched her teeth together. “Arigatou gozaimasu, Inu-san,” Kagome bit out, tilting her chin slightly down, almost insultingly. She saw his golden eyes twinkle with mirth, wanted nothing more than to wipe that smile from his face. “I hope I didn't bruise you too badly with the ice,” she added.

The smile fell away. “No, Kagome-san, I think I'll be okay. I'm part youkai, after all. The chances of a human hurting me are slim.” Kagome felt her hands ball when the sparkle returned to his eyes. “Sayounara, Kagome-san. Very nice to meet you, Higurashi-sama.”

Two sets of dark eyes watched Inuyasha walk away; one amused, the other narrowed.

The amused look fell on Kagome as she sat across from her mother. “He seems very nice,” she said. “And very attractive.”

Kagome resisted the temptation to roll her eyes. “Please, Mama. Let me get something to drink first before you start with the interrogation.” She paused as a waiter approached their table. “Juyondai,” she said.

“Just bring the bottle,” her mother said, smiling at Kagome's wide-eyed expression.

The waiter left and Kagome sat in contemplative silence as her mother talked of inconsequential things. They sat outside, the veranda of the restaurant jutting out over the city. Kagome peered through the stone pillars of the railing, catching a flash of white in the afternoon sunlight, wondered if it was him. No…she was relieved that he was gone.

Yeah, right.

She was. She wasn't sure if she had the energy to fight with him anymore. It had taken everything in her not to act like the wanton girl she was feeling like and fling herself at him earlier. The insults he had thrown at her had made it easier. Of course, then he had to chase after her, which had only infuriated her more because he had insisted on carrying her back upstairs to wrap her ankle. He hadn't exactly apologized for the things he had said to her, but a small part of her had been surprised -and more than a little pleased- when he had stood in front of her on the stairs, refusing to let her pass.

He's as stubborn as you are.

And then, of course, nothing would do but to let him drive her to her luncheon with her mother. She had reluctantly let him help her into his car, had only lightly held onto his arm as they had made their way into the restaurant -it wouldn't do for people to get the wrong idea about them, after all. Just the fact that she had shown up with him at a place that she knew people was enough to make her a little uneasy. Anxiety had rushed through her as soon as they had walked through the door, making her stomach turn. She tried to hold on to her anger, because the alternative would have her blushing for days.

Please, the things that you imagine doing with him wouldn't even be shown the ecchi magazines you have hidden under your mattress. And damn those things for giving you such ideas anyway.

The thing that got her the most was that after he had been almost unforgivably rude to her, he had done an about-face and had been kind. Not that he hadn't been nice before, but this was different. Before she had been nearly suffocated by the sensuality that he seemed to unconsciously ooze from every pore. But, as he sat her gently on the couch, as he had propped her foot on his leg, carefully pulling the cuff of her jeans up, mindful of those claws as he wrapped the bandage tightly around her ankle, he had just been…nice. It was as though he had known that he had hurt her. The same thing had happened when they had entered the restaurant, Kagome suddenly realized. It was as though he knew that she was nervous about being seen with him in public, had purposely refused her mother's invitation because Kagome was uncomfortable. She didn't know much about demons other than what Sesshomaru had told her -which wasn't much now that she thought about it. She would have to ask her grandfather. Or Sango…

Kagome snapped back to attention when the waiter returned and set a small wooden bottle of sake on their table with two small ceramic cups. Her mother plucked the bottle out from under Kagome's hand, smiling gently as she poured. She set the cup in front of Kagome and eyed her.

“So?”

Kagome sighed, took a small sip of her drink, and contemplated the light yellow liquid. The color reminded her of eyes that were a more vivid shade of amber and Kagome nearly slapped the cup aside in frustration. “I ran into Hojo-san this afternoon,” she began. “We had a…disagreement and I tripped into the street. Inu-san was nice enough to intervene when things started to get…heated. He saved me from becoming,” the corners of her mouth twitched up, “road kill.”

Kagome's mother peered at her, her eyes flickering down to the shirt her daughter was wearing. “I didn't know you owned a t-shirt like that,” she said, a sly look in her eyes.

Kagome looked down seeing the faded name `Judy and Mary' on the front of the shirt she was wearing. It wasn't a group that she would have thought he liked. “This is his,” she said, before thinking about it. Her cheeks turned red as she looked up into her mother's grinning face. “I…I ripped my shirt and he gave me one of his to wear.”

“He's very handsome.”

Kagome clenched her hands around the cloth napkin in her lap. Yes, I know. “Is he? It was hard for me to notice since he was being a little shit the whole time.”

The elder Higurashi smiled at this unusual display of vehemence. “Oh?”

She eyed her mother and then shook her head, not bothering to explain -she was only going to embarrass herself, she could tell by the way her mother was looking at her. Kagome finished her drink in one swallow, a sudden thought coming to her. “I need to talk to Grandfather,” she said.

“He will be happy to see you. Have you eaten yet today, dear?”

Kagome blinked at the change in subject while her stomach answered the question loudly. “No,” she said.

“Well, let's order something to soak up that alcohol in your stomach,” her mother said, gesturing toward their waiter. She turned back to Kagome when the man had left. “Didn't you see your grandfather just the other day?” she asked.

Talking to her mother sometimes made Kagome feel like she was treading on uneven ground. As soon as she had established what they were talking about, her mother would change the subject, would slyly interject something that would throw Kagome off balance.

“Yes,” Kagome replied. “But I have some things that I need to talk to him about.” She paused, leaned forward. “Inuyasha-san is inu-hanyou,” she said. Her mother merely nodded. Kagome drew in a deep breath. “He said…he said that I was a miko; that I tried to purify him.”

If she hadn't been watching the older woman intently, Kagome would have missed the flicker of worry that passed across her face, would have missed the hesitation as she reached for her water.

“I've heard rumors about the younger Takahashi,” her mother said. “Are you sure he wasn't hallucinating?”

Kagome shook her head, exasperated. “He wasn't on anything, Mama,” she said, suddenly defensive. “You know something,” she said, when her mother didn't offer any more information. “You know something and you refuse to tell me.”

The elder Higurashi glanced at Kagome, looked away, folding her hands in her lap. “It would be better if you hear it from your grandfather,” she said, softly. “He will be able to explain it better than I.”

Kagome leaned back in her chair. “Okay,” she conceded, realizing when her mother spoke in that tone of voice that she wouldn't be pressed. Kagome decided to try her own hand at changing the subject. “I suppose I will have to cancel my lessons for tomorrow since I can barely stand,” she said.

Her mother smiled at her. “It was good of Inuyasha-san to take care of you,” she said. “You will have to think of something special to do for him.”

At least a dozen things ran through Kagome's mind at her mother's suggestion, none of which were appropriate to say aloud. “Yes,” she murmured. “I will.”

“The Hanami Gala is in a few weeks,” Mama Higurashi said. “Will you still be attending with Hojo-san?”

“I don't think so,” Kagome said, frowning down at the salad the waiter placed in front of her.

“You're father isn't happy about any of this. He was upset with what you said to him on the phone the other day.”

“I don't understand how he could expect me to marry Hojo-san after this,” Kagome said, stabbing at a raw snow pea angrily. “I would rather show up at the festival by myself than with that…that jerk.”

“Perhaps Takahashi-san will be available.”

Kagome purposely misunderstood. “I'm sure that Sesshy-kun already has his own date, Mama,” she said, looking out over the veranda.

“You know that's not who I meant.”

“I can't show up with Inuyasha-san,” Kagome said, firmly.

“And why not?”

“Father would have a fit.”

“Leave your father to me. What other excuses do you have?”

Kagome narrowed her eyes. “What are you trying to do mother? Make me a social pariah?”

Kagome's mother laughed. “Hardly, my dear.”

“Then why the encouragement? I know you aren't very fond of Hojo-san, but Yasha's reputation is…well, appalling at best.”

Kagome's mother nodded. “I've heard. But, would you rather be in the company of someone who is going to beat you up?” she asked. She reached across the table and flipped up Kagome's sleeve, revealing the nasty bruises there that looked suspiciously like fingers. “Or would you rather be with someone who is going to take care of you?” Kagome had a strange feeling that they weren't talking about the festival anymore. “A mother knows when her child has found someone special,” the older woman continued. “I saw it as soon as you arrived. Your eyes were gleaming, you were flushed, and-“

“That's because I spent the twenty minutes it took to get here arguing. I was still furious,” Kagome said, cutting her mother off. The elder Higurashi gave Kagome a look that made her close her mouth. “Sorry, Mama,” she said, quietly.

“And now he's `Yasha'?”

Kagome's mind almost tripped over itself as she furiously retraced the conversation, thinking back on what she had said. She blushed. “I…it's just…Miroku-san calls him that all the time. I probably just picked it up,” she finished, lamely.

Her mother gave her a knowing look, which Kagome found disconcerting. Too many people had been looking at her like that recently.

“Just think about it, Kagome,” her mother said, covering Kagome's hand lightly with her own. “I've never wanted anything more than your happiness. I know how reluctant you are about Hojo-san. If you want my honest opinion, I think that you have good reason to feel that way.” She gave Kagome's hand a gentle squeeze. “Besides, can you imagine how cute my grandchildren would look with those ears?”

Kagome rolled her eyes. “Oh, Mama.”

It was like being the target of a conspiracy, Kagome realized. Forces pushed and pulled at her in their unyielding grip, the tide not ebbing and the current too strong for her to fight against.

It was, Kagome realized, completely out of her control.

Two days after the fiasco with Hojo, Kagome received a phone call from her mother. An invitation had been extended to Inuyasha-san to escort the Higurashi family to the Cherry Blossom Gala -as a `thank you' for taking such wonderful care of her daughter, Kagome's mother explained.

Kagome had been on her way to the small shrine that her grandfather cared for when her mother had called. She had managed to drag her brother with her, telling him it was a shame that he hadn't seen Grandfather in so long. Souta still lived at home with their parents and told Kagome -as they were hiking up the side of the small mountain to reach the shrine- that it had taken much cajoling to get Inuyasha-san to agree.

Kagome was distracted from her breathless fuming by the surrounding trees, by the scent of flowers, the sound of a small creek nearby chattering happily over the rocks that had taken up permanent residence in its bed. She smiled absently as Souta gave their grandfather a quick bow and hug and then ran off in the direction of the house attached to the shrine.

“Did you feed him today?” Grandfather asked, watching Souta disappear with an affectionate grin.

Kagome laughed. “Twice on our way here,” she said.

Her grandfather chuckled, motioned for her to follow him. “How have you been?” he asked as they walked along a sun-dappled path that was overhung by trees that were showing the first signs of buds on them.

“I've been…okay,” Kagome said. “I've met someone.”

An odd twinkle entered her grandfather's eyes. “Oh?”

Kagome grimaced. “Not exactly like that,” she said. “Mother seems to like him, though.”

“It's not very often that someone captures your mother's fancy,” Grandfather said. “Who is this young man?”

“Takahashi Inuyasha-san.”

Kagome's grandfather nodded, as though expecting this. She wondered if everyone was suddenly privy to her life and tried not to sigh in exasperation. “The Takahashi's have strong blood running through their veins,” the elderly man said. “I know of the inu-hanyou. His mother, Lady Izayoi, was the Inu-no-taisho's second wife and was considered the most beautiful woman in Tokyo. She was soft spoken, gracious to a fault, always had a kind word or gesture for everyone.” Kagome's grandfather shook his head. “Her death was mourned by many.”

“When did she die?” Kagome asked.

“It was many years before my own birth,” he told her.

Kagome paused mid-step, looked at her grandfather in confusion. “But Inuyasha-san is only my age,” she said. “How can that be?”

Grandfather smiled. “Ah, but he is inu-hanyou,” he reminded her. “Not human, not demon, but possessing qualities of both. He ages slower than we do, but not quite like Lord Sesshomaru. He was a teenager when Lady Izayoidied.”

“How terrible,” Kagome murmured, “to loose your mother at such a young age.”

Her grandfather nodded in agreement. “He was never quite the same after it happened. He became notorious for getting into trouble, for disregarding rules and laws.” The old man came to a slow halt on the bank of the creek that Kagome had heard earlier. “How is it that you have become entangled with him?”

Kagome sighed. “He is Sesshy-kun's brother,” she reminded him. “I suppose it was inevitable that we run into each other at some point.”

“You saw him with his brother?”

Kagome frowned. “Not exactly.” She hesitated and then told her grandfather of Hojo's actions, both at Sesshomaru's party and two days ago outside of Inuyasha's restaurant. “Inuyasha-san was…very nice about the whole thing,” Kagome said, trying not to blush furiously as she thought of his hands on her. “And then…something happened. He accused me of trying to purify him, told me I was a miko.”

Her grandfather was silent for so long that Kagome thought that perhaps he didn't hear her. When he finally looked up at her, a dark shadow had passed over his expression. “I was afraid that this might happen one day,” he said, softly. “I want to show you something. Follow me.”

They wound their way back toward the shrine, along the path that led to the house. Most of the path was in shadow, protected by the branches of a huge tree that reached leafy limbs toward the azure colored sky. A rosary was wrapped around its enormous trunk, the bells attached to it chiming sweetly in the soft breeze like a musical sash.

“The God-tree,” Kagome's grandfather said, looking up at its emerald leaves fondly. “It has stood at this shrine for hundreds of years, was once part of a great forest. Its flowers are as big as my hand and are the flawless white of untouched snow. Our family has tended this place for many generations and I have heard of it blooming only once in all that time.” He paused, pointed up. “Do you see?”

Kagome peered into the sun. “It has little buds all over it,” she said. She looked down at her grandfather. “Does that mean something?”

Her grandfather shrugged. “Perhaps,” he said. “Or perhaps not. Do you believe in coincidences, Kagome?”

She had stepped forward, had reached out to run her fingers over the smooth looking, light colored bark, but pulled away to look back at her grandfather. “Not really,” she said.

He smiled at her, and she noticed absently that he seemed to have acquired more lines on his face over the years than she remembered. “That's good,” he told her. “The gods do as they will, weave a grand tapestry that is nearly impossible to untangle. It seems that your thread has crossed the path of the inu-hanyou's. As for your being a miko…” Her grandfather sighed. “That is, more likely than not, true.” He glanced up at her, a sly look in his eyes. “Which, I am thinking, you already know -have known for awhile.” He chuckled at Kagome's expression. “How long?”

“I didn't know what it was,” she said, softly. “I just had this…this feeling, the day after I met Inu-san.”

“For your birthday one year, I gave you a necklace with a pink jewel on it. Do you remember what I told you?”

Kagome closed her eyes. “To wear it as often as possible, to keep it close to my skin, to never let it fall into any hands other than mine.”

“I think it's time you know the history of the jewel,” her grandfather said. There was a wooden bench residing in the shadows of the God-tree, and he gestured for her to sit. He sat next to her, took a deep breath and began.

“The Shikon-no-Tama was created by a very powerful miko named Midoriko, who, in an attempt to keep the world safe from demons, poured her own soul into the jewel…”

~~~

In the depths of a dark wood, well outside the boundaries of Tokyo, the dark figure of a man moved among the shadows. He stumbled occasionally, paused every once in awhile, looked oddly lost as he peered through the deep shadows of the hood that covered his head to glance in every direction around him.

Seemingly picking a direction at random, the man started down an overgrown path, fighting his way through centuries of growth, cursing under his breath as thorns seemed to purposely reach out and snag at his clothing, as vines clandestinely tried to wrap around his ankles as though trying to trap him in the dark woods. The forest came to a reluctant end and the man stumbled into the clearing, glaring back at the avaricious foliage. At the other end of the clearing stood the yawning mouth of a cave, whose deep shadows were untouched by the faint light of the half moon above. The man eyed the cave warily, walked slowly, cautiously up to it.

“Come in.”

The voice that escaped the black void was a whisper, hoarse and gravelly, and sent shivers through the man's body. He steeled himself, let the shadows softly envelope him, hesitated when his eyes didn't adjust to the dark.

“What do you want, human?” The voice hissed through the air, rang discordantly in the man's ears.

“I was told…” the man nearly choked on his fear, shook his head angrily and tried again. “I was told you could change the patterns of fate.”

The laugh that issued from the depths of the cave was brittle and cold, threatened to loosen the man's bowels from sheer terror even as it froze the blood running through his veins. “I can do many things,” he was told. “But it all comes with a price that I'm not sure you could afford.”

The man stiffened. “I am prepared to pay you anything,” he said.

“Humans are so base. Do you think I would require something material? What if the cost is your soul? Would you be so willing to pay then?”

There was a moment's hesitation from the man. “If it means getting what belongs to me, then yes,” he said.

“Ah, how refreshing. I haven't run across a human like you in a very long time.” The man couldn't be sure, but he thought he saw the shadows shifting and took a few steps back. A point of white emerged from the dark depths and they revealed white fur that didn't reflect any stray light that was unfortunate enough to pierce through the darkness so much as consume it. The face above the white fur was covered in bandages, obscuring all features of the cloaked figure except for one brightly burning red eye. “Greed is a virtue, did you know human?” The man shook his head, sheer terror capturing his voice in its icy fist. “What is it that you want of me?”

“A girl,” the man managed to choke out.

“A girl? That's it? Are you not man enough to claim her yourself?”

The dim spark of anger gave the man back his voice. “She has fallen into the hands of an inu-hanyou,” he said. “I want him dead and I want the girl. She belongs to me and I will pay anything.”

The man thought that the bandaged face might have been smiling; the red eye that looked at him piercingly certainly seemed to be twinkling with malicious mirth. “Anything?” came the scratchy query.

“Anything.”

“Do you know of the Sacred Jewel?” The man shook his head. “Ah, well it isn't surprising that they don't teach the old histories anymore. The Sacred Jewel will most likely be in the possession of a powerful miko, someone who has abilities beyond that of any other priestess. You may have to search for a long time before you find it.”

“Is that it? The only thing you want is some bauble?”

The air in the cave dropped in temperature so drastically that the man found that he could suddenly see his breath, was wrapping his arms around himself trying to stay warm.

“It is not `some bauble,' fool.”

“How will I know if I've found it?”

“It is the color of the fall clouds at sunset, the shade of the most perfect camellia blossom, will shine with a light of its own when it is in the hands of a miko,” was the answer. “When you have it, bring it to me here and then I will complete my end of the bargain.”

“How can I be sure you will?”

The laugh that issued from the injured throat was cruel, made the air seem even colder. “You can't. In the end, I may just kill you as well.”

The man shook with violent tremors as he eyed the fur cloaked figure before him. “I want her,” he hissed.

“Then do as I ask and you will have her.” There was a pause so quiet that the silence of the dead would have been deafening by comparison. “One more thing before you go.” The man suddenly found himself a breath away from the glinting, ruby colored eye. “I require one more thing from you, Akitoki-san.”

Hojo's screams of terror never made it past his lips, never pierced through the thick shadows of the forest.

~~~

“A priestess, hm? Does that mean you can't have sex?”

Kagome flushed. “Shh, Sango! Not so loud.”

“About which? The priestess part or the sex?”

“Both,” Kagome hissed.

Sango had been teasing her mercilessly since Kagome had told her friend about her adventures with Hojo, Inuyasha and about the conversation she had had with her grandfather.

“Hojo-san is a prick,” was Sango's only comment about the whole affair. Kagome nodded in agreement. “I swear, I don't talk to you for two days and all of the sudden you have a life.” Kagome glared and Sango grinned.

Now, they were in a small jewelry store that Sango had pulled them into -a diamond necklace that sparkled in the sunny window having caught her eye- and Kagome was desperately trying to keep their conversation to themselves, seeing as how the saleswoman knew who both of the young women were and seemed to have exceptionally long ears.

To make matters worse, her mother had called her again that morning to remind Kagome that Inuyasha-san would be with them at the gala -as though she needed to be reminded, as though she could have possibly forgotten. She was distracted for the rest of the day with thoughts of him, which served only to infuriate her. Especially when she remembered how hard her mother had to work to convince him to join them. Kagome wasn't sure if she was offended or not. On one hand, she was grateful that he was as reluctant as she was to spend nearly an entire day together, especially considering that they had nearly ripped each other's heads off after only a few hours.

On the other hand…

“Who wouldn't want to spend the day with me?” Kagome complained, glaring down at a small ring she was contemplating buying.

Sango eyed her. “Well, you've certainly become full of yourself,” the brunette said. “I'd suggest bigger hats.”

Kagome tried to maintain the glare, but chuckled when she looked up at Sango. “I didn't mean it like that,” she said. “I just mean…well, I don't know. I would like to think that I'm personable, that I get along with everyone, that I'm, in general, a nice person.”

“Kagome, you are a saint most of the time, and an angel the rest of the time,” Sango told her. “No, I don't like that one. Here,” she plucked a small silver band out of the velveteen box, “try this one.” She studied the ring for a moment before shaking her head. “I don't like that one either. Anyway, even when you should be a complete bitch to people, you just smile and forgive them; or apologize like you did something wrong.” Sango snorted. “Like you've ever done anything wrong.”

Kagome shifted her weight in the chair uncomfortably. “I'm not an angel or a saint,” she murmured.

“Well, sometimes I wonder,” Sango said. “Have you ever even thought of doing something that no one would approve of?”

Kagome blinked up at her friend. “Yes,” she said, blushing. “But…” she trailed off with a shrug.

“But?” Kagome shrugged again. “But you never do it, right?”

“No.” She stuffed a silver circlet back into its velvet cocoon. “Who are you going to the festival with?”

Sango paused in examining a gold ring that fit neatly on her middle finger and looked up at Kagome. “Why?” she asked. “Who are you going with?”

“No one,” Kagome said. “Papa isn't going -some excuse about business,” Kagome said, laying a diamond tennis bracelet out before her. “And Hojo-san is out of the question.”

“So you're going to show up with your mother and that's it?”

Kagome captured her bottom lip between her teeth. “Not…exactly,” she said, suddenly wishing she hadn't brought the subject up at all. “Mama has asked Inu-san to escort us to the gala.”

Sango waited for more and, when nothing else was forthcoming, she nearly squirmed out of her chair. “And?”

Kagome took a deep breath. “And he agreed,” she said. She winced slightly at the squeal Sango let loose.

“So, I'm assuming you've seen Inu-san again? I mean, you had to return his shirt, right?”

Kagome felt herself instantly go red. “Well…”

“I know that look, Kags. What did you do?”

“I haven't done anything.”

“Which means you haven't had the nerve to return his shirt, hm?”

“It's not exactly that I don`t have the nerve to.”

Sango's eyes narrowed. “Then what is it?”

Kagome cleared her throat, murmured something under her breath.

“Excuse me?” A smirk that would have made Miroku proud curved Sango's lips. “I'm not sure I caught all of that.”

“I…” Kagome groaned and bent over, covering her face with her hands. “I've been wearing it to bed,” she said, through her fingers.

Sango burst out laughing. “I knew it!” she crowed. “I just knew that you had something for him. For the past month you've been denying it, purposely not talking about him, avoiding the subject every time he was brought up. There's no way any real woman couldn't want him. Kami, he's like walking sex.”

“I don't want to talk about it.”

Sango leered. “Why not, Kags?”

“Because, he's no good. He has an...an appalling reputation and is just bad. No,” she said, when Sango opened her mouth to protest. “He's bad news and, besides, people don't change.”

“Hojo-san did.”

Kagome closed her eyes and willed her heart to stop pounding. “Not for the better. And something happened to Hojo-san to make him that way, I think,” she said. She opened her eyes to find Sango staring at her.

“Maybe you should get to know him better before you judge him. He has a reputation, but do you know how much of it is true?”

Kagome stared down at the black velvet tray that sparkled with rings and bracelets. She replaced the jewelry she had been looking at and pushed her chair back, stood up and looked down at Sango. “After the gala, I'm not seeing him again. I'm giving him back his shirt and stopping this foolishness. I'm acting like a school-girl with a crush and I don't think my nerves can take much more.”

She turned to walk out of the store, felt Sango's hand wrap around her wrist.

“Kagome, wait.” When Kagome didn't turn around, Sango sighed. “This isn't like you. You always give people the benefit of the doubt. What's happened?”

“What's happened is that when I'm around him I feel light-headed and giddy. My legs feel like they won't ever be able to support my weight again and my stomach twists so tight I`m not sure if I`m going to faint or throw up,” she murmured, tilting her chin down, hiding her eyes under her bangs. “What's happened is that I'm sleeping with a stupid shirt because it smells like him. Just hearing his name makes my heart pound, for kami's sake!” She glanced over her shoulder at her friend to find a small, sympathetic smile on Sango's face. “I can't do this anymore,” she said. “Every second that has passed since I met him something twists tighter and tighter. Eventually, it's going to snap, and I'm afraid of what will happen when it does.”

“You're afraid?”

“I'm scared out of my mind, Sango,” Kagome whispered.

“Running isn't going to solve it.”

Kagome sighed in defeat. “No,” she murmured. “No, but it sure is easier.”

Sango nodded, collected her purse and then herded Kagome out the door and into the bright afternoon. “C'mon,” she said. “We still have to try on your dress to make sure you haven't gained five pounds since you were measured for it.”

Kagome stuck her tongue out. “Not nice!” she yelled as Sango laughed and dashed off into the crowd.

At the boutique of the designer who was making Kagome's dress, Sango, realizing that Kagome had shrugged off her black mood, started pulling things off the rack and holding them up for her friend's approval.

“I know you think that I desperately need to get laid, Sango,” Kagome said, narrowing her eyes at the sunny yellow dress that was more of a handkerchief with straps on it than anything else. “But don't you think that's a little too, oh I don't know, obvious?”

Sango grinned. “You're right. Yellow's probably not the best color for you.” She put the offensive piece of clothing back on the rack. “Oh look, they have it in green.”

Kagome closed her eyes and shook her head. “It's a gala,” she reminded Sango. “Which means that it is not a place where you can attempt to pimp me.”

Sango sniggered and put the green dress back. She held up another dress that was possibly worse than the others, eyeing it doubtfully. “I don't know Kags. Are you sure that you want him designing a dress for you?”

“Trust me,” Kagome said, with a smile.

“Ah, Kagome-sama.”

Both women turned to find a petite old woman shuffling her way across the store. She bowed low and then smiled up at them.

“Saihoushi-san,” Kagome said, smiling back and bowing her head.

“Omachido-sama. Follow me,” the elderly seamstress said, beckoning them as she shuffled toward the door she had appeared in.

The back room was a mess of colorful pieces of fabric, loose threads, pins, needles, all scattered across a large table. A young-looking man sat hunched over a sewing machine, pins sticking out of his mouth.

“Customers, Shippo.”

The sewing machine stopped as the young man turned in his chair. His red hair was cut short, the ends of it spiked, bleached and dyed a bright blue that matched his almond shaped eyes perfectly. He grinned when he saw Kagome and Sango standing in the door.

“Kagome-chan! Sango-chan!” Shippo dashed across the room, grabbing both of the women into a hug. “I have your dress finished, Kagome,” he said, looking up at her through his long bangs.

Kagome laughed. “I hope so, because I have to wear it in two weeks whether it's finished or not.”

Shippo gave her a toothy grin over his shoulder as he pulled a curtain aside. “You can change in here,” he said, with a small wink. “If you need help, let me know,” he said after he had pulled the curtain back again.

Kagome frowned. “That doesn't sound good,” she said.

She heard Shippo's and Sango's muffled laughs and then turned her attention to the dress hanging before her, holding her breath as she looked at it, unable to keep from reaching out to touch it. The material was wild silk, which had a natural golden sheen, and was like water as it ran through her fingers. Kagome and Shippo had brainstormed for long hours over what she should wear; Kagome wanting something traditional and Shippo wanting to put her into something that would show off her figure better.

“You'll get lost in all that material,” he had told her when Kagome had said that she just wanted a traditional kimono.

They finally agreed on a sketch that he had produced during one of their arguments. It was patterned after a houmongi, with long sleeves -denoting her unmarried status- and traditional patterns of cherry blossoms and butterflies in pinks and reds flowering and fluttering over the shoulder, sleeves, and seams. But there, the similarities ended. The seam had been split at the shoulder, so that skin showed through. The obi was now for decoration only, a wide piece of red silk with amber butterflies flitting across it that had tiny Swarovski crystals sewn into their wings so that they flared when the light hit them. The obi looked as though it had been wrapped several times around her, began just under her breasts and spanned her stomach, and was tied in a flowery knot at her back. From the waist, the dress was cut in an A-line, so that the material flowed away from her instead of narrowing along her legs as a traditional kimono would. The golden material hit her just below the knee where cherry blossoms looked to have morning dew on them as more of the crystals shone in the light.

“What's taking so long, Kags?” came Sango's voice.

“Don't you dare bust a seam trying to pull that thing on!” Shippo cried, his voice just on the other side of the cloth door. “If you need help, ask!”

Kagome smiled as she shucked her clothes and wriggled easily into the dress. She adjusted the sleeves, pulled the material down so that the `obi' sat where it was supposed to, and then threw the hanging cloth back.

Sango and Shippo both wore the same expression, and Kagome was trying to figure out what it meant. They were both silent for a moment, their eyes wide as they looked at her.

Finally, Sango let out a slow breath. “We're gonna have to bring an oxygen mask and a defibrillator because we may have a dead inu-hanyou on our hands,” she said, quite seriously.

“Why, exactly, did I agree to this?”

“Because, Higurashi-sama was so persuasive on the phone.”

Silence.

“Besides, I'm willing to bet that a part of you is just barking to see Kagome-san again.”

“Keh. The wench hasn't returned my goddamn shirt yet.”

Violet eyes sparkled with amusement as Miroku adjusted his tie in the mirror over Inuyasha's shoulder. “I'm sure she just hasn't found the time. Give her a break, Yasha,” Miroku scolded, lightly. “It's tough being Tokyo's leading socialite.”

“Yeah, you're right. I wouldn't want to waste my time on a filthy, low-life hanyou either,” Inuyasha said, scowling. “Where the hell are you going?”

“I have a date to the festival as well.”

“Anyone I know?”

“No one as distinguished as Higurashi-sama, but notable nonetheless.”

Golden eyes narrowed. “Who is she?” Inuyasha asked.

Miroku just smiled.

Inuyasha shook his head, ran his fingers through his short hair and scowled at his reflection one last time. He adjusted the collar of his red, button down shirt, flicked an imaginary piece of lint from his white slacks.

“I've never seen you so anxious, Yasha,” Miroku said, smirking.

Inuyasha pushed past him, walking into the living room to retrieve his white coat from the back of the couch. “You've never seen me about to be hurled to the lions,” he pointed out.

“Is that what it is?”

Inuyasha shrugged into his jacket, made his way to the front door. He slipped on his shoes, grabbed his car keys. “What else would it be?” he asked, eyeing Miroku suspiciously.

The dark-haired man shrugged. “I'm sure that's it,” was all he said, following Inuyasha out the door.

It was, Inuyasha told himself, fiercely, as he made his way to the Imperial Palace. As he shifted uncomfortably under the Hanzomon Gate where Higurashi-sama had asked him to meet her, he told himself that it wasn't because he wanted another chance, any chance, to be near her again. When he licked his lips, he insisted that it wasn't in anticipation of a possible stolen kiss, of finally being able to taste her. He willed himself to be still, telling himself over and over again that she was forbidden to him, that she would only bring trouble into his life -and the mantra only made him want her more.

“Ah, Inuyasha-kun.”

He turned at the light, pleasant voice, a charming smile automatically coming to his lips. It grew as Higurashi-sama made her way up the path toward him; it nearly reached his eyes as he bowed over her hand.

It froze as he straightened and caught the sheen of gold over the shoulder of the older woman.

She was more breath-taking than ever, if that was at all possible, and Inuyasha found himself unable to move for several moments. She was like a miniature sun, the light pink jewel nestled at her throat sparked as though it was a smaller, orbiting star, and the man at her side was merely a dark shadow.

“She looks lovely, doesn't she?” There was a moment where Inuyasha desperately tried to suppress an approving growl, tried to get any organ other than the one in his pants working again. “I knew you would refuse to come with her,” Kagome's mother continued. “She was certainly adamant about not showing up with you.”

There was a pause and Inuyasha was finally able to turn dazed eyes down at the woman beside him. “She was?” he asked, feeling his ears droop slightly.

Kagome's mother smiled up at him. “You two are so stubborn you won't even admit the real reasons you are trying so frantically to avoid each other,” she said. She gave Inuyasha's hand a brief squeeze. “Oh, and Kagome's friends all address me as Mama Higurashi,” she added, with a small wink. “I'd appreciate it if you did as well.”

She turned away before Inuyasha could respond, making her way toward Kagome and the elderly man at the younger woman's side. She deftly inserted herself between them, pausing only to say something stern to the man who shot Inuyasha a shrewd look. As they left, Kagome's mother whispered something in her daughter's ear that made a beautiful shade of pink blush her cheeks. A light breeze played through the soft strands of raven hair that fell around her face, brought the scent of anxiety delicately laced with something else to his nose.

Inuyasha was absolutely captivated as he watched her tongue dart out and run nervously over her glossy lower lip.

“I suppose there's nothing for it, now,” she said, walking the rest of the way up the path.

“No, I suppose not,” Inuyasha said, softly. He offered his arm, noticed how she hesitated and then seemed to steel herself before tucking her hand in the crook of his elbow. “You're feeling better?” he asked, looking down at her.

There was an odd lack of humor in her laugh. “Better is relative, Inuyasha-san. If you are inquiring about my ankle, then yes, it's much better, thank you.” Her refusal to meet his gaze was frustrating at best.

“You haven't gotten yourself into anymore situations that you are perfectly capable of handling, have you?”

The annoyed glance she shot at him was emphasized by the irritation that shot through her scent. “No,” she said, slowly. Her eyes narrowed slightly. “Why are you doing this?” she asked.

The question caught him off guard. “Your mother called me-”

“That's not what I mean,” she said, softly.

They were nearing a huge, colorful tent and people milled about outside in the warm spring air, laughing and chatting, greeting each other with smiles. A few who saw Kagome nodded in her direction, smiled, waved. Inuyasha watched, intrigued, as she noticed and returned each one with a bright smile of her own.

“You made it perfectly clear that you want nothing to do with me. I may be a weak human, but I'm not stupid.”

He clenched his jaw, irritation that matched hers suddenly running like wildfire through him. “I heard you weren't overjoyed about being here with me,” he said, trying to hold back a snarl.

“Who would be after the things you said to me?”

The sound of his teeth grinding echoed through his head. “You're lucky I even considered showing up after what you tried to do to me.”

“Mmm, yes, my so called miko powers.” She paused to bow at a particularly elderly gentleman that was walking past them. As she and Inuyasha continued, Kagome slanted a glance up at him. “Perhaps you should consider toning down on the drugs before you have company.”

Inuyasha almost didn't care that they were in a public place, in front of hundreds of influential people. He twisted away from her touch and glowered down at her. “What the fuck would you know about it anyway?” he nearly shouted. “Not to mention the fact that it wasn't like I planned on having you there! And, not that it's any of your fuckin' business, but I've been clean since the night you came into my bar.” It was a revelation even to himself, Inuyasha realized. He felt instantly sulky at the admittance, as though he had told her something very personal about himself. He watched as her cheeks flushed, as she glanced around to see if they were attracting attention. He sensed embarrassment in her scent, but was too far gone to care. “You don't know anything about me,” he said, gruffly.

Surprised flashed through her eyes at hearing the words she had said to him weeks ago. He watched as she pulled her bottom lip between her teeth, looking at him thoughtfully.

“You're right, Inu-san,” she finally said, softly. “I'm sorry.”

He was prepared for her to fight back, was teetering on an edge and suddenly found himself pushed backward, his thoughts stumbling over themselves as she apologized. He felt instantly guilty for it, considering he had said far worse things to her and had never uttered a word of regret.

“Kagome-san-” he began, grasping her small hand in his own.

Something must have spilled into his voice, out of his eyes, because she pulled gently away from him, shaking her head.

A little girl ran up to her, inserting her small body between them with the oblivious innocence of a child, and presented Kagome with a cherry tree flower. “Arigatou,” Kagome said, smiling, her eyes sparkling with amusement as the little girl solemnly bowed from the waist and then ran off. Kagome wound the flower in her hair. It was as though the flower held some magic, as though that one act of kindness loosened a thread that had been pulled taut. The tension was not gone, but was now tolerable and Kagome turned her smile on Inuyasha, whose heart suddenly thought that perhaps it would take a brief break.

God's, she's beautiful.

“You see how formal we are, even now?” She took his arm again, twining them through the rainbow of colors that were people clothed in their brightest and best. “I'm more intimate with your brother,” she added.

“Half brother-” he began and then pulled up short. “What do you mean by intimate?”

She looked up at him in surprise and then laughed. “The look on your face,” she said, between giggles. “Come on, Inu-san, let's enjoy the festival.”

She maneuvered them through the crowd, stopping occasionally when someone greeted her, introducing Inuyasha to people he already knew -which she couldn't have known. He had removed himself from these social circles centuries ago. She easily acquired drinks for both of them, deftly made excuses for them that extracted them from uncomfortable conversations. Inuyasha followed her, content to be her shadow, relieved when they finally broke away and were filtering through a younger crowd of people who had detached themselves from the main party.

The sun filtered through white blossoms tipped with the palest pink and a soft breeze rustled the trees' leaves, petals occasionally drifting lazily to the ground around them, covering the path. It had been years since he had been to the Hanami festival and he found, for the first time in those many years, that the beauty of the trees in bloom struck a chord within him, filled him with a sense of peace that he hadn't felt since…since-

“I was wondering when we were going to run into you.”

Inuyasha looked away from the trees and into Miroku's smiling face. The dark haired, dark eyed girl Inuyasha had embarrassingly stumbled upon during his nocturnal foray into Kagome's bedroom was on Miroku's arm, her chocolate colored eyes watching Inuyasha.

“Have you met Sango-san?”

A smile twitched at the corners of the brunette's mouth. “Briefly,” Inuyasha said, nonchalantly.

“They are having an archery contest, I heard. A sort of warm up for Yabusame,” Miroku continued, and his smile fell on Kagome. “Sango tells me you are quite skilled with a bow and arrow, Kagome-san. Will you be participating?”

Inuyasha shifted his weight in irritation when Kagome returned Miroku's smile. “Not today,” she said.

Inuyasha realized later, that jealousy really was an ugly thing.

“Archery, huh?” Inuyasha asked, a small smirk appearing. “You're coordinated enough for something like that?”

Kagome looked up, an odd glint in her eyes. “Yes,” she said, slowly.

He missed Miroku's warning look, ignored the way Kagome's aura was starting to subtly change. “Against youkai?” He snorted when she nodded. “I find that hard to believe.”

Anger cracked the air with electric force and Inuyasha found himself caught in turbulent grey storms.

Oh, kami, you've done it now.

He blinked and she was gone, was being pulled away by Sango who was talking quietly to her. Inuyasha could see the angry flush on Kagome's face and neck, wasn't too sure he liked the way her lips were pressed together in a thin line.

“You know, Yasha, if you would just keep your mouth shut, she might actually come to like you,” Miroku said thoughtfully, watching the girls leave.

“Fuck off, monk.”

“You see?! He's…he's…intolerable! It's too bad Mama didn't see this side of him. Charming my ass,” she snarled.

Sango stood by silently, letting her friend fume for a few more minutes before saying anything. “You ever think he does that just to get under your skin?” she asked, looking back to where Miroku and Inuyasha were still standing. Miroku was talking calmly to the inu-hanyou while Inuyasha glared across the expanse of grass at Kagome. Sango glanced back at her friend and Kagome ignored the small smirk that had appeared on the brunette's lips. “I've never seen you so riled up, Kags,” Sango said. “Much less use such strong language.”

“What the hell is he looking like that for?” Kagome asked. “Like he's the one who's been insulted.”

“He can probably still hear us,” Sango said. “Come on, let's walk a little more before going back.”

“I'm not spending anymore time with him,” Kagome said, firmly. “I'd rather drive hot needles into my eyes.” She stopped, turned back to look in the direction of Inuyasha. “You hear that?!” she yelled. “Hot needles!” Sango was hard pressed to not laugh. “Why does he do this?” Kagome asked. “Just when I'm starting to think he's a decent guy, he starts acting like a…a…” she broke off with a frustrated growl.

“It could be his way of showing you he likes you,” Sango suggested.

“Great. So, he's finally progressed past pulling hair to insulting me?”

Sango shrugged. “It could be worse,” she said.

“I'm not sure it could.”

“At least he's not always trying to get a cheap feel like the monk,” Sango told her, pulling a chagrinned face. “Besides, why do you care? I thought you weren't ever going to see him again.”

“I'm not,” Kagome said.

Yeah, and then what will happen? You'll find yourself thinking of him nearly every waking moment, will find that your dreams are about nothing but him. And why? Because it's already happening. And how long before you go out, not with the intention of finding him, of course, but just happeningto pick a place where you knowhe will be? You are so pathetic.

“Kagome?”

Her attention snapped back to Sango. “I'm sorry, what?” she asked, a little more churlishly than she intended.

“I said you had better calm yourself because Hojo's Cheerleaders are on their way over,” Sango said, nodding toward three young women walking toward them.

Kagome closed her eyes and took a slow, deep breath. “You had better work your magic, Sango, because I'm not sure how long I can be nice,” she murmured.

“Oh, come on, Kags. Just once I'd love to see you put those girls in their place.”

“Don't tempt me.” Kagome forced a smile. “Ayumi, Eri, Yuka, it's been too long!”

“Kagome-san, we rushed right over when we heard!” Ayumi said.

“Heard what?” Kagome asked, her smile faltering slightly.

“Well, we saw Hojo-sama earlier,” Eri began, and Kagome repressed a groan.

“And he told us that you didn't come with him,” Yuka finished.

“And then we heard this vicious rumor that you were being escorted by Takahashi Inuyasha-san,” Ayumi continued.

“Which we just knew couldn't be true!”

Sango made a small retching sound in the back of her throat when the three said this in unison. Kagome, for her part, was clutching at her purse, grateful to have something in her hands that prevented her from smacking the girls as the three started listing off Inuyasha's supposed indiscretions and all the reasons why Kagome would never even be seen in the inu-hanyou's presence, much less come to a social function with him.

Sango cleared her throat. “Actually, Kagome-san is-“

“Actually, Kagome-san is with me.”

Kagome watched as the three girls' eyes widened as she felt a hand slide around her waist. She was pulled against a warm, firm body and glanced up in surprise into golden eyes that twinkled mischievously. He had his jacket hooked over two fingers on the other hand and thrown over his shoulder, every line in his body suggesting a superiority that no one dared challenge.

Ayumi laughed nervously and looked back at Kagome -who noticed that all three girls were having a hard time shifting their gazes away from the inu-hanyou. “This is a joke, right?” the girl asked.

Kagome took a deep breath, caught Inuyasha's scent, felt her heart skip and suddenly found a smile on her face that matched the glimmer in the molten amber eyes looking down at her.

“No,” she said, turning back to the three. “Inu-san graciously agreed to escort me after hearing of Hojo-san's…deplorable actions toward me,” she told them. She heard Sango snickering at the shocked expressions on the girls' faces. Kagome contained her own laughter, but couldn't resist a small smile. “Inu-san is quite the gentleman,” she continued.

She reached a hand up to run it down the front of Inuyasha's shirt, smoothing away an invisible wrinkle. She smiled up at him, noticing an odd sparkle in his eyes. “We really must be going though,” Kagome said, turning away from that look that threatened to steal the air from her lungs. “It was nice to see you and I hope you enjoy the rest of the festival. Call me sometime and we'll have lunch,” she said over her shoulder as Inuyasha started to steer her away from the three girls who seemed have grown roots as strong as the trees around them.

“Oh,” and she turned, slipping neatly out of Inuyasha's grip, leaning toward the three girls to whisper conspiratorially, “and it's okay to be jealous.” She looked back at Inuyasha who was looking in their direction with a lazy grin on his face, looking very much like a god that had decided to play dress up and come dabble in the affairs of mortals. “He's like walking sex, isn't he?”

They were only a few steps away before Sango burst into laughter, looking back to see that none of the girls had moved from their spot. “I've never seen them at a loss for words,” she said, between chuckles. “That was priceless.”

Kagome felt a smug smile touch her mouth as Inuyasha tucked her closer to himself.

“'Walking sex,' huh?” he murmured, just loud enough for Kagome to hear.

Damn those ears!

She felt herself flush, felt his low chuckle as it rumbled in his chest and wasn't sure if she was angry at herself for having such a reaction or at him for finding it amusing.

“Yes, well…” she cleared her throat, not knowing what else to say that would end up without her being mortifyingly embarrassed. It was too difficult to think when she was so close to him. She tried pulling gently away, but only succeeded in nearly falling on her face as he pulled her more firmly against himself.

“Careful,” he murmured. “You don't want to hurt yourself. I'm sure you don't want me to have to carry you again.”

Kagome drew in a slow breath -an attempt to calm her heart which suddenly thought it was a galloping horse- as she remembered being thrown over Inuyasha's shoulder, as she remembered the sharp smack that even now made a pleasant tingling sensation begin low in her stomach.

“You wouldn't dare,” she said, softly, immediately wondering why in the world she would challenge him; especially when she knew he would.

“No?”

“Not in front of all these people.”

A thrill zinged through her as he grinned down at her, as he came to a slow halt. “What people?” he asked, leaning close to her, his breath brushing the curve of her ear.

Kagome pulled away, looked around. He had somehow managed to remove them from the main paths of the festival. They stood in the middle of a grove of cherry trees, the fallen petals softening their steps as they were crushed underfoot. And they were quite alone. Kagome took a few steps away from Inuyasha, futilely thinking that if she could just stay away from him that she could keep her resolve to have nothing to do with him. She tilted her head back, looking up through sun-dappled white and pink broken occasionally to let the darkening sky show through. Kagome hadn't realized that it was nearing sunset.

“Have you ever wondered what it would feel like to fly?” she asked, softly. She glanced at Inuyasha, found him watching her intently. “What?” she asked, feeling suddenly self-conscious.

“Here, put this on. It's going to get chilly.” He wrapped his jacket around her shoulders and was untucking his shirt as she slipped her arms into it.

“Um, what are you doing?” Kagome asked, eyeing him warily as he rolled up his sleeves, toed off his shoes.

“Making myself more comfortable,” he told her, as though it were obvious.

Kagome swallowed nervously; a sound that didn't go unnoticed by him, she realized, when she saw his ear flick toward her, the two small, silver hoops glinting in the dying light of the sun.

“For what?” she asked.

He didn't say anything as he looked down on her and she was more than a little confused when he suddenly spun on his heels and crouched before her.

“Get on,” he said.

Kagome blinked. “What?” she asked, intelligently.

“Get on,” he repeated, and she heard the annoyance start to creep into his voice.

“Umm…”

He stood and turned to face her again, his head bent so that he looked directly into her eyes. “Do you trust me, Kagome?” he asked, softly, his fingers coming up to tracing lightly along the side of her neck.

She just couldn't manage to think when he was doing that to her. She felt herself nodding, felt herself breathe the word, “yes,” and found, much to her surprise, that it was true.

And the next thing she knew, she was climbing onto his back. She felt a delicious jolt run through her as his arms came around to hook under her legs, as his fingers brushed against the skin of her thighs where her dress had hitched up. She draped her arms around his neck, loving the way his soft, silvery hair tickled her cheeks and nose.

Kami, he smells good.

Kagome felt a laugh bubbling out of her, felt it rush past her ears as Inuyasha took off running. The wind brushed past them, its fingers snagging and whipping their clothing behind them. Kagome tried to watch the trees as they passed, but gave up when they started to turn into pink and white blurs.

She felt Inuyasha tense beneath her, felt his claws poke lightly into her flesh as he held on to her tighter, felt all of his muscles bunch…

And they were soaring above the trees. Kagome gasped, clutched at Inuyasha's shoulders as she watched the leafy treetops move below them. Above, the sky had started to darken, the crescent moon and a few brave stars already piercing through the velvety blanket that had started to pull itself over the city. The view of the gardens from above, of the city beyond, took her breath away.

The wind tore away another surprised gasp as they started falling toward the clawing branches that reached up toward them. Just as she tensed, just as she thought they were going to crash, Inuyasha lightly pushed off a branch, propelling them once again into the air.

Kagome let out a laugh, released her death-hold around Inuyasha's neck and spread her arms out as though they were wings. She let her head drop back, her eyes close, and let the wind run its fingers through her hair, releasing it from its pins and playing with it as it trailed behind her like a dark banner.

She found herself snuggled against Inuyasha's warmth as he settled them in the joint of a tree, peering out from her shelter in his arms to look out over Tokyo. The lights of the city were like a miniature universe, the areas that they flooded whole worlds.

Kagome pulled slightly away from Inuyasha, looking up into his glowing amber eyes, wishing for more light so that she could see his face.

“Thank you,” she whispered.

She caught a gleam of white as he smiled. “You're welcome,” he said.

She couldn't stop the smile that broke over her face and, feeling slightly foolish, buried herself back against Inuyasha's chest. She felt him sigh slightly, felt him arms tighten around her, and closed her eyes.

She realized, later, that she should have recognized the odd sound that zinged through the calm night air. As it was, she only had time to register the noise, to feel Inuyasha twist her around in his arms before she felt him jerk, heard his sharp, painfully indrawn breath and they were flying through the air again; this time in a less controlled manner. She clutched to the front of his shirt, clenched her eyes closed as she felt him twist around just before they hit the ground so that he took the full impact of the hard earth.

When she was sure that nothing else was going to happen, Kagome opened her eyes, trying to penetrate the dark, seemingly sinister shadows around them, staying as still as possible before looking down at Inuyasha.

“Inuyasha?” she whispered.

His face was screwed up in pain and she noticed something projecting from his shoulder. Warm stickiness met her fingers when she reached out and she nearly cut herself on the sharp point that was protruding from Inuyasha's flesh.

“Oh, gods, oh, gods!” She groped blindly in the pockets of Inuyasha's jacket, digging out her small purse and fishing out her cell phone. “Oh, gods, Inuyasha. I'm going to call an ambulance,” she told him.

“No,” he said, reaching up to swat the phone away from her. “Just…” he tried to sit up, winced and groaned. “Just help me up. There's a place not too far from here.” He winced again, looked up at her, his yellow eyes flashing with concern. “Are you okay?” he asked, cupping her cheek with his hand. “You're not hurt are you?”

There was an urgency in his voice that she couldn't understand. She shook her head. “Yes-I mean no...I'm fine,” she told him. She pulled away from him, stepped back as he waved her away when she tried to help him up. “Oh, kami, Yasha, you're bleeding all over the place!” She steadied him as he rose to his feet, hooked his arm over her shoulders. She nearly staggered under his weight, felt him become suddenly lighter and glared up at him. “Don't you dare try to walk on your own,” she snapped at him.

He gave her a weak snarl that turned into more of a yip of pain as she forced him to start moving.

“I'll probably be fine by the time we reach the place anyway,” he said, as arrogantly as possible.

Kagome rolled her eyes. “You have an arrow sticking out of both sides of you, Yasha. I highly doubt you're going to heal that fast,” she said, grunting slightly as the ground became uneven. She nearly stumbled, the thought of if they both went down there was no way she was getting him back up the only thing keeping her from falling.

“Keh. Shows how much you know about youkai,” he said.

“Inuyasha, you're lucky you're hurt because the urge to hit you is very tempting right now. Shut your mouth and use your energy for walking.”

She thought she heard an indignant, “keh,” but couldn't be sure because at that moment he chose to let go of her and pitch forward onto his face.

“Why would you do something like that?! What is wrong with you?!”

“Kagome-chan, let me explain. It wasn`t me-”

“No! I am done with you! Get out! You have done nothing but shame yourself. How could you?”

“But the engagement-”

“Will never happen! I will not dishonor myself and my family by marrying such a cowardly ass!”

Inuyasha was quite certain that the yelling match that seemed to be happening right next to his eardrums wasn't helping the pounding in his head. He was grateful when it stopped, warily opened an eye to look around. The low light made his pupil contract to a pinpoint and Inuyasha groaned slightly when the walls of the room didn't seem to want to remain still, making him feel nauseous.

“Ah, good. Ye are awake.”

The voice was no higher than a whisper, but it sounded like a shout and Inuyasha's ears clamped to his skull in response. He clenched his eyes tightly together.

“What happened?” he asked, wondering at the scratchy feeling in the back of his throat.

A shadow fell across him and he dared open his eyes to slits. A round, wrinkled face hovered above him, iron gray hair pulled back in a severe bun, a black patch covering one eye.

“Onibaba,” he greeted, somewhat sourly.

The wrinkles rearranged themselves into a grin. “Inuyasha.” She shuffled away from him, returned a moment later with a cup that steamed and smelled terrible. “Here, drink,” the old woman said. “It will make you feel better.”

The scent of the liquid made his nose curl and he turned his head away, suddenly recognizing the reason why his throat felt scratchy.

“No more drugs,” he croaked.

“It will take the pain away, Inuyasha,” the old woman said. He shook his head. “As ye wish.”

“You never answered my question, Kaede-baba. What happened?”

Kaede moved out of his line of sight again. “Ye took an arrow in the shoulder,” her disembodied voice told him. “Ye are lucky that Kagome-san was with ye or else your injuries may have been…more numerous.”

Inuyasha stared up at the shadows that crept across the ceiling. “There's something you're not telling me,” he accused.

There was no response and Inuyasha raised himself up on his elbow to look in the direction Kaede had disappeared.

The drugs must have temporarily dulled his senses because he hadn't realized that the old lady had slipped out and that she had taken Kaede's place. She was a vision in shining gold standing at the door, raven hair catching the low light and casting it back in shades of blues. She murmured something that he didn't hear and he wasn't sure if it was because his brain was too intent on taking in the sight of her that it ignored all other sensory input or if it was because whatever Kaede-baba had given him was still running through his system.

He was still trying to figure out why it was he was robbed of all metal ability every time she walked into a room when he saw her lips move again.

“You're feeling better, Inu-san?”

He nearly smiled at the question he had asked her only hours ago. “Better is relative…and stop calling me that,” came his halfheartedly stern reply. He watched as she bit her lip, raised his nose to see what kind of physical reaction she was having to him and then furrowed his brow. “I can't seem to…”

“Can't seem to what?” she prompted, when he trailed off.

Inuyasha motioned for her to come closer, for her to sit on the couch he was laid out on. She seemed to float as she moved, sat down on the arm of the couch, as far away from him as possible. The action, for some reason, irritated him.

Is our bitch afraid of us?

The voice was fainter than it normally was. Inuyasha took in a deep breath, feeling first his nostrils expand and then his lungs.

“I can't seem to smell you,” he said.

Before she could respond, Inuyasha was pushing aside the light blanket, was pulling her closer to himself, ignoring the small twinge of pain from his injured shoulder and her small gasp of surprise as she braced herself against him, her hands burning pleasantly against the skin of his bare chest. He positioned her on his lap so that she was kneeling on his legs, the silky material of her dress guiding his hands as they slid down her slim hips, up her thighs, exposing soft, creamy skin. His hands moved with the silk, fingertips exploring the smooth skin -something they had been itching to do since she had been pressed against his back- disentangled themselves to wrap around her slender waist, pulling her closer. He closed his eyes and nearly sighed in contentment as he inhaled deeply.

He felt the heat of her body increase, was pleased to smell her arousal stab through her already intoxicating fragrance. His hands moved up her back, her loose tresses spilling through his fingers, as his lips found their way to the soft skin of her neck. He could feel her heart racing under his mouth and was unable to resist the urge to slowly, deliberately run his tongue over her pulse.

She gasped, her hands clutching at his shoulders, but she tilted her head to the side, tilted her chin up, granting him better access.

Something stirred faintly within him. His demon was oddly muffled, but extremely delighted at this show of submissiveness. He felt suddenly possessive, wanted her more than anything he had ever wanted in his life…

Make her ours, now, before something happens, before someone tries to take her.

He felt it burning within him, surging through his veins, and had to close his eyes against the overwhelming urge to strip her, fuck her and then mark her.

Slowly, or else you will frighten her.

So, he took his time. His hands were busy memorizing the curves of her hips, the lengths of her thighs, the flat of her stomach, the contour of her neck. His mouth found the jut of her collarbone, the line of her jaw, the petal soft skin of her cheeks. He was as gentle as he could be, not sure how experienced she was and not wanting to startle her with something new, something that would make her uncomfortable.

Inuyasha pulled away to look up at her, wanting to see what expression she wore. Her cheeks were flushed, her breath coming erratically from slightly parted, rose colored lips. Her hair fell around her face like a waterfall on a moonless night when she tilted her head to look down at him. She smiled at him, took his breath away when she gently traced the outline of his lips with her finger, and then bent down to lightly cover his mouth with her own.

As soon as her lips touched his, he felt a warm jolt surge from that place of contact and spread out to his extremities. As she ran her tongue over his lower lip, as she coaxed his mouth open and slid inside, he went as still as stone, afraid that if he moved he would end up doing something unforgivable. He felt her hands slide up his neck, felt her fingers slide through his hair and couldn't repress the shiver of delight that slid through his body and concentrated between his legs.

His hands curled around her thighs, claws pressing gently into her skin. He found his fingers tracing along the silk of her inner thigh, paused when he felt the heat that radiated from the place where her legs met.

He pulled his head away from her, looking up. “Kagome,” he breathed.

She blinked at him for a moment and then leaned forward. He felt her breath tickling the hairs around his ear, felt it twitch in response, and then was completely taken off guard when she wrapped her fingers around his own and pushed her hips forward to meet them.

“Don't stop,” she murmured, her voice husky and low.

He couldn't have done so even if he wanted to. Damp material met his fingertips and, as he pushed the cloth aside, her arousal spiked through the air, nearly making his eyes roll up in pure ecstasy. He felt a rumble begin deep in his chest and, mindful of his sharp claws and her thin skin, he slipped a forefinger between wetted flesh to find that one spot that pulsed in time with her heartbeat.

She gasped, moaned, her fingers, still tangled in his hair, clenching. As her hips ground down onto his hand, she kissed him fiercely, forced his lips open and thrust her tongue into his mouth. Delighted by this response, Inuyasha slid his other hand up the silk of her dress, cupping her breast gently.

Her tongue was busy teasing him, tracing the length of a fang. Whether she did it intentionally or not, she slid her tongue over the razor sharp point. A coppery tang mixed with saliva, the taste bursting into his mouth, causing his eyes to shoot open. The blood seemed to spring into his vision and he felt the rumble in his chest start to turn into a feral growl.

He was out from under her and off the couch in an instant, crossing the room to get as far away from her as possible. He kept his back to her as he looked down at the jagged red slashes that were faintly crawling around his wrists, as he closed blood-blinded eyes and tried to will the reaction away.

“Inuyasha?”

He could hear the uncertainty in her voice, could smell it in the air. He wanted to turn, to go back to her, to reassure her, but he didn't want her to see him like this.

His ear swiveled back to track her soft footsteps as she walked up behind him. Her fingers lightly played over his back, his sides.

“What is this?” she asked, softly, tracing the fading red mark that swept up over his hipbone.

“A sign of too much, too fast,” he said, wincing at the way his voice came out -gravelly and harsh.

She sighed, leaned against his back, wrapped her arms around his waist and he closed his eyes, loving the way she felt pressed up against him. “Are you afraid you're going to hurt me?” she asked.

“Yes,” he whispered.

Her response of `mmm' came out thoughtful, distracted. When he felt her clever fingers dancing along the skin of his stomach, he froze and then covered her hands with his own. Kami, he wanted her so bad…but not like this. He wouldn't force her, didn't want to hurt her or scare her. He just wanted…

“I can't do this to you,” he said, shaking his head, pulling away from thoughts and emotions that scared him more than anything. His defenses went up and he winced inwardly as he heard what he was saying to her. “I've been warned about you just as you've probably been warned about me. We can't…” he trailed off, feeling his throat constricting slightly which only served to make him angry. “We can't see each other again after tonight. I value my skin too much to be beaten up or killed over you.” He ignored the painful stab in his chest. “Besides, I have no intention of changing my lifestyle and there's no way I could live up to your undoubtedly high standards, princess,” he added, his disdain sounding forced even to himself.

He felt her pause, felt her pull away, wished fervently that she would snap or argue…anything to make him feel less guilty about the cruel note that had entered his voice. “Okay,” she said. Her scent was laced with that tangy and saltiness that made Inuyasha instinctively want to wrap her in his arms and protect her -even though it was he who had hurt her. She cleared her throat and he felt her warmth leave him. “Thank you, Inu-san, for accompanying me today. It was…very kind.”

A war raged inside of him, more violent than any he had ever fought in his life. His demon wanted to possess her, the human wanted to cherish her, and Inuyasha just wanted everything to make goddamn sense again. He spun around, grabbed her by the arm as she was walking away. Her eyes were wide as he pulled her to himself, but there was no fear in her scent. He wrapped her in his arms, loving the way she felt so delicate, sighing as he bent to rest his cheek on the top of her head.

“I thought I told you not to call me that,” he chided softly. He pulled slightly back, tilted her chin up to look into her eyes. “I'm glad that your mother talked me into this,” he told her.

He leaned forward and kissed her lightly, chastely, at that moment wanting and asking for nothing more than to feel her lips against his. He knew, right then, what it felt like to be whole. He felt his youkai and human hum in complete accord -was faintly aware of something outside of himself matching the harmony inside of him. Both finally agreed on one thing; this was what would make him happy. She was the one thing in his life that didn't have to be a struggle. For the rest of his life, he would always rememeber that one night when they walked beneath a crescent moon that made white blossoms glow as though they were lit from within. He would always associate their fragrance with one of the happiest moments of his life.