Author's Note: The original story line was posted by riceball1004, a translation from a Korean short story she read. It caught my attention, because it's such a beautiful storyline. Riceball1004...you deserve credit for this one.

Joy Ride

The cool night air nipped at Kagome's nose as her raven hair flapped rapidly in the wind. The stars above seemed to smile at the two, shinning their bright white light along their way, to where? They did not know.

She tightens her hold around Inu-Yasha's waist, bringing her hands closer into each other in front of his chest. Her head was turned to the right, placing her left cheek on his right shoulder, smelling the leather of his jacket, mixed with his cologne that for some weird reason, reminded her of a tree's bark, although it smelled nothing like one. This was heaven, and nothing could ever compare.

Inu-Yasha's gaze turns downwards for a second as he feels her hands traveling on his chest, and her front pressing closer into his back. Yes... the wind was blowing away from him towards her, but still...he could smell her perfume...her sweet perfume. A scent of a spring's evening, when all the flowers are in full bloom, the waters taste their sweetest purity and the sun's last rays kiss the darkness of the falling night. He smiles to himself, as he turns the throttled a little more, speeding up their ride.

Feeling the initial push of speed, Kagome furrows her brow as she tightens her hold around him. "Inu-Yasha...slow down! You are going to fast..."

Inu-Yasha smiles mischievously, as he turns the throttle a little more, and the wind gushes past them.

Slightly panicked, Kagome holds on tighter, pressing her whole front body against him, and pressing her thighs against his legs. "Inu- Yasha...please...I'm really scared...slow down..."

Inu-Yasha continuous to smile, as he savors the warmth of her body against his own. "Allright" he says, as he slightly tightens his hold on the break.

Feeling that their speed did not decrease, Kagome tries once more. "Inu- Yasha...stop kidding around...I'm really scarred now..."

For a moment, Inu-Yasha remains quiet, and then he turns his head slightly to the right, revealing his smile to her, keeping his eyes on the road. "Oh... come on...this is fun..."

"No it's not..."

"Okay, look..." he says cutting her off. "How about this...put on my helmet....and I'll slow down..."

"Put on your helmet? At this speed? I am not letting go of you....I'll fall off!!"

"No...you wont...just do it! Come on...it'll be fun..." he says.

"...and you'll slow down?" she asks.

"Yes..."

She carefully unlocks her hands from their hold around his chest, moving them slowly around his body, and up to his head. "Okay...here I go" she says as she lifts the helmet off his head, revealing his trademark silver tresses, flapping gracefully in the wind, and quickly and as carefully as she can, places it on her head.

"Okay...now slow down!!!"

She waits a moment, and their speed does not decrease.

"Inu-Yasha!!! I did it...now keep your promise and slow down!"

Inu-Yasha chuckles slightly. "I never promised!"

Kagome's eyes widen as she begins to feel a twinge of anger. "You liar! ...Stop fooling around!"

Inu-Yasha once again turns his head towards his right, keeping his eyes on the road, but this time, he's tone is as soft as his warm smile. "Tell me you love me..."

Kagome's anger escalates as she hears his plea. "What?!"

Inu-Yasha repeats himself. "Tell me that you love me...and I will slow down..."

Irritated, Kagome refuses. "What?! No!!! You slow down right now...I mean it!"

"Kagome...please...just tell me you love me..." he pleads.

She stops to think for a moment, as she tightens her hold around his chest again. "Fine...I love you."

"What?"

"I said I love you, Inu-Yasha!", she screams.

He closes his eyes for a split second, and she can see him taking a deep slow breath. "I love you too, Kagome..always..."

The bike finally slows down.

"Hey...Marge...did you read the newspaper today?" asks the shopkeeper as she sweeps the floor.

"No..not yet..." says the women behind the counter, staring down into the cash register as she opens up packets of coins, dropping them into their slots.

The shopkeeper sweeps the dirt towards the counter, resting the broom against it, and removing a folded newspaper from under her right armpit. "Read at the bottom...to the left...." She said as she placed the newspaper on the counter.

The woman sighs, as she rolls her eyes, placing the roll of coins in a slot, and picking up the newspaper.

On the left bottom corner, a picture of a pile of steal resembling smoldered parts of a motorcycle lay crashed against a brick wall. The headline read:

Motor Cycle Accident: One Dead, Another Miraculously Survives

"Last night, at about 9:45 p.m., a young boy and a young girl road the streets of Tokyo on a YZF-R1 model Yamaha motorcycle. The breaks malfunctioned, and so the young man, Haikoru, Inu-Yasha, gave his helmet to the girl, Higurashi, Kagome, and held onto her as the motorcycle skid and they spiraled into the air, using his own body as a cushion for her as they collided onto the ground. One leg broken in 3 different places, 2 shattered arms, and a cracked skull, the boy died instantly. The girl suffered no injuries."

"Wow" says the cashier as she reads the short news story, "...that's truly sad...now get back to work."