punkish furball—What's up? This is chapter 4! Kagome and Kazuma meet again. Woohoo!

Words to ponder:

Thank you, Bishounen'sFoxyMiko, Alexian, Chibes, Dark Inu Fan, Mayalah, Jaguargirl, kitty463, Shiori The Lady Kazekage, and ShinobiKyuubi13MikoKage (3X) for reviewing.

This chapter picks up at episode 8 of s-cry-ed.

Chapter 4

Ryuho stood looking totally indifferent but on the inside he was very confused. Kagome knew Kazuma? They seemed to be very familiar even if it didn't look like they would be on friendly terms. But Kagome said she had amnesia which was confirmed because she didn't recall anything about alter users or the Lost Ground but she did, in fact, remember her name.

'What was so important about Kazuma that she remembered him?' Ryuho thought.

"What do you think you're doing here?" Kagome shouted at Kazuma.

"Me? What the hell are you doing here?! You bitch! You were part of HOLY the whole time!" Kazuma retorted just as loudly as Kagome spoke to him. Kagome glared at him and then slapped Kazuma on his cheek leaving a red imprint in the shape of her hand there.

"I do have a name, ya know! And if you didn't act like an ass before you would know it. And for your information, I just joined HOLY yesterday!" Kagome shouted. During her tirade, Kazuma had his hand on his cheek were she hit him.

'Hey, she hit me,' Kazuma thought, 'It hurt too. Then again, she sorta does have a point, but who cares she hit me!' Kazuma glared at Kagome and she returned it with full force. They didn't seem to notice any of the others around them watching the two of them with interest and shock written on their faces. Kazuma was the first one to speak of the two.

"Ya know," he started with his tone much more relaxed than before, "you look cute when you're angry and glaring at me like that." Kagome made a squeaking sound and began to blush bright red. Kazuma smirked at Kagome's face and decided to see how red she can be.

"Wow, you're changing color," he said with a smirk on his face, "That's pretty cute too."

Ryuho had just about enough of this and walked up to the two. He pulled Kagome behind his back separating her and Kazuma.

"What do you think you're doing here?" Ryuho said, "I know you are not serious about becoming a member of HOLY."

"Aw, come on," Kazuma said, "What do I need to do to become member?" He paused and pointed to Kagome, "She's a member, isn't she? There must be something that can bring us together."

"Friendship, trust, and love," Commander Jigmar said as he entered the room by descending the staircase, "The solution to everything begins with believing in each other. Everything starts at that point." He stopped at Kazuma, "I'm Martin Jigmar, the commander here."

'Wow, he actually sounds nice,' Kagome thought, 'He sure was singing a different tune when it came to me.'

"I'm Kazuma. I'm not sure if it's registered and I don't have a last name," Kazuma said.

"Kazuma is just fine," Jigmar said, "You are a welcome member to our organization."

"But commander…," one of the HOLY members said but Jigmar cut him off.

"He's joining the force," he said leaving no room for argument.

"Alright," Kazuma said with a big smile on his face, "My new friends." The entire group of alter users began to groan.

"Ryuho, Kagome, can I see you for a moment?" Jigmar said. Ryuho nodded and followed Jigmar holding Kagome's hand and pulled her with him. Kazuma observed what happened. His rival sure seemed to be attached to that girl.

'So, her name's Kagome,' Kazuma thought.

-O0o0O-

"What do you want, Commander?" Ryuho asked once all three of them were in Jigmar's office. He still had not released Kagome's hand, "Are you really certain that Kazuma is serious about joining HOLY? Kazuma is not someone you can trust."

"Of course I not," Jigmar said, "He seems to be the stubborn type. Luckily we have the skills of a master playwright on our side."

"You're not suggesting that we use Unkei again, are you?" Ryuho said. Ryuho was certain the man would be relieved of his position due to his failure with Kagome. He gave a glance to Kagome out of the corner of his eye. Unkei's power didn't affect her to the extent it was intended to, but it did cause her harm. Ryuho didn't like that.

"Of course we're going to. It is my duty to use all of the weapons available to me and that includes Unkei," Jigmar said and pulled out a script, "All HOLY members are to be familiar with this and Kagome?" Kagome looked up at the sound of her name. "About that mishap you had the other day. You may or may not know this, but you released your alter power. I suppose it was a reaction to the Mad Script alter of Unkei."

"You mean that man with the bubblegum pink afro," Kagome said.

"Yes and to lessen its effects on you, you have to stay as close to Kazuma as you possibly can," Jigmar said.

"Are you…serious?" Kagome said and Ryuho's eyes narrowed when Jigmar nodded.

"The greatest concentration of Unkei's power will be on Kazuma. Because of that, being close to him should lessen the strain it puts on you. Those are your orders now go," Jigmar said.

"Okay," Kagome said and tugged on her hand that Ryuho held, "but can I have my hand back first?"

Ryuho let the hand drop to Kagome's hand as though it had burned him and quickly walked out of the room.

'What was that all about?' Kagome thought looking at her hand. Kagome decided not to think about it and walked out of the room.

-O0o0O-

Kazuma stood in front of the information computer trying to find where the other native alters were. The system error window was the only thing that came up and that only increased his frustration. Kazuma felt a hand on his shoulder.

"Who would imagine that you would willingly come over to our side, Kazuya," Cougar said.

"It's Kazuma!" Kazuma exclaimed and began to shake his fist in Cougar's direction, "Can't you remember three little syllables?"

"You could always change your name," Cougar suggested innocently.

"Shut up," Kazuma said, "Let's get this straight now. Don't interfere with me because there won't be a second time around, got it?"

Cougar began to laugh; that was not exactly the reaction he was expecting. Mimori walked up to the two of them and began to speak.

"You're Kazuma aren't you?" she said.

"Yeah, who are you?" Kazuma said.

"This has to be the third time we've meet," Mimori said, "I'm Mimori Kiryu of HOLY. Commander Jigmar has ordered me to take you out and show you around the city and Kagome too."

"Wow, I like HOLY more and more everyday," Kazuma said and got up much to Cougar's displeasure.

Wait, Miss Minori," Cougar started

"It's Mimori," Mimori said.

"Sorry, but this guy is wild, like an animal!" Cougar shouted. Kazuma pushed Cougar out of the way and went up the Mimori.

"Shall we go?" Kazuma said and put his arm around her and walked away as Cougar cried out.

"Hey, Mimori," Kagome said with Ryuho walking in front of her side. She ran passed him up to the two.

"Great, now I don't look for you," Mimori said with a smile, "I was ordered to show you and Kazuma around the city."

"Okay," Kagome said and gasped as Kazuma suddenly hooked his free arm around her.

"Great, come on let's go," Kazuma said and Kagome struggled to get out of his grasp. Finally, she freed herself.

"Aw, come on," Kazuma said and held onto Kagome's neck with both arms and she began to frail her arms and legs, "I just want to be friends. You look really cute in your HOLY uniform. I couldn't see your legs this good before."

"No, thank you," Kagome said deciding to ignore that last statement with a faint dust of pink on her face and got out of Kazuma's grasp once again and walked ahead of him and Mimori. Kagome didn't go too far and stopped in her steps because she felt a familiar buzzing in her head. It was not as powerful as before but enough for her to feel it.

'Jigmar was right,' Kagome thought, 'That Unkei person must have started to use his alter power. The farther away I am from Kazuma, the more it hurts.' While she was still, Kazuma looped his arms around Kagome's neck again.

"Will you let go?!" Kagome shouted struggling to get away.

"You know you like me," he said and began to walk with Mimori dragging Kagome along, "and I won't let you go until you admit it."

"All right, already," Kagome said, "I like you! Now let me go"

"You don't mean that," Kazuma said, "Say it like you mean it!"

"But I can't do that if I don't!" Kagome shouted but stopped struggling seeing as Kazuma's grip was letting up any.

Ryuho with the other alter users watched them leave. Ryuho was glaring at them, Kazuma in particular.

"I can't believe him," he said continuing to glare angrily in the direction the group went in.

-O0o0O-

As Mimori drove, she explained all of the sights and buildings. Kazuma with in the passenger seat next to her and Kagome sat in the back by herself.

"Are you two bored?" Mimori asked after another session of yawning.

"These buildings are nice and all but they do nothing for an empty stomach," Kazuma said.

"Well, then let's get something to eat," Mimori said, "but there's something we need to take care of first."

"Alright," Kazuma said and looked in the back seat to Kagome, who was staring out the window, "Hey, you're quiet. Want me to come back there with you?"

"I'm just fine," Kagome said continuing to stare out the window.

"You're no fun, Kago-chan," Kazuma said feeling delighted when Kagome turned his attention to him.

"Don't call me that," Kagome said.

"Why? Don't you like it?" Kazuma asked.

"No, I don't," Kagome said.

"I'll just have to keep calling you that then. It's such a cute nickname," Kazuma said smiling as Kagome groaned at him before she turned her attention back to the window.

"You two sound like children," Mimori said and laughed at them. She stopped the car and they stopped at a clothing store.

-O0o0O-

"So how does it look?" Kazuma said walking out of the dressing room dressed in a bluish suit. He was standing rather awkwardly.

"Wow, you look wonderful," Mimori answered who had already changed into another outfit.

"You look like a jackass," Kagome murmured in a hushed tone.

"What do you say to me?" Kazuma said.

"You…look…like…a…jack…ass," Kagome said very slowly, "Was that slow enough for you to understand me?" Kazuma growled at the cocky look on Kagome's face.

"Maybe you'll look better if you lost that glove," Kagome said and pointed to that accessory. Kazuma clutched the glove protectively with his other hand.

"No way," Kazuma said, "I'm not getting rid of this!"

"Okay," Mimori said and stepped between the quarrelling pair. She grabbed Kagome's hands pulling her into the dressing room, "It's your turn now."

"Wait," Kagome said trying to stop Mimori from moving her with her feet planted firmly on the ground, "My uniform is just fine. I don't need to change."

Mimori shook her head and tugged harder, "It really doesn't fit the occasion and besides the only other outfit you have is that pair of jeans and a T-shirt."

"Hey!" Kagome said but was all but thrown into the dressing room with a blue garment. She hit the ground with an audible thud.

Kazuma mentally smirked thinking of what he would say once Kagome got out of the dressing room. For some reason, he loved getting a rise out of her.

'That look on her face when she gets pissed off is just the best!' he thought, 'She's gonna pay for that "jackass" comment.'

"Come out, Kagome," Mimori said urging the girl to come out, "Come on. I bet it's not that bad." Kagome sighed from inside the dressing room. She came out in a dark blue dress with several sparks of silver glitter that ended at her knees with spaghetti straps. Her head was down and she was frowning.

"Oh, Kagome, you look so pretty," Mimori said.

"Whatever," Kagome said and looked at Kazuma expectedly, "Well, don't you have something to say to me?"

"Well…um…uh…" Kazuma stuttered out not able to say anything. Kagome looked at him with calculating eyes before sighing and averting her attention.

"I see," Kagome said, thinking him to be too overcome with laughter or something like that to say anything, and grabbed Mimori's arm and began for the exit, "You sit in the back this time."

Kazuma frowned when the two were out of sight.

'Why couldn't I say anything?' Kazuma thought and a beep of a car horn caught his attention, 'I'll just get her later.'

-O0o0O-

The three sat down to dinner and Kazuma struggled to read the menu. It was in a language he had never learned-.

"What the hell is this?" Kazuma said as he looked at the menu, "I can't figure out what they serve here."

"How about I order for the both of us?" Mimori said, "What about you, Kagome?'

"You can order for me too," Kagome said and rested her head on her hand with her elbow on the table, "I'll pretty much eat anything."

Mimori ordered for the three of them and the first course of the meal was brought to the table.

"Is this it?" Kazuma asked looking at the small portion.

"There's more coming after this," Mimori said.

Kazuma picked up the entire potion and shoved it in his mouth.

"This is pretty good," Kazuma said and turned to the waiter, "Hey, it's been a long day, so just bring everything at once."

"You pig," Kagome said under her breath.

"Aw, that hurts, Kago-chan, it really does," Kazuma said and picked up Kagome's portion and held it to her mouth.

"What are you doing?" Kagome asked eyeing the piece of food in his hand like it was diseased or poisoned.

"Come on, try it," Kazuma said, "It's good, ya know."

"No," Kagome said not trying to be to loud, "I don't know where you're hands have been."

"I'm not moving my hand until you eat it," Kazuma said. Kagome grimaced but opened her mouth and Kazuma put the food in her mouth. She close her mouth catching Kazuma's finger in her mouth. Kagome blushed as he slowly pulled the finger out of her mouth.

"There you go," Kazuma said, "That wasn't not to bad, now was it."

Kagome didn't say anything but began to frown while looking at Kazuma smiling at her. Mimori was laughing quietly at the two of them.

At a table a few ways away, Ryuho and Scheris were watching them with grim expressions on their faces.

"That was disgusting," Scheris said and Ryuho silently agreed even though he wasn't thinking about Kazuma's eating habits. He was particular irritated of his familiar treatment of Kagome.

'Why would Kagome remember such a person?' he thought, 'They're not awkward with each other at all. I bet he doesn't even know her memory is gone.'

Scheris had said something but Ryuho wasn't paying attention. He turned to her but she just sighed and told him to forget about it.

-O0o0O-

For the rest of the day, the three had dinner and left to look at all of the sights. Kazuma and Mimori seemed to be enjoying themselves but Kagome seemed a little distant. They were now looking at the water front view from the bridge. Kazuma and Mimori were looking up at the sunset while Kagome looked downward into the water.

"Hey," Kazuma said looking over at her direction, "Are you alright?"

"I'm fine," Kagome said without looking up, "Just a little tired."

"We can go back now then," Kazuma said, "if you want to."

Kagome looked up at Kazuma in disbelief.

'He's being unusually considerate,' she thought.

"If you're both ready we can leave right now," Mimori said and began to walk to the car. Kagome and Kazuma followed her. Kagome let out a big yawn on the way.

"Hey, you should really get some sleep," Kazuma said, "You're swaying around like a drunk and tripping over your own feet."

"I'm alright," Kagome said and began to smile slightly, "Thanks for worrying though."

"Hey, that's the first time you smiled at me," Kazuma said when he opened the car door sounding a little pleased.

"Yeah, what of it?" Kagome said settling into the back of the car, trying to stifle another yawn.

"Nothing really," Kazuma said and got into the car and buckled his seat, "I just think it makes you look cute."

Kazuma waited for a remark from Kagome but got none in return. Mimori began to giggle.

"She's asleep," Mimori whispered. Kazuma turned around and saw Kagome had fallen asleep on the seat. Her head was leaning towards her right shoulder towards the window. Her mouth was open just a little and hair was pushed the left side falling into her face slightly. Kagome had crossed her arms and had them resting in her lap. The strap on her dress had fallen down on her right side exposing the skin on her shoulder without the obstruction. Kazuma smiled softly not even aware of the fact he was smiling at the petite girl in the back seat.

'She looks adorable,' he thought.

"You know," Mimori said quietly so she wouldn't wake Kagome up, "I think you meant that last one."

"Last what?" Kazuma said looking away from Kagome.

"Never mind," Mimori said and continued to drive.

-O0o0O-

"Should we wake her?" Mimori asked when she parked her car and both she and Kazuma got out.

Kazuma paused before saying, "No, she looks kinda tired. I'll just bring her up to my room."

"Are you sure she'll be alright with that?" Mimori asked a little skeptically, but Kazuma already had Kagome in his arms and cradled her head against his chest.

"Doesn't matter now," Kazuma said and began to walk, "Are you going to take me to my room?"

Mimori nodded and began to walk, showing Kazuma the way to his room. Once there, Mimori opened the door and Kazuma set Kagome on his bed and pulled back the sheets.

"Do you really think she'll be comfortable sleeping in that?" Mimori said.

"Hey, I'm not going to undress her," Kazuma said turning around so Mimori couldn't see the blush on his face, "So, see you tomorrow?"

"Yes, bright and early. Good night," Mimori said and walked out of the door.

Kazuma walked over to the bed where Kagome was and looked at her sleeping so soundly on his bed.

'I guess I'll have to sleep on the couch,' he thought.

-O0o0O-

Unkei stood on the top of the building proudly as he read aloud from his script in a loud booming voice.

"Kazuma gently brushed a strand of her from Kagome's sleeping face smiling fondly at the young woman lying so comfortably in his bed. He then walked out to the balcony over looking the city.

'What a wonderful day I had,' he thought, 'I can't wait for tomorrow.'

Oh, yes!" Unkei shouted and struck a pose, "I am the lord of the story! End day one!"

-O0o0O-

punkish furball—There you go. I wonder what happens next. Until next time. L83R, DUDES!

-I think the menu was in French or something.

(edited 12.23.07)