A/N Thank you all so much for waiting, sorryfor taking so long,its just i've been so VERY busy lately and this was a long chapter to type up but now its done. The last in this story, so as usual read, enjoyand review :)

Inu-Yasha entered the clearing where Kana had been but she was gone.

"Kana!" Inu-Yasha shouted "You want some Shikon Shards! I've got some right here so come and get em! KANA! BRING THEM OUT TO ME!"He called, his voice echoing all around "KANA!" the wind hissed through the trees and Inu-Yasha felt so alienated and alone. He could not smell Kana and she was semi-transparent, she was hard to hunt. He drew the Tetsusaiga staring wildly around. Then she appeared walking through the tree in the distance, with her three body guards. Inu-Yasha prepared himself. Sango was the to attack throwing her boomerang bone. Inu-Yasha jumped to dodge it flying at Sango at the same time. Before he could knock her out Shippo leaped in front of her and threw his huge spinning top on Inu-Yasha.

"RUH!" Inu-Yasha struggled to get out from underneath. Miroku stepped up to the top beginning to untie his wind tunnel. Inu-Yasha shoved the giant gyrating toy off him and tackled Miroku sinking his fist into the monks' stomach. Miroku coffed and passed out. Just as Inu-Yasha stood up 5 Shippo's leapt onto him. Inu-Yasha swiftly beat every one of them on the head and watched them all faint. Suddenly Inu-Yasha felt a jabbing pain in his back and swung around to see Sango holding a bloody dagger. She lunged at Inu-Yasha who ducked kicking her precisely in the back of the head putting her out.

"Kana!" Inu-Yasha snarled at the little girl but before he could do anything she held the mystical mirror she always carried up. Inu-Yashas' eyes blurred as he watched his soul leave his body and enter Kana's mirror.

"Inu-Yasha!"

A horrified scream cut through the air. Kana looked up in time to see an arrow smashing into her mirror. The souls contained within burst free. Kagome came running into the clearing another arrow at the ready.

"Get lost or I'll shoot again" she cried. Kana turned slowly and quietly walking away. Kagome ran to Inu-Yasha who was stirring.

"Uh…Ka…go…me…" He said slowly looking up from the ground.

"Inu-Yasha" Kagome put her arms around his shoulders "I missed you"

"What are you talking about you just ran off and left me to-" Inu-Yasha snapped but didn't finish. Kagome's arms were so warm and caring he couldn't help but become calm and relaxed.

"You could have been gentler with everyone" Kagome sighed staring around at her three unconscious friends.

"They weren't being gentle with me!" Inu-Yasha whined loudly leaning back.

"But they were being controlled!"

"I couldn't just stand there and let them lay into me!"

"You should have just waited for me to come back!"

"You shouldn't have left"

Everything had been returned to normal. Later that night Kagome and Akane swapped again determined to wait out the rest of the week in opposite worlds.

Akane strolled cheerily down the street in the midday sun. It was the seventh day and she was headed to meet up with Kagome to talk about the last few days in their different worlds. She entered Wac Donalds and sat down waiting for Kagome to turn up. Akane ordered her meal, smiling until she noticed Ranma who was standing across the street. He looked away the second her eyes met his.

"I wonder what he's up to" Akane thought out allowed. Ranma suddenly looked down the street and stared. Akane frowned and followed his gaze. Akane gasped in shocked. Who should be walking down the street but Kagome in a short skirt and flowery T-shirt. Kagome was beaming. Akane glared at her then returned her gaze to Ranma who was facing away from Kagome. She walked into Wac Donald's and over to Akane.

"Hi" she said sitting down.

"You're in a good mood today, Kagome" Akane said in a low voice.

"I know…what's wrong?" Kagome asked curiously.

"Oh nothing" Akane sighed and decided there was nothing she could do to but try to cheer up "Listen, I think we should move. Ranma's out on the street and if he sees us he'll suspect something" Akane told Kagome standing up.

"Yes of course" Kagome agreed subtly glancing at Ranma as they moved to a seat the back of the restraint. Ranma frowned. Akane had seen him, now he was going to have to be sneaky now. He crept across the street and strolled casually past the store. Then Ranma sneered filling a bucket of water that was a little way down an alleyway and poured it over himself, becoming a girl. She then walked down further and slipped in through a side door the lead into the restaurant's kitchen. Ranma grabbed a cleaning lady uniform and put it on. Now with a mask, hat and uniform she unidentifiable.

"Heh now I'll find out what you're up to" Ranma announced fire in her eyes. She walked out of the kitchen and made her way over to where Akane was sitting, eyes downcast. Ranma turned her back to them and started mopping.

"Inu-Yasha isn't that bad…I mean he can be kind and protective…" Ranma heard one say, she thought it was Akane.

"Are you going to ask him to the dance again?"

"You know what happened the first time!"

"Yeah well Ranma's not going to take you"

"I know" She laughed.

"Who was this Inu-Yasha?" Ranma's eyes narrowed as she thought angrily.

"So are you even going to bother asking him?"

"No he'll probably just take one of his other fiancés…maybe I should go with Ryoga instead of Inu-Yasha…"

Ranma was furious not only was she not even entertaining the idea of asking him, she didn't care! The next line made Ranma snap.

"Anyone but Ranma" she giggled.

"ANYONE BUT ME HUH!" Ranma roared spinning around and facing the table. Kagome quickly looked away. Akane stared at Kagome then stood up obviously far more adept at confrontation.

"Are you spying on me!" Akane screamed.

"Only cause you've been acting weird lately!" Ranma shouted back.

"Well excuse me for being-" Akane begun but Ranma cut her off.

"Non-macho, quiet, nice?"

"If that's how you think that's how I've been acting your about to get a fistful of reality!"

"An I was just startin to think you were cute, boy was I wrong!"

Suddenly the restraint went completely silent. Akane stared blankly in shock. Kagome got up pulling the hat, still concealing her slowly disappearing cat ears, over her eyes and looking down. She pushed past Ranma and left.

"I hate you!" Akane bellowed throwing her food and milkshake over Ranma's head "Why don't you clean that up? And don't think I'll come apologising any time soon!" she continued exiting.

"BUILT LIKE A BRICK, THIGHS ARE TOO THICK, CAN'T EVEN KICK, DUMMY, MACHO, JERK!" Ranma insulted her with all her might as Akane walked out of the diner. After a while he went home and got changed (in both senses). He walked outside into the garden and started training. He kicked, punched, ran and jumped unaware he was being watched. Kagome sat in Akane's bedroom gazing down at Ranma. A smile touched her lips. It was very flattering to hear someone like Ranma say she was cute. She shook her head and stood unable to shake the smile but in her heart was wishing it was Inu-Yasha who had complimented her so.

"Well guess I'd better get ready for the dance"

Akane climbed out of the well. This was the last night she would spend in the feudal realm, the night of the dance.

"Hey" Akane looked up to see Inu-Yasha leaning against a tree, waiting for her.

"Hey" Akane replied grinning, beginning to enjoy his receptions. He waited for her, he wanted to see her.

"That dance thing is on tonight" Inu-Yasha said, unmoving.

"Yes…and?" Akane asked slowly. The sun was sinking below the horizon by now, casting its final golden ray, the sky turning a darkening blue. Inu-Yasha pushed away from the tree moving into the moons soft glow. Suddenly his hair started turning black, his dog ears slowly receded to the side of his head forming human ears. His sharp claws disappeared and as his eyes opened the gold blaze dimmed to a beautiful violet. He was human. Akane stared mouth hanging open. Akane had been told about his strange transformation but this was amazing. He almost looked like Ranma now…an odd resemblance, like they were brothers.

"Do you still wish to go?" He asked his usual discontented look plastered on his face.

"Yes" Akane answered dumbly. Inu-Yasha muttered something under his breath and walked over to her.

"Then lets go" he said jumping into the well. Akane was barely able to believe what she'd heard and quickly followed him. Meanwhile at the Tendo house Kagome stood before a full length mirror admiring her reflection. She had a pretty clip in her hair, a red skirt on, black knee high boots and a white t-shirt. There was a knock on her bedroom door.

"Come in Kagome called cheerily. Ranma opened the door and shuffled in.

"Um, uh…so are you going to the dance?" Ranma asked fidgeting.

"Yes" Kagome answered shortly, remembering what he supposedly had said about her earlier.

"Have you got…are you going with anyone?" Ranma stuttered shifting his weight from foot to foot.

"Nope. I guess I'll be going alone, after all the trouble it caused" she growled, faking annoyance as she picked up her bag.

"What if I…I mean if you don't want me to I wont…then I'd stay home…but maybe you'd want me to" Ranma zipped from one end of the room to the other trying to voice his thoughts. Kagome smiled sighing; since she wasn't really angry at him at all it was foolish to deny him this.

"Sure I'll go with you" Kagome answered Ranma's question, putting on black hat and holding her hand out waiting for him to take it. He sheepishly, averting his face, took her hand and walked out of the room and down the hall.

"Dad. We're going to a dance and be back late!" Kagome called out as she left they house.

Akane stoped short of the dance room and looked back at Inu-Yasha. She had put his long black hair in a plat, not because of Ranma, simply to make his over lengthy hair look a little more normal. He was wearing blue jeans and a slightly tight black shirt outlining his usually hidden muscles, he could help pulling at it unappreciatively finding it annoyingly uncomfortable. While he looked normal enough she couldn't help but feel edgy.

"Now remember-" Akane began but was cut off.

"Don't attack anything unless you say so" Inu-Yasha recited, a spike of annoyance in his voice. He walked over and stood next to Akane.

"Just trust me" He said gently his expression a little more tender than usual and walked into the party. The music was loud and Inu-Yasha's face twisted into a scowl.

"OH! INU-YASHA I'M SO SORRY! I DIDN'T REALIZE, I FORGOT YOUR HEARING WAS SO SENSATIVE!" Akane shouted making Inu-Yasha flinched. He was not use to so much noise and movement; it might have been a riot for all he knew. The music quieted down between the current song and the next. Akane drifted over and pulled Inu-Yasha along with her, out onto the dance floor. The music started up again and Akane began to dancing and smiling. Inu-Yasha began moving to the beat, trying intently to copy some of the things the other boys around him were doing. Meanwhile on the other side of the room Kagome bopped into the floor with Ranma by her side.

"Akane I don't want to dance!" Ranma said in her ear.

"Why not, you always seem so comfortable around your peers?" Akane asked. Ranma stared at her fixedly. He knew it was Akane who was making him feel so self conscious but it had never happened before.

"It's nothing I'm going to get a drink" Ranma mumbled walking away, disappearing into the crowd. Kagome giggled continuing to dance around till she noticed a boy that caught her eye. He was not much taller than her, with a long black plat, much longer and thicker than Ranma's. His back was to her but there was something uncannily familiar about him. She slowly made her way over to him then froze seeing who he was dancing with him, it was Akane.

"Inu-Yasha" she whispered in surprise. Then she felt a hand grasp her wrist. She looked back to see Ranma who was glaring in Inu-Yasha's direction.

"Is that Inu-Yasha, Akane?" Ranma asked in a serious tone, so strange coming from him.

"Do you want to know why I've been acting so strange lately?" Kagome asked desperately trying to avoid the fast coming fight between Ranma and Inu-Yasha. Ranma returned his gaze to Kagome.

"Yeah, tell me" Ranma asked his annoyance growing.

"I've been acting weird because-" Kagome thought not wanting to give up her secret "because I-"

"Spit it out" Ranma shouted taking Kagomes other hand in his. Kagome decided to do something she knew Kagome would hate. She suddenly wrapped her arms around him snuggling up to him, blushing madly with embarrassment.

"I saw that boy, and he reminded me of the Inu-Yasha from the Manga and I thought wouldn't it be nice to have someone like him to protect me and be with me. In the end I want the dog demon to choose the girl you see, I wanted him to choose her instead of power and pride and lately that's what's made me act differently because the dog demon is…he reminds me of you" Kagome explained wishing Inu-Yasha was one she was speaking to. Ranma, to Akane's surprise, gently put his arms around her. They swayed to the music on the dance floor and eventually broke apart. Ranma was a deep red colour and Kagome smiled.

"I really…do think you…are cute ya know" Ranma admitted looking away. However when he looked back Kagome was gone. He stared around for a while before going to look for her. Where had she run off to?

Inu-Yasha had been dancing for a while before he got fed up and decided to go get a drink, leaving Akane behind. He kept his eyes downcast feeling many eyes on him, mostly girls, and his plat. Inu-Yasha skulled a drink of juice as he thought of Kagome. She hadn't seemed quite right lately and he couldn't help but feel wary around her, like…like she wasn't Kagome at all. Suddenly he saw a girl, not Kagome but she was somehow similar. She ran out of the hall and he frowned at the pull in his stomach that told him to follow her. His gut told him to chase her and his gut wasn't often wrong so he did. Slowly and discreetly his pace ever quickening. Kagome bolted down an empty locker bay leading to the street. That was too close, she puffed. Kagome hoped Akane would find Ranma and realise the bet was off cause there was no way she was going back. While she liked Ranma it should have been Akane hearing his confessions, not her.

"Hey"

Just as Kagome was reaching for the door handle she heard a voice, the booming music in the hall still murmuring in the background.

"You dropped this"

She ever so slowly looked over her shoulder. There in the dimly lit room was a handsome boy, holding out a black cap. His shining purple eyes flashed in the dark capturing Kagome in them. His expression was a soft frown.

"Put it on" He said throwing the hat to her, which she caught clumsily.

"Unless you want everyone to think you're a cat" His voice was calm but firm. Kagome gasped shoving her hat over her head.

"I-Inu-Yasha, I-I thought you weren't coming" she stuttered as Inu-Yasha advanced on her.

"Well I did but not with you" His gaze hardened.

"Tell me, what's going on Kagome?" he said sternly bringing her face close to hers.

"Uh…well" Kagome stuttered. He pulled her into his arms suddenly resting his head on hers. She smiled, so happily. This was the second time he'd ever held her but this time she knew he wasn't going to end it by shoving her away. Her arms rested around him too.

"Don't worry about it" Inu-Yasha said softly blush covering his cheeks "It's about time you came back anyway"

"I know" she laughed in a whisper as they stood together in the new moonlight.

Akane danced around for an hour before she noticed Inu-Yasha was gone. Storming around the room in a huff while she was looking for Inu-Yasha she ran into Ranma.

"Hey Ranma!" Akane called waving. Ranma noticed her and walked over.

"Akane did you get changed?" Ranma asked inquisitively.

"Uh…yeah do you like it?" Akane played along.

"Did you hear what I said before you ran off to get changed?" Ranma asked. Akane shoot her head slowly.

"Well I uh…I really do think…you're cute, ya know" He said forcing the words out. Akane shocked face slowly gave way to a gentle smile.

"Specially when you smile like that" Ranma said even more quietly now. Akane held out her hand and Ranma took it leading her into the middle of the floor where they danced till late into the night.

The End.