Kagome was sitting at the table, staring at her plate. The steak's juices oozing out from the cut she made into it caused her stomach to growl with anticipation as she watched it. She glanced at the empty seat opposite of her and a sigh released from her lips. Instead of chowing down, she instead poked the meat with her fork and her stomach gave another gurgle.

The sound of creaking caught her attention and she glanced up. Her heart sped up just a little and warmth spread over her face as she smiled, seeing Julius sitting with her. He was already cutting up a piece of his steak, a look of indifference on his face. After he placed a small bite into his mouth he hummed. "You prepared the food very well today." He looked up and raised an eyebrow when he noticed she wasn't eating. She just continued to stare at him. "Yes?"

"You are eating with me." Her smile grew.

He gave a small shrug with one shoulder and went back to his meal. "I believe you mentioned last time that you did not like to eat alone." He is doing this because of her? The thought sent a flush of color into her cheeks. That's nice of him. "Or was I wrong?"

She shook her head, her hair fanning around her in the quick motion. "I did, but I am just surprised you are still sitting with me." She shrugged and then poked at her steak again. "I didn't think you cared."

"You are a temporary guest in my tower now. Showing decent courtesy such as sharing a meal together, when such an act pleases my guest, is common." He could have just said he did it because it made her happy—he made it sound like it was obligated to. Totally ruined the mood. "You were right." His words caused her to look back up at him. He was removing the fork from his lips, having tasted another bite of her steak. "The food is much more pleasant to eat when recently prepared—compared to being reheated." She was about to have a smartass remark come out of her mouth, but then he spoke again. "But you really are a good cook. These past few turns you have been here, the meals have been much more enjoyable… reheated or not."

His kind words caused her mouth to shut and she wasn't sure how to respond—"Thank you." So she thanked him. With her cheeks tainted with a nice shade of rose, she shared a meal with the usually isolated clockmaker, and she enjoyed it…


"What do you mean 'There isn't another room'? I can't have my own room?" Kagome looked down at the clockmaker with her arms crossed over her chest as he worked.

He sighed and raised his head up to look at her. "I tried to tell you before, one of the reasons I didn't want you staying here, is that this is the only livable room in the tower." He motioned towards the bed beside him. "Why do you think there is a bed here and you haven't slept anywhere else?"

Kagome paused for a moment, trying to think of a reason. "You are too lazy to go up to your room to sleep so you put a bed in your office to make it convent?"

Julius blinked. "That's a good guess…" He mumbled to himself but then he shook his head. "All the other rooms are full of things and I haven't had time to clean them out."

"So what you are saying is, we only have this one bed and this one room in this whole tower to sleep?" Well, that's just great…

It turned out Julius wasn't lying. Now that she was staying there she didn't have a problem exploring the tower and getting to know the layout a little better. Every room in the tower, other than the kitchen, bathroom, and Julius's workroom, was filled to the roof with …. Junk.

It had everything you could think of shoved in those rooms. Furniture, sheets, odd magical stuff, and mostly clock parts and tools. Kagome began to wonder why Julius even bothered to buy new gears and parts when he had a whole tower full of them. If he just took the time to look for them in the rooms he wouldn't have to go to town…

"I don't have time to go on an egg hunt." Was his reply.

Then again, the only time Julius ever went to town was to buy parts. It's the only sun he gets. If he never left the tower, he would turn so pale his skin would be see-through. She tried to hide the disgusted look on her face at the image.

"What?" He never looked up from his work. "You are staring at me with a peculiar look on your face."

"Just imaging you without skin." Her words caused him to pause and glance up at her, raising a single eyebrow in her direction. She just flashed him a bright smile and he shook his head, going back to work. "You know…" She started. "If you helped me, we could clean out some of the rooms."

"I'm too busy to take a few turns off just to pull out some objects so you can have your own room."

She huffed. "You would get your own room too, it isn't just for me."

"Unimportant detail." He added. "I'm fine the way things are."

"Oh?" She snorted. "You don't care that you don't have any privacy and you are now living with a woman, who sleeps in the same bed as you?"

She saw his ears turn red and he coughed. "Same bed, but not at the same time." Then he paused and looked up at her. "I tried to object and warn you but you wouldn't listen. If you have a problem with it, then you are welcome to leave." He then went back to his work. "I'm sure the others are still willing to take you in if you change your mind about staying in their domain."

"Fine. I'll deal with the one bed issue." She was too stubborn to back out. "But since I am living here now, I should be able to be comfortable around you."

"I don't see why not." He was still fixated on his work.

"Good." She smiled. "I'm going to go to bed then." She walked around his desk and stood beside the bed

"Again?" He mumbled to himself. She reached down and unbuttoned her pants. "You take more naps then a cat." The sound of her zipper caused him to pause and he glanced over. "What are you doing?"

"Hmm?" She glanced over at him, her hands on either side of her waist. "Getting comfortable." She sent him a sweet smile and without hesitation pushed her pants down, wiggling her hips as the fabric slid down her body.

"!" His entire face became a ripe tomato. "P-put your pants back on!" He turned his redden face away and she laughed, finding his embarrassment amusing.

She motioned to her now pant-less attire. "Back home I sleep like this." She told him. "I was being considerate when I was wearing pants in the bed before." That and she didn't know him well. "But you said we should get comfortable with each other now…" She smirked. "Unless you change your mind about me having my own room?"

"I told you." – He turned his head back towards her, but the moment he saw her his blush spread to his ears and he turned his head away again.—"I don't have time." He mumbled and began working on his clock, trying to ignore her.

"Then I will sleep like this." With that settled she picked up her pants and folded them over one of the ladder steps. She then climbed the ladder, going to bed.


"What a lucky man, that clockmaker." Nightmare smirked down at her as he floated in the air in front of her.

"What?" She huffed and crossed her arms over her chest.

"I wish I could have a woman sleeping in my bed, dressed like that." He snapped his fingers and her pants vanished.

She growled at him. "Don't do that."

"Oh but you seemed more than happy to do so at the tower…"

"That's different." She huffed. "Julius don't care about me that way." He doesn't stare at her like a piece of meat and creep her out. "He might get embarrassed about it, but his mind isn't in the gutter."

"But you forget, Kagome." He bent down lower and smiled. "He is a man." He hummed. "All men have urges, even the clockmaker."

She waved him off and shrugged. "I know that." She liked teasing him, but it was just for fun, nothing more. "What about you?"

"What about me?"

"You are a man."

He smirked. "Yes, I am."

"And…?" She motioned to herself and he chuckled.

"What are you trying to suggest?"

"What are your thoughts when you look at me?"

"Do you want me to answer that truthfully?"

"Yes." She placed her hands onto her hips.

"Well…" He looked at her and then— His mouth started to dribble blood, before he placed his hands over his mouth as he coughed, blood spewing out from his lips.

"I didn't think I looked that bad…."

"No." He waved a bloody hand in her direction as he was hunched over, his back to her as he continued to cough. "This isn't you…" He coughed a few more times before he wiped away the blood from his mouth. "My body is weak."

"You are sick?" She asked. "Why don't you go to the hospital?"

"I don't like hospitals." His face turned paler at the thought.

"Do you want me to use my powers to heal you?"

He blinked, taking back by her offering. "Are you worried about me?"

"Of course, you are my friend." She told him, and his expression softened a little. "I like you."

"Kagome—" Blood gushed out of his mouth once more, ruining the moment.

She gave him a blank expression. "Let me heal you."

"Won't work." He spoke while his hand was still covering his mouth, blood oozing from the cracks in his fingers. "We are in a dream, your powers won't heal me here." Concern was etched onto her face at the sight of the sick man and he laughed. "You are worried about me." He lowered his hand and smiled, blood dripping down from the corner of his mouth. "That makes me happy."

He was another weird one…

"Hey, I heard that!" He growled.

And it might be best to try and figure out a way to block him from reading her mind, while she was at it.


When Kagome woke up, she felt refreshed. With a yawn she crawled out of the bed and descended the ladder. She wasn't all too surprised to find Julius still at his desk, working. "That felt great." She stretched her arms above her head with a grunt. "You been working the whole time?"

"Yes." He grumbled, his eyes never leaving the clock. "If you are done sleeping, then put your clothes back on."

She laughed. "Sure." She grabbed her pants, turned, and started for the door. "I'm going to fix you some coffee too."

"Mmhm." He hummed in reply.

Once the door closed behind her he paused in his tinkering. He placed both the clock and screwdriver down and leaned back into his chair. He took his glasses off and tilted his head back and his covered his cherry colored face with his hand while sighing. "This is going to kill me."


"Here you go." She placed his coffee down on his desk with a smile. He nodded his head in thanks. Seeing him busy working she plopped her rear end on his desk, her thigh beside his coffee cup. "How long has it been since you slept?" She placed her own cup to her lips and sighed at the warm liquid sliding down her throat.

Instead of the usual 'Mmhm' he actually responded to her. "Six or seven turns." She noticed he has been doing that ever since she decided to live with him.

"You need to sleep."

"What I need to do is concentrate on my work." He told her as he reached out to his coffee without looking- "Sleep will come after I'm finished-" His fingers brushed across her thigh and he paused. He glanced over and heat rose into his cheeks.

She smirked in amusement and chose that moment to cross her bare legs, enjoying watching him pull his hand back as if her legs were venomous cobras. "You are never finished." She acted like everything was normal and took another drink of her coffee.

"I thought you were going to put your pants back on?" He was glaring at her, his blue pools focused on her eyes, and trying not to look down at her legs.

She shrugged. "I'm more comfortable like this."

"What if a customer walks in?"

She hummed and teasingly uncrossed her legs, so she could re-cross them again. "I guess it would be their lucky day then, huh?" His blush darkened and he glanced away from her out of the corner of his eyes. "You are very adorable when you blush."

She smiled at him and he huffed. "You are doing this on purpose."

He reached out and finally took his cup of coffee that was placed beside her thigh, her shirt hiked up from her sitting position caused his fingers to graze her skin once more and she shivered. He turned his head away and drank from the cup as if nothing was wrong and ignoring her again.

Yet after a few sips of his coffee he went back to work—he even placed the cup beside her leg again, and the blush on his face was gone.

She pouted, upset that he no longer was reacting towards her like before… Ruined her fun.


Since Kagome was officially living at the tower, she figured she was no longer a freeloader, and that meant she had some responsibilities to do around the tower. She began picking up the books he left littered around the workroom, putting them back on the shelves.

At first Julius asked what she was doing, and when she replied with 'seems someone doesn't know how to pick up after himself' he replied with a 'apologies, mother.' There was more banter between the two of them on the subject of how she wasn't his mother and he didn't want her picking up his things— Exact details of which alluded her at the moment other than the heated shouting—In the end Julius let her do what she wanted.

She dusted and cleaned the only three livable rooms in the towers. She also began organizing and cleaning the kitchen and fridge. She did the laundry, and cooked most of the daily meals. She made his coffee and every so often complained to him that he wasn't sleeping enough.

Kagome because the official live-in maid / nanny to the clock tower. Oh joy.


"Julius?" She walked into his workroom, several books placed in the crook of her arm, in her free hand was a small hourglass. "What's this?"

He looked up from his work and hummed. "That is a rare item." He told her. "Where did you find it?"

"In one of the rooms." She told him. "I found it while looking for some books to read." She shifted the books that were still in her arm. "What does it do?"

"It changes the time of day to whatever the holder wishes it to be." He pointed to it with his screwdriver. "Only outsiders may use it."

"Really?" She looked at the object with more interest. "How do you use it?"

"Just turn the sand over and speak the time you wish it to be."—Kagome was about to do as he said, curious, but then he spoke again, stopping her.—"It's a onetime use so unless you have more I wouldn't waste it."

"Oh." She decided against it then, and placed the hourglass into her pocket, beside her glass vial. Seeing several books already back out and placed onto his desk, she reached out and took them. "If you are done with these I'll put them up for you." She placed them with the rest of her books in her arms.

"Thanks." He nodded his head as he continued his work and she nodded back, even though she knew he couldn't see it.

"Welcome." She walked over to the several bookshelves he had and put his books away, adding her own to the variety as well.


"Julius?" Kagome called to the clockmaker as she was lying down on his couch. Her head was placed against the armrest, relaxed. She lowered her book down so she could glance at the man working behind his desk, over the rim of her book.

He never stopped working, but he did reply. "Hmm?"

"Do you think I'm doing a good job here?"

"What are you referring to?"

"I mean, my cleaning and stuff." She raised her book back up and hummed. "Do you think I'm earning my keep here?"

"You are doing alright." He told her. "Other than your coffee making skills, I would say everything else is up to par with my expectations."

She gave a small snort and lifted her legs up. She placed her feet at the top of the back end of the couch, and crossed her ankles. The slope of the action caused her shirt to hike up even more, bearing more of her thighs for the world to see, but she paid it no mind, wiggling her toes and moving her feet as she continued to read. Even though she was hogging the couch, she was rather comfortable…

"And put some clothes on!" His command from the other end of the room, which only caused a sly grin to play upon her face.

She just hummed, acting like she didn't hear him, and continued reading.


Julius was working, like he always was—He cursed inside of his mind when he miscalculated and he cracked an important piece. He paced the clock down onto his desk and groaned. How could he work when two pairs of legs are sitting on top of his desk, distracting him?

He removed the cracked object and replaced it with another, trying to ignore her presence. Think about something else…

Work usually took up all of his thoughts, but he couldn't concentrate on it fully. He turned a few gears, trying to force his mind into work mode. He placed his screwdriver down and looked for his other tool. He spotted it lying innocently beside her creamy thigh. He bit his inner cheek, to stop himself from flushing at the sight of her skin, and reached out, taking his tool in his hand. His fingertips touched her smooth flesh, but he didn't react, feeling rather proud of himself that he kept his expression indifferent, and retrieved his tool. He went back to focusing on her legs- Clock! The clock… in his hand.

Work—think about… work. Concentrate.

He adjusted a few knobs and he could still feel the warmth of her skin against his fingers—He closed his eyes and sighed, trying to empty his mind. He opened them back up again and stared at the metal gears.

How the gears turned and shifted.

How creamy and smooth they are—

Focus!

The hands on the clock were bent.

His own hands running up her calves—

Concentrate!

The sound she would make, and her warm body pressed against his as her sculpted legs wrapped around him—

He groaned. He needed a drink…

He turned to go get himself some, but paused when a cup appeared in front of his face. "Here you go."

He needed something a little stronger than coffee. "Thank you." But it will have to do for now.

He took a sip of the drink and tried not to cringe. Alcohol and Kagome's bad coffee were pretty much the same anyway. They both burned your throat going down to the point where it was almost painful, then it hit your stomach like a brick. Then after a moment, a sense of warmth would flow through your blood.

"35."

"What! That's even lower than last time." She grumbled. Yet he just ignored her complains and stood his ground with his score. "Be that way then." She huffed. "Just so you know, I'm going to town." She hopped off his desk. "You need anything?"

"You going dressed like that?"

She laughed. "Of course not."

He grabbed a pen and wrote down a few things for her get, and handed it to her. "Don't get kidnapped again and forget them this time."

His words caused her to blush a pretty pink and she huffed. "I'll try not to."

And she left him alone in the room, finally allowing him to get a least a few moments of peace and focus on his work.


Kagome was walking through the tower, towards the kitchen, several large bags of groceries were in both hands. Nothing exciting or unusual happened when she went to town, and she wasn't sure if she should be happy with that, or disappointed-

"No way! Really?!" A voice echoed down the hallway, catching her attention. It sounded familiar.

"Ace?" She mumbled the knight's name as she walked towards the workroom.

"If Kagome is as bad as you say, no wonder you can't concentrate, man." His jolly laughter spilled out.

They are talking about her? She didn't want to ease drop so she shifted all the bags into one hand and reached out to the doorknob to open it-

"It's… bothersome."

Kagome froze. Bothersome?

She looked down at the ground sadly. Of course she was troubling him—barging into his house and messing up his life. She thought she was helping him with cleaning and cooking, but she should have realized she was just a burden to him.

"Good to know you still have boy parts, Julius." Ace spoke up.

"Be quiet."

Ace laughed. "See you later." The doorknob turned.

"Go."

The door opened and- "Kagome?"

Kagome took a step back, trying to act surprised at seeing the knight. "Oh. Ace, I didn't know you were here."

He closed the door behind him. "Those look heavy. Let me help you." He reached out and took them without hesitation.

"Umm…"

"Where do these go?"

"I'll show you." She then led him into the kitchen, her mind full of heavy thoughts.


Kagome was standing at the topmost part of the tower, looking out at the land. It was evening time, and the sky was painted a lovely shade of red, reminding her of blood. At the thought, she felt her heart clinch at the sight and she looked away from the sky and down at her hand—Held within was the hourglass she found.

She turned the object over in her hand, watching the sand shift for a few seconds. "Night." The word slipped from her lips and she watched the sand inside glow, then in a flash the hourglass disappeared and the air around her was slightly chilled. Above her, stars were lettered across the sky, poking through the inky blackness of the night. She smiled to herself and sat down, looking up at the sky as she counted the dots above her to clear her head.

"It's… bothersome."

Bothersome. That's was she was to him: A bother. Inconvenient and troublesome to have around him. She thought he said she was doing alright and living up to his expectations, but she guess he was just saying that to be nice.

He probably didn't like her running around his tower and disorganizing things from where he put them. She started to wonder if he really even enjoyed her cooking, or was he just being considerate with that as well? He just felt obligated to sit with her and eat her food because she cooked it—that's all.

She knows for a fact that her coffee sucks and he doesn't like it—

"35."

Lately her scores have been getting worse and worse. Soon it will be back down to '5' again. She should have seen the signs. He was mad at her, and the scores was a heavy hint at it. She sighed as she curled her legs to her chest and rested her chin on her knees. Now that she figured it out, it was upsetting her.

If he really didn't like her being there, he should just tell her—or at least kick her out if he is unhappy. She was the one that pushed herself into his life and started living with him. She sighed. She wasn't really sure what the clockmaker was thinking—or have any real logical explanation for doing the things that he does.

Maybe she should just leave, and go to the amusement park or something? Would Gowland still let her stay after she refused his invitation? If not, she still had the castle—

"So this is where you were." His deep voice cut through the silence like a cold blade and she jumped at the sound.

"Julius?" She glanced at him over her shoulder, watching him walk towards her.

"I didn't mean to startle you." He was now standing beside her. "What are you doing up here?"

She looked up at the sky. "Thinking…"

"May I join you?" It surprised her, but she nodded. He sat down on her right side, and he too stared up at the sky.

After a few moments of silence, she glance back towards him. "What are you doing here?" She repeated the same question he asked her earlier.

"I was concerned when the time shifted to night, and you had not returned." He confessed. "I went to the kitchen, to see if you returned and were preparing dinner, but I only saw the bags. This was the only other place that you could be at in the tower."

"Wait…" She fully turned towards him, a surprised look on her face. "You were worried about me?"

"Of course." And he admitted it! She felt her cheeks flush with blood. "You are living in my domain, and are my reasonability now." Then he ruined it. She sighed in disappointment and turned her head away from him. To him, she is still just a child that he is forced to babysit—She felt a gentle touch on her chin, turning her head back so that she was staring into dark blue. "I would be deeply upset if something happened to you." His expression told her that was completely serious and she couldn't stop the heat rising once again into her cheeks. "If you are gone, who would be left to fix me horrible coffee?"

"Ass." She huffed, pulling her chin from his grasp. Hearing his deep chuckle in amusement she slapped his arm playfully, the corner of her lips curving upwards slightly.

"You are smiling again…" His expression softened towards her. "That's good."

She found herself sighing at his words. He noticed she was upset, and cheered her up—that was rather sweet of him. She was staring at him as he was looking up towards the sky. She noted how handsome he was.

He wasn't warring his glasses, and the color of his eyes and hair matched the darkness of the sky above them. He seemed content, sitting there beside her and staring up at the sky.

"Aren't you hot?" She motioned towards his jacket. "You always ware it—don't you sweat inside of that thing?"

"No." He shook his head. "It is quite comfortable."

"Oh." She shrugged and turned her attention back to the sky. The chilled night air blew around her and she involuntarily shivered from it—She paused when warmth suddenly surrounded her. She glanced down and saw a familiar jacket placed onto her shoulder, the large clothing almost engulfing her small body within it. She gave him a questioning glance.

"You seem cold."

Her cheeks flushed just a little. "Thank you." She hugged the jacket closer to her body, savoring his scent that clung to it, now surrounding her. "You were right." She hummed. "It's warm and comfortable." She looked back over at him, but he turned his head away from her. When he did so, the clock hanging from his left earlobe caught her attention. She stared at it for a moment as he stared up at the sky, not noticing her sudden fascination at his jewelry. She reached out and gently scooped the low hanging clock into her palm. He froze beneath her touch and glanced at her out of the corner of his eyes. She hummed as she examined the clock, leaning closer to him. "Why are all of your clocks stuck at 12:45?" She noticed this before—the clocks that he always wore had the same time on them, and never moved, as if they were frozen in time. She finally looked away from the clock and at his face.

At hearing her question, his flushed face vanished, replaced by a more saddening expression. "It was the exact time the last master of the clock tower died, and I took his place."

"I see…" She let the clock slip from her grasp.

It swayed back and forth a few times, before finally resting below his ear like it always did. She felt his hand softly cup her cheek, and she leaned into the warmth. She looked back towards his face and noticed that he was leaning closer than before.

"It's… bothersome."

"Why are you up here with me, Julius?" The question spit out of her lips as she pulled away from his touch. "Don't you have work to do?" She did not mean for it to sound as harsh as it did, but it was too late to take it back…

He leaned away as well, putting space between them. "I am taking a small break."

"A break?" He never takes a break.

"My work is finished for now." He told her while looking up at the sky. "This is the first break I have had in a while, and I owe it to you."

"Me?"

He nodded. "Your help with the chores and other necessities around the tower helped me to concentrate more on my work and finish earlier than expected." He looked back towards her and smiled. "Thank you."

She fiddled with the edge of his jacket and looked down. "You're welcome."

He looked back towards the stars, and she copied his movements, finding the dots to be more enjoyable now that she had company. But deep down, she couldn't help but allow the spark of doubt to cloud her thoughts and ruin the mood.

Did he really mean what he said?

"It's… bothersome."

She thought that he didn't like her being with him? What was she supposed to believe? Maybe she should ask him? She shook her head. She didn't want him thinking that she was eavesdropping on him and Ace's conversation.

"I know it was sudden for you, and you don't like me being here." She looked back down, finding her toes more interesting than the stars. "All you have to do is tell me and I'll leave you alone." She gave her toes a wiggle. "You don't have to feel like you have to let me stay because I asked—" A heavy weight was suddenly placed on her shoulder and she gave a small squeak. She glanced over and saw a mop of familiar dark hair. "Julius?" She reached out and brushed away his unruly bangs from his eyes. "Asleep?" The word fell from her lips in surprise. She was about to shake him awake when he slouched forward—"Whoa!" She caught him by his shoulders before he kissed the concrete with his face. "Umm." She looked around, before she finally looked down at her lap.

She sighed and with a little wiggling around was able to place the heavier man on his back, his head resting on her lap. She moved his jacket off of her so she could drape it over the sleeping male like a blanket. She carefully pulled out his hair from his tie, enjoying how the smooth strands went across her thighs like flowing black water. She couldn't help herself as she reached out and ran her fingers once again through his bangs, while the other was busy weaving through his long hair.

She stared at his face, noticing how peaceful he looked when he was resting. "When was the last time you went to sleep?"

"Six or seven turns." The memory came to her and she almost gaged.

That was over five time turns ago! This man hasn't went to bed in almost twelve turns!? What is wrong with him! She huffed as she glared down at the male in disappointment. He will get sick like that! He knows better. She snorted through her nose, feeling like his mother…

"This is the first break I have had in a while."

"If he was so tired, why didn't he just go to sleep after he was done with his work?" The question popped into her mind.

"I was concerned when the time shifted to night, and you had not returned." His voice replied in her mind, giving her the answer.

He was worried about her, so instead of going to bed he went and looked for her—

"May I join you?" He continued to echo in her thoughts.

"You are smiling again…" His expression softened towards her. "That's good."

He noticed she was upset, so he stayed with her and made her feel better...

Blood slowly crept into her cheeks as she looked down at the sleeping man with a gentle look on her face. "Idiot…" She mumbled as she traced every detail on his face with her fingers carefully. "That was very kind of you." She brushed his bangs away from his face, slowly bent down, and placed her lips against his forehead. "Thank you."

It's nice to know that behind that cold shoulder he is always giving her, deep down he cares…


Warmth. Warmth and a pleasant but familiar aroma. Warmth, a pleasant aroma, and an odd rocking motion, as if he were on a boat. Not something he usually finds himself thinking of when the first haze of sleep starts to clear from his mind and his senses are kicking in.

It wasn't until he finally opened his eyes and found out why he was feeling those particular sensations, that he quickly found himself sporting every shade of red on his face. He swiftly sat up, his jacket falling off of him and crumbling into a pile on his lap. He looked at the girl sleeping on the floor, as his mind tried to call back the last thing he remembered.

"That's right." He was finished with his work, and he came up to the roof when Kagome did not return from her shopping after it had turned dark.

He looked down at the girl's firm stomach, where his head was resting moments before, and he fought off another wave of heat trying to show itself onto his cheeks. He looked down at the jacket still crumbled on his lap and he put two and two together. He reached up and ran his hand through his hair with a sigh of disappointment. He must have fallen asleep…

He watched the girl's chest rise and fall while she continued to sleep on the cold roof. He raised his gaze to the sky, seeing the red of evening blanket overhead. He got to his feet, bringing his jacket with him. He covered Kagome's small body with his coat, and bent down. Placing one arm below her knees, and another behind her shoulders, he easily lifted the tiny woman up in his arms. She shifted slightly in the movement, but otherwise did not wake up.

"You are nothing but trouble for me." He found himself sighing as he left the roof, and began descending the stairs.

But he guess a little bit of trouble every so often never killed anyone…

She gave a small hum, and nuzzled her face into his neck. The action caused a small blush to paint across his nose, and he shivered slightly when her breath was brushing against his skin. His hold on the woman tightened slightly as his clock malfunctioned.

At least he hoped it didn't…


"I'm glad you are with me." She smiled to herself as she sat on the couch, reading. Julius sitting beside her, book in his hand as well. She glanced over at him, not use to seeing him without his jacket or clock tie.

"It is good practice to sometimes relax the mind as well as the body." He looked more at peace as he sat there, his nose in one of his clock books.

"If that is the case, then I've read so many of your books at this point, my mind must be made up of marshmallows." She mumbled beneath her breath.

"Ah, now it all makes sense to me."

She huffed and lowered her book so that it was on her lap as she glared at him. "What is that supposed to mean?"

"What do you think I meant?" He continued to stare at the pages, yet she saw the corner of his lip twitch in amusement.

"You just called me stupid."

"I said no such thing."

"You did too!"

"You are mistaken." He calmly turned the page.

"Ugh!" She growled and shifted in her seat, angry. She then maneuvered herself so that she had her back against the armrest instead.

She curled her legs up to her chest. Mumbling complaints beneath her breath as her eyes bore into the pages of her book, but not really reading the words. She heard his deep chuckle fill the air and she harshly blew a strand of her hair out of her face and glared at him over the rim of her book. She stared at his calm demeanor, as he sat there reading his book. She smirked. She stretched her naked legs out and plopped them on top of his lap. His chuckling instantly stopped. He moved his book to the side so that he could look down at his lap.

He sent her a questioning glance. "What are you doing?"

"What do you mean?" She played innocent as she pretended to read her book without a care.

"Move your legs." She crossed her ankles. He growled, a tick appearing above his brow.

She just giggled at his anger. "You are cute when you are angry."

He gave a huff in her direction, but he didn't dare touch her legs to push them off of him. Instead he used her legs to rest his book on top of and continued reading, ignoring her. She sighed and leaned further into the couch as her mind skimmed over the inked words in front of her.

She enjoyed the little moments like this with him…

She laughed and wiggled her toes whenever his fingers would brush against them, when he moved to turn the page in his book.


"Here you go." She placed his coffee down from the other side of the desk.

"Thank you." He mumbled a small thanks, never lifting his gaze from his work.

"It's too bad your break didn't last long…" She whispered beneath her breath as she watched him.

"They never do."

"I was wanting to spend more time with you."

He must have heard the sadness in her tone for he paused. "It won't take me long."

She looked at the clocks that filled the box in front of her, on his desk. "Really?" She wasn't so sure about that. Then an idea popped into her head. "You know, I'm done with the cleaning for the day." She said. "I can help you." She reached out to the box of clocks. "With the two of us, it will get done in no—"

His head jerked up, and he suddenly jumped out of his seat. "Don't touch those!" His eyes were wide as he shouted at her.

She quickly pulled her hand away, as if burnt, and she placed it to her chest as she took a step back. "I-I'm sorry…" She turned away from him. "I just…" She wasn't sure what to say— He has never yelled at her like that before. "I didn't mean to touch them w-without asking." She found herself apologizing again, not wanting him to be angry with her. "I'm sorry. I won't do it again."

He sighed, his expression shifting as if he was conflicted with himself. "It's not your fault." He closed his eyes. "You are an outsider, these are not your problem." He told her. Usually her being an outsider never mattered to him—Why now all of a sudden? "This is dirty work." He said. "These clocks are unclean… as are the men who fix them." As he said this he opened his eyes back up, and a dark emotion was hidden beneath them. "I have no desire to dirty your hands." He sat back down and looked up at her. "I do not want you to touch the clocks that come through here." His tone left no room for argument.

"What? Why?" Yet that has never stopped her before. "Dirty my hands? With what? Gear oil? I don't understand."

"That's not what I mean." The crinkle appeared between his eyebrows again. "Anyway, it's not necessary for you to concern yourself about my work." He picked up his tool, and began working again. "Bothering me about it will only delay me further."

And just like that, the conversation was over, leaving her confused and an uncompleted feeling in the pit of her stomach that troubled her. Why does it feel like he is hiding something from her…?


Julius put down his clock as he shook the can that was in his other hand, finding it empty. He checked the other containers on his desk and sighed when he found they were empty as well. He looked at the clock on his desk and the others he has yet to finish. He glanced out of the window behind him, checking what shift it was, and seeing that it wasn't night, he sighed for a second time. Making his decision he stood up and reached for his jacket.

"I'm going to town." He announced as he slipped his arm into his sleeve. "I am out of oil and other provisions, and need to stock up."

"Great!" Kagome jumped out of her seat on the couch, a smile on her face. "I'll go with you! Just wait a minute and let me put some pants on—"

"That is not necessary." His words caused her to pause.

"You want me to go into town half naked?" She had a puzzled look on her face but shrugged. "Well that would be…interesting…" Does this woman have no decency!?

A light color of pink flushed into his cheeks. "I mean that I do not need you to accompany me to town. I will go alone."

She pouted. "What? But I want to go—"

"Stay here." He left no more room for argument. He picked up his pouch of money that she left lying on the table from the last time she went shopping, and tied it to his belt.

"Why?" Yet she finds a way to do so anyway.

"I won't be gone long, and because I said so." He walked to the door and opened it. He glanced at her over his shoulder. "For once, just listen to me and don't leave the tower."

She frowned slightly at his words, but nodded, looking down at the ground sadly. His hold on the doorknob tightened at the sight, and he had to struggle not to speak up and apologize to her—telling her that she could come with him—He shook his head and steeled his emotions. It was for her own good…

He kept telling himself that over and over again as he closed the door behind him and walked to the town with a heavy heart. His mind replying the saddened look she gave him and he tried to ignore the tightening in his chest the image caused him.


"Thank you." He nodded his head to the cashier, and the faceless nodded back, handing him his bag. Not wasting any time, he tucked the bag in his arm, holding it tightly. He headed back down the street, going back to the tower with his parts. As he walked down the path, his eyes were constantly shifting, in his other hand he tightly held onto his wrench, just in case…

"So you were just buying parts…" The voice giggling in his ear caused him to jump and turn around.

"K-Kagome!" Her name slipped from his lips as he stared at her smiling face.

"And here I thought with the way you were acting, you were doing something naughty~"

"Naughty?" He gave a small snort through his nose at her comment, but his cheeks became flushed with color. "I thought I told you to stay at the tower."

"Yeah but…" She put her hands behind her back and rocked back and forth on her heels. "I thought if I followed you, I would catch you at a strip club or watching a peep show." She laughed. "Would have been funny to see your face when I caught you in the act."

His blush spread down to his neck. "What kind of man do you take me for?"

She shrugged. "What was I supposed to think when you told me to stay at the tower like that? It was suspicious."

He glanced back and forth, noticing the crowd gathering around and watching them. "We should head back." He turned and started walking down the street again, back to the tower.

"Hey, wait up!" She quickly caught up, and walked beside him. "Why are you in such a hurry? You never get out. You should walk around town and go into some more stores." She hummed. "There is a nice restaurant just around the corner we can—"

"No." His voice was stern.

She pouted and placed her hands onto her hips. "You are no fun." She grumbled. "You are so pale and never leave! When you do you hardly stay out…"As she continued her rant, his eyes were shifting to and fro, catching sight of any wary movement. "Eating at the restaurant isn't going to kill you."

"I said no."

"Next time Ace comes over we are going to go on a picnic together." She pointed her finger at him. He opened his mouth, but she gave him a look that dared him to object…

He sighed, feeling a headache forming beneath his eyes. "If it will get you to be still about the subject, then fine." She took that as his sign of defeat and smiled.

As the two were walking, the faceless were whispering to each other, spreading rumors. "Is that the undertaker?" Several of them whispered.

"I heard that he has taken a woman into his tower…"

"Seriously?"

"Not just any woman… an outsider…"

"She is an outsider?"

"That's what I hear."

"Look at the way they talk to each other and are together… They must be close."

"We can use that…" A sly smirk spread across his face as he watched the two walk past his spot in the shadows.


Kagome was sitting on Julius's desk, watching the clockmaker work. Every so often she would lift her teacup to her lips and take a sip as she stared at him. She was fascinated, observing his hands move elegantly around. His fingers shifting fluently like a professional dancer, to music only he could hear. He conducted them in such a way she was mesmerized by his movements. She loved watching him work.

"Why are you staring at me?" He spoke up, but never stopped his tinkering.

"I'm bored." She told him.

"Don't you have some dusting or something to be done?"

"It's all finished." She took another sip of her tea, noticing that he seemed surprised by this.

"Not going to take another nap then?" He glanced over just for a second and saw that she was pants-less.

"Not right this second." She crossed her legs and smiled. "I love watching you work."

He paused and fully looked over at her. "You do?" He hummed.

"Yes." She bent down just a little and her expression softened. "Your hands are like magic when you fix the clocks." She told him, enjoying the reaction of a blush that spread across his features. "Hmmm." Her eyes focused on his blue orbs and she reached out and placed her hand on the side of his face.

"What are you—" She lifted his glasses up just enough for her to see his eyes better. Then she put them back down on his nose. A curious expression showed itself as she repeated this action several times. Up-down-up-down.

"On or off? On." She put them back down. "Off?" She lifted them back up. "On-off."

"Would you stop that?" He pulled his head away from her grasp, and his glasses fell down onto his nose, crooked. He reached up and pushed his glasses back into place with a single digit.

"I was testing to see if I like you better with your glasses on, or off." She told him as she smiled against the rim of her teacup. "Your eyes are lovely with them off, but then I think I have this glasses fetish I didn't know about, because I find you very handsome with them on too." She hummed. "I can't decide."

His face became red and he turned back around to his work. "Go to bed already. You are distracting me from my work."

"Alright already." Gee.

She was starting to feel like he was pushing her away and didn't want her around him anymore… Why?


Several time periods later…

"More coffee?" Kagome found herself raising an eyebrow when she sat down on his desk and handed him his coffee, and he took it without question. "Must be bad if you are requesting my bad coffee." And drinking it without complaint—

He took a sip. "30" Ah, there it is.

"That's the lowest it's been in a while!" She huffed, placing her arms over her chest as she looked down at him.

He ignored her comment. "I believe my desk is starting to get an impression on it from your rear end." He lowered his cup and she noticed his eyes shifting to her crossed legs as she sat on his desk.

"Hmm. I was wondering why it was getting more comfortable." She wiggled her butt for added effect. "Guess you have to break it in first."

"That was clever." He mumbled into his cup as he took another sip.

"Thank you." She smiled. "I just made that up, nice uh?" She then turned serious. "That's your tenth cup, you should slow down and maybe get some rest—"

"Don't wander around like that. Go to bed." He ordered as he sat the cup down onto his desk and went back to work.

"What? I can't walk around like this without you commanding me to go to bed?" Her eyebrows angled together and she huffed "And don't think you can changed the subject on me. You need to go to bed too."

"My work is piling up—"

"I don't care. You need to rest." She pointed her finger at him. "You remember what happened last time you went too long—you fell asleep on the roof." She then added. "In my lap."

His cheeks had an almost unnoticeable color blotched onto them from her words. "I don't need sleep, I need to concentrate and you are distracting me."

"Oh I'm distracting you am I?" She placed her hands onto her hips. "How? By telling you to get some rest? Or how about all the times I bring you coffee and clean your room?"

"No." He raised his hand, and she could tell his temper flared. "No…" He said it more softly. "It's not that—it's…" He paused, as if he was struggling with himself.

"Yeah?" She questioned him. "What am I doing?"

"That." He motioned to her without looking away from his clock.

"That?" Her tone gave away her confusion.

"Yes. This." He motioned again up and down.

She looked down at herself more seriously this time and started looking over what he could be talking about. "What? Me sitting on your desk? Is that really bothering you—" She thought he was just joking. "I-I'm sorry I didn't know—"

"No!" He turned towards her and growled. "I mean—" His face turned a darker shade and he looked away from her again. "For the last time, can you put on some clothes!?" He added. "Please?" Kagome sat there, blinking at him with a blank look on her face. What? "It's indecent! Have some propriety." He began to tell her. "A young woman shouldn't be dressed like that in a man's room."

No way—No way.

He was—he was actually bothered by it this much? She watched as he mumbled complaints under his breath beside her, a dash of color still on his cheeks. "You mean…" A sly smirk appeared on her face at this new knowledge, not going to let it pass her up. "This." She turned herself and placed her legs across his desk, blocking him from working on his clock. "Is…distracting…?" She was enjoying herself way too much as she watched him pull his hands away and squirm in his seat. "Or maybe its…" She reached down and lifted the end of her shirt a little higher up her thigh. "This… that's distracting you? Hmm?"

"S-stop it!" He immediately turned his head away from her and began to stammer just enough to be utterly adorable. "G-go to bed already!"

She shrugged. "Alright." She removed her legs from in front of him and he released a heavy sigh of relief. She jumped off of his desk. She walked behind his chair, trailing her fingertips along the back until she was on the other side of him. A smirk appeared on her face as she stopped and bent down. "If you will join me?" She blew into his ear and he instantly jumped, the movement causing the chair to tumble over and land on the ground with a thump. She noticed his face was the reddest it has ever been, as he stood there and tried not to look her in the eye. "C'mon Julius." She teased him a little more, maybe enjoying it a bit too much. "Why are you so red?" She leaned close to him and he turned his head away from her. She laughed, finding his embarrassment funny.

His jaw tightened, and his fist that was by his side clinched, not finding it as funny as she did—There was a blur of movement, which caused her to freeze in her giggles, and she suddenly found herself laying on his desk, his hand supporting her head. She was barely able to register his own larger body over hers when she opened her mouth to question him.

"What—?" His hand slipped from behind her head to be placed on her cheek causing a cold chill to go down the back of her neck as his fingers brushed against her skin. His face got closer and her lips parted slightly as she whispered his name out. "Jul—" His mouth touched her neck, and she couldn't process anything after that—who he was. What his name was—she couldn't even remember her own at the moment. She couldn't think, but she could feel. His hand still on her cheek. His silky hair brushing against her chest. The way he smelt a little like mechanical oil. The shaky breath against her pulse. "Nngh." She didn't know she could make such a sound when she felt his fingers trail slowly up her leg. Her body reacted, her leg moving up with his hand, stopping when he reached her knee. Her inner thigh was held against his hip. His long fingers grazed a spot behind her knee she didn't even know existed and she shivered, another sound involuntarily came out which caused her cheeks to become warm.

He released a slow and jagged sigh against her flesh. He pulled up and away from her. "Push me off, damn you!" His glasses were slipping off as he glared down at her, his face flushed.

Huh? Her brain was still in a haze as she saw her own reflection staring back at her in his dark eyes. "Why?" The word slipped out. "It felt good…" They fell from her lips without thinking.

His blush spread down to his neck. "Kagome." His voice was rougher, deeper. The sound caused her to shiver. "Men can be extremely dangerous." He tightened his grip on her knee, pressing her thigh harder against his hip, and she used all her will power not to wiggle beneath him. "Don't provoke their… urges."

Once her mind started working again, his body was no longer over her, and his hands were gone a well. She slowly sat up just in time to see him walking towards the door, mumbling about coffee. She placed her hand to her still flushed face as her mind began swirling around in her skull trying to put things together.

She was not expecting that from him—at all.

"Urges?" She repeated the word he used earlier. Was he really talking about other men, or was he warning her about provoking him? "I…" She reached up and lightly touched the spot where his lips kissed her neck. "I'm going to go to bed."

Yeah. That was the best choice. Bed-and maybe put some pants on-Don't want to provoke anymore urges from him.

She could still feel the warmth of his breath against her pulse and she shivered.


"Kagome!"

"Big Sis!"

"I-"

"We've—"

"Come to play!"

Kagome glanced over to the door and spotted three faces that caused a smile to instantly appear on her own. "Buyo, Dee, Dum!"

"Let's go to the park!" Boris and the twins walked over to the couch were she was sitting at, reading. The cat no longer correcting her when she didn't call him by his real name. "You're not sick anymore, right? Come on." He reached out and grasped her hand, his tail swaying back and forth. "Play with us."

The park? The idea seemed rather nice. She hasn't been out much since she moved in with Julius and she was starting to get bored.

"Well…" A usually quiet voice called out from behind his work station. "This is a surprise." He lifted his gaze, staring at the newcomers. "You've already tamed the bloody twins and the amusement park cat."

"Tame?" Kagome repeated his harsh word with puzzlement.

"Aw." Boris smirked. "I think the clockmaker's jealous." Julius's eyebrow gave a small twitch. "Relax will ya? We won't be gone long." He told him. "You already live with her, hogging her to yourself most of the time." He hummed. "Unless maybe you wanted to come along too." He suggested. "The old man does miss you."

The idea of Julius walking with her in the park made her heart feel warm-

"No." Was his immediate response, and she pouted in disappointment. "I have no interest in a place with uncivilized rides."

"Ah, that's right." Boris grinned. "Now I remember. You hate roller coasters." Seeing the clockmaker's face turn blue, the cat's grin grew in size.

Julius doesn't like roller coasters? Is he afraid?

She was about to open her mouth to question him, when she felt another tug on her wrist, which caused her to drop her book and be pulled up to her feet. "We are borrowing Kagome. Later!" She was barely able to look over her shoulder in time to make eye contact with Julius before she was dragged by three separate pairs of hands out the door and down the hallway.

Julius reached up and covered his face with his hand. He sighed, lowing his tools down onto the counter as he messaged his temples, feeling a headache throbbing behind them. A sensation surrounded him and his eyes widened slightly, seeing a swirl of grey magic around him.

"I'm trying to work." He released a heavily irritated sigh and leaned back into his chair. "Nightmare." He spat the incubus's name as he looked up and spotted him floating above him.

"Please." He almost snorted at that. "You were slacking when I got here." He motioned around them. "Daydreaming… hmm?" He floated down lower to him and smiled. "You never use to do that before. So even the clockmaker couldn't help falling for the outsider's charms?"

"Kagome has nothing to do with it." He crossed his arms over his chest. "While we are on the subject." He started. "Why did you bring her to this world?"

Nightmare's smile fell and Julius did not like that expression. "I did not bring her."

His eyes narrowed. "What do you mean? Who else—"

"Joker." The name had the clockmaker on his feet with a mix of surprise and fear on his face. What does he want with her? Nightmare chuckled. "That's a look I have never seen you display before Julius—are you worried for her?"

His eyebrow twitched from the dream demon's teasing and he huffed, turning his head away from him in denial. "Do you know what he wants?"

Nightmare shook his head and frowned. "No." He shrugged. "We won't know anything until the next April season."

"Damn jester." Julius found his hands balling into fists by his side. What does he want with Kagome?

"You are worried about her. Just admit it." He teased again.

"Shut up."

He never denied nor admitted it.


Julius stood on top of his tower, looking over the land. He was too busy to be taking a break, but he had to relax his muddle thoughts and try to organize himself. His mind wouldn't focus and he found his usual solution was to go to the roof. His dark eyes scanned the forest and domains, until they landed on the ferriswheel, easily spotted sticking up like a beacon for the amusement park.

He wondered if she was having a good time there.

He shook his head, trying to rid himself of the thoughts. If he was there to clear his mind, thinking of the one thing that distracts him was not going to help—especially when she finally leaves him so he could get some peace. Yet he just seems to think about her more when she's gone.

He paused in his thoughts when he heard footsteps coming quickly up the stairs. The image of a certain raven haired woman invaded his mind but he pushed them away. It was too soon for her to be back—unless something happened? He tried to calm his ticking clock as he turned towards the only entryway on and off of the roof.

"What are you doing here?" The question came as a surprise as he angled his eyebrows together. "Rabbit."

"Why else would I appear in a place so drear, unless it's to see my sweet dear?"

He is here to see someone? No one else lives here but him and- His eyes narrowed at him.

"Kagome?" This cold-blooded murderer is looking for Kagome? That did not sit well with him and he felt his body tense up. "Why do you want to see her?" He cross his arms over his chest with a hum. "Don't tell me that the outsider has even caught the ruthless rabbit's affections?"

"I love her." He said it so seriously, he couldn't help but be completely flabbergasted at the confession. "If it was for Kagome, I would give her my everything." He placed his hand over his chest, where his clock was. "Everything."

"You don't even know her—"

"She knows me." He told him. "And I know her." His words caused him to be completely confused. "But that has nothing to do with you, sir."

"I guess it doesn't matter in the end, since I am going to take her back to her world." His announcement caused the rabbit to pause. "Joker broke the rules and brought her here. It is unlike him to do such a thing and I don't know his reasons, but even if she took the medicine I believe I can take her back home, since she is here illegally." If his guess is correct, the rules don't apply to her.

"But…" Yet a small smile appeared on the rabbit's face. "Are you brave enough to do that?" His words caused Julius to stand there with a blank expression, taken off guard. "I am not the only one who likes Kagome's affections, am I clockmaker?" He crossed his arms over his chest. "I don't believe you will take her." He stated. "You let her live here, which is something quite out of character for you." He hummed. "Is this not true?" Julius felt his jaw clinch at the rabbit's words. "Now that's settled." He clapped his hands, as if ridding himself of the conversation. "Without Kagome near, I have no reason to be here." He turned and started walking away once again. "I'll return to see her some other time."

It wasn't until he heard the steps getting softer and softer in his descend that Julius allowed a small curse to slip from his clinched teeth. "Dammit."

"But are you brave enough to do that?"

"I hate that damned rabbit."


Kagome was walking down the path to the tower, after having a wonderful time at the park with the twins and Boris. It was a lot better than last time since she wasn't sick anymore and could go on the rides. Afterwards they wanted to walk her back to the tower, but Kagome declined their offer. She had something to do in town.

The miko reached back into her pocket and pulled out the ticket. She looked at the order number printed on it with a smile.

She brought something special for Gowland. There wasn't any around to buy so she has to special order it and give instructions on how to make it—she hopes it turns out alright—

"Kagome!" She looked up and something was lunging for her. Her body reacted and she moved out of the way—"Ughh~" He gave a groan from the ground, his face hit the dirt road so hard that he cracked it from the impact. Kagome blinked at the man lying on the ground, before she spotted the white rabbit ears sticking from his head.

"Peter?" She bent down, guilt crushing her at the sight of him. "I didn't—"

"No need to be so shy." He lifted himself from the dirt and gave her a goofy grin as he rubbed his scrapped forehead.

"I wasn't being shy. I thought something was attacking me and my body just moved on its own." She huffed. "Are you okay?" She looked him over, even though she could tell he wasn't showing any real pain from the fall. She reached out and touched the reddened mark on his forehead.

"Kagome..." He seemed surprised by her concern and closed his eyes in delight when her fingers went across the injury.

Her hand glowed pink for a few seconds and when she removed it, the mark was gone. "There, all gone—" She felt warmth surround her, her body was pressed against his chest.

"I went to the tower, but you were not there, my flower." His hold on her tightened, as if he was afraid she would vanish. "I was on my way back home, when I saw you walking alone."

"Peter … umm." She wiggled uncomfortably in his arms, unsure.

"Going so long without seeing you…" He buried his nose in her hair and sighed contently. "I love you." Her cheeks became red. "I couldn't get you out of my head." He confessed. "Please stay with me instead."

"I'm sorry Peter, but I'm can't live with you at the castle, I'm staying with Julius at the tower."

"What do you see in him!?" He huffed and held her tighter. "I love you. I will do anything for you. Please tell me that you love me too." He finally released her from his death hug so he could stare into her eyes. Her heart ached at the sight of the pleading look he gave her, along with the deep love set in his crimson pools as he looked at her, almost drowning in them. Such devotion… she don't think any man has ever looked at her that way—Why? Why does he care for her so much? He barely knows her.

"I'm so sorry Peter, but I don't love you…"

"Why?" He looked completely confused as to why she didn't just jump into his arms and confess her own love for him as well.

"I don't know you. I don't—" She looked down at the ground sadly. "I just don't love you Peter. Love doesn't work like that. It isn't something that happens so quickly."

"Then tell me." He had a look of determination in his eyes. "Tell me what I need to do for you to fall in love with me." His gloved hand caressed her cheek softly, and his ears drooped. She felt her heart break. "For you to look at me—and only me."

"You can't just demand love either Peter." She tried to tell him with her heart aching at his painful expression. "I can't tell you how to love me or how I can love you—I just… that's not how love happens."

"Please." He begged her while gently holding her chin so she could look up at him. "Tell me what you want of me. I will do anything—give you everything you desire."

"I can't—"

"Just try—or I might start to cry."

She took a deep breath and sighed. "We have to know each other more Peter. We have to talk more and not be so..." She looked at him. "You can't be jumping at me every time you see me, it's—uncomfortable." She told him. "You have to give me space."

"Very well." He nodded his head. She gave him a questioning look and he tilted his head. She motioned towards them, and his hands on her, and his eyes widened a little. "Oh~ Right…" He slowly pulled away from her, as if doing so was painful to him.

She sighed and got to her feet, and he followed soon after. She dusted off the dirt from her pants. "Now you will move with me to the castle!" He flashed her a grin.

"No." She shook her head.

"But you said that we need to talk more." He blinked at her. "We can't talk about things like the weather, unless we are living together—"

"I am living at the tower." She put her foot down and ended the argument. "If you want to talk to me then come see me."

"You won't visit the castle? Getting way from the queen so often will be quite a hassle."

"I will come see you at the castle often I promise."

"How about right now! We can take a short cut through the town!" He grabbed her hand and started walking down the path but she dug her heels in, causing the rabbit to halt in his march.

"That's another thing." She placed her arms onto her hips. "You have to stop rhyming. It's very annoying. How are we going to talk if I can't understand you most of the time?"

"My rhyming? Is it really bothering you so?" She gave a small nod. "Then I will let it go." He placed his hand onto his chest. "But I would only do so for you."

"Now that's done with I'm going home." She turned and started walking back down the path—Her movements jerked when his hand was still holding hers and stopping her from going any further then arm's length.

"I will not let you go back there." His hold tightened as he pulled her to his chest. "That clockmaker does not care."

"Peter." She sighed. "What did I tell you about space—and you are still rhyming."

"I'm trying my best." He grumbled. "It's harder to do then I first guessed—" He paused. " … Thought." He frowned. "I've always talked like that—it will take time."

"It's alright just—can you let go of me now? I want to go back to the tower."

"You are not going back to that gloomy place." He held on to her tighter. "Stay at the castle instead."

"I'm not going to the castle!" She huffed. "Now if you don't let me go, I won't go back to the castle to see you- ever."

Peter paused, as he seemed to be thinking about his options. "Very well." He gave her one final squeeze before he hesitantly let her go. "I will let you go back to that hel—Tower." He corrected himself last second.

"Peter." She scolded him.

He sighed and turned his head away from her. "I don't want you to be mad at me, so I will let it be."

She smiled at him. "Thank you." She stood on her tippy-toes and placed a gentle kiss on his cheek. His face instantly flushed. "I'll look for you at the castle next time I visit."

"I will be counting the minutes."

Her expression softened before she turned and started walking back to the tower, leaving the rabbit standing there on the path alone.

Peter reached up and touched the spot where she kissed him. A smile appeared on his face and his blush darkened.


Julius was working when he heard the door to his office open. "I'm back." His clock stalled for a second and he glanced up, seeing Kagome walk inside the room with a smile on her face.

"Welcome back." Her smile grew.

"Did you miss me?" He ignored her and continued on the clock—"Wow, it looks like you barely did anything while I was gone…" She mumbled uneasily under her breath and he froze at her words.

"More customers came in while you were away." He lied. Telling her that he didn't work while she was gone would have caused her to ask questions. He was definitely not going to confess to the woman that he was thinking about her while she was gone—so much so he couldn't get a damn thing accomplished. "Did you enjoy yourself at the park?"

"Yes." He could hear her pleased tone and he hummed, glad she had a good time. "You should come next time."

His body tensed up and he grumbled. "I don't think so."

"Why not?" He could tell she was pouting without having to look up from his work to see it on her face. "Is it because you are afraid of the rides?" His hand slipped, causing one of the gears to fly out of the clock and land onto the floor with a clank.

A tick of annoyance appeared above his brow. "I am not afraid." He objected. "I just don't see any need to get on a ride, just to loop around and end where you started. It is pointless—"

"I will hold your hand the whole time if it will make you feel better."

He paused, picturing their fingers intertwined as they walked along the park together—He shook his head, riding himself of the thought. "I told you that I'm not afraid." He huffed, and decided to change the subject. "Peter White came to the tower to see you while you were out."

"I know." She told him. "I saw him on the way back home, on the path."

This caught the clockmaker's attention, and he looked up from his work. "What did he say to you?"

Now that he was looking at her, he saw she was reading on the couch. "Hmm?" She hummed and turned the pages in a bored manner. "Oh, he wanted me to come live with him at the castle because he missed me." She shrugged. "I refused and he became upset about it."

"Did he say anything else to you?"

"Like what?"

"The reason why he doesn't want you here."

"I am going to take her back to her world."

"Other than he doesn't like you?" She shook her head.

He sighed. He and continued watching the girl reading, as his mind began to wander away from him. He should tell her. She doesn't really belong here in this world.

"Kagome?"

"Hmm?" She answered with another hum, not looking away from her reading material.

"Do you want to go home?"

The question caused the girl to finally stop reading and look up at him, confused. "Of course I want to go home." She tilted her head at him. "I have friends and family there who all care about me." She looked down at her lap as if she was thinking about something, and her eyes darkened. "I … I have something important I have to do—"

"Something important? What is it?"

Her eyebrows angled together and she nibbled on her lower lip. "Maybe it was… somewhere I have to go-?" She reached up and placed her palm against her chest. "Someone… needs me… I think."

"You can't remember?" Did Joker take away her memories?

She looked as if she was in pain for a moment, clinching her chest.

"Kagome. You alright?" He got to his feet, a concerned look on his face.

"I …" She shook her head and closed her eyes. She took a deep breath and when she opened them again she blinked. "What was we talking about again?"

He looked at her for a moment, thinking to himself. Another spell must have been placed on her—a strong one. Why? What is Joker trying to do with her? Why did he bring her here? What did he make her forget?

"Julius?"

"I am going to take her back to her world."

"I.." He swallowed the lump in his throat.

"Are you brave enough to do that?" Peter's taunt echoed in his mind and he tried not to growl.

He has to tell her. She isn't supposed to be here. She should go home to her world.

"I'm worried about you. You should get some rest."

"Do you need any more coffee?"

"What? So low! I tired really hard that time, Jerk!"

"It's nice, having you eating dinner with me like this."

She has already became a part of this tower without even realizing it. The thought of the young woman leaving him and returning home made an empty feeling start to eat away at him.

"Julius?" Her concerned voice snapped him out of his thoughts.

"Nothing…" He slowly sat back down in his chair and sighed. "We wasn't talking about anything."

"Oh." She didn't seem to believe him but she went back to her reading anyway.

He was probably being selfish, and it might not be such a good idea, but he will enjoy her company as long as he can, until the vial feels up and she goes back home on her own. There was no need to rush things-

"I am not the only one who likes Kagome's affections, am I clockmaker?" He looked down at the clock on his desk as his cheeks became flushed with color.

Damned rabbit…


Tell me what you guys think! Review! XD

NEXT CHAPTER: Kagome goes for another walk... Dun dun dunnn! (lol) What kind of mess up craziness will happen to while on her stroll this time? Cause you know, something always happens to her when she goes for a walk...

Guess what will happen to Kagome when she goes out for her stroll! XD