Disclaimer (since I don't have one throughout the story): I do not own Inuyasha, or any Inuyasha-related characters in this story. However, I do own Chance, Chase, Chase's parents, Dr. Kalory, Chance's friends, and the students at Chance and Chase's school.

Notes: This chapter is a might more sappy than my usual stuff, but it has violence to go with it, so I can tolerate it. ;) Have tissues handy if you're a crier. This is the twisty-turny thing that I promised earlier, but enjoy the chapter. I'm not putting up another one until I hit forty reviews. Enjoy.

Tuesday, April third

Yesterday marked one year on the alien planet! I still can't believe I actually worked up the nerve to move in with my father. I love the way Kagome handled herself in court for the custody case, too. Just writing this brings a smug grin to my face. So far, I've met a total of 37 paparazzis, and so far only beaten the crap out of/and/or stolen the film of 16. I think that's a grand number. Security here is a little lax, as if you couldn't already tell... I'm still working on getting Pops to hand me my own personal butler, but if I really think about it, I don't think I want one. Having someone wait on you hand and foot seems a bit hard to get used to, especially after fifteen years living with my mother. I don't even have to do laundry anymore! Everything's served on a platter by Jakken, which sometimes is a lifesaver. On weekends I get to do laundry though. Train of thought – Dad's dirty undies. Ew.

Tomorrow marks a full year that Chase and I have been going out. I love my little Chasey-wasey; he's really a great catch. I thank my lucky stars that I found him when I did. I know for sure I wouldn't have made it through the rollercoaster that was finding Dad. At least I've still got him, right? He's taking me out tomorrow – or kidnapping me, as he puts it. He says that we're going to be out until real late, and I hope he's right. Spending more than half a night with Chase will be a blast.

I need food. I'll go bother Jakken – bye!

Chance Echerburry

Chase was riding in his father's restored Corvair on the way to Chance's father's house. The car was a dark, blood red with a black retractable top and leather interior. The speakers had been changed to suit Chase's music preference, each being a good fifteen inches in diameter. The engine had been replaced with a new Ford engine, a V-8 at that. The teen had quite a few strips of pictures of he and Chance in photo booths at the mall, each one hanging by a chain on his rearview mirror. As he pulled up, he smiled at the photographs and touched his favorite tenderly before opening the door. The Corvair was Chance's favorite car to ride in, and his favorite for that reason. It was their one-year anniversary, so he was going to kidnap her for the night.

The midget that Sesshomaru Echerburry called a servant answered the door and frowned at Chase as he just walked in instead of being announced like the other guests. "Hey, Mr. E." said Chase, stepping into the sunken living room where Sesshomaru was reading the newspaper across from the fire.

"Evening, Chase," replied Sesshomaru. "How long are you keeping her?"

Chase smiled. "Until two?" he offered. Sesshomaru raised an eyebrow in a threatening manner. "Estimated, of course; she'll probably be home sooner." Despite his casual manner around Chance's father, Chase truly was afraid of him. The man was rather imposing on many different levels, the main one being that Chase had to go through him to get to Chance, should something happen. The fact that he could kick his ass to boot was only another factor.

Sesshomaru nodded in response to his second offer, and shot him a look that told him he should have her home before two. Shrugging, Chase moved toward the stairs and jogged up them to find his girlfriend. "Oh, Chaaaannnce," he called melodically, disregarding the fact that he had a rather horrible singing voice. "Ready yet?" He burst into her bedroom almost unannounced, closing the door behind him and flopping onto her bed.

Chance, from her mirror, shot him a frown. "Do you have to do that?" she was sifting through her closet for a shirt, currently only wearing a bra and a pair of jeans.

Chase admired her bare back and lower as he spoke. "Of course, dear," he said with a grin. "Besides, it's not like I haven't seen it." Chance didn't respond, but blushed and pulled out a shirt. She pulled it over her head and glanced at her reflection before moving over to the bed. Chase was dozing, and she smiled. He was adorable when he was sleeping, but they had reservations, so they had to get going. She kneed the bed and he jerked, opening his eyes to look blearily at her. "Done?" She nodded. "Good, let's go." Chase stood and took her by the hand, leading her down the stairs and such. "Bye, Mr. E!"

"Don't wait up for me, Dad!" Chance said as she took her coat from the toad-like man her father employed.

Sesshomaru returned a parting word before going back to his newspaper. He heard the door close and he listened to his servant bustle about before coming to stand behind his chair. "Young love, eh Jakken?" he commented lightly.

Jakken resisted the urge to gag. He'd had it in for that scrawny runt and her boyfriend since she appeared at their home. "Indeed, sir." he said lazily. "Do you require anything, my lord?"

"Not at the moment, Jakken," he said. "Go see if the cook has dinner ready yet. I'm getting hungry." Jakken bowed and headed for the kitchens, grumbling to himself. Sesshomaru smirked as he heard 'overworked and underappreciated'.

It was unlike any of their other summer dates. Chase took her out to eat and then they blazed a new road until they could see more than a smattering of stars above them. And then, they pulled over and lay together in the back seat and stared at the stars. That was where they could be found now, staring above them at the cloudless sky. All in all, it was rather romantic. "Where are we going?" asked Chance suddenly, breaking their silence.

Chase raised a brow at the question. "We're not moving." he replied, checking that the parking brake was on just to make sure.

Chance snickered. "That's not what I meant, moron," she said. "I meant, we've been dating for six months. And we've... y'know... a few times..." After regaining her bearings, she continued. "So... Are we just going to keep going like this, or have you had thoughts of a longer-termed relationship?"

The boy was caught off-guard by that. "Like marriage, kids, and all that jazz?"

"Yeah," Chance said. She rolled over skillfully – they'd lie in that car before – and looked down at him, playing with her hair. "I mean, really, are we in this for the long haul or are we planning to just date and have sex forever?"

Her boyfriend below her looked as if he was thinking troublesome thoughts, and he was. Did he really want to settle down with Chance? That was a stupid question to ask him; he knew the answer. His mind was screaming at him to just tell her that he wanted to be with her forever, but it wasn't quite that easy. Did he want to settle down soon? He was only seventeen... Maybe not soon, but he did know that he wanted Chance to be the mother of his kids, and be his wife – his one and only.

Chase raised a hand and tucked a few strands of her silver hair behind her ear. "Y'know..." he began, "I've always dreamt of living with one woman for the rest of my life, and knowing my feelings were returned. I've dreamt of her raising my kids with me... But she's never had a face until about six months ago." He paused cryptically, a hand moving up to touch her face gently. "Her face formed into yours, Chance." Chance stopped playing with her hair and looked to his eyes. "I know I've never said it out loud, Chance, but I think my actions speak for me when it comes to thought processes... I love you Chance. I want to spend my life with you... But I want to do it the right way, so I'm not going to ask the question just yet. Is that alright with you, babe?"

The girl above him stared down at him with stunned blue eyes. She only nodded, and then sat up. Chase followed her and peered into her face to try and see what she was feeling. Chance's face moved up and she threw her arms around him. "I love you too, Chase," she said, her arms around his neck. Chase smiled, closing his eyes and putting his arms around her. His eyes opened back up as he heard a car coming. After glancing at the clock, he cursed to see that it was just about midnight. It'd take at least an hour to get Chance home... Was that car stopping?

He growled in a threatening manner as someone got out of the car and walked toward them. "Chance, pull out your cell." he said in her ear, pushing her behind him.

"I wouldn't do that, little hanyou." A knife appeared from his hand and Chase's ears flattened to his head. He cursed and watched the figure approach as he hid Chance as best as he could. Chase growled a little louder and the figure stopped. "All bark, no bite, ne?"

"Oh, I bite alright." he said threateningly. "Now go back to your car and drive off." The man just kept getting closer. Chase growled and shifted a little toward the guy. The shadowy figure lunged and Chase met him half way. Chase managed to strike him in the face, and he fell out of the Corvair and onto the man, punching him again. "Chance, grab the knife!" Chase had pinned the man's arm, but it was taking more than the strength he had. Just the fact that Chance was in danger kept him standing.

Chance saw him struggling with the man and, though scared out of her wits, helped him out by confiscating the man's weapon. She held it gingerly with two fingers at arm's length, a look of disgust marring her features. The man was barely being pinned down by Chase, so she decided to help him out a bit. She sat down on his legs, restricting his movement to mere wiggles.

"Who sent you, and what the fuck did you have a knife for?" Chase demanded, laying an arm across the man's throat and baring his fangs.

Coughing and spluttering, the man responded. "I work for Naraku – I was sent to kill the girl, I swear! He's paying me good money for this, kid, I didn't even want to do it, I swear to God! Don't kill me. Please,"

"I should..." he threatened, increasing the pressure on the man's neck. Chance elbowed him in the ribs. "Quit blubbering! Why does Naraku want her dead?"

"Hell if I know, man!" cried the assassin. "I'm just a mercenary. I'm told who to kill and how much I'll make, that's all! That's fucking all, I swear! Ow! God damn, kid, you're strong!"

"That ain't all I'll be if you don't tell me what the fuck Naraku wants with Chance." he threatened.

The man sighed and Chase jerked at his neck again, causing him to cry out again. "Alright!" he rasped, "Alright, I'll tell you." Chase released a bit of pressure off of him to allow him to speak and breathe freely. "Naraku knows that Rin has an insurance fund on Chance's life, and if she dies that she gets a shit load of cash for it. He wants the money."

"That's a lie. Naraku's got enough money of his own and life insurance funds do not give off that much." The pressure once more bore down on the man's neck. "Now tell me the truth or I swear I'll make you into road kill." Chase hissed down at him. Chance merely watched from her perch on the man's legs.

Paling, the mercenary nodded rapidly. "Naraku didn't send me to kill the girl;" he rushed, "he wanted me to kidnap her. He knows that Sesshomaru would gladly hand over any ransom he asked for, and Sesshomaru's got something he wants. I don't know what it is, that's all I know, I swear!"

"Why did you lie to me about your mission?" Chase growled, putting a little more pressure to the man's neck.

"I had to! He said he'd pay me extra if I suffered! Now please, let me go! I didn't mean no harm; I swear I wouldn't hurt her!"

Chase growled, then reared a hand back and socked him hard in the face. He was knocked unconscious by the blow and Chase stood up off of him. Chance hesitantly stood up as well and leant against the car next to Chase. "What now?" she asked cautiously, looking over at her boyfriend with a worried look.

"Naraku's after something of your dad's, Chance. I need to know what it is, and why Naraku wants it." He looked over at her with a slight sneer upon his face. "That bastard has gone too far."

Chance touched his face gently, placing her palm against his cheek. "Chase... It's nothing – really. Just let my dad handle it..." I don't want you to get hurt...

Snarling, Chase took hold of her chin and kissed her. He pulled away and hugged her tightly. "He had a knife, Chance. He was going to hurt you, despite what he said. I love you, Chance, and I'm not about to just stand back and let someone else handle that bastard... Even if your father does have more connections and power than I do, I'm not going to let him do all the work." He released her from his arms and kicked the mercenary once more before climbing into the car. Chance followed with a solemn, troubled look.

Tumbleweed