Strangely enough, my computer has no a drive. Which is really weird. I guess my dad doesn't believe in them anymore. But he should. I started this chapter in Journalism so there were author notes already. Come and I will tell you tale which is strange but true…

Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha!!!

Warnings: Angst! Cussing!!! STUFF!!!

Note: On y va? (French for "Shall we go?")

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I Believe In Yesterday

Chapter Thirteen

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"I'm serious, I'm so glad you came today." Sango told Miroku over lunch that day. Hanging out with Miroku had been so much fun. And he had been so good. He hadn't tried to grope her or anyone else for that matter.

"I have enjoyed being here with you, Sango." Miroku gave her a smile. When Miroku smiled like that…it was hard to prevent melting into a puddle for Sango.

"I still can't believe you drove all the way up here to see me. It was really sweet of you. I've had a lot more fun with you here." Sango blushed a little as she said this.

"It was nothing, Sango, dear. When I thought of where I'd rather be, I could obviously only make one choice. You are the only girl who bothers to look past my exterior." Miroku looked up and directly into Sango's eyes. "Every other girl I date is happy as long as I continue to spout poetry and compliments. I tire of such women when I can chase after someone truly challenging such as yourself."

"Um…" Sango began uneasily. "Well, it isn't like we're dating or anything, just because you came out here."

"Oh!" Miroku looked surprised that she would even suggest it. "I did not mean any insinuation Sango dear, I only meant to say that truly, you must see that as of late, you've become my chief pursuit."

His…WHAT???

"Chief pursuit?!" Sango sat up straight in anger. "Are you kidding me? You make it sound like I'm a HOBBY or something! What's wrong with you? Don't you know that women are people too?! We have feelings, you know!" Sango reached back and smacked him across the face.

"Sango!" Miroku held his face with one hand. "I never meant—"

"I don't want to hear it Houshi Miroku, you perverted chauvinistic…gah!" Sango couldn't even find words to describe him at that moment. "Just LEAVE! I'm going to the restroom, and when I get back…I better not see you. I'm serious." She folded her arms.

"Sango—" Miroku began.

"Will you just LEAVE?!" Sango yelled. Miroku opened his mouth to say something. Then he closed it again and stood up. His eyes showed that Sango had really hurt him just then. Instantly Sango felt guilty as he trudged his way towards the exits.

He's just so…ugh.

Every time I think he's being sweet and wonderful he turns around and does something or says something that pisses me off.

But then…he looked so sad.

Maybe he didn't mean it like that.

Maybe I'm just overreacting.

Sango buried her head in her arms so no one would see her start to cry. She just wished things were different sometimes…

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Kagura stared at the door and sighed. She had gone to check on Kagome but she wasn't there. Then she went to see if Miroku was around, that was a no go. So now she was standing in the hall trying to decide if Inuyasha was home.

But what if he's not?

And Kouga is?

Kagura glanced back at her empty room. With Kikyo gone, it felt really alone. She glanced back at the closed door in front of her.

Gods, I'm not that lonely.

Whatever, I'm just gonna go in and see.

Kagura straightened herself and opened the door. The first thing she saw was Kouga who was staring at her like he had never seen her before behind his thick black glasses. He was stretched out on the couch and had been reading Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.

"Um…" Kagura tried to gather her thoughts. "I was just looking for Inuyasha."

"He left." Kouga informed her.

"Oh." Kagura nodded. "Well then…" She started to back out the door.

"Wait!" Kouga scrambled up and set his book down.

"What?" Kagura was instantly suspicious.

"Um…" Kouga was now standing. "What are you doing right now?"

"I'll probably go back to sewing." Kagura shrugged. "Or trying to design something." Then she turned to leave again.

"Actually," Kouga's voice stopped her. "I had an idea for something you could sew."

"I see." Kagura turned around. "What is it?"

"It's in my sketchbook." Kouga explained jabbing a thumb behind him. "I can find it real quick."

"It's really hard to sew crayon drawings." Kagura raised her eyebrows at him.

"It's not a crayon drawing." Kouga protested in a pouty sort of way before going to find his sketchbook, which looked like it might be buried somewhere in the not so well organized room. "You can come in and sit if you want."

"Ha!" Kagura barked sarcastically. "That's okay; I'll just stand here where I can escape easier."

"You make it sound like I'm going to attack you or something." Kouga frowned at her.

"Whatever, I can't trust you." Kagura said pointedly. "You've already proven how trustworthy you are Mr. I-rape-kiss-girls-who-just-want-to-do-their-laundry."

"You're the one who walks around looking hot all the time!" Kouga argued and then went red when he realized what he had said.

"Omigod, is that what you've been moping about?" Kagura asked incredulously. "You want to have sex with me?!" Kagura felt anger rising up. "Gods, I swear that's all guys think about. And if I dress a certain way it does not mean I want to be raped!"

"That isn't what I was fucking saying!" Kouga looked pissed. Kagura really didn't care. "I'm such a horrible evil male, aren't I? Haven't you made it clear that you hate me?"

"I'm just saying that I'm not just some plaything who's going to have sex with you just because you can't control your hormones!" Kagura yelled. It was so much better when he yelled back. "Contrary to popular belief, I'm not a whore."

"Yeah, well contrary to popular belief I didn't think you were!" Kouga shouted and he opened his sketch book and stomped over, thrusting it towards her. "Here."

Kagura snatched it from him snappily and looked at it. She froze.

It was a picture of her wearing a kimono that was very unique. It was a strange and yet beautiful design. The picture made it look like she was dancing, a small smile playing out from under her bright red eyes. Kagura had always considered herself pretty, but not anything like this beauty with her arms out gracefully in mid-twirl.

I've seen this kimono before…

Somewhere…

"I want to be the wind." Kagura said out loud without thinking.

"W-what?" Kouga asked in a soft, surprised voice.

"I don't…nothing." Kagura started to hand it back. "I already made a couple of kimonos and I don't really need very many…"

"I don't need all these kimonos!"

Kagura snatched it back towards herself. "On second thought, yeah maybe." Kagura tried to appear calm. "This picture isn't bad, though. This kimono looks a little complicated, I mean it's gonna need pretty specific fabric and," Kagura realized she was rambling, "Why did you draw me like this?" She wasn't sure if she meant for that to come out but it had been bothering her.

"It's how I see you." Kouga answered simply.

Kagura looked back down at the beautiful drawing.

"Um…okay." Kagura decided to not look up at Kouga, as she was really confused right then. "Well, I'm going to go back…"

"Okay…" Kouga sounded disappointed. "Yeah, maybe I'll, um, drop by later."

"Now you think you can just come into my room?" Kagura asked, her eyes narrowing. "Well…you can't. Or something!" Feeling rather flushed and confused, Kagura went back to her room.

He sees me this way?!

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Inuyasha was really beginning to wonder about Kagome. She kept being sad. And sad Kagome was not cool. Inuyasha kept asking, sometimes in a very ninja stealth-like way in the hopes that Kagome would slip up and tell him what was wrong with her. He could just tell something was bad. Like food that had been left in the room too long by Kouga or him. He just had a sense of when it wasn't a good thing to eat the Cheetos that may have been bought the first day he was there and then unearthed last week from under some dirty laundry.

But Kagome wasn't talking. And now he was curious and frustrated with her. They finished delivering pizza and they walked home together, Kagome blowing cutely onto her mitten clad hands.

"Is there like some reason you won't tell me what's wrong?" Inuyasha guessed out loud. "Look, I'm not going to fucking blow you off if you tell me."

"Inuyasha…will you please just drop it?" Kagome closed her eyes, looking rather tired of this discussion.

"No, I fucking won't." Inuyasha argued. "I mean, fuck, what's the big deal? Like you can't trust me or something?"

"That's not it…" Kagome's eyes shut tighter as if she was trying to block him out. "I just don't want to talk about it."

"Well you fucking should." Inuyasha advised. "You look like shit and everyone can tell that's something up."

"I said drop it." Kagome opened her eyes; she was sticking out her chin defensively.

"Yeah, 'Oh, Inuyasha, don't give a flying fuck about me! Don't want to help me if you can! That would be bad.'" Inuyasha imitated her. "What did you expect me to do? Just act like nothing's wrong?"

"Shut up!" Kagome snapped. "Why can't you just…"

"Why can't I just what?" Inuyasha asked, feeling frustrated. Kagome should have to fucking tell him. It should be like a law or something. Then he won't have to sit there trying to guess what was wrong.

She's kind of moody…

Oh shit!

"You're pregnant!" Inuyasha accused her. Kagome looked at him like had just sprouted another head.

"What?" Kagome blinked several times. "I'm not pregnant!"

"Well…you're fucking acting like it!" Inuyasha tried to make up for his mistake. "I thought maybe you know…if you were pregnant you would tell me about it…it wouldn't be that big of a deal."

"Well I'm not." Kagome told him icily. "You know what? I think I'll go back to my room now."

"Why?" Inuyasha asked in confusion.

"Because you're being stupid." Kagome started to walk off. "And you won't stop bugging me."

"I was fucking concerned." Inuyasha countered and started following her. Kagome whirled around.

"Why can't you just be like you were before and not give a damn?!" Kagome asked him angrily but he noticed that there were tears glistening and ready to fall in her eyes.

"Before what?" Inuyasha stared at her in bewilderment.

"Never mind!" Kagome turned back and tried to walk off; she noticed that Inuyasha was following her. "Don't follow me!"

"I'm going back to my room, I'm not following you." Inuyasha said in such a tone that Kagome was instantly reminded of the Inuyasha back from the Sengoku Jidai that would probably make that exact same comment. She almost started laughing.

"Good." Kagome flounced as they walked along. Inuyasha tried to talk to her several more times but she just ignored him.

I just can't tell you Inuyasha…

Because you'll hate me…

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The very last note rang out throughout the whole hall. Everyone stood up and began to applaud wildly for the performers who had just finished with La Cenerentola.

Up in one of the boxes, Shippo and Kikyo were doing the same thing as they had both thoroughly enjoyed the show.

It was amazing that they had gotten there in the first place because Shippo had a hard time keeping his eyes off Kikyo and on the road. After the fourth near death miss, Kikyo had taken over the driving.

Shippo found his attentions wandering over to the beautiful girl next to him. He remembered when they first came into the opera house, the way many heads had turned as she walked by. It gave him an extra air of confidence that she was with him.

"Wonderful." Kikyo said breathlessly as the applause subsided. "That was wonderful. I've never gotten to sit in a box before."

"Well, it's my parents' box." Shippo fidgeted with the sleeve of his tuxedo jacket. He thought back to the conversation he had with his dad about the matter.

"Okay, there's this girl and—" Shippo was cut off.

"And you're trying to woo her?" Shippo's dad wiggled his eyebrows suggestively. It was amazing how similar he and Miroku were.

"I just wanted to know if—" Shippo was interrupted again.

"The hot springs house?" Shippo's dad finished. "Of course you can."

"I'm not talking about the hot springs house!" Shippo wanted to tear out his hair. "The box at the opera house!"

"Oh yes. I mean…" Shippo's dad furrowed his brow. "I suppose it would be a good place for your first time…"

"ARGHHHHHHHHH!" Shippo walked away in frustration.

"It was still a very different experience." Kikyo told him.

"The banquet is going to be starting soon." Shippo informed her. "As soon as the people change out of their clothes and everything."

"We're going to the banquet afterwards?" Kikyo looked impressed. "Isn't that an invitation only kind of event?"

"Well, yeah." Shippo stared at his shoes nervously.

"This is an extravagant Christmas present." Kikyo looked almost suspicious for a moment. "I mean, you said we were just going to spend the day together but you seemed to go to a lot of trouble…"

"It was no trouble at all." Shippo assured her before offering his arm. "On y va?"

Kikyo took his arm, blushing and muttering something about him spending too much time with Miroku or something to that effect.

They waited for the doors to open for the banquet, and when they finally did, Kikyo looked around with a slightly awed expression that he had rarely seen on the stoic girl. He had to admit that it was pretty impressive with the long wooden tables with high-backed chairs and the string quartet playing in one corner. Then there was the large open area for dancing.

The two of them sat down for the meal, and clapped with everyone else as the opera singers came in to sit down, looking worn out from the show. Shippo looked at the guy across the table who was blatantly staring at Kikyo and felt a sudden urge to hit something.

Kikyo didn't seem to notice the person and so Shippo was able to be calm. Dinner was nice, as expected, but the guy would not stop staring at Kikyo. It was really starting to bother Shippo who was trying to make it obvious that the guy better not even try to talk to Kikyo.

It's not that big of a deal.

I'm not like Inuyasha or anything.

"I've got to go to the restroom." Kikyo stood up. "I'll be right back."

"Okay." Shippo nodded. The meal was pretty much over and couples were now gliding across the dance floor. He was going to ask Kikyo to dance right after this was over. He glanced up in the direction Kikyo had gone to see if she was coming back.

And indeed she was. Except that she was stopped by that guy. Shippo stood up immediately. He hadn't even seen the guy get up. Shippo walked over and while he couldn't hear what was being said, he could see that Kikyo kept shaking her head and was sending the guy a look that said she was going to stab him if he didn't go away.

"—surely a beautiful woman like you would like to dance?" The guy raised his eyebrows at her.

"I just told you no. If I have to say it again, you'll never be able to reproduce. Ever." Kikyo glared at him.

"Are you going to act like you don't want to all night?" The guy grabbed her arm.

"Excuse me." Shippo stepped in, grabbing the guy's hand and removing it from Kikyo's arm. "Unless you have some sort of death wish, you had better leave her alone."

"And who are you?" The guy asked contemptuously, pulling his hand away.

"He's my boyfriend." Shippo found Kikyo hugging him, her arms draped over him in a very suggestive way. "Come on Shippo, I feel like dancing."

"Okay…" Shippo decided that in his happy state, just agreeing with whatever Kikyo said was a good thing. He found himself leading her out toward the dance floor.

He put a hand on her waist, his fingers touching the silk that felt so much softer than it had when he had purchased the dress, which had been an adventure unto itself. Her slim hand went into his and her other hand rested on his shoulder as they began to waltz.

Shippo realized he was dancing rather stiffly and tried to put himself into the calm state that he was when he was on the DDR dance pad but it was a lot harder to imagine with Kikyo right in front of him, looking like a goddess, gazing up into his eyes.

She's so beautiful…

It's hard to imagine that someone like her doesn't already have a boyfriend.

I mean she's smart, funny, sarcastic…

Anybody that doesn't like her must be crazy.

"You're beautiful." He told her, and then wanted to beat himself over the head. That sounded so stupid, and Kikyo wasn't the type of person you showered with compliments. But to his surprise, Kikyo didn't make some snappy remark. Her cheeks pinked and he was reminded of how cute she was when she blushed.

"You…you don't look too bad yourself." Kikyo was looking away from Shippo's face. He couldn't stop his hand from moving to tilt up her chin so that she would look him in the eyes. Her blush deepened and Shippo felt some irresistible force controlling him.

She's going to kill me.

But it'll be worth it.

And he gently kissed her on the lips, closing his eyes and enjoying how soft they were. Amazingly, Kikyo did not try to stab him or maim him in any way. She was kissing him back. Kikyo was kissing him back.

I guess she liked the opera.

Finally he broke the kiss and saw a blushing, smiling Kikyo who was scrunching up her nose in an attempt to hide her blushing, he supposed. There was a twinkle in her eyes that he hadn't noticed before, and she seemed more gorgeous then ever in that moment.

"Um…" Kikyo seemed to be searching for words. "Um…" This was the Kikyo people never got to see. Stumbling for words and unsure of what was happening.

"Look, Kikyo…" Shippo decided that he should probably say it now because he would never be able to say it again. "I…Okay," He took a deep breath and saw with some comfort that there were no stabbity objects anywhere near them. "I…"

"Shippo…I…" Kikyo trailed off and got a very determined look on her face. "I just want you to know…"

"You're really fun and you're not like any other girl I've ever met…" Shippo began.

"The truth is I've never really…I mean, I don't have many friends and so I wasn't very big on the dating scene…" Kikyo started.

"And I thought you were really cool when I first met you." Shippo went on.

"You weren't a complete idiot like most of the boys I've ever met, you were smart and wonderful and…" Kikyo continued with her speech, trying to gather her words. "But I've never really done this before and it's really hard to say but…"

"So what I'm saying is…" Shippo hesitated before squeezing his eyes shut.

"I'm in love with you." They both said at the same time.

There was a moment of silence, even though there was noise all around them and it occurred to them that they were in the middle of a dance floor. They both opened their eyes and stared at each other for a few moments.

Did Kikyo just say…???

I'm imagining things. I must be, because if she said it, then I know this has to be some sort of dream.

"I'm in love with you." He repeated, wondering if perhaps he had heard an echo or something.

"You just told me that." Kikyo had a small smile on her face. "And I told you that I'm in love with you as well."

"What a koinky-dink." Shippo wondered if he had somehow gone stupid.

Um, hottest girl ever just told you she's in love with you and what did you just say???

That's it, no more hanging out with Kouga and Inuyasha, its obvious detrimental to your mental health.

"I suppose it is quite the coincidence." Kikyo was now smiling the biggest smile that Shippo had ever seen on her. "And quite lucky as well."

"Really lucky." Shippo agreed. He felt like he was drunk or something.

"On y va?" Kikyo asked. Shippo put his hand in hers.

"Yeah, I don't think tonight is going to get much better." Shippo told her.

"I don't think so either." Kikyo happily went along with him as they left the banquet hall.

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"Okay, okay, so what do you think is the first thing Kagura is going to ask you when you come in? Shippo asked as they drove along.

"Probably something to do with sex." Kikyo shrugged. "Although she did talk about how she was going to jump me before I left."

"Did she?" Shippo got a weird worried look on his face.

"I don't think she was serious." Kikyo assured him. Suddenly the car began to sputter and a few minutes later, they were at a complete stop on the road. Shippo groaned and hit his head against the steering wheel.

He got out and opened the hood. Kikyo had no idea what was going on. Shippo came trudging back.

"I know how this is going to sound, but the car broke down." Shippo told her, yawning. "I think it's the alternator. But I'm not a genius with mechanics either. I'm really sorry Kikyo."

"It's alright." Kikyo told him. Shippo got out his cell phone and quickly began dialing for a tow truck.

"Okay, we have two options." Shippo told Kikyo. "We can call a cab and go back to the dorms which are still a long way away or we can go and get a hotel room." Shippo suddenly blushed. "I mean, we can get two separate ones if you want, I don't really care."

"I think we can make do with one." Kikyo commented casually. "I feel like the hotel, I'm really tired, and I know Kagura's going to want to interrogate me as soon as I get back."

"Alright." Shippo agreed and called for a cab. After the tow truck arrived and Shippo got everything in order with the car repairs that couldn't be done until the next day, the cab finally came and they got in.

Getting a hotel room was a whole lot harder then Shippo had anticipated. Mostly because every person they came into contact with like the desk clerk and the taxi driver made rather suggestive comments.

Shippo took off his jacket and began to loosen his bowtie when it occurred to him that he'd be sleeping right next to Kikyo and for some reason that was really nerve-wracking.

"Shippo…could you…" It was very hesitant and Shippo turned to see Kikyo gestured towards the zipper on the back of her dress. He gulped.

"Yeah…" Shippo moved rather dumbly and unzipped the dress, quickly turning back around and trying to think of anything that was not Kikyo without her dress on. There was some rustling and when Kikyo told him he could turn around, he saw she was wearing a complimentary bath robe and getting into bed. He hurriedly got ready to go to bed and they turned out the lights.

"Good night Shippo." Kikyo told him as she curled up next to him. He draped an arm over her.

"Good night Kikyo." Shippo was grinning. He could just imagine Miroku's face when he told him that Kikyo and him stayed at a hotel. Of course, Kagura might come and hunt him down, as even with all the sex jokes she made, she seemed a bit protective of Kikyo.

I declare this the coolest night of my life.

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Omigod, I squealed so much while writing. Those two are just so cute!!! Next chapter is the aftermath! Of lots of stuff! But, you'll just have to see. 'Cause that's Teresa's bag, ya' dig?