Chapter 25: Have in Mind?

"Sango you have to help me!" Kagome cried as she scrambled to find something decent and yet elegant in her closet. Sango rolled her eyes as she helped Kagome to find something to wear to her date with Inuyasha.

"Kagome, calm down. Inuyasha is not going to criticize your outfit," she said finally finding a pale pink dress and handing it to her friend.

"But Sango I want to look nice," Kagome commented. Sango smiled and shook her head.

"I think that Inuyasha already thinks you look nice," Sango said with a wink and Kagome blushed.

"Sango?" she asked quietly.

"Yes?"

"Do you think that it's best if I go out with Inuyasha?" Kagome asked with all seriousness.

Sango looked perplexed at her question, "Of course it's a good idea. Why are you asking?"

Kagome smiled, but her eyes still seemed sad as she said, "Sorry Sango… but I'm just not sure if going out with him is a good idea."

Sango sighed and patted the bed indicating for Kagome to sit down and talk.

"Kagome why would you say something like that?" she asked. "You deserve this! It's all been taken care of isn't it? Inuyasha will drop Shippo and Shiori at his parents' house, and you two will go out and enjoy yourselves. Why is that a bad thing?"

Kagome sighed and leaned on her best friends shoulder, confusion in her eyes, "Hojo that's why! Sometimes I have nightmares on what he might end up doing to Inuyasha and Shiori."

Sango sighed, knowing exactly where this is going.

"Kagome…"

"Sango I've been thinking lately, that maybe it would be better that I don't see Inuyasha anymore."

"Kagome!" Sango said in resentment.

"Think about it Sango… if I go out with Inuyasha, Hojo might end up targeting them in the future! If something happens to them I…" Kagome couldn't even finish.

"Kagome, listen…" began Sango.

"Not being with them seems to be the best option… I know that in my head but…"

"KAGOME!" Sango yelled at her getting irritated. "Inuyasha loves you, doesn't he?" she asked, demanding an answer.

Kagome nodded and mumbled a 'I think so' under her breath.

"Okay… Do you love him?" Sango said determinedly.

Kagome was silent for a moment before she nodded.

"Yes I do," Kagome replied truthfully.

"Well then…"

"Well then what?"

Sango rolled her eyes. "Kagome… Inuyasha loves you. You love him. He loves Shippo and I know that you love Shiori. I really don't think that he'll care about what Hojo MIGHT do. I think he's willing to risk it."

"But Sango…" Kagome began.

Sango put her hand on her shoulder. "Kagome… I'm sorry, but I think that you're just scared to date again. I think that you're just afraid that you'll have your heart broken again. But don't compare Inuyasha to Hojo! He's nothing like him! And I know that he would never hurt you the way that Hojo did. I think that it's about time that you leave your fear and pain in the past where they belong."

"I know!" Kagome started again, her hands were shaking so hard that she had to clasp them together. "And I don't compare Inuyasha to Hojo. But…"

"Kagome… just give Inuyasha a chance… forget about Hojo and everything else just for tonight and try to be happy. You've earned this night out; enjoy yourself," Sango finished with a finality.

Kagome sniffled slightly as she nodded again, "I-I'll try," Kagome said as she hugged her. "Thank you Sango, I'm glad I can count on you. I mean just knowing that you're on my side… I'm always going to be grateful for this."

Sango hugged her back. "Anytime… Oh, and Kagome?"

"Hmm?"

"Don't worry. If Inuyasha does hurt you… he'll have to deal with me!" Sango said, with a wicked grin and cracking her knuckles.

Kagome blinked before she slowly started laughing. Sango then joined in and they both laughed so hard that there were tears in their eyes.

"Ok," said Kagome once she finally calmed down. "It's good to know that I have back-up in case this goes wrong."

*Inuyasha*

"So Inuyasha…" Miroku said from behind Inuyasha. Inuyasha turned around to find Miroku stretched out on his bed, his usual goofy grin on his face.

"What do you want?" he asked, nervously trying to button up his shirt.

"Just wanted to ask you something," Miroku said grinning even wider.

"What?" Inuyasha snapped. He really was NOT in the mood to play Q&A with Miroku today.

Miroku stretched and said, "Just wondering… since you're going out with Kagome tonight. Well… does this mean you and Kagome are…"

"Are what? Spit it out already!" he grunted, still having trouble with the stupid buttons.

"Dating?"

Inuyasha stiffened, not knowing what to say.

"Shut up Miroku! Get lost!" he yelled at him.

"Oh did I strike a nerve?" Miroku smirked.

Inuyasha grunted and chose not to reply, going back to fixing himself up. He couldn't beat Miroku with words.

"I don't blame you; Kagome is a beautiful woman. Soft-spoken, but with a nasty temper… kind-hearted, brave, stubborn, she has a pretty face, slender arms, and a good set of…" he didn't get to finish as a shoe came flying out of nowhere and hit him in the face.

"What was that for?" Miroku whined rubbing his forehead, where the shoe left a red mark.

"For your lecherous thoughts, you pervert."

Miroku put his hand over his heart and pretended to look hurt, "Pervert? Inuyasha… why must you think of me so lowly?"

"It's not too difficult," said Inuyasha grumpily. "Kagome and I are… well not a couple…and well… we aren't actually dating I guess… so I really don't know what we are." Inuyasha said with all honesty, as he finally managed to do up the last button.

"But you do love her?" asked Miroku emotionless.

Neither one said a word for a few minutes. Miroku was just thinking that he might have said something he shouldn't have when Inuyasha finally said, "Yes. I do. Something about her makes me so peaceful and happy… and I can't stop thinking about her… and…"

"And what?"

"I feel… I feel that I had kissed her a long time ago," he said as if in a gaze.

Miroku sat up with wide eyes and raised eyebrows, "So you have kissed her?"

"Yes I did," he hissed as he felt heat running up into his face. "But that's not the point. What I'm trying to say is that it feels like I have kissed her a long time ago, before I even met her at the school. I don't know why… it just feels that way."

Miroku shrugged and nodded but not really understanding what he meant. "Ah Inuyasha?" Miroku said looking down at his watch.

"What now?" Inuyasha responded fixing himself in the mirror.

"Weren't you supposed to pick up Kagome 10 minutes ago?"

"What?" Inuyasha yelled and looked at the clock on the wall. "Oh hell, I have to go…" He rounded on Miroku and shouted, "Why didn't you say anything before you idiot?"

"Nobody asked me," Miroku said shrugging innocently. "And well… truth is… I forgot."

"Miroku!" Inuyasha yelled as he left the room and went to go and get Shiori, "Remind me to kill you later for this!"

Miroku smiled but he also gulped, "You know Inuyasha, you really should work on those anger management issues."

"Shut up!"

*Kagome*

"He's late," Kagome said, looking in a mirror in her bathroom as she was putting up a tiny bit of mascara and lip balm. She was waiting with Shippo who was sitting on the edge of the bathtub looking at his mother.

"Momma?" he asked as he looked at Kagome putting the lip balm on, "You look really pretty!"

Kagome grinned at him and said, "Thank you Shippo. Now you sure you don't mind staying with Shiori and ah… your new grandma tonight?"

Shippo leapt up and began to jump around her and said, "YEP! But what are you and daddy going to do tonight?" he asked shrewdly. Kagome blushed slightly, "Inuyasha said that he wanted to talk to me about something important. That's it."

"Then why doesn't he want me and Shiori around?" Shippo asked sensibly.

"Ah well…" began Kagome, not really knowing what to say. Thankfully, she was spared to answer when they heard the sound of a car horn from outside. "Sounds like he's here," Kagome said gratefully. She put down her make-up and picked up a small purse as she followed her son downstairs and out the door.

By the time that she had locked the door, Shippo was already in the car and talking with Shiori. Kagome shook her head smiling as she walked over to them and got in.

"Kagome?" Inuyasha said as she rode shotgun. She flushed when he said her name as the car left the driveway and they made their way down the road to Inuyasha's parent's house. She smiled at him, which only made Inuyasha smile back.

"Sorry we're late," he said as he leaned over and gave her a quick peck on the check. "Miroku was being an idiot."

Kagome blushed even more and whispered a small okay as they drove on. Shippo and Shiori both grinned as they watched their parents. Shippo touched Shiori's shoulder and winked as he jerked his head towards the front seats. He then mouthed, 'You remember the plan?'

Shiori nodded, grinning even wider. 'You sure it'll work?' she mouthed back.

Shippo gave her the thumps up before mouthing, 'We're just helping them a helping hand that's all.'

In no time, they were at Inuyasha's parent's house and Izayoi was already on the front porch waiting for them.

"You behave yourself Shippo," Kagome warned as he jumped out the car with Shiori and they ran over to Izayoi. Izayoi bent down as the two kids ran into her arms and gave her a hug. For a brief moment, Izayoi looked at Inuyasha in the car, with Kagome looking beautiful, by his side. She grinned and gave her son a wink.

Inuyasha went red as he then quickly turned the car around and left.

"Men," Izayoi said as she stood up with a child on each hand. "But I am glad to see that he's finally dating again."

"Grandma…" said Shiori happily, "We were wondering if you could do something for us?"

Izayoi raised an eyebrow and she asked, "Do something? Do what dear?"

"We've been trying to get mommy and daddy together… but it's taking a lot longer than we thought it would," explained Shippo.

"And we could use some help?" finished Shiori. "Do you want to lend a hand?"

Izayoi blinked, startled, before she gave them both an evil grin and said, "What do you two have in mind?"

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