Kagome stood amongst the crowd, looking above at the lanterns strung from trees. The sun was just about to set, and her friends were on another ride while they waited for the boys to meet up with them. She was nervous, but not about meeting her set up. No, she was riddled with anxiety over Sesshomaru. Or, Sesshou, as he preferred to be called now.

"You have class today," He'd said, "But I know you'll be attending the fair downtown. Meet me by the lake before the fireworks. I'd prefer to discuss our shared interests then." she could only stare in awe, still shocked, and now confused. "My hearing is still sensitive, I'm sure you remember."

"Right." Is all she could muster to say.

"Do these arrangements suit your schedule?" He'd asked, but she had a feeling he already knew the answer.

Now she was nearly dancing on her toes, she could barely stand still. When she wasn't bouncing around, she was fidgeting with her skirt. Kagome had chosen a suede brown skirt with buttons up the middle, and a floral blouse with her knee high boots. Autumn was coming, so she opted for warmth with thick charcoal leggings and an oatmeal cardigan. Her three friends had chosen to embrace the last rays of summer sun with dresses and shorts, sweaters tied around their waists for when night fell and a chill would sweep through the park.

"They'll offer their jackets, Kagome," Eri had scolded her for her outfit upon arrival, "And maybe they'll even keep us warm with their arms around us." Kagome only laughed at her boy crazy friends. Her only goal was to find Sesshou, and ask him everything she needed to know.

The problem is, she wasn't sure what all she wanted to know. Did she really want to know how her friends had met their end? Did she really want to find out how everyone kept living, with no choice but to forget her? She sighed and forced herself to stop shifting the band of her skirt.

Oddly, she wanted to know more about him. Why was he watching her all this time? Why didn't he come talk to her sooner? Why even make himself known to begin with? She thought he hated her. She was nothing more than a nuisance he'd begrudgingly saved on a number of occasions, despite her allegiance to his enemy half brother.

"Kagome!" Eri and Ayumi waved from the ferris wheel as they rotated from the bottom, up. She waved back at them with a curt smile.

"Higurashi?" She turned, already recognizing the voice of the boy behind her. "I'm so glad you could make it."

"Oh," She smiled at her former admirer, "Yeah, me too, Hojo!" He had long since given up on her and had taken recent interest in Eri. "Eri is on the ferris wheel with Ayumi right now. And Yuka is getting cotton candy with her boyfriend."

"I see," Hojo laughed, his smile stretching ear to ear as he eyed Eri at the top of the ferris wheel laughing with Ayumi over something they couldn't hear. "And what a beautiful day for a fair. How are you feeling, Higurashi?"

"Just fine, Hojo. I hear you have a friend coming along?" Kagome inquired, knowing full well she needed to let him down the second he arrived to prevent an awkward night.

"Soon, yes." Hojo waved at the girls as they went around the ferris wheel once more, "He's captain of the basketball team and treasurer on the student council."

"He sounds busy," Kagome would normally be intimidated by these extracurriculars, but all she could think is, 'oh, yeah? Does he know how to slay a hundred demon in a single strike? No? Too bad.' She wanted to laugh at herself. How nonsensical for a normal teenage girl to think that when a boy's dating resume is being flaunted. Then again, she wasn't normal. "Hojo, do you mind waiting for everyone here? Yuka is coming, but I need to use the bathroom."

"Of course, Higurashi. I'll be here." He nodded, keeping his eyes on the girls riding the ferris wheel.

"Thanks." she said and passed by him, tightening her cardigan around her shoulders. The wind was gusty around the lake, and the closer she got, the colder it was. She just needed to disappear for a while. All the commotion of the fair was driving her up a wall. She needed calm. She needed serenity.

People had started to gather along the opposite side of the lake to see the firework display, setting up blankets, coolers, and lighting sparklers. She could even see her friends twirling with their own set of sparklers, drawing words in the air. She wished she was as carefree as them. They've no worries, just boys, make up, and their grades. Leaning into the tree she was hiding behind, Kagome allowed herself to reminisce the old festivals from Edo and all the other small villages they'd passed through. She had begged Inuyasha every time to stop in for the night, just so she could explore the festival. And every time, he had conceded, if only to see her smile.

"Ya know," Kagome startled at the voice. She twirled around and faced her new companion. "This reminds me a lot of the states."

"Excuse me?" Kagome nearly screeched. She eyed the young man in front of her. He was clearly American with his yellow blonde hair and blue eyes.

"Shit, I'm sorry," He blushed, "I didn't mean to startle you. Eri told me to come find you?"

"Oh," Kagome relaxed, "You must be Hojo's friend."

"Yeah, I'm Alex." He nodded his hello, "So you're Kagome, I take it. Eri saw you across the way and told me to come bring you over for the fireworks. She thought you got lost or something!" He laughed, rolling his eyes at the idea someone could get lost when the event was in plain sight.

"Higurashi, actually." She smiled tightly at the exchange student. "I just needed a moment. I wasn't feeling well earlier." Maybe it was how casual he was behaving, maybe it was his American mannerisms, or even just a bad first impression, but regardless, she didn't quite like this Alex person.

"Right, sorry," He fake bopped his head, "I'm still new to Japan. I'm sorry if I'm ever rude. Just lemme know and I'll knock it off." Alex shuffled his feet, cowed by his thoughtlessness. "So were you gonna come watch the fireworks, orrrr…?"

"There you are," Kagome peered up as Sesshou approached. She could sense his arrival, slow and steady, knowing full well he was eavesdropping. "I was beginning to think you would stand me up." She almost laughed, almost, at the implication of them together, but knew better. She couldn't exactly blow his cover and escape this nosy American.

"Ah," She looked over her shoulder at Sesshou behind her. He was dressed semi casually, in dark jeans, a burgundy sweater, and a light trench coat. "Sorry to keep you waiting. I was just on my way to come find you."

"Oh, I'm so sorry," Alex put both hands up and proceeded to back away, "I had no idea I was intruding on something here, Higurashi. My bad," she could see him begin to sweat. "Really, so sorry. I'll just uh, I'll just tell everyone you headed home sick?"

"Please? And thank you?" Kagome stepped closer to Sesshou, ready to take their leave, and watched as her blind date made his way back towards the group.

"Awfully skittish, that one." Sesshou kept his eyes on the retreating form of the boy. "You looked like you needed saving."

"Thank you." Kagome bowed her head under his scrutiny. She wasn't used to this Sesshomaru, the one who saves her from awkward encounters without question and does so for her wellbeing.

"Come," He turned and went back the way he came, assuming she would follow, "The fireworks are about to start."

"Right." Kagome trailed after Sesshou, following him through a dirt path that would eventually lead them back onto the normal hiking trail at the far side of the lake, and from there, the parking lot.

She had much to think over in the next twenty minutes before they reached their destination, and she had no clue where to start. Instead she allowed herself to observe the man before her and wonder what kind of life he's led to make him as mellow as he is now. And if any of that has anything to do with Rin.

Kagome's curiosity was eating at her, but she knew she had no choice but to follow and wait. He would tell her everything, and she would listen. She only hoped she could handle all the information.