One of my friends who read this story drew to my attention that I barely mentioned Iliana's boyfriend

who doesn't believe in Youkais or hanyous. So this chapter is mainly Ili asking Inu to come visist

Wesley with her. And, through that, I was able to come up with another plot twist that can lead to

another chapter or two ^_^ You'll see what I mean fairly quick!! Read on

Chapter 12: Slip Ups and Pigtails

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The next few weeks were typical, as typical as it could have been in Feudal Japan. Kagome was

once again pleading with Inuyasha to let her go back to her own time for a few days. When he

wouldn't let her go, Iliana finally had a chance to see Kagome use the 'sit' command, which Iliana got a

major kick out of. Kagome said she'd be back in a few days, waving at Iliana as she laughed loudly.

Only a little while after Kagome left, they collected another jewel shard from a Youkai. During

that battle, Inuyasha was nearing killed, yet again, but that wasn't the unusual part on this battle. After it

was all over, Iliana ran to Inuyasha, throwing herself at him. "You scared me again!" she cried.

"I couldn't help it this time," he said.

"I know, I know. But, I love you, and I don't want to loose you."

He froze. "What...What did you just say?"

"I said....oh," she too froze, realizing what she had said. "Nothing, I didn't say a word."

They all knew exactly what she had said. But, instead of making this situation worse, they just

let it be. Without so much as another word, all of them returned to Kaede's, taking the time they had to

rest and recuperate from their wounds before Kagome returned.

Inuyasha grabbed Iliana gently by the arm and led her outside. Apparently, he decided that

they needed to go on another one of their walks, this time is silence. After what was said earlier, a time

for them to just be quiet and be with each other was needed. They ended up by the river again, but this

time no one ended up in the water. Iliana did, though, beg on for hours for Inuyasha to let her play with

his hair. Finally, after she had given him 'the face', he gave in and let her have her way. Her way

ended up being parting his long silver hair down the middle and tying it into loose knots, pulling it into

pigtails! Inuyasha wasn't as annoyed as she thought he might have been, he was just happy to see he

could make her smile. They sat and watched the water for awhile. Iliana glanced over to the hanyou,

to see he had fallen asleep on his stomach, with his arms folded under his head. She let him sleep, for a

little while anyway.

Tired of just sitting and starring at the trickling water, she turned her gaze to her sleeping

brother. She smiled, thinking of all they had been through as of late. Iliana's mind lingered on his

reaction when she had let is slip when she said she loved him. She didn't actually expect him to say it

back, but she had false hope. He had came far since when they first met, called her sister, embraced

her, let her play with his hair even, practically had him wrapped around her little finger, now all he had

to do was love her. Although, she thought to herself, 'You can't just automatically love someone, even

if you are related to them. Even if I think I do.'

She cocked her head to the side as he stirred, stretching his arms out in front of him, laying his

head down on the grass. Rolling her eyes, she crawled over to his sleeping form and plopped down

gently onto him, straddling his back. She grabbed the pigtails into her hands, snapping them a couple

times, bucking up and down and yelling, "Giddy-up!" (A/N: I've done the whole pigtail and 'giddy-up'

thing to my bro before, he thought I was nuts, but I got pics, and the next day he cut his hair.)

He moaned at the sudden invasion he had on his sleep. His eyes snapped open and he turned

his head to look at the short little girl on his back, grabbing onto his hair. The girl was smiling happily

and laughing at her own action. Himself, found them very ridicules. Shutting his eyes once more, he laid

his head back down and grunted into the grass that could only be construed as, "Iweana, fet oof mae

beck!"

Iliana knew he was demanding her to get off his back, but she wasn't done having her fun first. "I'm

sorry, I don't speak that language," she said continuing snapping his hair.

He lifted his head less then an inch off the ground and spoke with enthused enunciation, "Iliana! Get

off my back!"

"Hmmm, nope, I don't think I will," she said in a slow thoughtful voice.

"Oh, but I do!" he said rolling over on his side, making her tumble off.

With a sigh, she complied and released her 'reins'. Rolling over on her stomach, she laid next

to him, propping herself up on her elbows. She had reason for her actions, making it easier for her to

ask him a question of major concern to her . "Yashie, can I ask you a question?" she asked.

He sat up on his elbows as well and looked into her eyes, showing concern and nervousness.

'Oh, no. She's going to ask why I didn't say...what she said to me.' "What question would that be,"

he said trying to steady his voice.

Hearing the slight tremor in his voice, she thought maybe her antics didn't work. "I was wondering if

you had anything planned until Kagome came back?"

The nervousness left his face and was replaced with confusion.

"Because, I was hoping that if you didn't, you'd like to go somewhere with me," she quickly spit out,

noticing the change in his expression.

"Oh?" he said, sounding a little bit too relieved. He cleared his throat and sat up, propping his

back against a stone. Trying to recapture he composer, he spoke in a deeper voice than usual as he

said, "Well, where would I be going with you?"

"Through the well, to my home," she said sitting up herself, looking determinedly in his gold

eyes. At first, his eyes really set her off guard, but the more she was around him, the more natural they

seemed. "You know, the boyfriend I have that thinks I'm a little crazy for trying to find you?" she asked

strangely.

"Yeah, I remember you talking about him," he said with a little bit of annoyance in his voice.

"Well, I would really like you to meet him. I want him to know that you are real."

He thought about her suggestion for a long time, his face squinched up. He didn't know about

meeting this guy. Ever since she had mention he thought Iliana was insane, he had a slight grudge

against him for thinking something as a Youkai or hanyou could just be a myth. "Why would you want

to go back to a guy who said you were crazy?" he questioned.

"Because, I love him."

"What? How can you love someone like that?"

"Just because I do. You can't choose who you love, it just doesn't work like that. Myself, of all

people know that, with the bad relationships I've had. Not to mention, I want the two most important

men in my life to meet each other. Plus, I'm just getting seriously home sick!"

He was about to protest some more, but then he fully realized the words that she said, 'Me?

One of the most important men in her life?'he thought. He still was undecided when he looked toward

Iliana. Her face was imploring him to give her the answer she longed to hear. His decision was made

for him. Sighing, he said, "If, you're homesick, then you should go home."

Thinking he meant he wasn't going with her, she had to stifle a cry in her throat. She avoided

his eyes and the smile left her face. He then noticed, she just didn't look normal without that ever

glowing smile on her face. In a quiet voice she said, "Oh. Ok. I mean, you probably need to..."

Inuyasha shut her up as he grabbed her by the chin and yanked her face, making her look at

him. "There is no probably about it. I need to...go with you."

Instantly, her face lit up and the smile returned to her face. She let out a happy squeak and

threw her arms around his neck. "Thank you, thank you, thank you!!" she screamed.

Still not fully comfortable with her embrace after her statement, he apprehensively put his hands

on either side of her waist and squeezed lightly. After a moment she relinquished him and he pulled

away. She made a move to stand up, but he kept his hands firmly on her sides. She looked at him

questioningly and saw he had a playful smirk on his face. "Now, since you just couldn't seem to get off

me before, it's time for payback!" Without another warning, he rushed her, plowing her into the ground.

He began roaming her sides, legs, and feet with his unforgiving tickling fingers.

Screeching with laughter, she wriggled around trying to deflect his attacks, but it was no use.

Gasping for breath, she was able to puff out the words, "Ok! I give! I give!"

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I had to mention the pigtail thing! It was one of my favorite things to do with my brother when he came

home from college before he cut his hair. I miss him a lot when he's gone so we do goofy stuff like that

a lot. And it was a good way to role into the whole 'come home with me' thing.

Anyways, next chapter, Inu meets Wesley, the sceptic boyfriend..should be fun!

Stay spiffy!!

LFA