Disclaimer: Don't own Inuyasha and co. Rumiko Takahashi does...

Sorry about the long wait everyone, but I was suffering serious writer's block from this fic. I have decided to end this soon, and not carry it on forever.

I have officially removed the '27' from my name. Just thought there would be more originality this way! ^_^

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One Week Isolation - Chapter 13

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The week following the romantic evening, Kagome had been overwhelmed with the amount of work she had to do. For over seventeen hours each day she had filmed with Rin, rarely taking any breaks.

She swore if the dark circles under her eyes got any darker, she would have looked like a panda. A pissed off panda, that was.

"Sesshoumaru...we've done this scene tons of times already...." Kagome whined, rubbing her aching head. "It looks pretty good to me."

"Nothing in this business is perfect, and it's even less perfect, Miss Higurashi, when annoying actresses come to pester me about what they think is good." Grumbled Sesshoumaru, and took another sip of his herbal tea. "Filming will resume in fifteen minutes."

Kagome muttered some swears under her breath, and looked at her clock, ten at night. They had been filming since four-thirty in the morning.

Ever since Sesshoumaru had received a call from the company, the movie deadline was moved up a month, and from then on everyone was in a constant rush to get the project finished.

She sighed and plopped down onto her hard seat, trying to get into a comfortable position. Even Sango had no time to chat with her anymore because she was so busy.

For seven days, Kagome hadn't seen Kikyou, Kouga or Inuyasha. Hojo would show up occasionally with her food, and that would be that. No mentions of their date. Kagome was thankful that Kikyou and Kouga were nowhere to be seen; she didn't exactly want to see them.

What made her hysterical was the fact Inuyasha never came to visit her, and when she tried to get some time off to see him, he was never in his trailer. She often wondered if what he had so sweetly announced to her that night was true.

'I broke up with that bitch so we could be together!'

Those wonderful words...who would have thought Mr. Hot shot actor would have fallen for her, this plain girl with decent acting skills? Kagome was flattered, but she constantly worried about their relationship.

Was he going to stay with her after the movie? Or what if it turned out to be another one of those typical movie-star break-ups? Kagome gripped her fists tighter, and sweat rolled down her forehead. It felt like a sauna in here!

"Kagome, you're needed on the set!" Screamed a cameraman with orders from whom else but the director.

"Coming." She jumped off her chair and stumbled off to the set. Whoever said an actor's life was glamorous must have been whacked over the head several times with a hammer.

Rin was just the opposite. She was having a blast on set, talking to everyone and smiling in front of the camera. Amazing actor, that little kid, she had to be because her part was so huge. Kagome often wondered how she survived.

"Once again now, everyone. Scene #37, lights, camera, and action!"

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"Kagome, it's time to get up." Said a voice from outside her trailer. Kagome had gotten back to her trailer late again last night, and didn't even bother brushing her teeth she was so sleepy.

Crawling out of her bed, she glanced at her alarm clock, 7:35 in the morning. That was impossible! She was lucky if she got to wake up at four! "What? But...!"

"Kagome, open up!" She recognized the voice that belonged to Kaede, and the old lady was pounding on her door. "We've got to get your makeup done quick! You're going to be late if you don't hurry!"

Sitting down at the makeup table after she had let Kaede in, she grabbed a magazine and started flipping through the pages. "Kaede, why do I get to sleep in today? Not that I'm complaining..."

"Kikyou is going to be shooting today with Inuyasha, dear. And this is the only scene where you will act with both of them." Kaede explained, pulling a knot out of Kagome's hair. "Sango suggested to Sesshoumaru to let you sleep in a bit more today because you looked so pooped this week, I just came back from fixing up Kikyou on set."

Inuyasha and Kikyou? There was only one scene Kagome could remember from the script where they were all in the same...oh no...

"Kagome dear, are you quite alright? Your face just paled back there."

"Huh? Oh, I'm fine...I might need an aspirin though, I have a slight headache..."

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Kagome looked in the full-length mirror, her hair was in a high bun, and her makeup was done like a woman in her 30's. She was wearing high heels, square glasses and a casual skirt and jacket. No one would have believed her if she told them her real age.

She stormed onto the shooting grounds, scared of what she might encounter. Expecting to see the actors, the only people she spotted were Sesshoumaru and Sango talking next to a humongous camera.

"Kagome! Nice to see you, and you look so much better!" Sango cried, waving her hands in the air.

"Thanks...I guess." Kagome smirked and gave Sango a quick hug. "When do we start?"

"Right now. You're a little late, Ms. Higurashi. I'm pretty sure I already warned you about being late, though I may be mistaken." Sesshoumaru continued. "Hurry up, we're behind schedule as it is."

'I know. How many times have I heard that?' Kagome thought angrily, rudely shoving aside the door in her way to make her way onto the set. What she saw made her hold her breath.

There was Inuyasha, looking just as handsome as he looked a week ago, but the only thing wrong with this picture was he wasn't alone, Kikyou was next to him with a smile. She smiled arrogantly when she became aware of Kagome's presence.

Now picture all that but with them lying naked on a bed together.

Covering her mouth with her hand, she stumbled backwards but banged into the door she had shut behind her. Snapping around, she fumbled with the doorknob but it was locked. Kagome was tempted to kick down the obstacle in her way, but Inuyasha stopped her.

"Kagome, it's just a scene in a movie. Don't take it the wrong way." He said, grabbing her by the shoulders.

There wasn't a bit of compassion in his voice, and though Kagome knew what she had seen was just acting, she couldn't exactly accept it. Every second of that view would tear her heart apart more and more, and God knew how many times Sesshoumaru would make her see that.

Holding back the tears in the back of her throat, she coughed out. "I'm okay...let's just get this over with."

She could have sworn she heard Kikyou chuckling when Kagome walked off in another direction.

"Alright. Actors onto the set if they aren't already. We will be rolling in five minutes." Announced Sesshoumaru. "Five minutes, everybody."

Kagome lowered her head and paced offset. She was needed to walk in, and spot them together in bed, and flip out. This scene comes before the Rin part in the movie, but Kagome found out long ago that most scenes were not shot in order.

"We will be rolling in 3...2...action!" She could faintly hear Sesshoumaru say, and at her cue, she was to barge in the door. Once she heard it, she pushed aside the fake door and stopped. It was time to go into acting mode, even if it was going to kill her.

Inuyasha was sprawled on top of Kikyou, placing kisses all over her neck. Kagome could tell she was topless, but Inuyasha's bare back was blocking it from the camera.

Warm tears found their way into Kagome's eyes in an instant, and she crumbled onto the hardwood floor. Dropping the bag she had originally been carrying, Kagome sobbed with no mercy.

Inuyasha quickly jumped off Kikyou when he saw Kagome come in, it had been pure instinct. He hadn't wanted her to see them like this, but he hated to admit he missed Kikyou's soft caresses. Mentally slapping himself for that thought, he focused back onto acting his part.

"What...what are you doing here?" Inuyasha stuttered, pulling his T-shirt on over his head. "You weren't supposed to be home yet..."

"No, I wasn't!" Kagome screeched, picking up Kikyou's shoes laying on the floor and whacked him over the head as hard as she could. Inuyasha looked as surprised as she did. "Wanted me gone so you could screw this little hoar, didn't you?"

Kagome pointed the heel to Kikyou's face, still sitting there in absolute shock. What a bitch. "What are you still doing here? Get the hell out of my house! If I see your shitty face again I swear I will beat the crap out of you! Don't look at me like that! Get the fuck out of my house!"

Flinging Kikyou's bra in her face, Kagome slapped Inuyasha across the cheek, and stormed around their fake room in a panic.

Gathering all of her belongings, Kagome stormed out of the room with a briefcase, but before she made it out the door, she glared at Inuyasha. "Forget the proposal, you bastard. We're over."

She rushed out the door and slammed it behind her. Once she heard Sesshoumaru yell, "cut!" She walked back through the doors and sighed.

Sesshoumaru was going to lecture her, and not on her bad acting, but because she had not followed the script, she had made up the entire dialogue, actions included.

Out of pure anger she had whacked and slapped Inuyasha, but there wasn't a guilty bone in her body at the time. When she heard the clapping of the crew, Kagome paused. What were they doing?

"Kagome, that was near perfection, if I may say so myself." Sesshoumaru said, shaking Kagome's hand. "A nice little improvement from the drab old script."

"I agree." Nodded Sango, who joined in with the clapping. "Great job, Kagome. I wanted to cry it was so good."

"So...nobody's mad at me?" Whispered Kagome, hardly believing what was being said to her.

"Are you kidding?" Yelled Sango. "That was so goddamn good! Oscar-worthy, might I add."

Kagome looked over at Sesshoumaru, who just nodded in approval. "Does that mean we won't have to film this scene again?" Questioned Kagome with a smile.

"No. Unless you want - "

"NO!" Kagome screamed. "I think that was perf - good."

"Great. One more shot and we'll be finished for the day. Wonderful job, Higurashi." He commented and picked up his stuff.

"Thanks." Kagome smiled and walked back onto the set, maybe she could still get in an apology...but no one was there.

"Alrighty then..." She mumbled for nobody to hear and made her way off the disgusting set.

The next shot was merely a shot of her running down the street in agony, and when she was too exhausted to run anymore, Sesshoumaru called it a day.
Kagome was pleased with what she had filmed that day, but Inuyasha was nowhere to be seen. Except for the one thing he had said to her earlier, he hadn't spoken a word to her.

'Maybe...maybe he went back to Kikyou?' She pondered in fear, praying to every God out there not to let that happen.

It was late afternoon, and she hadn't had anything to eat all day. 'Might as well...' Kagome thought when she passed the food truck.

Ignoring Hojo, she quickly ordered and left, hoping this lonely day would end soon. For once she wished Sesshoumaru have made them stay longer.

"I hate this!" Kagome yelled when she was headed back to her trailer. "Arrrgghhhh! Huh?"

A single red rose sat on her doorstep. Bending over to pick it up, she read the handwritten card.

Follow the roses and you will see,

A surprise from your secret admirer,

also known as me.

Confused, Kagome turned the door handle and found it unlocked. 'I should really learn to lock my door.' Kagome thought while slipping off her shoes.

Glancing up, she noticed immediately the trail of roses in her trailer. Picking up each one gracefully and taking a sniff, Kagome had gathered eleven when she realised she had followed the trail into her bathroom.

The last rose laid on the counter with a note and gift-wrapped box attached to it.

You have found the surprise,

Ain't it mighty nice?

Wear it to dinner tonight,

Don't put up a fight.

At eight you and I shall meet,

My limo shan't strain your feet.

Reading the card carefully three times, Kagome tucked it into her pocket and bundled the gorgeous flowers together.

Nobody had ever done anything like this for her, but the occasion? January 25, January 25...It was her birthday! How could she have forgotten? She never forgot her own birthday! Slapping herself for her stupidity, she carefully unwrapped the gold ribbon on the elegant box.

What lay inside was a light blue dress with a low back. It was an extremely soft and glittery fabric that felt cold to the touch.

Kagome was stunned, smiling while slipping the dainty dress out of the box. "Who would do this...?" She pondered to herself, slipping on the dress over her tiny frame.

Looking as if it was made for her, Kagome admired herself in her bathroom mirror. It was tight in all the right places, and showed off all the right curves. 'I wonder how much this set the person back...'

Kagome giggled when she imagined Inuyasha picking out her dress at a clothing store, and getting angry when he didn't know which one to buy.

But, just maybe...Inuyasha didn't give this to her? Perhaps it was Kouga, or Hojo, or...Kagome didn't want to think about it. But the more she did, the more she was convinced Inuyasha wasn't her secret admirer, the way he had acted all week was completely unacceptable!

But all she could do in the meantime was get ready for her date...

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"Kagome Higurashi?" Came a voice at her front door.

Running towards her door in her new dress and a tiny purse, Kagome flung open the door. "Yes...I'm here."

The dark-haired man dressed up in a tux handed her a violet corsage, and led her to the limo waiting outside the grounds. Who was this man? Why was he -?

"Excuse me...but do I know you?" Kagome asked, trying to sound as polite as possible.

He glared back at her and smirked. "Don't worry ma'am, won't be me you're going out with, I'm just the chauffeur." He chuckled and opened the car door for her. How embarrassing! Kagome had to cover her face to hide her blush.

The ride was ridden in complete silence, and with the tinted windows from the inside Kagome couldn't see a thing. She was dying to know where she was going...

Pulling to an abrupt stop, the limo driver stepped out and clicked open her door. Kagome stood up gracefully and dusted off her dress. She quickly peered around, getting her sleepy eyes to adjust to the new surrounding.

The first thing she noticed was the grass she was standing on, and the misty ocean ahead of her. Kagome noticed the dock and the glamorous yacht a second later. "What is this?" She mumbled quietly.
Then, a dark figure stepped out onto the boat, and waved madly. "Kagome! Over here!" It yelled.

She trampled towards the dock, and once she was within viewing distance, she grinned when she recognised the mysterious person.

Inuyasha was standing there, with a captain's hat and a sailor suit. Kagome had to bite her lip to keep from giggling at his odd uniform. "Hello, captain." She kidded and started laughing uncontrollably.

He frowned and pulled her onto his boat, which Kagome figured out was named, 'Kikyou.'

Inuyasha had parked the boat so that she couldn't see the name on the side, but her eyesight was better than he had presumed.

"Inuyasha...what is this?"

He smirked. "This...is my private yacht." Before Kagome could respond, he had reached forward and placed a kiss on her forehead. "Happy birthday, Kagome."

"What?...But how'd you know...?" Kagome stuttered out, and pretended to gaze up at the stars and not at his lovely form.

"Your friends."

Kagome smirked. Maybe she wasn't going to kill her friends after all...

"You look great in that." He muttered unnoticeably and turned away. Inuyasha was probably as embarrassed as she was.

"Thanks."

Staring at each other in complete silence for a brief minute, Inuyasha handed her a glass. "Here. Champagne."

"Are you trying to get me drunk?" Kagome asked mischievously.

"Keh! Who'd want to get you - "

His voice was stuck in his throat when she leaped forward and placed a quick kiss on his cheek. "Thanks. I love it."

Inuyasha blushed even more like the puppy he was, and offered her a seat next to his on deck. Both of them sat there in peace and gazed at the starry sky.

"Inuyasha, why did you ignore me this week?" Kagome asked, sounding hurt. "I really wanted to see you."

He paused. "I didn't want to give the surprise away...I'm bad at keeping stuff to myself."

"Oh..." Kagome breathed out into the cold crisp air.

Finding the situation even more uncomfortable than before, they decided to keep their mouths shut for a while.

"Kagome..." Inuyasha said. "I'm sorry, you know. About the whole kissing Kikyou thing..."

"It's okay." Kagome smiled. "I know."

After another five minutes, Kagome piped out. "Inuyasha...I mean, I sometimes read scandals, you know..." Kagome could of sworn she heard Inuyasha growl. "...and I was wondering if you really did cheat on Kikyou...you just don't look like someone who would."

"You think you know everything about me?" Inuyasha barked, destroying the quiet mood. "I'll tell you something, girl. I never cheated on Kikyou, she cheated on me! And with many guys, I assure you!"

Looking away, Inuyasha barred his fangs and lay back down in his seat. So much for a romantic evening...

"Inuyasha...I'm sorry..." Kagome whispered.

He looked into her saddened eyes. "No, Kagome. I'm sorry, you know." He stopped. "I didn't want to talk about her tonight."

"Aren't you angry at her?" Kagome interrupted before he could finish, and she regretted it almost right after.

"What?"

"Well...how could you...you know, forgive her?" Kagome said in her softest tone.

His doggy ears lowered and he looked down. "I don't know, I loved her so much, and I didn't accept the fact that it really happened..."

"But she gets so angry at you when you even suggest something like..." Kagome was cut off by an angry voice.

"I know. She's just that kind of person. I don't want to talk about it anymore...alright, Kagome?" Inuyasha said slowly, barely containing the anger in his voice.

"I'm sorry." Now she could barely breathe, Inuyasha was being so threatening.

Now Kagome wouldn't have minded as much if Kouga had been her secret admirer...

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There! Finished! I'm not too satisfied with this chapter, didn't really go anywhere, but cleared some things up! ^_^ Not as cheerful as always, but oh well!

Note to ChristyKay: Thanks so much for the suggestion, I semi used it! You were the only one who helped me out with my case of writer's block, and for that I dedicate this chapter to you. ^_^

This fiction is drawing to a close, if I may say so myself. One more chapter and it should be finished. Look forward to it! And remember now, reviews are appreciated! ^_^

*~sorena~*