17 ~ by Twilight Zero

TZ's Notes: It's me again! First of all, thanks for those who reviewed my stories!  Okay, legal notes: I don't own IY, and I don't own the song, "17".  That's all…read and enjoy! ;-)

"Some people tell me, that I should stay away

Maybe I will…some other day…"

"Inu-Yasha?" Kikyou called to him the next day. She was in the woods, the soon to be called, "Inu-Yasha's Forest". "I know you're hiding somewhere. May I speak with you?"

Inu-Yasha jumped down from one of the trees and stood in front of her. He had this disbelieving look. "Well, what do you want? Are you here to shoot me or something?"

Somehow, I still don't trust him, onee-sama. You should be careful too. Who knows what he's planning about this village. He still demands for the Shikon no Tama, right? That's what Kaede said to her yesterday. Don't trust Inu-Yasha, Kikyou. Remember, he still wants the jewel… "But still, I must know why he helped me the other day…if he wants the jewel so badly, he should've grabbed it while I was battling that youkai. But he didn't…" she thought.

"Well?!" the hanyou growled, tapping his foot impatiently. "Spit it out, will ya?" Kikyou looked at him, her eyes saying something. What the-?! he thought. Don't look at me like that! he said mentally.

"I…I just want to thank you for yesterday. The village would have been destroyed if it weren't for your aid."

"Huh?! That's what you want to tell me?" he asked disbelievingly. The miko nodded slightly. "Keh! Forget about it; it wasn't a big deal and besides, my real intention there is to get the jewel while you're duking it with that demon." He turned his back, so that she won't see his blushing face. Kikyou raised an eyebrow.

"Really?" she asked. You should have grabbed it when you have the chance. "Suit yourself, Inu-Yasha. I better get back to the village." Inu listened on as she walked back to the village, and he seized this chance to glance at her, his face still blushing. Kikyou, on the other hand, can sense that he's staring at her and smiled deep inside. Somehow, she's starting to like the stubborn hanyou bit by bit. Maybe he wasn't that bad after all…

She took time to visit the shrine where the jewel was placed. Gently, she picked it up and held it close to her heart. "You're sensing all of this…am I right?…Shikon no Tama?" The jewel glowed a light pink radiance, and Kikyou could sense that it was glad with all that was happening. "I'm so happy to hear that…"

Nighttime. The village was serene and peaceful. The people were in the comfort of their homes, eating supper together or just having peaceful dreams in their sleep. Kikyou and Kaede were currently having supper together, and both are eating in deafening silence.

"I'm surprised, onee-sama. Inu-Yasha hasn't invaded the village for some time now," Kaede remarked. "Did you had a word with him or something?"

"Hmm…something like that."

"You're keeping something from me aren't you, onee-sama?" she asked and put on a childish expression. Even a young priestess-in-training like her would be suspicious about her sister's strange actions. "Onee-sama?"

"Don't worry about me, Kaede. Remember, your time as the next priestess will soon be here," she said and stood up. "I'm finished," and proceeded to wash the utensils. Doing so, the dark hue of the night caught her eye. "It's dark tonight."

"It's so eerie…" her younger sister said, afraid. "Where's the moon?"

"There's no moon," her sister answered, while washing the dishes. "That's because it's the night of the new moon tonight." She looked to see her imouto shake with child-like fear, and smiled. "You're still a kid after all, Kaede."

"I AM NOT!" she pouted, and got rid of her earlier expression. "See? I'm a big girl now. No dark night is going to scare me!" Her sister chuckled and finished what she was doing. "Right, Kaede."

Inu-Yasha, on the other hand, isn't very happy about the moon's temporary disappearance. There he was, sitting on a sturdy branch, while gazing at the starlit sky. "Keh! Stupid moon," he said in disgust as he tossed his ebony black hair behind his back. He looked at his human hands, and held a strand of hair with those, while thinking to himself why he had to suffer like this every night of the new moon. "I hate it when I turn into a human," he muttered and leaned against the tree. "And daylight's just too damn far away…" He suddenly heard something…the bushes below him rustled softly, and he trembled. Is it a youkai? Stealthily, he hid and saw Kikyou, heading towards the stream for her evening bath. It's Kikyou! What is she doing here? Inu-Yasha looked as she made her way to the middle of the stream and cleansed herself. (AN: Inu-Yasha you hentai! Man, these reminds me of Episode 15…*sigh*) His stomach churned at the sight of her sad eyes, and he was glad that the moon's not shining tonight…or he would have fallen for those eyes again. He felt his heartbeat beat faster than before. Here's that feeling again…what is this? Why does my heart beat like this whenever I see her?!

Shaking his head, he turned and walked away, but he can't forget her face, especially her eyes...and he found it hard to sleep peacefully. "Damn!" he cursed aloud, and buried his head between his hands. He was silent for awhile, before realizing the sudden truth. "Could it be that…I'm in love with her?" He snickered, and looked at the sky. "Maybe I am…cause I won't act like this if I'm not in love with her…"

"Cause it feels right, you know it feels good

and I don't always do what I should,

And I know what makes me happy

and in my heart you are it exactly…"

"Kikyou-onee sama? Someone's looking for you," Young Kaede called at the doorway of the shrine, where the miko is presently praying for the well-being of the people in the village. "The person says she needs your help."

After finishing her objective, she went out, took her bow and arrows and patted he sister on the head. "Thank you Kaede. Make sure that while I'm gone, you'll look after the village okay?"

"I told you; I'm a big girl now," the young girl pouted, and held the spot where she touched her. "Don't worry, I can take care of myself." Kikyou smiled, much to Kaede's surprise, before leaving. Is that what I think it is? Kikyou-onee sama…smiled? She stood there, still bewildered at her onee-sama's strange behavior, while watching her go down the steps…

The sakura trees are in full bloom that season. Gracefully, petals of it fly with the breeze while halting now and then as Kikyou walked amongst them. The gentle rays of the summer sun shine along with the feeling shining deep inside her. For her, she had never felt so much happier in her entire life. Since her "second" meeting with Inu-Yasha, she finds it easy to smile everytime his face comes into mind. "That crazy hanyou," she muttered to herself as she made her way to the person's residence.

She looked at the trees which are in hues of light and gentle pink; the prettiest colors that they ever displayed. And on one of them, Inu-Yasha sat, enjoying the gentle breeze of the wind. His golden eyes caught sight of the object of his affections. As if fate would have it, their glances met, and both found it hard to snap out of it.

"Kikyou," he thought, while his eyes followed her as she walked past the tree. When she was about a meter away, the miko looked back, smiling sweetly. There was no sadness in her eyes, and for Inu-Yasha, she was just the most beautiful person he had ever seen in his life.