Disclaimer: You know the drill. I don't own em, but I'd like to. I'd settle for just Inuyasha. Or Shippo. What a little cutie! Not like THAT, you perverts!

Ok, folks! A sort of short one, to appease my friends who are waiting so patiently. Thank you for wanting me to continue ~ you're ALL good for my ego!

Just a couple of notes:

Aisuru: Thank you. I did have a very good show, and I thoroughly enjoyed my Adult Swim. Anyway...good question. I don't know ~ I've never been to Tokyo. She's practicing at the same place that Yuki and Kaho Mizuki competed in CCS, just before Sakura faced Yue. Will that work?

Logan: You crack me up. Thanks for several good laughs!

NigHtEyeZ: I'm going to post my answer here as well as in my e-mail to you because others might be wondering the same thing: Good question, but I don't know. I hadn't thought about whether it was her first kiss or not. I would say not, because she's about 17 in this fic, and very pretty. It's a romantic notion, but since it's definitely not IY's first kiss, I'm not too worried about it. As I told you, my first kiss was aweful! But my second was with someone wonderful, so it was great. After all, what good is a kiss without the sharing of souls? She definitely didn't share her soul with Houjo. Kagome will get to kiss someone wonderful, I promise. Read first chapter author's notes.

As for the rest of your questions, you will just have to wait and read. Stick with me, ok? I would love to write a note to each and every one of you, but I would never get this posted. Just know that I love you all for your support and encouragement, and some of you, for your wonderful, twisted senses of humor (Are you listening, Saturn Angels?). Ok, on with the story!

**************************************************************************** ******

Kagome collapsed at her desk, physically and emotionally spent from two hours of target practice with her bow and arrows. She had imagined a variety of people/beings being at the bullseye, and had done surprisingly well. Her skills as a marksman had come a long way since fateful day she shattered the Shikon Jewel. A man had even asked if she was a professional. 'Hah! Define professional! Is it someone who shoots arrows at a harmless target for ribbons and prize money, or someone who uses her skills to stay alive and protect those she cares about?' She had just blushed and told the man, "Sort of."

After two hours of beating herself up for her stupidity with respect to Houjo, her persistent feelings for a half-demon (albeit half-human) who didn't return them, and her inability to get a grip on her life, she finally exhausted her emotions enough to feel numb. Maybe now she could get some studying done. She opened her book and soon was lost in a world of numbers and equations.

When she finally heard the clatter of the front door, she realized she had been studying for three hours. She heard the resonance of Souta's feet pounding on the stairs, headed her way. "Kagomeeeeeeeeeee! Are you here?"

She looked up expectantly, and her eye caught on her dressing table mirror. Something was missing. She knew what it was right away. 'Where is that picture? It must have fallen down.'

Souta burst through the door. "Oh, there you are. We've been trying to call you to join us at Kayuga for dinner. We finally gave up and brought it home for you. How come you haven't anwered the phone?"

"I unplugged it so I could get my studying done. Did you and Grandfather have a good time?"

Souta made a face, "Yeah, it was ok. You know Grandfather. If something doesn't have a story, he makes one up. I never know how much to believe."

"Hey, Souta, did you see Inuyasha here last night? Did he, by any chance, come looking for me?"

Souta scoffed at her in an attitude that puzzled her. "I was hanging out with a friend." He made what looked like a disgusted face at her, and said, "Your dinner is on the table," then left the room.

Kagome frowned. What was that all about? Was he still mad that she had gone to the dance with Houjo? What was she supposed to have done? Taken a half demon with little white ears on top of his head and no social graces? She momentarily envisioned Inuyasha at the dance, eating everything on the refreshment table, and trying to gut anyone who admired her in her dress. She shuddered. Still, it would have been so nice if she really had been dancing in his strong arms, completely surrounded in his warm embrace and earthy scent. And that kiss...

Hmmmm..she gazed at her dressing table, then went to see if the photo was lying on it's surface or on the floor. It wasn't there. Maybe it got kicked underneath. Just as she was about to stoop to check, her grandfather called. 'Later,' she thought, and went to wash up and eat her dinner.

**************************************************************************** ***

Miroku was seriously worried about his friend. He hadn't seen him for a couple of days, since the other night, several hours after he had followed Kagome through the well to "interrupt" her date. Being unable to sleep and lonely, he had taken a walk. He really hadn't expected to find Inuyasha back from Kagome's world. Or at least not home without Kagome in tow, willing or not. But he did find the hanyou, alone and completely miserable. He was slumped by the well, ears flat against his white head, face cradled in his clawed hands.

"Uh, I take it things didn't go so well?"

No response.

"Inuyasha? Are you ok?"

No answer

Miroku wasn't sure what to do. He couldn't chide a guy he couldn't even get a response from. And even he could see that something was terribly wrong, and it wouldn't be a good time to attack a guy who was down. So, he just sat down quietly next to his friend and said nothing.

After what seemed like an eternity, Inuyasha finally spoke. "I guess everyone knows where I went?" He had finally lifted his face, but it was still masked by the curtain of of his hair, so the monk couldn't read his eyes. He could read his voice, however. It was choked and full of pain.

"Actually, no. Just me. When I returned, the women had left to assist in a difficult delivery for one of the village women, and they hadn't returned when I left to go for a walk. The kit was already asleep."

The hanyou finally looked the monk right in the eye, "Promise me you won't tell them. Anyone! Especially Kagome!"

The monk gaped at him. He hadn't intruded on Kagome's date? He hadn't barged right in the minute the other guy tried to hold her hand? He had expected Inuyasha to come back, followed by an angry Kagome who would be berating him for seriously injuring her dance partner. He expected some bruises and other evidence of Inuyasha having been "Sat" about 40 or 50 times. But not this. "W.....what happened?"

Inuyasha glared stubbornly, "Promise!"

"But...."

A low, threatening growl emitted from the hanyou's throat. "Promise me, monk!"

The monk bowed his head and reluctantly agreed, "Hai. I promise."

With that, Inuyasha was gone. And Miroku hadn't seen him since.

Kagome wasn't back yet either, but he supposed it was still a bit early. She said she'd come back right after school on Monday, after she finished her exam. Usually, Inuyasha would be fidgeting like an anxious puppy all day until it was time for her to come back. He would then camp out by the well until he caught her scent and her head poked out, and he could finally feel relief that she was back safely with him. Then he would yell at her for being late. Miroku knew this was a defense mechanism, because if he didn't yell at her, she might notice the anxious look that marked his features all the while she was gone.

But today, the half-demon was nowhere in sight. Miroku reflected back to that night, and the feeling of utter despair and sadness that came off his friend in waves. Just being next to him felt dismal, hopeless. He was sure something had happened to break his friend's heart, but what? If Kagome didn't even know he was there, what could have happened? They had had arguments before, but how could they have argued if she didn't even know he was there?

He stood and waited for Kagome alone. Sango was still helping out with the woman in the village, as she was still very weak. Miroku had asked a very reluctant Shippo to stay and help Sango, in case she needed someone to bring her supplies or run errands. He had only convinced the little kit when he promised to bring Kagome right away, as soon as she appeared.

When Kagome's raven head finally emerged from the well, she was exhausted. She was having a great deal of difficulty hauling her pack, and when Miroku reached down to help pull it out, he understood why. It was even more stuffed than usual, because Kagome had included lots of extra "make-up" gifts for Inuyasha, whom she feared would still be angry with her for her abrupt exit from his world.

Kagome blinked, and thanked her friend for his help. "Where's Inuyasha?"

'Why don't you tell me?' He thought, but said, "I don't know. Haven't seen him in days." He paused to observe her expression, which was shocked and a little sad.

He didn't know she was thinking that he must have run off to find Kikyo the minute she was through the portal. It's not as if she hadn't expected it, but it still saddened her. Wrenched her heart, actually.

"So, how was your dance? Anything interesting happen?" Maybe he could find some clue to Inuyasha's strange behavior from her.

Kagome reached up and touched her lips with her fingers, but said, "Interesting? No, not really. It was nice. I love dancing, and I got to do that all night." 'Well, most of the night, anyway.'

He continued to watch her, but it was clear that she wasn't going to give anything away either. Oh, well, no matter. She would almost certainly talk to Sango, and he could always eavesdrop. Or get the kit to do it for him, if the girls caught him. One way or another, he was going to get to the bottom of this mess. It was about time these two quit behaving like children and stopped hurting each other, when they so clearly belonged together.