Interrogation and Interference




~ That was... interesting... And all your mind is thinking is that it was all a dream. Damn sadistic mind! It just won't leave you alone! Well, if it is a dream, don't wake up anytime soon, okay? It would be a real bummer, that's for sure... HE KISSED YOU! And all your mind can say is `In. Your. Dreams.' DAMN IT! It really needs to... zzzzzzzZzzzzzz.... And so you fall asleep. Now, you ARE dreaming.. Which means... that the kiss... YAHOO! ~

It wasn't a dream... He did kiss me. The sneaky bastard kissed me and ran... And all I could do was grin a silly little grin and blush. Even during my nap, I knew, somehow I did, that I still had a little blush and a dopey grin plastered on my face.

And what did I dream about, you ask?

I'll give you three guesses. Though, if you need more than one, you need a serious check up on that brain of yours. It's runnin' kinda slow.

And the answer is...!

That kiss and the tingling sensation that still burns my lips- the only fire I ever want to experience again. A kiss that, being underwater, should have felt awkward, yet ended up being one of the best things that I've ever felt. My first kiss... The kiss that left my heart racing. Racing as it was even in my slumber. The kiss that had my world suddenly live with color and sound. The one kiss that will never fade, not even when the kisses mount to uncountable numbers. Nope, not even when my mind fades and regresses due to old age. That is truly a kiss that would last eternally.

Of course, I couldn't dream of the kiss that left my heart pounding at such an accelerated rate, even hours afterward, and not dream of the one that had gave me it. Inuyasha...

Hmm....

Now, what way do I like him better as? Leather pants, doggy-eared hat, or... swimming trunks with water flowing over him...? So hard to choose...But, now that my dream was vividly replaying my memory of that underwater embrace, I had time to admire him. Sugoi, my memory is good...

He had a very fine, muscular chest- well built, but not over the top muscular, if you know what I mean. His waist was a bit slimmer, though fit nevertheless. His arms where surprisingly gentle when he held me and the look in his eyes...

What was that...?

Hai, there was the mischievousness like always... and humor along with... Curiosity? Hesitance? Fear?

I heard myself snort as I came around, waking from the reminiscent dream. None of those words were things anyone would ever associate with Inuyasha. Fear? I could have laughed out-right if I hadn't had the sudden urge to yawn. Hesitance I can understand, but Fear and Curiosity... those words made me feel strange...

And so the stomach butterflies did a little dance.

I shook the feeling away and sat up, stretching. I stood, brushed my hair, and schooled my heart into a slower pace. The dratted thing was going to give me away one of these days! That wasn't something I wanted to have happen anytime soon, either. So, naturally I got back into my normal state of mind and appearance.

Okay, now that I was finally awake, completed the restraint on my silly grin, and washed away the rosy blush, I was ready to face the world head-on... Or not...

Well, either way, I left the confines of my room to seek out the others and the kiss-and-run singer that had invaded my dreams and ended up in any and every thought that came to mind. I had a few questions for him and more than a few teasing things to bring up with Sango. I just couldn't think of anything to tease or torture Ayame with...

On my way down the hallway, using a short cut to get to the pool, where I figured someone would be, I heard some cries for help... Coming from my friend's room.

My first instinct told me to barge in and rescue them, but my more common sense side piped up, just in time. Slowly, I turned the door handle, finding the door unlocked, and entered quietly as to not startle the threat and put myself in danger. What I saw had me choking myself- in an effort not to laugh- and hiding behind the wall to listen.

"Alright," Sango spoke up, "tell us."

"Tell you what!?" a snarl emitted from Inuyasha.

"Yeah, tell you what?" Miroku chimed.

"Yeah!" Kouga yelled.

"You know what," Ayame said.

"Iie, we DON'T!" they shouted in unison.

"Testy, testy," Sango scolded mockingly.

"Tell us what you guys did to Kagome-chan," Ayame commanded, making me gasp. 'What the hell...? What are they talking about?'

I peeked around the corner in confusion, seeing the men tied to chairs and the girls circling them like hungry vultures.

"Nani?" they muttered dumbly, puzzled expressions taking their places.

"She's different-"

"She's cleverer-"

"revengeful-"

"Sly-"

"Stranger-"

"Cheery-"

"Sad-"

"Happy-"

"Miserable-"

"CONFUSING!" they ended together, glaring at the bound band.

"We're innocent," Miroku yelped as Sango glared at him in particular.

"Kagome-chan has never acted like this before," Sango hissed, turning to Kouga. "There is something different about her," she mumbled, turning to Inuyasha. "I have a strange feeling that these mood-swings are the work of a guy..."

"So... tell us," Ayame ordered, peering into each man's eyes in turn. "Who, what, where, when, why, and how."

"I don't understand," Kouga muttered.

Both girls turned to look at him with skeptical expressions. Exasperatedly, they shook their heads and untied him.

"It's definitely not you," they mumbled. "Sit in a chair. DON'T leave."

I shook my head. They should have known that it wasn't him first off. 'Wait... I'm not agreeing with them, am I? I haven't changed...

'Yes, I have,' I sighed mentally. I turned my attention back to the group.

"Houshi?" Sango asked sweetly, smiling... um... evilly and kindly and trustingly and slyly and... yeah, you get the idea.

"Uhh... I... don't understand...?'" he mumbled.

"Not gonna work," she said, smirking. "Now. Tell."

"Dear lady Sango, I truly don't know," he said truthfully, seriously straight-faced. "And I have one question for you... if you'll answer..."

"What?"

"What did she mean by 'progress'?" he asked innocently.

She blushed, growled, picked up the side table, and before anyone had so much as noticed, brought it down at full speed.

***CRACK***

***SNAP!***


I winced at the contact, checking to make sure that he was still alive after that. He was... Though, I think it would have been better had he died. When he awoke from his unconscious state, he'd have the headache of the century- which might last for one as well.

Sango hissed inwardly, flinching at the sight of the drummer. "Oops..."

"SANGO-CHAN!" Ayame cried, shoving the girl away in order to untie him. "You just knocked out or last reliable suspect!"

"Are you implying that I'm a liar," Inuyasha asked with narrowing eyes.

Ayame looked to him and smiled innocently. "Iie, but I don't think of you as a suspect," she informed him. "I don't honestly think that you caused her to act this way. You would have had to kiss her or something."

I heard a sharp intake of breath, the only thought running through my head was a not so elegant, 'Oh shit.' Sango sounded as if she had just solved the worlds worst puzzle where none of the piece connected. (A/N: I had one of those puzzles. I worked on it four whole days before noticing that half the pieces went to another puzzle. You can bet I was more than pissed. I love puzzles.) I was done for.

"We forgot the kids!" she shouted.

If I had been an anime character, my face fualt would have been much more usually, but I did a face fault nonetheless. I'll tell you now, that can seriously hurt your neck. So the 'solved the worlds worst puzzle' was a little off...

"Sango-chan," Ayame sighed, shaking her head. "They will be fine. My mom is watching them, remember?"

"Oh... Hai."

I sat on my heels, dusting myself off. I looked to the group and noticed Inuyasha's expression. He looked both frightened and relieved. I didn't blame him for the frightened thing. After all, he wasn't getting out of that situation anytime soon.

"Anyway... So, do you know?" Sango asked, looking to the singer.

"Know what?"

"About Kagome-chan's change," she said.

"Keh! Why would I know?"

"Right... Oh well," she sighed.

"What do we do know?" Ayame asked. "Tie Kagome-chan down until she tells us?"

"Umm... Chotto," Sango cheered, "that's not such a bad idea."

"She won't like it, Sango-chan," Ayame said, deep in thought. "She'll find someway to get us back for it and I personally don't feel like being on her 'Top 50 People to get Revenge on' list."

"It doesn't matter," I said, revealing myself. A few gasps resounded from the room's conscious occupants. "You won't be able to tie me down... I'm surprised you were able to subdue them."

"It's amazing what a few suggestive words," Sango began, hitting the fallen drummer over the head, "can get you. Plus, food is a fast way to fog a man's senses."

"Hai," Ayame cheered, magically appearing beside me. I edged away, suspiciously. She went suddenly serious. "Who is it?"

"Nani?"

"Which member?"

"Eh?"

"Inuyasha or Miroku!?"

"N-na-"

"CONFESS!" she ordered darkly.

"I don't know what you are taking about. I haven't changed whatsoever," I said crisply, glaring. "I've just been a little sharper since I left home." I stuck my nose in the air defensively, clearly daring them to oppose my answer.

"Sure," they drawled sarcastically.

"I haven't changed."

I waited for their expressions to change into ones of belief, but after a while I gave up and looked over to the singer... He was looking away. I narrowed my eyes slightly, confused.

"I..." Sango muttered, her eyes widening, looking at me questioningly. "I think I know... He... You..." She grinned.

I tried to keep a puzzled look in place, but it was slipping. Before she could say anymore, I snorted and walked away. "In your dreams Sango-chan," I murmured.

"You mean in YOUR dreams, Kagome-chan," I heard her giggle as I shut the door behind me. Let Inuyasha deal with the prying friends. I wasn't going to stay there and have them see the blush creeping into place again.

'Grrrrrreeeeeeeaaaaattttttttt. How am I ever going to get the redness out of my cheeks?'

*sigh*

******


I left the captain's cabin, having just finished talking to my mom, and made my way to the diner (A/N: the most popular spot in my story). It had been a very pointless talk that lasted an unnecessarily long amount of time. Mrs. Taijiya was also there and wanted to know what we had been doing the whole time. Me, not being the kind of person to lie to an elder, told them we simply went shopping and stayed at a cabin and watched some movies. I still didn't tell them about Demonic being with us. They didn't need to know, did they? Well, it really didn't matter since they'd find out soon enough anyway.

I was in the diner before I knew it. Mrs. Sasayaku sat at a table with Rin, Shippo, and Ayame as Sango, Miroku, and Kouga sat at a table next to them. Once again, Inuyasha was nowhere to be found. Surprising?

I took a seat across from Kouga, watching Sango with humor... I don't think she even knew I was there; her eyes never straying from Miroku. He didn't notice since he was currently resting his head in his hands, groaning from what I assumed to be the worst headache he'd ever had. Ouch... I don't think I would have even been awake, yet, if I had a side table broken over my head.

"What happened?" I asked, waving a hand in front of Sango's face.

She jumped slightly, then settled down. "What do you mean?"

"What they tell you after I left?"

"They? 'They' didn't say anything. Dogboy did, though," she mumbled, yawning.

I looked to the sky and noted that it was about eight o'clock or so. "What he say?"

"What do you think?"

"... Keh!...?" I guessed.

"Keh!" she replied, giggling.

I just shook my head sleepily. "Figures."

"Yeah..."

::::::Silence::::::


"Ummm... Well, what happened after that?" I asked, leaning back in my chair.

"My mom walked in with Rin and Shippo," she burst out laughing. "Oh, Kagome-chan, you missed it! Rin started bawling, thinking I was picking on her brother or something and Shippo started teasing him. When Rin tried to untie the knot, Inuyasha was launching himself at Shippo and pulled them off balance. They both went sailing through the air and Shippo stumbled back with a yip and fell right on Miroku. He jumped up and started going crazy and Inuyasha had to do that thunder imitation to get him to shut up..." Her face reddened.

"And?"

"He wouldn't let me go... He kept crying something about wanting 'Teddy'," she stated, looking away. 'So, it was her turn to be security blanket, huh?' I thought, smirking.

"I said I was sorry," Miroku cut in, startling me. "You didn't have to hit me... Again."

"Sango-chan! You need to stop hitting him," I hissed, suddenly feeling sorry for him. I sighed. "So," I mumbled, "where'd Inuyasha go?"

"No where," Kouga chuckled. "They wouldn't untie him and locked the door. Rin had to be bribed with Ice-cream and a shopping spree- for after we get to where ever we are going. She wouldn't leave dogface by himself until Mrs. Sasayaku bribed her."

"She bribed her!?" I shouted in disbelief.

Sango nodded. "Long story... Here," she handed me some keys with a sly grin. "I figured you would want to get him."

"Na... ni...?"

"I am pretty sure I know what happened, but... Kagome-chan... what exactly DID happen?" She wondered.

"Nothing," I said with alarming- even to me- calmness. I sighed, trying to sound disappointed for her benefit (yeah... right...) as I stood. I could have swore I heard her whisper a sarcastic 'I'm sure' when I left.

I found Inuyasha sleeping in the chair he was tied to. He obviously gave up on escaping the torturous females' bonds. I sighed in sympathy and untied him, carefully. When the last knot- 'Sugoi, they tied it tight'- was undone, Inuyasha fell unceremoniously to the ground with a dull thud, causing me to wince. 'Great, now he's going to start yelling at me again,' I thought dejectedly as I heard him yelp.

Inuyasha jumped to his feet, his head snapping this way and that, trying to understand what had happened. I stayed crouched behind the chair for a moment before clearing my throat loudly.

"K-Kagome, ka?"

"Hai," I voiced, biting my bottom lip. "Daijobu, ka?"

"Ah... Hai... daijobu," he mumbled. "Um..."

"It's dinner time, if you were wondering," I mumbled.

"Uh, arigato..."

::::::Silence::::::


"Right... Well," I muttered, taking a deep breath and smiling. "Let's go. Sango-chan's gonna start to get idea's if we don't hurry."

"Ne," he chuckled, walking to the door, "your friend's are just about as strange as you. I can't believe they actually tied us to chairs."

"I can't believe they didn't get the truth out of you," I laughed, blushing lightly. I punched his arm, playfully. "I suppose you think I've forgiven you for that salad thing."

"Hai," he smirked.

"Well... I don't," I said, looking away. "You ran."

"Was I suppose to stay?" he asked, as arrogant as can be.

"Iie, not really," I sighed. "It just kind of confused me."

"Huh?"

"Never mind."

We entered the diner to find our 'friends' already chowing down on their food. "Gee, thanks for waiting," we muttered dryly.

"Ummm..." I looked around at the tables and their occupants. No one had moved meaning that only one spot was left open. "One problem... Who's sitting where?"

Sango choked slightly on whatever she was eating, then gave me an innocent smile. "Oh, gomen ne, Kagome-chan. We thought you would like to sit together. See," she said, gesturing to the table next to the one she sat at, "we had them place one next to us."

"Sango-chan, that is not funny," I murmured, glaring.

"Okaasan!" I was tackled by a small boy, who smiled for all he was worth. "I met your aunt Eri. She's really nice, but kinda strange," he whispered, looking at the mentioned woman from the corner of his eyes. "She said something about me and this girl Mayu being a 'perfect match' and that San-san's brother and Rin were 'born under the right stars'. Weird." For added affect, he shuttered.

I was only able to giggle.

"That sound's like her," I laughed and sat at the table Sango had mentioned, not really paying attention. "Did you have fun today?"

"Hai!" he cheered.

"Good." My stomach rumbled, making Shippo laugh and a blush return to my face.

"Hungry?" Inuyasha smirked as he sat in the remaining chair. I nodded and beckoned a waiter over. Shippo glared at the singer before he left to eat the rest of his food.

After ordering, I sighed and leaned back in my chair, staring at the sky. Sunset had already passed, leaving a few stars in the sky and a crescent moon. The music began again- from the band aboard- and a few couples stepped into the dance floor. I watched them for a while, thinking of absolutely nothing... My mind had drawn another blank.

"Ah!" screamed Mrs. Sasayaku, running over to the table Sango's group was at. "Music! Now, we need to pair you guy's up, yes siree. Pairs, pairs, pairs. Three pairs, it seems. Let's see... Sango, kawaii, you will dance with this young fellow," she said, yanking Inuyasha from his seat. "Ayame will dance with the short haired man with the funny arm wrap... Ah, and Kagome, you will dance with this charming man."

Needless to say, we were all speechless and just stared at the people she'd set us with... Boy did she get it wrong. Yet, a trance of some sort took over and everyone just stood there.

"Uh... Mama," Ayame whispered, tapping her mother on the arm. "I don't think that this is a good idea..."

"And why not?" she huffed defensively.

"Because..."

"Because," Sango cut in after Ayame had been unable to produce an acceptable reason, "Aya-chan is already with Kouga- the one you set Kagome-chan up with."

"Well... That will just not do," she mumbled. "Their stars are not aligned correctly."

"Mama, you don't even know about his 'stars'," Ayame hissed, grabbing Kouga by the arm and dragging him away.

Her mom frowned. "True..."

"Eri-chan," a voice called as my mother stood beside me, "let the children choose their partners. It seems that they have known each other for a while..." She looked at me with a small, disapproving smile. "They should know who they'd like to dance with, if they are even going to dance."

"Arigatou, mama," I mumbled, sitting in my seat. "I really didn't want to dance."

"You are going to, though," she stated, startling me. Just when I thought I was going to get a break...

"But, mama!"

"You are going to, Kagome, and that is final," she said, placing an arm on my shoulder.

"I don't know how to," I hissed vehemently. "You know that."

"This is the perfect time to learn how to, though," she reasoned. "Surely one of these gentlemen can show you."

'Ite, iteiteiteiteiteiteite,' I thought, placing my head in my hands. My cheeks were burning furiously. How embarrassing.

"I will."

I gasped, a little louder than I would have like to, and the blush left in a rush. I didn't know how to take that. Inuyasha had volunteered to dance with me... and the blush came back, even worse than before.

"Y-you're joking," I stuttered.

"Iie," he chuckled. "After all, I was supposed to be teaching you 'lady-like manners', remember?"

"Hai, but that doesn't include dancing," I told him, rising from my seat once the blush dimmed. "Plus, that backfired, didn't it, Dogboy?"

"Hai," he sighed in defeated. My heart skipped a beat as his smirk left to be replaced by a rare- from him- smile. Breathtaking, one could say. "Can't we start over?"

I smiled back softly, my blush replaced with the normal coloring as my heart calmed a bit, and nodded.

We left everyone utterly speechless to take our spots on the dance floor. I was going to have a lot of explaining to do and Sango wouldn't ever let this down, I knew, but none of that mattered. My focus was solely on the man before me.

"Do you wish to learn the true way or the lazy way?" he asked with a humored smirk. Damn that smirk! I wanted that smile back.

"Is there a difference?" I wondered.

"A very big difference, really," he snorted. "Well?"

"Hmm... Such a hard choice..." I mumbled. "Mama would want me to learn the true- proper- way, though, and since she's watching..."

"Very well then," he sighed.

He clasped my right hand with his left, placing his other hand slightly off my left shoulder blade. He indicated for me to limply hold on to his right forarm and allow him to lead, telling me that I only needed to concentrate on the feel of his hands. Of course, I still looked to my feet.

'Sugoi, this is much easier than I thought it would be,' I mused silently.

"Oi, Kagome," Inuyasha called to my attention. "Don't watch your feet. You're doing fine."

"Arigato," I muttered, looking up. "Why... Why did you run, anyway?"

"Let's just say..." He inhaled deeply, laughing at himself. "I'm... still an ordinary junior high boy when it comes to the whole rejection thing."

"Rejection? You're kidding, right?" He shook his head, chuckling in embarrassment. "You thought I'd reject you? Why would you assume something like that?"

"Truthfully, I don't know," he sighed. "So?"

"So what?"

"Now that you know why I ran, do you forgive me?"

"Hai," I giggled. "Ne, this whole thing has been awfully strange and confusing."

"I know what you mean... So, what happens from here?"

"No sure, but I know that we will have a few hundred questions waiting for us when the night's over," I said, resting my head on his shoulder.

"You want it to end?"

"Iie," I replied, my face heating at the answer. "I don't have the power to stop time, though. Do you?"

"Iie," he chuckled, his chin propped on top of my head. "Strange isn't exactly a strong enough word for today."

'It isn't... It truly isn't,' I thought as I slowly drifted to sleep... still dancing in his arms... 'Hai, strange is definitely not a strong enough word.'