Disclaimers: I do not own the music by nor know the musicians: Enrique Iglesias, Avril Lavigne, Lifehouse, and The Goo Goo Dolls. Lyrics used are from the "escape", "Let Go", "No Name Face" and "dizzy up the girl" CDs respectively.

Now, before you run screaming from this chapter, no, this is not a song fic chapter. This is a lighthearted chapter where Serena and Kagome have some fun. I thought that this would be a good place to leave you guys just in case I can't post anything until January. Better this than leaving you off in the middle of action! :)

Of course, having all these lyrics in here means that this chapter isn't as long as it seems. Sorry! ;)

X5-452Star: Ah, yes, patience. I don't have much of it myself, so good luck! :) Yeah, the beginning of the chapter was rushed… I was just running out of ideas to fill in the time. Besides, I want to finish this fic before I graduate! (And that isn't for another 2 years.) ;)

Jabba1: Thank you for understanding! And yeah, I know what you mean about the project thing. I myself leave *everything* til the last minute. Even 8 page papers… hee hee. But that's over and done with and out of my mind!

Henio: Thanks, I'll try. But chances are, you won't be seeing another chapter until mid-January. But I promise to try really hard!

Simply a Lady: And no evil cliffy here either! I know what you mean. The possessed/obsession thing is why I didn't bring any of my computer games to my dorm with me. I would end up skipping all my classes to play them! ;)

KhmerGirl: Was it short? Yeah, I guess it was… sorry! This one isn't any better (as mentioned above). But I'm trying my hardest to make them longer! ;)

Sakura-ayame33: Yeah, it is cold! I hate winter… except for snow at Christmas time, can't get any better than that! I've never heard of Waterford… what major city is it by? I myself split my time between Grand Rapids (home) and Kalamazoo (school).

All right! Two more things... One: Yes, I do know what "Hanging By A Moment" is really about. But the way I figure it, is that Kagome is from the Shinto religion and therefore would just choose to take it as a love song. (As my atheist friends do. No, I myself am not an atheist). Two: Some of the lyrics were shortened for feasibility purposes.

Enjoy! And if I don't post before January, than have a Happy Holiday! (Whatever it is that you celebrate) and a Happy New Year!

_____________________

The sky was beginning to change into colors of pink and purple, and Kagome was still sitting in the field, thinking. It was hard for her to grasp that she had the power to yield something as powerful as Serena's crystal. And that she was chosen to do so. She wondered why she was chosen. Why her and not Kikyo? Did they not have the same soul? Did this mean that, in the end, it would be up to her to stop Naraku? Could she do it? How? How could she get the jewel to work like the silver crystal? She had so many questions, and yet no clear answers.

"KAGOME!!" a voice yelled in her ear, startling her into a quivering mass of nerves. She turned to the culprit. Of course, it was none other than Inuyasha.

"What was that for?!"

He sat back with a huff. "I've been calling your name for a while now, but you were off in la la land."

"Oh, sorry," Kagome said with an embarrassed blush.

Inuyasha tilted his head at her curiously, and looked very much like a curious puppy to Kagome. She had to hold back a giggle.

"What did you and Serena talk about?"

"She didn't tell you guys?"

He shook his head. "No, she said it was up to you to say."

Kagome thought about that, and decided to keep it to herself for now. "Nothing really."

Inuyasha gave her a look that clearly said he did not believe her.

She sighed. "All right, we did talk, but I… I really can't say right now. I still have to think it through." She could see the hurt he was trying to hide in his eyes, so she reached out and placed a hand on his knee while looking into his eyes. "As soon as I figure things out, I'll let you know, okay? You'll be the first I tell, outside of Serena, cause there's still some things I need to ask her. Okay?"

The hurt seeped out of his eyes and his normal indignant look came back. "Keh!"

Kagome grinned and patted his knee. "Good!" Then she got up and stretched. "Ugg! I was sitting there for way too long! Come on, let's get back to camp." She started back and heard Inuyasha following behind her.

When she got back, everyone was staring at Serena and Darien.

"Pizza!" Serena said.

"Coffee," Darien said with a wistful voice.

"Ice cream."

"Books."

"Soda."

"School."

"You're weird. Milkshakes."

"Isn't that basically ice cream? Coffee."

"Two completely different things. You already said coffee. My Mom's cooking."

"But I love coffee! Uh, newspapers."

"Ug, you're boring!" Serena said with a grin. "TV. Oh! Kagome, you're back!"

Kagome smiled from her spot between Inuyasha and Sango in the circle of friends around the fire. "Yeah. What are you guys talking about?"

"All the things we miss from our time," Darien answered with a smile.

"Yeah, and they're making no sense!" Kouga complained from his seat between Miroku and Shippou. "Piza? Bocks? What the hell are those?!"

"We told you, Kouga, it's best not to ask. Kagome has a lot of things in her time that we would never even dream about," Sango said, trying her best to be patient with the wolf demon. She received a "Humph" in return.

"So, Kagome, what do you miss from home when you're here?" Serena asked curiously.

Kagome shrugged her shoulders. "Not much, besides my family and friends. I used to miss a lot of things, but not any more. What I have here more than makes up for what I can't bring with me," she said with a grin. "So, besides friends and family, what are you missing the most right now?"

Serena pondered on that for a moment. "Hmm… well… believe it or not, NOT food!" This caused a very fake dramatic gasp from Darien. He got an elbow in the side for his efforts. "What I miss right now is music. I always listen to music at night, so I really miss it right now."

Kagome nodded. "Yeah, I miss music sometimes too. But I always have a tune rolling around in my head." She saw Inuyasha open his mouth to say something, and by the glint in his eye it was not going to be nice. "Not a word!" His mouth snapped shut. She looked back to Serena. "So, what's you're favorite song?"

"Oh, I don't have one favorite song. I have categories. Like my favorite love song, my favorite slow song, hip hop song, country song, favorite song that relates to my life…"

"What song relates to you?" Kagome asked curiously.

"Hero by Enrique Iglesias," she said with a cheeky grin. "I know it doesn't really have much to do with my life, but it's a good tune, and Enrique is hot!"

"That he is!" Kagome agreed wholeheartedly, causing a growl to erupt from Kouga. It was short lived though - the staff to his head cured him of that.

"Could you sing it Serena?" Shippou asked with a pleading look in his eyes. "Please?" And now a full blown pleading pout.

Serena laughed. "All right. Those with sensitive ears beware, my voice is said to be not all that wonderful!" She grinned at Inuyasha, who looked a little worried. With a deep breath, she began.

"Would you dance if I asked you to dance?

Or would you run and never look back?

Would you cry if you saw me crying?

And would you save my soul tonight?

Would you tremble if I touched your lips?

Or would you laugh? Oh please tell me this

Now would you die for the one you love?

Oh hold me in your arms tonight

I can be your hero baby

I can kiss away the pain

I will stand by you forever

You can take my breath away

Would you swear that you'll always be mine?

Or would you lie? Would you run and hide?

Am I in too deep? Have I lost my mind?

I don't care. You're here tonight

I can be your hero baby

I can kiss away the pain

I will stand by you forever

You can take my breath away."

She ended off the song, trailing off the last word. Before anyone could say anything, Darien was kissing Serena. They all tried to not stare at the couple, but it was hard not to. Finally, at least a full two minutes later they broke apart.

"Uh, not that I'm complaining, but what was that for?" Serena asked.

"I was just taking your breath away," Darien said with a impish grin.

"Oh," Serena answered back, blushing brightly.

"But, you know, I would prefer to be your hero," Darien said. They could not tell if he was joking or being serious.

"You already are," Serena said, blushing up at him. He pecked her lips with a kiss and pulled her closer to him.

Shippou decided to take it upon himself to break the now awkward silence.

"Kagome, do you have a song from your time that is like your life?"

Kagome nodded. "Actually, I do." Everyone turned to look at her, and she could not hold back a small blush.

"Sing it!" Shippou urged.

"Uh…" she really did not want to.

"Come on, I did," Serena said, pouting. "It wouldn't be fair if it was just me."

Kagome sighed. "All right." She closed her eyes and got the tune in her head before beginning.

"Went back home again

This sucks gotta pack up and leave again

Say goodbye to all my friends

Can't say when I'll be there again

It's time now to turn around

Turn my back on everything, turn my back on everything

Everything's changing when I turn around

All out of my control I'm a mobile

Everything's changing when I turn around

All out of my control I'm a mobile

Start back at this life

Stretch myself back into the vibe

I'm waking up to say I've tried

Instead of waking up to another day of school

It's time now, to turn around

Turn and walk on this crazy ground… ohohoh

Everything's changing when I turn around

All out of my control I'm a mobile

Everything's changing out of what I know

Everywhere I go I'm a mobile

I'm a mobile

Hanging from the ceiling

Life's a mobile

Spinning round with mixed feelings

Crazy and wild…

Sometimes I wanna scream out loud

Everything's changing

Everywhere I go

All out of my control

Everything's changing

Everywhere I go

Out of what I know

Everywhere I go I'm a mobile."

Everyone stared at her for a long while, and she began to get nervous. "What? Was I that bad?"

"No," Sango said slowly. "No, you have a wonderful voice. It's just… the song. It makes it seem as if you… as if you don't like being here," she told her hesitantly.

Kagome looked around her circle of friends and except for Serena and Darien they all seemed to agree with Sango. Even Inuyasha seemed to be thinking the same thing if the hurt in his eyes meant anything.

She was too shocked to say anything at first. After all the time she spent with them, they thought she did not want to be there?

"Are you all insane?!" she said, partly voicing her thoughts. Her question brought mixed reactions from her friends.

Sango and Miroku looked ashamed. They apparently had understood what she was saying. Shippou's eyes were watery, he was obviously trying desperately to hold back tears. Kouga was looking confused and a little upset. In a typical fashion, Inuyasha was angry.

"Us insane? Who's the insane one here?! You fucking bitch! You expect us to like the fact that you hate being here with us?"

Kagome would have gotten angry in return if it was not for the hurt that stood out in his eyes still that belied the anger. Her next actions were based purely off of instinct.

One instant Kagome was staring at the hurt in Inuyasha's eyes and the next she was throwing her arms around his waist and burying her face in his chest. This effectively evaporated his front of anger, and he hesitantly hugged her back.

"You're an idiot, Inuyasha," Kagome said, her voice muffled from her position. She pulled back just enough to look him in the eye. "I have never hated a moment of my time here. I love being here with you, and Sango and Miroku and Shippou." As she said each name she looked into their eyes. She did not notice the disgruntled wolf demon that was growling almost inaudibly at being ignored. No sooner had she said Shippou's name than she was back to looking at Inuyasha. "That is what the song means to me. It's about being confused about what I want. Do I want to go home and never return? Hell no! But I can't stay here forever either. I'm torn, Inuyasha, between two times that I love that have people that I love in them. Can you understand that?"

Inuyasha did not reply. Instead he tightened his hold on her and rested his cheek on her head, inhaling the scent that he so loved. They parted half a minute later, both blushing furiously. But even as they returned to their original positions Inuyasha's arm remained around Kagome's waist as she leaned into him.

Kouga did not even dare to growl. Miroku's staff was in a ready position to bonk him on the head, and he did not want to risk killing the monk in front of Kagome even though he so wanted to in return for all of the head trauma he was receiving that night.

"Uh, Kagome?" Serena ventured. "Didn't you change a line in the song?"

"Yeah," Kagome replied with a grin. "I always sing it wrong on purpose. I figure 'Instead of waking up to another day of school' works better than 'Instead of waking up to another TV Guide'."

There was a slightly uncomfortable silence after that, and Shippou once again took it upon himself to put an end to it.

"Sing some more songs from your time Kagome! Serena! You both have such pretty voices!" He gave them his best 'I'm so cute that you can't resist me' look. The girls blushed at the compliment.

"So, what should we sing!" Serena mused. "Something by… Korn? Limp Biskit? Eminem?"

"No!" Kagome shouted, panic in evident in her voice and on her face. Inuyasha's arm reflexively tightened around her, pulling her closer to him. "Oh dear Lord no! No need to corrupt their minds!"

Serena just chuckled. "I was joking, but it was worth it!" Then a truly evil-looking grin spread on her face. "You know... we girls are outnumbered here by guys. So you know what we should sing?"

"What?" Kagome asked for show, because she was pretty sure what Serena had in mind.

"Love songs!"

This produced groans from four guys and giggles from three girls. Shippou, and Kirara of course, were indifferent.

Kagome decided to take pity on her friends. "All right, how about no sappy love songs?" Serena nodded in agreement, and a few sighs of relief were heard.

"Got any in mind?" Serena asked.

"Let me think…" Kagome trailed off, trying to remember a non-sappy song. It had been so long since she had listened to the radio. "Hmm… Oh! How about Hanging By A Moment?"

Serena thought for a moment before nodding. "You start off and then I'll join in."

Kagome nodded and began.

"Desperate for changing

Starving for truth

I'm closer to where I started

Chasing after you

I'm falling even more in love with you

Letting go of all I held onto

I'm standing here until you make me move

I'm hanging by a moment here with you

Forgetting all I'm lacking

Completely incomplete

I'll take your invitation

You take all of me now

I'm falling even more in love with you

Letting go of all I held onto

I'm standing here until you make me move

I'm hanging by a moment here with you

I'm living for the only thing I know

I'm running and not quite sure where to go

And I don't know what I'm diving into

Just hanging by a moment here with you

There is nothing else to lose

There is nothing else to find

There is nothing in the world

That could change my mind

There is nothing else

There is nothing else

There is nothing else

I'm falling even more in love with you

Letting go of all I held onto

I'm standing here until you make me move

I'm hanging by a moment here with you

I'm living for the only thing I know

I'm running and not quite sure where to go

And I don't know what I'm diving into

Just hanging by a moment here with you."

The two girls finished the song, each proud that they could sing in perfect harmony with the other.

"I like that song," Sango said. Miroku gave the hand that he was holding a squeeze, causing her to blush.

Serena let out a yawn. "One more, and then I'm off to bed."

Darien frowned down at her. "You've been using the crystal too much."

Serena laughed. "I'm willing to be a little tired Muffin, as long as the crystal keeps letting me borrow its power."

Darien sighed. "All right, but I don't have to like it."

"Of course not," Serena said, and kissed him on his cheek. Then she abruptly changed the subject. "How about Iris?"

"Iris?" Kagome said, the name not ringing a bell.

"Goo Goo Dolls sings it. It was in City of Angels."

"Oh yeah! Uh… you first. I'll join in once I'm sure I know it."

"All right." After a moment she began.

"And I'd give up forever to touch you

'Cause I know that you feel me somehow

You're the closest to heaven that I'll ever be

And I don't wanna go home right now

And all I can taste is this moment

And all I can breathe is your life

And sooner or later it's over

I just don't wanna miss you tonight

And I don't want the world to see me

'Cause I don't think that they'd understand

When everything's made to be broken

I just want you to know who I am

And you can't fight the tears that ain't coming

Or the moment of truth in your lies

When everything feels like the movies

Yeah you bleed just to know you're alive

And I don't want the world to see me

'Cause I don't think that they'd understand

When everything's made to be broken

I just want you to know who I am."

Kagome finished off on her own, because halfway through Serena had a yawning attack. Kagome looked over at Shippou and saw that he was curled up, sound sleep. Kouga next to him was yawning.

"Well, I guess we're all tired." She reluctantly left the warmth of Inuyasha's arm around her to lay out her sleeping bag. She picked Shippou up and soon the two were cuddled up in the sleeping bag. Sango sprawled out on the ground with her blanket. For once she was not anxious about Miroku leaning against a tree by her head to sleep. Serena and Darien cuddled up together by the fire, and Serena was asleep a moment later. Inuyasha waited until Kouga was settled down far from Kagome before he jumped into a tree above her head.