Kitsunehime: . . . I'm running out of thing to say . . .

Sakuya: Ha ha ha.

Kitsunehime: Yeah, ha ha, very funny. Right . . .

Falonar: Why don't you just . . . give it up?

Kitsunehime: Because my brain doesn't always go blank like this. Besides, this is a good place for news. That reminds me . . .

Shippou: What?

Kitsunehime: If anyone has any really good stories (Inuyasha, RK, or YYH) to recommend, please do so, because I no longer have the time to look through all the sections every day. Any rating, but romance preferably. Humor's great too. And drama . . . and maybe just a touch of angst . . . action/adventure . . . ok, I should shut up. Just no tragedy, religious stuff, or incest. *shudders* Besides, I won't be on ff.net as often anymore anyways.

Daemon: And that would be because . . . ?

Kitsunehime: Because I'm pissed because of the lemon removals and I've been chatting on forums lot lately. And roleplaying.

Rin: Um, this is really off the subject here, but . . . shouldn't we get on with the story?

Kitsunehime: *snaps fingers* Of course! Me no own, you no sue, enjoy! Ah yes, and some fluff ahead! XD







To Rule the Darkness

ch. 28, Variation One: Invitations



"Inuyasha?" Kagome poked her head inside his door after knocking for five full minutes without an answer. Looking around, she found him sprawled on his bed, fast asleep. Creeping closer, she smothered a giggle with her hand. He was hugging his pillow and burying his face in it, murmuring like a child in sleep.

After staring a little while longer, Kagome couldn't resist, and reached out to pet his ears. 'They're so soft,' she thought. Smiling mischievously, she leaned forward and blew on them.

Twitching his ears, Inuyasha was aware of someone's presence. Waking up a little further, he could tell by the scent it was Kagome. "Go 'way," he mumbled. "I wanna sleep . . . " Giggling, Kagome only blew harder.

Half-annoyed, Inuyasha reached up and pulled her onto the bed. Opening both of his eyes, he mock-glared at her, now fully awake. She could tell by his grin he was not really mad at her.

Kagome grinned back, giving his ears one last tweak. "Was that purring I heard?"

"What do you mean, purring? I do NOT purr!" Inuyasha protested.

"Whatever you say," Kagome said unbelievingly, sitting up and smoothing her hair back into place. "You awake now?"

"How would I not be?"

"How should I know?"

Cracking a smile, Inuyasha also sat up and crossed his arms. "All right, Kagome. What did you wake me up for?"

"No reason," she replied cheerfully, ignoring Inuyasha's growl. "Actually, I was wondering if you'd take me to the moon-viewing party tonight?"

"What's so great about watching the moon?" Inuyasha grumbled. "All right, yes."

"Really? Thank you!" Quickly kissing him on the cheek, she ran off, humming, to prepare.

Still sitting on his bed, Inuyasha wondered what drove him to agree, and tried his very best to cool the blush off his face. And then realized he had no earthly clue where the party was going to be.


~ ~ ~ ~ ~


"He said yes!" Kagome told Sango happily. "You should get Miroku to take you too!"

Sango looked as if she was just informed of her execution date. "What, no! I'd rather take my chances with a cobra, thank you very much!"

"He can't be that bad . . . " Kagome began. Sango just looked at her. "Ok, may be he is," she admitted. "But he's so sweet around you!"

"If you count being a lecher 'sweet,'" Sango retorted, "then why don't you go with him?"

"Because I'm going with Inuyasha," she replied lightheartedly. "Oh, come on, Inutaishou and Sakuya can keep an eye on him if you'd like."

"How do you know they're going?" Sango asked skeptically.

"Because they're the ones who told me about it in the first place."

"Oh." Long pause.

"If you don't think dead people are up to it, I'll keep an eye out for you," Fahleing commented nonchalantly from the door. When they looked at her questioningly, she shrugged. "I haven't got anything better to do and I'm not going with anyone."

Sango still looked dubious when, speak of the devil, Miroku himself showed up.

"Lovely Sango, may this lowly one humbly ask a favor of you?" he asked, bowing. This only made Sango more suspicious.

"What do you want, lecher?"

Cringing slightly, he thought, 'Ooh, not good . . . plan B then . . . wait, I don't have a plan B . . . ' "Would you graciously consent to accompany this unworthy one to the moonlight gathering to be held on this clear night?"

Sango was looking to Kagome for help, but she had made herself scarce. Fahleing, smiling, winked and mouthed, "Don't bungle this," before disappearing around a corner.

Looking at her with pleading eyes, Miroku hardly believed he had worked up the courage to ask. Now, he almost wished he hadn't, thinking he would be beaten to a bloody pulp again.

"I . . . I . . . " Sango stammered, at a loss for words. A part of her wanted to say yes – all right, a very large part wanted to say yes – but at the same time, an even smaller part of her quailed at the thought of accepting a date with the resident hentai of the Dark Court. "I . . . Can I have a little while to think about it?" she asked in a small voice that, nevertheless, Miroku heard perfectly well.

"As you wish, milady," he said, bowing and turning around to leave. Inwardly, he sighed, knowing this was just a ploy to find a polite way of saying no.

As he was leaving, he looked so dejected that any doubts Sango had fled. "Wait," she cried. "I'll go."

Miroku turned slowly, not sure if he heard right. "S-so then . . . it's a yes?"

Blushing without knowing why, Sango nodded.

"Yes!" Miroku shouted, jumping for joy. "You won't regret this, I promise!" With that, he ran off, whooping.







Ja!