Disclaimer: I don't own Shippo and the rest of the Inuyasha characters mentioned here. They all belong to the talented and wonderful Rumiko Takahashi.

"Um…Shippo…where exactly…are you taking me?" Kanna asked her friend, as Shippo was guiding her. Shippo has blindfolded her, and said that he would take her somewhere that'll make her happy.

"Juts wait a bit more, Kanna! We're almost there." Shippo said to the girl excitedly. Kanna could only hear the rustling of leaves and cracking of twigs as they moved. Suddenly, Shippo stopped. Kanna almost crashed on Shippo and asked what was going on.

"…Is everything…alright?" She asked.

"Yeah. We're here!" He said. Kanna felt her heart jump. "Okay, Kanna! Prepare for the happiest and most relaxing place on earth!" Shippo exaggerated too much on his introduction. "You can take off your blindfold now!" Kanna nodded and undid the knot on the cloth and freed her eyes from the blindfold. On the immediate moment Kanna's eyes came in contact with Shippo's surprise, she fell speechless. Before her stood a very small, but beautiful, crystal-clear lake. The area of the lake was enclosed with trees. It was secluded so that those who were in the area could enjoy a peaceful time. There was a small cascade at the northern end of the lake, which was connected to a beautiful river. The water glistened like diamonds as the sun hit it. Little fishes swam happily beneath the water. The fresh, wild air blew on Kanna's face, pushing her thick white locks behind her. There were no words to describe how happy and relaxed Kanna felt.

"…So…do you like it? It's supposed to be a secret, but I thought showing it to you would make you feel better." Shippo said to his friend.

"…Shippo…it's beautiful…" Kanna muttered, but Shippo caught it loud and clear. "I feel happy…just looking at it." Shippo smiled at Kanna.

"Yeah. It makes me feel happy, too. When I feel down, I come here." Shippo said. "The sight of peacefulness relaxes me." Kanna then became curious with the water. She moved forward and let her feet get wet at the edge of the lake. Kanna closed her eyes. She felt the water's soothing coolness penetrate her skin and go into the depths of her soul. Within this moment of bliss, Kanna forgot about everything around her: her problems, her duties…even Naraku. She just let herself be engulfed in the solace of happiness. Shippo just looked at the ivory figure standing in the water. I'm so glad she's enjoying herself…Shippo thought. Then he thought about how his heart stirred a while back. Shippo has never felt it before. It was just like happiness, but this time, his heart throbbed hard. He wasn't sure what it was, but he felt all tingly inside. Oh geez…it couldn't be…but…wow…she sure is pretty. He thought. Shippo then looked at Kanna again. She was standing in the midst of the crystal waters, wind blowing her hair back…she looked like…a fairy. At that point, Shippo saw her as something beautiful, and not as one of Naraku's grotesque creations. Kanna then went out of the water and sat on the ground.

"I feel…so much better…" Kanna sighed. She felt her problems all drift away in the water.

"I'm glad you do." Shippo said to her, sitting next to her. They both watched the blue sky reel along, with clouds that formed all sorts of different things. It was picturesque, with all those little sparrows flying around.

"Such…a pretty sky…huh, Shippo?" Kanna asked the fox demon. Shippo concurred. She then looked at the fox demon. "Oh, hey…Shippo…could…you tell me more…about Valentine's Day?"

"Eh? OK. Kagome said that this Valentine's Day happens every February 14." Shippo started.

"February…14? That's today…" Kanna said to Shippo.

"Yes, it is. She said that this day is very special. It's kinda like a holiday where you value the one you love." Shippo explained to Kanna, who seemed to be drawn in the topic. "And not just any loved one. It's someone you love romantically…kind of like a boyfriend…"

"Boyfriend…?" Kanna's pale face suddenly had a streak of pink in it. What's going on? She thought to herself. What is this? Why do I get this feeling when I'm with Shippo?

"Yeah. And it's also the time when you declare your love for someone." Shippo explained what Kagome had told them earlier. "And then you give him/her gifts as a token of your devotion…"

"Oh…" Kanna simply said. While listening to Shippo, a question ran wildly in Kanna's mind. "Um…"

"Yeah?" Shippo asked the ghostly Kanna. "What's wrong?"

"Uh…Shippo…how does it feel…" Kanna paused for a while, picking her words carefully, so as to not offend Shippo. The fox youkai listened on. "…To fall in…love?" Kanna expected some sort of scream or gasp from Shippo, but there was only silence. Shippo was staring far into the horizon, thinking deeply about Kanna's question.

"…Kanna…I…" Shippo uttered. He admits to himself that has developed feelings for Kanna in only a short while, but it felt so real. It was the first time he had felt like this all of his young life. "…To fall in love is a wonderful feeling. Even more wonderful than happiness. Love is a feeling that surpasses all sadness…all gloom…all fear." Kanna paid attention to everything Shippo was saying. She then found out that what he's saying is true. Love is wonderful…Was that the thing…I've been feeling this whole time I'm with…Shippo? She did forget all her problems, all her sadness…and whenever Shippo was there beside her, she felt she can take on anything. She now didn't care if he's one of the people trying to destroy Naraku. The only that matters to Kanna right now is to keep this real feeling from fading. Kanna, out of frustration with herself, faced Shippo. Shippo, fueled by his own frustration, also faced Kanna.

"Look-" Both of them said at the same time, which surprised them both.

"I know it's only been a short while, but-" They said it together again. It's like their thinking with one brain.

"I think I like you- more than a friend!" And until this last sentence, they still said the same thing. The sparrows in the forest flew up into the sky, the fish in the lake began to swim around vehemently and the cascade seemed to rush faster. Upon hearing this, Shippo fell silent. So did Kanna. They looked at each other intently. Shippo then felt a hot streak of embarrassment flood his face.

"…Well…I um…" Shippo kept on faltering with his words. "…Uh…I guess…you know now how I feel about you, Kanna…" He said to the now hot pink Kanna. Her once pale milky face was now colored in a bright shade of pink. She tried to conceal it from Shippo very hard.

"I…just…you know…didn't expect you…felt the same way." The fox demon finally managed to let out. "Kanna…I really, really like you. Spending time with you today, made me see another side of you…the mortal side of you…the one that experiences happiness, pain…and love." Kanna lifted her bowed head and tears began to well in her eyes. Her once dark, ebony eyes now shone with crystalline tears.

"Shippo, …you're the only one…who made me feel like…a real living being!" Kanna cried softly, tears rolling down her pale face. "You showed me how it feels to be happy, to experience having someone to lean on and to experience love…" Kanna drew closer to Shippo, and with one suave move, Kanna put Shippo in an embrace- something NEITHER of them expected she would do (yes, even Kanna didn't know she would actually HUG someone in her lifetime. She was created by Naraku, after all.). Shippo was sort of startled, but was deep in bliss, as Kanna hugged him. Instead of feeling cold and clammy like Naraku, Kanna was warm and gentle. Shippo returned the hug and consoled Kanna, so that she would stop crying.

"Shh…it's alright, Kanna…stop crying." Shippo said, patting his friend's back. Kanna then let go of Shippo and rubbed the tears away from her eyes.

"I-I'm sorry…I…just…felt like doing that…" Kanna said, a cute, flushed expression decorating her face. She then put up a straight face and held Shippo's hands.
"Shippo…thank you. For everything, today." Kanna said sincerely, her soft voice filled with earnestness. "You treated me…like I'm no stranger…like I'm not some evil monster…not many people do that…"

"You are a wonderful person, Kanna. You deserve to be free." Shippo declared happily. "But…it is your choice if you want to keep on working for Naraku…after all…he could harm you if you betray him…and I don't want that to happen. I don't want you to die, Kanna." Kanna then smiled softly at Shippo, touched at his sweetness.

"That…may be the last time…you'll ever see me smile…" Kanna said to Shippo, the smile fading away. "But…I am happy…that I got to do it…and I am happy that I met…you." Just then, Kanna heard the sound of fluttering wings from the distance. "Saimyosho. I…I must be going…" As Kanna was about to leave, Shippo called her for one last time.

"Kanna! Wait!" The kitsune youkai ran after Kanna. Kanna turned around to see Shippo. "I…I want you to have this. It is Valentine's Day after all…and you're supposed to give the one you love a gift…so…here." Shippo placed something in Kanna's hand. "Take care of it. It's a sign that I'll always be with you." Kanna nodded and hugged Shippo for the last time. She then bade goodbye to Shippo. Shippo could've sworn he heard her whimpering, as she went away. Kanna then went into a cloud of miasma…and then she was gone. Shippo then found himself crying as well. He won't forget this day…the day he first fell in love…for real, that is. Kanna…I know we'll meet again, but not like this…we'll be enemies again. The thought of that made Shippo's heart sink. It was sad, but true. They would see each other again, but not as friends, but as opponents. Shippo miserably went back to the village to meet up with the others.