Disclaimer: Inu-Yasha is no longer owned by the warui musubi. Actually, he ate them when they foolishly let him go. Idiots.

Chapter 10 – At the Park

.o0o. .o0o. .o0o. .o0o. .o0o. One moment please… .o0o. .o0o. .o0o. .o0o. .o0o. .o0o.

The next day was a surprisingly…well, surprising day. Surprisingly surprising. Kagome was down in the dumps, wanting to cry, and suffering because of Kikyo (What else is new?). She didn't know what to do. It seemed like it was a normal afternoon (or at least, as normal as it got in Kagome's life), but it turned out very different from expectations.

"Hey, Kagome."

Kagome halted. She was in the school hallway, unable to breathe entirely. She recognized the voice that had called to her, and it made her want to squeal and jump for joy. It was definitely Inu-Yasha!

"Y-yes?" she stuttered, turning to face the cute, dog-eared teen.

Inu-Yasha paused as he looked at her for a moment. Kagome struggled to keep her cheeks from turning bright pink, but it was practically impossible. In her mind, she shouted with embarrassment, Damn you, cheeks! I didn't tell you to turn red like that, so why the heck are you? She couldn't maintain a consistent gaze on Inu-Yasha. Not without turning deep magenta, at least.

"Well," Inu-Yasha said slowly, "I remember that last time at the video arcade didn't go so well, so I'd like to make it up to you by going to the park sometime. Maybe…this evening?"

Kagome's heart skipped a beat. Once again, her mind thought of things to say before she did. Yes! Yes! Yes!, she was urged to shout. Panic hit her. Joy hit her. Confusion hit her. But most of all, Kikyo hit her.

Yep, that's right, ladies and gentlemen… Miss. "Princess" Kikyo did a fancy walk and conked Kagome on the head with her pencil. She tried to make it look like an accident, obviously, but her attempt failed miserably. How can anyone make hitting someone on the head with a pencil look like an accident anyway? That's something, like how many licks it takes to get to the center of a Tootsie Pop, that the world may never know.

"Kagoooooome," she cooed, "your science project isn't looking so well, is it now?"

Kagome scowled with pure hate. No, it isn't, you bitch, she thought, and it's all your fault! She hated the sight of the science project she and Shippo had worked so hard on smashed hard on the floor, half-destroyed. It made her want to puke.

Inu-Yasha, amazingly, was scowling too. He usually seemed to stay neutral when it came to feuds between Kikyo and Kagome, but this time he looked to be taking Kagome's side. This made Kagome's heart swell with happiness. She somehow felt more courageous with Inu-Yasha by her side.

"Kikyo," he said coldly, "back off."

Kikyo appeared to be startled by his sudden "demandingness." (Sometimes I hafta make up my own words, 'cause none of the others seem to fit just right.) She stood steadfastly, however, and flashed a sneering smile.

"I'm sorry, Inu-Yasha," she said coolly. "I'll leave the little weakling alone, if you'll just agree to come with me."

Inu-Yasha's feet stayed firmly planted in the ground. Kagome wasn't sure what to do. She wanted to help Inu-Yasha, but how? And why was he defending her, anyway?

Kikyo's face abruptly changed into a frown when Inu-Yasha responded, "No, thank you."

He said no more; he simply walked away as if to say, Talking to her is just a waste of my time.. Kagome followed him, but before she left, she saw Kikyo mouth, You're dead meat. She gulped. She didn't want to be dead meat. (Just stating the obvious with that one, aren't I?)

Later that day, Kikyo pestered Inu-Yasha again. It was during the unbearable science class. She was once again trying to flirt with him, and it was plain to see this time that Inu-Yasha wasn't the least bit interested in her. (Oh, yeah! Go Inu-Yasha! Whoo-hoo! –struts about while doing a funky dance-)

KIKYO POV
(That means 'point of view.' I'm just saying that to all you dummies out there like myself who weren't sure what it meant. It took me a long time to figure it out.)

"Inu-Yasha," she called out in a babyish, mocking voice. "How about we—"

"No," Inu-Yasha said plainly.

Kikyo was surprised. Where had his sudden coldness toward her come from? She assumed that he was just playing hard to get, so she continued. All she accomplished by doing that was making Inu-Yasha more irritated then ever. Flirting, obviously, wasn't the best technique to use on him.

So instead, she sealed her lips shut, waiting for Inu-Yasha to comment on her quietness and beg her to say more. When he didn't, she decided he was being too difficult and very unfair to such a beauty as herself. She wasn't sure what to do about Inu-Yasha; he was a weird one. Hot, yes—but weird.

As she was deciding what to do about the dog-eared, stubborn one, the bell rang. The teacher everyone called a pervert, Mr. Koga, was standing at the door saying goodbye to his class. Kikyo ignored him. He was too much of an idiot to deserve her superior greeting, anyway.

She didn't acknowledge to Mr. Koga, but she did acknowledge her "dearest" twin sister, Kagome with a deep frown. She couldn't wait to pound her sister into a bloody pulp when she got home. It sounded exciting to her. And she had a new tool to do it too—a pair of scissors. She was going to have fun cutting off all of Kagome's hair tonight, so she wouldn't look so hideous herself with a bob.

KAGOME POV

When Kagome saw Kikyo's glare, she gulped. There was something in the look on her face that had screamed revenge! Horrible revenge! Kagome didn't want to know what the revenge was. She knew that she would probably find out later, however, during her nightly beating. She couldn't bear the thought of it.

She thought of a bold idea. What if she just stayed out late with Inu-Yasha so she could maybe…avoid the beating? It was daring and risky, but could she at least hold the revenge off for a day with it? Yes, she decided.

She ran up to Inu-Yasha and said, "Inu-Yasha! I will come to the park tonight! See you there!"

At first she felt like she was using Inu-Yasha to get away from Kikyo, but she saw that wasn't so very quickly. After all, she had wanted to go with him to the park to begin with, right? So she wasn't exactly using him.

"Okay, see you there." Inu-Yasha smiled and walked to his next class.

KIKYO POV (AGAIN)

His smile made Kagome want to melt. It made Kikyo be consumed with fury. She had heard the discussion. She wanted to know the why, where, and when they were going to be at this park. And she knew straight who to go to.

"Sesshomaru!" she exclaimed over the phone later that night. "Where's Inu-Yasha? This is important and I need to know!"

She stressed the word need to show him how vitally important it was for him to cooperate. She knew he would since she was so popular and pretty, but she wanted to make sure just in case.

"He's at home," Sesshomaru commented with a hint of humor in his voice.

Kikyo was stumped. "Yeah, but—"

She felt her face flush. She was glad no one could see it. Hey, wait a minute! No one was there to see it! No one was home! The sneaky bitch Kagome wasn't home! She was sure now that her twin was visiting Inu-Yasha at the park, and she couldn't let it go on any longer. That further stressed her need for answers from Sesshomaru.

"What are you talking about?" she commanded. "He's at the park with Kagome! He's gotta be!"

"Calm down," Sesshomaru said, following his own code of calmness. "He hasn't left yet. But yes, he is going to the park."

"With Kagome?"

"With Kagome."

Kikyo thought, I want to punch that little boyfriend thief and then cram her in a bag and send her off to Timbuktu. Just where was Timbuktu, anyway?…Ugh! Stay on task, brain!

She focused on the conversation and asked, "When are they leaving?"

Sesshomaru answered promptly. "Right now."

Kikyo hurriedly said goodbye and hanged up the phone. She had no time to dawdle around. She had an evil sister to catch! She went hastily on her way.

And just for good measure, she took along her new pair of scissors, knowing she'd soon get use out of them.

KAGOME POV

It was incredibly awkward, being so close to Inu-Yasha. They were strolling through the park, silently watching birds, butterflies, and boring stuff that only old people with a lack of hair enjoy watching. After walking for ten minutes, they sat down on a small bench. Kagome was struggling extremely hard not to blush, but it proved an impossible task.

"Kagome," Inu-Yasha said, his eyes glimmering in the shining sun. "This is really nice. Being here, with you, I mean."

Kagome didn't know what to say and doubted she could have said something even if she tried, so she only nodded her head to reply. Inu-Yasha didn't seem to mind. He was smiling at her with a look Kagome had never seen before on anybody, least of all Kikyo.

Oh, geez…not Kikyo. Kagome shoved her sister from her mind and concentrated on Inu-Yasha more. She didn't want to think about her evil twin now. She only wanted to be with Inu-Yasha, nothing more.

The butterflies came. No, not the real ones fluttering all around them. The ones that tickle your stomach when you're incredibly nervous. Kagome felt that she had to have a million of those butterflies at the time.

Just then, Inu-Yasha wrapped his arm around Kagome. A friendly gesture…or something more?

KIKYO POV

There they were! Kikyo saw Kagome and Inu-Yasha, sitting together on a yellow bench. And Kagome had all ready forced Inu-Yasha to put his arm around her! She was forcing him to…oh, no—they couldn't be!

They were leaning close to each other, so close that their noses were almost touching. Kikyo wanted to scream with rage. No way! They weren't going to kiss while she was around! Not a chance!

She ran closer to them. They didn't notice her. She was going to stop them! She'd show Kagome! She quickened her pace. She was only five feet away from them, but there was a damned wall in front of her so she couldn't see them as they tr—Oh, shit! A wall! BAM!

KAGOME POV

Kagome stared into Inu-Yasha's eyes as he kissed her tenderly. It was the best thing she had ever experienced. She didn't want to stop, but a huge noise made the kiss dissolve.

They both turned to a wall next to them, puzzled at the sudden loud sound they had just noticed.

"Did you hear something?" Kagome asked.

"Yeah, but it must have been the wind," was the reply.

Immediately, they returned to their deep kissing. It was paradise.

YE OLDE ENDING

Author's Note: Hope you liked the story! It was short, I know…but I still hope you enjoyed it! I really loved writing it, that's for sure! Oh, and there's an "Afterward" for the next chappie, in case you wanna know a brief description of what happens next. Anyhoo…review please! Was it good for my first fan fic? (Speaking of, I just made my third fan fic. It's…um…different. It's titled Things They'll Never Say.)

darkangel29-No one knew what a dang computer wuz? Heh, yeah. That really musta sucked! Hope u like the new (and last) chapter.

madscientistvand-Well, Kagome got Inu-Yasha, and you got your wish! And I wondered about your name, so thanx 4 explaining it… Also, that 30 minute rule bites! I'm glad u spend some of it reading my stories tho. :-P

Siya Toisho-Oh, I'm sure you enjoyed this chapter! And I right? After all, Inu-Yasha ignored more of her "shameless flirting." (I luv how u call it that!)

sparklingcrystal133-Here you go, the next chapter as you requested. (I doubt anyone didn't request it…lol)

Crazy Tengu-This chapter was a lil longer, even tho it just switched POV a lotta the time. I hope it's more satisfying, being longer. :-D

BrownAnime-Okay, she kinda stands up for herself in the "Afterwards" of the story…read it and see what I mean.

Kei-Ookami.kara.mori-lol. Next time I'll hafta remember to bring you donuts. But the Reese's are mine! MINE, I tell you! Muahaha!

Anime-freak89-Kagome is still kinda a weakling at the end of this one, but like I told BrownAnime, read the "Afterward." It might be a little better.

TwistedBlackAndRedRose-Oh, yes. They got together in the end, so it's good, right:-)

Inu-chan's luver-Simple, one-worded review. I like it. Describes the whole ninth chapter in one word: AW. I award you with the Best Shortest Review Award. Congratulations. lol.