Author's Notes: Wheee Jumping back into writing after spending last weekend at the convention in Chicago. I would have posted earlier in the week, but I was so tired after the convention that me and my muses needed some rest, plus I started in on building my metal arm for my Edward Elric cosplay from "Full Metal Alchemist" that I'll be taking to A-kon in early June and it's taking me a lot of work to get it just right.

(also right before the convention, I went and drew 15 InuYasha artwork pieces (just look for the link to my gallery in my ff.net profile ) so I didn't have a chance to get it done then)

Well in short, I didn't get to as much of the interaction with Sesshoumaru's Father in this chapter (it'll be in the next one for sure) as I wanted to because I went on a little side tangent that was just to nice to leave out ;

Also to note- the person who was plagiarizing my fanfic decided to be mature and remove the story from the net, so no worries there ;;

All in all: sorry for the slight delay, thanks for your support and reviews, and enjoy!

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Life- is not a fairytale. It never has been, and it never will be. Whether it's my life or someone else's, you come to realize that fairytales are nothing but make-believe. Just falsehoods that people delude themselves with.

They say that every girl is a Princess, and out there- somewhere, is a Prince waiting for her. But even the most beautiful of girls would admit that no man can truly be a Prince. Life just isn't like that.

Another stupid thing those damn fairytales try to push off onto you is that everyone falls in love. Well, you know- after meeting people like me and Mr. Ice-block, Sesshoumaru…I'm certain that those bastards would take that little falsehood back. We are like the poster children for lack of fairytale lives. Sesshoumaru with his Mother's death, and the fact he's completely devoid of emotion now because of it.  And me with my fucked up life due to my Father constantly pushing me around and forcing me into horrid jobs.

You might call us- the Prince and Princess of a dysfunctional fairytale if you're that hard up for a story. The Princess who curses like a man, defies her Father's wishes and overall would be better off in a Prince's outfit than in a poofy pink dress. And the Prince, an ice block left over from the ice-ages, a man pretty to look at, but cold to the touch and avoiding all romance at any cost.

I'm certain with that formula…even the best storytellers of the days past couldn't turn it into a Cinderella or Sleeping Beauty type story. It just had "impossible" stamped all over it, and if it was one of those "new age" pieces of shit, even the publishers now-a-days would reject it.

It was just downright absurd to think that there would be anything 'happily ever after' about this…

But then I had to go and break the spell.

I had to go and lift the curse.

I just had to go and screw it all up.

Because I realized… that perhaps… just maybe… us two dysfunctional players on the stage of life, were beginning down that path that's labeled… 'falling in love.'

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Chapter 21: Just a Fairytale Connection

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Sesshoumaru knew that look. His Father tried to conceal it, but it was still obvious that he was up to something.

"So…" Mr. Taiyoukai began nonchalantly.

Pausing in the doorway to the kitchen, Sesshoumaru regarded him.

"I see we've made a few changes to your novel."

Knowing this was coming, he replied calmly, "Perhaps I have."

"This…Wind Mistress. She sounds, vaguely familiar to someone. Don't you think so?"  The elder man intoned; a light smirk hiding behind his stoic features.

"Any resemblance is purely coincidental," Sesshoumaru retorted, crossing the room to find where he'd left the medicine from before.

"I'm certain it is," Mr. Taiyoukai said smugly.

The room fell silent as he casually turned the pages of the manuscript.

"Have you notified Kaguya of the recent progress?"

"I shall attend to that on Monday," He replied, taking the bottle of pills out of the cabinet.

"Ah. Hoping a little more 'inspiration' might come to you tonight?"

At that, Sesshoumaru's eyes narrowed, easily reading into the implications of the statement.

"I noticed she was wearing your Mother's dress."

"So she was."

Mr. Taiyoukai sat down the manuscript and lifted up a glass, taking a sip before continuing, his eyes locked on those of his son.

"They are both beautiful women."

Choosing his words carefully, he began to walk back towards the staircase.

"I suppose they are."

"So. You admit it then?" He challenged.

Sesshoumaru halted, "There are many 'beautiful' people in the world."

"Son. I am certain you are irritated by my pressing of this matter. But, I do find it in your best interest."

He turned then, leveling his Father with a cool gaze, "I do not see how your actions are beneficial."

"Sesshoumaru," His Father's voice was firm, and at that he knew this was a serious matter, "Ever since your Mother died, you have closed yourself off from the world. You need to move on with your life."

"I have," He muttered.

"But you aren't happy." Mr. Taiyoukai countered.

Sesshoumaru's face took on a thoughtful frown as he looked back to his Father.

"Rin seemed to break your shell a little, but I think perhaps the key to opening you up is that woman."

"And since when are you a psychiatrist?"

Mr. Taiyoukai sighed, "I'm not. But I know that I was finally able to move on and find some happiness again with Izayoi. I only want the same for you, Son. You're still suffering with the burdens of the past."

"I'm not you, Father."

"I'm not asking you to be. But for your Mother's sake, just… don't rule out this option yet."

The ticking of the nearby clock echoed across the silent room as the request hung in the dead air.

"I'll be upstairs."

"Of course," His Father said sagely, "You mustn't keep her waiting any longer."

Sesshoumaru glared from the corner of his eye.

"Don't trouble yourself with the phone or doorbell. I'll attend to matters down here. Dinner shall be served soon."

"Understood," Sesshoumaru replied, finally moving from where he'd stood in the doorway and going up the staircase towards his bedroom.

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Kagura looked down to her side once again, then back to the glass of water in her hand.

"Damn him. How long does it take to find the medicine anyways? Sheesh. What he do? Get lost in his own house?"

"Unlike some people I am not prone to such actions," Sesshoumaru muttered dryly.

"Hey, what the hell do you mean by that?!" She snapped.

Disregarding her question, he walked over and casually placed the pill bottle into her hand.

"Here."

"Took you long enough," Kagura retorted with a 'hmph' before popping the cap off and dumping out two pills.

"Or someone's patience is lacking."

"Pardon me for being in pain, or did you forget about that already?"

"I was delayed."

"By what? Daydreaming about me naked?" She shot back with a smirk.

He just frowned, "My Father. He was inquiring about the novel's progress."

Barely able to contain her amusement at the thought, Kagura's smirk widened, "He caught you cuddling me earlier, didn't he?"

"'Cuddling' is not the terminology I would use."

"Embracing, cuddling, molesting, whatever you want to call what you were doing me."

"You were in pain. That is all."

Kagura sighed, "Whatever. So what did your dear Daddy have to say about it, eh?"

Sesshoumaru leveled her with a glare; then realizing that he was basically stuck with her until his Father came to tell them dinner was prepared he slowly sat down beside her.

"He just made note that you were wearing Mother's dress."

Noting the edge of solemness in his tone, Kagura looked away, "Oh…"

An uneasy silence befell the room, and eager to find a way to end it, Kagura quickly took the pills then spoke up.

"Um…here…" She managed, handing the pill bottle back over to him.

He reached out; his long slender fingers brushing over her hand for a second more than they usually would before taking the bottle from her.

Figuring it was worth the risk, Kagura looked between her hand and his.

"Sesshoumaru, are you… falling for me?"

His head snapped up, golden eyes locking onto red ones as he quirked an eyebrow.

"I don't know," She continued, maintaining her cool-edge, "But it just seems that you are treating me like…well you know…like you, love me?"

The words barely escaped her lips before she found herself regretting it.

"What the hell are you doing? Shit! Oh sure, encourage that crap. And now you're getting all mushy and romantic? Kagura- think. This isn't like you…"

Taking a deep breath to compose herself, yet keeping her eyes intently on Sesshoumaru's slightly taken-back expression, she shook her head inwardly.

"No, it isn't like me. I couldn't be bold before now because that bastard Naraku wouldn't let me. But now…hell, even he can't stop me."

"I believe," The white-haired man began slowly, shifting his eyes for a second before returning to her gaze, "The real question is- have you fallen in love with me?"

She felt it happen again- that quick hitch in her breath and the slight jump of her heartbeat. But not wanting Sesshoumaru to get the best of her, she shrugged and continued to play it cool.

"If you haven't noticed, I have plenty of things to worry about- and falling in love isn't one of them. Sorry to ruin your deduction, but there's no way in hell. I'm not your average romance-obsessed female."

"That's for certain," Sesshoumaru's thoughts sarcastically remarked.

"And if such is the case with your feelings. Then mine are equally non-consequential."

"You know- your avoidant answers are really fucking annoying," She shot back.

Sesshoumaru let a small smirk creep onto his face, "The same could be said of yours."

"I really hate you sometimes, you know that?" Kagura spat.

Standing, he extended a hand to her, "The feeling is mutual."

She hesitated, her eyes searching his for a moment- looking for his reasoning.

"Leaving my Father downstairs to attend to dinner alone is only asking for trouble," He explained.

Kagura just shook her head, "Afraid he'll try something?"

"I have a feeling he already has."

Taking his hand, she pulled herself upright; letting her hand linger for a moment longer than it had to as she let go of his hand.

"All right, let's go crash this little dinner party."

His expression shifted slightly as he caught her wince.

"The medicine doesn't work as quickly as wished."

"Like hell it doesn't. Shit…"

Before she could even register what was happening, she felt the strong arms lifting her up and carrying her back towards the bed.

"Sesshoumaru- what in the hell…"

"Causing my Father trouble can wait until the medicine has fully taken affect."

Sitting her down, he began to withdraw when he felt her hand still clutching at his arm.

"You bastard, you're worried about me- aren't you?"

"But I think perhaps the key to opening you up is that woman," His Father's voice echoed in his head, and before he knew it, he found himself sitting down beside her.

"Father said he would alert us when dinner was ready," Sesshoumaru stated simply.

Kagura smirked, deciding that toying with his mind a little more wouldn't hurt.

"Can I have you for dessert first then?" She whispered, her training from her job coming into play.

And much to her delight, she got the reaction she wanted. The usually calm and stoic face of Sesshoumaru etched with confusion and definitely- a tinge of something else.

Seeing that her little joke had sunk in, she laughed lightly.

"Okay- we're even for now. But the next time you start feeling me up in my sleep, I won't be so kind," Kagura remarked, barely able to keep from laughing harder.

"You. Are very troublesome," Sesshoumaru muttered standing, quickly pushing away all traces of that mental image from his mind and cursing himself for even allowing it there in the first place.

"So…how much longer to dinner again?"

Sesshoumaru glared, not amused in the least bit by her joking.

"Soon," He said simply, before walking over and sitting in the nearby chair, "Hopefully. Soon."

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Preview for Chapter 22:

A dinner is just a normal, daily event in which people sit down to eat their meal. That is unless you have an over enthusiastic editor and a Father who's "just trying to help" acting as your maitre d's for the night.