Kanzuka's Palace

" So she'll be attending the Summer Festival?" he asked the girl in front of him. She nodded feebly. Her eyes were vacant.

" Keep an eye on her," he instructed her, " And try to hint to her about me and my brother's close connection."

The girl nodded and stood. She was led away. Another unknowing servant of Kanzuka.

With Kurama and Hiei

" How could you?" Hiei blazed.

" What?" Kurama retorted, " It's been obvious for a while now that you like her. Only Kuwabara hasn't noticed."

" I do not like her!" Hiei snapped.

" Don't lie," Kurama advised him, " She likes you, I'm sure."

Hiei tried not to blush smugly.

Kurama found it rather amusing that he was trying to deny his love for Sango. The tables turned.

" Well, I know you like Kagome," he countered the fox.

" Yeah, as a friend," Kurama answered steadily. Yoko was taunting him as Hiei was that Kurama was lying to himself.

" Its obvious about how you feel about her," Hiei taunted.

Kurama looked away. " She's my best friend. I haven't seen her for four years. I need to make up for lost time."

Hiei didn't believe him since he knew he was right and that he did like Kagome.

Just Before Seven

" Oh Sango, cheer up!" Kagome cried, " Hiei's nice. You like him. He likes you. It'll be perfect!"

" I do not like him!" she retorted.

" Liar," Kagome accused, " It's obvious. You look at him rather affectionately, blush slightly when he looks your way."

Sango turned away, tying up sandal lace.

Kagome looked herself over in her mirror. She looked so pretty.

" Well, if I apparently like Hiei," Sango said with venom dripping with each word, " Then you really do like Kurama!"

" Only as my best friend," Kagome said smoothly.

" Oh no, its more than that," Sango said knowingly, " You put yourself in his company whenever you can. He loves you too, since he follows you everywhere you go."

" We love each other as you would your very best friend or siblings."

" Yeah right, you're just covering up," Sango said, as they descended down the stairs of Kagome's house. She didn't answer.

The night was warm, as they could see lights in the park from where they stood. The sweet scent of sakura blossoms met their noses.

The two girls practically ran down the Shrine steps. Well, Kagome ran, pulling Sango along behind her. Kurama and Hiei were at the other side of the street, waiting for them as promised. Sango gulped as they approached the boys.

" You two look lovely," Kurama complimented, as Hiei was too stubborn to.

Kagome blushed a bit and Sango did her best to hide a smug smile directed at Kagome.

" Thanks. You two look sharp."

The truth was that, Hiei looked no different than usual, dressed in his normal black array. Kurama wore a black suit with a red rose in his pocket.

" Shall we go then?" he asked, offering Kagome his arm, which she accepted. Sango and Hiei walked beside each other, saying nothing to the other, muttering to themselves.

" Kagome!"

Kagome was dragged back a bit as Eri, Yuri, and Ayumi glomped her from behind.

" Gahh!!" she gasped, " You're chocking me!"

Kurama rushed to help her out of their grasp.

" So you did find a date!" Ayumi cheered. " Good for you!"

" And he's so handsome!" Eri sighed deeply. Kurama blushed at her praise.

" You have such good taste!" Yuri cried, hugging Kagome again. Kurama couldn't tell if she was red from blushing or lack of air. Maybe a bit of both.

" Yeah…he's my best friend," she said hugging him.

" I thought we were your best friends!" Eri whined playfully.

Kagome chose not to answer.

" So Kagome," Ayumi said, her eyes going strangely vacant for a fleeting moment. Abruptly, she said " We'll see ya later!"

The girls ran off, leaving Kagome frowning a little. Ayumi never acted like that before. She shrugged it off.

For a few hours, they saw nothing of Sango or Hiei. Nothing of Eri, Yuri, or Ayumi either. So instead, they talked, catching up on the past four years. After much talking, Kurama led Kagome up to dance.

In the shattered mirror Your reflected image

Crying crying

A finger tracing the narrow moon

Kagome and Kurama looked so cute together. Ayumi watched from the bushes nearby. Eri and Yuri were looking frantically for her, but they would not find her, she knew. She remained perfectly still, as she watched Kagome and Kurama through her own eyes, before they became vacant again.

Are you calling someone The back of love that has gone

No matter how many times No matter how many times

Because I knock on your window

Kagome felt so safe. As if he hadn't vanished for four long years. As if no one was after her Jewel or herself. As if Sango had never cut herself. As if Kanzuka didn't exist. As if she and Kurama were the only people in the world.

Like a thread being cut

Your back is pushed by the acceleration of the night

Only you, you I embrace tightly

Kurama did embrace her tightly. She didn't object. He not a care in world right now, since he was with her, his best friend since childhood. She was perfect.

Exchanging unbalanced kisses

Comes closer to love

Both your tears and sorrowful lies

Sleep in my heart

The stars danced in the sky and the moon shone down on the dancing couples. Kagome wished time wouldn't be so cruel. She wished that the two of them could stay like that forever. Her worries vanished. As though there was no one coming after her Jewel. As there was no one with vacant eyes watching her. As if Kanzuka didn't exist. As if Sango hadn't tried to cut herself. As though life itself was perfect.

A merry-go-round taking you towards yesterday

Wanting to stop Wanting to stop

I am searching for the key

The moonlight shone on Kagome's silky hair. Kurama embraced her tightly. He didn't let go. His grip didn't loosen. Kagome did not object. She looked like something more. An angel. His angel.

Holding up the sky that seems to crumble

I bear it alone

Only by your side, by your side I want to be

Kagome looked up into Kurama's emerald eyes. The stars shone in them. He looked down at her with such tenderness and caring that she couldn't help but smile to herself. She wanted him to be hers. Only hers.

Written with unbalanced kisses

A scenario of us two

Even call it love even if it is not strong

Everything about you hurts

Only by your side I want to be

Kurama smoothed out Kagome's hair. She held him tightly, as though she would never let go, not ever. He didn't care. Time was cruel. Why couldn't it just let them remain like this forever? Why would it have to separate them?

Exchanging unbalanced kisses

Comes closer to love

Both your tears and the sorrowful lies

Sleep in my heart

Kagome's heart pounded in her chest. Could he not hear it? She didn't know, nor did she care. She only wanted to be with him. Oh, she wished she could stop time, and be with him eternally. She would give all her miko powers just to be with him--always.

Till your heart calls out to me

Till the day I can meet you in my arms

The song ended. The couples left the dancing area, preparing for the next song. Kagome and Kurama walked away together, silently, hand in hand. Ayumi, had she been herself, would have thought it sweet.

' Now,' she thought, ' It must be now.'

" Kagome!" she called, " A word please."

Kagome looked around. Oddly enough, Ayumi was in the bushes calling to her. She didn't look herself. Kagome pulled Kurama's arm, to get him to come with her.

" Yeah Ayumi? What are you doing here?"

" I'm here to take you away with me. He has requested it." Her eyes were dark, not their normal, cheery blue. Dark as evil night time.

Kagome was distressed. " What do you mean?" Her eyes narrowed.

" He wants you."

" Who?"

" You know who. I am to take you to him."

Kagome couldn't believe it. Kanzuka took over Ayumi like he had Kikyo. He was controlling her. Kagome dropped Kurama's hand and calmly walked over to Ayumi.

" You shall not have me Kanzuka, and nor shall you use Ayumi or my other friends against me. Just watch."

As she had with Kikyo, Kagome placed her hands on Ayumi's shoulders. She chanted, " Ayumi, you who are held in control unknowingly by another shall be freed to go your own way. Let your soul be free of the control of another. Let me allow you to govern yourself!" A pink light appeared and pushed Ayumi back. She did not scream. She landed on the ground and a great black aura left her body.

" Where am I?" she asked, getting up and rubbing her head,

" What is going on?"

Kagome shrugged. " You called us and then you tripped and fell." It wasn't a good lie, but it worked. Ayumi believe it.

" Oh…I don't remember any of it," she replied dazed.

" Nothing?" Kagome pretended to be surprised.

" Oh well," Ayumi shrugged, " May as well go back. Bye." She left.

As soon as Ayumi was out of earshot, Kagome burst into tears. Kurama was surprised by this, considering how she had talked to Ayumi just a moment before. She had shown no hint of wanting to cry.

She sobbed onto his shoulder. Absently, he rubbed her back and hugged her tightly to show her she was going to be all right. She sobbed for a long time.

" Are you okay?" he asked quietly.

She sniffed and nodded. " I think so…" Her sadness turned to rage. " How dare he?" she hissed, " He tried to turn one of my very best friends on me."

" Kanzuka is like that," Kurama replied soothingly. " His favourite way to get what he wants, is to turn the victim's most precious family and friends against them. Against their loved ones, he knows they'd be powerless to do anything, then ultimately give up."

" He underestimates me if he thinks I'll fall for such a stupid trick!" she said.

" He has underestimated many people. He underestimates you, he underestimates his own blood relation."

Kagome looked up. " Blood relation?" she repeated.

Kurama looked around uneasily. Yoko screamed at him to tell her. Bur he didn't. And Kagome didn't quite get it that when he said 'blood relation', he meant himself.

There. 11 chapters uploaded in one day! remind me never to do THAT again. Anyway, the next chaoter will be coming soon. It will focus more on Sango and Hiei and what happens to them durring the Summer Festival. rr, no flames please. Hope you enjoy the story! I will also pay attention to my other stories too. Don't worry, I haven't forgotten about them.

Its just that, I had this one written all on one save file, so I had to make everything into chapters and upload it here because I really like how this story is coming. Thats my explanation, just in case you were wondering Ja ne!