(Authors note. I don't really know where Kagome lives so I'm just going to say Tokyo, Japan. I thought she lived in Osaka but I can't be sure, after all, I know more about Tokyo then I know about Osaka.)

Chp.18 Away from here…part. I

Kagome put on a little mascara and checked her hair in the mirror before going down stairs. She'd decided that she was going to be as casual and normal as she was always. Kagome wore a short skirt and a sweater like she normally wore. Feeling nervous she rubbed her hands together and opened the door to walk downstairs.

Sesshomaru was sitting on the couch with Souta holding a controller from her brothers precious PS2. He had a confused look on his face as he pressed buttons. Souta had his brow set in a intense stare. One of the characters died on the screen and Souta jumped up and yelled "I win!"

Sesshomaru glared at Souta with so much threat and malice that Souta stopped his cheers and sat quickly back down.

"Um…Sesshomaru? Ready?" asked a grinning Kagome. Sesshonmaru stood up and looked from the TV, to Souta, then to Kagome.

"Mortal, when I return we shall see who will win the next round of this battle" said Sesshomaru in a deadpan voice. Souta smiled at Sesshomaru and turned to Kagome.

"Where did you find this guy? Finally, someone who likes 'Super Smash Bro's' as much

as me!" Kagome was surprised that Sesshomaru was getting along with her brother.

After the pair left and were walking down the steps Sesshomaru said something that surprised Kagome even more.

"Kagome…I….apologize…." His bangs hid the expression on his face.

"For what?" she asked puzzled. Sesshomaru looked straight ahead as he said this.

"For being…irate yesterday…."

"Oh. I forgot about that looong ago. Don't worry." Kagome waved it away. But deep down she was touched that he apologized. He had definitely changed since the first time that she'd met him. The Sesshomaru a month ago would have never apologized for anything. He would have turned a cold shoulder and never look back, and probably would have killed her. But if that were true then why hadn't he left her when she nearly died? Now that she thought about it she never got an answer to the question of why he head saved her in that battle against Naraku.

"Where do we go from here?" asked Sesshomaru looking from side to side.

"Over here. I want to show you something…" They walked on the crowded street and Sesshomaru's eyes widened at the vast and flashy town that was Tokyo. Kagome noticed people staring at Sesshomaru with wonder and suspicion and she began to feel uncomfortable. Hopefully they might've thought that Sesshomaru was a cosplayer. The demon lord seemed oblivious to all as he observed everything that was in site. The tall buildings, the variety of strange people. Then all of a sudden a shriek rang in his ears and he jerked around. Kagome smiled warily.

Three of Kagome's closest friends all ran up the couple and shrieked in excitement some more. Kagome could feel Sesshomaru's tenseness.

"Kagome! How are you? Where have you been? We've missed you soooo much and---….who is this?" asked Mei looking Sesshomaru up and down.

"Oh! Mei, Fuyumi, and Akari, this is my friend Sesshomaru" she stressed the word friend as everyone seemed to think that Sesshomaru and her were more then friends.

"Hi," they all said in unison. "Um…Kagome, can we talk to you alone for a moment?"

Kagome excused herself from Sesshomaru and walked to her friends.

"Oh my gosh! Kagome! Is that hunk your secret boyfriend?" asked Mei.

"How Mean! Houjou will be crushed!" said Fuyumi.

"Tsk, tsk Kagome" said Akari shaking her head disapprovingly.

"No! stop! He is not anything. He really is just a friend….I'll talk to you guys later. Bye"

With that Kagome turned her heel and continued with Sesshomaru….Maybe a part of her really did want something more with Sesshomaru…

That was pt. I of this whole date fiasco. Like it? More to come! -QN