A/N: Yay! I'm very happy with the reviews I got, this story is getting more "customers" than I expected. I hope you enjoy this chapter:): Oh and in the last chapter, my friend said I spelled Anubis wrong. I wrote Abubus, lol. It don't matter though! Right?

Someone said Naraku isn't acting the way he usually does, and I made it like that on purpose. You'll see why later on.

Splurg was the only one who suggested a song for me to use. I might use it...when I discover the meaning. Is colliding in a relationship good or bad?

Disclaimer: Did I put a disclaimer in the last chp? Don't remember...oh well, I don't owe Inuyasha, I don't even owe an autograph from him! However, I do want to own Koga's legs...doesn't he haf nice legs? I mean, i wouldnt want to replace my legs with man legs, but he has nice masculine legs...he's the only character tht i ever got to see legs of, besides naraku. But naraku is dating my friend, and Koga was my ex,(long story) so I'll just stick to Koga's, plus they're tanned:):

Like Moths To A Flame

Chapter 6: Pay Attention, Kikyo...and Naraku

When Onigumo had found out the the Shards were indeed the real thing, he was shocked. This was the first time his eye had tricked him when it came to figuring out if something was real or not. Kikyo, too was surprised. She was never wrong, and the Shards were practically screaming "I'm a Fake!".

But there was solid proof in the form of a piece of paper that the test had prooved them made of real pearls. The employees were indeed happy. This meant they had something new to sell. They were all sure that this shipment was going to be a big hit.

So once again, Tokyo Diamonds was off to another busy day. It felt good to belong to such a care free crowd. Everyone was always smiling, helping each other out, doing the best they could to make each others day a sunny one...okay maybe this is a bit exaggerated.

And exaggerated it was 'cause at that moment, the voice of the very stubborn Ayame cried out, "For crying out loud to the seven hells, what is wrong with you, Koga!"

"I'm sorry, Ayame! It's not my fault!" Came the pleading cries of Koga.

"That's what you always say!" Yelled Ayame. "And yesturday, you were just sweet talking me, do you atleast remember that!"

Sango, always the caring one, went up to the screaming women and tried to find out what was wrong.

"This bastard here was all nice to me yesturday, and he promised to take me out today. But now he's telling me he has other plans!" Ayame explained to her friend.

"But it's true, I planned it months ago, and when I invited you yesturday, I didn't realize it. But when I remembered, you were so happy I didn't want to ruin it!" Koga said, telling his part of the story.

"Uh, yeah right. Don't you remember? You promised me!" Ayame looked like she was about to slap Koga if she wasn't being held down by Sango.

"Eh, Ayame...is it okay if you deal with this later? We're at work right now." Kikyo asked.

"Sorry Kikyo...I'll get you," Ayame poked Koga in the chest, "after work." She threatened. And with that, she sauntered back to the shop angrily, leaving the stunned witnessess...well, stunned.

Lets go back,


Back to the beginning


Back to when the earth, the sun, the stars all aligned

"What did you want to talk to me about?" Kikyo asked Kagura. They had made a quick stop at the sakura tree. At work, Kagura said she had something urgent to tell Kikyo, and if she could ditch just 5 minutes of lunch. Kagura, being Kikyo's best friend, agreed without hestitatioin.

Kagura took a deep breath, but not out of nervousness."Ok, you know how I had to ditch you yesturday for lunch?"

"Yes, you are so lucky I have other friends." Kikyo told her.

"Wait...who'd you go with? Sango went to the Lab, Ayame had a date, we have to talk about that later, and...I went somewhere. So who'd you go with?" Kagura asked with earnest eyes.

"Um..you know that guy that you saw with me at Bridge Water.? Him."

"You've been hanging around him a lot. Do tell, what's his name? How's he like? Tell me everything." Kagura asked excitedly.

"Hey, you were suppose to be the one telling the stories today." Kikyo said.

"Aw, come on. I want to know about your love life, too."

"Fine, if you insist. His name's Naraku, no I'm not dating him. We've become really good friends. He's really kind, funny, smart. He's a great person to hang around."

Kagura gave a nod. "I approve. As long as you bring him home to meet me." She said, mocking the words of a parent.

Kikyo gave a small laugh. "So...now it's your turn."

"Fine...it all happened three days ago. I was shopping for groceries when I met him."

"Oh? Do tell." Kikyo mimicked.

"He is the most good-looking guy I've ever met in my entire life...except for my first boyfriend in highschool..." She started reminiscing about her school life for a while before she snapped back to reality. "Anyways, he was in the frozen foods section. So I pretended to look for ice cream in the same section he was looking at. I just wanted to get a closer look at how handsome he was, when I didn't even realize it but we had grabbed the same carton of ice cream."

Kikyo nodded for her to go on.

"So then he said, in this wonderful voice, 'I was trying to get the carton in back'. So then I removed the carton, vanilla, and behind was the strawberry. He took it and carried it to the cash register." Kagura was reminiscing again, but about her encounter.

"So I guess that was one of your most romantic moments?" Kikyo teased.

"No, there's more. I took the vanilla ice cream and followed him to the registers. I couldn't help it, I felt like a piece of metal, and he was the magnet. I put the carton on the conveyor belt, and I guess it accidently knocked his hand. He turned around and looked down at me, he was really tall, with these wonderful eyes of golden-amber."

Out of nowhere, Kikyo had an image of Inuyasha. He, too had golden-amber eyes. She pushed the tears back. He had found someone to love, she should be happy for him. It must be the jealousy, the jealousy hasn't passed. She forced herself to believe.

'Cause perfect didn't feel so perfect


Trying to fit a square into a circle


Was no lie I defy

"-and then he told me his name." Kagura was saying.

"Huh?" Kikyo asked. She had gotten lost in her own thoughts and wasn't paying attention.

"He didn't bring enough money. So since he was so hot and all, I decided to let him borrow from me. Weren't you paying attention?"

"Sorry, lost track." Kikyo apologized.

"That's okay. So he gave me his name and phone number, and I gave him mine. He told me he would return it to me as soon as possible. And yesturday, he had called me. I hadn't expected a stranger to actually return money."

"And you guys met for lunch yesturday and he repaid you?" Kikyo guessed the rest.

"Yes...how'd you guess?" Kagura asked.

"Experience." Kikyo said jokingly.

"But you know what I love about him most? Besides his eyes that is, it was his hair. I mean, what shampoo does he use to get that wonderfuly, smooth, glossy hair. And it was a really nice shade of silver-white. Long, too. Up to his hips, atleast." Kagura continued to describe.

Once again, though, Kikyo had an image of Inuyasha. He had long silver-white hair. And it had felt so good between her fingers. Tangle-free, that was the best part.

"So...are you guys heading towards a relationship or something?" Kikyo asked nonchalantly, mind still focused on Inuyasha.

"Huh? No, far from it. We're just good friends." Kagura told her. "No matter how good looking he is, you can never push a relationship.

We're just good friends. That sounded familiar. Wasn't that what Kikyo had said to Kagura when she asked about Naraku? All thoughts of her ex was replaced by the black haired man. She had to admit, though, he is good looking...but it wasn't like they were about to have anything more than a friendship.

Yes, right. It was only a friendship, that's it. Surprising how they had only met 6 days ago, and Kikyo already considered him a really good friend.

Let the rain fall down And wake my dreams

Let it wash away My sanity

'cause I wanna feel the thunder

I wanna scream Let the rain fall down

I'm coming clean I'm coming clean

"Sesshomaru said he's going to meet me tomorrow at work. He said he needs my help for something." Kagura broke through Kikyo's train of thought again.

"Huh?" Kikyo asked. "Who's Sesshomaru?"

"Kik, it's the second time today. Care to tell me what's on your mind?"

"Oh, um...I was just thinking that that guy you met sounds a lot like someone I know." Kikyo explained.

"Oh...well I said his name is Sesshomaru. Sesshomaru Taisho...do you know him?"

Taisho...Taisho...Taisho..."Taisho...that sounds familiar." Kikyo finally said.

"It's a common name...and it's a small world." Kagrua told her.

It's a small world...Didn't Naraku say that to her at the bank the first time they met?

"Hey, we should get going. Sango and Ayame are waiting." Kagura got up, followed by Kikyo. "You can tell me what was on your mind tonight or something, because I'm starving now."

Kikyo stopped walking. Tell her what was on her mind? That would mean telling her about Inuyasha. She has never told anyone, not even Kagura, about Inuyasha. And if she said she was thinking about Naraku, she would risk making people think that they are dating, even if they weren't.

"Come on, Kikyo. You have waay too much on your mind today."Kagura started dragging Kikyo into the car with her. Kikyo shook her head, erasing any thoughts of guys, and vowed to make it a wonderful rest of the day...without any thoughts of guys.

The promise to herself succeeded, if only Muso wasn't there. As soon as she had stepped foot in the office, Muso ran up to her, waving movie tickets in the air.

"Kikyo! There you are! Guess what I have? Can't figure it out, right? Right? Come on, take a wild guess."

"Movie tickets..." Kikyo said boredly.

Muso made an exasperated gasp. "How did you ever guess? I was sure I could fool you, you smart women...hmm, I like smart women..." Muso pretended to go off into a daydream about life married to a smart women.

Kikyo rolled her eyes. "Muso, anyone can figure out you have movie tickets if you are holding it directly in front of their line of vision." Kikyo pushed his hands away, the one that was holding the tickets in front of her face.

"I know, but...wow Kikyo you're amazing." Muso sighed. Kikyo blinked and said, "I guess you want to ask me out to watch a movie, and then have dinner?"

"Wow...I told you you were a smart women, but did you believe me? Noooo. Anyways, wanna go out to see a movie and then grab some dinner?"

Kikyo sighed deeply. Suddenly, a thought crossed her mind. Or rather...a feeling. All of a sudden, she felt...daring...challanging...brave. Like she could do anything and not care about the aftermath. And that was what made her say the next stream of words that came to mind.

I'm shedding Shedding every color

Trying to find a pigment of truth Beneath my skin

"Sure, pick me up at my house around 7 tomorrow?" Kikyo said cooly. She looked over at Muso. Kikyo had left him speechless, mouth gaping open, eyes wide with happiness, brain still registering the words she had just said.

"Really?" He squealed with both delight and in question.

"Really." Kikyo said. The same feeling of courage enveloped her tightly. Muso gasped. He was beyond happy. After all, he had been asking her out ever since he stepped into Tokyo Diamonds. Which was 2 years ago.

"Ok, here are the movie tickets. Um..I'll...pick you up at your house tomorrow, at 7 right? Ok, that's good. Eh, where would you like to eat? I have this perfect place. I-I-I'll take you after theeee...movie. Yes movie." Muso handed a ticket to Kikyo with shaking hands. Was he, stuttering? He sounded so hasty and...nervous. Sometimes, she just didn't get this guy.

"Muso, take it easy. I agreed, you should be lucky." Kikyo said. Her bravery was fading, and her mind was already scanning the conssequences. He could ask her out again. Or he would find out she wasn't what he wanted after all. Maybe she would think about Inuyasha during the date and get all distressed.

Or maybe she'd have to break his heart in the end. Maybe she could get the facts straight and tell him how she really felt about him, that all she wanted was a friend. Or maybe, she'd come across Inuyasha again and he would know that she and Naraku being a couple was all a lie. And then she'd have to explain everything to Muso and Inuyasha and maybe even Kagome, and that would make her feel like a fool.

She was stressing out too much about one date. It was just a dinner and a movie, what bad could come out of it? Right?

"Kikyo? Kikyo? Were you listening?" Muso asked.

"Huh? Oh, sorry. Could you repeat that?" Kikyo had gotten side-tracked by her thoughts again.

"I asked you what movie you like. I wasn't sure, so I got a horror. I was always interested in those."

"Oh...they're fine. Just pick me up tomorrow. See you then." She waved good bye and went into her office, closing the door behind her. Deep breath, exhale. She thought. From the cornor of her eye, she saw the glow of her Shikon Jewel. Glancing over, she looked at it admiringly.

Some relied on Stress Balls to squeeze the tension out of their life, and others relied on meditation to calm their hasseled souls, but all Kikyo had to do was take a simple glance at the Jewel, and all the strain and anxiety of everyday life would dissappear. It worked better than any squishy ball or relaxing music could ever do.

"Here's your card, Miss. How much would you like on your check, again?"

"Thank you." The women said, taking her bank card. "How about 10,000 yen. I don't know what to get for my niece, so money shall do. I'm not a very creative person." The women told the banker.

Ten thousand yen, wasn't that one of the first words Kikyo had said to him the other day?

"Mister? Mister? Naraku?" The elderly women was saying.

"Oh, sorry. I'll write the check right now." Hard to believe, but some people actually ask their bankers to write checks for them. It was only a check! But, as far as Naraku's job went, he had to give 100 percent customer satisfactoin.

He was sure he gave customer satisfaction to Kikyo the other day, but when she asked if she'd seen him before, it meant she was so close to finding out! But, he played it off cooly.

Then again, maybe she thought he looked familiar for another reason. He knew she had a friend who had the same crimson eyes as him. Maybe his eye color triggered her memory of her friend.

"Are you done Mister?" The women asked.

"Huh? Oh, yes. Here you go." He slipped the check through the slot under the glass pane. Ready to take the next customer, he pushed a button hanging on the wall to signal there was a free stall.

"Um, Mister Naraku. You forgot to write how much money and to whom it was supposed to be sent to." The old lady said, slipping the check through the slot again.

"Oh, sorry." He took a pen and started filling out the blanks he had missed when he was busy thinking about Kikyo.

Speaking of Kikyo, why was she standing behind the old women, swiping a coat of gloss and fixing her bangs?

"Here you go..." He handed the check to the women distractedly, staring at Kikyo curiously. She was looking at her reflection on the glass next to his stall.

"Thank you..." The women looked at him strangely. Then she walked away, staring at her check the same way she stared at Naraku.

'cause different

Doesn't feel so different

And going out is better

Then always staying in

Feel the wind

Naraku turned to Kikyo. "...So, what are you doing here?"

At first, Kikyo was too busy primping herself to notice he was talking to her, but then she realized she was the only person there. "Well, I came here to get money, my friend. And since you signaled the light," She gestured towards the light hanging above his head. "It meant you were taking your next customer." She explained casually.

Naraku paused to stare at her blankly. "Well?" He said.

"Well what?" She asked.

"You were here to get money?" He told her.

"Oh, of course. 100 yen please." She told him.

Naraku stared at her oddly. Something was different about her today, and being a friend(as she had addressed him before) he had to find out what was making her act this way. "Kikyo..."

"What?" She asked cooly.

"No one takes out 100 yen from the bank..."

"Why not?" She looked interestingly at a spot behind him. Naraku turned around to see what she was looking at, and all he saw was the white wall. What did she see?

"Because 100 yen is not a latent amount of money." He told her. (A/N: 109 yen is equivalent to 1$ in the United States)

"...it isn't?" She asked.

"What's wrong, Kikyo? You seem...different today." He told her.

She sighed deeply. "I have a meeting tomorrow morning and I'm really stressed. It's like, I have to be this extremely perfect person tomorrow." She poured.

"Was that why you were primping yourself before even though the look will be ruined when you go to bed tonight?" He asked.

"No, that was only because I'm meeting you." She smiled.

Naraku's eyes widened slightly. Did she, was she, is it...?

Kikyo's smile dissappeared when she realized what she had just said. Did I just...flirt with him? Oh holy - She tried to put on a straight face, but it was hard to keep one from blushing when they had just flirted with their guy friend.

Naraku opened his mouth slightly to say something, but nothing came out. He had it all planned in his head, but his tongue was blank of words.

"I see."

That was probably one of the stupidest things Naraku had ever said.

"I...came...over...to see if you wanted to, I don't know do something...tomorrow. The whole office gets off work right after the meeting, and I have nothing better to do." Kikyo explained. She had forgotten the feeling of getting red in the face, and now that it had come back, it felt foreign on her usually cold cheek.

"Sure, why not?" Naraku said. He had returend to his usual demeanor, and didn't even notice the flush on Kikyo's face.

"Oh, I forgot. You don't get off work that early, do you? The meeting ends at 3, what time do you get off?" Kikyo asked. It felt like the red had gone away.

"That's okay. If you really have nothing to do, I'll ask my boss if I could get off early." Naraku explained.

"As long as I'm not interrupting your work or anything. I don't want to feel guilty for dragging you off. Are you sure it's okay?" Kikyo said worryingly.

"It's fine. The boss likes me." Naraku smiled.

"Who wouldn't like you?" Kikyo smiled brightly.

Wait...damn! Did I just flirt again?

Naraku smiled. This flirting was getting to her. Which meant only one thing. It was working.

Let the rain fall down And wake my dreams

Let it wash away My sanity

'cause I wanna feel the thunder

I wanna scream

Kagura's head was tilt to the side, her cell phone between her shoulder and her ear as she typed something on her computer.

"Press 5 to hear the message again. Press 7 to delete. Press 8 for more options." Came the monotone vioce of the voicemail lady.

Kagura took the phone in her hands and pressed 5.

"It's me. I still need your help. Tomorrow at 3. Don't forget." Was the message, made by Sesshomaru, who's voice was even more dead pan than the voicemail lady.

Kagura hung up, wondering what sort of help someone like Sesshomaru needed. With a shrug of her shoulders, she closed her computer and went to bed, making a mental list of things he would need help in.

Let's go back

Back to the beginning

She spent the rest of her sleepless night making lists. A list of what Kikyo had on her mind. A list of ways to get Ayame to go back to Koga. A list of ways someone gives their heartto someone else.

A/N: AAAH! I spent an entire week writing this chpter because of high school. I'm sorry, but high school just bores the heck out of me. No class clowns, no funny jokes being made, no fun homework assignments. I'm not even going to begin to complain about the fact tht none of the rms haf AC.

Today's Song: Come Clean by Hilary Duff

PLEASE! PLEASE! SUGGEST A SONG!

Don't have to b a song about love. Could be about spending everyday life in high school, the hell hole we live in. Or maybe even ways to torture someone. ANYTHING! JUST PLEASE! SOMETHING!

Review! I love you all!

Tht last line was kinda cheesy, but cnt wait till i write next chpter! it's going to be one of my faves! But it'll take a while to get it written. My friends story's chpter is out, so go chk tht out.