Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha...

Blue: So close to the end, so freaking close! Just a couple more chapters after this, that's it! Alright, enjoy. Oh yes, inspiration came from Dashboard Confessional's Ghost of a Good Thing. Such an awesome song…

When Two Worlds Combine

Chapter 6: The Ghost of a Good Thing

It was nearing February, and the days had steadily been growing colder. Kagome alternated her time between gathering the Shikon no Kakkera with Inuyasha, and spending time with Akai. He hadn't asked her about her absences again, much to her continued relief, though he looked so relieved when she returned to school, that she couldn't help but feel guilty for making him worry.

Inuyasha had also held his tongue on the subject of Akai, something Kagome was extremely thankful for. The hanyou bristled whenever he was near her, though, still smelling Sesshoumaru's scent, even if it was diluted. Kagome paid him no mind, ignoring his angry looks and muffled comments. She was just so... Happy.

OOOOOOOO

"Akai, where are we going?" Kagome asked, trying to pull Akai's hand off of her face.

"Kagome, you need to learn patience..." His voice was soft but commanding, and Kagome immediately relaxed, shivering slightly in the freezing air.

Akai had showed up at her house, told her to put on her boots and jacket, and then he turned her around, covered her eyes, and put a hand on her lower back so he could guide her. They had only been walking for about 10 minutes, and already Kagome was trying to pry Akai's hand off of her face.

"Alright, alright..." Kagome mumbled in resignation, allowing herself to be gently prodded to the left.

Akai let out a chuckle at her pouting, giving her a one armed hug from behind. Strangely, this action reminded Kagome of Sesshoumaru. Just thinking of the stoic Taiyoukai brought Kagome to a dead stop, and she almost giggled at the irony of the whole situation. The person who she had come to care for so much was none other than the reincarnation of a man who, for lack of a better phrase, scared the hell out of her. Kagome could almost hear Kami laughing at her...

Akai slowly pushed her through a door, and into a sweltering hot room, the air choked with moisture. The hand covering Kagome's eyes was lifted, and Kagome looked around her in shock.

Akai had taken her to a greenhouse, filled with roses of every hue. The sight made Kagome gasp in awe, and she swiftly turned around to stare at a smirking Akai.

"How did you know that my favorite flower was a rose?" Kagome asked quietly, almost scared to upset the fragile silence of the greenhouse.

"I am not sure, but I think it had something to do with the fact that you have two large posters of roses taped above your bed..." Akai whispered in response, his smirk widening as Kagome's cheeks took on a pinkish tinge.

'Stupid, arrogant prat...' Kagome thought in exasperation, glaring playfully at Akai.

Before she could really form a rebuttal, Akai was pushing her further into the greenhouse, obviously intent on showing her something in particular. He stopped in front of a smalltable which was covered with a black cloth, and nudged Kagome forward, encouraging her without words to uncover the item.

When Kagome pulled the cloth off of the small stand, she gasped, squealing in happiness. There, wrapped in a red bow, was the most beautiful rose Kagome had ever seen. It was a dark purple color,the light dying upon contact with the flowers petals. A small card lay beside the rose, the title 'Velvet Night' inscribed on it.

"A black rose..." Kagome breathed, letting her fingers carefully graze the flower. Black roses, though not truly black, were incredibly rare, and quite expensive ($90 a pop, actually...).

"Do you like it?" Akai asked softly, so as to mask the nervousness in his voice.

"Like it? I... I love it... It's the most thoughtful gift anyone has ever given me…" And she meant it with all her heart.

OooooooooooO

Inuyasha sat high in the God Tree, staring at the two jewel shards resting in his palm. Kouga had appeared only moments before, taking them out of his legs. These were some of the only ones left, and Kouga did not want his clan to be attacked by Naraku. The jewel shards were better in a mutt's hands any day, or so the wolfsaid.

Though he was staring at the shards, Inuyasha's thoughts were not focused on them. No, he was thinking about a certain raven haired miko who was with his half brother's reincarnation. It hadn't seemed possible, the fact that Sesshoumaru could die. No, it just couldn't happen, right?

Inuyasha sighed, his eyes glazing over in memories of the past. A past he had tried so hard to forget and cover up with his brashness and anger. The only person to truly accept him as he was was Kagome, and he loved her for it. Not the love she had once yearned for, no, she was his best friend, nothing more. He knew she had come to terms with his choice, but he hadn't known she would find someone else. The thought had never crossed his mind, and now that she had found someone, he was scared.

He knew why. He cared about her, and didn't want her to get hurt. Her words had come back to him many times, though, and he was left to wonder if this 'Akai' person would treat her better.

"The biggest mistake of my life? The biggest mistake of my life was ever loving you!"

Inuyasha sighed again, before closing his fist around the gleaming shards. He would need Kagome to purify them, for Kouga's intentions had not always been pure. This meant that he would have to go get her, thus facing the whelp that she was with. It was a given that she was with the other reincarnation, something that Inuyasha had to accept. He hadn't realized that accepting Kagome's decision would be so hard!

With a deep breath he leapt down the well, mentally preparing himself to face Kagome. She would definitely be angry at him fordisturbing her...

FIN

Blue: Just a look at the happenings, that's all. Next chapter is the second to last one, are you sad? I am…

Sea: I don't see why, you should be happy it's finished. Now you can start on you other S/K fic.

Cell: I think I'm going to cry!

Blue: Oh yeah, Black Roses really cost that much... Well, at least when I saw them in this flower magazine..

Reviews:

L1Ldumie TK: Um, thanks? I think… Haha, that's what happens to me when I drink too much coffee…

Krazie-edge: Then I hope you liked this one too!

Hipkid727: Probably hotter… What would be sweet is if both Sesshoumaru and Akai lived, and Kagome had them both… Sorry, but I think that would be so cool! I can imagine them with leashes now…

lexc-angel: Actually, I used to post from my old computer, and that program screwed up and meshed the lines together. Now that I have a new computer, I just sort of assumed it would be the same. Tell me if this is better! So sorry - -'''

Ida: Thank you very much! I suppose change is good, but old habits die hard. I am a self critic by nature, and sometimes (or most of the time, however you look at it) I am unsatisfied with my work… Thank you again, people like you make me cry on the inside in a good way!

Sea: Thank you to all of the people who reviewed, your comments are much appreciated. Blue gets to see your reviews first (because the account is logged to her email address), but I enjoy them as well.

Cell: Me too, me too!

Blue: Ja ne, till next chapter! The end is soon!