I'd like to start this chapter by dedicating it to my friend Shizuka Ishimaru (see author for details) who is a wonderful author, and a great e-mail buddy ;-) ! And also (since this fic is on both a Single Spark and to kari konoko who is a constant reviewer! I just wanted to let all of my reviewers know, that I appreciate all of them, and I try and respond to all (however on that is hard!) And now… On with chapter 10! (Kiltykat takes off on white stead) High ho silver! AWAAAAAAAAAAY!

Kagome smiled as she buckled her seatbelt, as she sat in Sesshoumaru's car, waiting for them to go to lunch. She turned towards him and said, "So…"

She watched in amusement as he hung his head and turned to her, giving her a bemused look.

"Yes?"

She patted herself mentally on the back, considering she just made the man in front of her curious and confused.

'Haha.'

She wanted to laugh at her own antics. Boy! She was feeling mighty giddy today!

"Where are we going?"

She asked, trying to sound, she hoped, curious. She knew it was somewhere nice though. Sesshoumaru wasn't the type to eat anywhere that didn't have tablecloths and waiters with foreign accents. That thought alone, and the fact that he said his treat, made her excited. She smiled. It was ALMOST like a date. Well… besides the date part. Think it, Kagome Higurashi, 20-year old college student, on a date with Sesshoumaru Taisho. It sounded ridiculous! Even in her head!

' Ha! Boy, Mama's going to get a kick out of this guy.' Kagome thought as she looked fondly at Sesshoumaru.

Yeah, he wasn't much for talking. And she wasn't quite sure, but she wasalmost positivehe had an odd sense of humor, but she was comfortable around him. Strange huh? To take comfort in the presence of a stranger.

Oh what he didn't want to just take her to WacDonald's just to wipe the look off her pretty face. He knew what she was thinking. He didn't only go to fancy places. He enjoyed regular food just like everybody else. But, don't say anything about that.

"I thought I'd let you decide. You are the guest."

He watched as Kagome scrounged her face up in deep thought. He felt a frown tug playfully on his lips.

"You'll cause wrinkles like that."

He said it coolly, staring at the road. He hoped she got the message, but then again. He didn't want her to know he cared, even if it was only somewhat.

She got the message though, loud and clear. He said, "You'll cause wrinkles like that." But what he meant was, "Quit frowning."

She smiled at him and shook her head. He really wasn't so bad. But then again, what did she know? This was the second time she saw the man! For all she knew, he could be a cold-hearted bastard!

Oh how little she knew!

She admitted, her first 'talk' with the man, wasn't… pleasant. He was mean, rude, and downright cold to her! Well… until the end. He had almost sounded, guilty. But that was the past, and it did little to dwell on such things. Besides, Kagome was a girl for the here and now! Screw everything else!

'My how crude.'

She tried to think of why she liked Sesshoumaru. She couldn't think of anything, besides he was beautiful!

'Please, dear Kami don't let me be so superficial!'

Maybe it was the only reason now, but she had a feeling there was more. She just couldn't figure it out.

'Damnit!'

Boy! She hated being confused, and this man beside her was nothing but a swirl of confusion marinated in good looks and charm. Perhaps, that's what she liked? His debonair ways?

Maybe she'd get to know him, and hate him… maybe. But she had a sinking feeling that'd she'd be half-right, and half-dead-wrong. Love wasn't a word she'd throw around carelessly but she knew. She knew that she could somehow love this man. This strange beautiful lonely man. He was very familiar, in some way… she just didn't know how.

'How sad.'

Yes, the human memory is amazing. Remembering the simplest of things like song lyrics, and remembering them forever. While the important thing, like childhood memories, your first boy-friends name or face. Things like that being erased. Or maybe you just choose to forget those things? Well, since it was easier to think that way, she would. She CHOSE to forget her past. But there she was prattling on in her head again! She really wondered why she did that…

He watched as emotions danced across her face. She was most possibly the strangest, most intriguing woman he had ever met.

'Perhaps… that's what attracts me to her?'

Yes, she was a beautiful girl, but he'd seen prettier. So it's not as though he was just attracted to her looks.

He had never seen so many emotions shown at one time! She was content, confused, sad, amused, confused, horrified, content again, angry, and then downright terrified. The last one just didn't settle right with him, so he tried to be worried without showing it.

"Kagome," He said, waiting for the girl to look at him. He looked at her questioning eyes. He felt her staring intently into his eyes. What the hell was she trying to do? "Are you alright?"

He tightened the steering wheel as she smiled and nodded.

"Just thinking…" He heard her say softly. He wondered about what.

"I've decided…" Kagome said quickly, quietly. She watched as Sesshoumaru lazily shifted his gaze to her and stared at her, questioning.

'What the hell? Decided?'

Kagome smiled at him, "You know… where we're going to eat!" She finished teasingly. He felt himself relax. When did he tense? Why?

'Oh well.'

He tried his best to look uninterested. And he was doing a good job, because he soon heard an angry huff, and saw Kagome cross her arms across her chest and pout.

"And…"

He watched as Kagome blinked twice, and then smiled. He knew she mentally forgave him when she turned to him. She was so easy to read, she was like a book.

"I've decided…" She paused, trying to make it dramatic. Before he knew what came over him he made the drum noise on the steering wheel with his fingers. He smiled when she started laughing. She put her hands up dramatically and he quit. She looked around and said, "Youkai Gardens."

He felt the urge to groan a protest. How he hated that place! But how he loved her smile… and she really liked it there. She mentally held two hands up and weighed his options. Of course he knew which one would win, but he felt the need to do it anyways.

"Alright." He said in a sigh. She smiled and looked at the road, satisfied with her small victory. She could only wonder how lunch would go!

Sesshoumaru slowed to a stop and turned into the parking lot of Kagome's favorite restaurant. He made a mental note to surprise her and take her here someday. Way, way off in the future. The less he came here the better! And he wasn't sure if after this weekend they'd even see each other anymore. He sighed at the way his thoughts were going and shook his head. He parked in the parking place before turning to Kagome and saying, "Hold on."

Kagome looked at him and tilted her head to the side, in question. She smiled when she realized what he was doing. He opened the door and held his hand out for her to grasp. She blushed slightly and placed her small delicate hands inside of his own much larger slightly roughened hands. She silently wondered how a man doing his job had hands so rough.

"Thank-you…" Kagome said in a quiet, almost shy voice.

'What's your problem? Shy, around Sesshoumaru? ComeOn Girl!'

Kagome flashed a shy smile at Sesshoumaru who was looking down at her fondly. Kind of in a brotherly like way.

'See there, brotherly. Not romantically.'

Of course this kind of stung, so Kagome quickly looked away. Why brotherly? Gah! This was infuriating! She finally meets and guy and likes him, and he thinks of her as a sister! What a jerk!

'You're being a little unfair, Kagome.'

She sighed when she realized she was right. She never actually said anything that would be remotely close to hitting on him, so it's not like he knew she liked him.

'Argh! You. Do. Not. Like. HIM!'

She smiled and nodded. Right, from now on, Sesshoumaru was a friend. JUST a friend. A really hot, gorgeous, beautiful friend. This was going to be hard!

Kagome felt that sinking feeling in her stomach and the lump in her throat that started to form. She was going to cry? Why? Now she just felt foolish. Bakahashinanakyanaoranai. She sighed. That was her. 'Once a fool, always a fool.' See, this is why she didn't like people. Right there! She always ended up looking stupid. Or they didn't like her, they were 'just friends.' She didn't need friends. She felt the tears gather in the corner of her eyes and spread across the rim blurring her vision.

Why didn't he like her? Was she too ugly? Not good enough?

That one brought up memories

'I'm sorry Kagome… but, Kikyou, she's more my type. And besides… compared to her, you were never any good. But I'll always see you as my imouto.'

'What an ass…'

Kagome felt a few searing hot tears slips down her cheeks, but she wiped them away quickly. Good thing she didn't wear make-up, or her mascara would be all over her cheeks. She frowned and dried her tears, which Sesshoumaru had yet to notice. If he wanted to be just friends then that's what she'd be. JUST, his friend. So… how do friends act? She only had 3, and one was a pervert, one was a girl, and one was somebody she likes, liked? No likes... right?

'No, formally liked.'

She smiled. That was one foot in the right direction!

"Sesshoumaru…"

She watched as he looked down at her considerably smaller form and raised an eyebrow. She knew that was her answer so she continued.

"I'm so glad we're friends! I mean, you're like my older brother!"

He nodded, on the outside. But that was the outside. Inside he felt himself wince.

'Friends… are good… '

That was bullshit and he knew it. He didn't want to be just friends, but apparently she did. If that's how she wanted to play it then fine. He'd treat her just like he'd treat any other 'friend'. He let go of her waist, which he previously been quite fondly holding, and settled for place his hands in his pockets. He didn't take rejection well, and was often cold to those who did.

'She didn't reject you.'

That was true, in a way. But being called somebody's brother wasn't exactly inviting. Her brother? They just met, and already his chance with her was shot with being the brother.

He could feel her looking at him. But, this time, he wouldn't look at her. He could feel her look away in rejection. What did she expect? Him to keep acting like he liked her? Big brothers don't act like that to little sisters. He walked a little faster; because he had slowed down to fit her speed. He heard her tiny heels clamber clumsily on the pavement to speed up slightly to keep up with his own larger, more graceful strides.

Kagome stared at Sesshoumaru in wonder. What was his problem? Did she offend him by calling him her brother? She looked away, feeling hurt and rejected when he didn't look back.

'What an ass!'

She saw him walk a bit faster and started walking, rather clumsily, to catch up with him. Boy did he take long steps or what? She didn't understand how he could walk so fast and stay as graceful as he did. Suddenly she stopped. What if he hadn't considered her as a little sister and that fondness she saw was really something else?

'Shit.'

Well… it was all over now. She could tell. She didn't know much, but she knew that Sesshoumaru wasn't one to open up and express his 'feelings.' She wasn't exactly that type either, but she tried to be. Damnit though if she didn't hate it. And if he had feelings for her, they were long gone now. Why have her when there were so many other beautiful girls right?

'Way to go Kagome!'

She smacked herself on the forehead and mentally gave an 'ow.' She thought too much about stupid things.

'Stupid things that won't do me any good any longer.'

She stuck her hands behind her head and walked as she looked up at the sky. How was it that something good always came to her, and she always sent it away? She stopped and closed her eyes.

'Why?'

She didn't know why, but when she opened her eyes, there was Sesshoumaru. Staring down at her with an emotionless face. She smiled and walked with him into the restaurant. The walk was awkward, and seemed to take forever.

'The silence will be the death of me.'

"We are here, little sister."

Sesshoumaru said the last two words with barely contained disgust. How dare she. He allowed her to see some of his emotions and this is what she does?

They sat down at their table and ordered their meals. A few times Kagome tried to start up a conversation, but Sesshoumaru would always give short, blunt answers. So, as soon as they were done, they got up and left, and he drove her home.

The silence was heavy on their tongues.