Hola! How's everyone? I can't believe I got so many reviews for last chapter! I'm sooo happy! I'm also sorry that this chapter came two weeks after the last update. School's been busy, piling a lot of homework and this coming week is homecoming week! I can't wait to go to the dance! Anyways, to the review responses!

Inugurl617: Thanks for your review! I'm sorry that my chapters are sometimes short; this one's a little short also. Sorry about that! A lot of people seem to agree with you about the Shizuki and Kikyo split. I hope you like this chapter!

Anonymous Reviewer: I practically blushed when I read your review! Thank you soooo much! I'm glad you like my story! I'm also very glad that you reviewed! Arigato!

Ami Kuroneko: Thank you for your review! I hope you like this chapter!

Ray12304: Thanks for your review! I'm also glad that the truth is out! I hope you like this chapter!

Izayoi: Gracias for your review! I definitely agree with you that the drama had a lot of twists, maybe a little too twisty! Lol, I'm going to have a field day with all those twists in my fic! :)

Siyuri: Thank you for reviewing! I'm glad you like the story's progress. I have to agree that this story is going from great to wonderful. My writing for the first chapter is really different from the last chapter. I guess I'm improving! Thanks again!

Cyberdemon: Thank you for your reviews! I'm glad you like it so far. I don't blame you for being a little confused on all the changes I made. This is, after all my first fic and I know there are a lot of mistakes. However, I wish I had time to go back and fix it all, but I don't, so I'm very sorry for the confusion I might have caused you! I had to make all those changes in order for the plot to go smoothly, if that's possible for such a twisty plot. And for the name of Inuyasha's mother, yes, it is Izayoi, but I began this fic before the third movie came out, so I had no idea! So I guess I'll just stick to Sakura. Thanks again!

Jurneyo: Thank you for your review! And I'm glad to say that I'm better! I'm happy! And yeah, I wish that the apology would be that simple, but I have to make things a little twisty and this story is going to drag on and on, unless I make my own twists…. I want to start another story so bad, but then I won't have time and talent to balance two stories at once, so I guess you have to wait for the new fic! Thank you for reviewing! By the way, the last part of your review made me laugh!

Addam: Thank you for reviewing! I'm thankfully over my cold, thanks for caring! I know, Kikyo's punishment could have been better, but that's the best I could do!! And I haven't read the book "Alive" yet, so you need to brief me on it and then maybe I'll read it! I'm such a book worm! Tell me when you post your story! I would love to read it! Thanks again!

Mel: Thank you for your review! I hope your computer lets you post your story! I can't wait to read it! Hope you like this chapter!

Sunrider22: Yup! I totally agree that she finally got what she deserved! Though, I feel a little pity for her. And thank you for your review! Kagome and Shizuki will have a relationship, you'll find out what kind…later! I look forward to all of your reviews! Thanks again!

Wazy-uppy55: Thank you for your review! I'm glad you like it! I love getting new reviewers! And just so you know, I'll unquestionably continue, I will not leave a fic unfinished because I hate it when other people do that! Thanks again!

Well, that's all for now! I hope you all like this chapter!

Chapter 20

Kikyo was walking out of her store. She was pale and looked like she was stumbling to the street. As she crossed the street, a loud honk came from an eighteen wheeler, quickly approaching her. But, there was no time for her to run out of the way. It was as if her legs were blocks of ice. The lights of the truck blinded her. She died instantly.

Hehe, I bet you guys enjoyed that huh? Unfortunately, that's not the real start of the chapter!!!!! Okay, Okay, I'll start the real thing now!

Shizuki tightened his tie around his neck as he checked his appearance in the mirror. He was wearing black dress pants and a violet shirt, to bring out his eyes. His long black hair was secured with a black rubber band. All in all, he looked professional, but still looked like a twenty-six year old. He turned around and walked out of the room to the front door. He snatched his coat off the coat hook and pocketed his keys as he strolled out to his car, deep in thought.

"Maybe going to this get together wasn't such a good idea."

His mind drifted to the memories of the fight between him and Kagome. Now, he was almost sure that Kagome had been telling the truth. But he couldn't help but have some doubts. Carefully backing out his expensive car, he drove to the soon to be hotel in the wintry night.

Kagome posed in front of the mirror, examining her appearance. She too was having doubts about coming to the gathering. But what was she to be nervous about? She had invited Miroku and Sango. Kouga couldn't come since he had to work a night shift at the radio station. She adjusted her dress, light blue and spaghetti straps. Normally, she wouldn't wear something this…flattering on her figure, but Sango had persuaded her. Grabbing her matching blue purse, she headed out the door, donning her light coat as she locked her door.

She started the ignition as she thought about her visit to the shrine a few days ago. It was truly wonderful to visit and talk to her family once again. Looking around, she decided it was clear to back out her car. Then, she drove into the flurry filled night.

Kagome was seated next to Sango, who was seated next to Miroku. And she was seated right across from Shizuki. Now, she remembered why she was so nervous about tonight. But she just decided to ignore him and talk to Miroku and Sango.

Dinner passed by and there was to be a toast. Sesshoumaru started a speech and then went around pouring sake into ever glass. However, when he had reached Kagome, she shook her head. Sesshoumaru questioned her with a look and Miroku came to her rescue.

"Hey Sess…(Sesshoumaru gave him a glare at the nickname)..er, Sesshoumaru, sir. Kagome can't handle alcohol, so I think she would just prefer water." Kagome gave him a sincere smile and nodded to confirm Miroku. Sesshoumaru nodded and went back to pouring sake fro everyone else. He then went back to his seat, next to Rin.

Shizuki's mind was spinning. His suspicions about Kagome lying were gone, as simply as that. Now, all he felt was remorse and guilt. He acted like a bastard to her and he couldn't blame her that she was ignoring him this very second. He bit his lip and thought; maybe he could make it up to her.

Kagome was giggling along with Sango at a joke Miroku had told them. Feeling a tap on her shoulder, she turned around only to find herself facing violet eyes. Her eyes narrowed coldly and she almost turned around when his hand grasped her shoulder gently.

"Um, could you come with me? I have something to show you." Shizuki asked, his violet eyes softening. Kagome nodded, she excused herself and reached for her coat. Shizuki waited patiently beside her and then walked to her right out the door of the reception room of the hotel. Kagome had managed to decorate it in about one week, since they had planned to do a gathering but they still had a lot to do for the whole hotel.

They stepped out of the doors to find that it had stopped snowing and the skies were cloudless, revealing a sliver moon. The snow beneath them shimmered under the silver light, as the crunching sounds beneath the soles of their feet. Kagome's toes were almost frozen, since they were the opened toe kind with the straps. But she enjoyed it nonetheless; the snow was too low to reach her toes. Then she noticed that Shizuki had chosen a path that had little snow, so the snow couldn't reach above her shoe. Her dark brown eyes lightened. Her lips then curved into a smile. The night was silent and the smell of the pine woods lightly sprinkled the air. Shizuki stopped and turned around to face her, his eyes expressing excitement.

"Here we are." He turned sideways and with his right arm, he pointed to something. Kagome stepped closer and found that she had lost her breath. The scene was heavenly. There was a crystalline lake, surrounded by a grove of pine trees. The snow gathered on the shore, making it look like a winter paradise. Light from the silver full moon shone upon the lake, its reflection spectacular. Her eyes were diverted to Shizuki.

"Thank you for showing me this." Shizuki nodded and spoke; his voice seemingly loud to the forest background.

"Think of it as an apology. I want to apologize to you for my behavior. I now know that you don't do that and I hope you forgive me."

Kagome's chocolate eyes danced happily while her lips grew into an even bigger smile. She nodded. The pair stood at the edge of the clearing, watching the view.

Shizuki was standing next to Kagome when he felt her shivering become more frequent. Taking off his coat, he placed his coat on top of her light one.

"You should have a thicker coat you know." Shizuki gently teased. Kagome looked at his coat and was about to complain when he interrupted.

"I'm fine; a little cold isn't going to bother me. It's strange, I hardly experience cold and I hardly get sick." He smiled at her reassuringly and then turned around.

"Come on; let's go back, I bet everyone's missing us." Kagome smiled and the pair walked back to the hotel in a comfortable, friendly silence.

After the dinner, Kagome walked out of the hotel to the parking lot as she reminisced about the lake.

"I guess we're friends now."

With that she drove home, finally at peace.

I know I know, the chapter was really short, but I plan to do other stuff next chapter! Sorry about the other beginning, I couldn't help it! I know a few of you are disappointed, but I can't kill off any characters that are imperative to the plot!

Thanks for reading! And please review! I want feedback!

Animemistress419