Author's note: I would personally like to thank all people who reviewed the last few chapters! Thank you so much, all your kind comments gave me the extra push to update faster. I'm almost at 30 reviews, you guys are the best! I would especially like to thank inugirl lol and inuyashakougalegolas for their get well wishes. Also I would like to thank deathdeath for reviewing, you have no idea what an honor it is that you enjoyed my story, you are one of my favourite authors!
Chapter 7: Touching a Heart
The date had all been planned out, instead of having dinner at the palace that night; they would have it outside by the pond underneath the cherry blossom trees. The servants all thought that was the most romantic spot on the palace grounds because the two trees were slightly bent inwards toward each other to make a heart like shape. Now both Kagome and Inu Yasha were in their rooms getting ready for the big night.
"You're going to look just stunning Lady Kagome" Sango said, squealing in delight. It was the first time Kagome had ever seen Sango do something girly.
"Sango?" Kagome said "did you know that's the first time I've ever heard you squeal?"
Sango laughed "Well, when I was a human, I used to do it all the time"
"Really?" Kagome said as a coat rack was busily doing her hair.
"Sure" Sango said with a smile "I used to be a real girly girl. Hating getting dirty, breaking nails, the whole nine yards."
"What happened?" Kagome inquired.
"Well, I turned into, you know, a clock" Sango said "at first I was still the same, but I quickly realized that being a girly girl clock just wasn't going to work out."
"What do you mean?" Kagome questioned further.
"Clocks get dusty and dirty right?" Sango said "and I didn't have nails anymore so they couldn't get chipped or broken. So I figured that if I was going to survive as a clock, I would have to learn to be alright with these things."
"Oh" Kagome said, suddenly looking a little saddened.
"But sometimes and only sometimes" Sango said with a laugh "I go back to being a girly girl."
"Seems like everyone's lives were changed by this curse" Kagome said sadly as she watched Ayumi and more coat racks making her dress.
"Yes, I suppose" Sango said with a smile "but, in a way, the change was for the better."
"What do you mean by that?" Kagome asked, cocking a brow.
"Take Miroku for example" Sango said, almost laughing "when he was a human, he was a real hentai."
"Really?" Kagome said laughing.
"Oh yeah" Sango replied "As perverted as you could get! If you put him in a room with a bunch a girls, he wouldn't last 3 seconds without trying to grope at least one of them."
Kagome laughed harder as Sango continued "But, as you can imagine, when he changed, he couldn't even try to touch a girl because the candles he has for hands would burn them."
"Okay, that's one example, but what about the others" Kagome said.
"Well my change was good too" Sango answered "I was such a girly girl it was almost annoying, people couldn't stand me before. I mean, what kind of servant doesn't like breaking a nail?"
"Alright, but that's only two of you" Kagome said "And what about Inu Yasha? You can't tell me his change was better."
"Actually, it wasn't much of a change" Sango said "the only thing that was different was his appearance. Kagome, Inu Yasha really needed help back then, he was rude, arrogant and not likeable at all."
"But still, now he has got to break some curse before that rose wilts or else he'll die" Kagome said in concern "and he doesn't even know how to break it! How could Kikyo be so heartless? She was worse than Inu Yasha himself."
Sango looked guilty for a moment. She hated lying to her friend about the curse, but what choice did she have? The only way to break the spell was true love, not forced love. "Look" she said quickly, changing the subject "your dress is ready."
Meanwhile, in Inu Yasha's room, he and Miroku were having a conversation of their own "So you didn't tell her about the way to break it did you?" Inu Yasha asked.
"We had no other option master" Miroku replied "if we had, Kagome would only have felt pressured to love you, and if that had happened, the spell would not have been broken." Inu Yasha looked away. "But now's your chance" Miroku added quickly "tonight is the night you make her fall in love with you! Tonight, the spell shall be broken."
"But I don't know anything about love" Inu Yasha said "That's why I'm in this mess in the first place."
"Well, it's not that hard" Miroku said "you just have to be yourself, but be sure to control your temper. If you don't, Kagome will certainly give it to you again."
Inu Yasha smiled "She's got a lot more spunk than we would have guessed doesn't she?" he said.
"Indeed" Miroku agreed. "And she certainly isn't afraid to speak her mind." Miroku watched slyly as Inu Yasha went into a daze, thinking only of Kagome. "Looks like she's already gotten to you."
Inu Yasha realized what Miroku had meant and blushed. "Shut up!" he said, giving Miroku a playful punch.
Finally, both Kagome and Inu Yasha were ready. They both met at the door. Kagome was wearing a dark green dress that had a tank top shirt (a/n: you know, like a Japanese kind of shirt) and a medium length skirt with a slit at one side. Her hair was done up in a high ponytail/braid and had golden thread intertwined in the braid. (A/n: just think of Inu Yasha's outfit as the same one in the movie, I can't describe it) The two linked arms as the doors were opened and they stepped outside.
After dinner, the two sat by the river bank with their toes in the water. "Did, you like everything?" Inu Yasha asked.
"Yes, it was all very beautiful" Kagome replied "I have to admit, I've worn more elegant things and eaten more delicacies in these past few months than I ever have in my entire life." Inu Yasha smiled as she continued. "But you must think that's absurd. I guess, since you're a prince, you were surrounded by this kind of stuff all the time."
"I suppose" Inu Yasha said, sitting back "But, just once, I wish I could see how people how don't have anything live."
Kagome seemed surprised, from the entries in the diary, she had assumed that he couldn't care less about the villagers. "It isn't very interesting" she said "we have the most boring lifestyle. All we do is shop, clean, cook, sleep and repeat it again the next day. Nothing interesting ever happens, and if you don't like the way things are, you're considered odd."
"Are you?" Inu Yasha asked.
"Am I what?" Kagome asked in reply.
"Considered odd" Inu Yasha explained.
Kagome turned to look at her reflection in the calm, mirror-like pond. The moonlight shone across the water, lighting it up and accentuating the animals on it. "I suppose you could say that" she said "They think me peculiar because I love to read."
"Why is that so strange?" Inu Yasha asked "Reading increases your knowledge."
"But that's just it" Kagome explained. "People in the village think women shouldn't be as smart as men. It's very archaic and sexist I know, but that's just the way it is."
"I know how it is to be an outcast, don't worry" Inu Yasha said "So believe me, I can relate."
Kagome smiled "Listen to me going on about being odd. I swear I'm so selfish sometimes. You've probably got it worse then I do and I'm just sitting here talking like I'm the only with a problem."
Inu Yasha laughed "If you're selfish, then what am I" he said "you're anything but selfish Kagome. In fact, I think you're a very kind and sympathetic person."
"Thank you Inu Yasha" Kagome said, "It's always nice to hear a compliment."
"Kagome?" Inu Yasha asked after a brief awkward silence "Are you…happy? Do you like being here with me?"
"Of course…"Kagome said, but her voice trailed off.
"But…?" Inu Yasha asked.
"I just wish I could see my family one more time" Kagome said truthfully "you know, just to see how they're doing with out me."
Inu Yasha looked solemn for a moment, and then smiled. Taking Kagome's hands in his, he looked her in the eyes "There is one way" he said.
"How do you think it's going outside?" Miroku said nervously as he paced in front of the fire.
"Just relax." Sango assured him "Everything will be fine."
"No it won't" Miroku said, shaking uneasily "The master won't be able to make her fall in love with him and the spell won't be broken and the master will die and we'll stay this way forever and…and…NO MORE GROPING!" he broke down and cried at that last part.
Sango slapped him hard across the face "Calm down you hentai! If you think it won't work then it won't work, do you want that to happen?"
"N-no" Miroku said, eyes wide and breathing heavily.
"Then just stay calm" Sango said as she looked out the window "Look for yourself. They're having a great time."
Miroku too looked out the window at the couple "Sango?" he said "Why is the master showing Lady Kagome the mirror?"
Inu Yasha handed the golden mirror to Kagome "Use this" he said "just ask to see your family and it will show them to you."
"Really?" Kagome said, taking the mirror from him "Okay…uh…I would like to see my family…please."
Immediately, the mirror showed her an image of her family. Ayame and Rin were in the kitchen making dinner. They seemed happy enough, but where was her father? She kept watching as the two of them made their way up the way the stairs to Mr. Higurashi's room. What she saw next broke her heart; her father lay there in his bed, frail and sad. She realized it was because of her. He was depressed because she had left him.
"What's wrong?" Inu Yasha asked as he saw her sad expression and the small tear that was traveling down her cheek.
"It's my father" Kagome explained as more tears rode down her cheeks "he's sick and he's lonely, because I'm not there."
Inu Yasha looked away solemnly "Then…you should go to him" he said, a tear of his own running down his cheek.
"Oh, but I can't" Kagome said sadly "I wish I could…but I can't leave you, not now. If only there was some way we could…wait I know!"
"What?" Inu Yasha asked, quickly wiping away his tears and turning to look at her.
"Come with me!" Kagome said smiling "Come with me to my home village."
Inu Yasha seemed surprised "No…I can't" he said firmly.
But not even his commanding tone could subdue her "Why not?" she asked "You said yourself you wanted to see how other people lived."
"But…well…look at me Kagome" he said "people would take one look at me and start an angry mob."
"Well, people should start looking past appearances" Kagome said.
"But they don't" Inu Yasha protested.
"Maybe that's because you don't let them" Kagome said "Look how long it took me to see your nice side. People just don't like things they can't understand, but this is your chance to change that, Inu Yasha. You have to let them know you're not a monster!"
"You really think it would change just like that?" he said, snapping his clawed fingers.
"Yes" Kagome said smiling "I know if people just got to know you like I do, they wouldn't think you're a beast, they'd think you're one of the most kindhearted people on earth!"
Inu Yasha sat silently for a moment, just staring into Kagome's eyes. Then he put his arm around her shoulders "Would it make you happy?" he asked "if I went with you?"
Kagome smiled and leaned her head against his shoulder "Yes" she replied "very happy."
Inu Yasha smiled and rested his own head on top of hers "Okay then, if it makes you happy, I'll go with you."
"Thank-you Inu Yasha" Kagome whispered as the two of them sat in silence, watching the stars shining brightly above them "thank- you."
Author's note: Another one done. Plz review and tell me what you think. I hope you enjoyed it so far! Thanks to everyone who reviewed the last few chapters.