Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha . . .

ROCK ON!!

Kagome's fingers flew gracefully across the keys, playing a familar yet melancholy tune. Words sprang forth from her heart and out of her mouth, the lyrics expressing the pain she felt.

'I got nothing left to defend

I cannot pretend that everything makes sense

But does it really matter now

If I do not know how to figure this thing out

I am against myself again trying to fit these pieces in . . . '

Her voice died away as the song ended, the pressure of the keys becoming softer and softer. In a matter of moments, she was left in silence once again. She glanced around her, hoping no one had come in during her little session.

I feel so helpless . . . so defeated . . . I feel like I'm being controlled from afar . . .

She sighed, closing the piano and rising from her seat. Jii-san must be worried . . . I've been gone for awhile . . .

Walking across the room at a snail's pace, she caught a glimpse of her reflection in the mirror. The heiress winced as she saw the dead figure staring at her, skin pale, eyes dull with pain. Kagome tried the best she could to rearrange her disgruntled hair, but her efforts were in vain. She pulled out the pins, letting her hair fall freely around her.

She examined her dress next, smoothing out the wrinkles and adjusting the dress itself. After another once-over, she reluctantly decided that she was presentable, and exited the room.

Only to trip over a pair of legs.

Kagome caught herself before she fell, whipping around, wondering what in the world was in the hallway. Her eyes widened to find her body-guard sprawled on the carpeted floor, fast asleep.

Inuyasha . . . She crouched down, looking in curiousity at his sleeping face. He looks like an angel . . .

She reached out a shaky arm to touch his face, but quickly pulled it back. The young woman averted her eyes, ashamed. He probably doesn't want me to touch him . . . not after the way I blew him off . . .

She looked longingly back at the sleeping hanyou, her face distorted with need. Inuyasha . . . why did you come after me? She bit her lip, fighting the urge to touch him. Flashes of their brief but beautiful moment on the balcony burned her mind, her eyes tearing up. Gomen . . . gomen . . .

Making sure his left arm was secure, she reluctantly left the sleeping young man in the hallway.

It had been almost a week since the party, and their little incident. Life resumed as normal, but Seiji was disappointed to see that the two young adults were no longer as close as they were before. He had suspected that something happened the night of the party, but he couldn't get either of them to talk.

He sighed, and glanced at the hanyou by his side. He had been unusually quiet the last couple of days, replying with only a gruff "yes" or "no", and only snorting at his jokes. Kagome wasn't any better either.

Looking across the table, he spied his granddaughter stirring her oatmeal with her spoon, her face blank and expressionless. Every time he tried to speak with her, his granddaughter merely stared at him, her uncomprehending look scaring him. The heiress had doned her formal business clothing once again, the casual clothes long gone.

What confused Seiji even more was their refusal to communicate with each other. He would sometimes leave them in a room, only to peek at them through a crack in the door. The woman went on her daily business, the hanyou in the farthest corner away from her, fiddling with his own things. Once in a while he would catch a longing glance from Inuyasha to Kagome, but moments later it was usually replaced with his cool mask.

He's starting to remind me of his older brother, he mentally groaned, dropping the spoon on his bowl with a loud clatter. The only reaction he recieved from the other two were a raised eyebrow from the dog demon and the slight pause in the heiress' circular movements.

Seiji had remembered his attempts to get the two back on good terms; making them run errands for him, having Kagome work at his office to keep the two under his nose . . . but his efforts were futile. Kagome did what she was told, but all without uttering a single syllable to her body guard. Inuyasha followed her around, but kept a safe distance away.

The old man cleared his throat, about to announce his latest plan to get the two to talk. "Kagome, dear," he began, hoping that he would get more than a simple sigh this time.

Unfortunately, his hopes came crashing down when not even a sigh was heard. To inform him that she was listening, she set down her spoon, putting her hands in her lap.

Mr. Higurashi looked worriedly at his granddaughter. She's getting worse . . . Inuyasha! he mentally called the dog demon to his side.

What? he answered impatiently, not looking up from his own breakfast.

Has Kagome talk to you yet?

No answer. Inuyasha refused to reply, like all those times before. What in the world happened?!?!? The old man wondered frustratedly, shaking his head. "Kagome, I would appreciate a little more acknowledgement."

The woman, too, didn't reply. She remained as she was, her hands folded in her lap. Knowing that his attempts were worthless, he grudgingly began to speak.

"The shrine has been fixed from last week's vandalism," he announced, folding the napkin on his lap. "You'll be moving there later today. I've called your mother, and she'll be arriving the day after tomorrow, as well as Souta."

Seiji bit his lip as silence answered him once again. It's like I'm talking to statues!

"As for you, Inuyasha," he turned to the silver-haired man, "I will appreciate it if you would move into the Shrine along with her."

Finally, the reaction he had been hoping for had come. Kagome's head had shot up like a bullet, her dull eyes momentarily flashing, although she didn't say a word.

Inuyasha noticed the heiress as well, and looked up. Feeling her body guard's eyes on her, she quickly averted her eyes and assumed her previous hunched position.

The old man inwardly rejoiced. Finally! Maybe this whole body guard in the Shrine will work after all! He waited patiently for the hanyou to respond, and was reward with a small grunt.

"It's settled then; Kagome, you'll move back this afternoon." Another idea struck the plotting old man's head as he uttered his sentence. What better way to mend things than good ol' fashioned time?

Inuyasha must have heard his thoughts, for his eyes rose to meet his. Letting his eyes twinkle, Seiji cleared his throat once more.

"As for the campaign . . . Kagome, you have been working hard this past week with me, and now I have another assignment for you."

"At the shrine, there are some old scrolls and records that date back hundreds of years; I want you to spend most of your time at the Shrine researching the actual dates and events that revolve around the village."

Kagome's eyes widened slightly, realizing what her grandfather had just assigned her. I'll be spending all my time at the Shrine? With . . . him?

Seiji coughed, and rose from the table. "I expect the project will take you a couple of weeks; I'll be calling every other day to check up on your work. Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to be heading towards the office."

He left the dining area, leaving the two alone once again. Thoughts were rushing through their mind as Seiji's order sank in.

Weeks? With Inuyasha? She let her eyes drift slightly upward, falling on a frowning body guard. I knew it . . . he doesn't want to be around me . . . he's disgusted at me . . . I bet he's regretting kissing me . . . a broken, marred thing like me . . . She averted her eyes, forcing back tears that threatened to spill.

That old man has been plotting to have us talk to each other for the past week, Inuyasha thought grumpily. He gazed at the young woman across the table, her face hidden by her hair. He sighed, before stretching out his left arm which recently healed. She's angry with me, I know it . . . I should've known she wasn't ready . . . she probably thinks I'm some sorta lecher that preys on defenseless women . . . kami, if I was her, I would be disgusted with myself . . .

Inuyasha stood from the table, walking towards the foyar to go start the car. "I'll be in the car when you're ready," he grunted, passing by the still woman. He heard no reply, but knew that she wanted to go out to get a few things before she went home. She's a woman after all . . . women always need to shop . . .

Kagome listened as his footsteps became fainter, and the sound of a slamming door audible. She released her control, letting the tears fall down her face. His tone . . . he IS disgusted at me . . .

Hearing the honk of a horn, she quickly wiped her face, grabbing her purse that lay beside her. Might as well get this over with . . .

AU: awww, now they're not talking to each other! but on the bright side . . .they're going to have to live in an even closer proximity! what will happen next? stay tuned . . .

thanks for all the reviews!