Disclaimer:  I don't own Inuyasha . . . .

ROCK ON!!!

---------------------------------------

" . . . And that's how Sesshoumaru earned the name 'Fluffy."

Inuyasha glanced at the woman beside him, smiling at the gales of laughter that emitted from her.

"You . . . you mean . . ." she sputtered, "Mayor Otashi blow drys his tail every day?!?"

The hanyou nodded, the Kagome's laughing increasing. "He takes special care in his tail," he said in soberness, "He has a separate shampoo and conditioner for it."

Kagome threw her head back, the silent night air echoing with her rich voice. Inuyasha smiled and stuffed his hands in his pockets, gazing back down at the ground as he walked.

After they had left the Shrine, Inuyasha had taken Kagome to a nice resturant where they enjoyed a quiet dinner. Afterwards, they took a stroll down downtown Tokyo, where the lights of buildings and shops illuminated the darkest streets. Now, at Inuyasha's suggestion, they were taking a stroll in Ruchiro Park, a scenic spot located atop a large cliff that overlooked a bay.

"I'm glad I lost the game."

Inuyasha turned, surprised at the sudden change of tone in the heiress' voice. "What?"

Immediately embarrassed by her boldness, Kagome demurely lowered her eyes. "If it wasn't for that game," she began in a soft voice, "I'd still be stressing over those silly scrolls. Arigatou, Inuyasha. I needed a break."

She shyly turned her face upwards and smiled. Inuyasha watched in awe as the moonlight's rays played with her features, highlighting her face. She looks like an angel . . .

"Let's go sit down there," the body guard pointed to a white bench near the edge of the cliff. He put a hand on the small of her back and led her to the bench, where he waited until she settled herself before he sat down.

The two sat in welcomed silence, gazing at the moon-lit ocean and the stars above, each lost in their own thoughts. Kagome shivered slightly as a breeze blew their way, and instinctively, the hanyou scooted closer without saying a word.

The heiress blushed at the loss of distance between them, but somehow, she felt even more comfortable. Looking out across the bay, she thought about the hanyou seated next to her.

Inuyasha . . . he's so different from other guys I've met. He's hotheaded, tempermental, and yet he has a sweet side, in his own kind of gruff way. I . . . I never thought I would trust anyone again after Naraku . . . but I guess I was wrong . . .

Tears began to form at the side of her eyes as she thought further. He did everything . . . he gave me my family back, he taught me to trust again . . . all without even doing it intentionally . . .

He . . . he makes me feel alive . . .I have never felt this way . . . I feel happy, content . . . just being around him satisfies my soul . . .

"Kagome, are you alright?"

The heiress jerked her head upwards, feeling for the first time the slow trickle of tears on her face. She laughed nervously, quickly brushing away the tears. "I'm fine," she assured, gazing up at the golden eyes that looked down in concern.

"You're crying," he pointed out, obviously nervous about the situtation.

"Yeah, I know . . . it's nothing," she dismissed, looking out at the ocean once again. "I was just thinking."

Having his full attention, the hanyou decided to prod a bit further. "'Bout what?"

The miko tensed, wondering what in the world she could say. As she was about to blurt out some lie, a wave of comfort flooded her, and she knew that she could tell him the truth.

"About you," she whispered, never taking her eyes off the water.

Inuyasha felt his heart stop. "What . . . what about me?" he asked, his voice boyish and shy.

Kagome chuckled, leaning back into the bench and turning to him. "How you've changed my life ever since you came stomping in," she said, sticking her tongue out at him.

The hanyou opened his mouth, but closed it and narrowed his eyes playfully. "Oh? And how did this stomping hanyou change your life?"

He suddenly felt the mood change around them as he stared at the woman, their playful atmosphere turned into a serious and meaningful one.

"You . . . you gave me my life back," Kagome said softly, looking down at the ground. "Before you . . . I was cold, distant . . . I rarely laughed, and I hardly showed any emotion . . . I felt betrayed, scarred for life . . . I couldn't trust anyone."

"Then, then you came in. You were loud, obnoxious, tempermental, and drove me insane," she giggled, noticing the sudden raise of his left eyebrow. "Suddenly, I couldn't be the silent statue I became accustomed to."

She paused a moment, wringing her hands in her lap. "You taught me how to trust again . . . how to live again . . ."

Kagome stopped, and glanced at the hanyou out of the corner of her eye. "I know that this is all sudden," she began, her barely a whisper, "But there's something about you . . . something that puts myself at ease. You . . .you bring me alive."

Inuyasha sat, amazed and in awe at the heiress' sudden confessions. What do I say? Say something, damnit!

"Kagome . . ." he started, rubbing the back of his head. "I don't know what to say . . ."

"Don't say anything," she shook her head. "I didn't expect you to. I just thought you'd ought to know."

Once again, silence prevailed as the two sat, each feeling awkward in the other's presence.

So much for the "I feel comfortable around you" talk," Kagome thought in amusement.

Inuyasha on the other hand, was fighting with his mixed thoughts inside his head.

She just poured her heart out, you idiot! Say something! Tell her how you feel!

I can't do that, she'll think I'm crazy!

You baka, she was one half step away from declaring her love for you!

She doesn't love me! She's still trying to get over that Bakaru guy . . .

You mean Naraku, and didn't you hear what she just said? Kagome is getting over it little by little thanks to YOU!

I'm not ready . . . maybe now's not a good time . . .

Now's a good a time as ever!

Well . . .

Shimatta! Inuyasha, you're such a--

"Kagome?"

Inuyasha snapped out of his heated argument with his conscience to turn around the same time as Kagome. At first the owner of the voice wasn't visible, but as they looked closer, a figure from a cluster of trees nearby was walking towards them.

"Kikyou?" the heiress stammered, seeing her adopted sister emerge from the small forest. "What are you doing here?"

The older woman frowned, her already narrow eyes shrinking further. "I was going to ask you the same thing, little sister. It's not safe to be out this late . . . but seeing your body guard here with you, I guess you're alright."

The hanyou stared at Kikyou, the same prickly feeling returning to him from the first time they met.

"Inuyasha," she turned her attention to the hanyou. "What are you two doing out here this late?"

When he made no move to speak, Kagome spoke up. "He took me out to dinner to give me a break from the scroll studying," she explained.

"I see." A strange expression crept onto Kikyou's face as she stared at the two seated at the bench, their faces flushed and bodies oddly close.

"What are you doing here?" Inuyasha asked, his voice low. What is it about her?

"I was meeting someone here," she replied nonchalantly.

"This late at night?" The hanyou pressed, his suspicions rising.

Kikyou let out an annoyed sigh. "If you must know, I have just gotten off work and this is the only time I can meet that person here. You, on the other hand," she said, menace filling her voice, "have no reason to be out here this late."

"We were just about to leave," Inuyasha growled, standing up straight. Kagome looked up in confusion at the hanyou's sudden outburst of anger. "Let's go, Kagome."

"Um, bye Kikyou," Kagome called as she was dragged away by her body guard. "Maybe we can have lunch sometime."

The older woman made no move to respond to her sister's suggestion, but watched as the two disappeared. "Good riddance," she mumbled, turning back into the forest.

She had walked for a few minutes before she stumbled onto a small clearing where her car was parked. Leaning against it, she crossed her arms and closed her eyes as she waited.

"Kikyou."

Her eyes snapped open, hearing the familar voice she was waiting for. "So you've come," she stated plainly, staring at the man that stood before her.

"I was, busy," he replied, his voice low and dangerous.

"I see. Well then, let's get this meeting started, Naraku."

---------------------------------------

AU:  DUN DUN DUN!!! Kikyou and Naraku?  Why am I not surprised . . . muahahah!  what in the world could they be talking about?

omg, I have over 1,000 reviews!  wow, you guys love this story, huh?

so close, so close!! Darn Inuyasha and his confused mind . . .heheheheeh

well, thanks for the reviews

Stay tuned!