"Can I ask you something, Yuki?" Side by side, they walked. Yuki carefully pushed Kagome's bike beside him, using it as a barrier between them.

"Sure"

"How long have you liked Tohru?"

"What?"

"Oh, come on! It's so obvious!"

"We're friends," he tried explaining. "Good friends."

"If you love her you need to let her know! Sweep her off her feet!"

"Things are…" he trailed off, searching for the right words.

"Yuki, I've only been here a week but I know you're the most popular guy at school. I mean, Hello! You've got your own fan club!"

"You're a stubborn woman, Kagome."

"I know."

"Well, thanks."

"Here's my house. Goodnight Yuki."

"Goodnight Kagome."

It wasn't long before Kagome climbed into bed. She was exhausted, but kept running the day's events through her head. Although she was a little disappointed that Yuki didn't have any kind of crush on her, she decided it was for the best, since she wasn't really attracted to him in the first place. Tohru seemed like a really nice person. But Inuyasha….there was something about him that seemed almost fragile, despite the tough-guy persona. She remembered the way he held her.

'Ugh! What am I thinking? I must be losing it! Getting sappy about some guy like Inuyasha!' Kagome scolded herself. She touched her necklace. 'That feeling…There was such power between our Shikon shards. Could there actually be some truth to one of Grandpa's legends?'

"Back so soon, little brother?" Sesshoumaru was sitting in the expensive leather couch located in his 'casual' living room, laptop in front of him. Rin sat beside him, watching a cartoon.

"Feh, what's it to ya?"

"Hi Inu-onii!" Rin ran over to give him a hug and he promptly picked her up and gave her a good squeeze before spinning her around. "Wheeeee!"

"How was the date," the elder of the two brothers asked.

"It wasn't a date!"

"Ok. How was the completely platonic outing with the girl you are strictly friends with?"

"It was group of people, actually"

"Well, whatever it was, I'm glad you're actually making friends at this school."

"Keh!"

"However, I received a call today from a Miss Riko Sato."

"Sato-sensei? What did that bitch want?"

"She kindly informed me of the discipline problems that a certain brother of mine seems to be having."

"So I skipped a couple of her detentions? Who cares?" Inuyasha rolled his eyes.

"As long as you are living under my roof, you are associated with this Sesshoumaru and I will be damned if I am going to let a hanyou juvenile delinquent ruin my reputation. This has been a rough year for the both of us, but you need to straighten up. I've been trying my hardest to turn you into a respectable person, but to no avail. This is your fourth school, Inuyasha. I do not intend on convincing yet another headmaster to give you another chance. One of the most important things to learn as a demon is self-control. Without self-control, even the most powerful of the demons is rendered useless."

Inuyasha, while listening, scowled the entire time his brother spoke.

"Why don't you take your demon wisdom and shove it up your ass? I hate demons and humans both. And the reason I suck at school is because I don't care. I hate this shit." He crossed his arms and sat down next to Rin, who was still watching cartoons.

"Must you always be so hostile?" Seshoumaru continued typing away on his laptop. "Besides, you have a lot to learn about demon culture. Then again, you have a lot to learn about culture in general."

Rin poked at Inuyasha.

"Inuyasha, do you hate me?" Inuyasha gave her a noogie.

"No! Of course I don't hate you! Baka!" Rin smiled.

"Do you hate Sesshoumaru," she asked, looking concerned once again. Inuyasha cringed.

"No, I don't….hate him," Inuyasha finally managed to get out.

"Good." Contented, she went back to watching her cartoon.

Inuyasha stretched and began to empty the pockets of his cargo pants: Loose change, keys, swiss army knife, a stick of gum, and the picture from the carnival. He couldn't help but take a moment to look over the photograph, which Rin managed to take note of.

"Who's that girl Inuyasha? Is she your girlfriend?"

"No! I don't even like her! She's rude and loud and obnoxious!"

"Have you met your match, brother?" Sesshoumaru asked.

"Shut up!"

"So, is this Tohru," Rin wondered.

"No. It's only Kagome." The clicking of the keys stopped and Sesshoumaru looked up.

"Two girls, huh Inuyasha. You really are making progress at this new school."

"I said shut up, Sesshoumaru!"

"She's really pretty", quipped Rin.

"No she's not," Inuyasha insisted, but the blush in his face said differently. Rin pointed at him.

"Inuyasha's blushing! And blushing means crushing!"

"For crying out loud! I'm getting out of here," he said running upstairs with the picture.

At first glance, she did resemble Kikyo, but the more he stared, he saw only Kagome. 'Kikyo is in the past,' he tried to convince himself. 'Maybe her parents were right; I wasn't good enough for her, but for whatever reason, I made her happy. I know I did. But I guess she was just slumming,' he thought grimly of the girl that still haunted his thoughts. Inuyasha remembered their last conversation like it was yesterday:

"Inuyasha, My parents offered to send me across country to study at one of the most revered temples in the world. Many of the greatest priestesses have trained there."

"I thought you were going to tell them that you were done with that priestess stuff! Kikyo, you don't have to do this!"

"I couldn't! They're right! This is my gift and my burden to bear! I must go! You have to understand!"

"You don't have to go! You always have a choice! Stay with me! I don't have much, but I would do anything for you! I know we could make it as long as we're together! Please, Kikyo! You and me…"

The memory was still painful, after all this time. But that was the past.He had a new life now. He had considered himself stupid for allowing his heart to break, not once, but twice. The first time was when his mother died; the second was when Kikyo left. 'No more,' he thought. 'Never again will I allow another woman to get under my skin.' He tossed the photo aside and turned on his stereo, in order to drown out his thoughts.

'Honda-san, I like you. I like you very much,' Yuki rehearsed the dialogue in his mind, trying to think of just the right way to tell Tohru his feelings. 'No! No! Too formal!' he scolded himself. 'Tohru, you know I'm the only man for you. Now kiss me!' Yuki couldn't help laughing over that last one. 'Yeah, like I'd ever say that!'

"Hey there, what's a preppy guy like you doing alone on a Saturday night?" a stranger called out from the shadows. It was a feminine voice, but with an edge. Yuki peered to get a better look.

"Hello? Who's there?" Yuki was answered with a blade that seemed to dance from the stranger to his face in a fraction of a second.

"My! You are adorable when you're scared!" The stranger approached him. It was a guy wearing makeup and a striped kimono.

"What do you want?" Yuki asked coolly, after he regained his senses.

"You know just what a guy wants to hear, huh! Ha-ha!" The swordsman sidled next to Yuki, looking him up and down. "How 'bout your name for starters?"

Yuki had put up with enough. Skillfully, he maneuvered himself into a position that made the strange man vulnerable to his series of martial arts moves that followed.

From the ground, the stranger looked up in awe and excitement.

"Amazing! Now I simply must know your name!" Yuki was confused.

"Yuki," he said, not bothering to tell the thug his surname.

"Yuki-kun, how can such an adorable boy be such great fighter as well?" Yuki blushed. "My name's Jakotsu. I think you and I have a lot in common, Yuki."

"Like hell," Yuki said brusquely.

"I think we can be great friends, don't you?" Jakotsu grinned

"Do you want another beating? Is that it?" Yuki was unnerved by the boy's flippant attitude.

"Kill me if you think you can, Yuki."

"I don't take orders from people like you. Now get the hell out of my sight!" Jaokotsu stood up.

"You should really be less trusting," he said as Yuki walked away. "Goodbye, beautiful! Until we meet again!" Jakotsu blew a kiss that was proceeded with a bout of maniacal laughter.

'What a weirdo,' Yuki thought.

Yuki managed to walk the rest of the way home without incident. He opened the door and found Tohru reading a book inside. 'Ah, sweet little Tohru' he mused silently. 'Now's my chance. I have to tell her.'

"Welcome home! I wanted to make sure you got home ok."

"Thank you, Tohru. You're always so thoughtful. Did you have a good time tonight?"

"I did! I was worried about Inuyasha and Kagome at first, but I think they got along pretty well, considering!"

"You know, Kagome told me something tonight…" Yuki stepped toward Tohru and touched her shoulder. "She said-," Yuki pause to take the seat beside her, sliding his hand down her slender arm. He leaned close to her face, his violet eyes staring intensely into hers. "She said-" this time he stopped as caught a familiar, unwanted scent: cat breath. More specifically, Kyo breath. On Tohru. There was no mistaking it. Although his sense of smell was not as keen as Shigure's, it was still better than the average human's. His mouth had been all over Tohru. His heart sank.

"What did she say, Yuki?" Tohru asked, wide-eyed.

"Oh, uh, she said she had a wonderful time and that she hoped the two of you can become good friends." A crushed Yuki stood up woodenly and distanced himself from Tohru.

"That's great! I'm glad she likes me!"

"Of course she likes you," Yuki said softly. "How could anyone not like you?"

"Are you feeling okay, Yuki?"

"Is Kyo home?" Yuki asked, trying to change the subject. Tohru blushed.

"Um, ah he's upstairs sleeping. I mean, I think he's sleeping! I don't know for sure-how could I?" The guileless look on Tohru's face confirmed his worst suspicions. "It doesn't matter. I'm just going to go to bed. Goodnight."

"Goodnight Yuki!"

'Yeah, real great night', Yuki thought. 'First, Kagome gets mad at me for trying to protect her from that lech, then I have to put up with that punk Inuyasha, while getting sick on a kiddie ride, then I'm hit on by some psychotic gay guy, and to top it off, Kyo kissed Tohru. Can this night get any worse?' And then the phone rang. After three unanswered rings, Yuki grumbled and picked up the cordless located on his bedside table.

"Yes?" he said in an irritated voice.

"Yuki! My dearest little brother! Just the person I wanted to speak with!"

"Ugh. What is it, Ayame?"

"Well, Shigure told me you went on a little date tonight! I want you to tell me all about it! Who is this girl? What was she wearing? Give me details!" Under normal conditions, he would have acted more evasively. However, Yuki was in a particularly bad mood.

"You want me to tell you about tonight? It was terrible. The worst night of my life. The end. And your calling me is the icing on the cake. So, please, shut up and bother someone else."

"That settles it little brother! I am coming over right away and taking you out!" Yuki heard a small click.

"Wait! Ayame? Ayame? Dammit!"