Author's Note: Happy (early) Valentine's Day! This is my gift to you, my fans! Thank you guys for sticking in there, for just joining, for loving the story as you do, and for being so involved in my characters' lives. I heard some of you, wanting me to get an update in for Valentine's Day. And I did. I didn't plan it. The characters actually planned this because it went totally left as to what I had expected to write. So many different routes it went that I did not expect, but that's what happens when these guys talk to me. Anyways... I hope you all enjoy this. Thank you to my new followers and subscribers who love the story! Make sure you read my final notes at the bottom ;)

Oh! One more thing... I wanted to announce formally that I will be writing another story for The Seven Deadly Sins. I fell in love with this anime since it came on Netflix and I have kept up to date with it, even the ones streaming on live Japanese television for this current season. The characters have been SCREAMING at me to tell their story. I love their story so far, so I will write it. But I just wanted to let you know that I might be writing both stories at the same time. Not sure yet. I have never done 2 stories simultaneously so I'm not sure how that will work out but I have confidence that they'll let me know. :)

Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha

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RTR

susu-anon: Yay! I'm glad you were excited that the concert was finally here :) Long awaited for, yes. Finally it's here and over. I'm glad you liked the flow of the storyline. And yes, I'm sure famous people get good deals at hotels and stuff, but that was just a thought I had, for them to get a massage (to set a scene ^_^). As for the whole incident with Inu/Kik... yeah there's past issues there, which will come out in the future. Their relationship is 'difficult'. And it might possibly now affect Kag's career and relationship with Inu. Haha! I love your little meme thing about Sango crying but not wanting to ruin her makeup. Yes, it's showtime and they need to look perfect. Not a mess in front of 50,000 fans lol. Glad you liked the chapter. I hope you like this one!

MinxieXCX: Yeah Kik has a lot of issues, seems emotionally and with self-confidence. She is jealous but it goes deeper than just the superficial. You'll see a little more about Inu/Kik's relationship later. And when the concert is over and they start to go back to every day life, we'll see how things change for them, especially BL. As for Naraku... well... you'll see :) Enjoy this chapter!

Rosie B: I know, poor Inu! He's taking a lot from Kik and a little bit more of his past will start surfacing, plus I'll get a little into the whole Inu/Kik soon. Those two need to sit down and talk it out! Oh, when I mentioned Onigumo as "sweet" it was more of a sarcastic use of the word. When in actuality, his "sweetness" will show his ugly side once his possessions starts getting taking away. Thanks for your review! Enjoy this one!

hive-chan: Haha! I love that "Crazy Rich Asians" reference. I never saw the movie but the previews looked hilarious. I can just imagine what a Mir/San wedding would be like when it's planned by "Crazy Rich Asians" hahaha! And as for Kag teaching San some moves... no... not yet. Not sure how long until that secret is revealed. We'll see :) Enjoy this one!

xsophiex: Yay. I'm glad you liked the last chapter, the interactions between Inu/Kag and my attention to detail. I appreciate it. The things I see in my head are so hard to put down in writing so I try my best. But there's only so much you can "write" when it comes to a dance with 15 steps and movements all happening at once lol. As for the tour... we'll see. There's actually some hurdles they gotta get through first before that can happen. Plus Kik needs to make up her mind with a new album or a tour or keeping BL or what. But it is in the "future". Anyways... I hope you like this (fluffy) chapter :)

val-rommel: Haha I'm glad you liked that part. I was trying to figure out the interaction they would have with fans and trying to be polite but also knowing their own strength and capacity without overdoing it. IDK. Inu can definitely make a woman's panties melt off lol. You might see Midnite on the next chapter, not this one. But I hope you enjoy this one :)

inusitter: Where you been? :) I'm glad you're back and all caught up and like it so far. Yes, I love dressing up Kags. She has such a beautiful body for anything and the way she works it is a knockout. Just so you know... I might take a month or two, but I will come back. At least for this story (not so much with Fate's Twisted Feathers and the other one). But I love this storyline and the characters are dying for me to tell their story. So don't be gone too long. Keep an eye out for those update emails :) Thanks for your review. Enjoy this one!

vanessa: Hey. Thanks for liking my story! I'm glad you love the characters. No, you're not weird for seeing those things in them or thinking those things about them lol. Kag is meant to be a sex kitten (once she realizes she is) and Inu is definitely that sexy demon (who brings out her kitten). Haha it's so funny but a lot of people seem to be on the edge of their seats, waiting for the lemons. LoL. I will warn everyone when there's dark moments or sex scenes because the dark can get dark and the sex can get... sex lol. For Yasha- I would say he's a breast guy. He comes off as one to me :) Thanks for your review. Enjoy this next one

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The elevator opened and Inuyasha walked out with a baseball cap on with his sunglasses on his cap. The lobby was busy with people passing by who looked like they were either coming from or going to the gym or just starting their day. It was early, 8am, and he had no intention of staying. He brought the visor lower, hoping no one would notice him. He didn't want to be noticed. He just needed to leave.

Inuyasha made his way through the lobby, wheeling his suitcase behind him and his duffle bag slung over his body. He was so close to making it to the front door when he heard his name.

"Inuyasha?"

He stopped dead in his tracks at the sound of her voice. 'Kagome.' Her scent hit him first before he turned around to see her standing there in front of him. She looked like she just came from the gym. She had on workout pants and a jacket that was left open, revealing her black sports bra. Her hair was braided and her bangs stuck to her face, obviously wet with sweat. The sight of her made his stomach tighten in knots.

Kagome crossed the lobby to walk up to him, heedless of the stares they were now getting. A lot of people saw on the news yesterday and this morning about the concert that went on in town. Now, standing in their lobby, were two people who looked awfully similar to the famous dancers with silver and blue hairs. Kagome didn't care about anyone around them, except for the man who looked like he was leaving.

"Where are you going?" she asked, hoping he didn't say what she thought he would.

Inuyasha smiled at her, giving nothing away. "You're up early."

"I couldn't sleep. I had a lot on my mind so I wanted to run it out. Stop avoiding the question," she said, looking at his suitcase and his duffle bag. "Are you leaving?"

Inuyasha looked away from her, looking at the other people either looking at them or walking by in their own business. "Yeah."

"Where?"

"I'm going home." He couldn't sleep all night. He had stayed up in the living room watching television to try to make his eyes tired, but as much as it hurt his eyes, his mind kept wandering back to what happened between him and Kikyo. He needed to leave, to separate himself from her, and to clear his mind for a couple of days. Being here on this trip with her wasn't going to help their situation get any better. It would only make things worse.

"Why?"

He turned to look back at her. Kagome's voice sounded so small, as if she was afraid. He reached out and placed his hand on her shoulder, smiling at her. He didn't want her to worry. "I can't stay, Kagome. I can't be around Kikyo right now. I don't want to make things worse between us before it's… irreparable." He dropped his hand and fixed the strap around his shoulder. "I'm heading off to the airport to catch the next flight back." He turned to look out at the door, seeing the two doorman outside, helping their guests. He fixed his strap again, uncomfortable, and turned to head towards the door. "I'm going to catch a cab and head off to the airport. Tell…"

Kagome reached out and grabbed his hand, stopping him. He turned to look at her. Her head was down, her eyes lowered, but he could sense her sadness. Inuyasha took a breath, knowing something like this was going to happen. It was easier for him to leave everyone now that the job was done and all that was left was to party and have fun. The group didn't need him for that. But as he was packing his things this morning the only thing that came to his mind was her. Kagome. He didn't want to leave her. Especially when he could've spent so much time with her this weekend. It was the one thing he was looking forward to.

"Don't go."

Inuyasha frowned, facing her. She still held onto him but her grip was loose, giving him the choice of walking away. "Kagome…" He was so torn. He wanted to stay for her. He wanted to be with her this weekend and do fun things together, building a relationship and making memories with her. He wanted to see her laugh and have fun with the others, making relationships with them too. Miroku and Sango, he already had engagement ideas for them once they got home. But Kagome was his main reason to stay.

"Stay." What else could she say? 'Stay… because I need you. Don't go because I want you here with me.' She couldn't tell him all of that. She had already hurt him before by being too blunt with him and telling him how she felt. She had hurt him and she didn't want to do it again. But she was also selfish. She knew why he was leaving but she didn't care about him and Kikyo. As much as that hurt her, whatever they had together, and seeing them together would make her jealous, she just wanted him here. He helped her to open up and be herself. He made her feel special. 'Now I just sound like a needy child.' She released his hand, knowing she had no right to ask him to stay. And she was such a baby for being so dependent on him. He had done that. He had wormed his way into her heart that all she yearned for was him, his attention and his affection. She had been looking forward to this weekend with him and the others, but most of all with him.

"Kagome…" He brought his hand up to rest on her cheek, cupping her face. He frowned at her, his face pained. "Don't ask me to stay. If I want this business relationship to work with Kikyo, I need to separate myself from her for a few days. Let her think over her actions and let me come to terms with what she thinks of me. I will talk with her… eventually. But not this weekend. I want you guys to have fun this weekend. She deserves it. You deserve it."

Kagome looked up at him, seeing his eyes filled with conflict and sadness. "So do you."

He smiled at her. "I know. That's why I'm going to head home to my parent's place and just chill there for the weekend. We have no plans for the whole week next week so you're off. We all need the break so take it. I'll probably stay at my parent's and maybe plan an engagement party for Miroku and Sango while I'm there," he said, trying to cheer her up.

All he got was a small twitch of her mouth. "You're a good friend, Yasha."

"I know," he said with a smirk. With great effort, he brought his hand back to the handle of his suitcase. "I'll see ya." He turned from her and forced himself forward, already feeling the loss of her. Kagome was the only one who could break him, who could throw all his better judgment and self-control out the window. And right now, she was breaking him. It took every strength he had to walk away from her, wishing he hadn't met her in the lobby to begin with. He would crave her the whole way back home and even over the weekend.

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Someone was pounding on the door and ringing the hell out of the doorbell, not even allowing the full ring to occur before pressing the button again frantically. Then, pounding again. Then that bloody doorbell.

"Who the hell?!" Naraku yelled, rolling over in bed as he checked the time on the bedside table. It was 8:10 in the morning. Naraku groaned and rolled out of bed, grabbing a robe in the bedroom closet before heading out into the hallway. Even though the bedroom was down a hallway from the living room and hotel door, someone was persistently ringing the doorbell that was loud enough to wake the dead. He reached the door, unlocking it and yanking it open.

"Do you know what time it is!" Naraku didn't expect to see Miroku on the other side of the door. Apparently, he felt the same.

Miroku gave Naraku one glance over, his face turning to disgust and then rage. "Where is she?"

"She's sleeping…" He was cut off when Miroku decided to push the door open, out of his grasp, and bulldoze his way in. "Well, come on in." Naraku closed the door and turned around to watch Miroku storm down the hallway towards the bedroom. He yawned, rubbing the sleep out of his eyes. He had a feeling this was going to be an eventful morning that he hadn't expected. He followed Miroku to the bedroom, wondering what his problem was so early in the morning.

Miroku stormed into the bedroom, flicking the lights on though the curtains were pulled back, keeping the room dark for the occupants to sleep in. The figure on the bed stirred with a groan.

"Kikyo! Get up!"

He crossed the room and stood at the foot of the bed, glaring at her as she came to, trying to get her bearings after being jolted awake. Kikyo squinted her eyes, looking at the doorway to see Naraku standing there with his arms crossed, leaning against the doorframe. She then looked and saw Miroku standing at the foot of her bed, looking angry and fully awake. She groaned.

"Ugh… Miroku. It's too early."

"What the hell did you do, Kikyo?!"

"What are you talking about?" she mumbled, stretching and moving the comforter down but keeping body covered. She wasn't really in a presentable state beneath the sheets.

"You know what I'm talking about. Wake the hell up!" he said, slapping his palm down on the end of the bed. That got her attention as she brought her head up to look at him, glaring at his angry outburst.

"What's your problem?"

"You're my problem. You're the problem, Kikyo! What happened last night?" Miroku was pissed. No, beyond pissed. He was furious. He was always the one who kept his composure and tried to keep a level head, especially when others around him were losing it. But right now, he was about to lose it. He just couldn't believe that after all this time, this load of crap was still happening and it was now becoming a big deal. It was now affecting their business. "Get up!"

"I am up!" Kikyo yelled back, getting angry now. She sat up, grabbing the comforter against her chest, running a frustrated hand through her hair. "What are you talking about?"

"Inuyasha!"

Kikyo blinked but said nothing. Miroku knew she knew what he was talking about. She remained silent, just fixed her hair and avoided eye contact with him.

"What's your problem, Kikyo? Huh?" When she didn't respond, he went on. "You jealous?" That got a rise from her.

"Why does everyone keep saying that? What do I have to be jealous of?!" she yelled at him, the two of them glaring at each other.

Miroku couldn't help but laugh. The irony of it all. "Face it, Kikyo. You're jealous. You're jealous of Blue Lightning and you're jealous of Kagome."

"I'm not jealous of that girl," she said glaring at him. He smirked, running a hand through his hair in frustration.

"Inuyasha told me what happened. How you told him that you own him. That he would be nothing if it wasn't for you. That you made him into who he is today"

"I did," she said defiantly.

"Please," he said with disgust, turning to walk towards the curtains, needing to move around. "Don't make me laugh," he said, crossing his arms as he turned to stare at her. He was seething with rage. The nerve of this woman. She forgot where she came from. She forgot who helped to get her to where she is today. "You gonna say that if it wasn't for you, then Sango and I wouldn't have been engaged?"

Kikyo looked at him with a face. "That's different."

"Really, it's not. You still gave me the platform to propose to her the same way you gave Inuyasha the platform to become who he is today. So if it wasn't for you, then me and Sango wouldn't be engaged." The absurdity of her argument was humorous at the very least. Honestly, where did she get this sense of entitlement? She wasn't like this before. At least, not before Kagome came along.

Kikyo huffed, looking away from him, fixing the covers to keep herself busy. "You know what I mean, Miroku."

"Really… I don't. Please explain it to me."

Kikyo turned to look at him, frustrated. "I was the one who gave Inuyasha a platform to show off his talents and skills. I was the one who let him in my music video to dance with Kagome. Now look at them. Now the two of them are a thing and they're growing even bigger by the day! If it wasn't for me, he would be nothing."

Miroku laughed, amused at her thinking. "You really are jealous! Just listen to yourself! I've never heard you say these things before. And now that someone is doing just as well as you, now that you have to share the spotlight with someone, now you're going to throw a tantrum." She said nothing in her defense but he could see it on her face. "Listen, Kikyo. I'm tired of this drama. You need to get over yourself and grow the hell up. Move on."

Kikyo glared at him, pointing a finger at him. "Don't tell me to move on! I made him! And now he wants to move on with Kagome and become this new brand! Now he thinks that he can just dump me and throw me away!"

"You didn't make him! Have you forgotten how you got here?" he asked, feeling his blood boil at the nerve of this woman, his friend, or at least he thought they were all friends. Friends didn't act this way. "You forgot who helped you to get you to the top, Kikyo. You lost your way and you lost the very foundation that built you up. We helped you to become who you are. We gave you our money, our talents and our time to help you chase your dream. We were friends and we worked together to fulfill all of our dreams. Now that you have yours… you forgot who helped to get you there!"

"I didn't forget," Kikyo said, her voice going softer as Miroku's grew louder, fed up with her denial and her attitude.

"Remember… you didn't make Inuyasha, me or Sango! You made none of us. We all helped each other to become who we are today. You need to apologize to him, Kikyo." When she turned her head from him, he walked forward. "Do you know that he left?" That caught her attention as she turned back to look at him, shocked. "Yeah. He left this morning. He went back home because he couldn't be around you right now before he did something rash and quit. He left because of you!"

Kikyo frowned, looking down at the sheets, thinking about Miroku's words.

"Do you know that if it wasn't for Kagome, he would've quit last night?"

"What?"

"Inuyasha had walked out on us last night, right after you pulled a move on him. He left the stage and, had it not been for Kagome seeing him leave, he would've left without a second care that the concert was about to start."

Miroku remembered the conversation he had with Inuyasha this morning. He woke up to the sound of someone moving around in the room so he checked his phone. It was seven in the morning, too early after the night they had, but someone was up and moving about. It was Inuyasha. Miroku got out of bed and went into the living room to see that he was packing up his suitcase as quietly as he could. Miroku had asked him what he was doing and after a few tries, Inuyasha finally spilled. He told him everything, from the argument he had with Kikyo to the way she tried to jump him in her dressing room to him deciding to quit and how he would've left the concert had it not been for Kagome. Of course, Miroku knew the past Inuyasha had with Kikyo. He wasn't dumb and his friend did share a little about the 'relationship' he had with Kikyo before. They were friends for four years and they all knew that something had been going on with Inuyasha and Kikyo for a while, but it was nothing serious, nothing ever came out of it. Miroku was just shocked that Inuyasha had decided that he had had enough. He was shocked that Kikyo had pushed him this far to want to quit. And he couldn't blame his friend for wanting to leave this morning, to go back home to clear his head before he did something rash. Inuyasha was loyal, a character of his demon blood, but still, he was loyal to his friends, to his work and to himself. He dedicated himself to Kikyo, to helping her achieve her dreams no matter the cost, no matter the blood, sweat and tears. He helped her to become who she was, they all did, and for her to treat him like this?

"You're going to lose him, Kikyo. You're going to lose the best choreographer you will ever have and the best friend you could ever have."

Kikyo snickered. "I already did."

Miroku's hard eyes looked at her. "You never had him to begin with. Not the way you're thinking. Get that out of your head. Now that he's gaining fame with Kagome at his side, you're jealous. This jealousy has gone too far."

"I told you, I'm not jealous."

"Oh grow the hell up!" Miroku said, sick of having this conversation. If she wasn't going to be honest with herself then he was wasting his time. He couldn't help her, and quite frankly, he wasn't sure he wanted to if this was her true character now that fame got to her head. "Kagome is a great dancer. She and Inuyasha are good for each other. You know that. Naraku knows that," Miroku said, looking at the man standing at the door, a front row seat to all of this. "And to think that you're jealous when you're sleeping with him," he said with disgust.

"I take offense to that," Naraku said, staring down Miroku.

"Good." Miroku uncrossed his arms and started to walk across the room, heading for the door. He was tired of talking. He would support his best friend any day of the week. No matter what Inuyasha decided, he would support him. "You need to talk to Inuyasha and apologize to him or else he is going to leave. If he leaves… I leave."

"What? Why? We don't need him!"

Miroku stopped, turning to look at her with shock. "Really, Kikyo?" He couldn't believe that they had come to this. He couldn't believe the things that were coming out of her mouth. How far she had come, how far fame got to her head. "If that's how you feel about a friend, then I don't want to be one of yours. If you think you can just replace us, then go right ahead. But you will never find friends like us. Remember that, Kikyo. You need to fix this. Your jealousy has gotten the best of you." He was done. He didn't want to talk anymore as he continued towards the doorway of the room. Naraku smiled at him before stepping in to get out of his way. Miroku shook his head, disgusted that Kikyo would sleep with this sleaze bag, right after trying to get into Inuyasha's pants, and knowing what she knew about Naraku. He felt sorry for her as he let himself out.

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"Where do you guys wanna go?" Aiko asked, looking as cute as ever. She had on a pink flirty dress that flared out at her hips and a pink hat to also match her pink shoes. She was ready to go out and explore the city in high fashion.

The other women were all dressed up as well. Some had decided to dress casually in jeans and a top or some in a dress with shoes. But they were all fashionably dressed from head to toe, with sunglasses and hats to hopefully help keep them a little under the radar. They were ready for the long walks around the city and the beautiful, sunny weather that they had today. They were going to make use of these two days they had before they went back to Tokyo tomorrow afternoon.

"I don't care. I just want to show off the new pants I bought," Mai said, twisting her legs back and forth so that she could get a good look of them herself. She smiled, satisfied. "I love this color blue on me."

Kagome smiled at her and nodded. "It matches you."

"It would look great on you, Kagome!" Kokoro suggested.

Kagome placed her hands up, shaking her head. "I think I have enough blue." Today she decided to wear something simple. She settled with a white crop top with criss-cross backing and a high-rise jean short with black shoes. She wore a white, floppy fedora hat to keep the sun out of her face and sunglasses. She braided her hair, knowing it would be a long, hot day.

"Oh, come on guys," Emi whined, sitting on one of the lounge chairs in the lobby. All nine of them were waiting in the lobby, sitting on the available lounge chairs or standing around near each other. "I want to go already."

"We have to wait for Miroku and Sango," Itsuki said, digging the heels of his shoes into the carpet as he sat comfortably on a chair. "Bummer that Inuyasha left."

"Yeah, I can't believe he just left without telling us," Shiori said, turning to walk up to Kagome. "Did he say why he was going back?"

Kagome shook her head. "He just needed a break. He wanted to clear his head." Of course, she wouldn't tell them the real reason. She felt like she would be betraying Inuyasha if she told them everything that had happened since yesterday. As much as she was glad to be here with everyone, she still felt out of place without Inuyasha being here. He was the glue that kept her with this group. Without him here, she felt like she had no one really.

"Oh! There they are!" Emi exclaimed, jumping up from her seat.

Sango and Miroku were making their way towards them from the elevators and the others began to stand up, gathering together in a group.

"Ready?" Sango asked with a smile, hanging onto Miroku's arm.

They all nodded. Everyone left the hotel and chose their first destination. Some of them had been to Osaka before and so the others relied on them to show them around and take them to the good spots. Their first stop was shopping in a rather high-end mall.

Kagome followed the others along the sidewalk, getting a few stares as people passing by thought they recognized her but weren't sure. She smiled to herself, proud that her disguise was working. It was a little easier, she hated to admit, to walk around without her 'other half' and people recognizing both her and Inuyasha straight off the bat if they were together. Although a few minutes later and after crossing a few streets, more and more people began to recognize everyone in the group, especially the woman with the blue hair. It was hard not to be recognized since they were all dressed up so fun, flirty and bright. Who could blame them? They were all in high spirits after a job well done last night and all they wanted to do now is chill, have fun and shop.

"Kagome." Sango came up to her as Miroku smiled and walked ahead to bump Shippo's shoulder, the two of them starting up a conversation. "How are you doing?"

Kagome smiled at her, feeling like Sango was really the only one she had. Maybe now was a good time to deepen their friendship, not like she had much choice. "I'm okay."

Sango could hear the over exaggeration in her voice and she smiled. They couldn't see each other's eyes as they had on their shades but Sango was not buying Kagome's answer. "Really?"

Kagome giggled as they passed by a coffee store, some young woman coming out to point at them and take photos of their group as they kept walking. "I don't know, Sango," she said soberly, looking ahead at the others. They all seemed so happy and carefree with each other when she felt… lonely. "I miss him."

Sango frowned, knowing who she was talking about, and nodded her head. "I do too."

They stayed silent for a moment, listening to the bustling sounds of a city with its cars, traffic, bikes and people. It was a busy day and there were so many visitors in town because of last night's concert. The city had a high visitor count this weekend thanks to Kikyo.

"Tell me, Kagome…" Sango started, trying to find her words carefully. "Do you like Inuyasha?"

Kagome didn't answer right away. How could she? What would she say? 'Yes! I love him!' That would sound so stalker-like and so fan-like. But really, her real answer was 'yes'. She turned to look at Sango, giving the girl her trust and hoping she would not break it. "Yes."

Sango smiled, nodding her head, though she didn't look at Kagome. "I thought so." Kagome looked ahead and looked up at all the buildings. Everyone walked in smaller groups together so that it would be easier to get through all the pedestrians now that there were a lot of people. Many of them recognized the dancers and stopped to wave at them or call out their names, asking for a photo. They took a few photos with people if there weren't a lot of people crowded around, lest they get stuck there for an hour in a huge crowd. Sometimes they just apologized and kept on moving towards their destination. But most of the time they obliged, wanting to please Kikyo's fans.

"I heard what happened last night." Sango said as they kept moving through the crowds.

Kagome looked at Sango, a little shocked. 'Miroku.' Inuyasha must've told Miroku what happened and he told Sango. The three of them were roommates, good friends, and therefore would tell each other everything. "Miroku told you."

Sango nodded. "Yeah. Inuyasha told him this morning."

"Did… did Miroku tell you how Inuyasha seemed this morning?"

Sango shook her head slowly. "Miroku woke up to find Inuyasha already up and packing. Apparently he didn't sleep at all last night. He was up all night thinking about what happened with Kikyo." Kagome frowned and looked at the ground. "Inuyasha told him what happened between the two of them in her dressing room. Apparently… Kikyo just crossed the line. She said some things that she shouldn't have and it hurt him."

'Dressing room?' Kagome thought. She didn't know that they had the altercation in her dressing room. And what did Sango mean by 'crossing the line'? What really did happen between the two of them?

"Inuyasha told Miroku that you had run after him and stopped him from making a huge mistake." Sango looked at Kagome, seeing her lost in her thoughts. "Thank you, Kagome. I know sometimes Inuyasha can be a knucklehead and a hot-tempered hanyou… but deep down, he's a really sweet and loving guy. He just hides his emotions behind a rough exterior sometimes."

It didn't seem like he had a rough exterior around her. Most of the times they were together, Inuyasha was very sweet and protective of her. He would make her feel special and safe. Last night was the first time she had seen him act out like that.

"He's not like that with me," Kagome confessed. "With me he's very sweet. He does have his playful moments. But he's always very… attentive to me."

Sango smiled and nodded, waving at Miroku as he looked back to make sure they were okay. "Yes, I know. I've noticed that in him recently. Or maybe… ever since you started working with us. I've noticed he paid more attention to you than any other woman."

Kagome looked up, shocked, feeling butterflies in her stomach. "Really?" Sango smiled, glad to get Kagome to perk up for a bit.

"Yes. Inuyasha likes you, Kagome. Trust me. I would know. Miroku knows it too, although I don't know what the two of them talk about together. But Miroku and I have talked about this a few times."

"About what?"

Sango shrugged. "Just about how Inuyasha has changed since you started working with us. He's different around you and, like you said, he's more attentive with you. He talks about you a lot at home, especially ever since he made the choreography for the two of you."

Kagome blushed, remaining silent. She smiled to herself, feeling feminine pride that Inuyasha liked her. Now that he was gone, she was starting to miss him. And now that he was gone, she was starting to see that she wanted him. She could think clearer about the two of them without him being around, and she was starting to think that maybe they could be together. She certainly wanted it with all her heart. But she was also afraid of what he felt and what he would think of her. It was that fear, and the fear of the past finding her, that caused her to hesitate on taking that leap every time.

"You like him a lot, don't you?"

Kagome nodded, looking up as the others called on them, pointing at the next big building that was their shopping mall. It was a two story building that probably housed many stores within. "Yes. I do."

Sango took a breath and went for it. "Then I think you should tell him. Tell him how you feel. I think the two of you would be good together."

Kagome chuckled with a sad smile, turning to look at Sango. "I already did."

Sango blinked, shocked, but couldn't ask Kagome about it because Emi had grabbed her hand while Shiori grabbed Kagome's and they were pulled into the shopping mall excitedly.

A few hours later and it was time for a lunch break. The men needed to eat and the women wanted to reconvene to see what they all bought so far. So they all group texted each other and planned to meet back up at the food court in the center of the mall. Kagome began to make her way to the area after leaving a lingerie store. She had two small and two big bags in tow with her, smiling as she weaved her way through the throngs of people in the mall.

A lot of people noticed her and she had to steel her nerves and do what she saw the others do so many times. She was learning, learning from them and Inuyasha, on how to deal with fans while trying to be a normal human being in society. It was harder by herself since it was just her getting all the attention and questions and praises, but she took it all and thanked the fans. She took photos with some who asked and apologized to others after she got tired of constantly being stopped on her way to the food court. She knew she was getting close because the building grew louder from conversation. As she came around the corner, she noticed all the many restaurants and large amount of tables and chairs to accommodate the mall patrons.

Kagome walked towards the tables to start looking for everyone when someone bumped her from behind, making her lose her balance and stumble forward. She turned around to look what happened but there was no one there. She turned her head and caught a glance of silver hair. 'Inuyasha?'

"Kagome! Over here!"

She turned and saw Itsuki and Aiko, both waving her over. She smiled and waved at them, turning back around to see if she could find that person with silver hair again. But she couldn't. Was she missing Inuyasha so much that now she saw him even in a crowded mall? Kagome composed herself and walked over to the two, smiling at them and seeing their bags in hands.

"You guys did damage."

Aiko nodded and turned as the three of them walked towards the tables. "Yeah, there were cute clothes in the Guess store. Sango was in there too but left after buying a pair of shoes. I think Shippo and Mai are here already. Ah. There." The three of them found Shippo and Mai saving a table for all eleven of them. They helped to place their shopping bags down on the tables and the chairs to let the patrons know that these seats were taken. Shippo stayed at the table until they came back with their food. Throughout their departure, the others slowly came to him one by one and left their things, heading off to grab their food until Kagome, Aiko and Itsuki came back to switch off with Shippo. Before long, they were all eating and chatting about their shopping conquests.

Kagome sat across of Sango, listening to her shopping spree and how she was having fun. Kagome had to agree. The shopping was helping her to take her mind off of Inuyasha, even if it was just for a few hours.

"Sooo…" Sango started, her eyes twinkling as Kagome's chopsticks stopped midair, afraid of what that look was for. "We didn't finish our conversation from earlier."

Kagome smiled and popped a shrimp into her mouth, chewing while making a face. "We did."

Sango laughed, not letting Kagome get away that easily. "No. You said that you already told Inuyasha how you feel. When? What did you tell him?"

"Tell who?" Miroku asked, sitting next to Sango.

Sango shushed him and shooed him with her hand. "Stop listening to our conversation," she scolded, making Kagome laugh. Sango's attention went right back to Kagome as she smiled apologetically at Miroku, who simply shook his head with a smile, obviously not taking Sango's comment to heart. He ended up turning to his right to talk to Itsuki.

"Tell me," Sango demanded. "I want to know what he said."

"He… didn't say much."

Sango's face dropped. "What?" She knew that she can read Inuyasha right after all these years. She knew he liked Kagome. But he said nothing after she told him she liked him? That didn't make any sense.

"I mean… he… wanted me to be with him," she said softly, not wanting anyone to hear them. Sango's eyes widened and her face lit up, making Kagome give her an admonishing look, hoping she took the hint to remain quiet and calm. She didn't want the whole group to know.

"He asked you out?" Sango asked softly, now really wondering what else she didn't know about their relationship. Apparently the two of them had talked about their feelings for each other more than she had thought. She was surprised and excited for them.

Kagome shrugged, looking down at her bento. "Kinda. Not really. I don't know. I told him we couldn't."

"What? Why?" Who would deny someone like Inuyasha? There were so many women out there who would die to be with him. And yet here was this one woman who didn't want him. 'Well… wouldn't be the first one.' She frowned, wondering how Inuyasha took her answer.

"I just… I have a lot of stuff in my past, Sango. There's things about me that you don't know about. There's things I haven't told Inuyasha."

"So?" Kagome looked up and blinked, surprised and shocked. Sango smiled encouragingly at Kagome, her eyes serious. "Kagome… Inuyasha doesn't care about that kind of stuff. Trust me. He's lived a long time to not care about someone's past. Nobody's perfect. I'm not. He's not. And neither are you. Why are you so afraid of letting him love you?"

Kagome felt like Sango just hit her in the face. She couldn't think. She was totally mind-blown and dumbstruck at Sango's question, cutting her heart right open. She placed her chopsticks down as the conversations in the entire room began to roar until it was nothing but a dull noise. 'Let him love me?' Was that her problem? She was so focused on her flaws and her past that she couldn't see the good things about herself, things that maybe he had seen and fallen for. Inuyasha said he wanted to court her, to take her out on dates, to get to know her better. Tit for tat. And she was getting to know him better too, getting to trust him and like him more and more. No, she loved him already. But who was she to love a man like him? Inuyasha deserved someone better than her, someone who wasn't flawed and messed up like she was. 'Why are you so afraid of letting him love you?' Love? Did he love her? Kagome blinked, shaking her head. She was so confused.

"Kagome," Sango called out, seeing that she was getting caught up in her thoughts and emotions. "Kagome, listen to me." She placed her left hand on the table between them, catching the girl's attention as Kagome looked up at her. She saw fear and confusion in Kagome's eyes, making her wonder what Kagome was so afraid of, what she was hiding from him. "I can't speak for Inuyasha. But I can tell you what I see. I've known him for a long time. And I see that he likes you. I have never seen him act the way he does with you, not with anyone else. Not even Kikyo."

Kagome frowned, now suddenly remembering what happened yesterday and that one little wrench that was thrown into the equation. There was Kikyo.

"What I see is that you like him and he likes you. I know you two are already hanging out on your own. Why don't you just talk to him and tell him how you feel? How you really feel," she encouraged since it sounded like Kagome already told him how she felt for him. "Trust Inuyasha. He's a good guy. I know he won't hurt you," she said with full confidence.

Kagome smiled sadly, letting Sango's words sink in. She was glad that she had Sango, that they were talking like this. Sango definitely knew a thing or two about relationships and she could learn from the girl. Kagome reached out and placed her hand over Sango's on the table.

"Thanks, Sango. I'll try," she vowed. Sango nodded her head and smiled, thankful that she had gotten through to Kagome. She felt a connection with Kagome and wanted Kagome to feel one with her too. She wanted to be closer to Kagome and one way was to just simply talk about each other's lives like this. Kagome would open up more and feel more comfortable with her eventually.

"I want to see your ring again!" Kagome said, changing the subject as she uncovered Sango's hand and felt the diamond underneath her palm. She grabbed Sango's hand to bring it a little closer to her side of the table, leaning over to squint her eyes at the huge diamond.

Miroku had gone over the top and bought Sango one of the most beautiful rings she had ever seen in her life. Not like she has seen a lot of engagement rings to being with, but this ring was gorgeous. The center diamond looked like a shining star, or like a rose, and when Kagome moved Sango's finger back and forth, the diamond was like fire, reflecting the light in all angles. There was a halo of round-cut diamonds around the center diamond that only accentuated the brilliance of the center diamond. The center diamond was raised up above the halo of diamonds around it, and the halo was raised above the band, which was a simple, white gold. It was beautifully crafted. It looked like it cost a fortune.

"Wow…" Kagome said softly, looking up at Sango, so happy for her. "I'm really happy for you."

Sango smiled, ear to ear, feeling butterflies in her stomach as she looked down at her ring and back at Kagome. "Thanks, Kagome. I'm so happy!" She turned to her side to look at Miroku who was in a deep conversation with the other two boys. "I love him."

Kagome smiled and released Sango's hand, leaning back into her chair. "I can see that," she teased. "I would hope you did if you said 'yes'."

Sango giggled as she went back to work on her lunch, eating some of her rice. "Last night… oh my gosh that was such a surprise."

"Tell me about it," Kagome said, shaking her head. Just thinking about the opening of the concert reminded her of how shocked she felt. She could only imagine what was going through Sango's mind as she ran out on stage with Miroku without knowing what the heck they were doing. "I was nervous for you."

"Haha! I was so nervous!"

The two began to talk about last night, from the proposal to the concert and how the fans seemed to be so in love with Blue Lightning. The other girls heard their conversation and began to join in, all of them recalling their emotions from last night and how they all loved how well the concert went. After they were finished eating, they decided to head to the next mall that was three blocks away, and then head back to the hotel. A lot of them wanted to get back to head over to the spa so they could use their free massage and possibly add more spa packages, wanting to relax tonight. They deserved it. Sango called the spa at the hotel while they walked out of the mall to head to the next one, making an appointment for all eleven of them. Thankfully the spa allowed such a big party at once because it was Kikyo's group, though they would have to take turns in smaller groups for the massage in particular. Tomorrow they were allowed a late checkout at three since their flight wasn't until five in the evening. Today was their day to chill, shop and relax at the spa.

-'-'-'-'-'-'-'-'-'-'-

Kagome sighed, blissfully. She relaxed further against the side of the onsen, resting her head back onto the stones that lined the man-made onsen. The spa in the hotel was beautiful and luxurious, a mix of European and Japanese flavor in the entire building. She was glad that the hotel still kept Japanese culture in their accommodations, from the bedrooms to the spa. The onsen being one of them. And right now, it was just her, alone, sitting on the border of the onsen, letting the hot water relax her muscles.

Today had been a crazy but eventful day that ended with stress relief. The mall day was chaotic. Trying to get around in the city with so many fans in town from Kikyo's concert, all of them noticing the group and stopping them for photos and autographs. It was a tiring trek just to walk the city streets, stopping and going. Thanks to the group, she didn't feel overwhelmed and anxious because she wasn't by herself. Still, everyone wanted her attention and asked her so many questions about her relationship with Inuyasha and where he was at. It was exhausting. Thanks to the group, she was able to keep moving along with politeness, all of them not trying to be rude, but they all wanted to get somewhere and were being stopped every minute. She would have to wait and see what life would be like now when she got back home to Tokyo. There would have to be some adjustments made to the way she lived and moved around in the streets if this was going to keep up. She just hoped that it was the 'rising star' faze that will fade over time once Blue Lightning becomes known for much longer, people won't see them as this new thing. At least, that's what she hoped for.

After they returned to the hotel, everyone went back to their rooms to chill out and relax for an hour before they went to eat an early dinner. Then, they all had to head down to the spa for their appointment. The spa had extended their hours just for Kikyo's group so that they could get their massage and relax in the amenities, wanting their prominent guests to try out everything their hotel offered and leave fully satisfied with their stay. The massage had been so wonderful, kneading the spots in Kagome's body that needed it the most. After this month of hard work and then the past couple of nights of running through the entire routine for two hours, it was time to give her body love and care. The massage room was beautiful and tranquil with the massage tables on sand, five tables setup in the huge room. Since there were nine of them, they took turns. Kagome had decided to get massaged last and so her first thirty minutes she spent getting a facial, which was amazing. Then, they switched off. The five left to go soak in the onsen, using the entire facility, while the next four went in to get their massage. By the time the last group was finished, they joined the others for a little while before the first five left to head back to their rooms, calling it a night. Everyone was relaxed now and sleep was kicking in. Kagome had stayed longer than anyone, wanting to be left alone for a bit.

The onsen was beautiful, kept in a smaller room from the massage room, and it was surrounded by walls on three sides with ferns growing in flower boxes on the walls. The grey stones lined the sides of the onsen and the light was a dim orange, creating a soft glow. There was also soft instrumental flute music playing from the walls. The whole atmosphere was created to relax the guests by bombarding their senses from sight to sound and touch. She loved it.

'Inuyasha...' She sighed, kicking her feet slowly back and forth, hitting her heels against the side of the wall she sat on. She couldn't stop thinking of him all day and the conversation she had with him this morning. He had looked so torn after she had asked him to stay. She didn't want to be a burden to him, to make him feel torn into staying or going, but she also didn't want to see him leave. He had become one of the main reasons why she loved her job, why she loved going to work every day, why she loved being with the group. It was because of Inuyasha. It was because she got to see him every day that she came to work. And that was the whole reason why she loved her job more and more. Dancing she could do anywhere, she already does at Midnite. But really, truly, she loved working for Kikyo all the more because of Inuyasha and the fact that they danced together. Seeing him so torn this morning, so sad to be leaving, she knew that he didn't want to stay for the sake of his job and his relationship with Kikyo. She couldn't blame him. He needed time to think. Yet, he still thought to think of them, wanting them to enjoy their weekend and to have fun together. But he didn't think of what him leaving would do to her.

'Not like he would know.' She couldn't fault him for not knowing what his leaving meant to her. He didn't know she was in love with him. He didn't know that she needed him. Like today, when she was stopped every minute while trying to simply get to a destination. All she could think about was him. He was her other half, the other half of Blue Lightning, and she needed him to help with the lovestruck fans. But also, he was her other half, her buffer, the one who could read her and protect her whenever she was getting overwhelmed by the crowds and the people. He didn't know that she needed him so much. She didn't even know it until now.

Kagome opened her eyes, staring at the ceiling. "Why are you so afraid of letting him love you?" Sango's words and advice had hit her hard today. It was like Sango was speaking truth to her, truth that she had refused to want to believe and trust, but hearing it from someone helped her to acknowledge the truth like a slap to her face. Sango was right and she knew Inuyasha better. Sango could see that Inuyasha liked her and that Kagome liked him too. So what was the problem? 'The problem is me.' But like Sango said, all Kagome had to do was to trust Inuyasha and tell him. She did trust Inuyasha. He was the only person she was trusting more and more of herself to, especially her heart. Kagome blinked, closing her eyes one last time. 'I hear you, Sango.' She would have to trust him and tell him. She had to tell him that she loved him and give 'them' a shot, if he would have her. She would have to tell him her past, slowly, over time, but she would not be ashamed of it. If he didn't want her because of her past, she couldn't blame him, but she also couldn't stay in the group. Her feelings for him and the shame of being rejected wouldn't allow her to stay working for Kikyo, working with him. 'Okay. I... I'll tell him. I'll... give us a shot.' She needed to grow a pair and take the plunge. She needed to do something for herself and give herself a chance to be happy. She would not let her past control her future anymore.

Kagome opened her eyes, determined to head back to Tokyo tomorrow night and to talk with Inuyasha. She smiled and moved but stopped as she looked ahead and saw Naraku coming into the room, heading straight for the onsen.

"Kagome..." Naraku said, his smile reminding her of some of the men in Midnite. He gave her a lustful look, looking into the clear water to take in her form. She had her bikini on and she was alone, which she was highly aware of her situation. He already creeped her out and not to mention both Inuyasha and Miroku told her to stay away from him. Just the mere sight of him looking at her like that made her skin crawl and she got a bad feeling. It was time to go.

"Naraku," she acknowledged, moving to stand in the center of the rectangular onsen to wade towards the entrance where he was walking towards. "I was just leaving." The water was up to her chest as she waded through to the other end of the onsen, watching as he took off his slippers and his robe. He wore nothing but black briefs.

"You don't have to go. It's a big enough onsen to share together."

"No. I've been in here for almost an hour. My skin is getting pruny."

"Nonsense." Naraku stepped into the onsen and met her before she could reach the end, blocking her path. He reached out and placed a hand on her stomach to stop her.

Kagome immediately stepped back, placing her hands in front of her as she pushed water in front of her. "What are you doing?" He kept coming closer to her, causing her to step back to put more distance between them, which meant she was going right back to her spot at the opposite end of the onsen, away from the exit. He was trying to keep her here.

Naraku smiled at her, his eyes heady and dazed, following her steps as he kept coming closer. "I just want to spend time with you. Everyone was gone all day and I didn't really get to see how you guys were doing after last night." He was careful to make sure that he blocked off her path to get around him, watching as her hands moved in front of her in the water, keeping him away. No matter.

"We're fine. We went shopping and then came to the spa for the massage." 'What the hell?' How was she going to get out of this one? Her eyes kept looking behind him to see if anyone was coming in, but the place was quiet. She kept her eyes on him, watching his hands as he waded in the water too, coming closer to her. He was using his arms to block her from going around him and he kept advancing on her, taking her further from the exit. "What do you want, Naraku?"

Naraku smirked, arching his eyebrow. "Isn't it obvious? I've been wanting to get to know you for some time now. You are a very beautiful woman."

Kagome gasped as her heels hit the wall behind her and she sat her butt down on it, pressing her back against the side of the onsen. Naraku came up right against her, planting both palms on either side of her legs, caging her in. He pressed himself against her knees, bringing his face closer to hers. Kagome reached out with both hands and pressed them against his chest.

"Leave. Me. Alone."

Naraku smiled, amazed to see her blue eyes with such fire in them. She was angry. She was beautiful when she was angry. Her blue eyes were on fire, like the deep blue of an ocean. He hadn't had privilege of being this close to her before and now he couldn't get enough of her. "Mmmmm, your eyes are so beautiful."

He pressed his chest against her palms, making Kagome having to put more strength into trying to keep him away from her, but he overpowered her. Naraku brought his face towards her neck, his breath cool against her heated skin, giving her goosebumps but in a sickening way. Her hands slid up to his shoulders, gripping them and trying to push him back.

"I mean it, Naraku. Leave me alone!"

But he didn't listen. He only chuckled, getting her even angrier. "Kagome... your fighting is making me more excited." And he wasn't kidding. She could feel his arousal against her shins, her alarm bells ringing in her head. She could also smell alcohol from his breath as he breathed against her skin. The minute she felt his tongue lick her neck she gasped. With every ounce of strength she had, she pushed him away from her, surprising him with her aggressiveness. He lost his balance, slipping in the onsen, giving her space to get off the seat.

"Don't ever touch me again!" she said, slapping him hard across his face. She waded as fast as she could in the water, trying hard not to slip, using her arms to propel her faster towards the exit. She climbed the steps out and turned around to look at him, seeing him smiling at her with a wicked grin, his eyes going to her breasts in lust. "You disgust me."

"You wouldn't be the first, sweetheart."

"Don't come near me again."

"Or what?!" Naraku yelled, now clearly agitated and angry. He moved to sit where she had been sitting, bringing his arms up to rest on the stones around him. "You forget that I'm your boss too. You're just a dancer. You're easily expendable."

Kagome glared at him, her body half out of the water. He looked so smug and confident sitting there all high and mighty, he disgusted her. "Blackmail?" He would dare to threaten her with losing her job when she had done nothing wrong.

Naraku moved his head side to side. "Call it whatever you want. I just want to get to know you better. How can I trust an employee that I don't know? Just remember that I can easily fire you just as easily as I hired you."

"You didn't hire me. Kikyo did. Don't think you're the star here, Naraku. You're nothing." She had enough. She didn't want to be around him any longer and let him babble on some nonsense with her, especially if he was drunk. She turned her back on him and got out to leave, bending to grab her robe and hide herself from him before she put on her slippers and left the room.

Kagome was fuming with anger. How dare he touch her like that, thinking that he owned her. He made her skin crawl. And to try to blackmail her, threatening to fire her, as if he was her boss and he decided the fate of her job. As she stormed through the length of the spa rooms, she started to think it over and got more and more nervous. Fact was, Inuyasha, Kikyo and Naraku all acted like a team. Inuyasha was her boss as her choreographer. Kikyo was her ultimate boss because without her, none of the dancers would have a job. And Naraku managed Kikyo's business and name. He dictated to her what needed to happen and what needed to be cut. In a way, Naraku was sort of right. He still had leverage over her, power to influence Kikyo to get her fired. Kagome frowned, worried. 'What if he tells Kikyo some lie? What if he gets me fired?' She was so angry and worried, emotions boiling inside of her, that she nearly ran into someone as she opened the main door of the spa to head back out into the hotel hall.

"Kikyo!" Kagome gasped as she nearly hit the woman, who looked just as shocked to see her. Kagome stood there, stunned for a bit, looking Kikyo over as she wore a white robe too, probably heading to the onsen. Where Naraku was. And Kagome remembered catching the two of them going at it behind the stage in Hawai'i. Kagome made a face, completely disgusted and angry at the entire situation. She stepped back to allow Kikyo in, holding the door open for her.

"Thanks," Kikyo said dismissively, walking through and heading straight into the spa rooms. Kagome stared ahead at the empty hall of the hotel, telling herself to go back to her room, but she just couldn't let it go. The nerve of that woman. If she was going to lose her job then she would at least get a final word in before she lost it to that drunk douchebag.

"Kikyo!" she said, letting go of the door as she turned around to walk a few steps back inside, watching as Kikyo stopped a few feet from the reception desk. "What happened between you and Inuyasha yesterday?"

Kikyo turned around, placing her hands on her hips as she stared at Kagome with shock and dismissal. "I'm sorry... but I don't think it's any of your business."

"It probably isn't. But I want to know."

"And what gives you the right?"

"Because whatever happened between you two nearly cost you your choreographer. So what the hell happened that would make Inuyasha want to quit just an hour before your biggest concert ever?"

Kikyo stared at Kagome, shocked that this quiet girl would suddenly gain a backbone and speak up to her. She was up for the challenge. She was tired of Kagome. Tired of the fame that she was receiving but more so tired that Kagome had taken something precious away from her. If Kagome wanted to suddenly gain a spine, she wouldn't back down. "You want to know what happened?" she asked Kagome, seeing the girl cross her arms across her chest. Kikyo smirked, wanting to tell Kagome everything just to get a rise out of her. "Inuyasha and I were in my dressing room making out."

Kagome felt like she had been slapped in the face but was quick to put up her walls, walls that she had fortified over years of abuse, pain and torture. Walls that were second nature to her, that no one could tear down. Not even this woman. She wouldn't let herself feel anything, especially if Kikyo was only telling her lies. "Well if that's the case then he wouldn't have left the concert and then left this morning. From what he told me... Inuyasha couldn't stay because of you. You chased him away. So don't lie to me and tell me that you two had a passionate, make out session in your dressing room. I don't know any man who would avoid a woman like that after a good love session."

Kikyo's eyes widened, Kagome's words shocking her. This girl had the guts, she had to give it to her, but that only made her angrier. She could see why Inuyasha liked her so much. She had guts, she had the looks. What else did this girl have? Kikyo glared at Kagome, hating her all the more. "What do you know? I've known Inuyasha longer than you. And now you think that you can just come in and take him from me?"

Kagome showed no expression, now knowing what Kikyo's deal was with Inuyasha. Kikyo was jealous of her. Kikyo was jealous of the fact that she and Inuyasha were now this huge sensation, that they were getting all the attention and maybe Kikyo thought that with all these rumors going around, she was seeing Inuyasha. Kagome couldn't believe that Kikyo would let her jealousy get the best of her the night of her concert, nearly costing her everything. Inuyasha was vital to Kikyo's success the same way Kikyo was vital to his. Couldn't she see that Inuyasha needed her just as much as she needed him? What was there to be jealous about?

"Do you think that Inuyasha and I are dating?"

Kikyo snickered. "As if..."

Kagome arched her eyebrow, her inner woman welcoming the feminine challenge. "Why so jealous, Kikyo?"

Kikyo glared at her, now crossing her arms across her chest. "How could I be jealous of you? I'm the star here. I can fire you, you know? Blue Lightning would be nothing without me."

Kagome smirked, arching her eyebrow. First Naraku, now Kikyo, threatening her with her job. She had had enough. If they wanted to fire her, then so be it. She was done with this drama, done with being lusted after from that douchebag of a manager and done with Kikyo's jealousy. If Kikyo was going to treat her any differently after this, then she would gladly quit on her own.

"Let me make something clear to you, Kikyo. And don't you forget this." Kagome stared at her, giving her a moment to listen, to pay attention to her and really hear her. "Don't ever forget that you did make Blue Lightning. Inuyasha and I would be nowhere if it wasn't for you. Did you think that I could forget why I am on that stage to begin with? I'm not there to dance for myself. I'm there to dance for you. I took this job to be your dancer. So don't you ever forget that without you, Blue Lightning would not have been a thing. And for that, I thank you."

Kikyo's glare began to soften in shock at Kagome's words, listening to every word she said. Kagome could tell that Kikyo had not been expecting what she had said. She was glad that Kikyo heard her, but she was still angry. Angry at the whole situation with Naraku and Inuyasha and Kikyo. This weird love triangle was nothing that she wanted to be a part of.

"But I also want to make one thing clear. Inuyasha and I are not dating. Your jealousy is causing him to want to leave you, to leave the group altogether. Is that what you really want? Do you really want to lose your choreographer? Your friend?"

Kikyo frowned, turning her head from Kagome as she stared at the floor. Kagome spoke the truth. As crazy as all of this had started, now Kikyo was starting to respect the girl and felt bad for feeling this way towards her. She didn't know Kagome and Kagome didn't know her. Yet it seemed like Kagome was only trying to help her keep Inuyasha by her side.

"Listen, Kikyo. I have no right to say anything because I don't know the past between you, Inuyasha and Naraku. But for what it's worth... you need to stay clear of Naraku. That guy is no good. I saw the two of you together backstage in Hawai'i." She got no rise out of Kikyo, as if Kikyo didn't care if people saw her and Naraku going at it like animals in random areas. "And you know what he did? He tried to hit on me then and he tried to hit on me now. I bet you're in here to meet with him and give him what he wants."

"Shut up. You don't know anything about our relationship," Kikyo said angrily. There was no venom. Only defeat.

"That is no relationship, Kikyo. You deserve much more than what that douchebag is giving you," she said with venom. "He disgusts me. If he tries to blackmail me, claiming that we did anything together, I swear, Kikyo, I will have his head. I have a lot of friends in high places and I have no patience for that... that dog!" Kagome took a breath, trying to calm herself down. She was shaking with rage. Naraku. Kikyo. Who else would try to threaten her future? She uncrossed her arms and dropped them at her sides, her adrenaline and anger slowly fading.

"Kikyo... I enjoy my job here. If you want me to leave, I will. But I just want you to know... I like Inuyasha." There. She confessed it to someone again. She wanted to keep telling people to make it easier for her to accept it and to let it happen between them, whatever that may come to look like. Kikyo finally looked up at her with a painful expression. "Yes. I like him. He likes me too. If this is going to be an issue, then I will gladly leave. I don't need this drama in my life. But just so you know... he left this morning because he didn't want to ruin your friendship together. He was thinking about you, Kikyo. He cares about you. He's loyal to you. He would never leave you. Unless you gave him a good reason to. So don't give him a reason to. And don't let your jealousy ruin your friendship you have with him."

That said, Kagome had nothing more to give the girl. She turned and opened the door once more, walking out into the hallway to head towards the elevators that would take her back up to her room. She was suddenly bone-weary tired. She just gave Kikyo a reason to fight for Inuyasha and whatever they had together. She felt like such a fool.

Kikyo watched as Kagome left the room, leaving her alone with words hanging in the air, unsaid. Everything Kagome spoke was true. Truth that was hard for her to accept. But hearing it from Kagome, somehow made Kikyo accept Kagome and appreciate her even more. Of course she knew that the two of them liked each other. Anyone with eyes could tell. And of course Kikyo was jealous that Kagome was taking him from her. But the truth was... 'I never had him to begin with.' Kikyo frowned, her eyes burning with tears. She furiously wiped them away, not wanting to cry here. She turned around and headed into the spa rooms, straight to where Naraku waited for her.

-'-'-'-'-'-'-'-'-'-'-

"Kagome! Come! We're looking at wedding dresses," Sango exclaimed just as she walked into their room. All three of the women were huddled on the couch against the glass wall opposite of the door. Mai held a laptop on her lap while Kimiko and Sango were on either side of her, all three of them in their pajamas. Kagome smiled tiredly at them, changing into the room slippers.

"Sorry, Sango. I'm tired. I'm going to call it a night." She went into the bedroom to grab her pajamas and walked back through the living room to head into the bathroom to rinse off and change.

The girls all looked at each other, wondering what was wrong with Kagome. They went back to their dress shopping, all of them excitedly looking through photos online at wedding websites with designer dresses, trying to get an idea as to what Sango wanted. She didn't know and it was obviously too early to really settle on anything just yet. But they had decided to do this for fun to kill the time before they went to bed.

Twenty minutes later, Kagome came back out dressed in black, warm pants and a loose blue shirt with no bra underneath. She smiled at them with a wave.

"Good night, girls," she said, and headed straight toward the bedroom.

Sango frowned, staring at Kagome and then looked back at the two. "Something's wrong." Sango got up just as Mai closed her laptop and the three of them headed into the bedroom, watching as Kagome crawled onto the bed and untucked the covers so she could get cozy beneath them.

"Kagome... what's wrong?" Sango asked, heading over to her side of the bed they shared. She sat down and crossed her legs so that she faced Kagome. Mai and Kimiko both went to their bed that touched against Sango and Kagome's bed, and sat so that they could face Kagome.

Kagome looked at the three of them with an encouraging smile. "I'm just... really tired."

"It's more than that," Sango said with a knowing frown.

"You can tell us, Kagome," Mai said. Kagome looked at Mai and got caught in her innocent features. She looked like a woman who had never seen the evilness of a man's heart. Kagome couldn't help but feel sorry for her.

"Has Naraku ever done anything to you?" she asked Mai.

Sango suddenly went still, her eyes going wide. "Kagome... did Naraku do something?"

Kagome kept her eyes on Mai, smiling softly at the woman. "Has he?"

Mai frowned, shaking her head slowly. "No," she said softly.

Kagome smiled, thankful, nodding her head. She remained quiet for a moment, the three of them staring at her with worry and wonder. Sango bit her bottom lip, worried that Naraku had done something. If he had, she would have to tell Miroku. Naraku knew better than to cross the line. He had been warned before, twice, and if he had sexually assaulted Kagome then that would be a line that he shouldn't have crossed. It would be grounds for dismissal. But the thing that Sango worried the most wasn't the fact that Naraku might lose his job. It was more of what Inuyasha would do if Naraku did do something to Kagome.

"Kagome..." Sango encouraged. "Did Naraku do something to you?" she asked again.

Kagome sighed, snuggling deeper beneath the comforter as she turned to her side, facing Sango's side of the bed. Mai and Kimiko couldn't see her face but Sango could. Kagome stared out at the city lights, the blinds still up, allowing her to see the outside world. "He came into the onsen with me." She didn't want to burden them with this, and she didn't want to think about it again, but she wanted to warn the girls of what the man was like. She didn't want them to go through anything like what she went through, from Naraku or from any man. A woman should be treated like a human being, with respect, not like a piece of meat to blow his junk on. But those were the type of men she has always known. "He cornered me and wouldn't let me leave. He... licked my neck and I pushed him away and slapped him on the face." The women gasped, all of them looking at each other in shock. Kagome didn't know if they were shocked that she had slapped their boss or shocked that he had done that to her. "It sounded like he was trying to blackmail me. He threatened me, reminding me that he could get me fired. He... disgusts me," she said, glaring at the city lights. "Then, I met Kikyo on my way out. Seems like she was coming in to be with him. Not my business. But I pretty much told her off. I told her about Inuyasha leaving and wanting to quit because of her. Then, she threw things in my face like her relationship with Inuyasha and the fact that they were making out in her dressing room last night." Her heart constricted in pain.

"She said what?!" Sango said, growing angrier by the minute. She got angry when she heard that Naraku had touched Kagome like that. But now for Kikyo to make up some lie? Sango knew that Inuyasha wasn't like that. If he liked Kagome he wouldn't be going after another woman. Even though he had his fun with Kikyo, that fun was all in the past. Inuyasha had told her that he was done fooling around with Kikyo but Kikyo wasn't done with him. She still had feelings for him and hung onto what they had together. "She lied. I know Inuyasha wouldn't have done that. And he wouldn't have left if that were true."

"Sango..." Kagome cut her off, stopping the girl in her rage. "It's okay, Sango. I know that Kikyo is jealous. I called her out on it. I told her I'm not willing to be in the middle of this drama. Whatever is going on between Kikyo, Naraku and Inuyasha... I don't care. But I did confess my feelings I have towards Inuyasha to her."

Mai and Kimiko gasped, both of them looking at each other happily as if they had an idea, but only now it was confirmed. Sango stayed quiet as Kagome had already told her earlier that day.

"I told her that we like each other and if that's going to be a problem then I will gladly quit now. I'm not here for the drama. I'm here to be her dancer. If it wasn't for her, I wouldn't be here and I wouldn't be Blue Lightning. So I thanked her for it. But... I just... I don't know what to do." Kagome choked, curling into a ball under the covers, making Sango ache for her. She crawled towards Kagome and wrapped her arms around her figure on top of the covers, resting her head on the pillow above Kagome's.

"Kagome... I'm sorry Naraku did that to you. I'm telling Miroku."

Kagome shook her head, moving back to look up at her. "No, Sango. I don't want him to know because then he's going to tell Inuyasha."

"And for good reason," Sango said, her face serious. "Naraku needs to learn his lesson. And it'll be the hard way. He is a good manager but he's a freaking dirtbag. There is nothing noble or good about his character and I am sick of seeing him treat you this way. I am going to tell Miroku and talk to Kikyo about this. This has to stop. Whether that means he gets fired or not, I don't know. But this needs to stop."

"But... Inuyasha..."

"He will deal with it the way he wants to," Sango reassured her. "And you need to let him. Inuyasha warned Naraku, so did Miroku. Naraku decided not to listen so he needs to deal with his own consequences, whatever the two boys decide."

Kagome frowned, relaxing her head back against her pillow. Sango did have a point. She remembered all the times Miroku warned Naraku to leave her alone and then begged her not to tell Inuyasha. Miroku had known back then that Inuyasha had a soft spot for her and probably wouldn't tolerate Naraku treating her that way. Then, what happened at RUSH, both Miroku and Inuyasha had threatened Naraku and warned him. Still... a man's lust is stronger than any rationalization.

"Kikyo needs to understand that she can't do this without you and Inuyasha," Kimiko said, worried. "If she does fire you, I'm sure Inuyasha would leave. The two of you are a team now. We need you both. Kikyo needs you both."

"Kikyo needs to put her pride aside," Sango said with a glare, staring at Kimiko. "She needs to grow up and be an adult. I'm going to have a talk with her. This childish behavior needs to end."

The women all agreed. Kagome could just lay there, feeling Sango's arms on top of her, comforting her. She smiled to herself, thankful that she had opened up to these women and trusted them to know what happened to her. More and more, she was finding it easier to trust the people around her. More and more, Kagome knew that she would trust Inuyasha all the same, no, much more.

-'-'-'-'-'-'-'-'-'-'-

The night sky was clear tonight. There were no clouds in sight as he walked the wide open span of land that was his father's. The forest's tree line was still a ways off, but he only intended to go as far as he wanted to. He didn't really know how long he wanted to walk or where to. All he knew was that he needed to get out into the open air and think for a bit.

Inuyasha's thoughts kept going back to Kagome, thinking about what she was doing right now in Osaka. Was she in her hotel room with the other women, talking about things women usually talk about with such interest and enthusiasm? Was she out shopping? Was she sleeping? Inuyasha sighed. 'I can't get her out of my head.' As much as he wanted to put some distance between them, not just with Kikyo, so that he could think about their situation too, he missed her more than he could breathe. He had grown so attached to her. Their work schedule had allowed them to be together five days out of the week and sometimes the group decided to meetup on the weekends to have breakfast or lunch together. He felt like he had been with Kagome almost every day, and has been used to being around her so much that now that he didn't have her...

'Kagome...' He had promised himself to take things slow with her. He had all the time in the world to wait for her. She would grow old before he did and he would still wait for her. But now, he didn't know how much longer he wanted to wait. He wanted her. He wanted to be with her every moment of every day. He wanted to watch her smile, hear her laugh, touch her and hold her. He wanted to feel her against him, reminding him that she was alive and safe in his arms. His demon needed its mate, to know she was safe and with him, and his human needed his woman, to love and to hold. He should've known that he was a goner the moment she walked into the studio that audition day.

Inuyasha looked up to the sky, wondering if she was sleeping. He pictured her in his mind, seeing her blue eyes and her smile. He could imagine her scent, knowing by heart that she had a sweet, floral undertone, scent that got his blood heated and calm, both at the same time. Leaving her standing there, in the lobby, was one of the hardest things he ever had to do. He knew that she liked him. He could sense it in her body language and in the way she asked him to stay. He was her anchor the same way she was his. But he couldn't do a damn thing about it unless she realizes it and accepts it for herself. She was so busy running from the two of them that she didn't stop to think of what the two of them already had together. So he had promised to take things slow, to get to know her and she him, to court her so that she could trust him and trust herself to him. Slowly, he was chipping away at her walls. He could tell. She had become more open to him. She smiled more with him and told him more about herself, which made him only fall deeper in love with her. Inuyasha closed his eyes, a song coming to mind as he suddenly got inspired to make another choreography with her.

Kagome was a genuine woman, a woman with a heart that is as deep as the sea. She cared deeply for people, that he could tell, but she didn't allow anyone to see it or even herself. She tried so hard to run from others, from herself and from the emotions that she was too afraid to face. She didn't love herself the way he loved her. She didn't see herself the way he saw her. And he would change that. He would make sure that she saw herself through his eyes. That she knew her worth because of how he saw her, not how she saw herself or how anyone else saw her.

Inuyasha snapped out of his thoughts as his eyes flew open. His phone was buzzing in his pocket and he was standing in the wide open field. He turned to look back at his parent's house behind him. He had walked a good ways away and figured he had enough thinking, turning around to head back. He fished out his phone, thinking with humor as to how he had come out here to think about Kikyo and their situation but his thoughts had somehow, and always, gone back to Kagome.

Inuyasha pulled out his phone and looked at the caller ID. It was an unknown number. He swiped to answer.

"Hello?"

"Inuyasha."

He froze, dead in his tracks. That voice. He had thought he would never hear that voice again. The one voice he had wanted to hear for years, back when he was younger, back when he went through a dark time in his life. That one voice that had the power to hurt him.

"Kiyomi..." His heart constricted in pain. He hadn't seen her since...

"Inuyasha. How are you?"

His heart raced. 'Why is she calling me? How did she even get my number?'

"I got your number from Sessho."

Kiyomi could always read his mind. It was one of their things, how they would finish each other's sentences and know what the other was thinking before they even had to speak it out loud. Inuyasha remembered it like it was yesterday. This woman had held the other half of his heart.

"Why did you call?" He didn't mean for it, but his question came out with a snarl. He decided to walk. Walking was good. Walking helped to clear his mind and it helped with his emotions. Right now, his emotions were everywhere. Why was Kiyomi suddenly calling him out of the blue? Why now? She had never once taken any of his calls after they broke up. No. After she left him. And now she wants to call him and come back into his life?

Kiyomi was quiet on the other end. He wasn't in the mood to play games with her, not like the way she had played games with him.

"I... just wanted to congratulate you on your performance last night. I saw some of the viral videos. You were amazing."

Inuyasha snickered. So she still kept tabs on him? What the hell was she thinking? "Why do you care? You never cared before."

Kiyomi sighed. "Listen... I didn't call you to fight with you. I just wanted to congratulate you on your success. And... I see that you have that dance partner."

His ears perked. 'Jealousy?' He had heard that tone in her many times before and she dared to use that tone with him now. She had no right. "Kagome. Her name is Kagome."

"I know. Her name is everywhere... next to yours."

"Is that all you called me for?" He was getting irritated by the second. She was stalling, as if wanting to remain on the call but not knowing what else to say. There really was nothing else to say. She had said everything to him that day she left, the day she rejected him and refused to be his mate. She had told him everything she felt about him, and there was nothing more to say.

"Yes. No. I mean..."

Why the hell was she fumbling with her words? The Kiyomi he remembered was always head strong, stubborn yet confident in herself. She knew her place in the demon ranks and was always confident in the way she spoke, walked and held herself. Yet, she had loved him. Whatever worth that love was. She had loved him, a lowly hanyou, until he wasn't good enough to rise to her expectations. She had love him. And then, one day she stopped.

"Listen, Kiyomi. Thanks but you shouldn't call me anymore."

"But why?" she interjected.

Inuyasha stopped walking, staring at the ground with pure hatred and disgust. "Why?" he yelled. "Because you never took any of my calls! Because you were never there when I needed to talk to you! And now you want to come back into my life and think that I'll just let you back in?! Who the hell do you think you are?!" He was pissed. The nerve of this woman!

"Don't yell at me!"

"I can yell at you all I want! You left me! Remember?! I have every right to get my frustration out on you. You caused this." He walked again, this time faster so that he could get to the house and take a bottle up to his room. Or maybe see if his father wanted to spar. He could use a nice good sweat session, and maybe a little beating to get rid of the pain that he felt the longer he was talking to Kiyomi.

"You were never this hot-tempered."

"Don't you dare talk like you know me!"

"I do, Inuyasha. I know everything about you. I know you better than you know yourself."

"No, Kiyomi. You knew me. And I changed. I went through years of depression and I went into a dark place that not even my parents could get me out of. I changed all because of you. So don't think that you know me now. I'm not the same person you remember." With that, he had enough of her. He hung up the phone, holding the device in his hand, wanting to squeeze the damn thing and fly the broken pieces into the wind. The pain from the electrical shocks might help him feel a little better. But he decided not to. He shoved his phone back into his pocket and ran back to the house, getting there in a quarter of the time it took him to walk the field.

Inuyasha walked in the house and went straight through the living room, noticing no one was around, and went up the stairs. He would settle for a shower. Inuyasha growled as he felt his phone buzz again. He quickly fished it out as he was halfway up the stairs and noticed the caller ID. He felt a little better that it wasn't her again.

"Miroku."

"Hey. Did I catch you at a bad time?"

Inuyasha snickered, feeling his anger slipping away with each step he took up the stairs. "No. What's up?"

"Where are you?"

"At my parent's." He walked down the hall, heading for his room at the end. "Why?"

"Listen. I think you should come to the airport tomorrow."

Inuyasha frowned, scrunching his eyebrows. "Why?"

"I think Kagome would want to see you."

Inuyasha thought about it. Why was Miroku calling him this late just to tell him to meet them at the airport when they arrived tomorrow night? "Did something happen?" Miroku didn't answer, not for a while, and that stopped Inuyasha. "Miroku... Did something happen to Kagome?"

Miroku sighed, obviously taking a while to find his words. "She needs you, Inuyasha. I think you should just meet us at the airport tomorrow. I know that she misses you."

Inuyasha didn't like his answer, or lack of, which only worried him more. But he would be there. If Kagome needed him, he would move mountains to be there for her. "Okay. I'll meet you guys at the baggage claim."

"Okay. Good night."

"Miroku."

"Yeah?"

"Tell me she's okay."

Miroku was silent. "She's okay." That didn't make him feel any better.

-'-'-'-'-'-'-'-'-'-'-'-

Inuyasha walked across the bridge from the parking lot to the main airport terminal. He needed to take a few flights down to get to the baggage claim area and wait for the others. Miroku had texted him their flight information and kept him updated on their current whereabouts, when they started boarding and when they took off from Osaka airport. The drive from his parent's place was long, over two hours with traffic since they were landing around rush hour time. Everyone was leaving work and trying to get home, even taking the Aqua-Line with its toll there were still so many cars coming and going. On a Sunday too. He didn't really care either way, he just needed to plan his time. He arrived at the airport about a half hour early, enough time to get to the baggage claim and wait.

Inuyasha still couldn't figure out why Miroku asked him to come and be there for Kagome. He had a sneaking suspicion that something happened. Maybe the fans had been too much for Kagome to handle on her own, as Blue Lightning, and maybe she cracked. Or maybe she just needed him and missed him. Of course, he preferred the latter. He missed and needed the hell out of her. He wanted to see her so much. He wanted to hold her and take in her scent, assuring himself that she was alive and okay. 'Damn...' Even though he had been away from her for a day or so, the desire to be around her was growing stronger and stronger by the day, the bond he was forging with her growing deeper. He would have to talk to her soon. He wouldn't be able to hold back his feelings for her any longer. The things he felt for her was raw and real. He had never felt anything like it before. When he had thought Kiyomi had been his mate, he had been proven wrong not only the first time, but now with his true mate. The way he felt for Kagome, even now when they were not officially together, was deeper and stronger than anything that he ever felt for Kiyomi. He knew with all his heart that Kagome was his, and he was going to fight for her and win her over if he had to. But he felt like his feelings for her would win over before her feelings for him would.

Inuyasha pressed the button for the elevator, watching above as it came down one level and stopped. The door opened and a few people stepped out, letting him and another man in. They were all going down to the bottom floor, so he waited in front of everyone, standing close to the doorway. Inuyasha knew that he would have to be direct with Kagome and ask her what happened in her past that made her fear her feelings for him. It was obvious that she was running from them and from him, and he needed to know why. He needed to know what happened to her that caused her not only to fear men but to fear him and what he was willing to give her.

The doors opened and Inuyasha stepped out first, heading through another set of sliding doors into the coolness of the building. It was bustling in here as a plane had just arrived. A group of people, more like a stampede, was heading straight for the baggage claim. Inuyasha went to the conveyor belts to look for the flight number of the group's plane. Once he found it, he went to stand across of the carousel, close to a wall. He leaned his back against it and crossed his arms, getting comfortable as he waited.

His eyes scanned the room, looking at everyone as they looked his way. It was obvious that many of them recognized him as many began to head towards him.

"Inuyasha. I can't believe it's you. It's good to meet you," many of them said. Inuyasha smiled politely at them and bowed his head slightly but kept his body against the wall. He exchanged a few words with some of them while others were pulled in when they noticed the crowd that was forming around him. They all told him of their tales, how they had gone to Osaka to watch the concert, how they saw the concert on social media, how wonderful and amazing they thought it was and how he and Kagome were truly amazing together. There were more questions about Blue Lightning's relationship and their future as a duo than there were about Kikyo's next move as a singer. He didn't really care. Right now, he didn't care about Kikyo at all.

"Thanks, everyone. But I'm waiting for my friends. I would like to be left alone." Some of them politely bowed and left, just glad to have been in his presence and seen him in the flesh. Others asked for a photo before they left. He took three selfies with people and then was done. There was a time and place for that. This was not one of them. He asked them to leave him alone again and the crowd slowly began to disperse, realizing they weren't going to get anymore photos from him. Thankfully, even some security guards were walking up to the group to see what was happening and had helped to disperse the crowd a little. He nodded at the two guards and then went back to being alone. This new fame was going to become something to adapt to.

Inuyasha watched people come and go for the next forty-five minutes or so. Miroku texted him that they had landed and were waiting to leave the plane, so he continued to wait. More and more people who also were arriving back in Tokyo from Osaka were still coming up to him and wanting to ask him for a photo or an autograph. He signed a few and took photos with a few, but then declined the others, asking to be left alone again. He had to ignore a few of them who kept pushing and asking more questions, really testing his patience, but they eventually left. He honestly didn't care what they thought about him for not talking to them or taking photos with them. He asked for them to leave, this was not the time or place, and quite frankly, he was a person too who had a life outside of working for Kikyo. He just wanted to wait her for his friends in peace, as if no one knew him. Of course, that wasn't going to ever happen.

Another herd of people came down the ramp and his eyes scanned the crowd, wondering if this was the group's plane. It was. There was no denying it when the crowd got bigger and more condensed in one area of the herd. He noticed a few of the bodyguards around a group and then he noticed Kikyo at the front being ushered through the crowd, close behind the security. Then, he saw her hair and Inuyasha straightened, watching as the group made their way into the baggage claim area. The fans began to disperse as they all went to their carousel to get their belongings, noticing that Kikyo was not giving them any attention.

Ben, Mike and Brady took Kikyo outside, probably to her awaiting car. Some of the fans decided to follow her while the others just stayed inside and watched her leave, taking a few photos of her departing figure. The rest of the group walked towards the carousel with some of the fans following them. Most of the fans left them alone, probably thanks to the security team. But others still tried to get their attention and ask for a picture. He watched as Kagome stood on one side of Sango while Miroku stood on the other side of Sango, the three of them walking in a line. The others began to disperse as they went to look for their bags that were currently rotating around on the carousel.

Inuyasha immediately felt himself relax at the sight of her. Kagome was so beautiful to him. Even now, as he looked at her, it felt like he was looking at her for the first time. She was the only one he noticed in this sea of people. He had never seen anyone as beautiful as Kagome, not here, not ever. Her body, her curves, her beautiful eyes and that smile of hers. Everything about her turned him on, lit him up and made him feel like a sappy, lovesick man. Because he was. He loved everything about her. She was the most beautiful person to him, inside and out. He didn't know everything there was to know about her but he didn't have to. He loved her. And as if she had felt him staring at her, Kagome stopped and looked through the crowd, searching, her eyes finally falling on him. Fans around her were trying to get her attention, but her attention was solely on him. Inuyasha saw her blue eyes recognize him and he saw her shock. She stood there, shocked, staring at him with so many people passing by around her. Miroku and Sango both stopped when they recognized she wasn't with them anymore, and turned to find her.

Kagome couldn't believe that he was here. 'Inuyasha?' Her heart beat wildly in her chest, betraying her mind. 'Inuyasha!' Her feet moved before she could even think. Her body needed his, going to him as if on instinct. Kagome walked through the crowd, not even hearing anyone around her who was calling her name. Her mind, body and heart was focused on him. Seeing Inuyasha standing there, in the middle of a busy airport, when she least expected him, he was her safe haven. And she needed him. Kagome crossed the space between them, watching as Inuyasha smiled at her and opened his arms. She walked faster and couldn't stop herself before she nearly walked right into him, her duffle bag at her side bumping into his leg. But he didn't even budge.

"Inuyasha," she whispered in relief. Her arms snaked up and around him, her hands coming up to hang onto his broad shoulders. His arms immediately came around her, encompassing her in his warmth, with him. "Yasha..." 'I love you...' How she wanted to tell him. She was lost, in deep trouble, as to how far she had fallen for him so fast. As she felt his arms around her, her face against his chest, her arms hanging onto his back, feeling his strength in his entire body... she was doomed. She had become dependent on him.

"Kagome... hey." He didn't really know what else to say besides what he really wanted to say. 'I love you. I missed you. Be with me.' He held her in his arms and he felt... peace. She was such a balm to his soul. This one woman who could bring him to his knees.

Fans around them began to notice their intimate moment and came closer with their phones out. Many of them were giggling and pointing at the two, talking amongst each other, no doubt starting rumors about their true relationship with each other. Inuyasha looked up and saw everyone coming around them, his demon beginning to flex. He was protective of her, and right now he just wanted to have a minute with Kagome without people watching and battering them.

"Blue Lightning!" The fans came in closer as Miroku and Sango walked faster towards them, coming to help diffuse the fans' excitement. Everyone was now pumped to see both Inuyasha and Kagome together again, looking like a couple, sharing an intimate moment, confirming fan's suspicions all along. "Blue Lightning! Are you two together? You two are so cute together." Fans gave them all sorts of questions and comments as they pressed closer towards them.

"Alright, alright. Thank you, everyone, for your love and support towards Kikyo and her dancers," Naraku said. Inuyasha felt Kagome stiffen and she clutched the back of his shirt in her hands, squeezing herself into him even tighter. He frowned, looking down at the top of her head, confused as to her reaction. Naraku came through the crowd and stood in front of Inuyasha and Kagome with a smile, playing the role. "We just landed and had a long weekend, as many of you know. We would appreciate your kindness by giving us our space and letting us rest. Please feel free to lookup Kikyo's next event where you can attend our meet and greets there. But not here. We're all tired and just want to go home."

The fans smiled and took the hint, thankfully. They all put their phones away and left the three alone, giving Miroku and Sango an easier time to get to Inuyasha and Kagome.

"Inuyasha," Miroku said with a relieved smile, seeing him and Kagome in an embrace. Inuyasha nodded his head towards him but looked down, worried.

"Kagome?"

"Listen. We should get our luggage and go. No doubt there's more planes landing and fans will be noticing you two. The longer we stay, the more attention you're going to get," Naraku warned, turning around to look at Inuyasha. Inuyasha looked up at him and nodded his understanding but Kagome was still clinging to him for dear life. Naraku left the four of them and headed off to the carousel across the way. Miroku glared at his back as he left them.

"Kagome. Let's get your things and I'll take you home." She didn't respond but she did release her death grip on his shirt.

Kagome took a deep breath, taking in Inuyasha's scent. He smelled like the woods and spices, a masculine scent that made her weak in the knees. She felt so protected by him. As if he surrounded her with his strength and his will alone. Kagome frowned but released him slowly, letting her hands slide back around his torso, placing her palms on his chest. She would have to tell him. She would have to confess her feelings for him and how deeply in love she was with him. How he had become her world so quickly. She felt like she couldn't be in the world without him, and unbeknownst to him, after hearing Naraku's voice so close to her, she literally couldn't face her problems without him. Naraku sent shivers up her spine now and she would forever be wary around him.

Inuyasha slowly peeled Kagome off of him but he made sure to keep them connected. He held onto her hand as he led her towards the carousel to find her luggage. Miroku and Sango walked next to them.

"How was your weekend?" Inuyasha asked Miroku, wanting to know how things had gone. Maybe he could decipher from Miroku what happened with Kagome and why Miroku thought it important for him to be here for her. Inuyasha could see that he was needed but he didn't know why.

Miroku shrugged, holding Sango's hand as he walked next to his best friend. "Good. We all went out shopping the whole day yesterday and did the free spa massage last night. Some of us ate together with our coupon and then called it a night. I think we were all just pooped from the concert and then doing so much in the day that I don't even remember tucking myself in last night."

Sango giggled. "Shippo said you flopped onto the bed without even going under the covers. You were so tired that you knocked out cold."

Miroku laughed. "Yeah that sounds like it."

"Come, Kagome," Sango said, looking over at the other end. "Let's go wait for our bags." She left Miroku's side and went to grab Kagome's other hand, pulling her with her. Kagome looked back as Inuyasha released her hand with an encouraging smile. She smiled back and let Sango lead the way, the two of them talking as they waited with the crowd gathered close around the carousel.

"What happened?" Inuyasha asked now that they were alone.

Miroku grew serious. "I don't want you to get upset. Not here." Miroku's eyes scanned the place, looking at all the many people around, many of them being Kikyo's fans. Miroku was sure there were a few demons here too, many of them blending in with the humans while most found it not worth their time and did their own means of transportation. His eyes then fell on Naraku as the man was pulling his luggage off the conveyor belt and began to roll his suitcase outside. He passed the two of them with a smile and nod of his head, but Miroku could only glare at him in disgust as Naraku passed him by.

"Hey. Miroku. What's up?" Inuyasha asked, watching Miroku's demeanor change. He followed Miroku's line of sight and watched as Naraku left the building. "Hello?"

Miroku shook his head, running a hand through his hair in frustration. "I shouldn't be telling you this. Kagome should. I don't even know all the details because she told Sango and the girls just a few things..."

"Miroku! Honey, your bag!" Sango called, grabbing his luggage and tugging it off the belt.

Miroku sighed. "Not now, Inuyasha." He ran over to take his bag from her just as they noticed their bags coming closer. He helped them get their bags off the belt and then the three of them walked back towards Inuyasha with suitcases pulled behind them.

"I'll take you home, Kagome," Inuyasha said, reaching for her suitcase handle. Their hands brushed as he grabbed the handle from her, making her smile up at him in thanks. "I can take you guys home first," he said as he looked at Miroku and Sango.

"You're going back to your parent's?" Sango asked, the four of them moving out of the baggage claim as Inuyasha led the way towards the elevators, bypassing another herd of arriving passengers.

"Yeah. I left my things there. I was going to stay there the whole week until I figure out a time and place to talk to Kikyo."

Kagome frowned, remembering her conversation with Kikyo, but remained quiet. She walked next to Inuyasha, a million thoughts running through her mind. She wanted to have some alone time to talk with him about what happened. No doubt Miroku had already told Inuyasha what happened, or maybe not. But Sango was right. Naraku needed to stop acting like a jerk and harassing her. It seemed like he was only doing it to her, which she was glad that he wasn't harassing the other women, but she still didn't like it. This was her work environment and he was making it hard for her to go to work while having to be wary around him. She also wanted to have a talk with Inuyasha about this weekend. She had missed him, terribly. More than she would care to admit. And what Sango said was true. She needed to let Inuyasha love her and let herself love him. What will come of it will be. At least they will have each other to face it together. She knew that Inuyasha had feelings for her, he confessed them to her that night she slept with him, but she just didn't know if his feelings for her were as deep as hers for him.

"Okay. Yeah, drop us off first. Sango and I need some alone time," Miroku said, wiggling his eyebrows at her. Sango just shook her head with a snicker.

"Think you're getting laid because you asked me to marry you?"

Kagome laughed at their interaction, Inuyasha just shook his head as if he was used to this. Miroku wrapped his arm around Sango as they waited for their elevator, kissing her on the cheek, earning him a seductive smile, a look that confirmed his plans for tonight. The four of them got in and went up to head over the bridge towards Inuyasha's car.

-'-'-'-'-'-'-'-'-'-'-

Inuyasha put his car in park and shut it off. "Walk with me?"

Kagome turned to him and smiled, nodding her head. The two of them got out and made their way towards the entrance into Shinjuku Gyoen. Inuyasha or Miroku would always pick Kagome up here, at the park, but this time he wasn't going to simply drop her off. This time, Inuyasha wanted to walk the park with her and talk to her before she goes home.

The two of them entered the park and followed the paved path that was lit by blue streetlights. The blue gave a calming feeling, fitting since they were in a park. Inuyasha and Kagome walked for a few moments, none of them wanting to start but both of them having so much to say. Inuyasha decided he would have to make the first move.

"How did your weekend go?" He wanted to know what happened. Miroku didn't finish their conversation and it sounded like Miroku wanted him to ask Kagome for the details.

Kagome smiled as she looked up at the path they walked, seeing the dark silhouettes of trees and bushes around them. "It was fun. We did a lot of shopping yesterday. At least I had enough room in my suitcase to pack it all." She stayed quiet for a bit, steeling herself and talking to herself in her mind. 'Come on, Kagome. Just tell him.' Kagome took a breath and sighed, deciding it was time. "I missed you, Inuyasha."

Inuyasha's ears perked and he turned to look at her, shocked. "I missed you too, Kagome."

Now it was her turn to look at him, smiling at him. Kagome stopped, making him stop ahead of her and he turned to face her, wondering why she stopped. She smiled sadly, gazing up at him, weary. "Can we sit?"

Inuyasha frowned but nodded, leading the way off the main path and onto the grass. He could see much better than humans at night so he led them to a tree that was a ways from the blue lights along the paved path. They were still close enough where the lights would illuminate their figures so they could see each other, or so Kagome could see him, but still in the shadows where other visitors wouldn't be able to see them and pry. Inuyasha placed his hand on the tree as Kagome went to sit, sighing as she leaned her back against it. Inuyasha followed suit next to her and the two of them were back in silence.

"Tell me something, Yasha..."

"Hmmm?" he asked, turning his head to look at her.

Kagome looked up at the sky, wishing the stars were much brighter in the city. "Do you have feelings for Kikyo?"

Inuyasha made a face but she wasn't looking at him. He shook his head adamantly. "No. Who told you that? Did Kikyo say something? Is that why Miroku asked me to come tonight?" Now he was getting furious that Kikyo would say something to Kagome only to cause trouble.

Kagome heard the agitation and anger in his voice and turned to look at him, placing a hand on his thigh. "No. Wait. Miroku? What are you talking about?" She was confused as to what he was saying so quickly and angrily.

"Miroku called me last night and told me that I needed to come to the airport. That you needed me. But he didn't tell me why or what happened?" Kagome took her hand back as if he had burned her. He noticed. And he didn't like it. "What happened, Kagome? Tell me. Was it Kikyo?"

Kagome bit her bottom lip, shaking her head slowly. She hadn't expected to tell him this tonight. She wanted to confess her feelings to him and to see where his feelings for her and Kikyo stood. Not talk about that douchebag. 'Miroku didn't tell him.' She was surprised that Miroku didn't tell Inuyasha immediately. But he did know, enough to know to come to the airport. 'So that was why he was there.' He had come because Miroku had asked him to. But he had come for her. Because she needed him. And he came. She treasured that.

"Listen... I had wanted to talk to you about some things... but I'll tell you this only if you promise me that you won't get mad." She needed his word. She didn't want him storming off or wanting to go and find Naraku because she still had things that she wanted to say to him tonight. She needed to get it off her chest.

Inuyasha huffed. "I won't get mad. Unless I have a reason to."

Kagome giggled, turning to look at him with amusement. "That's not a very good promise."

He shrugged. "It's all I can give you. Now spill." He was serious.

Kagome smiled at him, wondering how he can be so cute and so serious at the same time. She brought her knees up against her chest, hugging them to her as she rested her temple against her knees, staring at him. "Miroku asked you to come to the airport because of what happened last night at the spa." She watched his reaction, wanting to judge for herself what he felt for her. "Naraku... did something to me last night."

Inuyasha's ears flattened against his head, his whole demeanor changing. His face grew hard and unreadable but his golden eyes were on fire. He was angry. "What happened? Did he touch you?"

Kagome shrugged, closing her eyes as if it was not a big deal. She didn't want to arouse his anger any further. She figured that her emotions would only set him off. If he knew what Naraku had done to her, how she had felt about it, no doubt he would probably hurt Naraku. But if she played it cool as if it wasn't that big of a deal, she hoped he wouldn't get so angry.

"I was in the onsen last night, by myself. I needed to think... about you and I," she said with a smile, but she didn't get a smile back. He was seriously not in the mood. "I was getting ready to leave when Naraku came in. I tried to leave... but he wouldn't let me leave the onsen. He blocked my path and kept advancing on me. I didn't want him near me so I kept going backwards until he had me sitting on the side of the onsen. He had his hands on either side of my legs and..." she turned from him. It was harder to tell him than she thought, much harder than the women last night. Telling Inuyasha... She felt dirty. She felt like Naraku had dirtied her and now that she was with Inuyasha, the one man whose touch she wanted, she felt so dirty and unworthy of his touch.

Kagome placed her chin on her knee, sadness overwhelming her. 'What do I do?' Inuyasha turned his body towards her so that he was sitting cross legged facing her. He placed his hand on her right one that was wrapped around her legs, resting on her left elbow.

"Tell me, Kagome."

She smiled, his voice soft now. He was reading her. He knew that she was having a hard time and could sense her sadness. He knew that she needed his comfort so he grew gentler with her, containing his anger to help ease her discomfort. Kagome turned her head, her sadness overwhelming her. She felt so lost. She realized that this man meant everything to her. If she lost him, if he rejected her because of Naraku or because of Kikyo, she would break.

"I love you, Inuyasha."

Inuyasha blinked, totally not expecting that. His anger suddenly disappeared at her confession, his hand falling onto his lap in shock. Her cheek was resting on her knee as she sadly smiled at him. He couldn't tell if she was trying to comfort him or change the subject or what. But her blue eyes... they were light in the darkness, reminding him of sea glass. She looked so fragile in front of him, so sad, as if she might break.

"I love you, Inuyasha." His golden eyes were so beautiful that she lost herself in him, the words that were on her heart just coming out in confession. "I think I've always loved you, but I just didn't know it. I don't know what love is. I don't know what love looks like. My perception of love is twisted and messed up. But I know that all this time... I was in love with you and I just didn't let myself feel it. I do love you, Inuyasha," she said again, feeling it was becoming easier the more she said it, as if a weight was lifted from her shoulders. The burden of bearing her feelings in silence, alone, had become such a heavy burden she didn't know she was carrying. Now that she told him, she felt free. Free to be hurt. Free to be rejected. But free of finally confessing her love for him. "I... said some things to Naraku. And to Kikyo. Things that could get me fired. If I am... I just wanted you to know how much you mean to me. I just... wanted you to know," she said, turning to rest her forehead against her knees, covering her shame. She couldn't look at him. He still didn't know what Naraku did to her to make her feel dirty. He didn't know what Kikyo said about the two of them, making her feel hurt and betrayed. She just wanted to cry at the absurdity of this entire situation and the emotions she was feeling. It was overwhelming.

Kagome gasped as Inuyasha pulled her arms apart to unclasp her knees. He pushed her shoulders back against the tree and kissed her. Kagome squeezed her eyes shut, her eyes burning with tears, and she lost herself in him. She kissed him back, pouring her love and trust into him, telling him without words her heartfelt plea. 'Please don't break my heart.' And as if he heard, Inuyasha responded with his answer. He kissed her with such passion that it lit a fire in her belly, a fire that threatened to burn her in flames. This feeling, she had never felt before with a man. Her belly had always been tightened, in knots, when she was like this with a man. But with Inuyasha... he gave her butterflies. He made her feel sexy, beautiful, and so feminine. Kagome opened her mouth to him and he responded immediately, his tongue meeting hers, the two of them battling for dominance. Kagome moaned and brought her hands up his neck, into his hair, holding him to her. They both were on fire for one another in just seconds, the two of them hanging onto each other as the fire threatened to consume them both. Inuyasha brought his hands around to her back, holding her body closer to him as he pulled her towards him, bringing her head away from the tree but using his hand to hold the back of her head. He wanted her. He wanted her bad. Her moans were lighting him on fire. This fire, a fire he had never felt for Kiyomi or any other woman before. But in just a few seconds, he was on the verge of losing control. She tasted so good. And she fought him, which only fueled his lust for her, as they shared a passionate and deep kiss. And he could smell her lust. A sweet, rich spice filled his nostrils, her body calling to his, his erection responding to the need of his mate's. Damn, he wanted her so bad. She felt so soft in his arms. Her moans were a sweet, sweet sound. The way her hands held him, pulled at his hair, and then wrapped around his neck as if she couldn't get any closer to him. Not as close as they needed. They needed closer. But not here.

Inuyasha used every ounce he had to pull his head back from her beautiful mouth, watching as her lips were parted, red and wet from his kisses. Her eyes were closed, her face was flushed. She was aroused. She was beautiful. "I love you, Kagome. I love you more than you know." Her eyes flew open and found his right before he couldn't help himself but to kiss her again. He brought his lips to hers and plunged his tongue into her opened mouth, this time, being more gentle. He coaxed her, gently telling her how he felt for her with his kiss. He wanted her to know how much she meant to him, how he was willing to give her anything and everything she asked. If she wanted the stars, he would find a way to give them to her. She was his Achilles heel. She was his greatest strength and his greatest weakness. He would do anything for her. He wanted her to know that.

Inuyasha smelt salt and felt wetness against his cheek. He slowly released his hold on her and pulled his head back to see that she was crying. "Kagome..." He released her so that he could wipe her tears away, frowning.

Kagome smiled, shaking her head as he gently wiped away her tears. His gentleness and care shook her. "I'm okay, Yasha. I just... can't believe this."

"What? How fast the two of us got swept away in that kiss?" he teased.

Kagome smiled and nodded her head, still flushed and totally turned on. "Yes, that. But also... I can't believe that this is happening."

Inuyasha stilled, wondering if she was saying what he thought she was saying. He held his breath. "What is happening?"

Kagome brought one hand to rest on his chest and the other to cup his cheek. "Us. I want to be with you, Inuyasha."

She had never seen him smile like that before. Inuyasha's eyes lit up and she couldn't help but smile at the excitement and happiness that she saw in him. She giggled just as he kissed her again, kissing her noisily over and over. Kagome giggled, both hands on either side of his face as she tried to get away from his little butterfly kisses.

"Inuyasha!" she said with laughter, her heart so full of joy and happiness that she was unable to contain it. Kagome moved her head away to avoid his kisses but Inuyasha only moved his lips down to her neck, leaving little kisses on her neck, giving her goosebumps. Kagome giggled and squirmed, pushing against his chest in playfulness. "Stop!" she laughed.

Inuyasha laughed with her, feeling like everything was right. Feeling like he had everything he had ever wanted right here. He was happy, content and he finally got what he wanted. Her. He wanted Kagome. And he wanted her to want him back. "Kagome... I love you... so much," he said, leaving one last kiss on her neck. He straightened and her hands fell to his lap. He grabbed both of her hands and pulled her into his lap, easily lifting her and settling her in his lap. Inuyasha turned so that his back was against the tree as he held her against his chest, feeling like he had everything that he could ever want right here.

Kagome smiled to herself, cuddling into his chest. She was struck as to what she was feeling sitting in his lap. At first, when he lifted her, she was about to object. She was a grown woman sitting in a grown man's lap. But then, as he settled her in his lap and settled the two of them back against the tree, feeling his arms around her, she hadn't expected to feel what she was feeling. She felt like a little child that finally had the safe arms that she needed to protect her from this evil world. Her heart constricted in pain at the feeling, the overwhelming memories and emotions that flooded her. Kagome wrapped her arms up and under his, hanging onto his shoulders, pulling herself tighter against him.

"Inuyasha... there's things about me that you need to know."

Inuyasha squeezed her tighter and kissed the top of her head. "One step at a time. I know there's a lot that you hide from others. But I also know that you have trusted me with more than you've trusted anyone. And believe me when I say this, Kagome... you can trust me. Trust me with you. With all of you. Because I love you. There's nothing that will make me stop loving you."

'You say that now...' He didn't know the depths of her pain, the harsh realities of her past, the secret life of her present. He really didn't know who she was. But she would trust him. He asked for her trust and she would give it to him. Slowly over time, as long as he would have her, she would love him and trust him with all of her heart.

"Tell me... do you have feelings for Kikyo?" she asked again, needing to know. Her cheek rested on his chest and she felt his deep intake of breath as he let it out in a loud sigh.

"No. I don't have any feelings for her. What did she tell you?"

"Last night... we got into a little confrontation." She felt him stiffen and his arms got loose as if he was going to let her go, so she grabbed onto him tighter. "Hold me." He did. He shifted his legs a little and held her, but she could still feel his agitation and his wariness. He needed to know what happened. So she told him everything, from Naraku to Kikyo, she told him.


AN: So... what did you think? Let me know. I know it was a lot, and there were a couple things I snuck in there. I wonder if you caught it? ;P I wanted to ask just for fun... What is the song that Inu thought about for their next duet? LMK ^_^