Disclaimer: I claim no ownership of Sengoku Otogizoushi - InuYasha or Yu Yu Hakusho. InuYasha belongs to Takahashi Rumiko, Shogakukan, Viz Media, ShoPro Entertainment, and Shounen; while Yu Yu Hakusho belongs to Togashi Yoshihiro, Shueisha, Viz Media, and Shounen. No profit or money of any kind is made from this fan-created crossover.

Five Years Ago

XI. Her Answer

Kagome laughed, trying to play off his haiku as a joke. After all, he was Urameshi Yuusuke: the guy who had turned algebra into a stripping game; who used crappy pick-up lines while working with hot beverages; and who had gotten them both banned from the library. He was a massive flirt, and she figured that this was no different.

Except he was not laughing with her.

In typical serious though nonchalant Yuusuke fashion, he stared at her. His eyebrow quirked in a "not amused" way, and his hand propped up his head.

"You're serious," she said slowly as the realization came over her.

"Do I honestly come across as a guy who jokes about kissing?" he asked and she blushed.

Mainly because the first answer that came to mind was, "Yes." She did not say it, but it was obvious he knew if the way his lips quirked was anything to go by.

Yet the more she thought about it, the more she realized it was the opposite. Yes, he was a flirt and a huge pervert who never missed a chance to cop a feel and someone who had no reservations about hitting women (as she had the bruise to prove it), but he had a softer side. He had his sweet and adorable moments, too. Like right now.

She could hear his fingers drumming against the denim of his pants. And there was a certain nervous glint in his eyes. He had a good reason to be nervous and it was one word: Keiko.

Kagome was sure neither Yuusuke or Keiko had ever been in such a situation before, or even planned on it. Yet she had been in a similar enough one to know she should walk away.

Though she did not want to do so.

XII. Hopeless Attraction

So she smiled at him, and she heard his nervous action stop. "No, you're really not," she said. And she meant it.

Perhaps it showed because he stared at her, his elbows leaving the table in his school's library. This time, it was her feeling nervous as he stared at her and said nothing. She knew she would not be doing this to him anytime soon again; it was too nerve-wracking.

Then, he grabbed a curl of her hair and tugged. So she slapped his hand on reflex. She did not mean to; it had become natural for her to do so with Yuusuke.

He smirked. "For a second I was worried I entered some alternate reality where you're nice and sweet."

It took a second for her to realize he had insulted her. "That's the thanks I get for being nice and agreeing with you? See if I do it again!"

"Yeah, because I so enjoy making it through the day being smacked around."

They glared at each other before looking away. She with her arms crossed, and Yuusuke with his nose in the air. It lasted only a minute before they both cracked a smile.

"Someone has to knock your brain around," she said after another minute.

He snorted. "Someone has to make you use yours."

"Jerk." She laughed.

"Yeah, tell me something I don't know," he said. "Like your answer."

"My answer to what?" she asked with exaggerated sweetness.

"You know to what, so don't play fucking coy, Kagome."

"You really are serious about this, then," she muttered. She felt as though he heard her as he looked at her with very obvious humor. "Hm, I think," she drawled out before pausing. She leaned forward as if she was going to kiss him. "Nope," she said and left.

XIII. Pressure

That had been a month ago, and Yuusuke had not given up. Though it would not be her first kiss, and she knew it would not be his either, it would be a very deliberate one they would be consciously partaking in. She had never had such a kiss before, and it made her nervous. Especially since it would be with Yuusuke. Kissing him would push her crush past that and into full-blown love. And given the whole "not love triangle" between them and Keiko... It was better for it to never cross that line.

She already knew how it would play out. She was not the girl from his past, so she knew she would not win. It had not happened with Inuyasha, so why would it with Yuusuke?

It did not keep her from wanting to be selfish and keep him all for herself. After all, he was the one going after her. She would admit that it did feel nice to be pursued. Even if he did it on near-stalking terms.

Such as how he was now following her as she did some grocery shopping. As if wearing sunglasses counted as a disguise.

She sat down on one of the store benches outside and looked straight at him. He trudged over with a pout and his hands shoved in his jacket's pockets, and sat down next to her.

"You should try a hat next time, Yuusuke," she teased.

His pout deepened into a scowl. "Yeah right. You got some sixth sense about me like Keiko does."

She smiled sadly. "Well, you are you, Yuusuke. Plus, sunglasses aren't really a disguise."

"Che, whatever."

"So why have you been following me?" she asked.

He stretched out, resting his arms along the top of the bench. "I want an answer."

XIV. Now or Never

He did not look at her when he had said that, and it made Kagome nervous. Rarely was he so serious, and it showed in his low tone. She knew how to handle flirty Yuusuke, even playfully serious Yuusuke, but serious Yuusuke? It was still a new side of him for her.

Her hands shook as she pushed her hair behind her ear. "I'll give you my answer," she said, "but after you answer some questions for me."

He glanced at her before shrugging. "Fair enough. Shoot."

"What do you want?"

This time he stared at her as he removed his shades. His grin that said he was up to no good or perverted antics appeared on his face. "You, obviously. Duh, Kagome."

The way he spoke to her made her flush in embarrassment, though his words made her angry. She knew he knew what she meant, and he chose to take the perverted route. "That's not what I meant, and you know it!"

He sighed. "The hell am I supposed to say? That if you say yes everything will turn out all right and shit sunshine and rainbows? It won't be doing that even if you say no."

"No, I know that." She scowled. "I just-What about Keiko?"

He looked away from her, and she knew it was wrong to ask him for a simple answer that just did not exist in their complicated relationship. She did not want to be the other woman, and she did not want to ruin the years of friendship he had with Keiko. As she knew Keiko was not going to just give up. The problem was if Yuusuke said he wanted to try, she did not think she would be able to say no.

"Do you want to try?" he asked.

XV. Trying

Kagome wished he had not asked such a question of her. Yet she was not all that surprised. He was always turning conversations and questions around on her. She felt as though he enjoyed doing this to her. Normally she did not mind it as it was done with easy, teasing questions and conversations.

She sighed. "Yes...and no."

"Way to kill my ego. And what kind of answer is that anyway? 'Yes and no.' My mom makes more sense drunk off her ass," he said. She could feel him glaring at her, yet she did not dare look at him.

"It's not as easy as you'd like for it to be, Yuusuke," she said. "This is a complicated situation."

"Uncomplicate it for me, then."

She breathed out his name in exasperation, and dared to look over at him. As she suspected, he was staring at her. He offered no teasing smile, no challenging set of his chin. "I do want to try, Yuusuke. I want to see what might happen. But, Keiko... She's a good friend. An actual friend. It would break her heart because she loves you.

"And then there's you... Who do you want? Why? Can you handle breaking either one of our hearts? Could you handle losing our friendship? Do you even want to?"

His hand grabbed her arm and pulled her closer to him. He gave no answer as to what his next action would be or why, and it unnerved Kagome. She looked away again. "Please, just answer me, Yuusuke."

"Not until you look at me," he said.

So she did. As soon as her head faced him, his lips covered hers. She knew she should have turned away, shoved him, or something to break the kiss, yet she deepened it and changed everything.

All are perfect pieces of flash fiction/ficlets: exactly 300 words.