A/N: Wahoo another chapter! I had down time and rewatched all of Ouran and Fullmetal Alchemist this week! Yesh! Enjoy! Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah *it was last week, but belated is better than no well wishes... mmmm latkes*.

Disclaimer: I don't own anything.

She wouldn't let go of him for at least five minutes. It couldn't be said just who sobbed the hardest as they clung onto each other.

He still smelled like dirt and sweat and ramen.

Five hundred years and he was still her best friend.

Words didn't matter right now.

It was enough to hug him and know he was alive.

"Lemme lookit cha," he begged, tugging Kagome back to peer down at her with glassy golden eyes. Her fingers reached up for the ears that were gone and she tugged on his black locks that were tied back in a messy ponytail. "It's just a cover up," he stated. She touched his face where the tears were. "Feh." He immediately pawed at the deceptive tears that betrayed how truly happy he was. Seeing Kagome again was a close tie with the day he first became a father. "I've just got somethin' in my eyes that's all." She patted his hair when he cupped her face. He was looking down at her like a man finding a new faith. "It's really you! Kagome!" He swung her around by the waist and was laughing and cheering while she giggled. The guy she'd grown to have as a companion, best friend, and a brother was back in her life.

No ghost of him would haunt her dreams.

Inuyasha set her down. "He found us, Kagome. Your man. That Kyoya guy." Her smile fell a bit, but she looked wistful, as if she couldn't believe it but wanted to. "Kagome. He really does care for you." If he hadn't figured us out he would've cleaned out the shop and sent it to you apologizing. Hell, I wanted to clean out the shop when he broke it down for us." He was leading her towards the house, tugging on her hand. "Pretty much gave us a quick bit of what happened." He paused suddenly and spun back ground, his hands gripped onto her tiny fingers. She knew his ears would've flattened down by now. When he looked at her she was worried he might cry again. "I'm sorry, about the monk."

Kagome looked away. But his nose caught it. Salty tears. And sorrow.

His eyes hardened when she didn't say anything. She couldn't say anything. He tugged on her hands and made sure she was looking him full in the face. It was the hardest thing for him. If he had just killed Kikyou when he had the chance after she'd been brought back to life, if he'd taken into account his friendship before his first love… things wouldn't have happened this way. Kagome might still be with the monk. Hell, they might have been popping out kids by now. "If I could go back in time and kill that bitch I'd do it a thousand times over."

He knew a thing or two about the pain of curses. He'd been cursed to a tree for fifty years so he could feel the imposing power radiating off of Kagome. A clawed finger touched her throat. "No worries, Kagome. You've got family to help. Lots and lots of family, wench."

Once those words were out of his mouth a ruckus of noise came careening to their ears from inside the house. Plates shattered, feet pattered, and in a moment a ball of red streaked forward and landed against the half-demon's chest. "INUYASHA!" He burrowed his face in Inuyasha's chest. A little ball of auburn fluff.

"RUNT!"

Souta peered around the doorway and stumbled. "Inuyasha!" He craned his head inside to shout. "Mama! Gramps! Get out here! Inuyasha's alive!"

A phone call later and the Hitachinn car was pulling up beside Hikaru who were standing just outside of Haruhi's apartment complex. His face was contemplative, more than Kaoru had ever seen his brother's face to be in his entire life. He hopped out of the car and was quick to notice that Hikaru was faintly blushing. Hmm, apparently things had went well on his end. Kaoru didn't know what Hikaru had done, only that his mission today had been to gain a date as well.

The twin hastened to open the door and peered at his younger brother as he scooted onto a seat. "So, how'd your date go Kaoru?"

The younger twin shrugged in reply. He didn't get the girl, but he did get some closure. "Eh, the first date of many." Though not necessarily with her.

"She turned you down?" Sometimes Hikaru's bluntness really could wound you. Thank God it wasn't fatal.

"Yeah, but it's hard not to like her more for how she did it," Kaoru complained. If she'd pulled a dramatic fit of tears like any girl, if she'd been wooed right over on the first date… she wouldn't be Kagome. Though it would've been easier for him to accept defeat had she been a little bit less like herself. "I wish I'd beaten Kyoya to the punch, but there are more fish in the sea." Hikaru frowned and went to toss an arm over Kaoru's shoulders. It had taken all the bravery in the world for his younger brother to wake up this morning and go out on a date.

"Very mature." Hikaru said while eyeing Kaoru. Something was up. Kaoru pulled away from his arms with a wide smile. "Though you didn't come back with the girl, you sound pretty smug."

"What can I say?" He strutted and plucked at his shirt a bit. "Kagome made sure I knew I was a hot commodity, not just us." He wagged his finger between the two of them.

Hikaru rolled his eyes. "Sounds like you had fun, Kaoru."

Fun was an understatement. Other dates would have a hard time competing with this one. Though they could obviously end better. Maybe next time he might actually get the girl. "Eh, you win some and lose some." Kaoru leaned back in his seat with obvious amusement. He was about to dump the cat right out of the bag. "I'm glad 'Operation Double Date' was a success for Haruhi and myself," he chirped. Hikaru's eyes widened as the words sunk in.

"Wait! What?"

"Yeah, apparently those girls got to talking. Everything was planned. We need to give Haruhi more credit than we thought." He was looking away, but not far away enough that he couldn't easily see his twin out of the corner of his eye to gauge his reaction. "She wanted to go on a date with you."

The sight was priceless as Hikaru was speechless for once in his life and his eyes widened to saucer-like proportions.

He sipped on his tea with a content smile. He was still as loud as he had been when they were younger. It was strange. There were still the same mannerisms he'd had five hundred years ago, but Inuyasha was more… tame. He actually looked like he'd let life slow down around him. The sad thing was that she couldn't speak up, but Inuyasha didn't mind waiting as she continued writing their conversation out on paper. Some moments he would tease her because he couldn't read her hasty scribbles. Her mother had been so excited she'd almost dropped the laundry she'd been carrying. However, her mother hadn't been able to stay long. She'd taken up an extra job to keep their shrine afloat and had to rush within an hour to the grocery store down the road. Sota sat there for a while, but quickly scampered off for his sister and Shippo to catch up. Some reunions were better left alone. Especially one that had been over five hundred years in coming.

"I would've come seen you sooner." He was apologizing for the hundredth time again. "But they made me promise not to interfere. We kept count and everything and figured you were dead." He meekly shrugged. "But you guys disappeared when he did so we weren't going to return. We didn't think your family should know." Here he looked as guilty as someone convicted for murder. "Five hundred years meant no matter what you were dead… I'm sorry Kagome. We just didn't know what happened and didn't want to bring more burden to your family."

"Miroku saved us," piped up Shippo.

That was pretty much what Inuyasha figured as soon as he'd realized they were alive. That monk was a gentleman and being so close to the well he was hardly one to let a damsel and a child die on account of him. Especially when it was his own wife and kid. "You'll have to tell me what happened." He ducked his head shamefully. As if he were at fault for her being mute. "Y'know. Write it down for us. When you have time."

She reached out and slid her hand over his own in a gesture she'd done countless times when they were younger. It meant that everything was okay. They were still friends through good times and hell.

Shippo's cheeks were iced with chocolate from the coated marshmellows on sticks he'd been popping into his mouth like they were pez bits and not huge desserts. "It was Kikyou," piped up Shippo. "Kikyou cursed mama after she and Miroku killed the cheetah demon."

A flash of bright yellow over his eyes. "Kikyou," he growled out, remembering her betrayal as his eyes took on a bright golden hue. Feral red rimmed it at the memories, but he easily tampered it down.

When the second part sank in there was another flash of light.

There they were.

Razor claws sinking into the table like soft cheese.

"Cheetah demon?!"

Kagome was the one to look ashamed this time. But it wasn't her fault that she couldn't tell him on her own what had happened. "You should've seen them fight!" Shippo stood up on his chair and had his little fist poised. He launched a fist. "The cheetah cornered Kagome while Miroku was distracting Kikyou!"

The priestess reached over and touched Shippo's shoulder to quiet him. He looked up and understood. This was a tale better left for her to tell. It was her story after all. "Mama can tell you later."

The half-demon shook his head. At least the two hadn't changed. Aside from a little growing up on both of their parts, but Kagome had matured way ahead of him anyway. He took a peek at his watch. Rin had forced it on his wrist one Christmas because he was always late for appointments.

"Shit! I need to get the kids." Kagome's eyes flew wide open as he stretched his arms up to get the kinks out. She got a good look at his shirt and could barely believe it. "Yeah, that's another story for another time, Kags." He quickly got up and was rushing for the door. He paused. "Oh, and I've got a surprise for you. Come to our shop tomorrow at noon." He grabbed her hands and his illusion shifted. There he was. The half-demon she knew standing in front of her in twenty-first century clothes. His claws brushed her wrist. "Promise you'll come. You won't be disappointed, Kags."

She nodded. He tossed her a cocky grin and then his illusion shimmered back on as he disappeared out the door, but most certainly not out of her life.

A moment to herself. Shippo was tucked into her bed. He'd fallen asleep after reading a bedtime story. She hadn't had the heart to pick him up and carry Shippo to his room. With a soft click she shut the bathroom door and pried open the well-worn letter. It was creased, but the words were dark and his message was conveyed. In such a way that a noticeable blush flushed over her face.

There is no easy way of telling you this, Kagome. I hope that I am the first one to tell you this tomorrow. I don't want you to hear it from the others. However, my actions are restricted for I can't contact you any other way. I'm constantly being watched by my father. You might think I'm joking, but my father takes such extremes, especially when it concerns a business deal. Said business deal being a forced engagement between myself and Renge.

Please don't put the note down.

I don't want it, Kagome.

I don't want to marry Renge.

Nor do I intend to marry Renge.

For the first time in my life I've found someone I'm genuinely interested in. Not necessarily suited to. I know this doesn't make sense. The time we've spent together is nothing compared to how much more I know other girls in this school, richer girls with the pedigree my father would approve of… but they're not you.

Kagome, something seems right when I am around you.

I'm going to find a loophole. For now I need you to pretend we are only friends. I don't want to pretend. I despise being forced into anything, but just for a while. I will find a way for us to see each other. Just trust me.

This message was before they'd gotten as close as they were now.

He'd been planning on giving it to her before word broke out over the school.

Kagome slipped her note into her pocket and took up his ledger. She needed air. Carefully she tiptoed out of the room, downstairs, and walked onto the back porch where the coming sunset was.

This. Of all things.

He could have sent a slip of paper with a mere message. This message! It would've sufficed!

But no.

He'd given her his life bared out before him. This thick black notebook he couldn't live without was in her possession. She pried it open and flipped to the bookmarked page.

On the top of that page he wrote: You may read anything you want. It's just notes over the course of the Host Club. But these three pages are my message to you.

She skimmed over the early ones. Every page was neatly dated. Some pages were clearly accounts of what was spent within the club and what was earned. On the pages where she had come into his life he'd clearly begun a sort of observatory log of her like she was some new alien species. For the most part, this black notebook was Kyoya's journal. He'd called her "infuriating" and gradually began marking her changes with the doctors. At one point there was a phrase that made her duck her head. A flower found among lowly weeds. She is the perfect hostess for our club.

Note: She chipped a thousand dollar plate today. Add to her or Haruhi's hours.

Stingy bastard, she thought with a roll of her eyes, but she couldn't stop the dimpled smile.

Three pages, front and back. And the first page was a draft of the back of the page.

A poem.

Kyoya, the overlord of darkness and purveyor of all greed and things that benefited him, had written a Haiku for her. He'd written many, but had neatly scripted out in elegant writing one that he obviously had thought the best for her.

Ice formed my heart

And then you swept in, my wind

Bringing me summer.

A pen was pulled out and Kagome dared to write in his notebook. Her own response to what he'd bared open for her.

Summer had changed

Longed for winter's caress

To return to her.

And then she returned to the pages where she'd broken things, crossing them out, and writing above them little notes of her own.

This cancels out because Tamaki broke a glass at my house, she wrote beside one of the clumsy moments in the book where she or Haruhi did something. Soon Kyoya's notebook wasn't strictly his own. It was a shared bit of bits and pieces between the two of them.

And as she giggled and set the notebook and pen down, Kagome crawled off of the back porch and stood up to welcome the night that was following closely the purpling sky. The chill night air kissed her cheeks and for a moment she thought she vaguely had the notion the wind was caressing her.

The night just felt alive and full of prospect. Kagome walked barefoot over the grass and was lost to the sensations that she felt coming back to her from the past. She had only to close her eyes to be back in Edo. But she needn't go back. She was happy here and her friends had returned to her. Over stretches of time they had come to her and not the other way around. They were still connected after all of this time. It just felt right, like the fates were rewarding her after what she'd sacrificed by being allowed to keep the rest of her past family. She began humming happily one of the first songs she'd learned on the shamisun and her fingers outstretched to find the god tree's bark. If she felt just a bit higher, close to where thick branches began forming, she would find an old heart and a pair of five-hundred-year-old fading initials chiseled into the wood. She knew her monk would approve of her happiness being found again.

The priestess leaned against the tree basking in the fact that for once she felt like things might go her way. With closed blissful eyes she walked around the tree back to where she'd started.

And when she opened her eyes she saw him.

Casually sitting on the porch.

A dark figure, just a shadow really, but she knew that shape anywhere. The staff. The form. The robes.

Kagome took off for the porch, but a bunch of sakura petals blew by it and before she even reached the porch the phantom had vanished. She stretched her fingers out, probing for what he'd trained her to feel for in those early lessons on her priestess powers.

Spirits.

Someone had been here. Someone who meant her no harm and she could still feel the aura. They'd once been a holy being. The emotions swamped over her. Love.

To have it confirmed, well, Kagome was a little shaken. But what really shook her was when she looked down. The ledger was wide open. And there scrawled in a very unmistakable hand were the words: Tell him your story, Lady Kagome.

The name he'd called her since the day they first met.

Her heart skipped a beat.

She spun around searching the darkness for him. The only things that answered her searching gaze were lightning bugs and the soft wind chime on the porch.

It had been him. He'd given her permission.

Permission to move on.

And she knew it was him not just because of the handwriting, but at the bottom of the page was a bunch of elegant characters that read:

Miroku.

Suddenly chilled to the bone, Kagome gathered up the ledger and walked back into the house. Not without hearing a soft jingle that sounded like a familiar monk's staff.

She snapped the door shut and sat at the kitchen table. After a moment of thought she took a deep breath and then took up the pen again. Sure, she might get carpal tunnel writing everything out. But it was time to tell Kyoya. Everything.

Kyoya had been invited to the shop at three. He didn't know what they had planned; only that something smelled fishy. For once though, he was willing to take 'fishy' with stride.

Through double pairs of glass, his specks and the window, he saw Kagome lit up like a candle with joy as everyone jostled for her attention. He drank in the sight of her. She was resplendent in every way, shape, and form. Kyoya straightened his over-sized jacket. He'd left his phone in the care of someone he trusted. The bright and bumbling Tamaki who was sitting in the Suoh personal theater in the second mansion. He had the Host Club over for a movie and his phone was probably sitting in the seat next to Tamaki. The most likely place his father would suspect him. He didn't know how well those tracking devices in cell phones could work so it was better safe than sorry.

Anything to shake off his father. For extra measure he'd tossed all of his clothes, not knowing if his father had taken the precautions to have him bugged. He'd dressed in some pretty shabby commoner's clothes and a wig and trekked it here. One taxi paid in cash and he was now in front of the shop. Did he dare go in and interrupt their happiness? Before he could look away her blue eyes clashed with his through the glass window and he was immobile. There was no turning away now.

Time seemed to freeze when they both realized that the other was truly there.

The way he looked at her made Kagome's heart thud in her chest. His warm eyes looked so gentle that Kagome felt the blood flush her body from head to toe. And before she knew what she was doing she'd taken off towards the door. She'd forgiven him as soon as she'd seen him. All that fury that had been legendary with her friends couldn't hold up when she'd missed him so damn much.

She was breath-taking to behold and looked bashful as she held the door open for him. Inviting him back into her life. Not that he'd ever left it considering how present he'd been in the back of her mind.

With her free hand she pulled out the messy letters she had from him, as if to confirm that everything was swept under the rug between them. But that wasn't enough. He needed her to truly know that he regretted what was happening in regards to his engagement and how he'd treated her.

He stepped over the threshold and was no longer aware of other eyes upon him. All he could think of was that this was the closest he'd been to her in days. She reached out with a hand to touch the fake brown hair. A fling of his hand tore off the wig and sent it tumbling to the floor. In two steps he had her pressed against him in a loving embrace and his nose was touching her neck while she buried her face against his shoulders. "I've missed you, Kagome." Even saying her name was a taste of Heaven on his tongue. A name he dared not say in the presence of his father.

A throat cleared behind them and Kagome sprang away, but Kyoya's hold on her waist didn't loosen. Clearly marking what was his and that he wouldn't let go of her for the world. "It's a pleasure to meet all of you."

Yup. There was no denying it. From the looks of it, the duo was smitten.

"It appears we have you to thank," said Sesshomaru. He'd done some digging into her past that he and Sango hadn't been aware of. If Kagome hadn't have met Kyoya and her friend, Haruhi, many things might not have transpired. He'd found she'd visited the Nekozawa beach house and with a quick call had confirmed many things from Umehito. If her curse was any hinting, her future happiness may yet hinge on this young man.

"Won't you join us?" Sango felt indebted to Kyoya. If Kagome hadn't been at that zoo… well, everything happened for a reason. "We have something we'd like to discuss with you two." She pulled out a chair and Kyoya went to sit in it, not before pulling out a chair beside himself for Kagome first. He held her hand, not wanting to let go. Okay, that bit was somewhat like Miroku. Though he'd yet to do anything perverted in front of them. Maybe he had better sense than the monk had.

"I'm all ears," he said.

They'd discussed everything with the others the night before while their kids had slept soundly in a shared room. "We were thinking we could act as your conduit."

"Wh-at?" Rin found it so adorable when Kagome tried words. Yes, it was horrible what happened to Kagome, but it was still cute as all get out.

"You two could meet here. That is, if you've forgiven each other." Kagome nodded emphatically, her fingers clutching onto his own. She needed to be beside him. Only a few days had passed, but it felt like an eternity considering the bad air that had been left between them.

"We'll cover for you both," stated Inuyasha. The fact that the two needed cover to meet to begin with was hard on his nerves. Him and Sesshomaru would have to fix that right away. "And this way we'll get to see the wench more and get to know you."

"Your father wants to align himself with my father," said Rin. "And Kagome's the bargaining chip."

"We were thinking you and Sesshomaru could talk to each other and think over a plan," suggested Inuyasha. "As far as I can tell, the wedding's over with now that we're involved." Kagome would've hugged them had not Kyoya been hanging onto her. And so she wept. Happily. "Oy! Not the waterworks again!"

"Inuyasha, you've yet to tell Kagome something else, something about Kouga." Rin nudged her husband.

His ears perked up. "Oh yeah. I forgot all about that mangy wolf." There had actually been details in that scroll about the wolf leader, Kouga. He'd been young and brash. Kyoya had also read he'd been madly in love with Kagome. "It's a good thing you never took a shine to Kouga cause he was-"

"Your ancestor!" Sango broke in excitedly. Inuyasha glared at her. "Sorry, couldn't help myself. I felt like I needed to tell her something to. You've both been filling her ears with so much information, I felt left out."

Kagome's eyes widened. "You see, Kouga and Ayame married and had a bunch of wolf cubs. But they always taught them not to mistreat humans and one ended up falling in love with a priestess. And well they had children, and so on, and so on. Isn't that right, Sesh?"

"Hnn."

"So, somewhere inside of you is a bit wolf," piped in Rin. "We think that might be the reason why Kouga took to you so quickly."

Kyoya squeezed Kagome's hand. These people were his way out of the marriage. But he knew Kagome wouldn't want to hurt Renge. "I believe, before Sesshomaru and I speak, Kagome and I need to talk personally with Renge." It might help anyway to have one more person on their side… hopefully, she'd still be on their side and wouldn't hate them. Despite the dangerous repercussions it could have, he wanted to try and do things not quite as underhandedly. Call it Kagome's good influence.

Their eyes locked. "Yes," she said. Kagome also didn't want to hurt anyone if she couldn't help it. Pain would be imminent regardless for Renge finding out, but better them than from a random third party.

Sango waved her hands. "Okay, okay. You two get to decide when you want to plan things out. But we're here for you."

The day wore on and Kyoya had to be back at Tamaki's by eight. Sesshomaru had called for a inconspicuous taxi and paid the driver greatly, telling him to take Kyoya wherever he wished to go. "We'll just be going," said Sango, not at all subtle.

"Just lock the doors behind you for us," called Rin, placing a key on the bar. "We have a spare."

"Oy. And don't do anything in the shop or I'll kill you," threatened Inuyasha. He pointed to his nose ominously. "The nose knows all." And they left.

Kyoya looked sadly back at her. "I need to be leaving soon. I've got to get to Tamaki's before nine or we might be caught." She solemnly nodded and got up to switch off the lights. The room was bathed in darkness and only the street lights bleakly lightened the room Kyoya pulled her back against his chest. This was one darkness that Kagome welcomed. It wasn't so bad with him holding onto her and the street lights outside.

"Kyo-ya." She spun around in his arms and wrapped her limbs around his warm neck. Kagome stood on tip toe to kiss his cheeks and his nose. He was alive with every peck. "Kyo-ya." She nipped at his chin. "Kyo-ya."

He needed her to kiss his lips right then and there. The heady kiss he gave her seared her body sending a fire running down her spine. He pressed her against the door leading to the kitchen and tangled his fingers in her hair. With their bodies so close to one another he practically memorized the curves pressed against him. "Kagome, I want to go on a da-" She kissed him into silence with kiss after kiss on his lips. She tasted rich. Chocolate on her tongue. Innocently erotic. It was a sin to have gone so long without being in her presence, much less kissing her.

He knew. Whatever he wanted they could find a way. They could go on a date. They could be a proper couple. All he had to do was use his skills of detection in the reverse and keep himself under the radar. He'd have to enlist the help of his best friends, but those fools would do anything for love as it appeared he was doing. At least until he thought up a plan with Sesshomaru. But honestly that man was probably five steps ahead of him with something already cooked up.

Just how the hell was he thinking when she was biting his ear?!

He groaned at the delicious action of her blunt teeth tugging at his lobe. He never knew his ears were sensitive until now.

His hand began gravitating upwards in a motion that she knew so well, but not the course of direction. It felt… well, like him. His fingers gripped the round mound and gave it a squeeze and she gasped.

Instinct reared its ugly head and she'd slapped Kyoya before either of them could register what had happened.

She waved her hands around. "No, no." Gah, if only she could get the words out. Dammit all! Brazen fingers grabbed his and with a blush she placed them right back over where they'd been on her wrinkled up shirt.

His eyebrows shot up. And he didn't know how else to broach the subject than to be blunt. "You liked it?" She nodded furiously. "Then, why did you slap me?" His hand left her breast to rub at his sore cheek a bit. His mind was still in a bit of a haze, in no quick effort to climb down off of the euphoria she'd given him.

"Ha-bit," she admitted. Her face was turning a shade darker with every minute. To try and sweep aside her embarrassment she leaned back up to kiss him and he just couldn't stop laughing against her lips at that guilty look she'd had.

"I've missed you," he muttered, kissing her forehead. His eyes became heavy and somber. "God help me, I've missed you." He pulled away. "But we both have to go back." She held onto his arm greedily. Not wanting to leave the shop. When they left the shop it would all have to go back to normal. They would have to keep pretending while Kyoya figured out a plan for the two of them to be together.

Kagome ran a hand through his hair and went to cup his cheek. Touching him felt great. His head chased after her hand leaning right into it and her face went soft with emotion. It was right. They already belonged to each other. Maybe Shippo had been right. Maybe he was meant to be hers. Forever.

Two hands descended on her wrists and held them in a cobra-like grip. Worried blue eyes met his smoldering ones. "Don't do that Kagome." He backed her against the oven and she was aware of the cold behind her and the ever present warmth of his body in front of her. "When you touch me like that… when you look at me like that…" He leaned down until their foreheads were touching and his eyes had trapped her with the fire burning behind them. "It's all I can do not to take you right here."

She gulped and instantly had the image of him and her defiling this kitchen in every way imaginable. A tangle of clothes on the floor, limbs worshiping each other, moans and whispers, and a baser instinct attributed to Kyoya that she'd yet to see. To hell with Inuyasha's nose and the repercussions!

Almost as if he knew she was going to lean forward and kiss him, he took a step back, still holding her wrists pinned to the oven. "I know we haven't been together long, but you make me want to act everything I wasn't bred to be." He'd toss that gentleman routine out the window for her, but he wanted to show her that he loved her first. Not that he constantly lusted after her. There was a difference between the two and he wanted to make sure she was well aware of his truer feelings.

Kagome didn't know how to convey that she felt the same with the strain on her throat for making words. So she simply said, "Me. Too." He placed a chaste kiss on her cheek and let go of her wrists only to bring them up to his lips to kiss where he'd held them. She pried her fingers away to straighten his glasses.

"Let's go, Kagome."

It may not have been a chariot, but the taxi ride home had been everything a fairytale should've been made of simply because he'd placed his arm around her shoulders. She just knew as he bid her goodnight at her shrine that things were going to get better. Especially because he had her book. Though she'd made a note that she'd like it to be read aloud in front of her friends. She knew they wouldn't understand the fable she'd written down, but at least she could let them know what happened… even if they didn't believe her.

Kyoya sat contentedly in the taxi and as it pulled away he was rather hopeful for what awaited him. He'd get to see his friends and tell them it would all be worked out. He would ask for their help with masking his relationship with Kagome. And he would request that they give him and Kagome the room to themselves with Renge one day. Just as Kyoya settled back against the plush of the taxi seat with his ragged wig in his lap… the taxi stopped and a towering figure sat in.

Kyoya had no idea how he got all the way out there on foot. Nor how he knew when Kyoya reached the shrine. Maybe he'd had the driver alert him on his cell phone. Must've been a demon power, maybe he was quick on foot or could poof somewhere. Whatever it was, Sesshomaru apparently didn't want to wait for him and Kagome to act on their own decisions with Renge.

Still wearing the stiff business suit, Sesshomaru leaned against the taxi seat as if he belonged there. He nodded for the driver to continue and turned to speak to Kyoya. Though his manner was intimidating, his tone was anything but that. "This Sesshomaru has already formulated a plan. Listen well Ootori and we may yet succeed." And it was thus that Kyoya, the one used to planning ahead, found himself listening. His mind began working and hiw own contributions to the plan were made.

For once, Kyoya felt he could face his father. Very soon.

A/N: Wahoo! Hope you enjoyed!