punkish furball – Hello, all! ^.^

Words to Ponder:

Thank you for reviewing: DarkDragonessFliesEveryWhere, redangel1243, Kitsune's Den, Silversun XD, JoWashington, ZeAwsumOtaku, fallingyuki, and Aryenne! = ^ _ ^ =

So, unlike what I said before, this latest installment is Kagome/Donatello. I was working on the two friendship stories when this idea just come to me, and I decided to roll with. If you want, think of this as a spiritual sequel to Installment 2: Chemistry.

Also, I plug with absolutely no shame my other recently updated TMNT/InuYasha crossover, Just a Little Kiss. Check it out if you have the chance! XD

Installment 6: Flattery

Donatello hummed as he browsed through his collection of recently acquired Kraang documents. They were heavily encoded, but he was sure he could decipher them with enough time and effort. He smiled when the view of his laptop screen was obscured by two tiny hands. It widened when he heard a soft voice whisper in his ear.

"Guess who?"

Donnie thoughtfully hummed before he guessed, "Mikey?"

"As if he'd have hands as soft as mine."

Donnie reached up and lightly grasped the appendages, pulling them down until they rested against the front of his shell. He turned his head to the left and placed a gentle kiss on Kagome's rosy cheek.

"Hello, Kagome."

"Hi," she said, grinning, "Sorry to bother you. I know your first love is your research, but I thought you could spare a little time for me."

"You're not bothering me," he insisted but didn't bother to refute her statement. He chuckled with she childishly puffed up her cheeks in mock aggravation.

"So what's up?"

"I wanted to ask if you were busy this weekend."

Donatello shrugged. "Shouldn't be."

He typically used what free time he had to work on a retro Mutagen as he was doing now, but, if Kagome wanted to spend time with him, he'd gladly put his research on hold.

"Great!" Kagome exclaimed, "I got weekend passes to Comic Con and really, really wanted you to go with me."

Donnie turned away from her and grimaced. His first instinct was to say no, but the hopeful look in Kagome's eyes made him falter. Because of what he was, their dating options were extremely limited, and he always felt guilty about it. But Kagome never complained and never asked for more than what he could give. He loved her all the more for it.

"I want to take you," he told her, "but are you sure it's a good idea?"

"Absolutely! Everyone will think you're in costume. It'll be perfect."

Sighing, Donatello swiveled in his chair prompting Kagome to let him go and take a step back.

"In that case, I'd love to go."

He was prepared for Kagome's throwing her arms securely around his neck as he scooped Kagome into his lap. What he didn't expect were the series of appreciative kisses Kagome peppered on his cheeks. When her lips finally found his, he blissfully forgot why he was so against the idea in the first place.

-O0o0O-

Raphael snorted as Donatello paced around the living room, waiting for Kagome to arrive. He thought the turtle would be less self-conscious now that they were dating, but Donnie surprised him.

"I still can't believe the two of you are going to an anime convention," he said.

"It's more than just an anime convention," Donatello corrected, absently wondering why he even bothered. At one point, Kagome considered getting tickets for him and his brothers, and Donnie was immensely grateful they decided this event would be just the two of them.

"Don't make fun, Raph," Leonardo said, "At least, Donnie found a place he can take his girlfriend and not be labelled a freak."

Raphael quipped, "Not the only one anyway."

"So where's your costume, dude?" Michelangelo asked.

"Umm…I'm kinda already wearing it," he replied, "That's the whole point of going."

Mikey pouted. "But that's cheating! Kagome's going to wear a costume, isn't she?"

Donatello shrugged. The two of them didn't discuss it. "I guess so."

"You don't even know what your own girlfriend is wearing?" Raphael asked, snorting a laugh.

"Shut up!" Donnie shouted.

"I know!" Michelangelo exclaimed, "I bet she's Sailor Mars. She could pull it off!"

Donatello rolled his eyes and crossed his arms over his shell. Unfortunately, Kagome introduced Mikey to the world of Japanese animation and video games, showing him all of her favorite series. He's been even more insufferable ever since.

Raph nodded, thoughtful. "She really could."

"No question," Leonardo added, smirking.

Before Donatello could protest, Michelangelo said, "No wait! Misa Amane! She'll be so cute!"

"I guess so," Leo commented with a shrug, "But I can't picture Kagome as a blonde."

"Okay. In that case, how about Faye Valentine?" he suggested, "Cowboy Bebop is a classic!"

"Good one, but I don't think Kagome would go for it," Raphael quipped, "She's always wearing those short skirts, but I think that costume would be a bit much."

"You're right." Mikey paused and pursed his lips together in thought.

"Stop imagining her!" Donatello demanded, angrily clenching his fists by his sides.

"As if you're not?" Raphael questioned and deviously winked.

"I am not!" he insisted though there was a dash of pink across his nose.

"I got it!" Michelangelo interjected, "Tifa from Final Fantasy! It's perfect!"

"That is perfect."

"Definitely."

"Stop that!"

"Donatello~!" Kagome sang, her voice carrying throughout the sewer tunnel with the echo of her feet hitting the concrete.

Donnie gulped as she approached, wondering what cosplay she decided on if she wore one at all. The only thing he was certain of was that he—and the other turtles—would being seeing a whole lot of leg.

When Kagome reached the living room, she paused in front of them to catch her breath. Once she finished, she smiled and twirled around causing various parts of her costume to flare upward. The Turtles could only stare at her.

"So what do you think?" she asked.

"Kagome, what are you supposed to be?" Leonardo countered

"Isn't it obvious?"

"You're definitely not Tifa," Michelangelo remarked.

Kagome stood before them in slinky, skin-tight dress, mid-thigh in length and green in color with a brown sash tied around her waist. Her arms were covered from her palm to her elbow in fingerless gloves the same vibrant shade. She also wore dark brown pads on her elbows and knees with a matching backpack on her shoulders and brown leather combat boots on her feet.

Kagome giggled behind her hand. "Well, I guess it's not too obvious since it's not finished yet."

"What more could you possibly need?" Raphael asked.

Kagome grinned but didn't answer. Instead, she approached Donatello. Once she was directly in front of him, she stood on the tips of her toes and reached behind him. Slowly, she untied the knot of his purple mask before she slipped it away and tied it behind her head. Then she stepped back and twirled again.

"Ta-da!"

"You're Donnie?" Leonardo guessed.

"Yup!" Kagome replied with a nod, "I thought the two of us could match. Don't you like it?"

Coming out of his stupor, Donatello walked to Kagome and threaded his fingers through her hair, a touch she readily leaned into. Normally, he wasn't so affectionate in front of the others, but they were sufficiently subdued at the moment.

"You look great," he said, "It's very creative."

"Thanks, but I had a great source of inspiration. After all, imitation is the highest form of flattery," she responded, "Now all you need to do is finish your costume, and we can go!"

Kagome reached into her backpack and pulled out three different masks: one blue, one red, and the last one orange.

"So who will you be?" she asked.

"I really have to choose between Leonardo, Raphael, and Michelangelo?" Donnie asked, his tone dry, "Not a fair match up, don't you think?"

"Yeah," Raphael stated, proud, "You should be me."

Leonardo snorted. "I thought you didn't care about some stupid anime convention."

"I don't, but I do care about beating you two which I always do."

"Oh yeah. Well, I'm the leader, so I say he should be me."

"I'm the strongest, so I say me!"

Kagome rolled her eyes as the two continued to squabble.

"I thought this might happen," she said as she reached into her bag and pulled out another purple bandana identical to the one she wore.

"If you had this, why did you take mine?" Donatello questioned but put on the mask nonetheless.

Kagome shrugged and playfully looped her arm around his bicep. "I like this one better."

Donnie grinned and bent down to kiss her forehead before the two of them began walking to the surface.

"I do too, but you wear it better than me."

As Kagome and Donatello walked away, Mikey commented as Leonardo and Raphael continued to argue, "You two do know you're arguing to see which one of you goes on a date with Donnie, right?"

-O0o0O-

punkish furball – Ha-ha! I really had some fun with this one. More updates on this collection and others are on the way, so be on the lookout. Until then, TCB! XD

(edited 04.23.14)