Here is the next chapter, people! Sorry it took me so long to post but I was gone again this weekend. What can I say…? I'm a busy girl.

I can't seem to find anywhere to really take this story so it will probably end within the next chapter or so. Don't you worry though, I'm working on two other stories to post right away.

"Blahblah" : speech

'Blahblah' : thought

Disclaimer:… grrrrrr…..

Stuffed Animals

Tossing his bag on the table, disregarding the fact that his laptop was occupying it as well as his binder, Naraku grumbled and sat down on the couch next to Kagome, who was currently channel surfing.

Pausing in her quest to find a decent program, Kagome tilted her head to the side and smiled at Naraku who, in her opinion, looked positively beat. Tossing her arms around him in an enthusiastic hug, Kagome teased in a voice that resembled a mother talking to a child, "Oh, is Naraku grumpy?"

Scowling, Naraku leaned back to tell her briskly, "I do not get 'grumpy'."

Clicking her tongue, Kagome shook her head and slapped him playfully on the back. Rising off the couch, she rested her hands on his shoulders and announced, "I know exactly what Mr. Grumpy Bear needs!"

Eye twitching only slightly, Naraku inquired jadedly, "Mr. Grumpy Bear?" When Kagome nodded, he sighed and asked, "And what, pray tell, do you think I need?"

Pushing him so that he was lying face down on the couch, Kagome took her place next to him and began to rub his back. "A nice massage," she told him.

Groaning as she began to work on a particularly tight knot just under his right shoulder blade, he sighed, "Mmm, a massage does sound promising."

The remainder of the massage was spent in silence, the odd grunt or groan coming from the ebony haired male. Gentle hands explored the expanse of Naraku's broad back, working out every knot they found with the utmost care. Finishing with his shoulders, she slid her hands to his neck, finding an alarming amount of stress in this particular area.

Sinking into the wonderful sensation of Kagome's diligent fingers, Naraku closed his eyes, inhaling deeply as she worked on a soar spot near the base of his skull.

Sesshomaru, who had joined the pair in the living room not long after the massage had begun, glanced longingly at the dainty hands that soothed Naraku's aching muscles. Picking up the remote that lay invitingly on the coffee table, he changed the channel from its current, horrid location. He shuddered. 'Soap operas, disgusting.'

"All done!" chimed Kagome as she patted her roommate lightly on the back.

Naraku grumbled and sat slowly, not wanting to move from the wonderfully lulling position he was in. Her hands had done wonders on his sore muscles. Propping himself up into a sitting position, he settled for observing Kagome instead.

She looked rather charming, with her hair in two messy braids, dressed in her baggy, navy sweatpants and grey, fitted muscle shirt. He had noted earlier, when she had first approached him, that the letters, 'TDA' were scrawled across the bum. Curiosity perking, he asked, "What do the letters stand for?"

Lifting both brows at his unexpected question, Kagome assumed he was speaking of the print on her pants and answered, "Tokyo Dance Academy."

'Ah, so she's a dancer,' Naraku mused, 'that explains her natural rhythm and well toned legs.'

"You attended?"

Nodding, she added, "I attended all throughout my school years, from kindergarten to grade twelve. My classes were always after school hours during week days and then early morning on Saturday."

Leaning back against the cushioning of the chair he was seated in, Sesshomaru inquired, "What type of dance did you take?"

Shrugging, Kagome turned her gaze to the stoic, silver haired male to her left and explained, "Well I like to experiment, so I tried a few different types. The most predominant of which were Latin, street jazz, and hip-hop. Out of all of them I'd have to say that Latin was my favorite."

"Any particular reason why?" Naraku asked.

Sighing, Kagome stretched her arms over her head and let out a satisfied groan. "Well," she began, flopping back against the couch, "it's meant to state ones feelings. It's a dance that expresses anger, sorrow, joy, passion… It's very refreshing. A very positive way to vent, if need be."

Nodding, Sesshomaru turned back to the television, continuing in his search for something of interest.

Kagome watched carefully as the channels whizzed by, looking desperately for something that caught her attention. Suddenly, a flash of color popped up on the screen, snagging her interest. "Wait!" she yelped, "Turn back for a second."

When Sesshomaru flicked back to what had caught her attention, he could not help the smirk that tugged at his lips upon seeing her expression. Apparently, the carnival was in town, and Kagome was obviously elated. Her lips were parted in awe and excitement, the corners tilted up in a shocked smile. Her blue eyes were wide with anticipation. When she turned to him and batted her thick lashes, her mouth sporting a cute pout, he sighed and inquired, "I suppose you want to go?"

When her little raven head bobbed furiously, he sighed once more and turned to Naraku, who simply smirked and shrugged his shoulders. "I suppose we could just…"

"I'll go change!" Kagome announced, cutting Sesshomaru off in mid sentence.

Quicker than theirs minds had time to register, she had sped out of the living room and through the kitchen, turning the corner and going out of sight.

"It's been a while," Naraku mumbled, thinking back to the last time he had attended a carnival. He had been, what… seven?

"Indeed," Sesshomaru concluded, "quite a while."

Grinning like an idiot, Kagome squealed in delight and clapped her hands, taking in the sights, sounds and smells of the carnival. Head quickly shifting this way and that, she pondered what they would do first.

Turning to her two companions, she asked cheerily, "What do you guys want to do first?"

A loud growl cut off any possible answers, making each set of eyes turn quickly to the source of said growl.

Clearing his throat, Naraku suggested, "Perhaps we should get something to eat. I didn't get to have lunch and I'm rather famished."

Nodding in agreement, they wandered off to find a suitable food vendor.

Sighing as finished off the last of her french-fries, Kagome took a sip of her iced-tea,before glancing over to Naraku, who was wearing a satisfied smirk. "Is your hunger sated for now?" she inquired.

He nodded, quickly adding, "For now."

Kagome turned to glance at Sesshomaru, who was taking in his surroundings, before looking past him to a very promising ice cream stand. "I think I could use an ice cream fix, though," she admitted, patting her tummy.

Pulling a five out of her pocket, she scurried over to the stand and ordered a cone of soft, vanilla ice cream. Sitting herself back down at the picnic table they were occupying, she noted Naraku glance eagerly at her treat. She smiled and offered him a lick.

Just as he leaned over to take his share, however, her hand shot forward, successfully smearing it across his cheek. Giggling, she sat back and announced, "That was for the 'angel food cake' stunt you pulled the other day."

When he simply sat there giving her a flat look, she frowned prettily and muttered, "Big baby." Scooting closer to him, she licked the white paste from his cheek and offered him an honest lick from her cone.

As Naraku took what he wanted, a familiar set of voices alerted Kagome to the couple standing not far away. Beaming when she found Sango and Miroku bickering a few yards away, she called out to them.

Turning when a very feminine voice called both his and Sango's names, Miroku found Kagome to be waving them over frantically, his trademark lecherous smirk quickly spreading across his lips. "Ah, Kagome," he cooed, approaching the dainty young woman that had beckoned him, "it's a pleasure to see you again."

"Likewise," she greeted, patting the seat next to her.

Accepting the offer instantly, Miroku slid slyly onto the bench next to her, his hand instantly finding the small of her back.

Brow twitching, Kagome's back went rigid as she felt an all too friendly appendage creeping dangerously close to her backside.

'THWACK'

"Kagome, why must you hit so hard?" Miroku whined, rubbing his sore skull.

Giving a small snort, Kagome gave him a pointed look and shot back, "I wouldn't be required to hit you at all if you could keep it in your pants, Miroku!"

Chuckling as Miroku continued to rub his head, Sango patted Kagome on the back while praising, "That a girl! You show this pervert whose boss!"

Beaming up at the older girl, Kagome asked curiously, "Is anyone else here?"

Thinking for a moment, Sango told her, "Rin and Shippou are here with my brother, Kohaku and I think I saw Kouga and Ayame here a little while ago." After a small pause, she added, "Oh and I saw Kagura here too. She's with Kanna and Yura."

Sesshomaru visibly shuddered. "Yura?" he groaned, "That annoying simpleton who always insists on touching my hair?"

Sighing forlornly, Sango remarked, "The one and only."

Then, it was Miroku's turn to shudder. "Kanna… that chick gives me the creeps. She's so pale, and those eyes… their so void. She reminds me of one of the kids from Children of the Corn."

Kagome snickered. What a wonderful group of friends she had acquired. Rising from the sturdy wooden picnic table, she placed her hands on her hips and suggested, "Why don't we go play some carnival games?"

Eyes sifting over the many different stands, Sesshomaru contemplated which one to try first. He knew that several were rigged, and his decisions would have to be careful ones.

His thoughts were disturbed when the loud voice of a nearby carnie beckoned him to come over. Turning his head, giving the short man a sideways glance, Sesshomaru sniffed in a bored expression.

"Hey there, you look like a strapping young man! Care to test your strength? Win your pretty lady friend a teddy bear!" the loud mouthed carnie hollered.

Eyes returning to Kagome, who he noticed was eyeing a large, white stuffed dog that was nestled along with all the other prizes, he nodded, handing his coupons to the man and picking the hammer up off the ground. Lifting the hefty thing over his head, he brought it hard and, hearing the expected 'DING' that followed it, Sesshomaru looked expectantly at the man in charge of the game.

Clearing his throat, the short, brown haired man plastered on a smile, congratulating the tinsel haired man before him. "Well done, young man! You now have your choice of a prize!"

Tossing the hammer aside, he pointed impatiently at the large, white, plushy dog, handing it to Kagome after having received it.

Beaming up at him, a look of sheer jubilation plastered on her face, Kagome threw her arms around Sesshomaru's neck and planted a fierce kiss on his lips. She was a bit shocked to find a slight blush adorning his ivory skin when she pulled back, his amber orbs gazing in shock down at her.

"Excuse me," a silken voice broke in, caressing Kagome's ears like a gentle summer breeze.

Detaching herself from Sesshomaru, she turned to find Naraku standing a few feet away, his hands behind his back.

"Where is my kiss?" he inquired, pulling out the stuffed horse he had been hiding.

Leaping up and down, Kagome hurled herself at her onyx haired roommate, kissing him with as much vigor as she had Sesshomaru. Reaching down, she grabbed his hand in hers, tugging him along as they moved on. Snaking her free hand out, she gripped Sesshomaru's free arm, pulling him closer to her. When he was next to her, she twined her fingers with his, smiling merrily up at him.

That was how they remained; the petite, blue eyed woman walking in between the two very handsome young men, each one hauling an overly large stuffed animal and, at the same time, linking hands with the girl beside them.

Smiling at the three, massive stuffed animals that decorated her bed, Kagome beamed proudly at her own prize. Sure she adored the dog and the horse that her roommates had won her, but the third one, the tiger, she had won on her own.

Marveling at her luck, she recalled how she had been lured to a single booth, one that seemed to call to her. It was an archery game, one in which she had beaten with the greatest of ease. Every time her arrow had aimed true and struck the bulls-eye. The funny thing was... she had never picked up a bow or an arrow in her entire life.

'I must just be a natural,' she mused. Chuckling a little, she shed her clothing and donned a pair of silk pajama bottoms as well as a matching cotton tank top.

Poking her head out her bedroom door, she bid both Sesshomaru and Naraku a good night's sleep before shuffling back to her own bed. Slipping under the sheets, she wrapped her arms around the stuffed Bengal tiger and sighed, the dog and horse resting comfortably on either side of her.

She had had such fun with her two new friends that day. They meant so very much to her. Their mere presence alone made her feel safe, and protected… loved. She adored Naraku's scheming, smart ass antics as well as Sesshomaru's mysterious yet levelheaded behavior. They were so different, so very opposite. One was reserved and calm, the other outgoing and spontaneous. Like yin and yang.

Her mind began to wander, straying to the more intimate differences between the two. 'Sesshomaru has such magnificent hands and Naraku… oh that mouth.'

One thing she noted they had in common, however, was their smile. A single glimpse of the sight made her melt into a big gooey puddle.

She pondered on her current 'situation' with the two, wondering just how it would work out in the end. Kagome found herself utterly at a loss for an answer, which rarely happened, since she prided herself on being a fairly logical person. This particular circumstance, however, was so very confusing.

'Oh dear,' she sighed mentally, 'I fear the day I have to choose between the two… I don't know if I'll be able to do it.'

Well there you have it my dear readers. There is no lemon in this chapter I know, but it's a cute chapter none the less… well… I suppose I'll let you decide that. Which means… REVIEW and tell me what you think.