A/N: Alrighty. This one is really long, but I couldn't wait to write the last part. XP The next chapter will probably be the last, but there may be an epilogue, we'll see. We're on the home strectch y'all!

It had taken a while to persuade Koga to call the police instead of seeking out the thief alone. Three humans couldn't really threaten him--his demon strength was too great. They certainly couldn't reason with him--he was nearly blinded by his rage. Finally Miroku tried out and out deception. Only after mentioning how 'disappointed Kagome would be' at the thought of her 'beloved' wolf demon locked away behind bars did Koga relent and agree to let the cops take it from here and give them all a ride back to NYC.

Sango still hadn't mentioned the lost credit card to the group. Until now, Kagome had been the victim here. If she was using Sango's card to survive, though, and Sango reported it as stolen, then Kagome might get into serious trouble. It was a tough call to make, but she ultimately reasoned that it was easier to say that Kagome "knew" about the card and was lucky that it was there. Besides, they knew where she was -- Kagome was safe and sound at a police station in Nebraska. The point was already moot, so it was best to leave it be.

It took nearly two hours for the cops to finish the paperwork and get the quartet back to the station. While they were waiting for Koga to finish speaking with a lieutenant, Sango happened to notice the officer they'd spoken with initially about Kagome. On an impulse, she went over to the counter and politely asked for a moment of the officer's time.

Well aware of how many people come in and out of the police station on even an hourly basis, Sango didn't expect the young man to remember her. "Excuse, me. Officer Smith? Hi, I'm the one who reported the missing person Kagome Higurashi?" She politely extended her hand in greeting and was surprised to find him smiling in recognition as he returned her shake.

"Ah, yes." He hesitated, looking at her, "Ms. Sano, was it?" Sango was shocked.

"Ah, Sango, sir. Yes." She corrected gently, but still showing her gratitude in her tone. "Yes, I just wanted to let you know how thankful we are for all your help in finding my friend. We were actually on our way to get her when our car was stolen."

He regarded her a moment and suddenly threw his head back, laughing unabashedly at her. "My, my, young lady. Are you going for a record?" She flushed at this comment and was preparing to defend herself when he spoke again, this time serious. "I'm sorry to say, though, that it isn't entirely a coincidence that I remembered you, ma'am. I was on my way to call you when you caught me. I can't say that I'm glad to see you, I have to admit--I have some bad news." He spoke gently to her and while he looked at her face, he seemed to be avoiding her eyes.

As his words set in, Sango felt herself going cold. He reached out and cupped her elbow, guiding her to a nearby chair in front of a cluttered desk. As he set her into the chair, he knelt to look at her more fully. "Are those your friends over there?" He nodded in the direction where Miroku, Hojo and now Koga were waiting impatiently. Mutely she gave a short nod. Officer Smith reached out to grab a passing person and spoke tersely and quietly to them. A moment later, Miroku was at her side, looking confused and a little anxious at the summons.

"Is there a problem, officer?" He asked as he sat next to his girlfriend and placed a hand gently on hers.

They watched and waited as the man slowly got behind his desk. He seemed reluctant to speak. "I'm sorry. There's been an ...incident... at the station where your friend was being held." He paused, letting the panic sink in slowly and allowing them the time and chance to interrupt. When they did not, he continued. "An investigation has already begun, but the situation is grim. There was an attack of some nature at the compound. The prisoner's block was completely destroyed and every officer present was killed." With the last words, the officer seemed unable to look at the couple, his own grief at the tragedy was too new.

"But... Kagome..." Sango choked on the words. She had to know but couldn't make herself ask. She realized that Miroku had moved closer and was holding her around the shoulders as well as by the hand.

Lt. Smith raised a hand, trying to quell her alarm. "We can't be certain, ma'am. There were no bodies matching the description of any of those incarcerated at the facility and it is quite possible that both prisoners escaped and are still alive. We received reports of a stolen vehicle outside of Beaver, Utah, which is a few hours away from the site." He shook his head as if unconvinced. "I doubt they could have made it that far in that short time, but it is the closest thing to a lead that we have. We think that they might be headed towards a major highway that leads to Nevada and the West coast. We're posting lookouts every chance we get, but for now, we're back to square one." He paused, as if unsure what else to tell them. Finally he shook his head to himself and stood up from his chair.

Sango knew it was a dismissal, though a kind one. She nodded and smiled weakly, thanking the officer for the information. Silently Miroku walked her back to the others where they shared the news. While Hojo looked frightened, Koga seemed resolved. For a moment, Sango was thankful to the demon for his strength. Maybe he's not so bad after all...Sango considered. At least he didn't kidnap her...And with that last bitter thought, Sango broke down sobbing.

--

Kagome sneezed loudly and winced at the wave of pain it set off in her head. "Shitsureishimasu." "Excuse me."

"Don't tell me you're getting sick, too?" Inu Yasha jabbed lamely at her. He'd been acting very strangely since she'd woken up; of that much, Kagome was certain. He'd been watching her almost constantly and seemed to be almost... cheerful... It was quite a disturbing effect.

"No, I'm fine. Just a random sneeze." Kagome reported. It was already nearly 2:00pm and they were about 5 miles outside of Las Vegas. Kagome realized that it was already Wednesday. It might as well have been a month later, much less 5 days. Suddenly, it occurred to Kagome that her academic career was probably shot, now. Five days, two of them days with classes. This means I might as well forget about passing algebra. Missing two classes in a row is a kiss of death when you're already math-challenged...Interestingly, Kagome found that she really didn't seem to care about her classes anymore. It wasn't that she thought they had been a waste of her time or not worth the effort, but rather, it seemed that she had found something else to devote herself to.

Kagome had spent most of her life wondering what to do with herself. She wasn't spectacular in any one aspect, but neither was she lacking, really. Sometimes it had seemed as though she was always waiting. She waited to get out of middle school so that she could be a high school student. Then she realized that the game was the same and none of the rules had changed--actually, a few had been added somewhere along the way. So she waited to go off to college. In the end, she had chosen to participate in the foreign studies program, attending school in America. Finally, she would have the excitement and adventure which seemed to be missing from her mundane life.

Unfortunately, it turned out that the movies are lies and America was not some fast-paced-party-all-the-time-jamboree. She had learned to accept and almost ignore that damp, hollow feeling she had inside when she thought about romance and fantastic adventures. And then... she had seen him. She couldn't believe she actually had felt anything remotely like that old cliche of 'love at first sight'. Whatever her feelings may have become, whatever she may have planned, this was where she had ended up. Thiswas the path she had chosen to follow. It was illogical, irresponsible, frustrating and usually terrifying, but this was her choice. For the first time, she had done something totally out of character: She was on the lam with a hanyou who'd stolen a valuable heirloom from his half-brother and now they were on their way to seek the protection of his mobster ex-girlfriend in Las Vegas, Nevada. And somewhere along the way, oddly, she'd fallen in love -- despite his emotional constipation and her best efforts.

And now they were here. As they pulled into the city limits, it all seemed so anti-climatic somehow. The city seethed and thrived, uncaring and unaware of the strange questers at its doorstep. It was a shock for Kagome to realize that it had seemed as though the world had stopped when they began their mission. Now it was almost offensive to discover that it had not, in fact even noticed that she had turned her life upside-down to get here.

She considered that for a moment. From the beginning this didn't have anything to do with Kagome, she knew that. But somehow along the way, she'd picked up some extra... baggage, so to speak. Her feelings for Inu Yasha had prompted her to take rash actions and make deadly enemies. This couldn't be just his problem anymore. She was in too deep to pretend that she was just a spectator anymore. Perhaps it's time that I let him know that...

Bracing herself, Kagome turned and stared intently at Inu Yasha, hoping to get his attention that way instead of coming straight out with it. After a few moments, it seemed as though her plan had worked, as his eyes flickered from the road to her and back again. When he remained focused on the road and still silent, however, she grew irritated. The minutes passed by as they drove further into the city and she found the palpable tension unbearable.

"Hey. I'm trying to talk to you!" She finally said. He jumped at the sudden breach in the silence. He seemed to have been deep in thought and scowled at the disruption. Grumpily, he caved in. "What?" he said shortly. Kagome flushed slightly at his reaction.

"You don't have to be angry."

"You started it."

"Did not!"

"Did, too!"

Kagome stopped herself from furthering this regression into childhood. Taking a deep breath, she pretended that hadn't happened. "There's something I need to tell you, so I thought we ought to talk." Its hard to begin when you have no idea where you're heading. "You know... about some ... personal stuff..."

Inu Yasha immediately went red and focused on the road ahead, uncomfortable. "Oh. I see." he muttered, trying to sound manly and wise.

Kagome ignored the tone and proceeded, happy to at least have his attention. "You see, there comes a time in a girl's life when things start... changing," she said, laying a heavy emphasis on 'changing'. Inu Yasha turned even brighter and suddenly pulled the vehicle over to the side of the road. Kagome was startled by this reaction but plunged onward. The words were still not coming easily to her and she fidgeted with her skirt as she tried to force eloquence.

"Well, I'm at one of those times, right now, Inu Yasha... and--" she was cut off by a clawed hand over her mouth. Her eyes were wide at his sudden and physical reaction to her words. His grip was firm, but not painful. She tried to shake free to ask what the hell he was thinking, but the hanyou refused to let go. She couldn't read his expression, since he wouldn't look at her. It was awkward for both as they sat in their silent stale mate.

Finally, Inu Yasha cleared his throat. "Look, I know about all that. I uh, I understand." He said the word slowly and in small syllables. He sounded uncomfortable and she could hear him trying to hide that with an extra splash of macho. She flushed again, this time in anger. She was trying to tell him that her priorities had changed and he was being so... so condescending about it!

"No, I don't think you do understand!" She retorted hotly. "How could you? I haven't even finished--" again his hand covered her mouth, but this time it was not alone. His other hand was clasped over the first, also preventing further speech, as if one wasn't enough. She threw her best super-angry-I-oughta-smack-you-into-next-week look at him. His responding look was one of pleading.

She wasn't expecting that. Her anger softened momentarily as he spoke again. "Of course I don't completely understand. I'm a guy. What I was trying to say was that I've..." he hesitated for a moment before letting the words tumble quickly out. "Ah...I've been with a lot of ... uh, females...in the past and I know that regardless of human, hanyou or demon, all women go through the same... uh... changes..." he finished uncomfortably. He took his hands away from the astonished and confused girl's lips and returned them to the safety of the steering wheel. After a moment, he started the car and began driving again.

Kagome was struck by this sudden confession on many levels. One, she didn't really like to think of how many women he'd been with in his long lifetime. Jealousy was not an attractive trait, she knew, but it was instinctive none the less. She also wasn't sure what to make of his sudden insight into her feelings and the indifference with which it was met. It felt dangerously close to being rejected, though. Like when you get a crush on your best friend and they try to tell you without telling you directly that they'd rather kiss a dead moose's butt than think of you in "that way".

She couldn't bring herself to look at him as she tried to decide what to say next. She finally decided that regardless of how he felt for her, she would tell him that this was her fight, too. She had to say it; if only to make it real to herself...

She turned to face him and realized that they were pulling into the back of a gas station. Curiously, she peered over to the gas meter to see that it was still over half-full. Puzzled, she looked to Inu Yasha to ask him about this when she noticed his face was still red. He threw a guilty look in her direction and coughed to stall the words he obviously did not want to say. He swore under his breath and suddenly wrenched open the car door and slamming it closed behind him.

I guess he's gotta go... Kagome thought curiously.

She sat disconsolately in the front seat, waiting for him to return and tried once more to force the words to come to her. She was so lost in thought that she missed the hanyou exiting the building and his return to the vehicle. He was as red as ever and refused to look at her. "What is it, Inu Yasha?" Kagome asked him gently, bewildered by his odd behavior and reaching out to touch his arm.

At her touch, he turned to and from her again. Finally, he reached into his pockets to pull out a small plastic card. Without facing her he thrust it at her and said in quick succession, "Here. Gobuywhatyouneed."

Completely lost, Kagome looked at the card in his hands--it was a credit card. Oh. So that's how he's been paying for everything... Then it hit her. The name on the card was not anything near 'Inu Yasha'... no, it had another name on it. She slowly took the card from his hand and waited for him to look at her again. When he did, his expression was one of panic and despair.

"Why, pray tell, do you have my roommate's credit card, Inu Yasha?"

Frantically, he searched for an escape. "Well, you see... um, there's a perfectly good explanation, but maybe we should wait until you're not... ah, until your... " visitor" leaves?" He blurted and winced, waiting for the verbal beating to come. When it didn't, he looked up to see a still somewhat angry but more hurt and distinctly confused Kagome looking back at him.

"What are you talking about? I'm not on... it's not that time of the month, Inu Yasha!" She was turning red and he could see tears welling in her eyes. He looked confused, too. "Well, you sure are emotional. Is it just PMS, then? I think they have that Medol stuff here," he offered nervously.

The look she gave him spoke quite plainly that he was waaaay off mark. As tears began rolling down her cheeks, she finally spoke. "What the hell kind of dog demon are you, anyway? Isn't there some kind of--oh I don't know--scent marking a female on her cycle?!" He looked abashed, affirming that he didn't even think of that part. "So that's what you thought I was talking about! I knew you couldn't be sensitive to the feelings of others! God, I can't believe I thought you understood what was happening."

He tried to interrupt her, to ask what she was talking about but she ignored him and moved to the next offense. "And now I find that you've been using my best friend's credit card to pay for everything!" She laughed bitterly. "I guess I know why you wouldn't let me see you pay for anything, you knew that I'd recognize her card! You, you, a-hole!" she exploded at him.

Her anger finally stirred a response in him. "Oi! Didn't you wonder why we always stayed at the cheapest places? Did it ever occur to you that I don't like using another person's credit to take care of my business? I was planning to pay her back--plus interest--once this was settled and I got my hands back on my own money! Do you think I'm that pathetic that I would steal her money to survive?"

"Why didn't we stop at a bank, then, you genius? You could have withdrawn your own damn money! Now you're a thief!" she accused.

He stopped before arguing that point and thought. "Well, technically I already wasa thief, but that's besides the point! Listen little girl," he said scathingly. "When my father died, my inheritance was put into a vault with that damn Fluffy having power of attorney until I reached 140 years." He put up a hand to stop her objection. "I know its a random number but that's what was in my father's will, alright?" She waited for him to continue, hands still crossed across her chest in a hostile manner. "My inheritance includes a lotta money as well as that sword." He motioned to the back seat. "As soon as the dust had settled, Fluffy took the sword for himself and mailed me a check every month or so. I would have had the check yesterday, but I've been kind of busy so I haven't really had the chance to check my mail." He added sarcastically. Kagome tried to find something wrong with that, but he continued. "So I couldn't just waltz into a bank and ask for money--Fluffy would know I had taken the money and when and where it had happened. Then he'd find me and take the sword back, thus defeating the purpose of stealing it in the first place. Understand now?"

He waited. Kagome's face was turned away from his. She breathed out slowly and turned to face him with now dry streaks of tears on her cheeks. "Inu Yasha, I apologize. I just wish you would have told me that sooner." She spoke slowly and calmly. "But I have one question for you..." He looked to her with curiosity, not sensing the trap. "Since when did you learn how to speak so eloquently?" she smirked at him.

--

They had left the stolen vehicle behind at the station and decided to use public transportation to avoid the hassle of hiding it. After the whole misunderstanding they had made use of the facilities to clean up a bit. Inu Yasha refused to answer any more questions, only responding to her inquiries with a vague "I got a plan" to reassure her. They finally got off the tram in down town, towards the end of the strip. Kagome recognized a few of the older, more famous casinos. As they walked along with the vast sea of tourists, Kagome wanted nothing more than to find a nice, clean bench upon which she may lay her weary and oh-so-ouchy head. Judging from the time she spent knocked out, though, she figured that this lassitude was an aftereffect of her concussion.

Inu Yasha looked down at Kagome, unobtrusively. She looked like a wilting flower. He looked around for a somewhat reputable place for them to sit and get a drink. It was time to initiate the plan.

--

"So let me get this straight," Kagome said slowly, trying not to look directly at the half-breed next to her, lest she loose control and laugh in his face. "This Kikyo of yours lives in a penthouse behind the strip. We cannot get into said penthouse, however, as she doesn't know we're coming, right?" She waited for confirmation before plunging onward. "But all is not lost: she owns the newest casino on the strip--and it just so happens to be opening tonight." Her tone was laden with sarcasm. "So by yourlogic all we have to do is get into the most exclusive new casino in Las Vegas--even though I am not 21 and have no proof to say that I am, win enough money to get the attention of security or whoever," she waved her hand, indicating her disinterest in the specifics, "And they'll give us whatever we want, i.e. to see the proprietor of this astounding establishment. That pretty much it?" She looked at him, hoping that her rehashing of his ridiculous plan would persuade him not to follow through with it.

He thought for a moment, seriously considering if there were any flaws in his scheme.

"That's pretty much it!" He replied. His tone dared her to complain. She took the invitation readily. "What the hell is wrong with you?! I'm the one with the head injury! What on earth makes you think that this absurd plan could possibly work?"

He frowned. "Do you have a better idea in mind, miss smarty-pants?"

"No." She admitted.

"Then don't complain. Besides," he smirked, "you've never seen me in a tux before. Trust me, this'll work."

"... where are you getting a tuxedo, pray tell?" Kagome asked sweetly.

His ears folded and he shot her a guilty look. "Well, since I'm paying your friend back anyway, I thought... you know..." he struggled to find a way to show this in the best light. "Well, we're sure as hell not getting into the opening of a casino dressed like this." He shot back at her defensively.

"So I've got to get a dress, too?!"

Inu Yasha stared at her, dumbfounded.

"What?" she said, embarrassed by his reaction.

"I don't believe it!" Inu Yasha exclaimed. He sounded as if he'd just found out that reality TV was actually scripted.

"Dammit, dog-boy, what is your deal?" she exploded at him.

Finally he turned to her with an awe-inspired look on his face. "I just don't believe it. I've just found a girl who doesn't want to go shopping for a new dress." He said it as if he'd found a six-legged frog but was still able to duck before she could flick his fuzzy ear in retaliation. "Besides," he laughed, "if we get the right dress, nobody and I mean no body will question your age."

Puzzled and a little flattered, Kagome blushed softly as Inu Yasha paid for their drinks (water for her, and some smelly adult beverage for him). This was not going to be pleasant, Kagome couldn't help thinking. She despised shopping for several reasons. One, the shape of women was verydifferent here in America. Japanese women do not have many curves. Period. American women, on the other hand, tended to be very, very curvy. Two, similarly to reason one, the sizing system was different here. These two combined made it nearly impossible to find anything that even fit her, much less that looked flatering on her. Her third and final reason was a trifle less easy to explain. She had already admitted to herself that she was very much in love with him. This would make anyone a little uneasy. Kagome, however, was in an extra-special-crappy situation. She was self-conscious enough about her body without having to put on some skanky cocktail dress and covering her face with lots of make-up. How was she supposed to feel beautiful when the parts she wanted hidden were displayed and the ones she wanted to show were covered up?

They found a phone booth and called the new casino to see if there were any rooms left in the hotel. Big surprise, it was booked solid. He persevered, though, and called until they found a decently priced room there on the strip. When they checked in, he asked the concierge, as if it were second nature to him, where they could find a reputable shop for evening wear. He spun some simple yarn about how their baggage was late because of a hurricane near some distant and exotic location. The concierge looked a bit skeptical, seeing how the couple looked and the fuzzy ears atop Inu Yasha's head, but apparently saw no harm in sending them with a hotel car to get suitable attire.

Inu Yasha went in with Kagome to the boutique and spoke briefly with the severe woman in charge. He gestured frequently to Kagome with a look of pity and patronization. She flushed as she imagined what he was telling the woman about her. Whatever it was, however, seemed to have impressed the woman. She nodded fervently and smiled a fake, botox-hindered smile and held open the door for him to leave. At that sight, panic filled Kagome. She ran through the shop and grabbed his arm as he was leaving. She whispered harshly. "Do-not-leave-me-here!" Her heavy breathing made it difficult to speak. "I swear, you better not leave me with these yuppie waifs!" She threatened as he smiled indulgently and picked her hand off his arm with two clawed fingers. He condescendingly patted her cheek and told her to be a good girl. She growled in response and heard his laughter fade as the doors closed in her face.

The cold and silent shop seemed more like a tomb to Kagome as she prayed a certain hanyou would be plagued by fleas. The woman in charge cleared her throat, indicating that she was waiting. Kagome spun around defiantly and lifted her chin. The woman paid no attention and spoke in a clear, deep-toned voice. "You," she pointed to Kagome, "there." She drew a line from Kagome to a stool in the center of a sunken area clearly devoted to measuring and altering garments. Taking a deep breath, she steeled herself and took her indicated position. It took a moment for her to realize that half of her discomfort came from being separated from Inu Yasha. They'd been together constantly for the last five days and it felt wrong to be without him.

--

"My dear child," the woman said warmly to her. "I don't think you know what a remarkable gift you have been given." They had brought arm fulls of dresses to the head woman, whom had introduced herself as Vivian. Kagome, apparently, was not to have a say in the matter. She was almost thankful for that; if he wanted to make fun of her, and she had chosen the dress, she'd have no defense. And she was certain that he would be devastating in a tuxedo. She really didn't want to see him like that, things were hard enough for her at present.

It was not the first dress she tried on, oh no. Kagome was lost in a blur of tafeta and sequins, never really having the chance to even look at herself in the mirror to see what she looked like before the dress was subsequently removed after a short, "No" from Vivian. She felt her head spinning and was ready to drop dead from exhaustion when they found the dress.

It was in a sultry shade of red--there was almost a tinge of black in it. Full-length. The shoulder straps were long scarves, wrapping from behind her neck and making an X across her chest. While the fabric was wide enough to sufficiently cover her breasts, it also helped accentuate them and made them seem a bit more ripe than some of the other dresses. As if this wasn't enough to draw attention, the neckline was studded with various-sized jewels, all different shades of red, pink and white, forming a complimentary gradient of color. It looked almost as if Kagome's ivory skin simply crystallized with the dress and faded into the lush fabric.

After you got past the bust, though, the scarves pulled back sharply and plunged deeply, ending just above the beginning curve of her bottom and flaring out into a decadent train. Thus, the back was nearly as dramatic as the front, leaving nearly her entire back open, and even exposing some of her sides around her ribs. The front of the dress, after the bust, was form-fitting until the knees, where upon the gown exploded into a wave of loose fabric.

As soon as they had finished tying everything and zipping her up, she could feel the difference. The other dresses had been cut for curvier American women or were heavy with tacky beads--they felt uncomfortable. But when she put this dress on, it felt ...good. She still couldn't see herself, but she could definitely feel the drafts hitting bare skin. She flushed as she tried to figure out what all was showing but was interrupted by the silence of the ladies in the shop and Vivian's soft exclaimation.

Embarrassed, Kagome asked, "What gift?"

Vivian smiled and snapped her fingers, still not taking her eyes from Kagome. Two workers immediately broke from their admiring gazes to fetch a full-length mirror, which they held up for Kagome to see herself.

It was amazing. She'd never been much of a 'girly-girl'. Sure it was nice to wear skirts every once in a while, but she never wanted to play dress-up or try on fancy clothes. She'd never worn anything like this dress. It was meant for those women rich and beautiful enough to feel no embarrassment; only the desire to incite envy in every woman that sees them.

Vivian sighed once and snapped twice. Immediately girls swarmed Kagome with pins and needles, marking and poking where to make the minute adjustments to length and such and then quickly stripping her back down to her undergarments. A new group then took her over to a seat with a warm and large robe to keep her warm. The next thing she knew, it was dark outside and Inu Yasha was waiting for her. They had done all sorts of terrible things to her in the name of 'beauty'. She'd been given a facial, manicure and pedicure, had her hair and make-up done and been put once more into her incredible dress. She didn't recognize herself by the time they asked her to come back out to the front of the store where he was waiting. Her heart was in her throat and she would have sworn that her face matched the dress as she went to meet Inu Yasha.

As soon as she saw him all thought stopped. He was gorgeous. His hair had been washed and trimmed and pulled back tastefully at the neck. His tux fit him so well it ought to be illegal. But what made her stop wasn't how good he looked. What made her stop was the way he looked at her. Gone were all traces of those barriers and the years of hurt. He was looking at her with gentle, glowing eyes that spoke volumes to what he thought of the dress.

Vivian and the girls had lined the walls between the stunned couple and a few of the lower-level helpers snickered behind their hands. That broke the silence and the spell between them. Shaking his head as if to clear the fog, Inu Yasha smiled and held out his arm. "Shall we?"

--

A/N: I really--REALLY--liked writing that last part... could ya tell?