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

Title: Love's Lies
Chapter Five: Apologize, What's That?

It had been months since she last felt the unmistakable cold shiver of fear crawl up her spine. She always thought that the next time she felt fearful would be as she looked up at some bloodthirsty demon who was seconds away from delivering the killing blow; or even the next time she saw her mother and told her she still hadn't met anyone who she wanted to keep. A grandchild-wanting-mother was a force to be reckoned with. Especially when they only have one daughter.

Instead, Higurashi Kagome, miko of the past, was afraid of what he possibly thought of her. Maybe it would have been better if she just gave into her desires and kissed him with reckless abandon before dragging him into her apartment and having her way-...

'No! Bad, bad thoughts! Get a hold of yourself, girl!'

So, maybe it would have been better for her to oblige him with a kiss, instead of literally slamming the door in his face. If only she had thought about the consequences of such an action. And by consequences, what was meant was how horrible she would feel.

Because, honestly speaking, he wasn't bad-looking.

OK, that was a lie--he was downright scrumptious! Like most other demons of the higher power levels, beauty was just like another weapon they could use.

'Gah, getting off-track yet again! Bad Kagome, bad!'

So that led to her staying up most of the night, hoping his nose wasn't broken or anything worse, and if he thought her some kind of crazy woman he didn't want to see ever again. Which was something she didn't want because he...did still have her locket..? Yes! Her locket was the only reason she wanted to see him. Which then led her to calling up her mother in the morning, who then called Yusuke's mom, who then called Yusuke's friend, Kuwabara, who then called her and told her where Yusuke lived. A woman's chain of information was truly an amazing thing. And that led her to now, with her standing in front of his apartment door, still debating on whether she should knock or not.

If any of her traveling companions could see her now they would die of laughter. Kagome, who had faced down countless demons; had her soul stolen twice; and stared death in the face so many times and had shown no sign of fear, was now trembling in fright at just thinking about coming face-to-face with Yusuke after last night. She was sure if she could see herself, she'd be laughing too.

Taking a deep breath and steeling herself for anything and everything, she knocked on his door. A little more timidly than she intended, but it was a knock. She was half-hoping he wouldn't hear it and she could go on her way, knowing he was fine enough to not be home. Yet her hopes went unanswered as the door was yanked opened, and she was graced with the view of a shirtless Yusuke.

Whatever she had been steeling herself against, that definitely was not one of those things. All her thoughts and words fled her as she shamelessly stared at all the muscle and skin that was just begging to be looked at. When her eyes finally pulled themselves to his face and she saw the smug look on his face, she was sure he would be able to feel the heat that flushed her face. "Uhm... Uhm, I...just stopped by to see how you were doing...?" That sounded pathetic even to her ears.

His grin only grew; he finally found a weakness of hers that could work in his favor! "Oh, do you mean how I'm doing after having your door slammed in my face?"

If it was possible Kagome's blush deepened even further, and she looked at the ground in shame. "Well… I-..I didn't mean to do that... You were just… And then I just," his laughter cut her off, and her head snapped back up to his face in anger. Here she was trying to apologize for her behavior last night and he had the audacity to laugh at her and her attempts! As if she'd apologize now! "Why, you-... You jerk! How can you laugh!?"

Still trying to stop his laughter, he grabbed her hand and pulled her into his apartment. He didn't mind her outbursts, if anything he found them cute, but he was sure his neighbors wouldn't appreciate them. "You're so cute when you're all worked up, Kagome-chan," He drawled her name out, enjoying how he could see her angry blush become an embarrassed one.

Kagome quickly turned around as she watched his smug grin return. He needed to stop being himself! It was too damn irresistible! And it wasn't fair... It wasn't like she could help it that she was a young woman with needs and hormones. "Could you... I don't know, put on a shirt?"

Yusuke's grin grew as he plopped down on his couch, "Why would I do that? This is my apartment and you did drop by uninvited... Why did you drop by again?"

If she wasn't a mature adult, she would've cried out in frustration. He was being just...just so male! "I told you earlier, to see how you were doing."

"You dealt a fatal blow to my pride, y'kno."

"Well, your pride was in desperate need of it."

"In your opinion. I beg to differ."

She snorted softly, "You would."

"If you're not here to apologize, then you should at least make it up to me."

Kagome crossed her arms; this was exactly the out she was looking for. It would soothe her conscience, and she wouldn't even have to apologize. She huffed, "Make it up how?"

Yusuke smirked, knowing exactly how to play this out, "I need some help running a few errands. And you're going to be my help."

A dark figure sat on one of the thick branches of the trees near the hole in the barrier. It had been broken five years prior and nothing could be done to repair it. That hole was his ticket out of the hell they called Demon world and into the human realm, where his destiny lay. Five-hundred years was a hard price to pay to be allowed this chance, another chance at obtaining that jewel that whispered its seductive promises into any ear who would listen. Five-hundred years ago, he held the entire Shikon no Tama and so thoroughly tainted it that there was no place for its own darkness. And five-hundred years ago, that bitch took it all away when she killed him. But he guessed he wasn't all that surprised since her former incarnation had taken the jewel away from him as well.

And now, he was so close to being able to exact his revenge, once he got the Shikon no Tama of course. He had been watching the guard over the hole for the past three days; he had their schedule memorized exactly. All he had to do was wait for the moment he was waiting for, and he would slip back into the world of humans undetected. Five-hundred years had already passed, what were a few minutes more?

Seeing the opening he was waiting for, he jumped off the branch and slipped through the hole undetected... Or so he believed. Never once did he know he was being watched as well by one hybrid fire-demon. Carmine eyes narrowed as his prey escaped, but it was as the little demi-god wanted. Sometimes the best way to catch something was to let it obtain its objective.