So…I was looking through my old fanfics and realized I never actually finished posting this series! Even though it's been YEARS, I hate when fanfics are left incomplete. So, I dug through my computer and found it. I did scan it over, but aside from a few scenes it's basically what it was before (this series had actually originally been an extended one-shot I wrote for a fanfic contest that I decide to flesh out a little and post as a short multi-chapter piece – but then it fell by the wayside – ooops.) Anyway, since it's so old I don't think it's up to my usual standards but still. Here it is.

Actually…I need to go back and finish Inuyasha! It was the anime that got me into anime and Japanese culture after all!


Chapter 7


'You've got to be kidding me!' Kagome's face paled as she turned to see Yuka, who had spoken. Eri and Ayumi were following close behind with a young man making up the rear. Hojo. 'Come on! Can't I catch a little break!? Is this some sort of punishment for lying about being sick all the time!?' Kagome felt like screaming, but she put on a strained smile and waved back, her brain frantically thinking.

She realized with a start that she was still holding the borrowed bow Inuyasha had given her. Glancing to the side she tossed it into the back of the nearest booth when the attendant wasn't looking, praying her friends wouldn't notice it was a water gun range.

As it turned out, they had other things occupying their attention.

"Hey look!" Ayumi smiled happily, "It's Inuyasha!"

"What the…Kagome!" Eri glared suspiciously at her friend as she walked up to whisper to her. Ayumi and Yuka quickly approached and huddled close. "Don't tell me you lied to us just so you could go out with your boyfriend! And here we are trying to cheer Hojo up since he'd been looking forward to seeing you!"

"N-no! That's not…hey wait a minute! Last time you said Inuyasha wasn't as bad as I'd said!"

"Oh, I know. And he isn't," Eri shrugged. "But a girl's gotta keep her options open! You never know what might happen in the future and Hojo's still a major catch!"

'You've gotta be kidding me!' Kagome sighed inwardly.

"So are you going to answer or not?" Yuka pressed.

"What? Oh, no! That's not it!" Kagome quickly shifted gears as she looked over her shoulder and indicated Miroku and the others. "See those people? They're the ones I was telling you about. As for Inuyasha…he just happened to be around too and…tagged along." Then deciding it was only polite, she performed introductions.

"Sorry we jumped to conclusion." Eri apologized once introductions were complete.

"It's fine."

"I wouldn't be so sure about that…" Ayumi stood and pointed over Kagome shoulders.

Kagome looked where she was indicating and realized what Ayumi meant. Inuyasha was openly glaring at Hojo. It was only then that Kagome remembered her conversation with Sango earlier in her bedroom and the ruse her friend had used to lure Inuyasha to come with them.

Hojo, of course, was completely oblivious to the look he was getting from the half-demon. Instead, he tilted his head to the side and raised his hand to point at the half-demon's head.

"Those ears…"

Kagome's group froze at the words and followed the gesture. Sure enough, Inuyasha's ears were still on full display and with a sinking heart Kagome recalled him taking it off and tossing it away before the battle. 'Oh no…it's all over!'

"Are they for some sort of show here?" Hojo asked with a smile. "They look very realistic!"

"Wow! They do!" Yuka commented as she, Ayumi and Eri all drew closer for a better look.

"They look like they might move any second!" Ayumi laughed, reaching up a hand.

Inuyasha twitched away in irritation. "Don't touch 'em!" He snapped. Kagome almost breathed a sigh of relief until the half-demon's annoyance caused the scrutinized appendages to twitch.

All three girls immediately pulled back in shock.

"Oh my god! They did move!" Eri cried out.

"Don't tell me…they're actually real!?" Yuka gasped.

Kagome just watched the scene play out as her stomach plummeted to rest somewhere around her feet. All she could think was that it was over. Everything was over. All her secrets, her second life, it was all about to come crashing down. She began to imagine the consequences…

Then Hojo laughed.

Kagome looked numbly over at her former crush, along with everyone else in the group.

"They're very impressive! Animatronic right?"

"A-animatronic?" Ayumi looked at Hojo then back at the ears. Kogome's stomach slowly began to rise up towards her knees.

'That…that could work!'

"Yeah, I've heard of them, but this is my first time seeing them." Hojo nodded with a small smile.

"Oh yeah…actually, I think I've heard of them too…but I never realized they'd become so realistic looking," Yuka put a finger to her chin.

By this point, Inuyasha was looking thoroughly puzzled at the conversation, but before anyone could notice that fact Miroku stepped forward, a cool smile on his face. "Nice right? I got them from a friend of mine who's quite talented in making such things. Inuyasha here lost a bet so he has to wear them all day. But I'll have to ask you to refrain from touching them – they're somewhat delicate."

'Thank you, Miroku!' Kagome nearly cried in relief as her friends' looks of suspicion cleared away and her stomach returned to its rightful position.

"So that's it!" Eri and Ayumi laughed.

"For a minute there, I actually thought they were real!" Yuka snickered happily.

Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed Sango lean down and whisper something to Shippo who nodded and came running up to Kagome with wide, pleading eyes.

"Hey, Kagoomeee~! I wanna do that thing now! You promised~~!"

Quickly catching on, Kagome glanced at him then back at her friends with an apologetic look on her face.

Ayumi giggled. "Looks like we're holding you up. Sorry, Shippo." She smiled down at the kitsune. "We'll let you enjoy your day."

"Just make sure you tell us all about it next time at school!" Yuka winked at Kagome while she glanced at Inuyasha.

"Yeah…sure," Kagome laughed nervously. Then recalling the Ferris wheel, she blushed slightly.

Noticing the blush, Eri grinned as well, "Oh, yeah. I'm definitely looking forward to that!"