Feb 11 2007: Author's Nonsense: Sorry for the very long drop between chapters but I've lost a lot of the ideas behind this fiction and needed to sort of reread a few chapters to catch myself up to what some of my initial inspiration was. I've had very little free time lately as well and all that adds up to very rare updates. Thanks to those that are putting up with my far and in between postings.

End of Chapter 16:

"Of course. I'll have your clothes brought up that your mom dropped off earlier and go get ready myself then." He smirked at her. "You are cute in my shirts but you'd need to be dressed a little better for where I plan to take us."

She stuck her tongue out at him at his confession he'd been hiding her clothes from her on purpose and waited until he left to break into the wide smile again and hopped out of bed to dash for the bathroom, wanting to be perfect for there second date and first that was more official.

Chapter 17: Uncertain Passion

Her first time in a helicopter reminded her of riding on the back of Hoshi without the wind chilling her skin or throwing about her hair. Though it was a little different to fly over Tokyo - with it's skyscrapers making a whole new experience out of it. Instead of the usual browns and greens there were all sorts of colors replacing those that she had grown accustomed to seeing. It was a little rougher when they were taking off but over all the ride was exceptionally smooth and the older Kaiba brother managed to show off his skill at piloting.

"Aren't you too young to pilot something like this?" Kagome asked with a little bit of amazement as they were moving over some greener areas that were more reminiscent of her feudal era days and gave her pangs she still wasn't ready to deal with. "I thought people had to be older."

She'd turned her attention back to the demanding form of Seto, though his eyes didn't stray to her - instead looking toward where they were going or glancing down to the controls as he moved them through the air with something akin to effortlessness.

"Having enough money and making the right donations helps people become immune to certain laws." Kaiba answered her without taking his eyes away from where they were headed. "Though it doesn't really matter, in a month or two I'll be old enough that I won't need any special permission to get a license."

"That's good." Kagome smiled a little as she watched him so seriously at work. Despite the height and danger of riding in such a vehicle she wasn't frightened - something about him being in control made her feel safer about it. It was certainly more secure than riding on Shippou or Hoshi had been. "Just sort of amazing that you can do everything that you can do. It's a little intimidating sometimes."

She earned a sidelong glance at the compliment. "Do I frighten you Kagome?"

"That's not what I meant…" she stumbled a little, blushing a bit. "I just…I meant…sometimes it's hard to talk to you because you command a knowledge of so much more than I do."

"Oh?" Kaiba held back a small laugh. "Sometimes it doesn't seem too difficult for you. You tend to let your emotions run away with you."

"Um…no need to point it out." she pouted some and looked back out to note that they were still going over a lot of green, some of it vaguely recognizable as some of the northern land she'd traveled over 500 years before, leaving her with little to look at. So she just closed her eyes and leaned back instead.

"Are you all right?" the question reached her after she'd been sitting that way for a couple minutes - making her realize that he must have noticed it.

"I'm fine, just resting my eyes a little." Kagome answered with a small stretch. "I think all the excitement lately has left me a little tired. I just hope all this time off from school again doesn't leave me nearly failing again."

"Is that why you transferred to Domino High from all the way where you live in your district?" he caught on rather fast and Kagome cursed herself for mentioning it - all she needed was for him to think she was really stupid for some reason.

"Yes, last year I was sick quite a bit…or busy with personal issues a lot." Kagome's voice dropped a little as she thought about it. "I had all sort of problems with things."

"I've heard a few rumors as far as that." Kaiba replied, adding before she could interrupt. "I am informed about the people around me if I want to be or not. A side-effect of being such a young CEO - my partners and underlings tend to think that everyone is out to get me. You have a history of all forms of illness and absences - I'm actually surprised you managed to get the grades you did with as little as you attended class. You barely managed to make it to a fifth of the days this last year. At least that's what all the reports say."

"Oh…" she blinked in a little surprise. "You've been spying on me?"

"No." he glanced toward her, as if trying to assure her with his azure eyes. "But as I said - I have others in my company that do these things with or without my permission for security reasons. It's simply the way things are done - I apologize if it bothers you."

The apology from Kaiba was enough to make her just blink a few times - not having really expected it from the narcissist. Finally managed to get out another question. "Just…what else…have you heard?"

"The only other rumors that reached me were that your friends all adored you and thought you were a downright admirable person. I didn't enjoy hearing that by rumor your former boyfriend was horribly cruel and controlling of you - it seems like you deserve better." He had gotten a little quieter with the somewhat embarrassing observation.

"I…" she didn't know how to respond to that. "It wasn't exactly like what some of my friends might have said. It was really complicated and I don't really like to talk about it…my life is this now and I'll do better this year at school."

"Good to hear considering I hired you a tutor to help you with the days that you miss because of this nonsense I'm to blame for." Kaiba said, his voice back to normal as he took a wider turn and was moving toward an immense mansion in the distance that Kagome figured was the target.

"You got a tutor for me?" Kagome blinked. "Why did you just make me do the homework on my own then?"

"It took me a while to hire them." Kaiba shrugged with a smirk. "Besides, I don't plan to make anything too easy on you."

Kagome frowned a bit at that comment and rolled her eyes at him before concentrating on the castle-like home they were speeding toward - He owns a castle!?

"Wow…it's magnificent." she observed as she made a circle of the main estate and then started to drop toward where an unfitting large H marked one of the towers where they would land.

He didn't answer, instead he was concentrating on touching them down, they shifted a little with a light bounce in the cabin as he settled, turning the engine off and waiting for the blades to slow before letting them both out. Settling the headset back on the control stick before finally getting out and coming around to help the shorter girl down from her seat.

"Is it all right if we just eat in the dining hall here?" Kaiba asked as she gazed out over the trees and vegetation everywhere in view of the seven story tower. "There aren't actually a lot of restaurants near here but I keep a small staff on hand and called ahead."

"You planned this." she half-accused with a smile. "…you really are full of surprises Seto."

"I suppose." he shrugged a bit, his cool demeanor back now that the more intimate one on one setting was over. "We should go inside before you get sick."

"All right." she nodded, smirking some at his attitude despite herself. This place was too amazing to get angry at him just for that. Instead trying to take in every inch as he lead her down a set of spiral steps, listening for any sounds and a little surprised to find how quiet it was. "Did you have this built or did you buy it?"

"A little of both." Kaiba shrugged some at the question. "The estate I bought, it already had a smaller castle-like built home and I took that idea and expanded a little."

A little? Kagome didn't question it more though, noting that he'd suddenly gotten a lot more serious again and frowning at the thought.

"I do appreciate that you are helping me so much…but you don't have to." Kagome pointed out a bit sadly as she followed him down the steps. "I mean…if you are just worried about me suing you or something I wouldn't do that. I know that you didn't ask anyone to come after me."

He stopped suddenly at her comments and she didn't managed to pull up short before he turned around, she was falling again and managed to let out a gasp before he caught her - strong hands feeling somehow natural on her shoulders. The touch immediately sending another deep blush to her face.

Why always me!? She thought. Karma hates me.

"Do you think I'm only helping you because I'm afraid it would cost me money otherwise?" his voice was completely even, not betraying a hint of emotion and it was hard to see him in the pale light on the winding staircase. She was at least thankful that the poor lighting should make him unable to tell just how badly she was flushed at his closeness. He hadn't even moved to settle her, hands steadying her in the half fallen position as if she were no heavier than a feather.

"No." Kagome put a little pressure on his chest, using him to help steady her feet underneath her, somehow unnerved at being at eye level with him, his blue gaze and hers still staring away. "I…just don't want to be a burden on you."

His eyes grew just a hint softer at her admission and he shook his head with the smallest of smiles. "You are not a hindrance Kagome. Don't treat yourself as if you are some baggage - as I said previously, you deserve better than that. I am helping you because I want to help you, despite whatever reasons I give others or the company at least allow me that understanding. All right?"

"Sure…" she wasn't sure if she could manage more than a few words in response…she wasn't used to being so close to him…or when exactly she decided she wanted to be. Just that she didn't mind the proximity at all - and not sure what she thought of that…

"Do you understand?" he asked seriously, apparently not quite as effected as she was.

"I do…" she smiled a little at the young CEO. "Thank you for the help Seto…I'm sorry if I implied anything negative."

He hadn't let go of her, and she hadn't pulled herself away, leaving both of them silent and looking at each other. Both lost in thoughts of their own as each stared into the other's eyes - brown meeting blue in a mixture of silent hope and uncertainty.

Just kiss him. Kagome thought to herself despite the blush on her face. But what if he's just being nice? I don't want to ruin our friendship because I'm just misinterpreting his actions for something else… I can't believe I'm even thinking about this! Maybe all this excitement is making me crazy.

What does she want? Kaiba wasn't sure what the girl he was holding was thinking and that bothered him. I shouldn't care…I shouldn't want to protect her anyway. She's just some overly optimistic girl like another one of Yugi's cheerleaders. So why do I wanna stand here and stare at her? She's uniquely beautiful but I should know better than this. I am above such mortal wants, aren't I? And if I'm not then why would I -Seto Kaiba- hesitate?

As if egged on by his own thoughts the boy leaned forward and pressed his lips onto hers, pulling her closer as he wrapped his arms around her, only moved forward more by her snaking her arms under his coat and around his back in return, her gentle fingers tracing his spine through the thin fabric of his turtleneck.

He was so distracted by how soft her lips were that he allowed the moan to escape against her lips as she touched his back, pulling her tighter into his embrace. The kiss somehow representative of making him instantly more possessive of the responsive priestess.

She had a short moment of shock before she'd melted into him at the lingering kiss, a fire suddenly awakened by his gentle lips, she hadn't had many thoughts of men other than Inuyasha when it came to such an embrace and for the first time in a long time he was completely absent from her mind.

The two seemed hungry for each other but broke off to breath after several more moments, Kagome looked down bashfully after the fiery kiss while she tried to catch her breath and force some composure and Kaiba instead stared at the woman in a bit of confusion at his own action and at the feelings it had evoked…instead not sure what to do or say to her next.

For the first time in a very long while Seto Kaiba had been left speechless - most aggravatingly because he'd done it to himself. Why in the world would he let his emotions control him like that? This girl was something…if she could do all this to him and then just innocently look away and be completely unaware of how much she managed to fluster him.

He lingered still, not wanting to escape from the small fingers still lightly stroking his sides - even if she was tickling him lightly he didn't want to step away from the moment just yet. Slightly afraid it might end if he walked away - that he'd lose it and wouldn't be able to recreate it…though if she hadn't wanted it she wouldn't still be there holding him in return would she?

End Chapter

Okay - for future reference - please keep in mind that in the Japanese version (before 4kids cut the whole series apart) that Kaiba did eventually admit that he believed (and had always believed) in supernatural stuff. I will have to have Kagome tell him the truth sometime and if he doesn't totally freak and tell her she's crazy keep in mind that he really did finally accept the supernatural stuff for what it was.

Also, yes this chapter was a bit fluffy cause well - I wanted to do a little nice thing for the upcoming Valentine's Day and thought this was rather fitting for the cause.

-Aura

To my reviewers:

Sesshomarukagomeforever23 - Well, yes - it makes sense for Kaiba to be all prideful and then a little nicer to Kagome when others aren't looking. Glad you noticed the differences though. Makes me know I'm doing an okay job of writing that part.

Larkagurl2 - Lol…I doubt that I'll have Shippou jump in like that - as he would be full grown by then. I might have him show up sometime - but I also doubt Sesshomaru would lower himself to notifying a fox demon about a girl he himself wouldn't consider important.

Viper - Took me a bit to realize what you meant but I'm not sure when some other things will be worked in just yet. Though I do want to involve more with the jewel sometime a lot of people didn't seem to interested in detailed out duel monster games.

YamiNoKiba - Thanks for the review, they're always good to get.

Darkmoon99 - Well I got a update ready finally - sorry for the wait.

Angel101devil - Updated: )

Hikage Dragon - Yeah I was a little mean to Bakura - but I sorta wanted to press Kaiba into being cruel for the sake of Kagome - showing he's still not some super nice guy or anything.

Sexy-INU-tenshi - Updated and I hope you keep enjoying it.

DeathNoteMaker - I wouldn't think they're common to begin with?