Who else is being bombarded with school? UGH. Anyways…

GoldenRose88: Oh my gosh! 5 hours? That takes dedication, missy- thank you! It means so much that your addiction to this story rivals that of ramen! :D Your review literally made me laugh. And um, I'm guessing you successfully made it out of the washroom? LOL.

Irma123: Ahh, yes, the things we would do for our friends… I have a tendency to not really give a crap what people do or don't think about me, so YES I would bid for my besties too :)

POCKY: I'm not quite sure who 'NaNa' is, but I'm super glad you're enjoying the story so far! I'm also honored to have a new fan ^^

*ahem* I would like to take this opportunity to thank ichirukinezzlover12 for being my 350th reviewer! What a milestone, right? She (I'm guessing it's a she?) said there's nothing in particular she wants as a prize, but I'm still very grateful- the same goes to all of you who leave positive feedback as well!

Bitter or Sweet?

Disclaimer: LOL

Chapter 21: Hypocrite

You become somebody else
'Round everyone else
You're watchin' your back
Like you can't relax
You tryin' to be cool
You look like a fool to me
Tell me

Why'd you have to go and make things so complicated?
I see the way you're actin' like you're somebody else
Gets me frustrated
Life's like this you
You fall and you crawl and you break
And you take what you get

~Avril Lavigne: Complicated

KAGOME'S POV

"I need to talk to you."

Is she kidding? My eyes harden, heart clenching. It took every ounce of my will power to keep the giant, chest-wracking tears at bay only seconds ago. I really, really didn't need this right now. Wasn't it enough that she'd publically humiliated me in front of everyone I knew? When was she going to just stop and leave me alone? I'm through with trying to expose her true self to our school. I'll urge on her and Inuyasha and pray that they have a happily ever after just like the ones in my beloved fairy tales. So why couldn't she LET ME GO already? "Look, Kikyo, maybe tomorrow, okay? I want to go home-"

"I didn't put your name in the list of contestants," she interrupts, face blank of emotion. No sympathy, no anger, no amusement. Empty. "Maybe Koharu did. Or maybe your luck just sucks so epically that you actually were randomly selected to be bid on. Either way, I wasn't a part of it."

I shake my head slowly. "Why are you telling me this? Like it matters to you whether I believe you're innocent or not?"

She looks around hurriedly. "Not here. Let's go somewhere private."

I choke out laughter. "What, so you can rally up some of your thug-buds to beat me up and ditch me to wither away in some dark, deserted alley? Um, I don't think so. See you later, Kikyo."

Kikyo growls. Like, legitimately growls. Side-effect of dating a half-dog-demon, I suppose. "Can you shut up and let me speak for a sec? God, you're impossible. I'm not going to bring anyone, alright? It's just going to be you and me. Fine with that? Or are you afraid I'm going to beat you up with my stilettos, too?" Her tone reeks of sarcasm.

My brows furrow. "But my friends-"

"Will be able to live without you for an hour. You are really getting on my nerves."

That does it. "In case you've forgotten, you're the one who came up to me and demanded my time to hear you out. So don't get hissy on me, you little-"

She rolls her eyes and spins on her heels abruptly. "Save it for someone who gives a shit. Follow me."

What the hell is with her cutting off all my sentences? Does she have a micro-sized attention span or something? Nevertheless, I do as I'm told, though I don't have any idea why. Maybe it's because I'm too exhausted to argue any further.

True to her word, Kikyo leads me to a small family restaurant and plops down- lacking her usual grace- onto the glossy seat, grabbing the menu and scanning the lists of foods. Disgust twisting her face, she thows it back down.

"It's all fried stuff. Fucking gross. Whoever eats this crap will probably become victim to obesity in a split, fried second."

Ooh, word play. Am I supposed to be impressed? I drum my fingers on the table. "No duh, Kikyo. You walked into freaking WacDonalds. Did you expect to find gourmet food? Or the entire menu to be fat, sugar, calorie-free? Order water. You can't go wrong with H20."

Her gaze rises to lock with mine. "I thought you were the sweet one."

"I never claimed to be. And sweetness is subjective, thank you very much."

"Talking to you is like talking to a fish," she groans as a waitress arrives. Before the poor girl can open her mouth though, Kikyo shoots, "Salad. Caesar. No parmesan, no olives, extra tomatoes, minimal dressing. Iceberg lettuce, served cold, with strips of sweet-and-sour chicken. No sesame seeds either. Oh, and a diet coke."

She scrambles to write it all down while Kikyo calmly inspects her split ends. Five minutes later, the waitress turns to me with hopelessness written all over her face.

"Um… I'd like a chocolate-chip muffin and some French fries," I smile meekly, hoping to lighten up the order. "Thank you."

The waitress collects the menus and saunters away.

Pressing a finger to my chin, I toss her a dirty look. "Wow, was that really necessary? Did you see how panicked she was? Have some heart, geez."

Kikyo raises a brow. "What? I'm picky with food."

"With everything, you mean."

Not missing a beat, she interjects, "You must think I'm a spoiled little bitch who gets everything she wants when she wants, don't you?"

As subtle as a gun. "No, of course not. I think you're an all-loving peace believer, who spends her weekends volunteering at animal shelters and orphanages, spreading hope to all those less fortunate than you." I blink innocently.

For a moment, she almost looks like she's going to laugh. But then she turns away, scoffing. "Yu didn't answer my question, but we all know what you think. I hate to burst your fucking bubble and everything, but you're wrong. Like wrong wrong. As wrong as it gets. My life isn't fabulous, plus getting straight A's and being exceptional at multiple sports is harder than you can imagine. I'm not rich; my parents are. And even my beauty… even my beauty was hard-earned. Much more hard-earned than yours." She furrows her eyebrows and looks into her lap, seemingly frustrated as hell, and hands obviously itching to strangle something.

I instinctively lean back. "You sure you wanna do this here?" I mutter, looking around at the oblivious families smiling and laughing and stuffing their faces with big Wacs. What a beautiful sight.

She waves me off. "Oh please. I checked before we sat down. There's no one we know. Can I continue?"

A waitress- this time someone different with various piercings and neon pink hair- sprawls our food trays in front of us. "Enjoy," she says slowly, lowly, and stalks off.

Kikyo sips her coke. "Not that you care or anything, but plastic surgery? Hurts like fucking hell. Especially when you do it when you're eleven. Not that you would know."

I bite into the crispy edges of my muffin though my appetite was long gone. "You've had plastic surgery," I restate, feeling stupid. And all this time I thought she was just a genetic miracle. "Why?"

"Well technically, they were corrective operations. I got into a car accident when I was nine and my nose, my eyes, my jaw… they were all ruined. I wanted my physicality back to the way it was, badly. So my dad took me to a friend of his, a plastic surgeon, hoping to make me happy. I hated being ugly, because everyone hated me. It was the lowest point of my life."

You just can't get any shallower than that.

"It was during that time that I realized that you have to be pretty and smart and nice to get people to actually like you… fear you. I was tired of being the loyal, dependent idiot who always gets her heart broken from being back-stabbed by everyone and anyone she trusted. I was sick of it. I've always been conceited and a braggart. It's ridiculous, but when I was a naïve little dumbass, I thought, as long as I'm true to myself, people will eventually learn to like and accept me for who I am. But clearly not, because of course no one likes a conceited braggart." She rolls her eyes dramatically and forks a piece of lettuce, wincing. "This isn't iceberg. And the stupid little troll sprinkled sesame seeds on top when I deliberately told her not to. God, people these days…"

I poke at a french fry with my pinkie. "…So are you happy?"

"What kind of question is that?" she spits.

I shrug. "You say that you have to be someone else to get people to like you, but do people really like you? They don't even know you. Is there even one person on this planet who you can spill your guts to without fearing prejudice or judgment? Anyone who cares enough to love you even with your crazy flaws?" Kikyo doesn't answer. "That's what I thought. There may be hundreds of people who loathe me, Kikyo, for being annoying or obnoxiously loud or for not giving a flying puck what people think. But that's fine, because I really wouldn't have it any other way."

Her jaws somewhat drops. "Are you seriously lecturing me right now? Don't you have any sympathy? I just poured out my deepest, darkest secrets and you-!"

I stand up, fed up and ready to march out. "How can you expect others to like and accept you, when you can't even accept yourself?"

She glowers back. "That's not true!"

"It is, and you know it! You're living at lie, Kikyo. A big, fat lie! And when you're old and wrinkly and withering away in your death bed, do you know who's going to be at your side? No one. Absolutely no one. You're going to spend the rest of your life by yourself, on your own, because you're too scared of letting anyone come remotely close to you! And that's the truth. A truth that sooner or later, you'll have to face."

Struck by my harsh words, Kikyo snaps her head away, incredulity and disbelief drawn on her face. A tear rolls down her cheek, and though she quickly reaches up to brush it away, more fall, waterfalling down her cheeks and smudging her eyeliner and mascara. After a few futile attempts, she gives up on wiping her tears and simply lets herself cry silently and blankly, staring at the wall to avoid meeting my eyes.

Expression softening, I walk out of my seat and she fists her hands immediately, assuming that I'm walking out on her just as everyone she's known has ever done. But when I drop myself onto the space beside her, surprise crosses her face.

"I'll be honest with you; I really detest narcissistic, vain, selfish people." I pause, and awkwardly give her a pat on the back. "But I hate fake people a whole lot more. I know you're so sure that no one can like you as you are, but Kikyo… just know that, um, if you ever decide to fully come to grips with who you are, you already have someone on your side." And when she turns to look at me—guardedly—l, finally, I smile.

Kikyo cries some more, and after the weird looks that people start to throw in our direction, I pay the bill (because I'm just so nice) and we walk out.

"My intentions of taking you to WacDonalds didn't originally involve me telling you all that junk about my past. It was just a lead-up."

Was it so you could eat your fancy-pants salad and have me pay? I raise my brows. "Oh? Then what did you really want to tell me?"

She remains quiet, and a humiliated flush stains her cheeks.

"The suspense is killing me. What is it?"

"Finding a boyfriend was the least of my worries. Truthfully. It's so easy for a teenage girl to be deemed a slut, and that's exactly the reputation I needed to keep away from, so believe me when I say I wasn't interested in dating. Besides, the guys who want me only want me for my ass. That much is evident. But… by some strange form of blackmail, I ended up with Inuyasha. I abhorred him for a chunk of my life for being who he is. It's beyond contradictory to be jealous of someone beautiful and talented when that's what I am, but… everything he did looked so effortless and I really envied that. While I was trudging and crawling along the path to perfection, he was strolling it."

That is true, to some extent. He is gorgeous and adept at a lot of things, partly because he is a half-demon. Fairly smart as well. Dense as a rock, but intelligent as hell.

"You can laugh, but I think I've grown sort of fond of him, you know? He has a way of rubbing off on you without even realizing it." I knew exactly what she meant. "And he knows what a bitch I am, yet tolerates it. He acts so macho all the time but underneath all that rough skin, he's actually the nicest guy I've ever met. He's down-to-earth in every way that I'm not." She takes a deep breath, chuckling. "I think you know what I'm trying to say, don't you?"

I do. "You're in love with him," I force out. "You're in love with Inuyasha."

She laughs bitterly. "Who would've thought, huh? Fate has a cruel way of biting you in the ass sometimes. But yeah… I'm still somewhat denying it myself, but there's a good chance that I've got it bad for him. When I'm around him… I almost want to be different. To be good. To be someone who actually deserves of him… to be like you." She looks me straight in the eye.

As touching as that is… "I don't understand what you're trying to say."

She nods, and replies with a strong, clear voice. "I came to you today to ask if I can have him, Kagome."

This queerly resembles those situations where the rich, high-class daughter falls in love a lowly stable boy and she goes to her even richer father to ask for his consent in their marriage. Confused, I ask, "Why would you come to me? He doesn't belong to me. You're the one who's dating him!"

"He still loves you. It's so fucking palpable and I saw it only several days of going out with him. I contemplated bringing it up, but then I realized that he was only dating me to get over you. So when I thought I'd finally gotten someone all to myself, I soon learn that his affections already belong to someone else."

"I don't know what you're talking about. I really have no idea."

She smirks humorlessly. "You've spent the last couple of hours convincing me to be true to yourself yet that's exactly what you're not doing as of this moment."

I shake my head, closing my eyes. "I'm over him, Kikyo. I followed all the steps and everything: ate the ice-cream, watched the movies, burned the fat, cut my hair, joined various teams…"

"What?"

"Um, never mind. But my point is that asking for my permission was senseless and worthless. He's all yours. Really."

"Kagome, if we were both drowning in a pool—which would not happen by the way because that would make me look seriously uncool in my hot bikini—who do think he would save first?"

"Don't do that."

"Do what? Speak the truth? That's what you wanted me to do!"

I throw my hands up. "Well, what do you want me to do, Kikyo? Move away so that he forgets about me? Do something that will force him to hate me or hold a grudge against me for as long as he lives? Because I can't do that. I'm sorry, but I cand't do either of those things."

She runs a hand through her long, thick mane. "He makes me feel human. He doesn't treat me like I'm some prize he won at a carnival, a pet that belongs to him, or a doll that he can control with a few drawstrings. I feel like I can be myself around him. I know it's not fair that I'm asking you to do this for me, but please… please let me have him. You won't admit it, but you still love him too. As long as you two harbor the same feelings, my chances of completely being happy with him are as thin as paper. That risk is eating me from the inside out. I know that you changing your emotions won't budge his, but I can only hope the gradually—with time—he'll come to care for me as much as he does for you."

I laugh hollowly. "You really are selfish, Kikyo."

She grasps my hand tightly, desolation glowing in her eyes. "You're kind, Kagome, and a much better, altruistic person that I'll ever be. I know that you can do this for me, no matter how hard it is for you. It'll be the last thing I ever ask of you, so please…"

I was tempted to wrench my limb out of her grip, but I promised Kikyo I'd be there for her, didn't I? And it's not like she's doing this to purposely hurt me; Kikyo really does care for Inuyasha. She needs him a lot more than I do. This is for the best. I'm not doing this for Inuyasha—I'm doing it for Kikyo.

"Like I said, Kikyo, he's all yours."

Sango runs towards me, bewilderment slapped across her face.

I smile sheepishly. "Sorry I ditched you guys yesterday! I'm really, really sorry but Kikyo had to tell me some stuff and the second I got home, I hit the sheets. I'll treat you guys to anything you like! Forgive me?"

She doesn't say anything for a moment, coolly gazing into my eyes. "Kagome… Read this."

A heap of crumples papers enter my hands and I stare uncomprehendingly at them. "The school newspaper?"

"Read it," she pushes, eyes dark with concern.

Shikon News:

Mirror, Mirror on the Wall, Who's the FAKEST of Them All?

We all know looks can be deceiving. But who knew that Shikon High's queen bee, Kikyo Hikada, would be a living example of the tell-tale metaphor? Is her entire life based on twisted lies? Is Shikon's most prized and stellar student—in fact—the brattiest, most deceptive person to have ever walked our halls?

"…plastic surgery? Hurts like fucking hell. Especially when you do it when you're eleven," says she. "…I hated being ugly, because everyone hated me. It was the lowest point of my life."

For complete video and finer details, visit our website, the Shikon express.

[Picture of Kikyo Hikada giving local waitress at WacDonalds a hard time]

[Picture of Kikyo Hikada verbally harassing fellow student Kagome Higurashi of class 2A]

[Picture of Kikyo Hikada having a nervous breakdown]

My first thought is, shit, they got my homeroom number wrong for the second time this year! Didn't I make it clear I'm in 1A, not 2A?

The second thing that crosses my mind is, oh-my-God. How on earth did this happen?

"Kagome, what is this? I don't get it. Why were you with her yesterday? Why would you say all that to you? Are you two, like, close or something? Is she threatening you in any way—?"

"Sango, show me the video. The one on the school website. You have your phone on you don't you? I need to see it right now."

Perplexed, but trusting my better judgment, she warily brings out her android and holds it out to me after a few clicks of several buttons. And on that small, wireless screen, Kikyo's reputation—the life she's created for herself over the last four years—unravels before my very eyes. All the 'not-quite-so-juicy' scenes had been cut out so that the video consisted of Kikyo's bitching, her plastic surgery story, and her crying. It was pretty much Kikyo's ultimate destruction minimized to five minutes.

I need to find her… need to help her get through this.

And before I know it, I'm full-on sprinting.

"Where are you going?" Sango shouts, exasperated. "Kagome. Kagome!"

I love Sango. As well as Ayame and Rin. But as of this moment, the person who really needs me is Kikyo, and I have to be there to support her. I can't even begin to comprehend the immense pain, humiliation, and despair she must be harboring within her heart at the careless words of a cruel, cold-blooded newspaper affiliate. He knew nothing—nothing about her. Yet he went ahead and did… this. I was going to kick his sorry little ass, whether I get suspended for it or not.

No I'm crazy about her. But I'm not going to let my petty negative emotions get in the way of doing what's morally right in a situation like this.

Taking little snippets of me and Inuyasha and bombarding my personal love life is one thing. Annoying and pathetic, yes, but harmless to some extent. How could anyone with a heart be capable of destroying a life? Never minding the fact that the life was fake and messed up. In a sense, isn't everyone's life messed up to some degree?

That nosy pansy had no freaking right to do what he did. And he was going to pay.

"Oh-em-gee, is it true, Kagome? Ahh! Who would've guessed, right? This is crazy! The whole school is talking about it nonstop!"

"Now I feel bad for doubting you… But Kikyo had us all fooled, eh?"

"I'm so not voting for her for class rep next year. God, what's with all the fake bitches nowadays? They need to get over themselves, don't you agree, Kagome?"

"I, like, totally fucking hate her. Kikyo can go die in a ditch for all we care. She lied to us for fucking years, and fuck her if she thought she was going to get away with it. She deserved to have gotten exposed like that. She really fucking deserved it."

I spin around and let out a shrill, deafening scream out of pure frustration. "Shut up! DAMMIT, leave me alone! What do any of you know? Just get out of my way!"

Shoving my way through the herds of gossip, I eventually find Kikyo balled up in a corner of the west wing, head between her legs and barely moving- barely breathing. I pant heavily, trying to catch my breath. But just as I'm about to speak, people spot me and gather around in heaps of frenzied energy. The jeering starts.

"I may not be as beautiful as she is, but at least I'm comfortable in my own skin."

"Actually, if you look closely, she's not even that pretty. I mean, look at her nose! And her hairline and her mouth! HAH! She's ugly even after all the aesthetic procedures!"

"God made us the way we are so we shouldn't have to change ourselves just because we want to achieve physical perfection. Beauty is so superficial in every sense. Go rot in hell Kikyo."

"I always did think she was an irritating over-achiever; I never understood why everyone was so hyped over her in the first place. Anyone could look pretty after being cut and prodded at with scissors."

"Fake bimbo."

"Plastic."

"Self-absorbed."

"Shallow."

"Disgusting."

"Bitch."

"Whore."

I face the crowd of sneering people, their faces contorted with hate and pity. They were all mocking Kikyo when they themselves were horribly rotten people who found pleasure in another being's misery. I pity them because while Kikyo's not the most perfect egg, she's a lot less cracked than they are.

One of them steps up to me and puts a hand on my shoulder.

"I was one of the people who took Kikyo's side over yours. I see now how stupid and blind I was. I really admire you for having opened your eyes sooner, Kagome. Come on, let's leave. We shouldn't have to soil ourselves by standing in her presence any longer."

Smiling angelically, I brush her hand aside and after a quick cracking of the knuckles, I land a hard, solid punch cleanly to her jaw, knocking her over onto the ridged cement.

"What the hell?" she shrieks. "What'd you do that for, you bitch?"

"Hypocrites, the lot of you. You're all freaking hypocrites, do you realize that? And what do you care if she's redone her face? It's her own fucking body, and she can do whatever she wants to it! This isn't about whether or not I support plastic surgery. It doesn't have anything to do with my personal beliefs! Because while Kikyo is shallow and conceited, as least she knows what she wants and goes for it- unlike you sorry assholes who waste their lives away complaining about how you look and how you wish you looked. At least admit that Kikyo's got something you don't, and that's guts!"

A guy scoffs. "If she's got fucking guts, why did she pretend to be something she's not? Can you answer that, you just, martyr-like smartass who seems to know everything there is to know about her? Speaking of which, is there a reason you're sticking up for Kikyo? Because if my memory serves me correctly, you two despised each other."

I roll back the sleeves of my shirt. "I know where I stand, jerk-face. So should you."

Kikyo slowly rises then, albeit clumsily… face red and horrible, hair frizzy and wild, clothes tattered and reeking of garbage that'd she'd been sitting on.

"They're right, Kagome," she whispers. "This is what I get. This is what I deserve for being so full of myself for the last few years. It's time I get off my high horse."

I shake my head fiercely. "No. No, you're wrong. You're human, too, Kikyo. Don't settle for less than you deserve!"

She ignores me altogether and faces her angry mob. "Go ahead- throw something at me. I know you're all dying to. So go ahead! Do it! I don't care!"

There's a brief instant of silence and stillness. Then, a half-eaten apple is tossed at Kikyo's feet. Followed by pens, rulers, chewed-up gum, crumpled up paper, hats, and even rocks.

Repulsed, I step forward, ready to put myself in front of her and take all those hits instead even though I knew—better than anyone else—that emotional damage didn't even come close to physical agony. Me, Inuyasha, and now Kikyo… we all know the pain that bullying causes. We understand one another in our sufferings.

But then, as I stretch out my arms and turn my face to the side and prepare for the rocks, a dark figure looms over us and in a flash of silver and gold, Inuyasha launches himself furiously at the males in the group, his growls escaping menacingly from his throat. He was beating them up with a fierceness that put me to shame.

Kikyo's knees give out, eyes rolling to the back of her head, and she collapses onto the ground.

"Scram!" Inuyasha snarls at the girls after finishing up on the guys. Then he rushes to Kikyo's side, crouches down, and pulls her arm over his shoulder, heaving her up bridal style.

"Thank you, Kagome," he says gruffly, lowly. "You did good. I'll take it from here. Go to class."

He turns his back, shifting Kikyo tenderly in his arms like a father would to his sleeping child, and walks away and out of my life.

He's all yours, Kikyo. I hope you understand that now.

Kirara taps me on the tip of my nose.

"What's wrong, Kaggie bear? You look like someone shot your dog."

I grin shakily, trying my best to not let my murky emotions affect bright, happy Kirara on her last day in Japan. "I don't have a dog, Kirara," I remind her lightly.

A mischievous smile graces her lips. "You don't, you say?"

Sango shakes her head, laughing, and gives Kirara a small push towards the airport terminal. "Go back to America, already, will ya? And promise me you'll lay off the candy and junk food. If my favorite cousin dropped dead from cancer or some other disease, I would freak."

"You so would," she agrees, giggling. Then she lets out a huge sigh. "I really am going to miss you guys. Can't you all just come and live in America with me? I could sneak you into my luggage and let you live in my closet until I'm emancipated and have enough money to visit Japan on a more frequent and consistent basis."

Ayame snorts. "These long, glorious legs would not fit in your pink-and-polka-dotted closet."

Kirara's mahogany eyes get all glossy, and she leans forward to gather us in an awkward group hug. "Don't forget to call and email, you three. Or else I'll come after you with a rainbow-colored spear that has a bow on the handle."

Ayame shudders. "What a vicious blackmail."

Kirara pats Ayame on the head and turns her attention back to me. "Time to give you your present!"

I stare. "What present?"

"You forgot? How could you forget? I told you that I'd have a farewell-for-now gift ready for you before I got on my plane didn't I? Remember? I warned you to be prepared for the impact of my supreme awesomeness!"

I smack my forehead, chuckling. "Oh, yeah, I remember now. I guess with everything that's been going on, it simply slipped my mind."

"Yeah, well, you hurt my feelings, Kags." She pouts. But when she digs in her pocket and comes up with a small, prettily-wrapped little box in (you guessed it) polka-dotted wrapping paper and a finishing ribbon on top, her mouth is stretched in a wide smile. "Here! Take it!"

I hold the petite box in the palms of my hands. "Kirara…"

Kirara scrunches up her nose. "Kya! Don't cry, Kagome. If you start tearing up, I'll start tearing up, then Sango will start tearing up, and then Ayame's gonna get diarrhea."

"Gee, thanks," Ayame replies dryly. "Why'd you make me the only one with the serious bladder problems?"

Kirara places a small CD case (with a CD inside, of course) into Sango's fingers. "Your present, darling cousin. It's not very special… just a mini-movie filled with embarrassing childhood photos of both of us. I was working on it when I was in America so that I could give it to you when I said goodbye. Not that this is a permanent goodbye or anything. You know I'm just a very sentimental person. Now as for Ayame… I had a tough time deciding what to get you. So in the end, I got you the best-est gift of all! Better than Sango's and Kagome's! It's…" She pulls something out of her carrier, "candy!" She dumps a goodie-bag into Ayame's waiting hands.

…

"Candy?" Ayame groans.

"What's wrong with candy?" Kirara asks, wide-eyed. "Candy is the most magical substance on this planet! Oh, but no worries, Ayame. I thought ahead and put some chocolates in there as well. You know, just in case the candy isn't good for you sharp canines. There's gummies, chips, and caramels too. No need to kiss my feet in gratitude; your face says it all, Ayame."

Sango rolls her eyes. "It says something, all right."

I still stand there, befuddled, looking down at the decorative little box.

Kirara sees, and grins secretively. "Open it when you get home and you're by yourself," she advises, before pushing her trolley of bags down one of the isles. "Bye Sango! Bye Kagome! Bye Ayame!"

Unable to follow her wishes, though, I gently skin the wrapping paper, and find a heart-shaped sticky-note that read: here's to my all-time favorite couple! in Kirara's loopy, girly cursive writing. Underneath, there was a golden heart pendant strung by a delicately thin, gold chain. Pulling out the heart, I see the tiny hinges on the side, indicating that the pendant is actually a locket. Curiously, I push it open.

My face- scrunched up in laughter- on the left and Inuyasha's face- actually smiling- on the right.

Head aching, I slide Kirara's 'supremely-awesome' gift into my jacket pocket.

AN: this chapter gave me such a hard time -_-; it was a very intense chapter, so I'm kind of relieved it's finished.

I was planning on doing some Aya/Kog here, but somehow… it didn't fit. So it'll have to wait for next time. But I'm stuck on Miroku/Sango…

There's still SO much I have to cover in the next chap that my head is spinning! (*hint/spoiler* Naraku)

But for now, I shall take my humble leave, while thanking all of you for your amazing support! Both my readers and my editor deserve hard-core praise.

Much love

~Nyony.

(PS: forgive Kikyo's extreme OOC-ness in this chap)

Daichi: Gosh . . . Kagome is such a nice person! I admit, even though some of you guys may not believe it, I did the exact same thing for someone I hardly knew. I did what Kagome did but I hope she gets him back! That kind of pain is harsh . . . but I feel bad for Kikyo too at the same time . . .AHHHH! NYONY HURRY AND WRITE THE NEXT CHAPTER SO I CAN EDIT!

Nyony: Daichi is fabulous, no?

I have so much preparing to do for the next chapter- there's so many things I need to squeeze in! Wish me luck guys :)