The two teens ended their stint in a nearby park after she had finally managed to send Hojo on his way, with promises to see him at school the next day. She drug him along like a much beloved toy until she found a place suitable enough, beneath the bouts of a cherry blossom tree, the pink petals cascading like a warm rain about them.

Like one of those cheesy romance films. She count help but giggle at the thought, utterly ignoring the jittery fluttering her stomach seemed to do.

"So tell me Kagome what was this curious thing that had you thinking so much?" She hesitated for a moment, something she knew Shinobu would take notice of, debating on what she should tell him. After all Shinobu wasn't the type to take such things lightly.

Like InuYasha he is protective, though unlike said half demon it's more than my physical protection he worries for… its everything.

And where InuYasha is overbearing and stifling, Shinobu is just there, he'll let me try and if I should fail he's there to catch me.

Always.

"Well I met a demon-"

"Truly? Oh my how exciting." His sarcasm and teasing grin were far from lost on her.

Lightly hitting his shoulder while tittering with amusement she continued. "This demon had consumed the celestial being Kaguya, I won't bore you with details." Or give you a reason to keep me from finishing my duty. She shuddered lightly at the thought of her own arrow piercing her back, and the death she could feel nipping at her heels. "But she told me she wished to do the same to me as she had the celestial woman, because she coveted not only my abilities as a priestess but…" She fought with how to phrase the next part. "… the way in which time flowed around me."

Silence rang louder than a tolling bell could have as her larger companion took in her words. "And that means what exactly?"

"That's what I'd been stewing over." Her brow furrowed. "The only conclusion I can come up with is my time traveling capabilities."

She could tell as she studied him from the corner of her eye that there was something he wanted to say but wasn't quite sure how to say it. "I have recently learned that… the flow of time is not as set in stone as we believe. Things can change, even things that have already happened." He paused to consider his next words. "Perhaps you are a catalyst for change?"

She blinked up at him for a moment before laughing lightly. "I think you think to highly of me, I'm just Kagome, I'm not so important as all that!"

"You are to me." That stopped her, as surprise and embarrassment overwhelmed her.

She turned to look at him hoping to find an easygoing amused look on his face, but she found no teasing grin, instead there was a completely serious look in his eyes.

One that had her heart dancing in her chest.

Especially as his eyes flickered to her lips and back. Something in him steeled and with a decisive look flashing through his eyes he began leaning his face down toward her.

Her breath hitched and her eyes fluttered closed.

"Shinobu." A laughing male voice called out, startling both of them into jumping away. "The tiny tot has need of you." Itsuki watched them with unbridled amusement.

"Yeah, yeah okay I'm coming." Shinobu stood offering her a hand up, which she accepted. With embarrassment, an unusual emotion from the male who was usually so sure of himself, he turned to her and apologize. "I'm sorry I-"

"The only reason you should apologize is if you didn't mean it, I wonder are you recanting your actions, and words?" Itsuki asked curiously.

"No never!"

"Then don't apologize." The friendly way they interacted had her feeling surprise, she had known his partner was a demon but their comradely interactions were unexpected.

Perhaps Shinobu is closer to accepting demons than I -or he had realized. She thought happily as she waved to him, promising to see him again.

I'm rather surprised as well as pleased with how well this story is going especially considering the odd pairing.

Anyway thank you all for your support!