A/N Read and enjoy
Beta; Cstorm86

A Girl Who Had A Crush

She knew she was dreaming. That had to be a dream - no real garden could be so beautiful. Among blooming trees, lush grass and colorful flower beds walked people in expensive robes - some fair, some bizarre, some even scary-looking, but she didn't fear their disfigured faces or forms. Scattered light of countless lamps hanging from tree limbs and the edge of the roof of a traditional manor embracing the garden from two sides, illuminated the scenery, along with the fading light of the setting sun. Overhead the crescent moon was taking its place in the darkening sky.

She sat among this splendor, but it all was a bit fuzzy around the edges, the vision lacking focus.

Only one thing was sharp and able to catch her attention - a pair of eyes as golden as the sun itself, sharp and stoic, but somehow conveying affection as they gazed down at her from the silver bangs. Her hand was held in a strong one and she felt her heart beating faster, swelling with emotions that were frighteningly strong and new.

This man - he was cold, yet warm, stoic, yet passionate, powerful, yet gentle. He was all she wanted, she couldn't stop herself from yearning to be at his side.

"Kaguraya, dear? Are you up?" A light knock to her door woke her up and she sighed, blinking awake, the dream fading into the pleasant feeling of warmth and belonging that was quickly replaced by the numb realization that she couldn't keep those golden eyes looking at her this way.

"Oh, Inuyasha..." she sighed, remembering the wary gaze the shrine guardian had given her the previous day when she had talked to him. His eyes were so unique, just like his pure white hair. It was such a shame he was hiding in the shrine, but at the same time it added a layer of mystery to his character. Him being so silent only enhanced that vibe.

Well, he didn't know her, so it was no wonder he was like that. She sat on her bed, calling out to her mother that she was going to be downstairs for breakfast soon. She was beautiful and smart, talented and witty, she was sure she could win his heart and make those golden eyes look at her with that eternal passion.

.

"Okay, team, we have a youkai to deal with," Kagome said to Inuyasha and Sango. The whole trio sat on the house engawa, hiding from the summer rain that poured over the mountain this afternoon.

"A youkai?" Sango asked, petting Kirara who was curled in her lap. The miko nodded.

"I was asked to deal with a youkai in the village. It's said to lurk around the hotel. The owner wants to get rid of it before the festival and the summer rush," Kagome explained. She couldn't help it, she felt a bit excited. It was the first big thing she was called to do. It was like the village folk were acknowledging her as a shrine keeper in her own right. She supposed that it was not only because of the rumors about her taking over, but also because of her helping grandpa in the festival preparations. He had been asked to perform purification by the shrine visitors and always led them to her for spiritual aid, she also had made some minor things, like removing the 'kappa' from the pond

But this time the troubled villager called her, not her grandfather. It was exciting and empowering. And made her a tad anxious, because she really hoped she could do well. One glance at Inuyasha's smirk made her aware that he was in the ass-kicking mood. Her shrine guardian could pretend he didn't care, but she suspected he itched to go to the village and do something reckless.

After all, for him it was going to be the first 'outing' where he didn't have all the commands weighing down on him.

From the three of them Sango was the calmest, looking at Kagome with the look that clearly told her that the exterminator waited for more detail.

"The hotel owner hasn't seen the youkai. But it apparently breaks in the hotel rooms and baths to steal towels, small things and shampoo. It's responsible for some personal things of the patrons missing. They thought it was a thief, but their security cameras show no one walking the corridors and there are no signs of breaking in," Kagome elaborated.

"Oh..." Sango looked down to Kirara. "Do you think... maybe... could I go with you? I mean, as a backup? I'd like to see the village, if you don't mind?"

"Oh, Sango!" Kagome smiled radiantly. "Of course you can tag along."

"We don't need a backup!" Inuyasha grumbled and snorted, when they looked at him, Kagome with annoyance and Sango with a tiny frown. "What? I ain't saying she can't go. I'm saying we don't need her fighting our battles!"

"So, it's settled, you go with us," Kagome's smile returned. "And don't mind him, he's just grumpy because he doesn't want to share a fight!"

"Damn well I don't want to share a fight with some measly human!"

"Measly?" Sango gave Inuyasha a glare that was only half mocking. Kirara leaped to Kagome's lap. "I will show you how measly I am when I drag that mane of yours through the mud!"

"Fat chance!" Inuyasha barked with a smirk that showed his fangs. There was no real malice in his yellow eyes when he scowled at Sango before the woman jumped to tackle him.

"Guys!" Kagome gasped, watching as the pair rolled off of the engawa and fell to the ground. When she looked over the edge of the floor she saw the pair rolling in the wet grass, throwing punches and kicking, not minding the rain. Kirara shook her head like an exasperated adult at the antics of a pair of children. "Hey!"

"Oh, gods, I've never seen Inuyasha so playful during such weather," Hiro muttered as he looked at them from the living room.

A gust of warm, gentle summer wind made the rainwater dripping from the edge of the roof sway and fall on top of the miko's head, making her shriek when the cool water ran down her skin. Kagome leaped away from the edge of the engawa and glared at the pair in the mud, who was watching her, frozen in the middle of a fierce battle.

"I will bring towels," Kagome grumbled and gathered herself to her feet. "We leave as soon as the rain clears out."