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Of Butterfly Wings

Chapter Thirty-Three: Passion Project

Kagome laughed as they passed through the entry gates of the amusement park. The reporters had been stopped out front, held back by security as they did not have any entry tickets on them. They were fumbling around, attempting to use their media passes without much success.

"You guys good?" Touya let her down from his back.

Kagome brushed Shouto's hair flat as Natsuo and Fuyumi caught up to them.

"We're good here," She flashed her significant other a wide smile. "You didn't wear yourself down carrying us, did you?"

Touya threw her a confident smirk, "As if I'd be that weak. You two were light as feathers."

She had a feeling that he was being more confident than truthful, but she wasn't going to spoil his fun on the matter.

"So what should we hit up first?" She took Touya's hand as they huddled together as a group.

His eyes shifted towards her with concern, "Well Recovery Girl said no running or heavy lifting for you, so no coasters either for that matter."

Kagome pursed her lips into a pout.

She'd been looking forward to the coasters though!

She watched as his smile turned wry, "That's what you get for being reckless. Besides we'll just come back later after you've fully healed."

She sulked.

Even if that was the case, she was still a tad upset that she couldn't ride them now.

Shouto tugged on her hand, "We could go on the Ferris Wheel." He gestured towards the iconic attraction. It was still fairly early in the afternoon, so the line hadn't gotten too long just yet.

"That sounds like fun to me!" She smiled down at the younger boy.

Touya fell into step beside her as they made their way through the thick crowds.

She'd never actually been on a real date before. Most of her relationship with Inuyasha had been spent at the Shrine with him alternating between telling her how terrible she looked and salivating over her twin. Honestly she still had no idea why she relented and agreed to date him in the first place. Their entire relationship had been fraught with toxicity.

Her gaze drifted to Touya.

Things were far more smooth for her now than they'd ever been before. Being with Touya wasn't what she'd call easy, but it felt natural. If people weren't staring at them for his injuries then they would be now for their newfound celebrity status. Easy was never going to be part of forging a future together.

Kagome sank her fingers into the spaces between his. She noticed the slight dash of pink coloring his cheeks before he turned to capture her lips in a quick kiss.

Natsuo made a noise of complaint while Fuyumi squealed. Shouto merely looked between them as if he were confused as to why it was such a big deal.

When they reached the Ferris Wheel, the line had grown considerably longer but it wasn't quite out of hand yet. It'd taken less than twenty minutes for them to reach the front. They clamored inside one by one. Touya held her hand as he helped her into the capsule, leading her into the seat nearest the window. He took up the spot next to her as Shouto claimed the final seat in their row. Across from them Natsuo and Fuyumi sat clustered together.

The attraction shuddered as it began its slow ascent to the top.

"Oh, I'd been meaning to ask you," Fuyumi leaned forward in her seat. "How's your writing going?"

Kagome felt her face grow hot as the boys all turned to her in confusion.

"You write?" Touya asked her curiously.

Fuyumi's smirk turned sly, "Oh she doesn't just write. She's been working on a full length novel." Her friend continued, "I actually found her manuscript by accident. She'd left it in her desk and when I was on clean up duty, I found it in there." Fuyumi grinned widely, "I was so nosey that I couldn't help myself and read through the whole thing. I can't tell you how upset I was that it wasn't finished."

Kagome buried her face in her hands and she finished the story, "I went back that afternoon because I'd realized that I'd lost my manuscript which is how I met Fuyu-chan. I caught her reading over it and she practically begged me to join her after-school book club after that."

Fuyumi's grin widened further, "And ever since then she's been spoiling me with her writing. You were pretty close to the end the last time I saw it."

Kagome glanced out the window avoiding their prying eyes, "It's done now."

She'd actually finished it the night before the Sports Festival.

"I was planning on showing you later but things got a little chaotic." Kagome explained, still avoiding Touya's prying gaze.

"So," He started. "What's it about?"

Kagome shook her head vigorously, "No! Fuyumi reading it was embarrassing enough!"

The thought of Touya reading through her novel made her heart skip and not in a pleasant way. Her stomach coiled into knots as she tried to change the subject.

"We still haven't decided what we're doing after this!" She peered out the window, taking in the rest of the sights. "I think there's a bumper car attraction right down there!"

Through the reflection she could see her boyfriend's playful smirk.

"You can't just drop that on us and not give us a spark notes summary." He turned his head towards Fuyumi, "Spill it."

She shot her a pleading look in return. For once, Fuyumi looked torn. As if she couldn't decide between bragging about her novel or respecting her privacy.

"Sorry but you'll just have to experience it the way I did." She held up her hands.

Kagome gave a sigh of relief.

"But if you want to read it, she keeps it hidden in the top drawer of her desk at the Shrine." Fuyumi added.

Kagome let out a squeal as she covered her eyes once more, "Traitor!"

She didn't have to look to hear the siblings laughing at her embarrassment.

She heard her friend lean towards Touya, "She thinks she's not that good of a writer but she's actually amazing at it." Fuyumi nudged her shin with her foot, "She probably hasn't said it yet but this one here wants to be a novelist."

Kagome gently banged her forehead against the glass.

Betrayed by her own best friend.

She felt Touya's arm curl around her shoulders as he gently pulled her back to his chest.

"Well if it's finished, then might as well publish it right?" He spoke, running his palm through her hair as if to settle her nerves. Unfortunately the action merely caused her heart rate to spike instead. Even as close as they were, she wondered if there'd ever come a time when she wouldn't be affected by his proximity.

Kagome leaned into his side, "I am not ready for that." She shook her head vehemently, "I've got a lot of editing to do plus there's more plot holes than craters on the moon. This has been what you'd call a passion project."

Fuyumi nudged her shin again, "You say that but it was amazing! Honestly I don't think I've seen a plot premise like that in a long time."

Touya threw her a pointed look—clearly begging her for more details.

Kagome hunched her shoulders, "Don't go looking at me like that! Begging isn't going to make me suddenly agree to let you read it."

He leaned closer towards her until his lips were a mere breath away.

"Will this work?" He smirked confidently.

She turned her head away, "That's an unfair advantage and you know it!"

He knew that she couldn't deny him. He was just playing dirty at this point.

Natsuo quickly pulled Shouto to their side of the Ferris Wheel and held his palm over the boy's eyes.

"Get a room." He groused.

Shouto tried pulling their middle brother's hand from his face.

The other teen shifted in his seat, "If you're worried about the public reaction then why not publish under a pen name? Lots of authors do it and you can just look at this as a learning experience."

Fuyumi shot up in her seat, "That's what I said too! Kagome's just shy."

She didn't bother to deny that one.

"Hey pen name or not, publishing your writing is like getting naked on a stage and asking for criticism!" She tipped her chin up to meet her boyfriend's gaze, "I'm not quite ready to put myself out there just yet."

His lips curled into a smile, "Alright but before we reach the bottom I still want that summary at least."

Kagome groaned beneath her breath.

They were not going to let this go.

"Oh fine." She complained.

Maybe she could open up just this once. It was often said that the greater the audience, the greater the response. Maybe she could tell them just a little.

Kagome sucked a breath through her nose as she began.