First off, I'd like to give a great big ARIGATO!!! to all of my wonderful reviewers and readers. I only just now got a look at my reviews, and even though I should be getting ready for work right now, I felt I owed it to you to post at least one chapter to hold you off until...LATER TONIGHT!

WOOOWEEEE!!

So after I get home from work, I'll put up about four chapters. And if you guys liked the previous one's, Gods, you are gonna love these!

This chapter is Friday morning. Two separate things are happening today. First, it's Kagome's long awaited birthday, where she'll meet the Houshi family and Sango. Also, though, tonight is the charity ball that Shiori will be attending with Naraku.

Once again, most of this chapter is I POV.

Just so we know, the first big twist is coming up. I cannot stress enough about making the connection between two particular characters. Don't get it? I'll spell it out for you tonight.

Oh and for all you Sango and Miroku fans, I've got a little taste here for you and later, an entire chapter.

Carrie: TRUE!!

Soranji: I'm glad you kept yourself together these past few days!

Don't worry, I'll keep spoiling ya with giant updates!! LOVE YA!

NA NE!

~Sabichan~

Friday.

It was finally here.

The day I'd been both dreading and anticipating.

As I stepped out of my bedroom, I heard light humming coming from the kitchen. My breath suddenly hitched in my throat when the same voice started singing.

My mother was singing.

My father's voice echoed in my head, words I had last heard when I was ten years old.

"Sing for me, Shiori."

Holy Shit! My mother was singing.

My mother had been something of a singer when she was younger. That was how my parents had met. My mother had been a lounge singer in a bar that Faye's father had owned at the time. One night, Naraku and Dad had stopped in, celebrating the first multi-million dollar deal their company, the Shikon Corporation, had just closed. Sesshie and I had heard his story hundreds of times.

"It was like a fairytale, boys. Just when I thought my life couldn't get any better, she walked in the room. And it just lit up. This beautiful woman, the most beautiful woman I'd ever seen in my entire life, walked up to a microphone and just started singing. This wonderful, angelic voice filled the room and then, then she looked directly at me. Right then I looked at Naraku next to me and I told him `I'm gonna marry that girl!'. He just looked right back and told me, 'Shoji, I think you're drunk.'. But I didn't listen to him, not for a second. I talked to her after her set that night, and you know the first thing I said to her? I said `You're not supposed to be here.' And she looked at me as I had just grown a second head. So then I pointed up and said `You're supposed to be up there, sitting on a cloud somewhere, singing to the Gods themselves.'"

"Then <b>she</b> told me I was drunk! Well I came back every night for two weeks straight, but every time, she completely refused to have anything to do with me. Finally, Faye convinced her to just go out with me one time-so she did and it was wonderful. We spent the whole day together and I watched her sing at night. Then she let me take her out a few days later. Soon, I started to see her everyday. Oh, but it wasn't easy, boys, not for a minute. She was just as stubborn as I was and she kept her distance. It was a whole year later when she finally broke down and admitted that she had fallen in love with me that very same night when we first met. We got married right away, and now here you boys are. I know someday, you'll each find a special girl as well, and I'll be honest, it's gonna be hard. But that's what love is, it's a challenge. And even when you realize you can't live without her, and she won't even look at you, you can't give up. Don't <b>ever</b> give up on her! If you do, you lose your only chance in life to be truly happy, to spend your life with the woman you love with every part of your being. If you lose her, you lose love, and a life without love-well, that just isn't a life worth living."

The clinking of glasses snapped me out of my reverie, and brought my attention back to the voice floating out of the kitchen. I took a deep breath and walked in.

"Good Morning Inu! Sit down, I made breakfast."

Yet another shock. She usually spent her mornings slumped over a cold cup of coffee.

"Mom. Are you....okay?"

"Of course I'm fine. Why wouldn't I be?" She turned and smiled.

"You're singing."

"Oh, did I sound bad?" She place a hand over her mouth and blushed. " It's been sort of a long time since I last sang, huh?"

"It's been eleven years."

She cocked her head at me with a thoughtful look in her eyes. `She looks like Kagome doing that...'

"Has it? I hadn't realized it'd been so long..." She said softly, wistfully. Then she shrugged and set the glasses down on the table, and turned away.

I wanted to scream.

My mind was racing, `What the fuck are you being so nonchalant about?! You haven't sang a note since Dad vanished and you haven't made me breakfast in years! You get one fucking letter from the one man who's responsible for all this misery and you're HAPPY?'

I settled for grinding my teeth. When she sat down and started eating, I sighed, my shoulders slumping in defeat.

No matter what the reason, no matter how much I hated it, my mother was happy. And there was no way in hell I was gonna take that away from her. I had no right to.

I sat down.

"So you'll be alright here by yourself tonight? I'm not sure when I'll be home."

"Yeah. I'll go to Faye's for dinner, don't worry."

Speaking of Faye, she helped me pick out the most gorgeous dress. I swear I felt like a princess!" She began to ramble on about her plans for the day, about getting her hair done, wondering aloud if she should bother to have lunch, but didn't want to go on a growling stomach. I just nodded in silence, trying to enjoy breakfast.

"Oh and Naraku called while you were at work last night. He mentioned something about you requesting the night off?"

I dropped my fork in surprise and nearly chocked. `How the hell did he know about that?'

"Inu? Did you?"

` C'mon, think of something, think of something!' I just stared at her, her eyes questioning.

"I..umm"

"There's something you're not telling me, isn't there?" Her face suddenly lit up in realization. "Inu? you were going to have a party here, weren't you?"

She chuckled, shaking her head. I exhaled sharply.

"I should have known! The first night I leave the apartment empty in so long, well why wouldn't you take advantage of that? You are 21!"

My mouth opened and closed in disbelief. For a moment, I had actually thought Faye had broken her promise and told my mother about Kagome. But here she was, laughing and totally off target.

"Well just make sure you and Miroku and Sango, and whoever else you have over aren't too loud. We do have neighbors you know. Oh and this place better be spotless when I get home! Ah, Silly boy, thinking he can fool his mother!" She

leaned over to ruffle my hair. "I have instincts you know!"

I bit my tongue hard to keep from retorting. `Instincts, huh?'

"Yeah, you got me Mom."

She chuckled again and got up to take her plate to the sink.

"Hurry up, Inu, You're running late. Honestly, I don't understand why Faye's been needing you to come in so early lately. I mean-"

"Bye Mom! I'll be home at six-thirty!"

I didn't even wait to hear her say goodbye back. I ran as fast as I could down the stairs, stopped momentarily and then made my way to the bus stop as quickly as I could.

When I got there, she was sitting on the bench next to the old crone, Kaede. They were chatting casually, and as I got closer, I managed to make out the word "birthday". Smirking, I snuck up behind them.

"Are you gonna tell the whole damn world?!"

They both jumped, shrieking in surprise. She spun around, with a glare that could've killed me on the spot.

"You Dumb Fuck! Don't ever fucking do that again! You scared the shit out of me!"

I stood my ground, and just smiled as obnoxiously as I could. Then I held out my hand with the white roses I had picked from the bushes in front of the apartment complex this morning. Her face immediately softened.

"Ohhhh...." She cooed as she took them from me.

Then, before I could react she jumped to her feet and threw her arms around me. I stuttered out a "Happy Birthday"

"Oh, thank you Inuyasha! I was wrong, you're not a dumb fuck! You're a sweetheart!"

She pulled her head back quickly and then planted a big kiss on my left cheek, before she turned to gush to the old hag about my gift.

"They're so pretty and hey, they're alive! Did you know he said he was gonna bring me dead flowers, and then here he goes, being so sweet and all...."

I just stood there, rooted to the ground, my jaw slack, my eyes wide. I finally managed to blink once, twice.

Slowly, I raised my hand to that blessed cheek and touched it softly.

`She.. kissed me.'

Okay, so maybe it wasn't a real kiss, but it was fucking close enough for me! My face was tingling, and I could still feel her soft lips pressing against my skin. I vaguely became aware of her calling my name. A hand waved in front of my face and I flinched out of my trance.

"Huh?"

"Helloo! Are you alright?"

I smiled down at her reassuringly. She smiled back.

"Yeah, I'm fine. Why wouldn't I be?"

**At the Fukai Mori**

"Are you ready! Are you excited? I am, I'm really excited, I mean I finally get to meet her, I can hardly wait, she sounds so....bitchy!"

"Yeah, I told her you two would get right along." I muttered.

"I know!"

Sango had been chattering non-stop for hours. Every time we passed during the day, she would clasp her hands together excitedly and giggle. I had to admit her enthusiasm was as contagious as it was annoying. I'd never seen her act so girly.

It was a slow day, and I noticed that Faye was avoiding seating my section. She didn't want me to be tired later so she kept my load light and easy. Not that it was busy to begin with. Just the regulars.

As six began to approach, I could feel myself beginning to grow more and more nervous. That kiss on the cheek had really affected me. My palms got sweaty, and for the first time since I had starting waiting tables, I dropped a dish. Faye immediately told me to go sit down in the back as she took over for me.

"Thanks, Faye." I muttered, my face flushed. I walked into the bathroom and looked at myself in the mirror. I looked like shit. My face was pale, my eyes red, I was sweaty and I was scared.

And I hadn't even left work yet.

A few minutes later, Mushin knocked on the door.

"Inuyasha? you okay?"

"No."

"Come out here, I'd like to talk to you."

"I'm not grabbing her there, Mushin."

"I promise you, that's not what I wanna talk about."

Sighing, I opened the door and he led me to sit down at the break table.

"Look, son, I know you're nervous. I've been exactly where you are when I was your age."

"You mean at this table?"

"You don't have to get smart. I'm just trying to calm you down."

"Calm me down? You can't possibly understand how fucking terrified I am right now!" I suddenly blurted out. He regarded me thoughtfully, rubbing the bridge of his nose as he looked me over.

"No, I suppose not. But you should ask yourself why you're so scared, Inu. It's only dinner. She never said this was a date."

I looked up at him in shock. Fuck if the old pervert wasn't right.

We had never said this was a date.

This was just my friends meeting my other friend.

I was doing this for her, not for myself.

What the hell did I have to be afraid of?

"Inu, it's almost six. Why don't you go home, get ready. I'll have Miroku drive you, he`s annoying the hell out of Sango and his mother. He needs a time out. You can take my Baby." He said as he handed me the keys to his Classic Cadillac.

"Thanks Mushin. I'll be back a little after seven."

**Two minutes and thiry-five seconds later.**

"Are they gone?"

"Yep. I just heard Miroku take off. Let's get this place ready."

"Is he okay now, Mushin? Did you talk to him?"

"Yes, my love, he's fine. Our Inu's gonna be fine."

Faye breathed a sigh of relief, pressing a hand to her heart.

"You're a good man He looked so scared! I've never seen him like that. Not since he was a little boy..."

Mushin stepped over and wrapped his wife in a warm embrace. He nuzzled her cheek as she sank into his arms.

"You've helped to make him a good man, love. You've taught him well."

"Where did we go wrong with Miro..." She said wistfully, her tone humorous.

"What do you mean? He's the perfect son!"

"Right...just like his father...."

"And how..."

She turned in his arms to gaze up at his loving brown eyes.

"I'm happy Mushin. Things finally seem to be turning out the way the they should have always been. Shiori is...it's like she's waking up. And Inu has found the girl of his dreams. Even Sango seems to be warming up to our son. It's like...they're finally catching up. It's been so hard..."

"Faye..."

"It has. I know you've felt it too. That nagging little guilt. Sorry that you and I can be so happy when the one's we love are so miserable around us. Now, it's like that weight has been lifted off our shoulders, like we're finally free to feel what ever we want to feel. Now that our family is coming together again."

The married couple of 23 years met for a kiss filled with happiness, devotion and, and relief. Shippo watched almost disbelievingly as his parents held each other tight. It was a rare to see such displays of affection here in the restaurant. They were plenty loving at home, but not usually in public. He thought about what his mother had said just a moment ago. Guilt.

It made sense to him. Perfect sense. That's why they had never done this in front of Inu or auntie Shiori. They felt bad that those two didn't have the same kind of love in their own lives.

A tiny smile formed on his face. Even though it was pretty gross to walk in on his parents kissing, he couldn't help but be happy to see it. They didn't feel bad anymore. They were happy.

As the two pulled apart, he slipped back into the kitchen to help Sango with her tables. She was busy muttering under her breath at the coffee machine.

"Burn me, will ya? I'll show you, you worthless piece of shhhhhShippo! Hi sweetie! Didn't see ya there!"

She smiled too widely and he shook his head. `Why does she try to play it off? I know what she was gonna say!' He let it go this time. Besides, he had a very important question to ask her.

"Sango?"

"Yes, Baby?"

"How come you don't like Miroku?" Her face fell from it's exaggerated smile to a look of horror, confusion, then embarrassment within mere seconds.

"I..umm, you know...I mean...I don't not like him..ummm it's just that....you know....he's a pervert." She finally stammered out.

"Yeah, I know, but how come you don't tell him you'd like him better if he wasn't a pervert."

She stared at him blankly for what seemed like an entire minute.

"I never....it's not like he'd listen to me anyway!" She declared and promptly turned back to the coffee maker. Shippo huffed, frustrated that she was trying to ignore his real question.

"He would! I know he would! You just have to tell him! Don't you know he likes you?"

Though she didn't answer, he could see her face turning redder.

"Hey! Are you listening to me? Sango! Miroku likes you. He always talks about you, you know, about how pretty you are, and how wishes you'd just give him some daytime."

"He means he wishes you'd give him the time of day, sweetie." Faye's voice called from behind him. He turned and was glad to see her gaze fully focused on the girl

in front of him. Now that he had some backup, maybe, she'd listen to him.

"FAYE!"

"What? It's true."

After a moment of silence, Sango asked in a tiny voice.

"Has he told you that?"

"Not me, no." Shippo jumped up to get her attention.

" I heard him say it! Him and Inu were talking in his room, and Miroku said all that stuff, and then he said something about his hand being cursed, but that`s when I sneezed and he found me under his bed."

The small child stuck his chest out proudly, knowing his spy work had proved fruitful. Sango was as red as a cherry!

"Baby, I heard the door open, can you go see if we have some more customers?" He nodded and ran off to the kitchen door. Faye turned her attention back to the blushing Sango.

"Sango, I know you probably could have gone your life without having this little discussion with my son, but you have to know he means well... and that's he's being completely honest. My son cares very deeply for you. But he's happened to have inherited my husband's...flirtatiousness. I can tell you first hand, it takes a lot of willpower not to throttle the life out of them when their hands go a wandering. But just remember...they may flirt and look and gawk...but they choose to only touch one woman. And once they've made that choice....Gods, they never give up..."

Without another word, the older woman turned and left her standing awkwardly in the kitchen. Little by little, a very faint smile found it's way to her lips. Staring at the offending machine in front of her she whispered the reply Faye had not stayed to hear.

"I know."

Tbc…

Short chapter I know, but I get off work at ten thirty tonight, so I'll have lots more for you. I'm really excited about posting these next few chapters! I know you guys are gonna love em!!

Hope you liked!