Once Upon a Time...

"I don't see a particular point in now when this was the intention of the upcoming vacation," he argued.

Touga smiled, "Because.." He gave him a look as if he should have known what he was going to say. "It would make it seem as if you are truly interested rather than reluctant interested. You two will have to endure each other for many years and she will be with no other being other than you. This is to make her feel as if you genuinely want to get to know her, it will build up anticipation for her to want to spend time with you during the trip." Touga shook his head, "Sesshoumaru, there's a lot you don't know when it comes to women, just trust me on this."

He sighed and picked up the phone. "The impending failure will be yours to claim blame."

"Now that isn't very responsible of you. If you fail, it was simply because you lacked the charm your father here has." Touga replied smiling, showing his pearly whites.

He deadpanned and looked to the side as the phone rang, opting to not humor him with a response.

"I'm glad we went shopping, we would have had absolutely nothing to wear had we not gone." Kagome replied sitting on Kikyou's bed as she brushed her hair.

Kikyou turned the page to the book she was reading, "Kagome, you have more than enough clothes in your closet to start a boutique. We would have been fine."

"But Kik! Those clothes were so last season!" Kagome exclaimed dramatically.

Kikyou turned and gave Kagome a look, "Are you being serious?"

Kagome stuck her tongue out, "Just kidding, but seriously I really wanted to go so they'd be impressed. We've got to impress them Kikyou, they are a well known and respected family."

"I don't care about that." Kikyou frowned.

Rolling her eyes Kagome huffed, "You don't care about anything other than your grades."

Kikyou smirked, "Correct."

"You're boring." Kagome said as she tugged on Kikyou's hair. "All you do is study, practice archery, meditate, and be boring."

"And all you do is, talk, talk, and talk. Perhaps your archery would be better if you actually put in as much practice as much as you talked." Kikyou retorted.

Kagome frowned, "Shut up Kikyou, not everyone is a perfectionist like you."

"Pity." Kikyou replied sitting her book down. Just as she sat her book down her phone rang. She glanced at the caller ID with a raised eyebrow, "It's Sesshoumaru..."

Kagome jumped up, "No way, seriously?"

Kikyou showed her the the phone, "Yes, seriously."

"Answer it!" Kagome grinned. "I bet it's something good."

Kikyou took a deep breath and answered, "Hello Sesshoumaru."

Sesshoumaru looked up to the ceiling, cursing whatever star he wished on that she wouldn't pick up. "Kikyou," he greeted.

Touga watched on in amusement. He felt he should have probably left, but to see his son in such discomfort while talking to a female left him extremely amused. He was definitely going to stay and see this.

----

"What do I owe the pleasure of you calling? Surely you don't need help with your homework." Kikyou replied, her interest piqued. To her this was very odd. Very extremely odd.

Kagome watched on excitedly.

Scowling at his audience, he sighed. "I... have a preposition."

Touga rolled his eyes, "A preposition? Seriously?"

----

"A preposition? Of what sort?" Kikyou inquired.

"Would it be in your interest to accompany me tonight?"

Touga smiled and walked out of Sesshoumaru's room, "He'll be alright."

---

Kikyou raised an eyebrow, "To where?"

"... Dinner."

Kikyou's grey eyes widened momentarily before she composed herself.

"What? What did he say?" Kagome whispered excitedly.

"Dinner would be lovely, what time should I be ready?" Kikyou replied with a small blush.

Kagome grinned widely, "Dinner!" She whispered as she got up and danced excitedly around Kikyou's room.

"Eight," he replied with an inward groan.

Kikyou looked at the time, she had about two hours, "Alright. I will be ready then."

"Until then," he responded before hanging up.

Kagome lunged at her sister hugging her, "Kikyou finally got a date!" She laughed.

Kikyou pushed Kagome off of her still blushing, "Be silent girl. And don't say that as if I couldn't get one. I've been asked on plenty of dates before."

"Uh huh." Kagome laughed, "Whatever. Anyways I've gotta get you ready. Oh! An updo would certainly fit you. You'd look so classy. Even classier than what you are!" Kagome chatted excitedly as she started dashing around Kikyou's room.

He sighed and went to go get ready.

---

Shinki frowned at his phone as he walked through the wintery streets. 'Hi, there! Ranka here. Please leave your name and number...' He sighed and hung up, weary after the fifth time trying her cell phone. He'd tried her house phone, but there was no answer there either. He was starting to worry.

For the next two hours Kagome helped her sister prep for her oncoming date with her future mate.

----

Ayame had tried calling Kouga, but he wasn't answering her, she figured she should show up and surprise him with a good night. She was aware that she had been neglecting him in favor of her grandfather, but he should understand, right? Ayame smiled as she thought of all she was going to do to repay him for being so patient. Ayame knocked on the door several times but there was no answer. Turning the handle on the door she found it was open. "Hello?" She called out. It seemed as if no one were home. Suddenly she hearda cry from upstairs. "Kouga?", Frowning after getting no reply Ayame headed upstairs.

Sesshoumaru looked at the mirror, unsure of how to go about anything at that moment.

---

Shinki sighed as he sunk into a bench and looked up at the sky after trying for the sixth time.

---

Ranka laid back and sighed in content.

Touga poked his head into Sesshoumaru's room, "How is it going so far?"

----

Ayame climbed up the stairs and noticed that his dor was cracked open with the lights on. Smiling Ayame walked over to his door and knocked before walking in, "Kouga, sweetie I..." Ayame stopped shocked at what she saw. There together Ranka and Kouga laid in bed together naked. Tears formed in her eyes as she backed away from the door before bolting out into the hallway crying.

Kouga looked up, shock evident on his face, "Ayame...wait!" He scrambled to get his clothes on to follow her.

He turned around and ran his hand back through his hair. "As well as it can go."

---

Ranka looked up at Kouga and Ayame before it hit her. "Stop her!" she got her clothes and boots on in a hurry and ran after Ayame.

"Well good luck on your date with your intended. You might actually enjoy yourself, she seems like an interesting girl." Touga said as he leaned against the door frame.

----

Kouga finally got his clothes on and ran after her, "Ayame! Wait!"

Ayame ran out of the house and into the park nearby. She sobbed heavily as she ran not paying any attention to where she was going.

Shinki stood up with a heavy sigh and recoiled when someone crashed into him. "What the...?" He looked down and widened his eyes when he saw who it was and what she was doing. "Ayame?!"

---

Sesshoumaru nodded. "I will try to."