Then and Now

Anime(s)/Manga: InuYasha/Vampire Knight

Rating: T

Author: Dark Void Princess 21

A/N: Ah~ My perception of time is really bad. I'm also just realizing how popular this story really is. I'm really sorry. It's not really an excuse but unless any of you know how bad anxiety has to be to hide in your locked room and then hide in your closet in your locked room for a week, consuming only a bottle of water and forcing a box of crackers…well…I like to say that you don't have the right to judge. I apologize every time but I really do mean it.

Chapter Seventeen

Kagome entered the dance hall tense. Everywhere she looked, people were smiling and giddy. It was an event so she shouldn't be surprised but she couldn't share their sentiment. She trusted her instincts and she felt anything but ease.

Kagome almost laughed when she saw Rima get irritated when Shiki stepped on her foot. She did laugh but it was light and muffled by her hand. Poor Rima… she would hate it too if someone stepped on her feet.

She had convinced herself to attend the event but she felt out of place. Everything around her moved in slow motion. The sound of the music vanished into silence. Everyone seemed so far away.

A sad smile twisted on her face. This was probably for the best. They wouldn't miss her. Her absence wouldn't make a difference.

An extended hand reached her vision. Her eyes widened in surprise as the world around her returned to motion. She blinked looking up to the owner of the hand.

"Kaname…"

"…Kaname…I…"

"Would you like to dance?"

"Huh?" Kagome blinked as Kaname's eyes never left hers.

Kaname smiled. "It is a dance after all."

Kagome ignored the few stares they received when Kagome tentatively took his hand. They slowly entered into a dance, matching the rhythm of the song.

"Is the dance not to your liking?"

"Why would you think that?"

"You don't seem very happy."

Kagome's lips remained closed. A few sweeps of graceful footwork passed before Kagome relaxed enough to genuinely smile. "The dance is nice. I was just thinking of somethings."

"Is that so?" Kaname had by now learnt that Kagome releasing information willingly about herself when she didn't want to was unlikely to happen. Only if she was flustered or uncomfortable enough for a slip up, so he didn't question what her current thoughts were. "As your dance partner, shouldn't you be thinking of me?"

Kagome's cheeks tinged red, feeling her emotions be riled up. "Ah. Gomen." She leaned forward so that her face leaned against his chest. An attempt to hide her blushing face from him. For a moment, her unease vanished. She sighed in content. "You always have a way of calming me." The admittance wasn't embarrassing at all, though it probably should have been.

Kaname pulled Kagome closer against him.

"You have a way of clearing my head and making me feel comfortable," said Kagome as she thought carefully about her words. "Hey, Kaname…?" Her grip on his shoulder tighten a bit uncertain. The side of her head still resting against his chest. "When this is over let's give us a try."

"I'd like that very much but I am curious about the sudden change."

Kagome looked up into Kaname's gaze. It was like he was searching for something. "We'll naturally learn about each other that way, right? I don't know exactly how I feel, but I do know I'm always comfortable with you and you make me happy…so I'd like to give it a try.

"I'm happy." Kagome was taken back with how genuine Kaname's expression looked. She forgot everything else when he suddenly excused himself reluctantly.

Kagome looked at the clock and then around the room.

Rima wasn't there.

Kaname left.

Now was the time.

Zero and Yuuki were confronting Shizuka when Rima appeared on the window still.

"Rima?" Yuuki muttered confused. Zero looked over confused as well. He just hoped that she wasn't on Shizuka's side. Dealing with her alone was bad enough.

"And what do you want? Have you come to take their side?" Shizuka asked without gazing at the model.

The comment did little to relax Zero. Rima wasn't on her side, but she was still another vampire. He didn't want her there. He didn't want her existence.

Rima looked on the scene with hollow eyes. She didn't answer as she walked over to Maria's body. "I'll be taking her," Rima said quietly before leaving the scene, uncaring to the outcome of their clash. She had other things to take care of.

Her odd appearance wouldn't be forgotten but it certainly hadn't been a priority to the other parties at the time. For that she was thankful. It would be hard to fight while carrying Maria.