Author's Note: This is only my second fan fiction (read my first piece, "Of Fires and Starlit Nights"!). I'll update as fast as I can, but I'm only 17, and I'm sure you know how the whole school thing is (*grrrr's at unfinished home work on top of the book bag.). Anyway, just read, review, and enjoy (and don't forget, I love constructive critism!)!

Disclaimer: I know. I know. I don't own Inu-yasha, okay?!?! *sniffle, sniffle* I don't know who gets pleasure out of making me admit that, but who you are (you know who you are, admit it!) you're just weird.

The Darling Buds of May

Chapter One:

Kagome Higuarshi walked down the hospital wing, her backpack stuffed full of magazines, books, and whatever odds or ends she could fit into it. Today, she was going to visit hospital patients. Her grandfather usually performed the task, but he had rites to perform at the family shrine that could not be put off. The duty was therefore left to Kagome, and really, she didn't mind.

'I guess it's about time I started helping out more with shrine duties, anyway.' she sighed. 'Hospitals always make me sad. Maybe I should've called Sango to come with me.' Kagome smiled, thinking of her friend. They had always been close, since before either girl could possibly remember.

"Whoops! Almost passed the room!" Kagome doubled back to her first stop.

"Hmmm.. Yup! This is it, room 413!" She knocked on the door before walking in, smiling cheerfully at the little boy sitting up in bed.

"Hello, Shippou! Sota asked me to bring you this." She reached into her massive bag and pulled out a comic book for her little brother's friend. Shippou, only recently having his tonsils removed, could only nod, but his green eyes were bright and lively, expressing his delight.

"Oh, and this is from me! Hope you enjoy it." Kagome gave the little boy a rather large, colorful lollypop. He sook his head, making his already ruffled brown hair even more unruly, and mouthed a thank you.

"You're welcome." Kagome beamed. Pleasing children had always made her happy. " I know Sota will be happy to see you back at school soon." After a few minutes more, Kagome said her goodbyes and moved on to other patients. They all seemed to be different; old, young, different injuries, or illness's and the like. By the end of the afternoon, she had nearly exhausted the supplies in her bag; but there was one room left for her to visit. Room 440.