Disclaimer: Don't own Inuyasha characters. The great and wonderful Rumiko Takahashi does though. -Bows-
I do own the characters I create myself though. Therefore you can't have them. >>

A.N. La de ad. Well this will be my second fic submitted here. I do hope people will read it. x3 All I will really say, is that this is set in modern times. Not much of a change in characters really. All in all I suppose I'll have fun with it if I actually finish.

Ja ne for now until the end of the chapter.

Sitting at the feet of a young black haired woman, was a small child. Almost a splitting image of her when she was a child. She was listening to the music her mother was playing on her guitar as a crowd gathered around them. A few people dropping coins or bills into the open case. The young woman's voice was pure and sweet. Almost like you could get sucked into the song she sang. Her eyes remained closed as she continued to play. As the day began to darken, the crows began to thin to go home or where ever they were staying. As dusk came, she placed the guitar in the case, shut it and rose to her feet. She lifted the small child and held her against her hip as she picked up the case. She turned and walked slowly east. They didn't really have a home.

In a law suit, they had become poor. They'd lost their home and almost everything they had. All that they had left was the guitar, some pictures of the two of them, the clothes they wore and some other insignificant things. They lived with some other people in a dirty, darkened alley. But everyday, she managed to make herself look presentable before she went out to play to earn money.

Several times she'd tried going into clubs without success. They had all refused to let her play. So every day, she took her daughter out to the same place and played a different song everyday. Several times a string would break and she would have to replace it with a brand new one. But she never gave up trying to make her daughter happy. Along with her other belongings, she had a small safe where she was able to put the money she'd earned inside and insure that it would be there when she woke up the next day.

She and her daughter had become close friends with some of the other women living in the same alley. On the days her daughter wasn't with her, she was playing with the other children happily. It made her smile to know she was happy even though they were living on the street.

One such day her daughter wasn't with her when she was playing. Someone had stopped just in front of her on the curb in a red mustang. She wasn't sure what year it was, but it didn't really matter. A young, good looking silver haired man wearing a baseball cap had stepped out of the car and stood in the crowd watching her.

She didn't usually pay attention to who was there in the crowd. Listening and occasionally dropping money into the case. As dusk came once again, she noticed he was still there. Watching. When she had finished and returned the guitar to the case. She rose to her feet, lifted the case and silently moved past him. He followed.

"Miss? Might I ask you a question?" he asked trying to get her attention.

She stopped and turned to face him. "Well you just did. But what can I help you with?" she asked politely.

"Well for several days I've noticed you playing in the same place each day. I also noticed you live in an alley with some other people."

"What of it?"

"Well I was wondering if you would take a job offer I can give you."

"And that would be?"

"Well I see that small girl with you each day. Always smiling at you. So I was wondering, since you seem so good with children, would you be up to baby-sitting my nephews everyday? You would have your own room in my house."

"I don't know. I'll think about it I suppose. Might I ask who you are?"

"Inuyasha Takahashi. And you are?"

"Kagome. Kagome Higurashi. It was a pleasure to meet you Mr. Takahashi. But my daughter is waiting."

"Wait. Take this. It has my house and cell number on it." Inuyasha produced a small white card from inside his black jacket. He held it out to her.

Reluctantly Kagome took it. "I'll give you a call once I reach a decision."

"Alright then. I'll be waiting." Inuyasha turned and went back to his car. Got in, and drove off.

Kagome sighed softly as she headed for the alley where her daughter was waiting. As soon as the case was down, she was hugging her tightly.

"Did you have fun today?" she asked smiling.

An enthusiastic nod followed. "Sure did mama! I found a kitten! Can I keep her? Please?"

"Yes my lovely little one. You may keep her. But remember. She's your responsibility. And you must treat her with kindness and love. They way I treat you."

"Kay mama!"

"Now I have something to tell you."

"Really? What is it?"

"I was given an offer today to become a baby-sitter for this man's nephews. He said we would have our own room in his house. Would you like to live in a house again?"

"I sure would mama!"

"Alright. You go get ready for bed and I'll be there to tuck you in."

"Kay!" Kagome set her daughter down and watched her run off to get ready.

Kagome sighed softly as she moved down the alley to talk to some of her friends.

"Hey there Kagome. How'd it go today? Same as usual?" one of them asked as she approached.

"More or less," Kagome said with a shrug. "Though I did speak to someone today."

"Really? What about?" The four women clustered about her.

"When I was done and walking back here, this young man asked if I would like a job baby sitting his nephew's everyday."

"Oh wow! Are you going to take it?"

"I think so. My little one seems really excited about it."

"Well we all know what it would mean to her if you took it. So go ahead Kagome. Take his offer. We'll all be alright as long as you visit us," the first woman said smiling.

"Oh thank you so much you guys! I thought you would all be disappointed that I was leaving."

"Kagome, you've been here longer then a few of us. It's been worse for you when you had so little, and we had so much more. We just want you to know, that no matter what you decide, we will always be your friends."

"Oh you guys are the best friends a girl could ever have. I promise that with whatever I get paid, most of it will come to you. If I can I'll come by every couple of days."

She received four identical smiles from them. They truly were happy for her. "Kagome. You really don't have to send us anything."

Kagome grinned. "I know I don't have to, but I will anyways no matter what you say."

The five young women laughed cheerily before they went their separate ways to their children.

"All ready sweetie?" Kagome asked as she approached their make-shift shelter.

"Yeah! I got my kitty mama!" the child said smiling.

Kagome smiled and knelt down beside her daughter. "You'll be happy to know my friends want us to go. And I promise we'll come back to visit your friends as well. And not my little ragamuffin, its time to sleep." Kagome leaned forward and kissed her daughter on the forehead. She gave the small tabby kitten a light kiss on the top of its head as well before the two fell soundly asleep.

The next morning, Kagome left her daughter with her friends. She took some change and went to find a pay phone she could use. She entered the change into the machine and dialed the house number. Almost immediately someone answered. But it wasn't Inuyasha Takahashi. It was another male voice. She asked for Inuyasha and received a ""Hold on, I'll get him."

Kagome waited patiently until she heard his voice. "Hello? This is Inuyasha."

"Hello Mr. Takahashi. This is Kagome Higurashi from yesterday."

"Ah yes. You have made a decision?"

"I have. I will work for you. On the condition that my daughter gets to keep the kitten she found."

"Yes alright. I'll come to get you tomorrow around noon."

"Sounds good. And thank you for this Mr. Takahashi."

"Please, just call me Inuyasha. And you are quite welcome. Farewell until tomorrow then."

"Goodbye Inuyasha."

They both hung up the phones at the same time. Kagome sighed heavily as she leaned against the machine. She pushed herself back and turned to go back to the alley. She would not go play today. She would pack their belongings into the small back pack she had bought a few days ago. She watched her daughter run around the alley with her friends happily playing. She smiled and looked at the small kitten. The creature was about nine weeks old, she estimated as she looked it over. So it was alright for her to let her daughter keep it. She found a small, plastic chipped bowl and poured a little milk from earlier into it. Thirstily the kitten lapped it up. Kagome finished the packing and rose to go see her friends.

"Well I'm all done. I do hope she'll be happy," Kagome said softly.

"I'm sure she will be Kags," one of them said cheerily.

"I know Ami. It's just going to be so strange to have a real bed again. A real home. After what we went through. I just hope he doesn't find us. I couldn't stand it if he tries to take her again. And if he were to succeed in doing so... I just don't know what I would do after that."

"We know Kagome."

Kagome smiled and hugged her. "Thanks Melody. I appreciate your support. I really do. It means so much."

"We just want what's best for you Kagome," a third said.

Kagome smiled again. "Thank you ever so much Alexis. I will surely miss you all. Especially you Amira."

Amira grinned and pulled Kagome into a hug. The other three moved in for a group hug. "Just remember. Three times a week you'll come here to visit no matter what."

"It's a date."

The five young women laughed and they turned to watch as Kagome's daughter played with her friends for the last for a couple of days.

"Once you're settled in, you come back to us," Melody said smiling.

"Of course."

Well I'm done with this chapter. I hope you all like it. :D Until next time. Remember to Review!

Ja ne!