"So what do you think?" She leaned against his warm arm. The early spring air was still brisk.

"Huh? I dunno." It was really a pretty eloquent response coming from him.

"Well, she's only thirteen. That's a little young for dating, I think. I didn't date until I was 15! And even then it was only fast food with Houjo."

"Huh. Yeah."

"And Houjo didn't really count as a date, I think. I mean, I didn't have romantic feelings for him. I think you have to have romantic feelings for it to be a date. Do you think Yuko has romantic feelings for Suguru?"

"Keh, how the hell should I know?"

"Anyway it's not appropriate for a young girl to be out at night with a boy at thirteen, even if they don't have romantic feelings."

InuYasha's nose twitched. "So let me get this straight. When you're thirteen it's improper to go out at night with a boy you're just friends with, but when you're fifteen it's alright to live with one you have romantic feelings for? Your world is strange."

Kagome gaped open-mouthed at the hanyou. "Eeew! No! It's not alright for a fifteen your old to live with a boy! Where did you get that idea!"

"Huh, you did."

"No I didn't! I only went out to burgers with Houjo!"

"Hmph, I didn't mean this Houjo person!"

"Did you mean you? That's totally different!"

"Keh, why?"

"I didn't have romantic feelings for you at first. It's not like I moved in with you or anything! It just is, ok!"

Kagome glared over at the hanyou. He met her glaze. His expression, somewhere between anger and pouting, resembled all too well the eyes a puppy gives you when it's begging for a treat. She never could resist those begging, golden yes.

"Dinner!" Kagome called up the stairs to the kids. The elder child, Kyoji, came bounding down the stairs, almost as if he hadn't had a dinner-size snack just an hour ago! Yuko was slow to follow, cell phone attached possesively to her ear.

"I'll talk to you tomorrow! I have to go eat dinner... No, no, my stuuupid mother won't let me... I dunno. I'll see you tomorrow in art class. Bye!"

"Stupid mother, eh?" Kagome tried to look hurt, but failed. Instead she just grinned. Yuko headed towards the kitchen, pausing when she saw a place had not been set for her.

"Ma? Where's my plate!"

"Huh?" Kagome feigned innocence. Finally breaking down with a smile, she responded, "You're not eating with us tonight, dear, you're eating with your nice friend Suguru from school, right? Didn't he invite you over for dinner?"

Yuko's eyes blurred in confusion. "But you said I couldn't go..."

Kagome sighed. "Yes, but thank you father, he convinced me it was alright. You're too much like me at your age. I know you're responsible and would only pick well-mannered boys to hang out with! So have fun."

"Well mannered, huh?" She shot a look at her father. "Well, thanks anyway Dad! Thanks, Mom!" With that Yuko flung herself towards the door.

"Have fun, honey!" Kagome called. Spinning back around to the dinner table, her pleasant attitude was suddenly replaced by a fiery aura. "You! Would it really hurt you to wait until I sat down for dinner before you started eating! Come on!"

InuYasha obliviously blinked over his steak. His hands were smattered in steak sauce, and his mouth well-mustachioed with it as well.

"Aww, leave Dad alone," Kyoji muttered. Kagome glared right at him.

"I'm used to him doing it! I was talking to you!"

"Oh" Kyoji lowered his gaze in shame, and politely put down his steak and picked up his napkin to wipe off the steak sauce mustache.