Disclaimer: I do not own any of the Inuyasha characters...they are the property of Rumiko Takahashi.

Cherry Blossoms

The sun was just starting to set over the city. Kagome was resting under her favorite tree, thinking about her mother when she heard her best friend Sango call her name. "Kagome! Kagome, are you up here?" she heard Sango yell as her friend came into view.

"Over here, Sango!" Kagome answered back . "What are you doing on this hill?," asked Sango, smiling at her friend. "Nothing...just thinking...about mom." smiled Kagome. "Oh...it's been a year since the accident, hasn't it?" asked Sango as she sat on the damp grass next to Kagome. "Yeah, but the doctor's say she could wake up at any time now." sighed Kagome. Sango hated to see Kagome so sad...she was almost like a sister to her. "Don't worry Kagome, your mom will be out of a coma soon." said Sango as she grabbed Kagome's hand.

"Thanks, Sango...well we better get back to work or your brother will kill us!" smiled Kagome as she wiped off her waitress uniform.

Sango and Kagome worked at the diner owned by Sango's little brother, Kohaku. When they got back inside the diner, most of the customers were leaving. " Hey Sango, you and Kagome can go home early...I'll lock up!" said Kohaku as he carried away dirty dishes.

"Are you sure?" asked Kagome.

"Yeah...it's fine." smiled Kohaku.

"I'm gonna stay and help him...Kami knows he needs it. Will you be okay going home, Kagome?" asked Sango in a very caring tone.

" I'll be fine."

" Okay, be careful...see you tomorrow." said Sango as she hugged her best friend.

"Bye." waved Kagome as she left the diner.

Kagome only had to walk a few blocks to get home. " It's awfully quiet tonight." said Kagome as she went up the steps to her house. " Where's my key?" asked Kagome to herself. As Kagome fumbled for her key, a scream broke the peaceful silence of the night.

" AHHHHHHHH! STOP! LEAVE ME ALONE!" screamed a young voice.

" Huh? Someone's in trouble!" gasped Kagome as towards the scream.

When Kagome rounded an alley corner, she saw a young boy being attacked by a dog. The boy turned and saw Kagome looking at him.

"HELP! PLEASE HELP ME!" screamed the boy at Kagome.

" HOLD ON!" cries Kagome as she searched for a weapon to fend off the dog. Kagome saw a pile of rocks next to a dumpster and grabbed them. "I hope this works," thoughtKagome as she threw them at the dog. One of the rocks hit the dog right in the forehead and it whimpered as it ran off.

When the dog was gone, Kagome immediately ran to the crying boy.

" Are you okay?" asked Kagome as she grabbed the small boy's hand.

"Yeah...but my hand hurts." said the boy, looking at Kagome, relief in his eyes.

"Come on...I'll take you to my house and fix your hand." smiled Kagome.

" Okay." smiled the boy back.

When they got to her house, Kagome sat the boy on her couch and went to get supplies for his hand. As Kagome was dressing his hand, the boy began to talk.

"Thanks for helping me...my name is Shippo Takahashi." smiled the red headed boy. " I'm Kagome Higurashi...and your welcome." giggled Kagome at Shippo's cuteness. "How old are you?" Kagome asked. "I'm eight, but my birthday's in six days!" laughed Shippo, as Kagome finished his hand. "There you go Shippo...but you should go to a hospital just in case...okay?" smiled Kagome.

" Okay...I'll get my brother, Yashy,to take me."said Shippo as he hopped off the couch.

"You have a brother?" asked Kagome.

"Yeah...his real name is Inuyasha, but I call him Yashy for short."

" That's a nice name...how about I take you home now?"

"Okay...I hope Yashy's not mad at me for being late." sighed Shippo.

" Don't worry...I'll tell him what happened." smiled Kagome as she grabbed her house keys and opened the front door.

Kagome and Shippo got into Kagome's red convertible and started driving. The ride was only about 20 minutes from Kagome's house. When Kagome drove up to the house, her mouth fell open. The house was basically a mansion considering how tall it was. In front of the huge house was a beautiful garden with many different kinds of flowers.

"Wow! Your house is beautiful, Shippo!" gasped Kagome.

"Yeah, but brother wants to move since mom and dad are dead now."sighed Shippo as he got out of te car.

"I'm sorry." said Kagome.

"You didn't do anything...silly!" laughed Shippo as he walked up to the door.

Before Shippo got to the last step, the door opened and a white-haired boy with dog ears stood holding the door handle.

"Shippo! Where have you been?! I was about to out searching for you...you little runt!" yelled the boy. "Sorry, Yashy, but a dog attacked me and Kagome had to fix my hand...see!" said Shippo, showing his brother his hand. " Wait...a dog did what?!" asked the boy again.

"Um...yeah...a dog was attacking him and I saved him."said Kagome, looking at the handsome dog-eared boy.

"Huh...Oh! I'm sorry...I'm Inuyasha Takahashi." said Inuyasha, finally noticing Kagome.

"Hi...Kagome Higurashi."bowed Kagome.

"Shippo...go inside and wash up for dinner."said Inuyasha, stepping off the porch. "Kay...bye Kagome!" giggled Shippo as he skipped inside. "Bye!" laughed Kagome.

"Thanks for saving my runt of a brother." said Inuyasha as he closed the door. "Your welcome...just take him to a hospital to be safe." smiled Kagome. "I will...so Kagome what shrine do live at?" asked Inuyasha smiling. " I live next door to one...how did you know?" asked Kagome shocked. "I have a very sensitive sense of smell and I smell purifying oils in your hair." smiled Inuyasha. "Oh...well I better get going...make sure you take Shippo to the hospital." blushed Kagome as she walked to her car.

"Don't worry...I will." smiled Inuyasha, his silver-white hair blowing in the wind.

"Bye." waved Kagome as she started to drive off.

The next day, Kagome decided to visit her mother in the hospital. When Kagome got to her mom's floor, she saw her mom's neurosurgeon.

"Dr. Midoriko...how's my mom today?" asked Kagome with flowers in her hand.

"She's fine and stable...it should be any day now...go and see her."smiled the doctor.

"Thanks...for everything." smiled Kagome.

"No problem." said Midoriko, walking off to check on more patients.

When Kagome opened the door to her mom's room, she saw her mother peacefully sleeping in her bed.

"Hi mom...I brought you flowers." said Kagome, kissing her mother's forehead and placing the flowers on the table.

"Oh mom...I met the sweetest little boy yesterday...his name was Shippo and he's so full of energy! Not to mention he has a cute little fox tail as well!" laughed Kagome. "He also has an older brother named Inuyasha...and guess what...he has dog ears!" smiled Kagome. "I never thought demons could be so cute!" laughed Kagome again. "Maybe you'll get to meet them when you wake up, but I doubt I'll ever see them again." sighed Kagome as she sat in a chair by the bed.

Suddenly, Kagome heard a familiar voice call her name. "Kagome!" yelled Shippo from the door way.

"Shippo?!" gasped Kagome as she saw the boy running towards her. "Hi, Kagome!" shouted Shippo hugging Kagome. "Hello, Shippo...what are you doing here?" asked Kagome.

"Brother brought me to the doctor to make sure my hand was okay!"smiled Shippo.

"Inuyasha's here?!" blushed Kagome. Then Kagome heard another familiar voice from the doorway. "Shippo! How many times do I have to tell you to not run off like that?!" yelled Inuyasha. "Sorry...I just wanted to see Kagome."sighed Shippo as he got off Kagome's lap. " Oh...hello again Kagome." smiled Inuyasha. "Hi..." blushed Kagome. "Kagome, who's this lady?" asked Shippo pointing at Kagome's mother. " That's my mom...her name is Kira." smiled Kagome at Shippo. " Wow...she's pretty like you!" laughed Shippo. " Thanks?" giggled Kagome. " Shippo, I think we should be leaving now." smiled Inuyasha at Kagome. "No, I want to stay!" yelled Shippo. Just then, their was loud bang at the door and everyone turned to see Sango with a huge mark on her head.