Chapter 2

Past

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A young girl, no older than ten years sat on the top step that separated her from the lawn, three steps down. She had a big pout decorating her face, her chin resting in her palms while her elbows were propped up against her knees.

"Kags – where did you put my shoes!"

The little girl scowled, ignoring her brother's shout as faint rumblings were heard inside the home. Her eyes narrowed darkly as she tapped her fingers lightly across her cheeks, wishing on all the stars out there that he wouldn't find his shoes. "I should have buried them." She grumbled.

A faint chuckle pulled her from her annoyance, and she snapped her gaze up to see a tall lanky boy standing at the bottom of the steps. His hands were shoved casually in his back pockets, and his shaggy midnight hair framed his face in an untamed style, barely touching his shoulders.

"Where's Souta?" Jerking his head to the left, he revealed his eye-brow piercing when his bangs shifted from his eyes before falling back into place.

Kagome blushed slightly, straightening her posture as she looked him over, eying the guitar shaped bag on his back. "He's…He's looking for his shoes," She squeaked out, her blush deepening.

Laughter swirled in his stormy grey as his gaze shifted from her face, to the shoes her feet were resting on and back. Her blush deepened a notch and he chuckled louder. "Those wouldn't happen to be his would they?"

Before she could answer, Souta rushed out, a dark scowl turning his light blue gaze a darker shade. "I knew she had them!" He accused, his own instrument bag pack already over his shoulders as he walked the short distance towards his little sister, pushing her forceful which caused her to tip over on the side. Taking her off balance to his advantage, Souta snatched up his shoes and took a seat on the third step below Kagome.

She screamed out in frustration, kicking him in the back as embarrassment shook her very core. "I'm telling mama you're leaving me alone in this dark lonely place!" She glared hotly at her brother. "Anything could happen – I could fall down the steps – cut myself while playing with scissors!"

Souta snorted, ignoring her as he laced up his dirty converse. "You can go play over at Rin's place or even Ayama, midget!" His annoyance intensified when he spotted the amused look on his friend's face. "It's not funny Yash!" Souta cut his eyes from his friend and back at his sister. "She's always following us around – it's annoying!"

"I just want to hear you guys practice again – I won't bother you!" She placed a palm over her heart. "I promise."

"No!" Souta shouted, standing up to brush off his pants. The last thing he need was for his friends – especially Cassy to tease him about his little sister!

"You don't want to hear our pathetic excuse of playing," Inuyasha placated, crouching down at eye level with Kagome, a sweet smiling touching his lips. "We'll just give you a mad case of headache for weeks." Flicking his index finger atop her forehead lightly, he chuckled once more when she wrinkled her nose cutely.

"You don't suck Yashie," She mumbled in earnest, her blush growing back with a vengeance. Casting a narrowed gaze in Souta's direction she snorted loudly. "Wish I could say the same for that idiot."

Throwing his head back, Inuyasha burst out with a loud laugh, holding his tummy lightly as he tried to catch his breath. He loved how this little girl had such a dry and funny sense of humor. Her bluntness and obvious annoyance towards her brother with the insults she spat always made for an entertaining time whenever they were both under the same roof or in close proximity of each other. Even though they had her by three years, the words coming out of her mouth would make you think otherwise – unless you saw her physically. She was so short, you'd think she was seven or eight rather than ten years, and Souta relish in that fact when he chose to tease her.

Souta screwed his face up into an ugly scowl, mimicking Kagome's word with a squeaky voice. "Shut up and disappear shorty and leave the comments to people who matters."

"Only someone as pathetic as you would say that!" She screamed, stomping her foot in annoyance. As she folded her little arms, Kagome's glare burnt Souta, wishing he would seize his existence. All she wanted to do listen to them person, and hear Yashie's voice! He had such an amazing voice, why would her brother have to be such a sourpuss.

Before she could get another insult out, Inuyasha's hand lay atop her head, ruffling her hair lovingly. "Why don't we let her come with us just this once?" He winked at Kagome before turning to Souta. "She can hang with the girls until we're done."

Light invaded her vision as she looked from Inuyasha to her brother with hopeful windows. How could anyone not fall for this awesome dude? She couldn't begin to thank him enough when he caved to her ways or bended the rules just to see her happy. He did all the things her brother should be doing. "I can! I will – just so I won't bother you guys," She whispered, hope dripping from her words.

Souta ignored her as he narrowed his eyes at his friend. "You always say 'just this once' every single time she begs to tag along!" Frowning he pouted angrily. "If you had a sister you'd understand my reasoning."

Kagome's brows dipped downwards at her brother's words. Well he couldn't possibly think she liked having him as a brother! Even though, knowing that she wasn't going to be the only girl there lessoned the specialness she felt she had in Inuyasha's heart but she would endure it all. She bit the inside of her lips as she willed herself not to break down in frustration.

"But you know she's like a sister to me," Inuyasha winked at Kagome before turning back to his friend. "We all know each other from birth dude."

Kagome swore her chest constricted when she heard Inuyasha say the sister bit, once again. She sighed softly, wishing she was around their age or even older for him to see her as more than a sister. 'Stupid puberty,' she mentally cursed in aggravation.

"Oh come on man!" Souta yelled feebly, throwing his hands up in exaggeration. "I'm tired of everyone hounding me because of that pipsqueak!" He growled in frustration. "How am I supposed to score with Cassy if she's always in the way – the girl's a rat for crying out loud!"

"This rat is gonna squeak if you don't let me come!" Unfolding her arms to rest them on her hips smugly she made kissy face in Souta's direction. "I'm sure the girl hasn't even noticed you."

Suppressing his laughter, Inuyasha shook his head at his friend. "She got you there," He teased, adding salt to Souta's wound. "You know Cassy has the hots for older guys, and that includes Miro."

"…And Miro has the hots for anything with a pussy." He huffed. "Besides, Miro is just two years older than us. Two freakin' year!"

A loud gasp made them turn their heads in Kagome's direction where her mouth was opened in a small 'o' while she shook her hand as if it was burnt. "I'm so gonna tell mama what you say!" She tsk'ed at him in disapproval. "I'm so gonna tell…!" Then she paused suddenly, her lips forming into a small smirk. "Unless I get to come," She cheerily whispered, hopping down beside Inuyasha.

Souta's face skipped red and went straight to purple with anger while Inuyasha burst out in uncontrollable laughter.

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"You guys finally decide to make it!"

Throwing herself into the arms of the grey eyed young teen, said girls pressed her lips to his cheek, grinning widely when her lip gloss left an imprint of her lips on him.

Inuyasha shrugged slightly.

Placing her hands on her hips, she grinned coyly at him. "No excuse huh – you were probably shacking up with some girl on your way over eh?" Pouting playfully she winked at him.

Inuyasha chuckled. "Hardly Kikyou,"

She skipped closer to him, lacing an arm around his shoulders. "Good, because then I'd feel as if my hard work is useless in snagging the gold." She smiled down sweetly at Kagome, poking her as she asked her how she was doing.

"Souta had trouble finding his shoes," Inuyasha clarified with a chuckle as he eased out of the girl's embrace, moving over towards his other friends and band mates who were busy doing the final touches on setting up their instruments.

"I presume it had something to do with shorty over there," The one known as Kouga jerked his head in Kagome's direction, who stuck out her tongue in response. He chuckled. "She'll be a wild thing when she's older."

Souta snorted as he joined his friends. "Except when it comes to lover boy," He commented in a low voice, jerking his head in Inuyasha's direction.

Miroku chuckled, running his fingers lightly over his keyboard. "Careful now, don't want Kikyou to hear that." He was nodding his head slightly while he played a few notes unconsciously. "She'd hate to know her competition is a baby."

Shrugging off his bag with his guitar, Inuyasha rolled his eyes. "She looks up to me like a big brother," Rolling his eyes once again as he tightened his guitar's string, he smiled softly. "If Souta was half the sensitive older brother he should be, she would be the same around him." He cast his eyes over to Kikyou who was eye to eye with Kagome while bending over. "Besides I'm not into Kikyou like that."

Miroku gaped at him. "Your reason being…?" He hissed, his violet orbs sweeping over Kikyou with longing. "Do you see what I'm seeing dude?"

Puberty never hit someone so quickly and lovingly. You'd think Kikyou was probably sixteen rather than thirteen with the way her chest filled out her shirt, and her demine shorts hugged her rear so snuggly.

Inuyasha shrugged. "She seems too… needy, too desperate for my taste, like she's forcing it." He moved over to the couch nearest them, throwing his bag in the pile of other stuff that belonged to everyone. "I prefer the meek kind of girls who are just natural you know," He smiled softly with a shrug. "I don't know – I'm just not feeling her that way."

Miroku chuckled. "You little pedo."

Kouga chipped in, hitting his drums with his sticks, mimicking the sound that plays when someone says a joke. "Now, now…" He started, casting Miroku a glance before batting his eyes cutely. "Let's not say that about Yashie."

"Man, fuck off," Inuyasha grumbled, slight annoyance twitching in his jaw. "I hate it when people call me that, especially you guys."

Miroku opened his mouth to say something but Souta stopped him with an empty canned soda in his direction. "Don't start perv," He warned. "That's still my little sister."

As if conjuring her presence to them, Kagome skipped over in their directions, coming to a stop next to Inuyasha. "I don't think I'll ever like that girl, Yashie," She innocently whispered, cupping her mouth away from the others, even though they could hear her.

Inuyasha smiled softly, turning his gaze upon Kikyou as she now sat between her girlfriends, as they talked and giggled, their attention flicking over to the boys ever so often. "How come?"

"She stinks – and kept teasing me about," Wrinkling her nose, she blushed deeply, refusing to continue her tirade. There was no way she was going to confess that Kikyou kept accusing her of crushing hard over Inuyasha, whether it may or may not be true. "It's like she drowned herself in that awful stench."

Laughing loudly, he ruffled her hair once more, his hand lingering on her head. "Between me and you," He whispered, shifting his eyes around dramatically before easing closer to her, his voice dropping in volume. "I don't like her very much either." He smiled when she beamed up at him. "She's pushy and too…"

"Desperate!" Kagome sang; a smug look on her face as if she'd won a huge price. And by the way Inuyasha was grinning at her; she knew she had indeed won something.

"I hate it when they talk like that," Miroku mumbled, both hands pressed against his chest, batting his eyes dramatically. "Makes me feel like such a third wheel."

Kagome glanced over at the guys, a shy smile touching her lips. "Hello there," She skipped over to Kouga, hitting the drums lightly before travelling over to Miroku and pressing a few keys. "My brother says you chase anything with a pussy," Smiling as innocently as possible, she cast a teasing glance over at her fuming brother. "But between me and you Miro, he's just jealous that Cassy doesn't want him."

Kouga cracked up as he replayed the same note on his drums.

"But we both know not even you can score that easily,"

Miroku quirked a brow silently, ruffling her hair with a blush as he dug into his pocket for a dollar note. "I get it squirt," He grumbled, chucking the money into her hands with a roll of his eyes. "You're such a bane."

"And you're so cheap!" She gasped. "We had a deal."

With a hand over her mouth, he shoved her sideways, laughing guilty at the boys around him. There was no way he wanted anyone to know that he bribed Kagome into tagging along with Souta, just so that he can have free time with Cassy and try to score. It was a challenge but it was well worth it, especially when he overheard the girls giggling at Cassy's confession about wanting to hook up with him since Souta seems to care more about family than having a good times.

"What deal?" Souta asked, narrowing his eyes at the both of them.

Kagome pressed her lips together, looking expectantly at Miroku who chuckled with his hands held up in surrender. "Well…"

"I promised her I'll buy her some ice-cream!" He shoved his hands inside his pocket, pulling out a five dollar note and chucking it in her direction.

"…And don't forget the fries," She grinned at Miroku, pointedly staring him down with her ocean spheres that silently milked him for more money.

Shoving another five dollar note at her, Miroku cursed under his breath, turning away from the eyes of his prying friends while bending down to snatch up his soda, drinking it in one gulp as he turned back around, glaring at Kagome who only smiled in return. That was the last time he ever combined forces with little devilish midgets of a girl – especially someone like Kagome. Oh boy, did Miroku learn his lesson.

"I'm not taking you for any damn ice-cream after this." Souta looked at his watch as he spoke. "It's already 6:30 and we ain't gonna stop until close to 9."

Shrugging Kagome flopped down on the couch with their stuff with her hands behind her head like a make shift pillow. She refused to mingle with those older girls a couple feet in front of the band, on the longest couch. The last thing she wanted to hear was how they ogled over the guys, especially her brother (which was just disgusting) and Inuyasha (which was just annoying). She prayed to God she didn't come anything like those air-headed girls who drenched themselves in cheap perfume.

"I can go on my own; it's just a couple of blocks past our home."

The town was so small, that Kagome doubt she could get lost even if she was blindfolded. Besides, everyone knew everyone so the chances of something big happening to her were slim and there was no way she was giving up Myoga's Ice-cream. He served the best (and only) ice-cream in the whole town and it's been weeks since she had some.

"I don't mind taking you," Inuyasha called out, over the tuning and strumming of his guitar. "I have to make a stop to pick up my week's pay anyways." He smiled warmly at her and Kagome swore she was a puddle.

"Really?"

"Yea," Turning his attention from in her direction, he turned to his band and asked his mates if they were ready for practicing. "Besides I can get you a discount."

"Thank you! Thank you!" She whispered, going on bended knees in the couch before bouncing jubilantly.

The guys burst out laughing, but Miroku stopped short when she snapped her glare in his direction.

"So sad," Souta whispered, a small smile touching his lips. He was glad that his sister was happy, enjoying her first crush really, but it was sometimes so painful that he couldn't bring himself to tease her about it. Everyone knew she was crushing hard on Inuyasha, but for some reason the little midget thought she was hiding it good – which was ridiculous since every time something involving Inuyasha came up, her eyes turned to stars.

"Sad like you, Souta!"

He chucked but ignored his sister.

"Are you guys ready?" Inuyasha shouted, strumming his guitar loudly to grab everyone's attention. When they screamed and shouted in excitement, he signaled for Kouga to start up, followed closely by Miroku and then Souta's soft humming along with his own guitar before he moved in closer to the mike.

Kagome's anger and embarrassment dissipated the moment Inuyasha started singing into the mike, her eyes shining brightly with adoration as her complete and undivided attention was on the lead singer.