After dinner mom and I cleared the dishes and grandpa went off to his workshop with out a word.  He was working to restore an ancient family manuscript and because he was working so hard on it, it left him a bit cranky sometimes.  Souta stayed in his seat, waiting for Inuyasha to do something.  Inuyasha is kind of like a big brother for Souta and though he may not realize it, he's had a huge impact on my brother's life.  When I was done helping my mom I took a seat across from the boys.  Inuyasha was staring off into space and he looked really bored.  I couldn't blame him because I couldn't think of anything to do.  What would you do if a dog demon came to spend the night? 

We sat for a while before I noticed that Inuyasha was going through his transformation.  Silver hair turned black and golden eyes turned a deep dark blue.  His dog like ears disappeared and human ones were positioned on either side of his face partially hidden by his dark locks.  He snorted, as though disgusted by what had happened.  Meanwhile, Souta was shocked.  He had never seen human Inuyasha and was amazed.

"Wow!  Is that still Inuyasha?"

"Yes, that's still him Souta.  Now please don't stare.  It's not nice."

"I'm sorry, I just thought it was cool."

            Inuyasha slammed his fist down on the table and both Souta and I jumped in our seats in surprise.  He looked directly into Souta's eyes scowling.

"Cool?  You think this is cool?  Every month this happens to me and I can't stand it!  I hate being so weak and I hate the fact that everyone finds it so interesting.  It's not fun and it's not cool!"

            Souta's eyes glistened with tears.  He got up from his seat and ran out of the room trying his best to hide tears that I knew were there.  I also stood up and gave Inuyasha the iciest glare I could muster.  Yes, I understood that his transformation was a sensitive subject, but did he have to yell at poor Souta like that?  I turned my back on Inuyasha and left the kitchen.  I heard him get up from his seat and his footsteps followed me out into the living room. 

"Kagome?"

            I didn't answer him.  How dare he!  Did he think he could just walk into my house, yell at my brother, and then act like nothing happened?  Baka!  I felt a warm hand on my shoulder and I thought I was going to turn to mush.  Why is it that I can't stay mad?  He was so rude, but I just couldn't keep up the angry façade.  Of course, that didn't mean I was going to let him get away with what he did.  I'd just make him apologize.

"Kagome, please answer me."

            I turned and looked at him and I saw concern in his eyes.

"I'm sorry I yelled at him.  I'm always edgy on nights like this.  If you tell me where he went, I'll apologize."

            What did he say?  Did he just say he would apologize?  I didn't even have to push him into it.  He just decided of his own free will. I guess I must have looked shocked because Inuyasha was laughing at my expression.

"Are you really that surprised?  There are times when I can admit I'm wrong.  Of course, no one else needs to know that right?"

"Huh?  Uh yeah."

"So where did he go?"

"He probably went to his room.  It's the room to the right of mine."

"Alright."

            He started walking towards the stairs, but before going up he had one last thing to say.

"Oh and Kagome?"

"Hai?"

"I really am sorry.  After all of the hospitality you and your family had shown me, it was wrong to act the way I did.  My mother would have been pretty angry if she saw how I've been behaving these days."

            He smiled and then walked up the stairs to Souta's room.  It was rare that he said anything about his mother.  It must have been the affects of the new moon.  He seems to get more sentimental and is able to share his emotions with more freedom during that one night each month.  I decided to follow him upstairs.  I wanted to hear what he was going to say to my brother.  I didn't think of it as spying, more like sisterly concern.  I stood by Souta's doorway and took a quick peek.  Both Inuyasha and Souta were sitting on the floor looking out the window.  Then Inuyasha started talking.

"I'm sorry I yelled at you like that.  You're not used to seeing me transform so I guess it might be interesting for a kid your age."

"I'm sorry I stared.  I probably made you uncomfortable right?"

"A little.  You'd think I'd be used to it by now."

"Inuyasha?"

"Hm?"

"How come you hate being human?"

"I feel vulnerable.  In my time you need to be strong to survive.  Humans are usually easy targets for youkai and I've made plenty of enemies during my lifetime.  In this form I would be easy prey."

"And Kagome keeps going back there?  I didn't realize my sister was so brave."

"Kagome is tougher than you think. She's seen plenty of battles.  What I think is funny is how she can help fight a youkai with no problem, but if she sees a bug or a worm, she'll scream like someone was killing her."

"Yeah, Kagome never did like bugs.  I remember one time I put a grasshopper on her stomach while she was laying down and she screamed so loud that the neighbors rushed over to see what was wrong."

            Inuyasha and Souta started laughing.  I clenched my fists in anger.  So they were laughing at me huh?  He goes to apologize and then he and Souta bond by having a laugh at my expense.  I was fuming, but then Souta asked Inuyasha a question that caught me off guard.

"Inuyasha?  Do you like my sister?"

"Like her?"

"Yeah, you know.  Like her.  Kinda the way a boyfriend likes his girlfriend."

            Inuyasha sat there for a little bit.  Would he tell Souta how he felt about me?  Would I really find out whether Inuyasha cared about me?

"I'm not sure.  Besides I don't think it's something I should be talking about with her little brother."

"Well, I was just gonna say that if you like her you better tell her.  She's been hanging around with this guy named Houjo I think she kinda likes him."

            I blushed in embarrassment.  I heard Inuyasha catch a breath.  What was Souta trying to do?  Houjo-kun and I aren't like that.   

"That's not any of my business anyway."

            With a snort he stood up and it seemed the scowl had returned to his face.

"Hey Inuyasha."

"Hm"

"I'm bored, lets play hide and seek."

"Huh?  What's that?"

"I'll show you.  Let's go get Kagome first."

            Souta got up and was about to lead Inuyasha out of the room.  I had to get out of there before they found out I was listening so I ran to my room and quietly closed the door.

"Let me see if she's in her room," said Souta outside my door.

            Souta knocked and I grabbed a book to make it look like I was studying.

"Come in."

            The door opened and Souta appeared with a grin on his face.

"Inuyasha apologized to me.  He was really nice too.  Do you want to play hide and seek with us?"

"Hm.  I guess that could be fun.  It'll be more interesting to play because Inuyasha's demon senses are gone for the time being.  Okay, let's go."

            I put my book down and went out into the hall with Souta.  Inuyasha looked at me.  His expression was almost unreadable.  It looked like a mixture of anger and jealousy.  He couldn't be mad about Houjo could he?  After all he loved Kikyou right?  We went down stairs and outside.  Souta explained the rules to Inuyasha

"You can only hide on the shrine grounds.  The first person you find and catch has to help you look for everyone else.  When all the players are found, the first person that got caught is it so it's their turn to seek while everyone hides."

"That sounds easy.  I could probably find you two easily even if I am human."

"Oh yeah," I said, "Well then you can be it first.  Cover your eyes and count to twenty slowly.  Then come and find us.  No peeking!"

"Feh," was Inuyasha's only reply, but he did as he was told.

            As Inuyasha counted Souta and I ran to hide.  I chose to hide around the back of our house.  There were two big bushes I could hide behind and with his human sight he might not find me for a while.  Unfortunately, his senses of smell, sight, and hearing were still much better that an average human's.  With in a matter of minutes I heard Inuyasha approaching the bushes.

"Oi Kagome.  I know you're there.  You might as well come out."

            I debated.  Should I stay and get caught or run and prolong the inevitable.  My competitive side took over and I did the latter.  I ran as fast as I could towards the hill in the distance and Inuyasha was hot on my trail.  After a while my lungs were screaming for air.  As I made it to the top of the hill Inuyasha pounced and I was toppled over.  We ended up rolling down the hill and when we reached the bottom he was on top of me.  He stared into my eyes and I blushed.  Thankfully it was dark and he didn't see. 

"I caught you," he said breathlessly.