When consciousness trickled back into her at the sound of her alarm, for once, Kagome bolted upright. Did he leave in the middle of the night?

To her immense relief, Inuyasha still lay in her bed, light snores occasionally drifting from his mouth. With a tired smile, Kagome walked past him and to her shower.

The hot water seemed to flood her veins with energy. Once she stepped out, she dressed in her sweater and skinny jeans in the bathroom; she didn't want to chance Inuyasha waking and seeing her in a towel.

As soon as she was done, she walked out and stared at him, wondering how she should wake him up. As usual, her eyes trailed up to his ears. Oh, this was perfect. Finally, he wouldn't notice if she…

She reached down and petted his ears.

Kagome stopped after about half a minute. "Okay, now that that's out of my system…" Tapping his forehead, she said, "Hey, Inuyasha! Wake up! We've got school, and I need to change your bandages. Then we need breakfast."

"Food?" He sat up immediately, and then winced at the pain in his side. "Ugh, we have to change them?"

"Yes! Now sit still and let me take this off…"

Apparently he decided that there was no use in arguing, because he sat silently and let her unwrap his torso. She took off the sticky bandage as slowly as possible. Kagome could see him sweat, bite his cheek to avoid sounds of pain.

"Sorry," she said quietly, tearing the rest off and examining the wound. It was already scabbed over, having closed closer together nicely. "Hmm, good healing from demon powers, huh? You could probably take a shower, if you were careful. Get all that extra blood and dirt off of you."

He pursed his lips. "Fine. But you cut up my shirt, and took my pants and jacket..."

"I'll get you a shirt, and your clothes are washed. Now I'll turn around while you go into the bathroom. You can grab a towel from the cabinet over the toilet. Please try not to make a mess, and be very careful of the wound. I'll re-bandage it when you get out, and I'll leave your clothes by the door."

"Okay," he grumbled, and she turned so that she wouldn't witness his underwear as he slid his legs off the bed to do as she instructed.

Once she heard the bathroom door close, she headed downstairs to collect his clothes. Her mother was in the kitchen, humming as she arranged three Bento boxes. Kissing her mother's cheek and saying a bright, "Good morning!", Kagome picked up the newly cleaned jeans, jacket, and black, short-sleeve, button-down shirt.

It wasn't long until Inuyasha was out of the shower and had his pants on, sitting grumpily on the bed as she re-bandaged him. "It'll be a scar in two days. I don't need so much-"

"Cut it out." She attached the gauze to itself and backed away. "Is that too tight?"

"It's fine."

"Alright. Now put on that shirt and let me brush your hair," she commanded, holding up the shirt to his side. "I know button-down isn't your style, but it's so that you don't have to stretch your arms over your heads and strain the wound."

Red flooded into his cheeks. "I can put on my own damn shirt!"

Her eye twitched. "There's no need to be rude. I'm just trying to help so that you don't open your laceration again."

"Give me that," he snapped, snatching the shirt and sliding it on. Taking the opportunity of his distraction, she grabbed the brush and began to drag it through his hair.

"Stop that!"

"It needs to be brushed and you can't reach behind you!" she shouted, bashing his head with the brush. "Can you put aside your stupid pride for five minutes like a mature person? It's not like I'm going to announce to everyone that you can't do it yourself. Now SIT and STAY!"

Again, he obeyed the command. But his jaw was clenched while he buttoned his shirt. She sat behind him and began to brush slowly, trying her best not to hurt him. It really was such beautiful hair, and deserved to be brushed to its fullest potential. Kagome wished she could play with it and braid it, but she only brushed until it looked shiny and straight-like usual, except better.

Then, she heard him sniffing. "This shirt smells kinda like you… but something off. Where did you get this thing? I thought you said your brother was littler than me."

Kagome put down the brush and swallowed. "It was my father's."

Inuyasha froze. "Oh. I see."

He didn't say "I'm sorry" or "I'll take good care of it". All of that was communicated by how he carefully smoothed out the shirt front, ran his fingers along the buttons.

Kagome smiled, and slid off of the bed. "Here's your jacket."

His ears perked up straight, and he immediately took the clean, leather coat she held out. When his golden eyes traveled down to where the knife had punctured, he said with furrowed brows, "The hole… it's…"

"Yes, my mother sewed it up last night."

Inuyasha didn't respond, but held the jacket close to his chest. So she'd been right; it was special to him.

As soon as they arrived downstairs, Kagome's mother handed them each a lunch box with a homemade muffin on top. "Good morning! You can eat those muffins for breakfast, along the way. Inuyasha, are you feeling any better today?"

He was staring, dumbfounded, at the Bento she'd handed him. Kagome elbowed him slightly, at which he cleared his throat. "Em, yes. Much better."

"Wonderful. Oh, as a nurse, I wrote you a… well, fake, little doctor's note for your gym teacher, saying you shouldn't participate in class for a few days." He looked as if he were about to protest, but she cut him off, "I've treated demons before; I know that a wound like this will take about three days, so that's what I wrote it for. Please use it, or I may have to sik my daughter on you."

With a look of resignation, he nodded.

"Alright. Better get going, you two! Be careful, and come home right after school, will you?"

"Yes, Mama. Thank you!"

Her mother gave a last, warm smile. As she always did, she gave Kagome a parting kiss on the cheek… and also one to Inuyasha. He stared straight ahead, blinking rapidly.

"Inuyasha," Kagome urged with a grin. "We have to go, now."

Snapping out of his reverie, he turned towards the door… then stopped. "W-wait… I, em…"

Both of the women regarded him as he struggled to get out, "I just… uh…" He looked down at his jacket sleeves, the lunch box, the shirt, the hair falling into his eyes. "Th-thank you. Both of you. F-for… yeah. Um. Thanks."

"Any time, dear," her mother told him gently. "Be careful with that injury, now, and have a good day."

"Thank you," he whispered one more time before following Kagome out and towards school.

It was a bright day, not much smog clouding the blue sky that announced hope. Kagome twirled in the sunlight, laughing at the little flowers that poked up out of the pavement. Inuyasha scowled. "Geez, what are you so spazzy about?"

"Let me be happy or get on my unhappy side, mister," she told him sharply. Then she turned ahead, finishing the last bit of her blueberry muffin. "You should eat yours! They're good, and…"

She trailed off, drawing slightly closer to him. It was the alleyway from yesterday, where they'd taken her and the hands were so strong and large-

"What's wrong now?" Inuyasha said gruffly, following her line of vision. "Oh. Keh, stop worrying about that place. It's over."

He put a hand on her back and put pressure on her slightly to get her moving. Kagome started forward uncertainly, shaking fear from her mind. Inuyasha is here. I don't have to be afraid. Inuyasha is here. I don't have to be afraid-

"I told you, fear smells gross. Stop it."

"I can't just stop it!" she snapped. "So sorry that I'm not some life-worn, vengeance-seeking badboy half demon like you, who never gets afraid of anything!"

Gold flashed in her direction. "No need to go bitin' my head off!"

"No need to be an jerk. If you don't like my scent, then go off ahead. S-see if I care."

"I said I'd walk you home, and I'll walk you to school too," grumbled the boy, but then he gave a nasty smirk. "Besides, you'd just get too scared and run right after me, begging me to come back."

It was as if he'd dropped a match onto her kerosene-drenched bonfire of temper. "Ugh! You are insufferable! I try to be patient with you all night, try to give you everything you need, and it doesn't look like it's doing any good! I can't believe anyone could be so insensitive! You are such a jerk! Scared, huh? Ha! Eat my dust, you complete jackass!"

"Hey-!"

But she was running, book bag flying along beside her. Kagome set her jaw and narrowed her eyes on the horizon; she only wished to put as much distance between her and that monster of a boy as possible. He'd been much more compliant last night. Looks like the nicer-person magic spell had worn off.

"You're really slow. Even for a pathetic human." Inuyasha was running with her, no, jogging.

"Go away. Don't run with your wound."

"Will you stop being so difficult? I was just messin' with you!"

"Sure. Because I totally deserve to be messed with. Don't you have someone else's morning to ruin? Because, despite how perfectly happy I was a minute ago, you managed to completely eradicate that; it must be a talent of yours."

Inuyasha slowed to a stop, but she kept running.

Kagome only stopped when she reached her locker in the school, breathing heavily. She'd never run for that long in her life. She really didn't run at all unless there was something to run from.

"Hey… you okay, Kagome?"

It was Shippo, standing beside her with an uneasy frown. At the sight of the younger boy, Kagome managed a tired smile; he was just too adorable not to smile at. "I'm alright. Just had a bit of a rough time getting here. How are you today, Shippo?"

"I'm good," he told her cheerfully, bouncing on the balls of his feet. "The Thunder Brothers don't bother me anymore, with this bandana!" He turned to wave around the red fabric tied about his fluffy tail, at which she bit back a squeal of cuteness.

"I'm so glad to hear that, Shippo!"

"I'm happy too…" He stopped and sniffed. "You got a lotta Inuyasha scent on you. Was he with you earlier?" Instantly, she felt a scowl leak onto her face, and Shippo's eyes widened in realization. "Oooh, that's why you're in such a bad mood. What did he do this time?"

"Be a jerk," Kagome sighed. "I really thought I was getting somewhere with him yesterday, maybe making him not so 'tough guy' all the time… looks like I was wrong."

"I'm sure he'll get there someday," Shippo assured her. "He's really not so bad when he's not… so bad. I mean, he protects us, and you most of all. He actually told me how he was feeling yesterday."

"Oh yeah?" Kagome perked up. "And how was he feeling?"

Shippo deflated. "Um, well, he said he was feeling like his fist was aching to break my face. But it's progress!"

Kagome closed her eyes. "I don't really think that counts, Shippo, but you are right; I should have more faith in him. I should have been more patient."

"I'm sure you can talk to him about it when you see him. Don't worry about it! He'll never stay mad at you. You're too likeable, and you look like Kikyo."

"Really?" Kagome said, raising her eyebrows. "Thank you, I suppose." But she didn't really feel thankful. Well, thankful for the 'likeable' part, Kagome admitted that looking like a girl as pretty as Kikyo wasn't so bad. But the thought of Inuyasha warming up to her just because she looked like someone else didn't sit right with her. She wanted him to be comfortable with her because of who she was.

Yeah. Like that was gonna happen.

With a defeated sigh, she gave a last wave to Shippo before heading to her first class.


Lunch was, in one word, tense.

Inuyasha, who had begun to eat sitting in their circle, had now returned to the edge of the roof. His Bento box remained unopened beside him.

"He could at least eat the damn food," Kagome muttered to herself, insides sizzling. "Ungrateful, arrogant, piece of-"

"Goodness," Miroku interrupted. "I do believe you said a naughty word. Who are you and what happened to our little angel, Kagome?"

"Kagome," Sango sighed. "Did something happen with you and Inuyasha? He's been an icebox all day. I think he's upset."

"Upset? Tch. Making me angry probably made his day! He has nothing to be upset about."

At this, Inuyasha stood, snatched up his backpack and Bento, and stomped over to the door. They watched him throw it open and storm down the steps, trapdoor slamming behind him. Grimaces were passed around the group.

"Will you maybe tell us what happened?" Miroku suggested. "We may be able to translate."

Setting down her lunchbox, Kagome tugged on her hair. "I guess I should start with… did he tell you what all happened last night?"

Her three friends paused in their eating. "No," Sango said slowly.

With a wince, Kagome muttered, "Well, I kind of got jumped by Spiders on my way home." She held up her hands when they all made exclamations. "They didn't get the chance to do much to me, because Inuyasha showed up and saved me. He fought them off, but got stabbed. I took him back to my house to patch him up, and he stayed the night because of his injury."

They were looking at her like she'd just announced that she was going to jump off Mount Fuji.

"Spiders?" Shippo stammered.

"Stabbed?!" Sango gasped.

"Stayed the night?" Miroku questioned, grin forming.

"It happened quickly, okay?" Kagome felt her cheeks redden. "Nothing weird happened! He was actually nicer then, but this morning, I got a bit scared walking past where I'd gotten attacked. Then there he goes, making fun of me for being afraid of it, and so we started fighting and… I ran the rest of the way to school. Ugh, he just drives me up a wall! I admit I shouldn't have lost my temper, but then he just goes off and isolates and doesn't eat the food my mom made and-"

"Gracious," Miroku said, rubbing his temples. "Well, how about you tell us exactly what was said?"

"Uh…" Kagome tried to remember. "Well, he told me to stop being afraid, because he doesn't like the smell. So I said if it bothered him, he could just go away! Then he's all 'Nah, if I did that, you'd run after me and beg me to come back' and so I yelled at him for being an insensitive jerk and started running so that I could get away from him and then he has the nerve to run next to me, call me slow, and say he was 'just messing with me'!" Kagome growled. "So I kinda just asked him if he had someone else's day to ruin because he seemed pretty talented at it, and he finally stopped chasing me."

"Easy!" Miroku slapped his knee. "I have the Inuyasha-action to normal-person translation."

"Verdict?" Kagome asked.

"He cares about you." Miroku shrugged. "And you hurt his feelings."

"Wait," Shippo said in wonderment, "Inuyasha has feelings other than 'Hulk Smash'?"

"That's ridiculous times fifty," Kagome insisted. "That guy acts like he hates me most of the time. And I hardly said anything hurtful compared to him!"

"He doesn't want you to be scared, because he's willing to protect you," Sango explained. "He just says it in a rude way. Then, you told him he was good at making people unhappy. Knowing him, he's probably using your words to get in a broody inner angst monolog about how everyone he cared about in his life are gone because they couldn't stand his personality along with his species." Sango frowned. "Of course, scientists agree that demons are just humans with special powers, in essence, and not a separate species…"

Her eyes widened at Sango's initial words. "H-he can't think that… that I can't stand him."

"Of course he does," Miroku said softly. "The pain of feeling unwanted is a trait common among anyone."

Kagome stared at the cement. "I am a terrible person."

"That's not true!" Sango soothed. "He still shouldn't have said that stuff to you. You should go talk out what bothered you and apologize; even if it feels like it's a hopeless conversation, I'm sure it'll mean a lot to him, whether he responds or not."

"I should have known him better," said Kagome mournfully.

Miroku held out his hands diplomatically. "You honestly know him as well… if not better, than us. You were simply too angry to think further, which is understandable." Then, he offered a smile. "Now go find him. Kiss and make up."

"I'll pass on the kiss part," Kagome laughed nervously, but she stood.

"Who in their right mind would pass on the kiss part?" Miroku said, horrified.

"You're gross," Sango sighed.

"My dear Sango," Miroku purred, leaning towards her with both his head and his wandering hand, "you know I save all my kisses for you."

Kagome exited the roof to the sound of Sango's hand slapping across Miroku's face.


Inuyasha wasn't hard to find.

She just followed the shouting of, "Koga, you son of a bitch!"

Grimacing in apprehension, Kagome hiked her bookbag up higher on her shoulder and took off around the next two corners to a hallway that was mostly empty, where she found Koga, his usual, two lackeys from his gang, and Inuyasha, who had his claws and teeth bared.

"What do you want, Inutrasha?" snarled Koga, shoving Inuyasha's claws away. "I don't have time for a playing around with puppies today."

"You bastard." Inuyasha shoved Koga in the chest towards the wall. "You BASTARD! I told you that necklace would put her in danger! She got jumped last night because of your stupid symbol! Kagome almost got sexually assaulted by Spiders because of you! Happy now, you motherf-"

Koga pushed Inuyasha right back, but his face had turned white. "What?! Is she okay?"

"Well yeah, because I showed up! Fat lot of help you were!"

"She's in your gang, and you let her walk home alone?" Koga held out his arms in disbelief. "What kind of moron are you? And you think she got jumped because of a necklace? More likely she got attacked because of your colors!"

"She wasn't wearing ours at the time!" Inuyasha shouted. "I heard them say it was revenge on you for something you did to them last week! They're under some delusion that she's your woman!"

"She is my woman."

Inuyasha stilled. "Say that again, and I swear to God, I will tear out your throat with my teeth."

Koga wrinkled up his nose. "Kinky. Not interested."

"Why you-!"

"Hey!" Kagome finally called out, marching forward. "Stop, you two. Inuyasha, let's go-"

"You think I'm letting him get away with claiming you like property and putting you in danger all at once?" Inuyasha snarled, tearing his arm away from where she'd gripped it. "Stop interfering!"

"And stop fighting about this! It's not getting you anywhere," Kagome said firmly.

Before he could respond, Koga turned her towards him and took her hands in his own. "Kagome," he said in a deep tone, "I am so sorry for what happened to you yesterday. I promise to protect you with my life and no longer trust other fools to do so. I will escort you home and to school every day-"

Inuyasha opened his mouth angrily, but it was Kagome who said, "I appreciate that offer, Koga, but I'll be walking to and from home with Inuyasha, who graciously offered last night when he got stabbed for my sake. Very brave of him to save me, don't you think?"

Koga just blinked down at her. And his wolves. And Inuyasha.

"Anyway," Kagome laughed, "thank you for your concern, but I have to talk to Inuyasha about something now. I'll see you in class!" With that, she grabbed Inuyasha's wrist and speed-walked back towards the roof.

She only stopped when they came to the alcove that lead to the roof stairs. Inuyasha's eyes, fixed on her, were cool and narrow. "What."

"How is your side feeling?" she began quietly.

"The scratch is fine," Inuyasha said shortly. "Is that what you wanted to ask?"

"No," she told him, holding his wrists to keep him from getting away. "I wanted to apologize."

His startlingly black eyebrows disappeared into his bangs. "For?"

"For what I said this morning," continued Kagome. "What I said to you about you making me unhappy and being a jerk and all… I'm sorry. That was cruel of me. I was just… kind of overwhelmed thinking about everything last night; I'm a bit...traumatized. So when you made fun of me for being afraid, I was embarrassed and angry and overreacted. You're my friend, even if you don't think of me the same way, and I wouldn't want to be your friend if you always made me unhappy."

"Oh." Clearing his throat, he drew a hand back to scratch behind his neck. "Oh. Uh…"

Kagome sighed and let go. Her hands were suddenly cold. "I guess I didn't really expect that you'd apologize in return. At least my conscience is clear." She turned towards the roof door, feeling her heart sink. Maybe she was wrong about him caring about her at all. Surely his next sentence would be rejecting her claim of friendship.

"I'm sorry."

Hell froze over.

"What?" Kagome said, spinning back to face him. "Excuse me, I thought you just said that you were sorry."

Inuyasha's teeth ground. "For making fun of you! Don't expect to hear it again!"

"Hear what?"

"Hear 'I'm sorry'-oh you are a sneaky woman."

Kagome laughed, stepping up to face him again. "I accept your apology, Inuyasha, and I forgive you."

He gave a curt nod, turning his burning red face off to the side. "So… you turned Koga down."

"Well, he did put me in danger, didn't he?" She crossed her arms. "Instead of offering to take the necklace back, he still insisted that I was his and didn't thank you for helping me. You were the one that protected me. You're my leader and my friend, and I want to walk with you-oh my gosh, you're blushing."

"I am not!" he protested, shoulders set firmly. "Demons don't blush! And I got nothin' to blush about!"

"You're only half demon, and maybe you're not used to being complimented?"

"I thought I said no more feelings!" barked Inuyasha, turning back towards the stairs.

A smile was etched onto her face; she was so glad they'd convinced her to talk it out. Knowing it would tick him off, she cooed, "Inuyasha, you're adorable."

"SHUT UP!"

She shook her head, grabbing the rail for the stairs that lead to the roof. In taking a step, however, she paused. "Um, Inuyasha?"

"Yeah?"

Wrapping her arms around her middle, she looked at her Converse. "You're pretty good at hand to hand combat stuff, right?"

He shoved his hands in his coat pockets and tilted his chin up. "The best. What about it?"

"Could you… teach me?"

Inuyasha scoffed. "Why? I'm already walking you home every day. You don't need to know."

Kagome opened her mouth, then closed it and shuffled her feet. Swallowing, she finally muttered, "I know that. I just… felt helpless and I don't want to anymore."

She expected him to just snort, blow her off again. But when she looked up, his gaze had softened (minisculely), and he breathed out heavily. "Alright, fine. We start tonight."

"No!" she said immediately. "You're healing! We start next week. No buts."

"...fine. Now let's go so I can eat this box of amazing-smelling stuff instead of ignore it to piss you off."


True to her wishes, Inuyasha waited a week.

Exactly a week.

It was in the middle of lunch on that Friday when he blurted, after swallowing a slurp of Ramen, "You work at the restaurant tonight, Kagome?"

"I told you he started using her name!" Shippo cried, pointing at Miroku. "Within a week! Cough up."

Miroku, ever in his purple shirt and jeans, groaned, digging in his pocket and pulling out ten dollars, which he threw in the kitsune's direction. Inuyasha's eye twitched. "You were betting on me?"

"On when you'd say her name in front of us," Shippo admitted freely, shoving the ten dollars into his wallet that hung from a chain on his pants.

"You little twerps-!"

"Inuyasha!" Kagome said loudly, elbowing him in the side. "Yes, I have a shift until six."

"'Kay." His chopsticks stirred in the chicken flavor. "I'll pick you up at six. Bring your gym clothes."

The group jumped when Miroku dropped his apple. "Why didn't I hear about this development?! Inuyasha, guy friends are supposed to talk about this stuff!"

Comprehension dawned on Kagome… no, more like slapped her in the face. She felt her cheeks warm at Miroku's implication, but Inuyasha still looked lost. "Huh?"

"That's not how to ask a girl out! You didn't even give her flowers." The boy shook his head sadly. "I thought I raised you better than this."

"A-ask out?" Inuyasha stammered. Then, he threw his empty Ramen cup at Miroku's face. "You moron! I'm teaching her self defense because she asked me to! I ain't askin' anyone out! Especially not this annoying little idiot!"

"Excuse you?!" Kagome demanded. "You watch your mouth! And if you think I'm so annoying, why did you agree to teach me?!"

"I had no choice, stupid! You're the one that did the cute-big-brown-eyes thing and forced me!"

Miroku cackled, Shippo and Sango following soon after with their own giggles. A grin was stretching across Kagome's face. "I didn't force you to do anything. Could you perhaps describe this 'cute-big-brown-eyes' thing? Sounds intriguing."

"I hate you." Inuyasha stabbed at his orange with a fork. "I hate you all."

"No, you don't," Kagome said, blinking her cutest, biggest, brownest attempt at a gaze at him. He glanced up at her, flushing with a growl in his throat.

"I really, really do," he groaned. "You're lucky I don't cancel on you, woman."

"You'd never do that! You're too sweet."

"I hate you so much. I'll gouge your eyes out."

"You'd never do that either. They're too cute."

"...I'm going to class."


Dear fantastical humans,

YAY basically just more Inukag because I can't help myself. Yup. That is all. See you next week, when my finals will be over and I won't be internally shrieking! Thank you so much for you kind words and questions and theories! They always absolutely make my day, and brighten everything when I'm stressed out. Another thanks to Akela-Nakamura for being the most awesome beta I could ask for.

A penny for your thoughts?

Mizpah,

~LoneStorm