Author's Note: Okay guys. This chapter really doesn't get anywhere, but there's something really important in it. Read, review, and tell me if ya liked it.

Kagome's hair swirled around her face as she stood in the driveway and examined her new home. It was a big house, there was no doubt in Kagome's mind about that. It had a large lawn with perfect, short green grass, a large five-car driveway and a spacious two-car garage built neatly into the house's side. Pure white paint, unchipped and neat coated its outside, and beautifully painted black shutters hung open to reveal unstained shimmering window glass, with candles lit homily behind. Two stories high with a large black oak door, it stood handsomely as though brand new, and even more expensive.

Inuyasha's here, a voice whispered from the corner of her mind, and he lives just over there, right beside you. Kagome twitched in response to this wicked little remark. It was as if she had forgotten. She retrieved her flyaway hair and tucked it securely behind her ears, turning her head a little to peek over her shoulder. She gasped and whirled the whole way around to stare at the other house's front door.

"Did I... just imagine that?" She whispered to herself, shaken, her eyes locked on the door.

She could have sworn there had been a glimmer of silver, so like Inuyasha's hair, and red, his favorite color, that had flashed inside the doorway and disappeared out of sight.

"Arisa-chan!" It's nice to see that you and your family have arrived safely!" A pleasant voice called out in joy from the direction of her new front door.

Kagome whirled around once again to face her own house. The movers who had driven the other moving truck with all the furniture, not Inuyasha's family, were already moving in the contents of the truck, and a woman with flowing, extremely long black hair was gliding down the sidewalk from the porch. She was a very beautiful woman, with pale skin and brown eyes that matched the color of chocolate. Her attire was only that of a pink kimono, but she played it up so well that it made her look like a queen rather than a businessman's second wife.

Here Kagome, I want you to see my mother.

Kagome closed her eyes and shook her head as the memory of Inuyasha showing her his parents' wedding picture flashed before her mind. This was the same woman, only a few years older, but no different. She opened her eyes slowly to see both her mom and Mrs. Izayiou embracing. It was clear the two had been friends for a very long time.

"Izayiou-chan, it's been so long! It's nice to see you again. How are my two high school friends? Getting along well? Where's Inutaisho-kun?" Kagome's mother asked when they had pulled apart, "I still can't believe he's letting us rent this beautiful home for free."

Izayiou giggled, "We're doing okay. As for Inutaisho, he's in the garden planting flowers for me in his usual fashion. Shirt unbuttoned and tie laying around the house somewhere."

She winked and Kagome's mom snickered and shook her head, "I see he hasn't changed much."

"Yes, still as clueless to all around him as he was in ninth grade," Izayiou nodded, "and what, can't two people give a very, very old close friend some help? It is not as if we spent a lot of money into it, seeing as Inutaisho, Sesshomaru, and Inuyasha built it by hand, with a little help of Tokai Industries, that is."

"Yes, and I am very grateful and lucky to have two friends such as yourselves," Kagome's mom bowed before smiling and straightening up, "Just as well, I believe introductions are in order. Kagome, Souta, come here please."

Kagome gulped and mentally crossed her heart, having heard Inuyasha's name somewhere within the jist of their conversation, and Souta leaped out of the moving truck heading in their direction.

"This is my daughter, Kagome," Kagome's mom said, motioning towards Kagome who smiled and waved, "And this young man is Souta," She then motioned towards Souta, who coughed shyly and stuttered out a polite hello.

Izayiou smiled and nodded at Souta before turning to Kagome.

"I've been wanting to meet you for a very long time," Izayiou told Kagome, her eyebrows knitting in frustration as she took Kagome's hand, "You have very pretty brown eyes, but you look so much like that Kikyo..."

"We're cousins, but we don't see each other much outside of school," Kagome admitted, feeling anxious.

"All the same," Izayiou murmured, giving Kagome's hand a pat before releasing it, "Especially since... What I should say, you'd be a much better catch for..." Kagome caught and held her breathe as she prepared to hear the name of the one person she shouldn't have ever been forced close to again.

"Mrs. Izayiou," Souta interrupted immediately, looking at Kagome intently, "Mom said your making dinner for us tonight. Thank you."

"Well, don't you have manners," Izayiou praised, turning her attention on the thirteen-year-old boy.

Kagome let her breath out sharply in relief. Thank god for Souta. But, Kagome looked at the house beside theirs in worry, no one could save her from dinner, not even Souta. Why do things have to be this way? She thought, turning her back on the house and walking away.

&&&&&&&&&&(A/N: Every time I switch the POV of a chapter, this will line appear)&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&

Inuyasha slammed the front door closed behind him, hard. That was close, Inuyasha thought, his heart pounding in his chest rapidly, She almost saw me. Running up the stairs, past the living room where Rocky, whimpering about not doing anything, Kojiro, and Sesshomaru stood. Inuyasha ignored them, his shock quickly turning into rage as he raced towards his bedroom. Bursting through the closed door, Inuyasha re-shut it behind him, and fell heavily unto the now folded bed. Scowling at this sign of thoughtfulness that pointed towards Kojiro, Inuyasha punched his pillow repeatedly.

"Damn it," He cursed in between punches, "Damn it. Damn it!"

A knock came to the door, and Inuyasha growled angrily in reply.

"Inuyasha," Kojiro's voice sounded concerned, "May I come in?"

"No, you may not, Kojiro!" Inuyasha snarled, not using his usual tone of respect for said person, "Is that what you meant by 'don't do anything rash'?"

"What are you talking about?" Kojiro sounded confused.

"Go away," Inuyasha snapped, getting up and throwing himself into the black E-Z chair and flipping on the TV.

"Inu-" Kojiro began from outside the door.

"Leave him," came the cold voice of Sesshomaru, "You and Rocky go ahead and help the neighbors with their things."

There was a pause, then footsteps echoed down the hallway towards the living room and disappeared. His ears twitched as he heard his doorknob turn slowly, and then silence. He knew what was coming, he just didn't know when. Sesshomaru's movements were so lithe and agile they made no sound.

"Inuyasha."

So, he's right behind me, Inuyasha thought, confused as to why Sesshomaru hadn't hit him yet as he normally would when he got smart to Kojiro. Sesshomaru was very protective of his friends, something he had found out the hard way on more than one count. Inuyasha's eyes stayed fixed on the TV screen without really seeing the picture. If he could have guessed, he would have assumed the show on was Vandread.

"You will apologize to Kojiro," Sesshomaru continued firmly, still behind him, "and to me."

Inuyasha growled, turning around to glare at his older brother. "To you? Why?!"

For a moment Sesshomaru's carefully cultivated emotionless expression faltered, but recomposed itself before Inuyasha could identify the emotion that had spread across his brother's face.

"You are doing me a great injustice for not discussing the current predicament you are in with me."

Inuyasha blinked, startled by this sentence. If he didn't know any better, he might have believed that Sesshomaru cared. He mentally slapped himself. What a stupid thing to think. Sesshomaru. Heart of Ice. Care. Ha. It was so insane that it made him question his sanity.

"W-what?" He asked blankly.

"You are not the annoying little half-breed you were before. You are different, in a most disgraceful manner. Hiding the way you feel, even from your mother. What could have happened to make you act in such a way?" Sesshomaru asked, watching his brother intently.

Inuyasha stared at him for a minute, puzzled. "You're not acting like you, Sessh, are you okay? Maybe Kojiro really is sick and you caught it."

Sesshomaru closed his eyes in patience, "Do not take on more than you can handle. There are those capable of helping you. Sacrificing yourself will only hurt others, even more than it will hurt you. Especially one that cares about you in a way as to die for you."

"Hurting...who?" Inuyasha snapped, feeling nauseous for some unexplainable reason. Maybe there really was a bug going around.

"Ha," came the reply, "The neighbors will be dining with us tonight." Inuyasha's heart sunk in panic. "You may not decline the request for you to join us. "

Sesshomaru then turned on his heel and walked out the door, shutting it behind him.

Inuyasha sighed in relief, and turning his E-Z chair around to face the TV once more, clicking it off.

"Damn it, Sessh. Don't act like you know what this is about."

He turned his head in the direction of his desk where a picture stood in a silver frame. It was of a slim girl with waist length pin straight black hair and very pale skin and brown eyes. She looked a lot like the Kagome down in the neighboring parking lot, only older. He snorted before knocking it face down, "You don't have a clue."

-Flashback-

"Inuyasha, I see you're finally alone."

Inuyasha turned from collecting his study papers to see a girl standing before him. He would have thought it was Kagome coming for her study session after classes, had it not been for the phone call moments ago announcing she had gone home early, a result of the flu that was waging war on the entire student body of the high school.

"Kikyo," Inuyasha growled, "I don't want to talk with you."

"Oh?" Kikyo frowned, leaning back against the empty classroom's only exit door, "That's too bad. What I have to say has quite the value to you."

"Is that so?" Inuyasha laughed mockingly, preparing to shove past her and out of the classroom. Of all the days for Kagome to go home sick, it had to be the day he had last period study hall with the bitch.

"Yes," Kikyo smiled wickedly, "You know that I like you, right?"

"We've discussed this," Inuyasha countered, "I've told you where I stand. And that place is beside Kagome."

"Ah yes," Kikyo nodded, her wicked smile still in place, "The Shikon No Tama bearer."

"I have no idea what you're talking about," Inuyasha hissed through clenched teeth.

"Oh, of course not. After all, you know where it is, I'm sure. Yes, that's right, I figured it out. For years my mother, her aunt, had searched for the jewel that will grant one wish to its bearer as they so whim. However, it was supposed to go to the second born female of the family, Kagome's mother. Since I was the first born of the new generation, it skipped me and is rightfully hers. But it disappeared long ago, during Grandmother Kaede's time before her death. Rumor has it that it was given to a high-class family of demons to protect, with the help of swordsman and slayers for extra precaution. Ring any bells? I'm sure this is all nothing new to you."

Inuyasha growled threateningly. I don't like where this is going, he thought.

"Now, in order for me to get it, and have you all to myself, something will have to be done about Kagome...removing her from the picture completely would be a nice touch..." Inuyasha growled even louder, and Kikyo smirked. "And I'd have to use you. Finding the jewel is my main priority, but why settle for one desired item, when you can have two?"

"I'd like to see you fucking try and use me," Inuyasha threatened, pulling himself up to full height.

Kikyo laughed and pulled out a bow and an arrow, which she showed to Inuyasha. " I could kill you quickly with only a few of these. They are exactly like Kagome's arrows that she trains with at the Doku Dojo. Like Kagome, I am a miko, and without that new sword of yours that your father got you in celebration of your adulthood, Tetseiga, you hardly count as dangerous. Now, do you honestly think you could protect her while you're here fighting with me?"

"Kagome could never be eliminated by you. Thanks to Kojiro's training, she's gotten a lot stronger," Inuyasha grinned proudly at the thought of how far Kagome had come since the first time he, Rin, Sango, and Miroku had brought her to Kojiro's to train when she was in eight grade.

"Maybe not," Kikyo agreed, pulling out her cell phone and pressing a few numbers on the number panel, before also showing it to Inuyasha.

851-970-8010 Naraku

Inuyasha's eyes grew wide. Naraku was a cruel, manipulative half demon he had known since grade school. He and Inuyasha had both flunked seventh grade together, and were bitter rivals. Nothing would please Naraku, or his new girlfriend, the black and red haired, brown-eyed punk, Celestina, more than to get to him through the one he loved most: Kagome.

"Ah, so you know him. Naraku could get rid of Kagome, and since he is a half demon, he would leave no trace of an attack for the police to find. Right now, all I have to do is call him. What could you or Kagome do to stop him? She's sick, and your stuck here, powerless."

Inuyasha stared at her before sighing in defeat. "What do you want me to do?" He asked, mentally kicking himself in the inside.

"Well," Kikyo smiled, pondering, "If you break up with her and go out with me, I won't use you, and I won't have Naraku, or his sisters Kanna and Kagura, try to get rid of her. But, you won't be allowed to talk to her, or tell her you still love her. She must believe that you hate her. If I see you so much as talking to her, or even anywhere near her besides training sessions at the Dojo and school, she will be unrecognizable the next time you see her. Got it?"

Inuyasha frowned. He couldn't do that to Kagome. She loved him, and he loved her too, so much that he would do anything it took to make sure she was safe. It wasn't about the jewel to him, he didn't care if he was supposed to be her "protector" as his father called him. It was deeper than that. He just didn't want to see her hurt... He couldn't take it...

"Will you, Inuyasha? Will you do this and save my cousin's pathetic life?"

-End Flashback-

Inuyasha sighed in frustration before reaching under his TV and pulling out a folded piece of paper. Unfolding it, a girl's face came into view. It was Kagome during the time they had dated. She was at the Doku Dojo right in the middle standing beside him amongst the throng of other students attending training.

He had had to hide this picture, his last picture reminder of their relationship, along with her notes under his TV where Kikyo couldn't find them. She was a jealous witch, and would have had Kagome eaten alive if so much as one hair that belonged to her was found in his room. If it weren't for Kagome's safety, he wouldn't have stayed with the bitch for so long, least of all a year.

"Well... at least if I can't tell you I love you, talk to you, or be near you, for your sake, I can at least see you everyday." Inuyasha smiled and folded the picture into his jeans pocket. What Kikyo didn't know couldn't hurt her, or Kagome.

"Will you, Inuyasha? Will you do this?"

"God, Kagome..." Inuyasha whispered, touching the picture in his pocket, "was I wrong to say yes?"