Disclaimer: I do not own InuYasha or Yu Yu Hakusho

Kagome's mother entered the room. She gently placed herself on the edge of the bed that Kagome was sitting on. The younger girl had obviously been crying, but now she had stopped, and was instead biting her bottom lip and glaring at the wall.

"Baby, you wanna tell me what happened?" Asked her mom, gently.

"We were in a reck, Mama, Grandpa died." Motherly instinct told Sakura (Kagome's mom was just named, lucky her!) that Kagome was fighting hard not to cry. She patted Kagome on the back, though she felt like crying too. "I met the people whose car crashed into ours. I'm meeting them again at 5pm Friday at the park. They want to pay us back, because they totaled my car." Sakura didn't know what to say, so she gave her daughter a tight hug, which Kagome returned. But neither cried. Sakura knew Kagome would begin to feel even guiltier if she showed her pain. Kagome felt that if she continued to saturate the bed with tears it would show weakness. Both wanted to cry, neither could.

--

A few hours later the doorbell rang. When Sakura answered it she was surprised to see a police officer standing in her doorway. The officer was a pretty woman with red blonde hair and brown eyes. She stood tall, a neat manila envelope resting in her carefully manicured left hand.

"May I come in?" she asked, her tone dead serious.

"You may," Sakura replied, leading the officer into the dining room where they sat at the table.

"My name is Kagura Uzi, I'm here to talk to you about your father in-law. We've checked his will, and he left this shrine, and house, to his son; your ex-husband. Since you two are no longer married, and he owns this shrine, you will have to get his permission to continue staying here. If you can't find him in two weeks, you have to go live elsewhere. I'm sorry."

"B—but, NOBODY knows where he is! How are we supposed too find him?" Sakura felt her voice become shriller with every word. Panic and fear rolled over her in waves. If they had to leave their home…

"The police will also do their best to help you track him down. He has been a missing person for years though, so we can't make any promises. I'm sorry…"

When there was nothing left to say, Ms. Uzi left. Sakura went upstairs to tell Kagome the bad news.

--

Kurama sat patiently on a park bench waiting for Kagome. She arrived about 2 minutes later. She was wearing a long black skirt with a silky, long sleeved, black shirt. Her blue eyes had a slightly glassy look in them, but she did not appear to be crying.

"Hey, Shuichi. I'm not late am I?"

"Not at all," he said kindly. He too was wearing black, and Kagome noted to herself that it did not suit him. It made him look pale.

Kagome sat down on the bench next to him.

"So, what's your week been like?" Kurama asked. Of course, he knew that it must have been awful, but it was polite to ask.

"It's pretty much sucked, aside from the obvious reasons. It turns out, if my dad isn't found, then I have to move." She sighed just thinking about it, "You see, he and my mom got divorced years and years ago, while she was pregnant with me. After the divorce he just disappeared. I don't know what happened to him or even his name. Mama doesn't like to talk about it," she sighed again. "So, how was your week?"

"Well, mine wasn't that great either. My mother's experiencing the mood swings that accompany pregnancy, and she needs constant attention. It makes me feel so helpless," he said glumly. He really didn't know why he didn't just lie and tell Kagome that he was fine. Goodness knows she was probably pleased with his unhappiness; after all, he had caused her so much.

"What's your mom like?" asked Kagome, kindly.

Kurama was surprised, 'Does she honestly care?' She seemed so genuine, so pure—it was astonishing. He almost felt guilty for lying to her about Yusuke and his reasons to be on the road. 'Surely, it's best this way, it would corrupt her innocence should she be forced into the world of demons like that!'

'I think it was good that we lied too! Now, answer her question!' Yoko cut in.

"She's wonderful. Her name is Shiori, and she's always kind, and loving, and accepting, and everything you could want in a mother." Kagome smiled faintly.

"I think our mothers would get along well!" After Kagome and Kurama smiled at the thought of their mothers meeting, they drifted into uncomfortable silence.

"So… who's car was it that Yusuke and I totaled?"

"It was mine, but you don't have to worry about that."

"Nonsense, I know I can't make your life like it was before the crash, but I can buy you a car!"

"Are you sure about this? You don't have to get me a car you know," but Kagome looked eager, even as she said it.

"Don't worry about it."

So they went to a car shop and looked around for a car that Kagome would like. Kagome tried to look for an inexpensive car, but her gaze kept returning to a black mustang convertible. Kurama, noticing this, asked her if she wanted it.

"No—no I couldn't! I don't want to impose! I-" she waved her hands in the air franticly. Kurama however, could tell she really wanted the car and was just being polite because she felt like she was forcing him into it.

"I insist," he said solemnly, and when he saw her smile broadly, he went to talk to the owner of the shop.

--

While driving home in her new car Kagome let her ever present smile fade. Yes, she was happy that she had gotten a new car, that Yusuke was doing well with Keiko (Shuichi had told her), that Shuichi's mother was about to have a child, and that it didn't seem to her that Yusuke and Shuichi were the type of people who normally went around killing old men.

Still, now was not a happy time in her life. Her father figure had died, she would have to move if they couldn't find her dad, if they did move InuYasha would throw a fit, and to top it all off, she had to go back to the feudal era now. InuYasha had told her she had to be back by today, and he would undoubtedly be waiting for her at the well.

As expected, when Kagome pulled into the driveway InuYasha could be clearly seen pacing in the doorway of her house.

"Woman, you're late!" InuYasha jumped off the steps and landed next to her the second she exited the car. "What the hell have you been doing?!"

"Sit Boy," she responded coolly to his attitude. "Now, let me get my backpack and we can go."

"Feh."

Kagome ran inside, kissed her mother, and then dashed to the well house, jumping in simultaneously with the hanyo(-sp?-). Once on the other side Kagome walked in silence for a while. She wondered what was bothering InuYasha. He cleared his throat nervously.

"Kagome…" the silence dragged on, and the 17-year-old girl knew that her first love was trying to tell her something, but didn't know how to form the words. His tone was mournful, sad, anxious, and many other emotions besides. Kagome knew that now was when she should start getting worried.

"InuYasha, what's wrong? What happened?" he shuffled his feet nervously.

"Kagome, you know I have an obligation to protect Kikyo, right? Because I promised?" he wasn't looking her in the eyes.

"I know that InuYasha but-"

"Kagome, I have to be with Kikyo."

"Wha-what?" Surely, she must have misheard him. Surely, he couldn't have just said that.

"I'm sorry Kagome, but this is the way it has to be. Kikyo needs me, and I can't abandon her. Please," he looked her in the eyes, and his shone with the pain of his statement, "please understand Kagome. I do care about you, and I hope we can still travel together. Kikyo's not replacing you, but I do hold an obligation to her. Please forgive me," he bit his lip and looked at her, waiting for a reaction.

"Why are you trying so hard not to hurt my feelings? You have Kikyo now, you don't need me."

"You're not Kikyo Kagome, and you shouldn't compare yourself to her. It goes against everything you have ever said. I know you must be suffering already because of your grandpa, but I had to tell you. Do you forgive me?" Kagome looked at the ground, she could no longer hold his mournful gaze.

"I'll try InuYasha, but I need some time alone first, okay?" He nodded.

"Will you meet us in the village later? The others want to see you too."

"See you in a bit then," said Kagome, smiling sadly. Then she walked back to the well, where she sat. Kagome glared at the ground, focusing every part of her concentration on not crying. It was just about the most difficult thing she had ever done. But crying was a weakness, and she couldn't be weak. Not if InuYasha had finally begun to respect her.

Suddenly, a mouth appeared next to next to Kagome's ear.

"Is there something special about that patch of dirt, or are you just bored?" Kagome whirled around, only to see SesshoMaru standing beside her, looking as stoic as ever. His silver hair whirled around him, and he had one eyebrow raised impressively.

"What do you want?" Kagome gasped, horrified at her bad luck. He looked down at her, his handsome face impassive.

"You will teach Rin," he commanded her.

"What? What are you talking about?"

"You will teach Rin what she needs to know of humanity, and give her a proper education. In exchange I will let you live and join you're fight against Naraku," he smirked lightly, "you obviously need it." Kagome glared at him for a moment, trying to decide whether or not to trust him.

"Wench, I wasn't asking. I was telling. Now come," he grabbed her arm roughly, but he was careful not to let his claws dig into her skin.

"I can walk you know; and my name is Kagome, not 'wench.'"

"Be silent."

"I hope you're not going to be like this when I'm teaching Rin. It will be very—"

"This SesshoMaru just told you to be silent, human. You would do well to listen." Kagome felt his claws prick her skin threateningly. She shut up, her mouth a thin line, Her light blue eyes glaring at the lord who had he in such a firm grip. He looked at her, ignored the glare, and nodded slightly in approval of her silence.

--

InuYasha sat with Kikyo and the others, making small talk. Sango and Miroku were friendly, but seemed slightly tense with Kikyo. The hanyo (-sp?-) had fully expected Kagome to be away for awhile, and he was surprised when she entered Kaede's hut so soon. He was more surprised when his half brother entered the hit seconds later, clutching Kagome's arm tightly. She was biting her lip, trying not to cry out in pain.

InuYasha jumped up and glared at SesshoMaru, drawing his sword. SesshoMaru raised an eyebrow.

"Do you intend to attack me when I could easily kill the girl from this position?" Kagome squirmed, looking like a fox that was prepared to gnaw it's own arm off of freedom. "Be still girl," he said, glancing at her. She froze.

"Let her go!" cried Shippo, and he ran at the dog demon ahead of him. SesshoMaru raised his foot to kick Shippo, but was stopped by Kagome's gasp.

'This would not be the time to teach the brat respect,' he realized. Instead of kicking Shippo he placed his foot gently atop the angry child and held him pinned to the floor.

"This SesshoMaru did not come here to fight you."

"Then what the hell did you come here for, bastard?!" yelled InuYasha.

"To make a proposition," he said, explaining the deal. InuYasha looked ready to protest, so Miroku cut him off before he had a chance to argue.

"We would be happy to do that, Lord SesshoMaru, but I would ask that you kindly release Lady Kagome." SesshoMaru let go, and Kagome fell to the floor, clutching her arm, which was bleeding. The aristocratic lord looked faintly surprised at the combined sight of blood and the glares coming from everyone in the room (even Kikyo).

"This SesshoMaru might have held her tightly enough to bruise, but not enough to cause blood." They continued glaring.

"No, no. He's telling the truth," SesshoMaru interrupted, saying that lying was beneath him. Kagome ignored this statement. "I was injured in the car accident that killed my grandfather, SesshoMaru just reopened the injury. I'll be fine."

"Are you sure?" asked Shippo and InuYasha together. Kagome nodded.

"When did your grandfather die?" asked Miroku. A millisecond later Sango asked her question.

"What's a car?"

That's the best thing I could think of to end it. Sorry I didn't update for a few days. YOU NEED TO VOTE ON COUPLES. Thus far, this is how things stand. Please remember, EVERYBODY will be paired with somebody, or die before they get the chance.

SesshoMaru x Mukuro: 3

SesshoMaru x Shizuru: 2

Kurama x Shizuru: 2

Kurama x Botan: 0

Koenma x Botan: 3

THANK YOU TO:

Mikako Kazuke, disneyrulz23, JennyTheWhiteWolf, KibaSin, Demoness-MarlstonWells69ner, Neo-Crystal, MuppyPuppy, Azalie-Kauriu, Kagome Lady of Darkness, kittyb78, xXKillorbeKilledXx, michelle, and my dear friend Tessa

...I feel like I'm forgetting something...