.Eleven.

The sun rose entirely too early for Kagome, causing the darkness behind her eyelids to turn a mild red and then a bright yellow, making her wince and groan against the call of the morning that willed her to wake up. It feels like I only slept a short while… but I know I slept longer than usual. Squeezing her eyes shut, she rolled over to bury her face into her pillow, doing her best to escape the fate of having to wake up even if she knew she couldn't stay in bed.

It had been two days since she'd had her run-in with Koga and Inuyasha had come to her rescue. He had run to the park, the only place he had ever been in Tokyo, and for some reason she had just known to run there. True, she hadn't expected to find him nestled in the branch of a tree, nor for him to jump down just when she was talking about him – to herself, out loud, and crying no less! – and allow her to throw herself into his embrace and cry herself exhausted. Musing to herself, he had resigned his fate to her, not that she was complaining.

He'd seemed to do just that anyway the moment he'd saved her from Onigumo.

Curling her body up into a ball, she moaned in discomfort; her headaches had stopped, though she wasn't sure how they'd be by the time school started in four days. Man. It's gonna be terrible. Headaches galore.

"Kagome? Are you awake?" the soft, soothing voice of her mother made her body uncurl and she flipped around to give the woman a sleepy look. "Good. Your breakfast was getting cold – if I hadn't come to get you, I'm afraid Inuyasha would have eaten it-"

"D-Did you say…?"

That had the girl sitting up in bed with a shocked expression, making the older woman laugh. "Inuyasha? Yes, I did. You'd better hurry, or he'll eat your…"

Her daughter was gone in a flash of black hair and pink pajamas, making the woman blink twice before emitting a terribly-amused laugh, before she turned back around to join the others gathered around the dining room table.

-x-

"Inuyasha!"

The boy in question – or rather, exclamation – turned around with a mouthful of toast only to be enveloped in a tight squeeze, nearly making him fall out of his chair sideways from the sheer impact of Kagome jumping to him to embrace him. He'd barely swallowed the part of his breakfast around the girl's tight grip, and managed to blink with wide amber eyes around the room before trying to push the girl away.

"Kagome, what the he—" he received a hint of a glare from the old man sitting across the table and backpedaled, "What the heck do you think you're doing?!"

Big brown eyes, no longer filled with sleep but replaced with surprise and glee, blinked at him, giving him another tight squeeze and making him squelch out a 'Lemme go!'. Of course, the girl did no such thing. "I'm so glad to see you! I mean, I'm surprised – and what's this about stealing my breakfast, you big jerk!" Her happy tone was gone, as was the excited little twinkle in her eye, when her hand smacked itself on his forehead in reprimand.

Of course, the boy had no idea how to respond and leaned away from her, realizing now just how close her face actually was to him.

Kagome paid no mind, and rather than continue her irritated behavior, she let out another laugh and wrapped her arms once again around his neck, though this time not quite so tight. "I was afraid you were gonna leave again- I'm so glad you didn't."

"Y-Yeah. Well, you know…"

"I asked him to stay with us."

The four – Sota, Grandpa, Inuyasha and Kagome – heads swung to meet a very amused Mrs. Higurashi standing in the doorway, to which Kagome hastily untangled her arms from around the silver-haired young man's neck, standing now completely tense. "You what? Inuyasha's going to stay?"

Mrs. Higurashi came back in and took her seat next to her father-in-law. "I talked it through with Inuyasha yesterday, while you slept," immediately, Kagome began to panic, but her mother paid her no mind as she took a sip from her tea.

How long did I sleep? Did Mom have to call me out of work? Oh gods, she didn't tell them I was attacked, did she? Mom…!

"—if what he says is true, that someone is indeed coming after him, then it is not safe for him to just be out and about by himself. He's safer here than he is anywhere else. Besides, he's already been sleeping in the shed for about two weeks," Kagome winced as her mother suddenly took on a slightly-harsher tone, giving the girl and then the boy a scolding look. "And I have no complaints from here on out. I wish you'd have told me sooner, though."

Avoiding the sad look in her mother's eyes, Kagome looked down as she took a seat next to Inuyasha, whose ears had lowered atop his head. "I'm sorry, mom," the ebony-haired girl sighed, before giving her mother a rather subdued look. "With all that's been going on lately, and school starting soon, I guess I just couldn't find the right time. Thank you for letting him stay."

While mother and daughter seemed to share a sweet moment, Inuyasha winced before pushing himself away from the table; he shouldn't be allowed to stay, he knew that, but the woman had practically twisted his arm about it. Hands fisted at his sides, he stalked away from the table and disappeared around the corner. The only one who seemed to be affected by the sound of the back door slamming shut was Kagome.

"Mom…"

The woman took a sip of her tea before giving her daughter a little smile. "I'll pick up after breakfast, dear."

Kagome didn't wait a second later as she stalked after the half demon, worry marring her features. I wonder what's gotten into him? No doubt this has all made him uncomfortable, or maybe he doesn't actually want to stay. The thought made her practically slam herself into a hard, warm back.

"Inu…"

And then, in a flash of silver, he practically jumped inside the shed and slammed the door shut.

Inu…yasha?

-x-

"Thanks so much for inviting me out, Sango," Kagome's voice chirped into the afternoon air, stretching her arms out to accommodate the summer sun across her bared shoulders and arms; her form was wrapped in a form-fitting yet not unflattering light green sundress, a pair of white tennis shoes donning her feet. "It seems like ages since I've seen you! Outside of work, that is."

The dark-brunette laughed lightly, wearing a light pink t-shirt and a pair of denim capris. Her sandals clapped against the paved sidewalk as the girls passed several shops, a couple of bags in each hand already. "It's no problem- besides, you said you'd come with me to see Kohaku, and I planned on going to the hospital before work. It won't be long."

The black-haired girl had no arguments, though decided to drag the girl one year older than her into a clothing store with a squeal of delight.

It's been a few hours since Inuyasha disappeared on me. As she stopped in front of a few unisex shirts, she picked up a couple, a red and a blue one. Every time I tried to get him to come out of the shed, he'd nearly snap my head off. He even wanted no part in coming out with me today! I wonder what's gotten into him? Not that she expected him to come, as he wasn't one for going anywhere even if it were to be just the two of them. He's so weird – though, I guess I can see why he'd be against being out in public, with what went on before…

Shaking herself, she dug around her messenger bag – it was honestly the only thing similar to a purse that she owned – for her wallet, then fished out the card her mother had given her to pick up a few things for Inuyasha.

"It seems the only thing he's got to his name are those baggy red pants of his – be a dear and pick up some clothes for him, okay? Don't worry, it's on me."

With a sigh, Kagome walked over to where Sango was looking at a nice blouse. "Ooh, that looks nice – are you going to buy it? It'd look so beautiful on you!"

The dark-brunette blushed, brown eyes looking over at the other girl with a look of surprise. "Actually, I wasn't looking to buy it. At least not today. I haven't got a reason to own anything so beautiful, you know?"

Sango's indifferent look made Kagome blink before she grabbed the pink blouse and practically shoved it into the girl's arms. "Nonsense! I'll bet your brother would think you'd look beautiful in it!"

For some reason, that made the other girl smile before nodding. "Alright, alright, already. You win."

Score! Kagome- 1, Sango- 0.


Ayyy. Did you all enjoy your holiday season? Or, if you didn't celebrate Christmas or whatever, did you miss me? ;D

As I've sort of been switching between this fandom and Fullmetal Alchemist ('03), I'm gonna try to work on this story and Return to Shamballa, which got an update today, Sunday Dec 28. ouo It's so exciiiiting! I'm doing it, I'm doing the fanfiction!

:D

Please review, or if you don't want to, I just hope you enjoyed. c: Thanks so much for reading and favoriting/alerting this! It means so much to me!

-Cookie-