November

"Yo, Kags!" InuYasha calls as he jogs across the garden to where Kagome and I sit under our favourite tree.

"Hey, Yash, what's up?" Kagome smiles up at the hanyou, shifting to sit up a bit from where she had been leaning against me.

"Got ya something." he replies with a devious smile, his eyes flashing to mine for a moment, making me wary.

"Oh? What'd you get me?" Kagome perks up immediately, eyes growing wide as they trace his entire body, looking for some indication as to what the gift might be. Then, InuYasha reaches into his haori and pulls out a small black mass. Kagome and I trade glances with each other briefly before the mass moves. And then mews. And Kagome squeals, launching herself to her feet and snatching the black mass from my brother. Turning, she drops to her knees next to me and coos at the mass.

"Where did you find it?! Oh, kami, it's so small. Look, Sess!" I lean over to see what she is now cradling to her chest, and am met with tiny red eyes.

"You found a nekomata. A female. Where?" I breathe out, more than a little awed at the tiny creature. Nekomata are incredibly rare.

InuYasha shrugs lightly, watching Kagome with a soft smile. "Found her while running through the woods nearby. Searched around but couldn't find any others. I don't know where she came from, but she was alone. Thought Kags here might like her. She'll sure as hell take better care of her than I would, at any rate." the hanyou explains.

"Her mother wasn't anywhere nearby?" Kagome asks, frowning.

"Nope, believe me, I checked."

"I think I'm gunna go find Sango. She'll know what we should do." Kagome leans forward and kisses me briefly before standing, ignoring the huff from InuYasha over the display of affection.

An hour later, Kagome finds me in my study. Slipping herself into my lap, I shift to accommodate her, wondering why she seems upset. She is still holding the little firecat, as well.

"Kotori, is everything well?" I inquire, settling my arms around her loosely.

"Sango said that it's likely the mother's dead and has been long enough for the smell to dissipate, likely since before the last rain storm. Or that this little one hasas dropped by poachers." Her voice is soft, wavering in her sorrow over the possibilities of what the little cat has gone through.

"It is illegal to trade in nekomata, however it is possible. It is more likely the former option, though." I tell her gently, reaching a hand to gently stroke the small bundle of fur. "Have you fed her yet?"

"Yeah, the kitchens gave me some goats milk and honey for her."

"Good. Have you given her a name yet?" I tease her, knowing she likely named it in her mind as soon as she saw it in InuYasha's hand and was told it was abandoned.

She blushes lightly and nods, "Aimi."

"It is a good name." I tell her as I kiss her temple.

4/21/21 A/N: cat! cuz kag's needs her own cat.

Aimi means friend.