Chapter Five- Family

"Fox fire!" Shippo flung a hand at the wood of their campfire. The timber caught but the fire quickly died out.

"It didn't stay lit," Kagome noted.

"I'm not strong enough. Most of my attacks are for making an escape. That is what we're known for: Escaping."

"Yeah, you're right."

"You wanna try, Mom?"

"Sure." Kagome caught the small smiles on the humans' faces at hearing Shippo call her Mom. It felt good for Shippo to call her that and she could see herself staying here, raising Shippo, and having a life with Inuyasha. "Fox fire!" she said, her hand aimed at the wood. It caught fire and stayed lit. "I did it!"

Inuyasha sat away from the group as was his usual thing. Sleeping outside required a fire and Kagome asked Shippo to teach her fox fire. She must have a lot of strength, using Transform and fox fire in one day. It's like I told Miroku: I like strong women.

"Inuyasha?"

The now human boy glanced back to see Kagome approach. "So, how did the fire go?" he asked as she sat.

"Great. I lit the wood."

"That is great. Shippo must be proud."

"He is. I just wish I could get Transform down pat."

"You will. It's only been one day."

"You're right. I'll keep practicing."

Inuyasha nodded as his eyes drifted up to her ears. They were longer than his own but seemed just as soft. I'd like to feel them. Feh. Must be a human thing.

Kagome tilted her head at the boy's stare. "Inuyasha? You okay?"

"I'd…I'd like to feel your ears," he blurted out.

Kagome blinked. Well, I can't blame him for that. Mom and I touched his ears, so it's only fair that he touch mine. "Go ahead," she said, her head still tilted.

Inuyasha reached up to one of the ears. His fingers brushed the back before moving back and forth across the back. He was soon scratching it and he heard Kagome sigh. "That feels good," she said.

"It does?" He kept scratching.

"Mm. Yeah."

"Nice to know. Your ears are as soft as they look."

"Yours are too. I wouldn't mind if you touched them once in a while."

"You can touch mine just as often. It'll be a term of affection for us and when we're alone." He dropped his arm.

"I'd like that- a lot." Kagome leaned her head on Inuyasha's shoulder and sighed softly.

The feel of her head on his shoulder gave him an odd feeling of comfort. He experienced a wide range of human emotions on the new moon and a few emotions the rest of the time. He often envied full demons who didn't have any qualms about anything they did and he tried to be like them. However, when Tetsusaiga had been broken and his demon blood took over, he had come to the realization that he was happier being half-demon. Plus, Kagome liked him the way he was.

I liked Kagome the way she was, too. Now she's a demon, but it would seem that only her body's changed. She is still the same girl I met. Wait. What about…?

"Kagome, what is your family going to think about this?"

He had to turn his head quickly to avoid getting poked in the eye by an ear as Kagome sat up straight. "Oh my gosh. That's right. I'll have to tell them."

"I'll go with you, if you like."

"Thanks, Inuyasha. I'd appreciate that."

Kagome and Inuyasha dismounted from Kirara a day later. "Thanks, Kirara," Kagome said. "We'll be back tomorrow morning." The cat demon nodded before taking flight as Kagome and Inuyasha leaped into the well.

Kagome climbed up the rope ladder while Inuyasha simply leaped up out of the well. Kagome emerged from the well and the pair left the well's shrine. The female fox admired her family's grounds as they moved toward the house. It looked so normal, it was hard to believe there was a magical portal to the past that only she and Inuyasha could access. She felt her tail brush against her legs and it reminded her that this wasn't a normal return home. She led the way to the front door, but couldn't bring herself to open it. I'm afraid of what they'll think, she realized.

"Just open it. They'll understand," Inuyasha said, taking hold of her hand. Kagome slowly exhaled before opening the door. "Hello," she called as they entered and she closed the door. "I'm back and Inuyasha's here too."

"Inuyasha!?" came the voice of Sota before said boy came rushing into view. He came to a stop when he saw his sister. "Kagome? What happened to you?"

Her mom and grandpa came into the hall looking happy, but when they saw Kagome, their expressions became shocked ones. "Kagome?" her mom asked in slow shock.

"It's me, Mom. I ate a berry called Foxes' Delight and I became a fox demon."

There was silence before Sota said, "I guess that means no more school, huh?"

"Not necessarily. I've been learning fox magic. One is changing my appearance, but I haven't mastered it yet."

"Fox magic?" Sota repeated.

Kagome nodded as she pulled out a leaf, put it on her head, and focused with all her heart. Smoke engulfed her and when it passed, she looked like her old self.

"Kagome, you did it. No tail, no ears, nothing."

Kagome looked and smiled. "I did do it. Now I just need to know how long it lasts. I'm hoping it lasts enough so I can go to school."

"Why did you put a leaf on your head?" Sota asked.

"It is the will of the Fox Demon King," Grandpa said before Kagome could answer. "For he had committed an offense to a powerful priest who put a magical leaf on-,"

"That's not it!" Inuyasha snapped.

"Grandpa, it's more of a part of nature as foxes, badgers, and other forest demons use them as part of their magic," Kagome added.

"So, that's it," Mrs. Higurashi said as she herded the group to the family room.

"It is. Mom, you don't mind that I'm a demon do you? I had no idea that eating that berry would change me."

"Of course, I don't mind. You're still my Kagome and I still love you."

"Speaking of love," Kagome said. "Inuyasha recently told me he loves me." She smiled at the half-demon who blushed slightly at her words.

"You are in love?" Sota gasped.

Kagome nodded happily. "Also, a fox demon child travels with us and I just kind of adopted him."

"Oh, how sweet of you. Tell me about him," Mrs. Higurashi said.

"Well, his name's Shippo and both of his parents are dead. He is sweet, at least to me. He used to see me as an older sister and Inuyasha as an older brother. He's become kind of protective of me since I became his mother."

"It sounds like he adores you. And does he like you, Inuyasha?"

"As much as a brother can. He insists I ask for his permission to court Kagome."

There was gentle laughter as Mrs. Higurashi said, "children tend to be protective of parents from time to time just as parents are protective of them."