The band packed up and started to leave. InuYasha threw his guitars in his trunk and went back in to get Kagome. It had started to snow again, and was freezing outside. She wrapped back up her kimono and tried to give his haori back when he stopped her.

"No, it's pretty cold out and you're wearing silk. Don't wanna freeze do you?" She put the coat back on and they got into the car, driving into the night.

InuYasha seemed fully focused on driving when something landed on his shoulder. He turned his head and noticed Kagome had fallen asleep, head on his shoulder. His whole body seemed to stiffen, but he soon relaxed. No one had been this close to him since his parents died. Even his brother never really messed with him before gallivanting off to some place in Nagasaki.Now the two never spoke, it was better that way. Neither brother had liked his sibling. InuYasha wiggled a little in the seat to get comfortable. He turned up the radio a little and smirked at the irony of the song and the moment.

"and maybe tonight I can breathe for awhile
I'm not in the seat I think I'm falling asleep
but then all that it needs is I'll always be dreaming of you"

The car pulled into the Higurashi driveway and InuYasha opened the door for his date. Except she still slept. Gently, he gathered her into his arms and carried her to the doorway of her home. He tapped the door with his foot and a surprised Mrs. Higurashi answered.

"Had her home before 11, just like I promised. She fell asleep on the ride over and I didn't want wake her." Mrs. Higurashi gaped in surprise. This bandanad, scowling boy was actually that kind? She let him in and led him to Kagome's room. He deposited her on the bed, haori and all, and kissed her lightly on the forehead. He handed her mother her hairsticks that she neglected to replace and walked back to his car. Mrs. higurashi waved good bye, thinking that boy might not be so bad after all.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Kagome woke up to a gray December morning and noticed she was wearing an odd garment for bed clothes. 'InuYasha's haori. Have to walk over to his place later today.' She thought as she rolled over to get the light out of her eyes. She pulled the hood of the coat over her eyes, a vain attempt to ward off morning. She inhaled deeply, the scent of the haori filling her lungs. It smelled surprisingly clean, amazing because it was so warm and InuYasha probably would've sweated while wearing it at the festival, it had been pretty hot in the gym. Instead it smelled of wood smoke, outdoors and fresh wind. 'He must camp in it or something.' she thought. It had the smell of vintage clothing too, that old smell thay lies deep beneth the surface. 'Maybe it was his father's once.' She took the cloak off and took a quick shower. She changed into a navy shirt and jeans, grabbed the haori and headed out the door.

"Feh. Who the crap is it now?" InuYasha cursed and raced down the stairs. It was ten am and he wasn't happy to be running on low sleep time. "Keh. What do you want from me?" He threw the door open to reveal Kagome. "Eh, sorry. Just woke up. Mornings aren't my thing. Want to come in? Didn't mean to be hateful. Thought you were Miroku." He stood in the door in his boxers again and a feeling of deja vu swept over Kagome.

"Sure, I guess." She stepped inside and smelled pancakes cooking again. 'Hasn't this already happened once?' She thought as she walked behind InuYasha. They ended up in the kitchen.There sat the pancakes on the stove.

"Here's your haori back." she held out the old fashioned coat. He took it from her and pulled it on robe style. He returned to flipping pancakes as an older woman wandered into the room.

"So this is that girl ye talked about so much, ne?" she walked over and gave InuYasha a strong smack on the back and Kagome giggled as he jumped.

"So, you've been talking about me, InuYasha?" She smiled to see him nervous. Usally nothing short of a bomb would faze him.

"Hai. It seems he's uncapable of doing anything but thinking of ye lately, young one. I'm Kaede, the caretaker of this ruffian. It's good to meet this girl that my boy here seems to think of as a goddess." Kagome shook hands with Kaede and returned to aggravating InuYasha.

"Goddess? Really! All you do is think of me?" She gave a sly smile as he gave his usual reply of feh. That seemed to be his way of dissmissing things. He flipped the pancakes through the air onto three plates.

"Stop showing off boy. I hoped she's impressed with ye without ye having to show off your culinary skills." She winked at him with her good eye. He quickly took off, saying he had "Er, uh...homework! That's it! Homework! Tons! Later!"

"He's hasn't quit talking? Doesn't sound the guy I know!" Kagome shoveled her pancakes into her mouth.

"Nay, he said one or two things about ye. I just enjoy torturing him, that's all. The hooligan needs it. It's good for him to get a bit of badgering now and then. I'm pretty soft with him usally." Kaede pat Kagome's back as the girl put her plate into the sink. "INUYASHA! YE GUEST IS LEAVIN'! COME DOWN HERE HAVE SOME MANNERS!" Kaede had good lungs for someone her age. InuYasha rushed down the stairs obediantly. He told Kagome good bye, and thanks for returning his coat. She left with some things to think about.