I remember sitting in the kitchen as her friends giggled about around her. They sounded like crows and acted like monkeys. I had to hide away from sight just to escape their stares, stupid comments, and worst of all, their tugging. My ears twitch just thinking about it.

They were talking about me, as usual, every other sentence with a sigh or a giggle. I could sense her flusteredness and I heard her polite excuse to leave the room, and her soft footstops on the tatami mats. I wasn't surprised when her head poked through the door, and she called my name out.

I turned my head to her, and she grinned, but her smile faded as a giggle fit erupted from the other room. She looked absolutely frustrated and embarassed. Her head hung down as she hopped onto the counter beside me.

"Oh, Inu-Yasha what am I going to do?"

I rubbed my chin thoughtfully, before responding, "I could kill them."

She gave me a light punch in the arm, knowing, or at least hoping, that I was kidding. She let out a shoulder slumping sigh, which blew her bangs away from her face. She looked at me, smiling with her eyes before hopping off the counter.

"I better get back in there, before they follow me here and start bugging you too."

I gave a snort of displeasure at the idea, and decided, just to be safe, I'd wait for her back in my time.

"Love ya." I said, as nonchalantly as possible, before I headed for the well.

"Love ya too." she whispered, but she knew I caught it.

I gave a self-satisfied grin.

How I love those three words even still.