Well, hello there! Another chapter already, you're asking (or maybe not). Yes, that's right. Today is my day off of work, and I'm just a typoholic! I'm updating both stories! Yes, I know, amazing…but true. So, here we go:

Pruningshears- Thank you for your review (the first one too! ^_^) And yes, there will plenty of action eventual, if my story works out like it has been in my head. But first, gotta set up the characters, right? ^_~

Tao-Fairlight- Thank you so much! I really appreciate your comments!

I don't own Inu Yasha!

To Live Again

Chapter 3: Meet the Higurashi's

Kagome cast a wary look at her silver-haired companion, "Ano…I think when she said 'walk me there' she meant the bus stop, not actual to my mothers…" They were presently standing at the bus stop, waiting for non other than the bus.

Yasha crossed his arms and glared at her. "She said to consider it time off with pay. I'm taking as much advantage of that as I can."

Rolling her arms, she took a similar pose. "Whatever. Go do whatever you want. I'm just FINE by myself."

"I didn't say I wasn't going to walk you there, wench," He looked down the road to see the bus rapidly approaching them.

"And I'm telling you that I don't want you to!" She shot back, thoroughly pissed off by him and his cold personality.

"Would you just shut up already? The bus is here anyways." He pushed her towards the doors and she stumbled, grabbing the railing on the inside of the steps, steadying herself. Pulling herself up the steps and depositing the right amount of change, she turned her head slightly to see Yasha doing the same.

Seeing her look at him, he glared once more at her, "What?!?"

"Don't you get it? GO AWAY!" She yelled at him. Hearing a low cough, she turned around, only to see that they had an audience of a busload of people, all staring at them with great interest.

Yasha rolled his eyes and pushed her into the only free seat, then sat down next to her. "Would you shut it? You're making everyone stare at us!"

While he was saying this, she was practically hissing at him, "Who said you could sit next to me, you jerk! Go find yourself some other poor sucker to sit next to you!"

As they faced off in a glare competition, a sighed voice from behind them reached their ears, "Ah…young love!"

Blushing, both Yasha and Kagome turned slowly in the seat to look behind at an elderly couple, the older woman smiling at them and the older man glaring at them. "Damn kids, would you just shut up already? My hearing aid is going to break!"

The older woman slapped him on the arm, "Oh, you two just go on with your lovers quarrel! Don't mind this old grouch!"

Quickly turning around in their seats, the two of them called a silent truce for that moment. No need for anyone else to mistake the meaning of their argument.

The bus continued on with its stops, letting people on and off as was its job. About ten minutes into their truce that Yasha felt something wrong. Turning in his seat slightly, he saw what was making the hair on his neck feel like it was standing on end. There, in the seat across and one back from them was a brown-haired, blue eyed guy staring intently at them. Or, more so, at Kagome.

For no reason whatsoever, he had the strangest urge to jump up and strangle him. He settled instead for shooting ice daggers at him with his eyes, hoping he'd get the point. Obviously he wasn't due to the fact that he still stared.

Finally, as if coming out of a trance, the boy broke his eyes away from the young girl and they met with Yasha's. Golden fire glared into blue pools of ice. The boy broke off the stare competition and narrowed his slightly.

Looking away from the annoying male, he glanced out the window over Kagome's head. "Where does your family live anyways, Kyoto?"

Kagome looked out the corner of her eyes at him, raising an eyebrow. "No, just on the outskirts of Tokyo. It is a big city, after all."

Yasha just shrugged and said a mumbled "whatever" and then continued to stare out the window over her head.

The rest of the ride was rather uneventful. Luckily for them, though, it only lasted about fifteen more minutes. As the bus stopped yet again, Kagome made a motion to stand, "This is the stop." Yasha let her up, following her off the bus. He was vaguely aware that other people were getting off at this stop as well, but one was sticking out in his head.

As they stood on the sidewalk, Kagome motioned him in the direction that her mother's was. They started walking when a voice called out to them, "Hey, girl!"

Both of them turned and Yasha almost growled in frustration. There was that guy again!

"Yes? Are you talking to me?" Kagome asked him politely. Yasha stared at her. How could she be so polite to him when he was practically undressing her with his eyes on the bus? 'Cause she probably didn't notice that, like you did. Hmmm…wonder why you did?' his inner voice asked him, but then he mentally drop kicked it to make it shut up.

"Oi, what do you want?" Yasha asked him, annoyed. Where did this guy come from, anyways?

The boy narrowed his eyes again as he looked at him, and then shifted his attention back to the girl. "I was just wondering why a beautiful girl like you was hanging around with a jerk like this." He motioned to point at Yasha, but as he had said it, Yasha was no longer there. Instead he was standing in front of him, looking like he was ready to smash in his face.

"Just who the hell do you think you are?" Yasha sneered at him.

"My name is Kouga. And I could ask you the same thing. I saw you yelling at her at the bus stop, then on the bus as well. You need to learn how to treat a lady." He responded, raising an eyebrow at him.

Yasha fumed about this for a second, thinking of a good response, when he suddenly realized that Kouga wasn't in front of him anymore, but instead behind him, talking to Kagome.

"And what is your name, lovely woman?" Kouga took one of Kagome's hands in his own and was staring at her as if the world revolved around her.

Blushing slightly, she told him, "Kagome."

"Well, I'm sorry if this is too bold but Kagome, you are a very beautiful woman." Kouga said softly.

Yasha finally broke himself out of his stupor, staring at them, and quickly jumped between them, "Hey, what the hell! Get away from her!" He glared at him.

"Fine" Kouga announced and looked around Yasha, to Kagome. "I will see you again, Kagome-chan!"

Yasha's eyebrow twitched and just as he was reaching out to punch Kouga, he was gone, walking down the street in the opposite direction from where they were going.

Kagome still had a faint blush on her cheeks as she watched him go, "What an odd guy…"

Yasha stared at her, stunned, "What, you liked him, or something?"

The girl turned and glared at him, "Whether I did or didn't what's it to you?"

"Feh, I DON'T care. Let's just get you to your mom's or whatever, and then I can go!"

"Fine with me!" She practically stormed off.

"Fine!" He yelled back, following after her.

*~*~*

As she climbed the rest of the steps to the Higurashi shrine, she stopped and sighed at the sight that greeted her. The shrine had hardly changed at all since she had moved out; her mother and grandfather had maintained it perfectly. The Goshinboku still stood, proud as it ever had to her right. The well house and storage building farther back to her right. The main house directly in the front, and other buildings scattered the grounds to her left. It was always a comfort, coming back home. There was a sense of peace that was in the air here, that she just couldn't seem to find anywhere else.

Yasha stopped as well when she did. Looking around the shrine, he felt a sense of peace begin to overcome him. Confused, he looked at Kagome, "Oi, wench. I thought we were going to your mothers. Why are we at this shrine?"

Kagome rolled her eyes as she looked at him. "This is my mother's home."

Yasha looked around again, "You used to live on a shrine?"

Kagome nodded and took a few more steps into the yard. A blur of red running towards her was her only warning as her cousin, Shippo, connected with her waist.

"KAGOME!" He cried out. "You've haven't been to visit in awhile! I was getting worried!"

Kagome smiled and hugged her little cousin to her. He was actually more like a younger brother than a cousin, since they had raised him from so young. But she was reminded every time she looked at him that they weren't truly brother and sister. His father had been her father's brother, and his mother had been a woman from America. He was only half Japanese, and had seemed to get most of his mother's looks, especially the dark red hair and light blue eyes.

"Kagome no neechan? Who is that guy?" Shippo asked, pointing at Yasha. Kagome had forgotten about him. She turned to where he was pointing and saw Yasha standing in front of the Goshinboku tree.

Yasha stared up into the branches of the tree before him. 'What is it about this tree that suddenly seems so familiar?' He asked himself. He had no idea where this feeling was coming from. He felt…like something was unfinished, or almost like something had never been started. 'What is this feeling? This tree…' His thoughts wandered as he felt his hand rise, almost by its own will, and reach towards the tree.

"Yasha?" Kagome called to him, surprised and almost scared by the silent boy.

Pulled out of his reverie a moment before his hand touched the tree, he turned to look at her. "What is it wench?" He asked, feeling upset for no reason.

She raised an eyebrow at him, "Just wondering why you were so quiet all of a sudden."

"Feh." He responded and crossed his arms, then was surprised as the child who had been standing by him ran over and kicked him in the shin. "What the hell?!"

"You can't just call my Kagome no nee-chan names like that, you jerk!" he yelled and raised his foot to kick him again, but was held away by one hand on the top of his head. Looking at a giggling Kagome, he held away the struggling Shippo. "Ano…a little help here?"

Shaking her head, she went over and picked up the squirming boy, "It's alright Shippo."

"Kagome!" Another voice called, and she turned to see her brother, Souta, and mother walking up the shrine steps.

"Souta! Look at you, you've gotten so tall since I last saw you!" Kagome called and, putting Shippo on the ground, went over and pulled her brother into a headlock. The fourteen year-old boy struggled against his sister's vice like grip but found that it was no use.

"Kagome dear, nice to see you. And who is your friend?" Kagome's mother asked, smiling at the white haired boy.

Kagome promptly dropped Souta out of her arms, causing him to almost fall on his face. "Oh, this is Yasha," She introduced him, mumbling under her breath, "…not sure about my friend…"

If Mrs. Higurashi heard, she gave no clue to it as she smiled brightly at the boy. "Oh, well I was just about to begin dinner. If you would like to stay Yasha, I'm sure I have more than enough!"

Kagome's mouth dropped open. 'No no no!' Her brain shouted 'DON'T say yes!!'

Yasha seemed to sense what was going on in her head, because he half turned towards her and almost smirked. "Sure, dinner sounds great."

Glaring at him, she coldly turned from him and smiled at Shippo, who was pulling her into the house to show her his new toys.

As Mrs. Higurashi and Souta chatted with him a little, he followed them into the house, casting one last look over his shoulder at the Goshinboku tree. 'I've got to figure out the secret of that tree!'

*~*~*

"Where is he?" Sango almost growled out at Miroku.

He simply shrugged, "I have no idea. Perhaps I should have gone instead to walk Kagome-chan."

Sango gave him a look that said all the words possible. So, she instead went on ranting. "I said to walk her to the bus stop, not all the way to the shrine! If he thinks he's getting paid for all the time off, he's wrong!" She paced back and forth a little behind the counter. It was almost closing time, and Mr. Maru would be coming at any time now to pick up his jerk of a nephew, only to find him not here! What would she say? How could she tell him where Yasha was?

As if hearing her thoughts, a voice called out to her, "Where is Yasha?"

Turning, she saw the familiar cold golden eyes of her boss stare at her. 'crap crap crap!' her brain cried, trying to think up a good excuse. But none came. "He…walked another employee home!" Crap, the truth comes out!

Sesshou Maru's looked at her questioningly. "Which employee?"

"Higurashi Kagome, Sir. He took her to her mother's."

His golden eyes narrowed slightly at the name. With a nod, he turned and left out the back door and got into his car. Why, did it seem that his 'nephew' was drawn to that girl again? He pulled out of the parking lot and started on his way to the Higurashi Shrine.

Like said before, you don't live for as many years as Sesshou had and not pick up on some things. He had learned the ability of sensing those souls that had been reincarnated, those that were demons, and those that held power. And he knew all about that girl Kagome.

He sensed it the first time he had met her. She held an intense power, one that even he had been drawn to at first. He was surprised that more demons like him hadn't sensed it yet, but perhaps that was because of the lack of demons nowadays. Or maybe just because he was so powerful. He chose to believe the latter.

And he could tell from one glance at her who she was. Just as his 'nephew' Yasha was his reincarnated brother, Kagome was that Kikyo woman's reincarnate. The one who had taken his brothers life in the beginning. He didn't know all the details surrounding their deaths; it had been five hundred some years ago after all. He wasn't sure if it was wise for them to get to know each other. No that he cared that much about Yasha, but he wasn't looking forward to a reenactment of they're past lives.

So with those thoughts in mind, he continued towards the Higurashi Shrine.

*~*~*

Since her daughter was visiting, Mrs. Higurashi had made a special dinner of her favorite meal, Oden. Yasha looked on in amazement as Kagome practically sang the word 'Oden!' and began to gobble it down.

"So, Yasha? How did you meet our Kagome?" Grandpa Higurashi asked him from across the table, glancing at the boy. 'Such odd hair and eyes…if I didn't know better, I'd think there was something with this boy.'

Yasha looked at the old man across the table. "I work with her." He said, thinking that should clear up any questions they should have. Why were they acting like they were a couple or something? Making him sit next to her, and staring at him like a pack of starving dogs. 'Hasn't Kagome ever brought a guy home before, or what?'

The Higurashi family continued to question him about there relationship. He looked at Kagome for help, but she apparently was too happy indulging in her Oden to notice the kind of questions being asked.

Just as Yasha was about to break and yell at them all that he would never be involved with a brat-like wench as she was, when there came a knock at the door.

"I wonder who would be here at this time of day." Mrs. Higurashi went to the door and then returned after a minute. "Yasha, your ride is here. But please, finish eating. I have enough for you as well, Mr…?" She turned made a motion to offer the person who had followed her in a seat.

"Maru." He supplied for her. "And, no, thank you. I have already eaten." Well, that was a lie. But as a youkai, he really had no need to eat like humans did.

Yasha's eyes just about bulged out when he saw his uncle standing there. 'Crap, now I'll probably get it!' He thought, and put down his bowl. "I am done now anyways. Thank you, Mrs. Higurashi, for the food." He mumbled, being polite only enough to keep the glare from his uncle down some.

"Oh sure, Yasha, it was nice to meet you!" Mrs. Higurashi called out, while Souta and Shippo waved. Kagome had almost laughed at the expression on his face when he saw Mr. Maru walk in and was just now recovering. "See you at work tomorrow."

Yasha snorted and responded, "Whatever."

Sesshou nodded to them and walked out of the house with Yasha in tow. Once they were a good distance from the house and walking down the steps of the shrine, Sesshou finally asked Yasha, "What exactly were you doing there anyways?"

Yasha rolled his eyes at his uncle, "That girl Sango at worked asked me to take her to her parent's so I did. What's the big deal anyways?"

Sesshou turned and looked at him for a moment before speaking. He was so much like his reincarnate, Inu Yasha. The same looks, the same thoughts seemed to run through both of them. "Yasha, I think it would be a good idea for you not to get close to that girl."

"Feh, what do you mean? Why would I want to anyways?" Yasha crossed his arms and continued to walk down the shrine steps, towards his uncle's car. Sesshou watched him walk down. 'Still…you are too much like that hanyou brother I once had…I believe that girl will be the fall of you again.'

Yeah! Another chapter! Anyways, Review please! Reviews keep my little muse typing!