Disclaimer: The ownership of everyone's favorite dog-boy does not belong to me, but I'm bettin' he bloody well doesn't belong to any of you either. Poor us, ne?

Arigato!!! to all my reviewers who sent me such wonderful praises that I was on an ego trip for 2 days! *Gushes* You like me, you really, really, like me!! I love you guys and gals!! Responses are at the bottom. This is extra long just for you 10 reviewers!!

Family Secrets

By: Aelinwen "Aelii"

Chapter 2: Kyriki



Kagome ran around the room giving the vague impression of a chicken with it's head cut off. She had woken up a little late, thanks to her dag blamed alarm clock not going off when it should of, and was now running behind.

"Where's my fuzzie purse?! I can't find it and it's the only one that matches this outfit!" She yelled down the stairs.

"I don't know, honey, check under your bed!" her mom called back at her.

Her entire family had been scrambling around the house, trying to locate all necessities needed for greeting their guest. For the girls that meant make-up, hair curlers, and the perfect outfit. For the Sota, for Grandpa wasn't coming with them, that meant combing his hair for once and putting on a shirt nicer than a T-shirt, if one could be found.

Five minutes later Kagome's purse had been located under a strategically placed pillow in a nefarious corner of the living room, Sota had been well thwacked for hiding it, and they were pulling out of the driveway.

Kagome was really nervous about meeting Kiryki. She had called the night before to say come pick her up at 10:30 in the morning. Kagome had been catching up on much needed sleep at the time and hadn't had a chance to say hello.

'Gods, this is torture. I hope she likes me, and I dearly I hope InuYasha doesn't come through the well griping any time soon-he would probably scare Kiryki out of her wits. . .'

Kagome turned her head to stare out the car window at the landscape she didn't see at all.

@}~~~~^~~~~~~~

"What gate did she say to get her from?" Sota asked as they went through the customs. He took about ten jacks and a ball, a toy car, and key to Kagome's diary out of his pocket and put them in the basket the security guard handed to him. Upon going through and being found ok by the machine, he collected his stuff--minus the diary key-- and a few whacks on the head from Kagome as he joined the others, who had gone through before him.

"She didn't say a gate, she said to come and get her in the coffee shop, that she'd be in there. And when I asked how we would recognize her, she just giggled and said to look for a blue fairy. Then she gave a cheerful 'Ja na!' and hung up. I have an odd feeling that we're in for an interesting week." Mrs. Higurashi said with a knowledgeable air.

Kagome tugged at her skirt in an expelling of nervous energy. She had sweated over what outfit to wear and had finally come up with the best one she could find. A purple sundress, mid-thigh length, and a white button-up over shirt to compliment her dress. White sneakers covered her feet and her purple fuzzie purse accessorized the outfit.

'Oh I shoulda worn the blue top with the capries!' Kagome thought, wringing her hands as every step she took brought her closer to the coffee shop. 'I look like a school girl, not like a. . .a. . .cool person at all! She's going to think I'm an idiot.'

Having convinced herself of this incorrect statement, she rounded the corner and walked into the coffee shop.

By some devious and unconscious design, Kagome had been put in front of her family as they walked and was the first person to glance around inside the shop, which had been named a rather odd name of 'La Perk'.

The occupants, there were four, of 'La Perk' included and old man and lady in a booth towards the front, a man with a cinnamon roll in the middle-ish, and. . .that last girl could only be her. Her back was turned to them and a long cascade of rich brown hair tumbled down the back of the chair. A blue suitcase to rival Kagome's backpack sat next to her.

This was seen in a glance because there wasn't time for much else. The girl tilted her head to the side like she was listening to something, and then stood and turned around.

There was no other word for it, Kiryki was just. . .COOL! Her stunning hair was only the beginning of her looks. Light lavender-blue eyes set in an angel's face took in the sight of Kagome and her family and gave out nothing in return. Blue jean short-shorts, a white tube top, and a blue jean jacket said she had attitude as well as taste; Adidas with blue stripes, a blue purse, and, yes, blue sunglasses perched on her head spoke coordination and her favorite color.

'Blue fairy, indeed. Gulp, mou, she might smile or something, give us some indication she's not a real angel who's going to disappear at any second.'

A smile lit up her eyes then spread to her mouth with pure delight. It was as if she had flicked a light on and it was now glowing from inside her. Kagome couldn't help but smile back. A few quick steps and she stood in front of the three of them, hands outstretched.

"I've never seen you before, but you can't be anybody else but Kagome." Her voice was musical, pleasant.

"That's me! Kiryki-" she started.

"Oh, no. No one calls me by my full name but my chemistry teacher, and he's evil. Kiry (A/N: Keer-ree, in case you wanted to know. Which you probably didn't. . .hehehe) is my name, feel free to wear it out." Kiryki--Kiry--stated with a giggle.

"Well, Kiry," Mrs. Higurashi said, "you sure are a lovely girl. You must have gotten your looks from your mother, ne?"

"Thank you, yes, among other things. And you look a little like tousan, Kagome--only prettier, and girlish." Kiry stumbled, in a wild attempt to turn what might not have been taken as a compliment into one.

Kagome was just about to ask Kiry the 4-1-1 on her life, likes and dislikes, but her mom fired in with polite questions about her trip, her heath, and her family. So, Kagome just stuffed the questions back in her head for later examination and followed her family out the coffee shop doors, feeling only slightly forgotten.

Just then, Kiry turned her head around to face Kagome and gave her a sly wink that promised long conversation and a pajama party that night.

Feeling a warm glow fill her chest, Kagome skipped after her cousin and okaasan, leaving Sota to drag the heavy suitcase behind them.

@}~~~~~^~~~~~~~~

InuYasha was grumbling to himself, probably not things at all suitable for little children to hear. His back was still funked up from the last string of sits. 'Why did Kagome have to go and make a mantra of them?!?! Grrrrrr. . .'

Shippo peeked around the tree that was giving him a brief bit of shelter. InuYasha had been grumpier than normal since Kagome left and he was most definitely not looking forward to having to tell InuYasha Miroku needed to talk to him.

'Crap. . .Ah, to heck with this, I'm doing it from a distance.' The chibi furball thought to himself.

"InuYasha, Miroku needs to talk to you. About some shards, I think." Then he ran. . .unfortunately not fast enough. He got caught in about .3 seconds from taking off.

'I'm dead now.' He thought and closed his eyes. Kagome wasn't around to protect him and InuYasha didn't need a reason to bat him around like a volleyball. Or some type of ball Kagome had mentioned one time when she was yelling at him for striking Shippo.

This time, though, InuYasha just held him up by his tail and glared. And glared. And glared some more. Finally Shippo couldn't take it anymore.

"WHAT?!?!" he shouted.

The look that came over InuYasha's face was comical, like he couldn't figure out just what he was doing either. His face held that expression for a moment. . .then he just dropped the kitsune. And ran, or leaped, (or both) off.

'Huh?' was the only thought the bemused baby youkai could think as he watched InuYasha disappear in a red blur.

@}~~~~~^~~~~~~~

'Couldn't hit 'im, Kagome would get mad. Mad Kagome's are not good things, this I know.' He growled to himself as he ping-pong-ed his way to Kaede's house. ' And mad Kagome's never like hanyous in any position but kissing dirt, let alone them.'

When he skidded to a stop in front of Kaede-obaa-sama's house, Miroku and Sango were sitting on the grass in front of it, Sango polishing her giant boomerang and Miroku with a red palm mark on his face.

'Lech.' InuYasha thought with disgust. 'Musta tried his "charisma" on Sango.'

"So what's the deal, bozu? Shards?"

Miroku looked as if he didn't even notice the crimson spot on his face. "Yes, a group of lizard youkai's down southways was heard to have had two or three of them."

"Good, I'll go get Kagome." The hanyou started to turn away but was immediately 'suggested' to stay put by Hiraikotsu coming down on his head.

"You give her a night or two with her family; I won't kill you. You can get her in the morning. Now look, you made me smudge the wax!" Sango calmly went back to her weapon and InuYasha went to find a convenient tree to grumble about women and his now aching head.



A/N: My second chapter, I can't believe I did it! SQUEEEE!! *Does happy evil puppy dance around computer*

Oh, yea, Responses:

Dark Jedi Princess ~ You were my 1st reviewer! Yay! I couldn't figure out what I was doing, still can't, and have given up and resorted to these things ' . But thanx for trying to help the helpless! Hehehe!

Teri22, Gryphnwng, Jennifer, Amber (hi sis!) ~ Thank you sooooo much!!!! Your reviews have made some of my friends hate me for my visits to Cloud 9!

Holly supple ~ Chibi, you read it! WAI!! Thank you and HUGGIES! I did what you wanted and wrote more. Happy? Yay!

Aberuncate ~ Cool name. Where'd ya get it? I'm on your Favs?!?! OMG, thank you! *faint*

Queen DemonZora ~ I'm going to cry now! Thank you, thank you, thank you Becky!

And in the words of every other writer on this web site *Review onegai!* Ja matta ne!

'.' Aelii