A/N Thanks again to those of you who've reviewed! I really appreciate it! Something I forgot to put in my last a/n, ashiteru roughly means I love you. I'm assuming that's right... Anyway, I hope you guys enjoy this next chapter and keep reviewing!!! :-D
Points of View
Chapter 3
Two Days Later
Kagome looks out her bedroom window, watching Inu Yasha out in the yard as he rakes up the Sakura blossom petals. Her mother had immediately put him to work in the yard when she found out that he was staying until Melissa arrived. She couldn't believe how quickly the last two days had gone by.
Looking over at her alarm clock, she eagerly dashes out of her room to help her mom make any last minute preparations. It wasn't going to be too much longer now. She also still had to go tell Inu Yasha that he had to leave and that she'd be back in five days from now, just like she had promised.
"Mom! Mom?"
"In here, Kagome!"
Kagome runs into the kitchen, nearly bouncing up and down with excitement. "Is there anything else you want me to do before she arrives?"
Mrs. Higurashi turns off the fire on the stove before placing a lid on the pot of stew she had been cooking for lunch. "No, everything's taken care of thanks to you and Inu Yasha's help. By the way, he can stay if he likes, but he has to wear the clothes that we bought for him the last time he was here. Okay?"
"Okay! Thanks Mom! You're the best!" Kagome gives her mother a quick hug before running out the kitchen door into the yard. She had forgotten all about those clothes! "Inu Yasha? Inu Yasha!"
Inu Yasha closes the door to the shed, having just finished raking the yard, before turning to look at Kagome. "What's up Kagome?" His ears droop when he realizes that she was probably going to tell him it was time for him to go back to his time.
She gives a playful tug on one of the locks of hair that hung down the sides of his face. "Mom said you can stay-" his ears perk back up at that "-on one condition."
His ears droop back down again. He hated ultimatums. He was almost afraid to ask, but he did anyway. "What condition?"
"You have to wear your modern clothes."
He growls at this. He hated those clothes! They were too constricting! How was he supposed to fight in those things should the need arise?
"Oh calm down! We went back and bought you a tank top and a pair of shorts after you left!"
He narrows his eyes at her for a moment, staring at her before sighing, his shoulders and ears droop, giving in. He did want to meet this Melissa that she was so excited about. "Fine. Where are they?"
She claps her hands together happily. "Great! They're upstairs in Sota's room! Now hurry up and change! Sota will show you where they're at. She should be here any second!"
"All right! All right! I'm goin'!" Being careful not to drag his feet since he knew that would just make her mad at him, he heads upstairs to Sota's room. "Hey Sota! You in there?" He knocks on the door before entering, finding the young boy playing with Buyo the family cat.
"Oh hey! Let me guess, Mom said you could stay if you wore your modern clothes, right?"
"Yeah. Kagome said you'd know where they were at."
Sota nods, leaning over the edge of his bed on his stomach to pull a box out from under it. "Here. There's even a tank top and shorts in here. It's warm enough outside so you'll be able to get away with wearing them."
Inu Yasha holds up the shorts and the tank top, noting how little material there was. Looking at them doubtfully before noticing that Sota was wearing the same thing, he sighs and sets them down before removing his Fire Rat Kimono.
"Hey, Inu Yasha?"
"Yeah kid?"
Sota swings his feet slightly as he stares down at them while he sits on the edge of his bed. "You know, my mom says that 'imitation is the sincerest form of flattery'."
Inu Yasha pauses to look at him, his tank top in his hands to be put on having already put on the shorts. "Oh really?"
"Uh-huh. Oh, uh, Inu Yasha-sama?"
Inu Yasha blinks, arching a brow at the title added to his name as he pulls his long hair out of the back of the shirt. For the young boy to add a title to his name like that must mean that he had something really important to him on his mind. "What is it, Sota?"
Sota starts drawing circles on his bed with one finger. If there was one person he had a big amount of respect for, more than anyone else outside of his family, it was Inu Yasha. "Would, would you be my big brother?"
The soles of the sandals on Inu Yasha's feet clopping softly on the floor, he moves over to Sota's bed, ruffling the boy's hair with his claws and causing him to laugh and try to push his hand away. "Of course, squirt! Now let's see, what would a loving older brother do? I know!"
"What?"
"This!" And with that, Inu Yasha tackles Sota, sending them both to the floor as he starts tickling the boy while being mindful of his claws.
Sota can't help but erupt into gales of laughter, trying his best to fight off the assault of the older and bigger hanyou.
Downstairs, Kagome and her Mom exchange a smile at the sound of laughter. Hearing a car horn sound, they wipe their hands before Mrs. Higurashi heads outside while Kagome goes over to the stairs. "Inu Yasha! Sota! They're here!"
"Coming!" The two chorus, causing Kagome to stifle a laugh as she heads off to follow her mom outside even as the two young men come clambering down the stairs, Sota catching a ride on Inu Yasha's back.
Once they reach the front door, Kagome sends Sota on out as she lays her hand on Inu Yasha's arm. "Here, let me tie your hair back."
"But that'll make me look like a girl!"
Kagome shakes her head as she pulls a pony tail holder out of her pocket before moving around behind him. "Trust me, it'll do anything but that! Now hold still a second... there. Now come on! We don't want to make a bad impression!" She quickly adjusts his ball cap so that it sits backwards on his head before placing a quick kiss on his cheek and running out the door.