Hey guys! I'm sorry I've been taking so long to update. But I just finished my first week of High School, and it was pretty hectic. And my schedule's gonna be pretty busy from here on out. I don't think I have one single weekend where I have nothing to do. Well, anyway, here's the next chapter!!!

Chapter VII

Kagome slumped into work the next day and wearily took off her hat, gloves, and coat. She dragged her feet over to the register and checked herself into the computer.

"What's wrong with you?" her friend Eri asked. "Does it have anything to do with your 'fiancée'?" She curved her fingers to show quotes around the last word.

Kagome had told Eri all about Sesshomaru and his family. So Kagome spilt out her problem.

"I like Sesshomaru's brother!"

"So? You're not in a relationship."

"But Inuyasha doesn't know that!!"

"Wait, hold the phone," Eri said. "Who's Inuyasha?"

"Sesshomaru's brother!!"

"Well, then, tell them the truth."

"But then they won't talk to me anymore! I mean, they've made me part of the family!"

"Kagome, you are not 'made part of a family'. You are born into a family."

"Well, what do I do?"

"Pull the plug."

"You're sick."

"Hey," Inuyasha said in a hushed voice to Sesshomaru's sleeping form as he entered the hospital room. He walked to the chair next to the bed and sat down, leaning his elbows on his knees.

"Do you remember when I started getting in trouble at school for fighting and being a smart ass?" He laughed. "Of course you do. Well, I used to come home from detention and get asked 'Why can't you be more like Sesshomaru?' Every time. But I wasn't jealous of you. I never wanted what you had. I wanted a different way of life. Yours just didn't suit me. And I was proud of you. I never envied you…'till now."

He paused in his confession to the invalid. "Kagome's a great girl. She's so…lively, and happy…totally unlike me. But maybe that's what draws me to her. And what draws you to her too. She's totally different from you too. Well, here," he reached into his pocket and brought out a quarter. "I'll flip a coin and call it. Winner gets Kagome."

He flipped the coin high, calling tails, and caught it in his hand. He flipped it onto the back of his other hand. He removed the top hand to reveal heads.

"Best out of 10."

He continued flipping the coin until it was time to leave to have dinner with his family and Kagome.

"So, Kagome, have you and Sesshomaru decided where you'll go on your honeymoon?" Mrs. Takahashi asked as they ate dinner that night.

"Um…no, we haven't decided for sure, but I was thinking Florence," Kagome lied. Throughout dinner she couldn't help but sneak glances at Inuyasha when no one was looking. The only problem was she would start smiling when she did.

"That sounds lovely! I'm so glad Sesshomaru is happy! Speaking of relationships…Kagome, I need you to help me find a nice girl for Inuyasha."

Both Inuyasha and Kagome choked on their soup. Kagome recovered first.

"Well, um…I don't really know Inuyasha's type."

Inuyasha had finally recovered. "I like short, thin, women with graying black hair," he said, looking at his mother. Everyone laughed and Mrs. Takahashi smiled warmly at him. But Sango interrupted.

"You like tall girls and blue eyes."

Kagome looked at Inuyasha with her bright blue eyes and he looked down at his plate.

Mrs. Takahashi cut in, completely oblivious of the exchange of looks.

"Well, we know Kagome's type!"

Everyone smiled knowingly. The rest of the dinner passed without incident. After dinner the family walked her to the door.

"We'd like to see you for New Years', if you have nothing to do," Mr. Takahashi said.

"I'll check my schedule."

Inuyasha opened the door for her when she had her coat on. They were both under the doorway and Mrs. Takahashi cried, "Oh, look! You're under the mistletoe!! Kiss her, Inuyasha!"

Inuyasha cleared his throat nervously and Kagome chuckled quietly. Inuyasha awkwardly leaned down to kiss Kagome's cheek. The family 'awww'-ed. Kagome opened the screen door and headed out, saying her last good-byes.

"One large cinnobun and a water, please."

"Your total comes to three dollars," came Kagome's monotone response. She scooped a sticky, sweet cinnobun out of a pan, pulling it away from the frosting-covered saran-wrap on the bottom and placing it in a box. She handed the customer their cinnobun and water, and looked down at the cash register, ready for the next customer.

"One very large cinnobun, please," said a familiar voice in front of her. She looked up to see Sango standing there with another girl their age.

"Kagome, this is Yuka," Sango introduced. "Can we come in?"

"Oh! Sure!" Kagome walked over to the end of the counter and lifted the door for them. She proceeded to take orders while Sango told Yuka about Kagome.

"Kagome is Sesshomaru's fiancée!"

Kagome's friend Ayame, who worked at the other register, whipped around as the words left Sango's lips.

"You're getting married? OH MY GOSH!!! Why didn't you tell me?!" she screamed.

"Calm down, Ayame, we…wanted to keep it a secret for awhile."

Sango lifted her mouth to her lips, "I'm sorry! I didn't know you wanted it a secret!"

Kagome waved it away like it was nothing, even though now she would have a lot of explaining to do as soon as Sesshomaru woke up.

Sango glanced at her watch. "We should be going. It was nice to talk to you!"

"Yeah, you too! Say hi to your parents!"

As Sango and Yuka left, Ayame grabbed Kagome's shoulders and shook her lightly. "Are you pregnant?" she asked in a loud whisper. Kagome didn't see Sango's friend Yuka turn around, her eyes wide, then run to Sango and whisper in her ear.