Ah, there he was. Limping around like some amateur martial artist who'd just been thrashed by the head of a rival dojo. That idiot; couldn't keep his hands to himself for a moment. As a babysitter, however, Inuyasha was horrid. He enjoyed watching his older friend get beaten like a dog – excuse the pun – rather than actually /helping/ him. Besides, Sango had done it. It was practically written in stone; when two friends are fighting, he, the third party, was to stay out of it, sit back, relax, grab a snack, and enjoy the show.

Or pretend to, anyhow. Life was a bit empty now. He could feign happiness, enjoyment, an amused smirk. Those were easy…sorta. He'd gotten so used to doing it for everyone else. For Miroku, so he would stop worrying so damn much. For Sango, so she wouldn't worry so much about him, so she wouldn't have to be constantly poking Kagome in the shoulder to wake her up. For Kagome….Kagome…

Earlier on, when he'd refused to smile, or laugh, or even smirk morbidly, she'd watch him. Just…watch him. With these sad eyes, like she'd lost something precious. She would lose it in the middle of class, where they sat on opposite sides of the room. Just stare at the board, eyes glazed over with a neutral expression. At lunch, Miroku and Sango would try to cheer him up, but Kagome just nodded and stared, whether at him or something else. Either way, she looked the same. So lost, so lonely.

Then he'd started trying to smile. He'd even gotten good at looking like he meant it. After that, she seemed free to laugh again, to chat and pay attention. He found the more like his old self he pretended to be, the more she reverted back to herself. That was good; just because he was dead inside, didn't mean she had to be. She didn't need to lose herself too, lose herself in a mental void she'd never be able to climb out of. She didn't need to be as far gone as he.

Inuyasha still remembered that day. It was the day after Kikyou had committed suicide, and he'd been broken. He vaguely remembered dialing his friend's number from the deceased's house, having just sat there all night, staring at her. Kikyou's parents had been out of town, the fools. The phone's gentle ring had been a slight buzz in the back of his mind, ceasing when Kagome picked up. His eyes had been dry, but his voice still held brittle tears. He'd explained, slowly so as not to break down again, what she'd done, and that he needed an ambulance or something. He hadn't remembered the number at the time. Things had gone so far downhill; of course the police had come to investigate and thought he'd killed her. That had taken so long to clear up, the interrogation still rang clear in his memory.

Despite all that, every day he expected to see Kikyou walking to school on her own. Expected her to come over and pretend to be angry at him for not picking her up until he looked scared of her, at which point she would just smile and kiss him on the cheek, telling him it was okay, she had legs of her own. And every day, he was disappointed, ever so careful not to let it slip.

The hanyou stood, grabbing his bag and walking over to Miroku.

"You know, maybe we should just tie your hands. Then you might not get into so much trouble."

Sango just laughed, as if she hadn't just thrashed the black-haired boy, as if she'd watched someone else do it.

"Do you really have to ask? What /usually/ gets him beaten up?"

"I didn't do much of anything! Honestly. She didn't have to pummel me…"

Kagome didn't need to drop so far, but it never stopped her. You didn't stop feeling bad because it wasn't –necessary-. It wasn't something you could train your body not to do. Did she really watch him all that much? It was almost like she was trying to will Inuyasha back – the Inuyasha she'd known for ages. Just hope long enough and maybe there will be a flicker.

And even now, even with his forced smirks and caustic jokes, he wasn't altogether there. He was a shadow – merely a silhouette of what he used to be. The girl couldn't really say much about /that/, however. When her father died, things had changed. She let on to being so startlingly solid and reachable … but Inuyasha was apparently the only one who saw her when the illusion was shaking.

She'd tried to stop herself from drifting off. She'd tied herself to an anchor and prayed that the rope wouldn't fray.

Wake up, Kagome. It looks like you're on autopilot. How about you eat something? Talk to me, Kagome. I'm worrying about you. What happened? You're different.

No, nothing was really all that different. Her acting skills were defunct – that was all. Have a reason to start acting 'normal' and you'll be fine. Have a reason – just find a reason – and you can do most of anything. Tap into your inner sociopath. Come on, Kagome. What happened?

Kami, she'd answer if she knew.

"Higurashi residence, may I ask who is speaking?"
"She's dead."

She was so quiet after he'd spoken. The longest pause she'd ever issued. He probably thought she hung up. No…she was there. Sickened. Absolutely disgusted.

"Who?"

She knew already. Be redundant, baka.

"Kikyou."
"Oh .. Inuyasha .. I'm so sorry .. what happened?"
"She killed herself."

Silence. Yet again. Kagome's eyes widened, and her hand had went to her mouth.

"Would you call an ambulance?"
"Hai, of course .. oh Kami .. I'll call you back after I'm finished .."

A part of her had been happy. The other part of her (which was significantly bigger) wanted to retch.

"You're going to break a bone one of these days."

She smiled, the faintest hint of amusement lurking in her eyes. It was saccharine, plastic. The edges had been cut off. Child-safe, you know.

There – settle into it – and you're back on track. Nobody can notice. Nobody ever does.

"Or maybe tear off a limb."

"You're hopeless."

The phrase no longer meant anything. The hanyou had told his friend that so many times it was about as effective as using a leaf for a weapon. Assuming you could find one this time of year. He gripped his friend's arm, dragging him over to the girls. He hated dealing with Miroku on his own, and freeloading some of the burden on them was fun to watch anyway.

They got there just in time to here Sango answer, "Maybe I'll tear off his hands. Then he can't grab me with them."

Inuyasha smirked, striking Kagome ever-so-lightly on her shoulder and leaving his hand there to get her attention.

"I think it's a good idea."

Heh….of course he did….(Kami knows I do. XP)

What could have been a perfectly normal morning was interrupted by the single person Inuyasha hated almost as much as his brother. Nakahara Kouga, the stuck up, self absorbed, Kagome-obsessed student who felt it necessary to become cross whenever Inuyasha so much as spoke with his old friend.

"Hey mutt! Get your hands off my girlfriend!"

Have I mentioned how terribly delusional he is?

The wolf youkai stalked over, chestnut ponytail dusted with the lightly falling snow. His uniform was spotless, unlike a certain hanyou's. Perfectly color coded….until you got a look at that fur headband around his skull. Then he looked kinda….eh….

Regardless, he was sought out by most and interested in only one. Kagome. Whom he apparently thought belonged to him…poor, unrequited wolf. None of the girls seemed to pick up that concept, unfortunately.

He folded his arms over his chest in an attempt to look intimidating. Inuyasha just rolled his eyes, ignoring him, even going so far as to smile down at his yearmate and pretend the youkai didn't exist. He was good at this, though he acted a bit odd. If he acted like himself, he'd try to shred Kouga the second he appeared.

"Hey! Just because your girlfriend died doesn't mean you can take mine!"

"Inuyasha." Sango's voice was commanding and warning at the same time. It was a voice she used all the time, learned from Kagome in fact, since the younger girl grew tired of scolding the hanyou from time to time.

Unfortunately, the hanyou wasn't one to listen to that particular voice. In the next instant, he was on top of Kouga, throwing every punch he could possibly manage. He sustained a few himself, but hardly enough to cause him to back off. They rolled on the pavement, both attacking somewhat blindly.

Never mind what I said earlier. This was normal. Eat breakfast, walk to school, take a nap, laugh at Miroku, fight with Kouga.

Perfectly and utterly normal.