Morning came to one of the largest cities in the world. People began their hurried lives, scampering off to work via the massive subway system, hiding girlfriends in the closet before father gets home, and finding homework under a pile of dirty laundry. Then, in the prefecture Kagome called home for so long, the work needed to move to a different country.

Kagome slammed her hand against the alarm clock, and fought gravity as she woke up. Mornings had never been her strong suit, at least not in her own era. Back in feudal Japan she always woke up early, maybe due to the fact that if she slept in some wandering monkey-demon or something would eat her. There was a sense of alertness and urgency back in the past, but as a reward for that, a person living there could never feel more alive, especially after experiencing the hum-drum routine of an oversimplified life where everything is at your fingertips.

She also knew she could blame her fatigue on having gotten up several times during the night. Her relaxing bath was interrupted by her teenage son, who very very soon would gain his "Miroku" side if puberty had anything to do with it. Thinking on this, she brushed her hair again in front of the mirror, doing her best to get out tangles that had gathered in her hair during the night.

"Well, I'm already clean, so I guess I can get dressed, " she cringed again at the thought of Inuko's intrusion, and headed over to the few things she had left in her closet. She picked out a blue-jean outfit, both top and bottom laced with those little embroidered flowers most women never get tired off. After double checking the door she got dressed, and stepped back to the mirror to get the few remaining tangles out.

On the left side of the dresser she saw a hair ornament, dusty from lack of use. Because of the little pink flower stuck right in the middle of it, it would go perfect with her outfit. She blew off the dust and went to place it in her hair, but stopped and brought it back to her sight. It was the pin her father had given her.

"I forgot what he looked like..." She pressed her lips together in thought and began rummaging through a drawer. "Where is it now.."

Finally Kagome pulled up a picture of her father, holding her as a baby. Taped to the picture was an informative letter.

It read:

Though not as publicly known, funds are being raised for the many victims of Adult Chronic Leukemia. Adult Chronic Leukemia is a cancer that attacks bone-marrow blood cells. Chronic Leukemia cells live much longer than white blood cells, resulting in a slow and gradual maturity of the disease. Symptomsof Leukemia may include fever, chills, loss of appetite, sweating,bone or joint pain, bleeding gums, tender lymph nodes, weakness, fatigue, pale skin, loss of weith, and frequent infections.

This group is on a journey of support. We fund research into the causes and cures of all types of leukemia and other blood related diseases. We wish to enrich the quality of life for all those touched by the disease, and preserve their memory by giving others hope who have gone through the same struggle. There is a list of names, all submitted by families who wish to keep lost loved ones in thought. If we work hard enough, we know we will be able to add less names to the list. Please remember this as you donate on behalf of your family member, each year, on their birthday

She continued to scan the document for a while, and after, detached it from the picture. "I didn't even get a chance to know him. The most I can remember my mother saying to me is that he got sick..." She folded the paper and put it back into the drawer, and set the picture on the dresser. "I wonder if these things are hereditary...I might get it as well..or Inuko..." She shook her head and picked up the brush again. "Im just being paranoid.." Her eyes keep wandering back to the picture, and she let out a noticable sigh. "Im just frustrated that all I know about you are the stories from my mother and grandfather. I never got the chance to talk to you myself, and I am just jealous of them."

"That's your dad huh?"

Kagome did not have to turn around to see InuYasha, because his arms were already around her waist.

"Im not all that clear on what my old man was like either. And I only got to know my mother for a little while before she was taken from me. Life ain't fair, Kagome, so we should be happy with what we have."

Kagome licked both lips with her tongue and remained silent for a minute. She then turned to him and asked, "Don't you miss her...Izayoi?"

"What makes you think I wouldn't? She was my mother, Kagome."

"Yeah, I know...stupid question. I remember back when that soul, the one that represented all mothers, took the form of yours. You wanted to talk to her so badly, I could see it in your eyes. Even though I was powerless to warn you, I also was thinking how I wish it could really be your mother, that the experience wasnt..."

InuYasha silenced Kagome with a gentle squeeze. "Stuff happened. Now I got a family to take care of, and gods know Im not going to let anything happen to them."

"My father died of a horrible disease. From what I heard he battled it a long time, and at least got a chance to hold me in his arms. That is what my mother said his greatest wish was, to live long enough to hold me."

"He loved you a lot."

Kagome nodded. "I'll fix you some ramen for breakfast..."

"Cool. Thanks."

As Kagome opened her bedroom door she could already hear commotion being made in the kitchen. "Inuko what are you doing?''

"I'm grabbing something so I can swing over to Miroku's house. We are going to hang out."

Kagome blinked, "Why Miroku?"

"He wants to show me something.''

"What?"

"Don't know yet, but he is taking Kotaku and Shippou too. Says its a guy thing.."

Oh boy, I hope my instincts are wrong. Miroku has grown up, I said so myself, I just have to trust him. "Have a good time then, we still have a lot of things we need to take care of here."

Stuffing a pastry in his mouth, he waved and skids out the door "Right Mom, see ya."

Kagome slumped down in a chair in the living room and looked up at the ceiling. "Why does moving have to be so tedious? More importantly, why does Inuko always find a way out of it." Her ears caught more noise from the kitchen, and she went back in to see InuYasha preparing his own food.

"I'm sorry, I was going to do that." She yawned and crossed her arms.

"Ah, its no problem. Besides, I gotta go hang out with Miroku today. There is some stuff he wants to do."

Again with Miroku...."And what may that be?"

"Don't know, but I'll be back soon. " InuYasha slurped down some hot chicken ramen and gave Kagome a peck on the cheek. "Im gonna go get dressed and be out of here." He slipped back into the bedroom, grabbed some clothes, and before Kagome could turn around went into the bathroom and shut the door.

Kagome twitched. "Where in the world are they going?"

In an hour Kagome was alone. Not feeling like touching packing boxes or duct tape, she headed over the the apartment where Sango and Miroku were staying. She knocked, and tapped her fingers against her purse in slight frustration.

Sango opened the door. She was dressed in a black shirt, jeans, and pumps, her nails neatly done in a light pink and a set of headphones resting against her neck. "No one is here, and I guess you want to know why."

"Exactly."

"Please come in."

Kagome walked in and Sango served her up some coffee left over from breakfast.

Sango muttered something to herself, and then spoke aloud to her friend. "Miroku insisted that they have a special boys night out. He didnt give me a clue to what they were doing, but Im pretty sure the motive of them getting out."

"To avoid packing?"

"Yes. Back home we did not place such value on material possessions. We just took what we needed and travelled where we had to. Its kind of strange, knowing I have changed so much."

Kagome smiled, and put her hand on Sango's shoulder, "I don't think you've changed, Sango, just adapted. Im not so sure about myself thought.."

"Oh? What has changed about you."

"I think I changed a lot when Inuko was born."

"Your priorites definately change. I always was protective of my brother, but its a different experience with Kotaku."

"Yes, we as mothers give our all to our children, and in a few years they forget it and strike out on their own. You call them one day when they have their own family and they are like 'Mom, who?'"

Sango snickered. "I think that is the same no matter what time period you live in."

"Well, there is one thing in this time that no person can escape."

"...and that is?"

"E-mail." Kagome smiled.

"Well since they are having a boy's day out, why don't we do the same? Im sure we can find some handsome young men at the-"

"SANGO!!"

They both laughed heartily, and Kagome stood up first, "We could go shopping for a while, and then catch a movie."

"Sounds good."

"I wonder what the guys are up to right now.."

Sango pondered for a moment over this, and answered calmly. "Eating"

"With Inuko there, Im not even surprised. So, what do you want to do when the renegade group returns. We can't say much of anything if we go out too."

"Well, I say lets give them cold, empty stares and scare them to death, walk into our rooms and shut the door. They will then proceed to feel guilty, and do stuff for us."

"Sounds great," Kagome said, very happy with Sango's devious answer, "Ready to go?"

"Absolutely, let me grab my coat... and Miroku's credit card."

"Are you sure I'm not going to get whooped on for this?" Inuko asked InuYasha as they and their friends sat down at the restaurant.

"Nah, Kagome won't mind. I put it all on Miroku."

Miroku shook his head and tried not to laugh, "Fine with me. I just thought that we needed a break from all the work."

Shippou high fived Kotaku. "Awesome" they both exclaimed.

Inuko stared at the menu. "Man Im starved."

His father rested his elbows on the table and looked in his direction, "I myself aint that hungry and Im not sure why you are. You just ate after all."

"Well I am again."

Kotaku chimed in, "Me too."

Miroku nodded, "I skipped breakfast just for this occassion"

Shippou scanned over the menu, having a hard time deciding what he wanted. With his head still beside the menu, he asked, "Where are we going next?"

"Wherever we want and for however long. As I'm sure InuYasha was already going to do, I'll answer any questions the women have."

"You better take the beatdown for me, monk," InuYasha glared, "because if I get in trouble with Kagome I'm coming after you."

"Now now, InuYasha, since when has anyone had a problem trusting me?"

The table sat in silence.

"...and..I haven't been around any women.."

The group shrugged and signed, and Miroku felt slightly nervous. "Uh, well, decide what you guys want, I'm sure the waitress will be around shortly."