More Than What She Seems

A/N: Happy New Year everyone! And because of that, I bring you an all new chapter!

I'm really bad at keeping my promises, aren't I? I'm so sorry for taking so long to update yet AGAIN. So, my resolution for this year is to: not update after long periods of time. I promise I'll update again next week, so look out for that!

You guys are so funny. :) I couldn't have asked for a better group of reviewers.

Chapter 25: Back to the Regular Life

Kagome's eyes fluttered open.

Her hands clutched at her sides and brushed against a soft fabric. Her head felt like it was lying on a cloud. She was definitely on a bed.

'Where am I?' she pondered tiredly to herself.

A warm hand gave her soft squeeze on the wrist. Kagome's head whipped in that direction. Souta beamed back at her from her bedside.

"You're awake!" he cried out with joy.

Kagome sat up with difficulty. She felt exhausted. She noted that someone had changed her into a pair of pajamas. By the looks of it, Rin had probably done it since the pajamas looked like the kinds that Rin wore.

Souta clobbered her with a hug. She closed her eyes with a faint smile and pulled her step-brother closer to her.

"I was so worried about you, Kagome-chan," he said quietly. "I thought you were really going to die this time…"

He started crying.

"I feel like I abandoned you!" he sobbed. "I just left through the window in your room and let you handle Mom by yourself!"

He sniffed and wiped the back of his hand across his eyes.

"I went over here to Inu Yasha's house to get help," he continued. "And I asked him to come save you since I couldn't…"

Kagome nodded in comprehension. So that explained how Inu Yasha knew that she needed him.

"You…went all the way to Inu Yasha's house without getting lost?" she asked.

"Well, I got lost twice…" Souta admitted. "But mostly because of the rain. It blurred my vision and I accidentally took a wrong turn…but I caught myself before getting lost even more."

He smiled broadly, "Told you I have good memory."

Kagome smiled back and faintly recalled the time when her brother told her that he remembered things quickly. She wasn't surprised. Giving in and walking to Inu Yasha's house the other stormy day had come in use after all. It had let Souta register the directions into his head. And the trip back home was a nice touch. It gave him a nice overview of the town…like a map.

Kagome sighed. She still had to get things straight. There were a few fuzzy details that were still unknown.

"How's Inu Yasha?" she found herself asking.

Souta didn't answer for awhile.

"He's okay…well, at least I think so," he finally replied. Souta's face grew more concerned. "How are YOU?"

Kagome gave him a bitter laugh, "I feel like I was recently struck by lightning."

Her step-brother did not laugh back.

"Inu Yasha took most of the hit, you know," Souta said quietly. "He's being treated by Rin in his room on the second floor. We're on the third."

He looked directly into his sister's eyes, "Want to visit him?"

She reached out a hand and ruffled his hair, "You read my mind."

:o:O:o:O:o:

Kagome was led down to Inu Yasha's room carefully by Souta. Once they reached the closed door to the room, Souta let go of Kagome's arm and quickly ran up to the door to knock on it.

Rin's face appeared as the door creaked open.

"Souta," she smiled, and then caught sight of Kagome. "Kagome! You're finally awake! You feeling better?"

"Hai," the teenager nodded. "Can I see Inu Yasha?"

Rin gave her a nod, "Of course. But be quiet…he's sleeping."

With that said, Rin disappeared from view within the slight darkness of Inu Yasha's room. Kagome was about to step inside when Souta tugged her arm.

"I'm going to visit jii-chan," he whispered. "And don't worry about him. He's fine. All he suffered from was a moment of unconsciousness."

He left, leaving Kagome all alone in the hallway.

She took a deep breath and tip-toed into the room, closing the door silently behind her. She crossed over to the bed, casting a glance at Rin who sat in an armchair at the bedside. Kagome went over to the other bedside and plopped down gently onto the empty space of the bed beside her boyfriend.

Inu Yasha lay on his bed between them, breathing in and out with a steady rhythm as he slept.

For a long minute, Rin and Kagome kept silent.

When Kagome couldn't take it anymore, she blurted out, "Do you know what happened after I passed out?"

At first, no answer was given.

"Yes. Sesshoumaru told me everything," Rin finally said as she folded her hands together on her lap. "Tell me, do you remember anything before you passed out?"

Kagome paused. She wasn't really sure.

"Um, well, I think I heard Sesshoumaru's voice…" she said slowly. "And before I blacked out completely, I remember being pulled up by someone."

"Right!" Rin smiled, her eyes bright. "Sesshoumaru was there. He was the one who pulled you up. He brought you, your grandfather, and Inu Yasha here to this house."

Rin continued, starting from the beginning this time. Kagome reheard the story of how Souta came to the house and asked for help…how Inu Yasha left to save her…how Inu Yasha told Sesshoumaru to call the police and left…how Sesshoumaru gathered a big group of police immediately and all of them left hastily for Higurashi Shrine while Rin took care of Souta.

How Sesshoumaru and the throng of policemen found Kagome, her grandfather, and Inu Yasha all unconscious when they reached the shrine.

"We're happy it's all over," Rin said gently. "Now, you can resume your normal life…the way you lived before you started living with your step-mother again."

Rin looked at a huge tub filled with first-aid equipment on the bedside table. She stood and picked up the large container.

"I'm going to bring this back downstairs," she whispered. "And I'll be cooking some soup for you, Inu Yasha, and your grandfather in the kitchen. I suppose you'll be staying in this room until dinner…so, if you need me, you know where to find me."

She left and closed the door quietly behind her.

After the door closed, Kagome was enveloped in darkness once again. She closed her eyes and sighed. She owed Sesshoumaru and Rin for what they've done for her.

Kagome reopened her eyes again and laced her fingers through Inu Yasha's. She owed him even more. He had kept his word when he said that he'd always protect her.

She carefully picked up his hand and held it against her cheek. She closed her eyes and smiled faintly.

"Kagome."

Yes, she could hear his voice right now.

"Kagome."

Her eyes flew open. She whispered, "Inu Yasha? You awake?"

"No, I'm talking in my sleep," was her reply.

Yup, he was definitely awake.

"How are you?" she asked. "You okay?"

"Just tired," he answered. "Could you turn on the lamp next to the bed?"

Kagome carefully reached over him and pulled on the string that turned the lamp on. A warm and welcoming light spread around the room. Kagome pulled away and shifted back into a comfortable position. Now that she could see, she noticed that Inu Yasha had changed into a clean, plain t-shirt that was suitable for bed.

She stared down at him. He stared right back with a sleepy, questioning look.

"Thank…thank you," she said softly. "I know that if it weren't for you…I really would have died out there if you hadn't protected me..."

"Well, I DID promise that I'd protect you that day remember?" he pointed out, yawning slightly.

Kagome blinked when he fastened his hands on her waist and pulled her down into a warm embrace, her head resting just below his.

"I'm a man of my word," Inu Yasha simply stated, toying with her hair lazily. "And I solemnly swear to protect you as long as I live."

He was startled when he heard Kagome crying.

"H-hey," he stammered. "Don't cry…"

"It's nothing. I'm just happy that you're safe," she sniffed. "Thank you for protecting me, Inu Yasha."

Kagome closed her eyes and let out her breath shakily, "I love you."

:o:O:o:O:o:

Rin rapped a hand on the door of Inu Yasha's room.

No one answered.

"Kagome? You still here?" she whispered as she creaked open the door. "It's almost dinner time…"

She started to tiptoe into the room toward the bed, but stopped in her tracks.

"Oh…" she covered her mouth with her fingertips and smiled. "How kawaii…"

She went over to the side of the bed and pulled the blanket over Kagome and Inu Yasha, who were both fast asleep in each other's arms.

'I'll just let them sleep a little longer…' Rin decided as she made her way toward the door. 'They deserve a good rest.'

:o:O:o:O:o:

Kagome moved back in with her grandmother Kaede and her cousin Shippou. It was decided that she'd spend her weekdays with them while spending her weekends with her grandfather and Souta.

The weeks flew by fast and soon, it was time for the senior prom.

Kagome, Sango, Kaguya, and Kanna started to have short daily meetings during their first period, talking about what needed to be done.

Kagome and Sango spent a week preparing for the decorations. Ayame had happily agreed to Sango's desperate plea when she was asked for her help…and somehow, Kikyo had joined the group. Kagome saw that Kanna and Kaguya were trying hard to avoid Kikyo.

Two days before the prom, Kagome was escorted home by Sango right after school. They were both tired, and yet, Sango looked cheerful.

"Guess what?!" Sango exclaimed.

"What?" Kagome asked.

"Since we've been a big help to the staff, they said that we're invited to the senior prom, even though we're juniors. AND…we get to invite a date!" her best friend squealed. "But…we have to help serve the food and drinks."

Kagome smiled faintly and stopped when Sango had halted to a stop to dig around in her backpack for something.

"I know they're in here somewhere…" Sango scowled. Her eyes brightened as she pulled out a two small tickets. "Ah! Here they are! Hold out your hand."

Sango plopped one down into Kagome's hand and explained, "These were given by the principal so we could give these to our dates. That way, our dates will get to have free entrances. We'll be setting the final preparations up an hour before the prom starts so we don't need tickets to get in since we'll already be there."

"Um, thanks," Kagome bit her lip.

Sango smiled gently, "You deserve a good time after all you've been through."

They reached the front door of Kaede's house.

"Do you have a prom dress?" Sango asked. Kagome shook her head.

Sango stood staring at her best friend for quite some time before she clamped a hand down onto Kagome's wrist and started dragging her away from the door.

"Sango!" Kagome winced. "What are you doing?!"

"I'm taking you to mall so I can help you find a prom dress for you, that's what," was her reply. Sango laughed. "…and so you can help me find a prom dress for me!"

A/N: This chappie might seem a little short to a few of you…the original of this chapter was really twice as long, but some readers don't like really long chapters so I reduced the size. Lol. That just gave you all an extra chapter. So, there's still two chapters left (including the epilogue).

Review please!