I thought I would wait 'til Monday to update, but then I got the deluge of reviews! Guess you kind of want another chapter huh?

SilverStarWing: Kagome wakes up in this chapter! ButI love delaying the inevitable. I must be evil... AS to whether Sesshoumaru intends to tell her about Inu's sad sorry life without her, I think it won't happen. I'm glad you're enjoying the fic as much as I enjoyed writing.

Akihanah: I'm glad I wrote Kagome in a way that seems kind of real, the anime tends to leave her a little flat. It does seem to make more sense to complete the fic before posting, but I'm not the first to think of it. Actually I decided to do it this way bacause of another fanfic I've been writing for the last several years. Yes you heard me right, several years. It's epic, anyways, my decision has kind of rankled a few of my friends, because they think it's really good. The problem is I started in the middle of it and I have to find some way to get the beginning caught up to the middle. a Very difficult thing to do.
As to the fear of crowds, while it may seem the opposite of Kagome's personality it does kind of make sense. She's been spending most of her time in the Feudal era where Crowds never get that large. The pace is a bit slower there and she's kind of gotten used to it. She's also convinced herself that everyone she interacts with comes out the worse for and she's still adjusting to the return of the piece of soul Kikyou carried. How many times have you seen Kikyou surrounded by a crowd in the anime? Especially a crowd not made up of children?I wager you haven't and I have this theory that Kikyou's a bit more of a subconscious part of Kagome that has more influence now that she knows it's there. So the fear of crowds is alot like how Kikyou might react to the press of so much humanity in so little space. Oh dear I've waxed on like crazy, you'll have to excuse me and just read the chapter as an apology. heheh.

secretshadows: Thanks so much for the compliment, but I hardly think it's brilliant. I'm glad you really like it though.

inuyasha4ever1: Actually I think you'll find that in order for Kagome to be human, she must be insecure, and most of her life seems to revolve around her friendship with Inuyasha. Think of it this way, if something or someoneyou really really loved was hurt or (god-forbid) destroyed, you would most likely react one of two ways. You would either be angry at someone else(anyone else including whatever or whoeverwas hurt) or you get angry at yourself. As kagome doesn't seem to blame other people most of the time, I was lead to the logical conclusion she would most likely turn her anger inward, which leads to depression. Not many people can pulll themselves out of depression, and Kagome's just not close enough to anyone on this side of the well for them to do it for her.
As to Sesshoumaru living to Kagome's time, the show never actually established a lifespan for anykind of demon, and they never explicitly told us how old he was to begin with, therefore I say it's possible. I'm glad you're really enjoying the fic. Is this update quick enough for you?

Moonlit Showers aka InuKag Fan: Yeah, Inuyasha has his cute moments. So does Sesshoumaru if you catch him at it. puts on a safari hat we are hunting the elusive Sesshoumaru cute moment... Gah I scare myself sometimes.

The Squabbit: Back again, eh? Heheh. I hate to disappoint you, but Inuyasha's not going to confess in this fic. The situation itself negates the possibility. Think about it, with Kagome feeling this guilty, Inuyasha could never be sure if her answer was because of her guilt and some deranged need for self punishment or to make amends or what. and from Kagome's point of view, she could never be absolutely certain he wasn't just grasping after a reminder of Kikyou now that the priestess has returned to ashes.

animeluver911: Will do, no problem! ;D

WEll since the last plan failed: Inuyasha, the characters therein, and the food eaten there in, will be mine once I find the perfect chemical to knock them unconscious without damaging highly sensitive olfactory nerves. HeeHee!

And now... back to our regularly scheduled programming!

Confusion

For the first time in a month, I awoke actually feeling rested. The waking up part wasn't so bad either. I smiled softly and yawned with satisfaction. I suppose it wasn't really much of a smile… or rather what I'd done would only count as a smile on the face of someone like the old Sesshoumaru, back when he was the "ice prince". I shook my head, such worthless musings this early in the day.

I glanced at my watch and sighed. I really should start getting ready. My Sunday tests generally start pretty early, it helps cut down on the number of people I'm likely to run into on the way there.

I leaned forward a little, making to stand up, when something impeded the movement. What in the world…

I look down to see an arm flung across my lap. Now who would leave their arm in my lap? I studied the appendage wrapped in a white sleeve for a moment, before following it back to a head of silver hair resting next to it. Well what do you know, I'm still dreaming.

I suddenly realized that the hand I'd been missing on my desk was being held firmly in the other hand of my living blanket. I also noticed I'm half wearing something red that isn't mine, and that the arm in my lap had claws that were slightly digging into my hip. This is no dream?

Inuyasha. How the hell did he get here? I moved to go check the well and his arm stopped me again.

I looked down into his face where it rests against the outside of my thigh. Did it matter how he got here? No. What mattered was that he… No, what mattered was that I had a bunch of tests to go take.

With some difficulty, I managed to slide the chair out from under me without waking the sleeping hanyou. I quickly replaced it and propped his arm up with one of my textbooks and used his haori to pillow his head in place of my leg. Just because I had to be up didn't mean he had to be.

I checked the well on my way out of what had become my second room. It was still sealed. How did Inuyasha get here? Oh well, time to get ready for my day.

I went inside and took a shower. Changing into my uniform I began to review in my head. I didn't have to worry about anyone bothering me; none of my family woke up this early on a Sunday. Souta didn't have school, Mama didn't need to get him off to school, and Ji-chan was letting his old bones sleep in a lot more often these days.

In less than twenty minutes I was bathed and dressed and headed out the door with a piece of toast in my hand. If mama had been up she would've made me eat more, but really, this early in the morning anything more than toast was more than my tummy could handle.

I'd grown to love Sunday's in the last month despite the fact they were my test days. Sundays were the only days I had an excuse to hide from my family for hours. I mean don't get me wrong, I love my family, it's just that sometimes Mama's sad stares and Souta's forced cheerfulness would grate on my nerves. So I would find a secluded spot in the library or somewhere else and just sit there alone all day. If Mama knew, she'd worry, and I didn't want her to worry anymore.

It's a long walk to the school from the shrine, but I didn't mind. The exercise is good for me, or so my mama tells me. I'm still surprised she hasn't asked Sesshoumaru to drive me yet. He's already taking me to my art class twice a week. He'd insisted once he'd found out I planned to walk. For some reason he thought I couldn't take care of myself on a public sidewalk after dark. That was before Mama infected him with her worry. Really I don't see what the big deal is.

Now Inuyasha was here. I shook my head at all the horribly embarrassing and painful situations I foresaw occurring in the near future. Just why was he here anyway? Did he come to rub in how much he despised me for killing Kikyou? If he was, he needn't have bothered. I constantly remind myself all the time. Nobody knows better that I killed Kikyou. I killed my best friend's love, inciting his hatred for me.

Ugh! This is not something I should be pondering about. I have tests to take. I should worry about that. And yet, somehow, the tests seem the least of my worries in comparison to the fact that Inuyasha was draped over my lap this morning.

It made me almost believe that my dreams in the well house weren't completely false. I mean he wouldn't have fallen asleep that close to me if he hated me, right? Of course he could've been just trying to make sure that I wouldn't get away. Fat lot of good that plan had done him. I shook my head. There I go again, grasping after hope like it could save me. Nothing can save me from the fate I've called down upon myself. Inuyasha hates me, I should accept it and move on with my life.

But I was having trouble moving on wasn't I? I heaved a big sigh. I hadn't been moving on, I'd just been hiding from my problems. That's what all this studying lately had been wasn't it? I didn't want to think about my life so I buried myself in my schoolwork. I just can't win.

I looked up from the sidewalk. I'm here? I stared up at the school building looming in front of me. Since when did the school move closer to my house? I snorted at the impossibility of the question. Time to get focused.

I took a deep breath and pressed on, time to see if all that studying had achieved anything constructive.

Several hours and half a dozen exams later, I stepped back into the sunshine. That took less time than I thought it would. 'Course that might've been due to the two less exams I had this time as compared to last Sunday. I was a little weirded out by this increasingly strange Sunday.

When I had finished my last test, my teacher had beamed at me. I didn't know teachers were capable of such an action. I mean teachers shouldn't be able to beam at people. Their life was boring and bound by rules, right? Right?

Of course things just got stranger from there.

As it turns out, that last exam had been an entrance exam to one of the more prestigious high schools in the area. It had to be a joke. I mean, I never was that smart, and I certainly didn't think I knew everything required to pass an entrance exam yet.

Strangely enough it seems my teachers thought I did. They may be right, the test certainly seemed easy enough. I guess all I really needed was a few weeks of uninterrupted study and self-loathing to get the job done.

I walked to a nearby park. I was avoiding the trip home. This was my day and I planned to enjoy at least a little bit of it before the "fit hit the shan". Besides, nobody really expected me back for another couple of hours at the earliest. Inuyasha could wait.

I sat on an empty swing facing the water fountain. It used to be one of my favorite fountains in the city because of the romantic connotations it supposedly held. Now the only reason I could stand it was the monotonous gray colour of the stone it was made of. I don't think I would be able to stomach it after dark, what with all those colored lights shining from it. It was too cheerful, too romantic, too…

I heard a shout ring out from the bus stop at the edge of the play ground. I looked over to find two boys crowding a younger kid that was at least a foot shorter and fifty pounds lighter.

I don't like bullies. I never have and I'm not about to start now. Perhaps that's why I headed towards the clear Plexiglas enclosure. Perhaps I was just looking for trouble. In less than five minutes it didn't matter anymore as I called out to them.

"What do you think you're doing?" I fairly growled at the two bullies.

"Just stay out of this you old hag!" the boy with the blond fro snarled.

"Oh please! Only small minded jerks call people that!" I retorted. "Especially when I'm so damn obviously nowhere near thirty years old."

Fro-boy glared daggers at me. "Back off bitch this ain't none of your business!" his partner with the tacky side burns yelled.

"You're obviously incredibly stupid to try to attack someone inside a public bus stop with clear walls," I insulted them. "Now what the hell do you think you're doing?"

"Shut up! This ain't none of your business," blondie growled at me.

"Well, I'm making it my business. This is what happens when you try to pull crap like this where others can see moron," I shot back. "Now tell me what you think you're doing before I go find a cop and turn you both in!"

"We ain't doin' anything wrong! This little runt owes us money and we was just discussing how he should give it back," Side burns declared hotly.

"With your fists? You do realize battery is a crime, right?Stupid!" I advanced on them. "You know I think I really will go find that cop, maybe a few days dealing with the police will straighten your "collection methods" right out!"

Fro-boy growled while sideburns gave me a very solid shove into one of the Plexiglas panels. There was the tinkling sound of something breaking and the boys took off like a bat out of hell.

I straightened painfully and checked the damage. It's official, Plexiglas can and will break like glass if you hit it right. I now had another reason to hate bus stops besides the problem with crowds.

"Ouch," I groaned as I inspected the elbow I still hadn't regained the full usage of. "Great, I'm bleeding again!"

"Are you okay?" a small voice asked from the other end of the enclosure.

I blinked at the boy incredulously "Shouldn't I be the one asking you that?" the kid smiled carefully, mindful of his split lip that was slowly beginning to swell. "My name's Kagome." I introduced myself noting that his nose had stopped bleeding.

The kid blinked at me before giving his own name as the very common "Lee". He was probably wondering why I'd left off my family name as I handed him a tissue from my pocket to help clean his face.

"You okay kid?" I asked.

"Fine," it was a lie and we both knew that.

I stared down at my now ruined uniform forlornly, "What am I going to tell mama?" I lamented aloud. "Don't answer that, I'll worry about it later. Hey Lee, would you like to get some ice cream with me?"

Like every kid with out an allergy to sugar, he bobbed his head vigorously as I took his hand and led him across the street to the quiet little shop that had just opened for the day.

It was still a bit early and the shop was well nigh empty except for us. I bought us both single scope cones with the allowance I still received but seldom had the chance to use. Licking our ice cream we wandered back to the park.

"Those boys bother you often?" I asked off-hand.

"Yeah, Tai's my older brother," Lee told me distractedly as he strained to catch some run away melted ice cream with his tongue. I stiffly hid a smile behind my own ice cream cone. "He didn't used to be so mean, but after dad left this last time, he's just been so angry all the time."

"Do you know why?" I inquired between licks.

"Dunno, I guess it's 'cause dad promised him he wouldn't leave again then he did anyway." Lee shrugged. I stared at the boy, I had made a similar promise to Inuyasha once.

Oh Joy, something else to feel guilty about, I broke my promise.

"I don't think it's just that though," Lee continued. "Mostly I think it's just that he can't do anything about it, you know? He can't forgive dad until he comes back, he can't hate him because he's our dad, so I think he's just angry with himself because he can't do anything about it."

I nodded, I knew how that felt, I'd been there once, but suddenly I found myself the promise breaker rather than the disappointed.

"Sometimes I think I make it worse," Lee said after a moment of thought and finishing his ice cream. "I mean I know I'm not the reason that daddy left, just like I know it's not Tai's fault, but I also know Tai wouldn't be so angry with himself if he didn't feel like he was letting me down too."

"That's still not a reason to let them get away with bullying you," I told him firmly.

I watched him heave a big sigh, "I know, but…"

"There's always a "but" in there Lee," I admonished him gently. "I can't tell you how to handle the situation, only you can decide that, but if you want someone to listen or a place to hide from your brother for a while, I live in the shrine a couple blocks over."

"You mean that old one on the hill?" Lee asked wide-eyed. I nodded with a small smile used to this sort of reaction. "Cool!"

I smiled at him. I suppose I kind of have to go face Inuyasha now. That and I needed to fix my arm. "I gotta go Lee. I need to fix my arm," I smiled at him. "Stay out of trouble, ne?"

Lee nodded, "Sorry about what Tai did to your arm. See you later?" I nodded encouragingly.

The boy started to run down the sidewalk waving back at me briefly before turning on his way.

I heave a big sigh. Time to go home and face my demons, or in this case, my half-demons.

Line from Pump Up the Volume (c) 1990