Author's Notes: So it has been forever. I know. Sigh...What can I say? Life got in the way of my creative genius. By the way, in this story Youkai exist and people know about it. All though there is definately a sense of predjudice on both sides. I wanted to thank Charlene Rivers for giving me the idea for Koga. Thanks! So on with the story.

Disclaimer: I wish.

Stepping Off the Street

Chapter Three: Beautifully Unfair

If it's one thing I've learned from all my years in this world, it's that youkai are amazingly beautiful. Unfairly beautiful. All my years of being friends with Inuyasha and not once has my hair ever been as silky and as thick as his. Stupid wavy, unruly hair.

Kagome sat in front of the bathroom mirror tugging at her hair. She pouted slightly recalling all the obviously beautiful, obviously youkai, men that were in the meeting. Even Inutaisho, who was Kami knows how old, was drop dead gorgeous. She pouted again as she looked over her appearance. "What the hell kind of conditioner do they use to get their hair that soft?" She said before simply adding it to the list of injustices in the world.

She left the bathroom to meet Inuyasha for their lunch date. She found him standing at her desk, arms crossed, foot tapping impatiently, and mouth set in a displeased scowl. She smiled despite his overall unhappy appearance. "Ready to go?" Kagome reached around him to get her purse from her desk.

"Keh. I've been ready." With that said, both headed out to the parking lot. They walked to Inuyasha's sleek, black '69 Corvette; Inuyasha's baby and the love of Kagome's life.

"Can I drive today, Inuyasha? Please!" She completed the look with the pouted bottom lip, insanely sad puppy-dog-eyes, and the tightly grasped hands. Inuyasha blanched but straightened his shoulders before telling her flat out, "No".

Kagome whimpered pitifully as she saddled up to Inuyasha's side and rubbed against him. Inuyasha began to cave but held on. Kagome began to whine and Inuyasha gave in with a slump of his shoulders.

He held out his keys all the while wondering how in the hell she did that to him every time. Kagome squealed before yanking the keys form his fingers and bouncing into the driver's seat.

"This is the last time, Kagome. I mean it."

She waved uninterestedly before turning the key and starting the beast of a car. As Inuyasha slid into the passenger seat Kagome revved the engine, a devious smirk sliding across her face.

It was her addiction and her only obsession. While most women were obsessed with shopping and closets full of shoes, Kagome was a slave to classic American muscle. Her father had similarly been interested before he died and had collected several cars, including a Barracuda, a Shelby GT 500, and a glistening '67 Corvette. While she herself still owned the Shelby, the rest had been sold to pay off debts. When Kagome's father died, his passion had stayed with Kagome and she thought of it as one of the few things that had ever connected her with her father.

Kagome shifted into first before peeling out of the garage. She laughed excitedly as the wind whipped through her hair, blocking out Inuyasha's threats. "If you put one scratch…" Blah. Blah. Blah. Like she had ever damaged this beauty before.

They pulled up to the restaurant in no time at all. Kagome calmly got out of the door as Inuyasha too climbed out, looking a little worse the wear. She looked the doors before smiling pleasantly at Inuyasha and handing him back his keys. They stepped into the restaurant as the door bell jingled happily. An elderly woman walked to the duo, her one good eye twinkling in joy.

"It is good to see the two of you again. Will it be the usual?"

Kagome and Inuyasha sat in a booth next to the window. Kagome skiled up at the woman, "Yes please, Kaede."

The woman nodded and headed off to put in their order. Inuyasha turned to Kagome, "So how are things going with your new apartment?"

Kagome sighed wearily, "Fine, I guess. Shippou's having a bit of trouble getting to know kids at his new school. He's always sad when I drop him off. I don't know what to do about it."

Inuyasha noticed the sudden tiredness in his friend. Shippou was Kagome's adopted son. She had found him wandering in the park late one night. The kid had followed her home and was by her side ever since. Later, Kagome had found out that his parents were killed in a car accident several months before she had stumbled across him. Shippou had run away from the orphanage. Kagome immediately adopted him. But Kagome was just that kind of person; unbelievably kind and giving. She was the type of person everyone was drawn to.

"I wouldn't worry about the runt too much. He could make friends with just about anyone." He waved off her concern just as Kaede brought out their food. Inuyasha's eyes lit up at the steaming bowl of Ramen that sat in front of him.

Kagome giggled at his hungry stare. You would think the guy hadn't eaten in ages. She started in on her own meal of soba noodles while Inuyasha slurped away at his own.

Lunch continued as the two finished their food and held light conversation about this and that. They paid Kaede and left, Inuyasha mustering the courage to deny Kagome's theatrics. They returned to Taisho Industries and the work day continued rather uneventfully.

Kagome sighed as she placed the last folder in her done bin. She stretched out like a cat before hefting herself up and grabbing the pile of files to give to Inuyasha. She knocked on his door before entering, finding him leaning in his leather chair, talking on the phone. She quietly placed the files on his desk but when she heard who he was talking to, her body stiffened and she listened to the conversation intently.

"I'll be home soon babe. Yeah, we can go out then. Wear something nice…"

Kikyo. Inuyasha's girlfriend. The woman that Kagome was a stand in for. Kagome quickly retreated out of the office, returning to her desk to pick up her stuff before solemnly walking out of the office building.

Her thoughts weighed her down as she reached her car and unlocked the door. Kagome had had a crush on Inuyasha for as long as she could remember. Despite his gruff attitude and bad boy appearance, Inuyasha had found a special place in Kagome's heart. In their sophomore year of college, Inuyasha had finally asked Kagome out. To say she was overjoyed was an understatement. They had been going out for a few months when Inuyasha dumped her to get back together with Kikyo, his ex-girlfriend. Kagome had felt betrayed and used when she found out that the only reason he had dated her in the first place was because she resembled Kikyo.

Kagome had been heart broken for weeks, but found that no matter how much his actions had hurt her -and they had definitely cut deep- she could not find it in herself to hate Inuyasha and had to admit that she still loved him. He had apologized for his callous treatment towards her and she had forgiven him, eventually.

Kagome sighed as she pulled into her apartment parking lot. It's no good to think about the past. You have to look forward and hold your head high. Despite her brave façade, Kagome could never find it in her to date after Inuyasha. She was afraid of being tossed aside again. The only thing that kept her from slipping into depression over her lack of a love life was Shippou. Speaking of which, the little red head was currently wrapped around Kagome's legs, looking up at her with those gorgeous green eyes that Kagome could drown in.

"Hey Kagome. Sango just finished dinner." A skinny boy about 13 years old walked up to Kagome. She ruffled his hair affectionately, a tender smile on her face.

"Thanks Kohaku. I'll just go see if I can help. Did you guys pick a movie yet?"

Shippou shook his head negatively against her stomach. "Nope, we were waiting for you."

Kagome pat his back, "Why don't you two go do that now." They both nodded before rushing over to where they kept the DVD's.

Kagome and Shippou had moved in to an apartment with Sango and her little brother Kohaku after their father had been killed. The two had both become extremely depressed and Kagome had taken it upon herself -with some help from Miroku- to take care of the two she considered family. Hence the move so that she could keep a closer eye on the siblings.

Kagome walked into the kitchen and saw Sango leaning over the stove. She moved to the salad bowl, tossing in a few vegetables in. "So what are we having?"

Sango glanced over her shoulder as Kagome continued throwing random greenery into the salad bowl. "Spaghetti." She then turned back to alternating between stirring the pasta and stirring the sauce. "So, anything interesting happen in the meeting?"

Kagome blushed as she recalled Sesshomaru. She had known Inuyasha had a brother but in all the years she had known him, she had never met the guy. To have met him twice in one day was disconcerting. Why do I get the feeling that the gods are screwing with my life again? She tossed in another tomato before answering Sango's question, "Well, you remember the little girl in the street that I told you about, right?" At Sango's nod she continued, "Well it turns out that her father, the man I chewed out about watching her better, is Inuyasha's half brother."

"You're kidding."

Kagome shook her head sadly, "Nope, and to top it all off I made a fool of myself in front of Takamura and his son." She rubbed her face, embarrassed. However, Sango's interest was piqued.

"Son you say? Was he," here she leaned in, "hot?"

Kagome turned to her friend, "Aren't you taken?"

Sango shrugged, "Yes yes, of course. I was thinking for you. So stop avoiding the question, was he hot?"

Kagome blushed, "I guess he would be considered attractive."

Sango noticed Kagome's heated cheeks, "Oh! Kagome's got a crush. Kagome's got a crush." She danced around, stirring spoon in hand, as she sang happily. Kagome quickly hushed her and when Sango continued her delirious dance, she tackled her, bringing them both tumbling to the kitchen floor with a squeal. They soon broke out in hysterics as the tickling fight began.

Shippou and Kohaku rushed into the kitchen when they heard the two girls shriek and fall to the ground. What they came upon in the kitchen made them blanch. Not only were the two perfectly alright, but both seemed to be perfectly off their rockers. "Girls are weird."

Kohaku nodded in agreement. The two boys watched for a couple of minutes before growing weary of being ignored. They swooped down on the unsuspecting girls and tickled them mercilessly. Soon, it was an all out war, Kagome turning the tides as she formed an alliance with the two boys and they all attacked Sango.

"Hey guys. That's not fair. Who's the one that cooks you guys food?" She nervously backed up until she it the wall, her three friends still inching towards her with sly smirks plastered to their faces. The three tickled Sango until she was crying, she was laughing so hard. Then the game ended, Sango finished cooking, and they all sat down for dinner.

They conversed and laughed and just enjoyed each other's company. Soon dinner was done and the odd little family moved into the living room. The boys had decided that they were all going to watch Terminator in true "boy" style. Kagome had laid out on the love seat and Shippou crawled to lay on top of her. He nestled himself in the crook of her arm. Sango and Kohaku had both stretched across opposite ends of the couch.

Each had slowly drifted to sleep, the movie playing unheeded through the night. Kagome looked down at the orange bundle at her side. She stroked his head lovingly before rubbing his fluffy tail. Although he was a demon, Kagome loved him like her own. In fact, she was rather partial to his cute little fox feet and pointed ears. She sighed as she realized she was simply obsessed with all of the male species of demon. How utterly irksome. Kagome slowly closed her eyes a she yawned. Her mind began to drift into blissful sleep and as she closed her eyes, she thought of how beautifully unfair it was that youkai were so gorgeous. Especially one stoic, golden eyed demon.

So that's the next chapter. Now that I'm out of school I hope to update this story more often. I'm really getting great feedback. I have reviewers! I also want to start a new fic so be on the watch for it! Um...I know I had something else to say but...Rubs head sheepishly ...I can't remember. Heh. Please review!