Broken Glass
Chapter Fourteen

"Hey, Kagome?" Inuyasha questioned as his head rested in her lap and her fingers slowly moved through the hair that wasn't covered by his hat. Kagome made a small noise of acknowledgement and Inuyasha cleared his throat. "Do you want to come over to dinner after you're done working in the library? I mean, I know you're mom's expecting you home for dinner, but I figure it's the least I can do for all the lunches you're making for me."

"But the lunch is thanks for looking after me while my glasses are being made," Kagome said gently, her cheeks pink and her lips quirked into a small smile.

Inuyasha shrugged his shoulders and shifted so that she could pull her fingers through his hair better. "I know. But do you want to come over for dinner anyway?"

Kagome only had to think for a split second. "Okay."

"Great!" Inuyasha beamed.

Kagome looked down at him. "What are we having… do you know?" she asked curiously.

"Well, seeing as how Bubbie's orthodox, we'll have to start with the breaking of the bread," Inuyasha mused out loud, staring at he ceiling as he thought to himself. "Oh, and I bet Bubbie will have some Knish for us, too."

"Knish?" Kagome questioned. She was well aware of the Challah -the bread broken at the beginning of the meal- but had no clue as to what Knish was.

Inuyasha nodded. "It's sort of a potato and flour dumpling stuffed with various things. Bubbie likes to stuff them with cheese, but I'm always partial to it being stuffed with mashed potatoes." His eyes seemed to glow with the mention of Jewish food. Kagome smiled at his childish antics -getting excited over food, and all- and silently urged him to continue.

"You know," Inuyasha said casually. "One of these days I'm going to have to invite you over to celebrate one of our holidays with Bubbie and me." Inuyasha seemed thrilled by the idea and he shifted in her lap so he could look up at her better. "You'll be Jewish savvy!"

Kagome tilted her head to the side. "Well, I know about Hanukkah."

"There's also the Jewish new year, Rosh Hashanah. And Yom Kippur and a bunch of others, too." Inuyasha seemed delighted now as he looked up at her. "There's Passover, and others I don't really care about but Bubbie freaks out about if I don't act enthusiastic about. But you'll need to come over sometime during Hanukkah and celebrate with us!"

Kagome smiled shyly feeling extremely honored that Inuyasha cared this much about her that he wanted to spend a holiday with her. "You'll be an honorary Jew!" Kagome couldn't help but giggle.

They continued to sit in silence, Kagome's apprehension controlling her as she struggled to form her next sentence. Her fingers longed to remove his hat so she could touch his ears. She'd wanted to touch his ears for so long -the furry appendages were almost irresistible- but she was afraid of what he'd say.

She licked her dry lips and observed him with misty blue eyes. What would he say if she asked him? He'd already agreed to sit in her lap -a shock to her already- so perhaps he'd allow her to touch the very thing that made him look inhuman?

Her fingers gently touched the rim of his yellow and blue beanie, willing herself to slip her hands beneath and touch the ears that sat atop Inuyasha's head. Inuyasha's eyes were shut and his lips were curved into a peaceful smile-even if he didn't like people touching his ears, he was already too loopy to really protest, right?

"Inuyasha…" she whispered out, her tongue darting over her lips and wetting them once again. She waited for him to acknowledge her and he let out a small grunt. "Can I…"

Like the time two days ago when Kagome was going to question his ears again only to be interrupted by Shippou -a couple of underclassman entered the hallway from the library, laughing and only sparing a slight glance at them.

Kagome watched them go and clamped her mouth shut. It wasn't so much that she was embarrassed about the situation they appeared to be in, but really the fact that had she removed his hat those two girls would have seen his ears. Anyone could have seen his ears. She realized now the dangers of not having his hat. Should anyone decide one day to remove Inuyasha's hat, it would all be over. She couldn't ask him to remove it now.

"Can you what?" Inuyasha obviously had no idea what Kagome was going to ask and opened twin orbs of golden light to look up at her. He glanced at her quizzically and raised a thick eyebrow only for it to disappear beneath his unruly bangs.

Kagome quickly shook her head and averted her gaze. "Nothing. Never mind," she said quickly, her cheeks turning a bright red, as is customary for her.

Inuyasha looked at her for a long moment and unleashed a tired, haggard sigh. "Whatever you say, Kagome," he said lightly, his golden eyes following closed as he snuggled against her. "You're comfy," he decided.

"I can see that," Kagome said with a small amount of laughter laced into her voice. Her fingers ran through his silver locks once again. He shifted and sighed happily.

"Kagome…" He trailed off and the girl didn't have the heart to ask him what it was he was about to say. She bit her lip and her eyes softened as she gazed down at him.

"Boring," Rin declared as she scraped her pencil over her Gemini artwork assignment. The class hadn't even been working on the assignment that long and she was fed up with it. Inuyasha chuckled beside her and Rin gave him a weary look. "What's so funny?"

Inuyasha shook his head and laughed. "Nothing, nothing. Sorry."

Rin pursed her lips and made a small noise in the back of her throat. "You just love my pain, don't you?" she questioned snidely.

Inuyasha grinned. "Yep."

Rin rolled here eyes and rolled her neck. "Oh, right," Rin suddenly said and turned to look at Inuyasha. "Want to come over to my house tomorrow?"

Inuyasha raised an eyebrow. "No offense, Rin, but I don't really know you and don't feel comfortable coming to your house."

Rin rolled her eyes and gave him a playful slap on the arm. "Not you alone, you dork. I'm inviting Kagome and Kagome's inviting Sango, Miroku and Shippou. We're having a movie night. Going to eat pizza. Going to celebrate the wonderfulness that is second winter break for us poor, overworked high school children. Oh woe is us."

Inuyasha laughed at the melodrama Rin always seemed capable of bringing into any conversation. "Sure. If Kagome's coming."

Rin eyed him. "Do you like her?" she questioned.

"Well, duh, Rin," he stated with a roll of his eyes, his lips curving upwards. "If I didn't like her, would I be hanging out with her and being friendly?"

Rin gave him a withered look. "You know what I meant."

Inuyasha laughed and gave Rin a charming smile. "Now then, what answer will make you not go tell Kagome?"

Rin frowned. "I wasn't going to tell her."

"Do you seriously believe that I'll believe that?" Inuyasha asked, leaning forward and tilting his head to the side like this was the most riveting conversation he'd ever had. "Surely you don't think that lowly of me, do you?"

Rin huffed. "Fine. If you said you liked her of course I'd tell her, I'd be ecstatic for her. But if you said you didn't like her then I'd tell her gently because she's so fragile."

"That's what I thought," Inuyasha nodded and he smiled adorably.

"So, in the case that I was only helping her because of an obligation and I told you that, you'd tell Kagome and she'd be crushed and I'd never be able to be her friend- which could very well be the case if I told you I didn't like her.

"However," Inuyasha continued. "If I told you I did like her, there could be the situation where I don't feel that I would be a very good boyfriend at this time being and the fear of messing up a perfectly good friendship. Therefore, both scenarios can ruin a perfectly good friendship that Kagome and I share."

Rin raised an eyebrow. "I didn't need you to go into detail or anything. Shessh."

Inuyasha laughed and shook his head. "I know. I just love to over analyze things just to piss people off." He laughed again at Rin's perplexed look. "Now then, the teacher's looking this way and I believe it would be wise if we got back to work."

Rin rolled her eyes but did as he said, turning her attention back to her Gemini symbol and working on it so that it was designed to her opinion of perfection.

"Absolutely amazing," Rin declared with a puff of her chest. She nodded her head firmly and grinned. "The teacher's really going to like this, I hope."

Inuyasha worked on his, trying to draw a picture of a scorpion; but, every time he did it seemed to come out looking more like a deformed love child of a hammer and a whale, which completely baffled him.

Scratching his head, he held up his paper. "What does this look like to you?" he asked Rin. The girl observed the paper and pursed her lips.

"Looks like an elephant without legs."

"Wow, thanks."

"You're welcome," Rin chirped.

Inuyasha snorted and then smiled brightly when their art teacher gave him a warning glance.

"Stupid school," he muttered.

Kagome slowly pushed the book cart from aisle to aisle among the many rows in the library. Blue eyes swept over the shelves as she located the proper area to place each book. Grasping a children's book about monsters under the bed, Kagome slipped the small yellow item into its proper place.

Inuyasha trailed behind her, backpack still slung over shoulder and hands still stuffed into his pockets. "So, where do I sit?" he questioned.

Kagome pointed a finger. "There are tables in the back where people study. I'll be here a while. You don't have to wait."

"We're both going in the same direction, so why don't I just wait for you? I can finish the minuscule amount of homework I have." Inuyasha shrugged a shoulder. "And if all else fails, I can borrow a book from the pretty librarian."

Kagome frowned as he looked at her evenly. Was she talking about her advisor and employer? No, he wasn't, she realized and cursed her naivety. She blushed brightly. "I… I'll set some books aside for you."

He smiled and reached out a hand, brushing locks of black hair from her forehead. "I'll talk to you later, Kagome."

Inuyasha slipped out from behind the row he'd been standing in with Kagome and retreated to the tables the girl had indicated. He worked silently for about fifteen minutes before long black hair brushed his arm as a chair in front of him was pulled out.

"Done already?" Inuyasha questioned and glanced up. Golden eyes, alit with playfulness instantly darkened and narrowed. He frowned. "What are you doing here, Naraku?"

Naraku seemed taken aback by the sudden change of attitude Inuyasha showed towards him. "It's a public library," he said with a dangerous smirk.

Inuyasha's eyes narrowed and he shifted in his seat. "Time to state the real reason you're here," Inuyasha stated calmly keeping all emotion from his voice- he'd grown used to speaking like that.

Naraku stood and motioned for Inuyasha to follow. Inuyasha did as he was silently commanded and followed the dark-haired boy.

They found themselves sneaking to the back of the library in an isolated aisle. No one strayed past the aisle and Naraku was positive that it would offer the solitude that they desperately needed.

Inuyasha looked at him darkly, arms crossed and his eyes narrowed. "What do you want?" he demanded again. Naraku's continued appearances in his life were starting to grow thin on his patience. He did not want to be part of the guy's life any longer, but he didn't seem capable of understanding that.

Naraku made a small noise in the back of this throat that sounded suspiciously like a mixture between a snort and a chuckle. He cleared his throat. "Just wanted to talk to an old friend."

"We're not friends," Inuyasha said quickly as soon as Naraku's sentence ended. Inuyasha looked away, completely missing the flash of emotion in the other boy's eyes. Naraku made another weird noise again. "And I know you have a reason. You always have a reason."

Naraku snorted. "You're damned hard to lie to, Inuyasha."

"It's because I know all the tricks," Inuyasha said with a mordant smile gracing his lips. Cold golden eyes stared at the ground. "All the tricks," he muttered.

"Indeed."

Inuyasha sighed and shook his head, stuffing his hands into his pockets. "What then?"

Naraku gave him a deep, penetrating look. Those dark eyes stared at Inuyasha and appeared to be staring into the boy's soul. Inuyasha squirmed under the intense gaze and silently counted the seconds that passed without any communication between the two teenaged boys. Inuyasha fidgeted, shifting from foot to foot, glancing around, unable to keep eye contact only for his gaze to be drawn to Naraku's like a magnet. He licked his dry lips and blinked his eyes.

"Naraku," Inuyasha said calmly when the dark haired boy before him did not speak. "I'm not part of the group anymore. You can't keep hanging out with me." A shadow of a smile graced Inuyasha's lips. "You'll get in trouble with the others, you know."

"Inuyasha," Naraku said quietly, keeping in mind that he was indeed in a library and he wanted to keep their conversation hush-hush. He calculated what he was about to say carefully. He shook his head. He didn't know what to say.

"We can't be friends anymore, Naraku," Inuyasha said calmly and for a brief moment a flash of regret washed over his eyes before it melted away. "We can't," he insisted. Naraku was silent and continued to stare at Inuyasha. "I don't want to be like this anymore. I'm not part of the group."

"You want to come back." Naraku's words stilled Inuyasha's voice and his lips clamped shut. "You miss the power it gave you." Naraku looked at him with his penetrating gaze and suddenly looked away, examining the scar on his palm. The scar that was almost identical on Inuyasha's hand. "Part of you wishes to return."

Inuyasha looked away but did not deny it. "A part of me, maybe," he finally said. "But I mean it when I say that I have no desire to return to that part of my life. I've told you this many times already, Naraku."

"I'll make you want to come back."

Inuyasha sighed. It was obvious that his former best friend couldn't accept the fact that he no longer wished to associate himself with him. He ran a hand through the small wisps of silver hair peeking out from under his beanie. Like a magnet, Naraku's eyes were drawn to the beanie, where his ears hid beneath.

"You can't."

"I will."

Inuyasha frowned. There was an underlying threat in Naraku's voice that he didn't like. He didn't like it one bit. He licked his dry lips again and his golden eyes softened with the memories the two had once shared when they were younger- before Inuyasha's road led a different way from Naraku's.

"Kagome." When Naraku spoke the name it sent a shiver down Inuyasha's spine and caused his eyes to narrow dangerously thin. The slits of molten gold stared darkly at Naraku. Naraku sneered. "You'll stay away from her."

"Who are you to dictate who I see?" Inuyasha snapped angrily.

Naraku snorted angrily. His hands fisted and he pointed a chubby finger at the lanky form of Inuyasha. "I warned you," he growled out. "Stay away from Kagome or I'll make her wish she was never born…"

"You won't touch her."

"I never said I would."

Inuyasha's eyes narrowed.

"I'll tell her about who you are," Naraku said calmly as if he were discussing the weather. He crossed his arms over his chest and stared at Inuyasha coldly.

Inuyasha snorted. "She already knows who I am."

"I mean your past. Who you are," Naraku stated calmly.

Inuyasha snorted once again, barely affected by Naraku's threat. "That's no threat, Naraku. I'll tell her eventually."

Naraku stalked towards him and their eyes met and locked. They stood a little more than a hair's breath apart, but neither made the move to step away from one another. Their noses were almost touching. Naraku's next words came out feather soft and a cruel smirk was on his lips. "No. I mean I'll tell her about what keeps you two so connected. I'm sure she's curious to know why it is that you feel so damn obligated to take care of her."

Inuyasha's breath hitched in his throat and he felt his air passage close up as he struggled to breathe. He'd felt like he'd just received a sucker punch to the gut and his lungs had failed him at the same time. Naraku's cold gaze proved that he was serious and would not hesitate to carry out his threat.

"What do you want from me, Naraku?" Inuyasha questioned as he looked squarely at him. His breath breezed past Naraku's face, a soft caress despite the harshness in his voice.

Naraku's lips curved into a wicked smile. "Get away from her. Crush her and come back to the group."

"I'll be breaking the rules we set up," Inuyasha stated simply.

Naraku looked at him and spoke without missing a beat. "The rules are made to be broken. Since when have you bowed to authority, Inuyasha?"

Either it was a jab at him or a compliment- Inuyasha wasn't sure. Naraku appeared to be contemplating saying more and he took a hesitant step back. Inuyasha gulped down the lump in his throat and struggled to breathe once again.

"I'll make you pay if you don't," Naraku said calmly as if he threatened people every day. Standing together alone in the library, inches away from each other, their eyes locked together in a deadly gaze caused Inuyasha's slowly growing happiness to melt away like a puddle in the summer. Suddenly he realized the reason why he needed his pills. Suddenly he realized why he'd had to leave. Suddenly he realized the weight he carried because of his stupidity in the past. Suddenly he understood why he needed to protect Kagome.

Inuyasha didn't smile but his voice was sickeningly sweet. "Nice talking to you, Naraku."

If Naraku was surprised or frightened by the faux friendly voice Inuyasha used, he didn't show as he took another step back. His lips thinned into a small line and his eyes widened just a fraction.

"You don't care about us anymore."

"I have no feelings for an asshole who threatens those I care about," Inuyasha stated calmly, looking at Naraku.

Naraku's lips quirked downwards. "Your stupid grandmother and that stupid wench are more important to you than us- than me?"

Inuyasha slowly shook his head. "I learned things when I was away, Naraku. You may have been my best friend at one time -someone I could depend on- but I feel that no longer. I don't want to know you anymore."

Naraku looked genuinely hurt, but it was quickly masked in a veil of hatred. He shook his head. "I can't believe you'd just betray us all like this."

"We've had this discussion before. Goodbye." It was an obvious dismissal.

Naraku seethed at him but quickly let out a large sigh. "Fine. Have it your way, you stupid fag." Inuyasha recognized the crude word as a jab at his wardrobe but shrugged it off. Naraku knew all too well about the accusations of his sexual preference. He stuffed his hands into his pockets and shook his head.

Sad golden eyes watched Naraku stalk away and with his hypersensitive hearing he was able to tell when the library door snapped shut and the scent of Naraku leave the library.

He stood stupidly in the aisle of the library, alone and feeling dirtier than he had in months -maybe years- when Kagome suddenly turned the corner pushing the book car without a care in the world.

When she spotted him she looked at him curiously. "What are you doing here?" she questioned.

"It's a public library, isn't it?" Inuyasha asked stupidly.

Kagome tilted her head to the side and Inuyasha had the absurd image of a bird cocking its head to the side before it plucked a worm from the earth. "But…" she trailed off as her cheeks stained pink. She looked so cute when she did that, he noted silently. She cleared her throat and brushed black bangs from bright blue eyes. "You're in the…"

Inuyasha raised an eyebrow. "In the what?"

"Adult romance section," Kagome squeaked out, turning her head away as she plucked two books from the book cart and stuffed them into their shelves. The color in Inuyasha's cheeks flushed from away and he looked around wildly.

His eyes captured the spines of romance novels with titles that just screamed the smut they contained, and as he glanced at the books Kagome jammed into the shelves -their covers anything less than modest- he realized what it must look like to Kagome.

"I-It's not what it looks like, I swear!" Inuyasha protested and waved his hand wildly. He racked his mind for a perfect explanation to why he was in the section of the library dedicated solely to erotic and smutty content. He gulped down a lump in his throat. He couldn't tell her the truth! He had to protect her.

When he looked back at Kagome, she was looking at him in wonderment. But as their gazes locked, she ducked her head and blushed. It was the first time that Inuyasha actually looked flustered, and she found that it was rather adorable. His eyes were wide and his cheeks were pink -for perhaps the first time?- and his hands were waving frantically, trying to gain her attention so he could explain himself.

It was… cute.

She giggled.

Inuyasha's cheeks were flaming pink by the time she was done laughing and she tilted her head to the side again. The look she gave him, he realized, was like nothing he'd seen from her before. Her eyes were soft and tender, laughter ringing in the beautiful robin's egg blue depths.

"It's okay," she whispered out, her cheeks a light pink. "You don't have to explain."

"But I don't read things like these! I was just wandering and I didn't realize where I was," Inuyasha protested.

Kagome smiled shyly and looked away. "It's okay…"

He noticed her sudden meekness. "What?" he questioned.

"It's nothing… you're just… really cute when you're flustered," she said out loud before realizing what she said. A hand whipped to her mouth, but it was already too late. Face a bright shade of scarlet, Kagome turned on her heel and dashed away, pushing the book cart like her life depended on it. Inuyasha watched her go and cracked a smile.

'She thinks I'm cute…' he realized and grinned brightly. For a brief moment in time, Naraku's threat escaped his mind and he felt carefree again.

A steady rain began to fall as Inuyasha's key opened the door to his house. He ushered Kagome in before slipping off his combat boots and helping her out of her coat. She smiled sweetly at her feet as he took her coat, shook it out and hung it on the hook near the coat, soon followed by his own jacket.

He stretched, his back arching and his shirt lifting. Looking very much like a cat, Inuyasha slipped off his hat and allowed his ears to be free. They twitched happily as he straightened himself and looked at Kagome questionably (she was staring at him rather openly). Realizing she'd been caught, Kagome ducked her head and a small giggle left her lips.

"Hungry?" Inuyasha questioned, but Kagome shook her head. "Bubbie?" he called into the silent house. His ears perked and twitched as he tried to detect the location of his grandmother. Kagome watched the arch the ears moved in, captivated. "She's in the family room," he finally said, grasped her hand and led her towards that general direction.

They entered the room and Kagome's eyes widened. Bubbie sat at the couch, watching the television. She wasn't watching a regular television program, however, but what appeared to be a home made video.

Bubbie looked up. "Hello, you two," she stated with her thick New York accent before patting the couch. "Join me." Inuyasha didn't need to be told twice, and he pulled Kagome along with them.

Kagome's eyes watched the screen, the blue orbs soft with wonder.

On the screen appeared to be a restaurant of Japanese or Korean nature. A little boy with pudgy, round cheeks and a huge New York Giants hat sat on a chair with his little sandaled feet (complete with socks) around as he grasped a cup with both hands and took a giant gulp of water.

"Bubbie!" The little boy's voice chirped, drawing the attention of an elder lady. Kagome recognized them as Inuyasha and his bubbie immediately. Inuyasha was so young there, and Bubbie looked thirty years younger- though she knew that was impossible. "When's the food going to come?"

Before the younger version of Inuyasha's grandmother could speak, a deep male voice chuckled and the camera jiggled and went out of focus. After it zoomed back in on Inuyasha's young, innocent face, the man spoke. "Soon, Inuyasha. You have to be patient."

The young child pouted, bright golden eyes staring up at the man behind the camera before turning back to his place setting. With a chirp that sounded remarkably like a bird's, Inuyasha's little hands grasped the spoon reserved for soup and started stuffing it into his glass.

"Inuyasha!" the woman scolded and the faceless man behind the camera chuckled.

"Don't worry, Kaede. Inuyasha just wants some ice," the voice stated as Inuyasha pulled out a cube of ice and stuffed it into his mouth- fist and all.

Inuyasha beamed brightly, his lips splitting into a large grin. Kagome noted how his canines lacked the slight point they had now. She wondered why.

"Bubbie," the teenaged Inuyasha questioned the woman sitting next to him. "What's all this for?"

"Just reminiscing on the old times." His bubbie chuckled and her one eye glittered in amusement. "You know I love looking at the movies your Zadie made."

The camera jiggled again as a waiter came into view. "Excuse me?" the male's voice asked. "Can you hold this for a second?"

There was a brief exchange of jiggling views of people's shirts as the camera switched owners and an elderly man with silver-white hair, slightly pointed ears, and warm golden eyes crouched down beside the younger boy. He looked almost exactly like his grandfather. Kagome felt her breath hitch in her throat as she gazed upon Inuyasha's Zadie for the first time.

He looked kind, and large hands gripped the boy's shoulders as the two with silver mops upon their heads leaned in closer to the camera. "Say hello to the camera, Inu," his grandfather stated.

Inuyasha's small, pudgy hand waved in the air. "Hi!"

Kagome felt her heart melt as she gazed upon the innocence she saw in Inuyasha's eyes. What had happened to that purity that swam in those molten gazes? What had changed between then and now that had made Inuyasha so different?

She glanced at Inuyasha, his dog ears perked as he gazed upon his past self. His eyes were unreadable- his entire face was unreadable as he looked upon what had once been him and his grandfather.

Kaede stood and grasped the camera from the waiter. "That's enough you two; let the waiter do his job." The two boys both made identical pouts and Kagome heard a hollow laugh leave Inuyasha's lips.

Another waiter came and presented their food. Inuyasha's bowl of chicken steamed, and the boy had to stand up to peer over the edge, pluck a piece of chicken and stuff it into his mouth. Kaede didn't seem too impressed with the food, but Inuyasha's Zadie looked thrilled.

"This can't be kosher," Kagome heard Kaede mutter and Zadie laughed.

"Oh, honey, don't be such a stick in the mud."

"Yeah, party pooper!" Inuyasha chirped happily and clapped his hands together, dropping the fork he held and watching as it clattered to the floor. "Oops!" he bubbled.

"We should go home," Kaede muttered. "I can whip us up a nice chuck of gefilte fish."

Inuyasha's face twisted in disgust. "Ew, Bubbie! I don't like kefetle fish!" his small, childish voice mispronounced the famous Jewish dish as his nose wrinkled and his golden eyes glowed with disgust. Kagome had to resist the urge to coo at the adorable look upon the boy's face.

Suddenly, the camera fuzzed and clicked to a completely new scene. It had Kaede sitting on a chair, a kerchief dabbing at her tearful eyes. Her lips quivered as she struggled to speak. "The doctor said this was for the best. Said that this was the only way I could make him see. Inuyasha-"

Whatever the camera Kaede was about to say was abruptly cut off when Inuyasha whipped to his feet, used his body to block the view, and shut the television off before popping out the tape and tossing it to Kaede. "That's enough," he said in a tone that told the two women that they could not argue.

His eyes averted. "That's enough."

His grandmother cleared her throat. "Yes, I should go do the shopping."

Inuyasha's eyes softened. "You don't have to, Bubbie. I can do it later after I take Kagome home. She's staying for dinner by the way."

Kaede nodded and Kagome looked at him. "You can go do the shopping now. I don't mind."

Inuyasha looked hesitant and pursed his lips. "Well… I do need to get some things from the store for Bubbie…"

"Nonsense." The woman stood. "I can go. You two go upstairs and work on your homework or whatever it is you do up there." She gave them a look that made Inuyasha laugh nervously and Kagome to blush bright red.

Bubbie hobbled from the room, followed closely by the taller teenagers. She retreated to towards the garage. "Besides," Bubbie added with a wink, "I need to get out."

Kagome looked skeptical as the woman shut the door behind her. "How is she allowed to drive if she's blind in one eye?"

Inuyasha seemed to only realize this now. "Hm. That's probably why she takes the bus majority of the time, huh?" It was a rhetorical question, and he led Kagome away.

Kagome absently patted the head of Onyx, Inuyasha's completely black cat. Yellow eyes stared up at her and looked like twin moons as the feline purred and nuzzled against her hand. She felt a little uncomfortable sitting on Inuyasha's bed while the said boy worked on making his room presentable, but he didn't seem to notice.

He scooped down and plucked some jeans off the floor, sniffed them, reeled back in disgust, and dropped them in the ever growing pile of dirty laundry. "It's hard to tell what's clean and what's not," Inuyasha explained to Kagome as Barkly darted between his legs and tried batting at his ears when he leaned down. "Cut it out, you spaz," he muttered to the large-eyed cat.

Barkly made a small noise that sounded like a growl and a purr. Kagome resisted a squeal. His cats were just too cute!

Onyx purred again and kneaded her thigh as she yawned, sporting only two fangs. Kagome looked at the cat for a moment before glancing at the silver haired boy. "How come Onyx only has two teeth?" she asked curiously.

Inuyasha glanced over his shoulder as he dropped a pair of Spiderman boxers into his pile. "Oh." He blinked his eyes. "Onyx's species is known for having horrible teeth. We didn't know that, and Bubbie didn't want to spend five hundred dollars to take care of her teeth. She can only lick wet food now."

"That's sad." Kagome stroked the cat's black fur and the kitty yawned.

Inuyasha shrugged one shoulder. "She's happy enough."

"True," Kagome said and leaned back, resting her head on Inuyasha's pillow. She could smell him on the fabric and she reveled in that scent, feeling completely at peace. He smelled nice, she realized.

"Why, thank you," Inuyasha's voice carried and Kagome snapped up, scaring Onyx off her lap. She blushed furiously, having not realized she'd spoken out loud. Inuyasha smiled cheekily and went back to folding his clean laundry and putting it away.

Dinner that night was quiet and reserved. They all at their Matzah-ball soup silently. Dinner was complete with Bubbie's so-called-famous apple cake that Inuyasha insisted Bubbie needed to send to a cook book to which Bubbie retorted she'd bring the recipe with her to the grave-or pass it on to Inuyasha-whichever came first. Even though usually the Matzah balls were only eaten on Passover, with enough begging from Inuyasha Bubbie had relented to feed it to Kagome—just so the girl could taste it.

Kagome felt right at home with the Jewish dishes scattered around the table. Inuyasha loved teaching her about the different foods and the traditions. Bubbie and he both found it remarkably fun to tell her about the holidays.

But Inuyasha was distant. His mind was elsewhere. As he munched on Bubbie's apple cake, his mind kept drifting back to his run-in with Naraku in the library. His eyes flickered to Kagome, who was in a heated conversation involving gefilte fish and whether the word was German or Yiddish.

He rested his elbow on the table and placed his chin on his palm. He sighed quietly and his ears flattened against his head. Naraku was capable of the threat he'd left unspoken. He knew that just as well as anybody.

But… his eyes saddened as he gazed at Kagome. He didn't want to leave her alone. He fiddled with his fork, poking at an apple slice that was lying helplessly on his plate.

'I don't want her to leave… I want to stay with her.' he thought with a frown. 'But for her sake, I can't be selfish.'

He needed help. But he knew he couldn't ask for it. He needed guidance. But he knew that no one would give it to him.

His golden eyes looked sadly at Kagome.

He was torn. So very, very torn.