A/N: well, I, or should I say my annoying brother, pointed out a small detail that I screwed up on. While I did say that this takes place before the Dark Tournament, Puu exists. sigh Oh well. Deal with it. Puu's cute and he stays. Let's just pretend he built himself a time machine...

...

Yusuke was able to convince the conductor that it was just a regular holdup. The rich man, who he later learned was named Matthias, was eager enough to agree to the story. If possible, he seemed to become even more nervous and could only nod, though they could have been mistaken for spasms.

It was 10:30 by the time the train finally pulled into the station. By that time, Yusuke was more than ready to leave. The conductor radioed the station and when they arrived, a squad of police went up and arrested Hanto and his three henchmen, which Yusuke told them about. He supposed that he probably should have had Botan take care of them, but she wasn't here and it would be hard to explain how four obvious criminals would not be going to jail. So they were taken away in handcuffs, still out cold.

"My aunt's will be nothing compared to this," Yusuke muttered as he grabbed his bags.

"It can't be that bad," said Keiko. "Hey, Yusuke. Can you help me with this?" she asked, gesturing to a large red luggage case that was underneath at least five others.

"Sure," he said, putting down his own near the door and going to help her. He pulled it out with relative ease, but had to hide a wince as it strained his bruised rib. Have to remember to be careful with that one, he thought to himself.

"Thanks," she said. "So you never told me, what exactly went on in there?"

"What do you mean?" asked Yusuke nervously. "It was just a plain old train holdup. Didn't you hear?"

"Yeah," she said, "That's what they said. But I have the feeling that you're not telling me something. What is it, Yusuke?" she asked, her expression becoming threatening.

"Of course not," he laughed nervously. "I don't know anything. Really."

"Oh yeah? Well at least tell me what possessed you to decide and point your hand at a man with a loaded gun. What were you thinking? Did you actually believe that you'd shoot a bullet or something?"

"Er...May I plead momentary insanity?"

"No. Explain. What is going on, Yusuke."

"Oh look! There's my aunt!" said Yusuke, delighted by the distraction. That was close!

Sure enough, there was a teen who looked a little older than him, and an older woman standing little apart from the rest of the crowd. The woman he recognized as his aunt was waving at them, and Yusuke waved back, hurrying over to them before Keiko could question him any further.

"Hello, Yusuke!" greeted his aunt, stepping forward to give him a hug. She was still the kindly, motherly figure he remembered from his childhood visits, though she definitely had a few more gray hairs and wrinkles than before. "My, you've grown so much since I last saw you. And - oh! What happened to you, dear?"

They had cleaned him up as best they could, but a black eye and a split lip aren't really easy to hide. Yusuke blanked, unused to having to explain his constant brawling injuries - his mother barely noticed and his friends mostly knew why or didn't bother asking anymore. "Um..."

"Some robbers were on the train and Yusuke tried to stop them," said Keiko, jumping in quickly to save him and at the same time shooting Yusuke a look that said she wasn't done with him yet. "By the way, my name is Keiko. I'm so sorry to intrude on your family this last minute."

"No, no, of course not, dear. Nothing to worry about. I'm very happy to have you over."

"Thank you so much for your hospitality, Mrs. Higurashi. And you must be Kagome!"

"Oh, um yes! Hi!" the girl started, embarassed at having been caught staring at Yusuke. "Nice to meet you," she said hastily, hugging Keiko warmly.

For his part, Yusuke seemed to have become unusually subdued, taciturn, even. When Kagome turned to him for some sort of greeting, she hesitated, somewhat at a loss. He nodded to her in acknowledgment and she stepped back, trying to smile.

"It's too bad your mom couldn't make it, Yusuke, but I'm sure Keiko here will be delightful company," said Mrs. Higurashi, interrupting the awkward exchange, "Come on then, we'd better get going. Do you have all your things?" Yusuke and Keiko both nodded and they all set off, following Mrs. Higurashi to the car.

&&&

The ride back to the Higurashi Shrine was mostly uneventful, though a bit awkward. Mrs. Higurashi asked many questions, which Yusuke answered in the fewest words possible. Finally, she gave up and chatted with Keiko, who responded delightedly. Kagome sat quietly in the front seat, contemplating her cousin. She barely remembered him from so many years ago, but she had never really expected for him to look like such... a gangster, really. How was her mother not even noticing this? They'd only met for a few moments and she already couldn't shake the sense that he was a juvenile delinquent. She knew she should be welcoming and accepting of him no matter how he seemed because he was family, but she couldn't help feeling more than a little uncomfortable around him. The weird thing was, Keiko seemed so pleasant and normal next to him. How did the two ever get to be friends?

They arrived home sometime around midnight. Kagome hopped out and went around to the trunk to grab some luggage, but as she saw Yusuke rounding the car from the other side, she paused without meaning to. He shot her a sidelong glance and said shortly, "I got it."

"Erm, ok. I'll go open the door then," Kagome said, with an attempt at perkiness. She hurried to the front door, inexplicably eager to get away, but when she walked into the living room, she gasped.

"There you are!" came an angry and all too familiar voice. "Where have you been all night? I—" The rest of his ranting was cut off as Kagome practically tackled him and put a hand over his mouth.

"What the—"

"Shh!" hissed Kagome. "My cousins are here."

"Cousins? What cousins?"

"I'll explain later. You have to hide! They'll be inside any minute!" As if to prove her point, they heard footsteps approach and the voices of Keiko and Kagome's mom.

Kagome shoved him into a closet and shut the door just as the front door opened.

"Kagome,"

"Yes, Mom?" answered Kagome, smiling nervously. "Come show Keiko up to the guest room. Yusuke will stay with Sota."

"Are you sure that's a good idea?" she asked before thinking.

Her mother paused. "Of course, dear, why wouldn't it be?" Though there was no change in her mother's tone, somehow, Kagome sensed that she was on thin ice.

"No reason. I don't know why I asked," she amended quickly.

"Mm, now why don't you take this and help Keiko to her room?" She handed Kagome a large red suitcase, giving her a mildly disapproving look as she did so.

"Sure thing, Mom," she said, feeling instantly ashamed. "It's just up the stairs, Keiko. Why don't you head up first, and I'll follow." When she was sure Keiko was out of earshot, she whispered quickly, "Stay still and don't make a sound. I'll be back."

&&&

It was not until a half an hour later that Kagome could finally relax. She flopped down onto her bed, exhausted by the day's activities. Yusuke and Keiko had been settled in and everyone had gone to bed. Everything was quiet but for the sound of crickets and some light snoring from Sota's room.

Kagome yawned. And to think I was just in the Feudal Era yesterday. She paused mid-yawn. The Feudal Era? Oh no! Inuyasha!

She leapt out of bed and hurried downstairs as quietly as she could. She opened the closet door to find a VERY aggravated hanyou glaring back at her. She winced. Putting a finger up to her lips, she motioned for him to follow her as she walked toward the front door.

She slid the door open and gestured for him to go outside. "Okay," she began as she closed the door. "Just, hear me out before you say anything, please?" she begged when she saw him open his mouth. She knew the yelling would come eventually, but she would delay it as long as she could.

"I'm REALLY sorry, Inuyasha. I was planning on coming back today, but my mom told me that my cousins were coming over and that I had to show them around town. So it turns out..." she hesitated, knowing that the explosion would come after her next statement. "...Ican'tgobackwithyouforawhile."

"You WHAT?"

"Shh! Keep it down! People will hear you."

Inuyasha glared, but grudgingly complied and lowered his voice, though that did not make things that much better. "I let you go back home for a day and you find some excuse to stay here for...how long, anyway?"

"It wasn't my idea! I just got dragged into it!" Kagome whispered back fiercely. "And I'm not sure how long. They're staying for a while, but I only have to be here until they get settled in. If I do some super tour guiding, I can probably do it in...a week?"

"A week?"

"I'm sorry! It's the best I can do! Otherwise they'll find it odd that I suddenly stopped coming home."

"I don't care what they think. You're coming back with me!" He grabbed her wrist, prepared to drag her to the well if he had to.

"Inuyasha, sit," she said calmly. She was instantly rewarded by a crash as Inuyasha collapsed to the ground. Muttering curses under his breath, he got up.

"I'm not coming back with you. I promised Mom. Please understand, Inuyasha. I would come back if I could. I swear!"

He glared at her for a long time and she felt nervous under his unblinking gaze, but did not back down. "Fine," he finally said through gritted teeth. "You have one week. That's IT. After that, you're coming with me."

"Deal," she agreed happily. "Thanks, Inuyasha. You're the best."

"Humph," he said. "I'll see you in a week." He leapt into the tree outside her house, but just as he was about to take off, he paused. When he turned around, his demeanor was contemplative. "Hey, Kagome. What was that about with your mom today? Why wouldn't it be a good idea for your cousin to stay with Sota?"

Kagome jumped. "Oh," she said, "You heard that?"

"I was right next to you in the closet," he said, clearly not over his annoyance at being shoved into a closet for the better half of an hour.

"Oh right," Kagome said, scratching the back of her head in embarassment. "I, um... I don't really know. It's sort of complicated."

"Just spit it out already."

Kagome sighed. "Yusuke... I just... He makes me sort of uncomfortable."

Inuyasha's eyes flashed. "Do you think he's a demon?"

"No, no!" she said quickly, "It's not like that. I just... He's not like the type of people that I'm used to."

"Oh." He shrugged, clearly not getting it.

"Nevermind," she said. "I'm just being silly. You'd better go before someone sees you."

With a nod, he took off, bounding from tree to tree, his silver hair shining in the moonlight. Kagome watched him until he disappeared into the well house. Then, she let herself back into the house, sagging against the door in relief the moment she was inside. She pushed thoughts of her cousin aside, thinking instead of how Inuyasha had been easier to convince than she had expected. Perhaps it was possible to reason with Inuyasha. She gave a small smile and walked back up to her room, barely able to get herself to her bed before falling asleep.

&&&

Yusuke had just finished brushing his teeth and changing into his pajamas. He was sharing a room with Sota and the kid was already fast asleep, having gotten up only to greet him and Keiko before falling back asleep. They had gotten in really late.

Suddenly, Yusuke thought he heard a noise from outside. He opened the door quietly and checked the hallway, but it was dark and empty. Perplexed, he wandered to the bedroom's open window to have a closer look. Sota's room faced the front of the house so he could easily see Kagome standing outside. She seemed to be talking to someone... in the tree?

Does perfect little Kagome have a secret boyfriend? He wondered, amused. What is he doing in a tree? He heard his name and paused to listen.

"... I just... makes me ... uncomfortable."

He couldn't make out what Tree Boy said in response, but it seemed to alarm her. Maybe he offered to beat me up. Yusuke smirked at the thought.

"No, no! ...just... not like the type of people ..."

Yusuke backed quietly away from the window, having heard enough. Sure, it hurt to have family look down on you, but it wasn't exactly unfounded, nor was it something Yusuke wasn't used to. Not surprisingly, family had never been a big staple in his life. Shrugging it off, he made his way over to his bed.

A/N: Okay, so I decided to leave it off here. What do you think? R&R!

Ashley- Thank you!

AniMegurl- Lol. Yes, well, they'll show up eventually. Thanks for reviewing!

Anime Alex36- Haha. I do that too. Glad you're liking it. I'm not going to say anything about the pairings...but I agree with what you're saying. It bugs me too...hint hint

anime-lavuh- glad to hear it! Thanks!

PriestessKikyoMarie- will do. Sorry bout the long wait.