Disclaimer: I do not own the characters from Inuyasha.

Chapter 5: A Break

Kagome's House

Kagome yawned as she climbed out of bed. She looked around her room to find Inuyasha, with his back against the wall, looking off into nothing. It was the same position he had been in when she went to sleep. He looked deep in thought. Inuyasha thinking is not a good thing. It takes something really important to get him to focus on something.

'Morning Inuyasha,' she said softly, wondering if he could even hear her. He grunted a response. It sounded like a "keh" with his mouth closed. I wonder if whatever he is thinking about has to do with Inunobu. They don't get along very well, but they are brothers. Is something about Inunobu troubling him?

'Um…Inu…yasha? What's the matter?' she asked. He looked up this time, and seemed to register that someone was talking to him.

'Nothing important.'

What a typical Inuyasha-ish response! I wish for once he would just let me help him. She stubbornly decided to sit next to the half demon until he decided to talk. He's going to tell me what's bothering him whether he likes it or not. Otherwise I'll just sit him until he does.

'Kagome, what are you doing?'

'Waiting for you to answer my question, that's what!'

'I said it was nothing, didn't you hear me?'

'Inuyasha, I can tell something's bothering you so spit it out.'

'I said it was nothing! Leave me alone…as if you could help me anyway,' he said harshly. Kagome looked hurt, then angry. Her hand turned into a fist and began to shake.

'I was only trying to help you stubborn idiot! You seemed sad so I wanted to help, and all you can do is yell at me. You…SI-' Inuyasha quickly covered her mouth with his hand to muffle the word to avoid the pain of being subdued. One hand covered her mouth while the other arm rose to his face. He put his free hand in front of his mouth motioned for her to be quiet. Kagome immediately stopped talking and looked into Inuyasha's eyes. She began to blush very deeply, because they were very close together against one of the walls of her room.

Oh man, he is really close to me. His eyes are so…Kagome snap out of it! She slowly brought her hand up to the one on her mouth and dragged it away. I…I need to think of…of something to say. This silence is killing me.

'Inuyasha, I…are you sure that you don't want to tell me what's wrong?' She tried to calm her heart down, which was beating faster than normal.

Inuyasha had a similar feeling. Kagome…I…I'll just tell her what I'm thinking about so we can get out of here. 'I was just thinking…about yesterday…did Inunobu…why did he come anyway?'

'Inuyasha, he didn't come to hurt me if that's what you're asking. I don't know really. He just showed up. At first I thought he was a stray dog. His eyes are so piercing though. When I saw his cold eyes I went to warn my family, and I knew it wasn't a regular stray. But we should just talk to him about it…I'm sure he will agree to telling us something.'

Inuyasha nodded. They rose to go downstairs. On the way down they noticed that the house was very quiet. There was no sound of her mother cooking delicious breakfast, or her brother's videogames. Not even her grandpa, who was usually always ranting about feudal Japan, could be heard. She began to get worried. She cast a glance at Inuyasha, and he understood what she was feeling.

'They aren't hurt Kagome, I can't smell any blood. They are all in that room over there,' he pointed, 'Come to think of it…isn't that where we left Inunobu?'

They walked faster until they reached the living room. She looked to her left when she entered the room, and saw her family, all crouched in a corner against the wall, holding each other, staring at something on her right. She turned her gaze to follow theirs. She saw a still sleeping Inunobu. What are they scared of? Inunobu's not even awake. Sure he was sometimes scary, but not when he was sleeping. And then she saw what could have put so much fear into her family. Every now and then, Inunobu opened his eyes a fraction of an inch, to reveal the same familiar crimson glow. She slowly made her way over to him.

'Kagome! No don't go near it,' her mother whispered quietly yet forcefully.

It? Inunobu's eyes fluttered one more time before Kagome stood by his side. Inuyasha was already there, hand on the hilt of his sword just in case Inunobu turned violent again. Kagome knelt down beside the demon and placed one hand on the demon's chest, grasping his hand with the other. Inunobu opened his eyes fully, exposing the gleaming red eyes, before they faded to a piercing gold color. Come on Inunobu, Kagome thought, you don't want to hurt my family. I promised that you would get a break today, and I'm not going to break it.

Inunobu came out of his dream to find Kagome crouching over him, and Inuyasha standing, with Tetsusaiga's hilt grasped. He saw Kagome's family against the wall, cowering. What did I do? Did I hurt them? He looked alarmed.

'Kagome, did I hurt your family? What have I done?'

Kagome's eyes widened. He seems so sad. This is nothing like the Inunobu I know. His voice is full of concern. 'Inunobu you didn't do anything. Nothing at all, do you hear me? My family was just a little scared because your eyes were…they…turned red. Were you dreaming?'

Inunobu nodded. 'I was dreaming about yesterday…reliving everything in my head. I should go…I was not injured much. I should go back through that well.'

'No,' Kagome started, and Inunobu looked at her seriously, 'I promised that you would have a good break today. It would be the first in a while from what I've seen. I think it would be nice if you could see the future without all the people chasing you.'

Inunobu said nothing. He turned his gaze towards Inuyasha, then down to his hand on Tetsusaiga. Inuyasha saw where he was looking, and dropped his hand from the sword. I didn't expect them to trust me. They have good reason not to. Inuyasha may be the smartest of all of them when it comes to me. I…cannot deny that I wished that they would trust me. He stopped thinking for a moment, and then began with a new line of thought. What am I thinking? I was close to killing Kagome's family, and I did not exactly make myself looked innocent by storming off into that village like that.

What a strange village that was. The buildings were made of steel and glass. It must have taken a very long time to make those. He stopped thinking to himself and looked away from Inuyasha and over to Kagome's family. He opened his mouth to speak, but found no words. Kagome noticed this.

'Mom, Souta, Grandpa, please come out from the corner. Don't be afraid of him. I'm positive he regrets what he did. Besides we have Inuyasha here to help us.' To make her words more convincing, Buyo the family cat jumped onto Inunobu's chest and began to purr loudly. Kagome laughed.

'See? Buyo knows. Come out of the corner.' Her family reluctantly stood and left the room, Souta going up the stairs quickly to his room, and Mrs. Higurashi, along with Grandpa, walked into the kitchen.

'Ok, let me just take a quick shower and then we can go!' Kagome ran to her room, grabbed some clothes, hurried into the bathroom, and shut the door, leaving Inuyasha and Inunobu in the living room.

Inuyasha, whose eyes had been on Kagome, failed to notice Inunobu walk out of the doors to the front of the house and come to a stop under the Goshinboku. When Inuyasha realized he was gone, he followed his scent outside.

'Inuyasha, I do not remember asking for you to follow me.'

'Just making sure you don't get into any more trouble is all.'

'Hmph.'

Several minutes passed until Inuyasha spoke again. 'Before we leave, can you tell me something?' Inuyasha's voice was impatient but not unfriendly.

'And what would that be?'

'Can you tell me about…our father?'

Inunobu looked intently at Inuyasha. Sesshomaru has told him nothing? I thought he lived under Sesshomaru's protection.

'Sesshomaru told you nothing? Did you not live there for the first part of your life?'

'Well…no…my mother, she decided to leave…she could tell that Sesshomaru hated us.'

'She was correct.'

'What the hell kind of response is that? I just wanted to know if you could tell me what my old man was like! If you don't want to tell me then fine I don't care.'

Insolence! Old man? Our father was perhaps the strongest demon to ever walk the face of this earth, and Inuyasha is disrespectful of him. That woman, IZAYOI! She caused my father's death. Why am I even here? I should have killed them, all of them. He caught himself and regained his composure. He refused to lose control of himself like a weak half demon would.

'Now what the hell is wrong with you. Damn it are you going to tell me or not.'

Inunobu drew in a breath very slowly. 'What, Inuyasha, do you wish to know?'

'Anything I don't know already.'

'That's not very helpful, why don't you tell me what it is that you do know.'

Inuyasha told his half brother about the enemies he had heard of his father defeating. He told him of the Three Swords of the Fang. The truth was he only knew what other people had told him. He wanted to know if what they had said was the truth.

'Inuyasha, you have one part of that story mistaken. Our father, the Lord Inu no Taisho, was not killed by Ryuukotsusei, only wounded. The truth is, brother, that our father was killed in the collapse of a burning mansion fighting a human, named Takemaru of Setsuna. He was too weak from the battle with Ryuukotsusei to fight his way out of the burning rubble. He died…saving you and that mortal woman Izayoi.'

Inuyasha stared at him for a good minute and a half. 'Take…maru….killed father? The sword Sounga brought him back to life. Sesshomaru and…we defeated him.'

'Were you not listening, little brother?' said Inunobu angrily, and having the same tone as Sesshomaru, 'Our father died in the rubble of a very large burning mansion. A mere human most definitely not kill him!'

Inuyasha came to a realization. After 200 years of life he understood. That's why Sesshomaru hates me so much. Our father died trying to save me, a half demon, and his human mate. Does that mean Inunobu despises me as well?

'I…you're right. Tell me Inunobu…do you despise me like Sesshomaru does? I think I finally understand Sesshomaru.'

'Inuyasha,' he hesitated, 'it is not you I direct my hatred towards, but towards your human mother, Izayoi.'

Inuyasha growled. 'My mother had nothing to do with his death. How could she? She was betrayed by her own village, maybe even her own family.'

'Like Natsumi you mean?' Inunobu smirked.

'Who?'

'My mother.'

Inunobu and Inuyasha stared each other down. Inuyasha began to think. His mother was killed by her family. Why didn't I remember that? 'How old were you when that happened?'

'Three weeks at least.'

A familiar voice rang from the door of the house. She had missed their conversation, and therefore did not know what she was interrupting. She spoke up again, not sure that the two brothers had heard her. She walked toward them and stopped in front of them.

'Are you guys ready to go?' she asked happily. She pulled out two items from behind her back. One was a hat, the other a whitish silver bandana. 'For your ears,' she said, answering Inunobu's questioning glance.

'My ears are fine.'

Kagome laughed. 'Not many people have dog ears you know?' As Kagome said this she reached up to touch one of Inunobu's ears. He wore a curious and surprised expression, which only made her laugh more. Inuyasha meanwhile, looked a little jealous.

10 Minutes Later

Kagome and the two dog brothers walked down the streets of Tokyo. Inunobu now had the opportunity to observe. The people of Tokyo cast him strange glances of course, because of his long silver hair, and when someone got close enough to recognize the facial markings, they usually avoided eye contact and kept walking.

'Kagome,' Inunobu started, 'how can you stand to live here? The air smells awful. The streets and houses are all colorless, and it is so crowded.'

'Oh come on Inunobu it isn't that bad. Remember I can't smell as well as you can.'

Kagome got an idea as she approached on of the restaurants that she frequently visited. 'Come on this way, I want you guys to try some of this food.'

Inuyasha's ears perked up when he heard the word food. As he walked another few steps the smell wafted over him. He quickened his pace, grabbing Kagome by the arm. Kagome was blushing a little as they hurried away. Inunobu was left behind, walking at his normal pace. Kagome cares for Inuyasha does she? Interesting.

Inuyasha and Kagome now stood outside of Tokyo's own WacDonald's. Inuyasha looked impatient as he watched Inunobu approach. When they all stood together again, they entered. The smell of the place hit Inunobu's face like a brick. He had never smelled something so…different in his entire 400 years of life. He placed one clawed hand on the door handle and braced himself so he would not fall.

'Inunobu what's…wrong? You look like you're off balance.'

Inuyasha laughed slightly. 'It's the smell isn't it, the same thing happened to me when I first walked into one of these places. Just give it a few minutes and you should recover if you're not too weak.'

Inunobu glared at him. Whatever they are cooking smells strange. It's not bad just…different. I wish Kagome would have warned me. Then again, it probably doesn't have any effect on a human's nose. Inunobu righted himself.

'What exactly, do they cook here?'

Kagome expression brightened. 'Just wait and see, I'm sure you will like something.'

Kagome told Inuyasha to take Inunobu to a seat and wait for her. She stood in line to order her food. Then three very familiar female voices sounded from behind her.

'Kagome?'

'Oh! Hi Eri. Hi Yuka. How are you Ayumi?'

'Fine,' they all said at once. 'Kagome you look happy,' Ayumi said. 'Did you and your boyfriend finally tell you he loves you?'

'Boyfriend…' They're talking about Inuyasha of course. 'No not yet, but we are getting along fine.'

'That's great Kagome.'

'Yeah, now if you'll let me go I have to get this food to him before he starts complaining too much.' Oops, shouldn't have said that. Bad move, Kagome.

'He's here, now?' the girls said, practically hysterical. 'Kagome we've always wanted to meet him. Where is he?' Their gazes crossed the room. Unfortunately for Kagome, the two brothers were the only ones not eating, and the only people who weren't here with family, so they stood out rather easily.

'He's one of them isn't he? Which one is he Kagome?'

Kagome sighed. I guess there's no reason to lie now, the girls already found them. 'He's the one in red, and the other one is his brother.'

Eri made a slight gasp. 'They both look good to me Kagome, I'd take either one,' she blurted out. 'Tell me Kagome, how far have you gotten with him?' Kagome blushed very deeply and looked down at the ground. I kissed Inuyasha once, but I know he still loves Kikyo. I can't do anything about that. I promised myself and Inuyasha that I would always be there with him, and I will never leave him, whether he loves Kikyo or me. I care about him too much.

'Kagome come on! We are going to go talk to them.'

They're going to what? Inunobu won't understand that at all and Inuyasha is hardly the one to reveal that anything is going on between us. This could turn out so badly. Kagome hurried to catch up with her friends, who were now within ten feet of Inuyasha and Inunobu's table. Kagome caught them just as they stopped at the table in front of the dog brothers.

Eri set her sights on the older brother, knowing that the other one was reserved for Kagome. This guy is really something. I've never seen eyes like those; I bet most people get scared by them.

'Hey I'm Eri, what's your name?' she asked very sweetly.

Inunobu regarded the human girl with mild annoyance. I never asked her to talk to me. This world is so odd. It's almost like the humans cannot identify a demon on sight, even as if they don't know what a demon is. How is this possible?

'Be gone hu-' Inunobu stopped as he saw Kagome motioning with her hands, giving him an expression that said "come on, just talk to her, it won't kill you". He sighed

'I am Inunobu.'

'Wow, what a strong name.'

Of course it's a strong name, human. It is pointless to give someone a weak name. Inunobu noticed that she continued to get closer and closer to him, almost examining him. He sighed again.

'So you are his older brother? How many years older are you?'

Inunobu nodded. 'I am two hun-'

'Two years older!' Kagome interjected quickly. Sighing for a third time, Inunobu nodded in agreement with her. He thought perhaps this had quenched the human girl's thirst for knowledge about him, but he was mistaken.

'So…do you have a girlfriend, some special girl you share your time with?' Eri continued mercilessly.

'No,' Inunobu responded, now very annoyed.

Eri was a bit taken aback by the subtle harshness in his voice. Man, this guy is pretty damn hot but he has the personality of a dead fish. Oh well, I guess I'll have to keep going until he reveals something.

'Ok, so you're two years older than your brother, but how old are you?'

Inunobu was now stuck. Four hundred years old. Somehow I don't think this ridiculous human would believe me. Inuyasha looks to be about fifteen years old in human years… 'Seventeen,' he said.

Yuka decided to interrupt at this moment, for which Inunobu was most grateful. 'Hey Kagome, I thought his brother didn't get along with him that well.'

'That's his other brother.'

'Oh, so you two get along fine then?'

'No,' both brothers answered at the same time, in the same tone of voice.

'Oh…okay…' returned Yuka, with a confused look.

Eri noticed something that caught her complete attention. She was completely enthralled with whatever she was looking at. To Inunobu's disappointment, she was staring at him…again. She was about to speak but closed her mouth. She let another half minute pass before speaking, by which point everyone at the table was curious to know whatever it was that she wanted.

'Your eyes…they're…beautiful.'

What? WHAT? My eyes are beautiful…how could that human say something like…if I wasn't…I should…ah damn it all, humans are such pests. I could never understand human fascination with… He stopped thinking as something very warm and soft touched the side of his cheek. It had a very pleasant feeling, but it made Inunobu extremely uncomfortable. He looked down to see a hand, connected to an arm, which he followed with his eyes to see Eri gazing at him. He did not know what to think. No one had ever done anything like this before. He could care less about the human, but the feeling was incredible. As incredible as it was however, it was too uncomfortable at the moment. He felt helpless. How do I get this damned human away from me? There must be a way. I will not kill one of Kagome's friends without good reason, and showing disrespect to a powerful demon does not count in this era as an excuse. His left arm was drape over the back of the seat, where only Kagome could see it. Inunobu's claws glowed green involuntarily.

Kagome saw this and became aware of what could happen. Inunobu doesn't seem to dislike what Eri is doing, which means somewhere underneath that cold outside layer is probably a heart. He is just like Sesshomaru; I know he cares for that human companion, Rin. Kagome moved so she was directly behind Eri, and took the seemingly hypnotized girl's hand, which was glued to Inunobu's cheek, in both of hers and pulled it away softly.

'Eri,' she whispered, 'you can't do this, Inunobu is not used to being handled like this. Please, I don't want anyone hurt.'

'O…Ok K-Kagome…I think I'll just…um…go now. I'll wait for you guys outside.' With that Eri was up and walking swiftly to the entrance of WacDonald's.

As soon as Eri was gone Yuka and Ayumi were silent for a while. Inunobu was still in shock, holding one hand to his cheek where Eri had placed her hand. Inuyasha was sitting still finding the whole situation amusing that someone actually found his brother interesting. Kagome stood still and kept her eyes fixed on Eri, who still had the same star struck expression. Yuka finally broke the silence.

'So…um…Kagome, why don't you introduce us to your boyfriend?'

'HUH?' Inuyasha let out in a confused tone. Kagome gave him a death glare to be quiet.

'Yuka, Ayumi, this is Inuyasha.'

'They both have such old names Kagome, where do they come from?'

'They come from…the west. Yeah, a province that no one really has heard of too much. It's very traditional.'

'Oh,' said both the girls at once. 'Well we don't want to take up all of your eating time. It was nice to meet the both of you,' finished Ayumi. She pulled Yuka with her out the door and Yuka dragged Eri, who cast one last look at Inunobu.

The group began to eat their food. Kagome allowed Inuyasha to try everything because he still was new to all the new foods in the future. Inunobu, however, ate whatever was given to him, and said even less that normal. He communicated with nods or shakes of the head. Kagome could see he was really shaken by something. As they finished the meal, Kagome deposited the bags in the trash. She couldn't help but wonder what it was that had gotten to Inunobu. She could see confusion in his eyes.

In the Local Mall

After lunch the three had walked down to the mall. Kagome had some things she said she wanted to pick up. Inuyasha was curious as usual. Inunobu picked at time to speak to Kagome while Inuyasha was busy sniffing all the strange fabrics he found in a clothing store.

'Kagome…'

'What is it Inunobu?'

'What was the meaning of your friend's actions? Why did she…stroke my face?'

'Inunobu, she found you very attractive, I guess a little too attractive. It was just a touch on the cheek. There wasn't anything wrong with what she did; a little invasive sure, but not wrong.'

'Kagome, I am a demon. That human did not fear me at all.'

'She doesn't know what a demon is. No one does. Are you telling me that no one has ever done anything like that to you before?'

Inunobu nodded. Why did it shake me up so much? Then again, I have never really received open affection from anyone before. My father cared for me, but only mothers and wives would ever touch someone like that. I have never had either. He suddenly became very serious looking. He locked eyes with Kagome, and she was unsure of what he was thinking.

'Kagome, where….did all the demons go? Why are there no demons in your world?'

The thought had never really occurred to her. Where did all the demons go? She wondered whether they had all been killed or purified. It wouldn't be possible for Naraku to have absorbed them all because he died. The thought plagued her mind on the entire walk home. Inuyasha, in the meantime, was enjoying smelling about five boxes of Ramen noodles that he carried in his arms.

Arriving At Kagome's House, Night

'Hi everyone I'm home!' Kagome announced in a loud voice.

'Kagome, did everything go ok dear?'

'Yeah why wouldn't it?' Mom is still scared of Inunobu. I guess that's to be expected.

Her mother emerged from the hallway leading into the living room, followed by Grandpa, who was armed with about 300 paper sutras, ready to be thrown at any moment. Kagome sighed. Grandpa you have to know that those sutras don't work.

Inunobu came through the doors as Kagome's family gathered around her. As soon as he stepped through the door, he received a sutra charm to the face. It remained plastered to his face for about ten seconds before he reached up with his hand and peeled it off. He looked around the room at the glances coming from the various people. Inuyasha, who had just come through the doorway, wore an amused expression. Kagome looked worried that Inunobu might attack again, and her mother and Souta shared her glance. Grandpa in the mean time was had a triumphant stare until Inunobu pulled off the sutra, and it became one of determination.

'Old man, how many times do I have to tell you that you sutras are use-' He stopped abruptly because another sutra was stuck to his face. 'Useless.' Grandpa threw another one at him after he had removed the sutra on his face, only to see his next charm be slashed to pieces in a flash of claws. Inunobu sighed.

'I will wait outside.'

Kagome looked at him with a curious gaze. That was different…

A/N: Keep reading, lots more to come. And review please.