Chapter One

Long raven hair swirled behind her as she ran quickly across the shrine grounds she lived on. She passed the red and white roses that were currently in bloom, stopping long enough to pick a white one and place it behind her ear. Most would not have placed a rose behind their ear freshly picked because of the thorns, but a few of those roses grew without thorns. The one who grew them knowing how much she loved to pick at least one upon returning and place it in her hair. Her long slender legs were shown off due to her short attire, the requirement for her school. The forest green skirt came to mid-thigh and the long sleeved, red and green trimmed sailor shirt came an inch above her belly button. She came upon the shrine and threw open the door rushing inside after quickly depositing her shoes by the door. Her nose sniffed the air tenderly, her smile widened as she rushed into the kitchen and swung past a male who had just taken a tray from the oven and snatching one of the hot goodies from the tray. She held it between her teeth as she placed her large yellow pack on the table.

"How do you do that?" the male asked, amusement dancing in his chocolate orbs. The girl took a bite from the savory cookie enjoying the way it melted in her mouth before she replied.

"Mmm, I can smell them a mile away!" she replied.

"Told you she'd be back a day sooner if you made those cookies," a deep voice laughed as another male entered the room. His long auburn tail swished lightly behind him. When Yusuke had learned how to cook, of course he was taught by Kurama, he had just thrown together a few ingredients after not having the right ones to make sugar cookies. The young woman in front of them had loved the treats since. Who knew that one of his experiments had turned out for the better! Most of his meals back then had turned up burnt (still do), but we're not going into that right yet. She sat in a chair licking her fingers of the remaining chocolate from her delicious treat.

"I came back a day sooner because I miss all of you, Yusuke just so happened to be making his famous cookies at the time," she stated with a grin. Shippo sat down next to her looking her over for any signs of injuries or the like. Yusuke walked over to the cabinet and took out the medical supplies then handed them to Shippo who promptly started bandaging up her right arm after removing the old bandages that covered it. She looked worn; dark purple half circles had formed under her eye lids.

"I'm fine, could have done that….myself," she yawned before finishing her sentence.

"How long are you staying this time?" Shippo asked.

"Probably only a few days, a week if I'm lucky."

"Kagome, he's got you running yourself ragged," Yusuke sighed. Kagome simply shook her head trying to deny what was just said no matter how true it was.

"It's my fault that the Shikon was shattered, it's my responsibility to…to put it back together!" she defended.

"But you also have another responsibility."

"I do?"

"To your family," Yusuke and Shippo said simultaneously. Kagome looked down at her lap knowing that she had been neglecting to spend time with those she considered her family, but, as Yusuke had said, Inuyasha was running her ragged.

"Welcome home Kagome," Kurama smiled and placed his keys on the counter having just returned. Kurama walked over to the young girl and cupped her chin. He looked her over and frowned before releasing his hold. "You look exhausted, you should go take a nap," he suggested freeing her from Yusuke and Shippo. She smiled gratefully before going upstairs. Kurama then turned to the two youkai. "What's going on?"

"He's taking advantage of her! You know that she has a hard time standing up to that…half-breed! He's running her ragged, as you said, she's exhausted. She only plans on staying a couple of days," Yusuke said, his voice steadily rising.

"Yusuke, this is her own decision…."

"You said that before!"

"You didn't let me finish," Kurama snapped. Yusuke immediately quieted. "It is her own decision, but when it seems to be affecting her both physically and mentally we need to step in. Limit her time; staying there three weeks to a month or longer will no longer be acceptable."

"You know that she's not going to take it too entirely well," Shippo said. Hiei immediately turned to leave the kitchen the moment those words left Shippo's mouth. Hiei had been on the brunt end of her female hormones more than once and wished to be spared this time.

"I take that as a 'leave me out of it'," Yusuke chuckled. His only answer was one of the couch pillows being tossed at him.

"Guess so," Shippo said before looking up the stairs. "So who's going to be the one to break it to her?" He asked. Silence enveloped the room none wanting to be the one to do so. Both Shippo and Yusuke looked at Kurama who just now noticed what was going through their twisted minds.

"You're the most diplomatic one!" Yusuke said trying to convince the kitsune to do it.

"And the most patient!" Shippo added.

"All right, fine," Kurama agreed. "But, you…" he grabbed Yusuke's shirt collar. "…are coming with me." Shippo simply smirked and waved as Yusuke was dragged into the living room to discuss on how this would be broken to the young Miko. Shippo grabbed an apple and went into the library room where Hiei was currently reading.

"You weren't the one talked into it? I'm quite surprised," Hiei said the moment the young kitsune walked into the room.

"Kurama was the one who agreed to it, but he roped Yusuke into coming with him," he then bit into the apple. "What do you think should be done about this situation though?"

"If it were up to me that well would have been sealed and the well house boarded up a long time ago," the hybrid replied. Shippo plopped into a chair silently agreeing with Hiei's opinion.

"That girl, always trying to make everyone happy and yet…"

"Neglects to make herself happy," Hiei finished.

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Whoo! Another chapter is at last up, I'm either slow or just lazy. I'm not quite certain where I want to go with this yet nor what I want to do with the parring. I had started this so long ago I had forgotten! Well if you have any suggestions I'd be happy to hear them.

Inuyasha (c) Rumiko Takahashi

Yu Yu Hakusho (c) Yoshihiro Togashi

Please review!