A/N: Right, I had writer's block on this chapter. There's the reason for the lateness. The next reason for updates for the next two weekends is that I'm going on vacation. I don't intend to think on this story too much, lest I over think and get an even worse writers block.

So what now? Well, I would like some ideas from people. I'm having trouble moving this part along, so I would like to know what the people think. Any ideas will be greatly appreciated and all will be given much thought and consideration.

Disclaimer: I own Aki and Himi, and the plot, and that's about it.

"Yukii! Get back here!" Kagome panted as she chased after a small silver blur. Just my luck, she thought. The first time I take him out, and I lose him!

As Kagome berated herself mentally about unresponsible people, Youko was arguing with his other half.

Will you please stop running! You're just making trouble.

Youko rolled his eyes. You seem to be forgetting trouble is my middle name. Youko prodded Suuichimentally. Besides, I'm having fun.

Suuichi prodded him back. You're just going to get both of us punished.

No poking, Kit.

Suuichi glared at Youko. Without further ado, he tackled the unsuspecting fox, causing the silver being to stumble. When the fox stood again, it's eyes were still gold, but tinged with green. Suuichi, in control of the body, was sprawled over the pavement. He shakily got up, staring at one dainty silver paw. What the--

Idiot kit! Youko rammed into Suuichi mentally, but nothing happened. They continued to argue, but were soon cut off.

"Oh no you don't!" The next thing Suuichi and Youko knew, they were facing a very flushed and angry Kagome's face. She was still breathing hard, and her eyes narrowed. "What were you thinking, yanking the leash from my hands? You could've been caught, or run over...again." Kagome pursed her lips and rolled her eyes. She shifted her grip on Yukii so that she was able to hold his hind legs, too. She held him to her chest and began to walk back the way they had come.

You're forgiven for now, Youko told Suuichi as he looked at Kagome's chest. Suuichi scoffed.

"Stop that, you," Kagome scolded half-heartidly. "You gave me grey hair from your adventure. She sped up slightly, much to the confusion of Yukii. "Don't give me that look. I'm hungry. Again." Youko shrugged.

Kagome awoke with a start and looked at her alarm clock. It read five fifty-three, and Kagome made a strangled noise in her throat. Youko looked at her through one bleary and sleep-filled eye, and would've raised an eyebrow if he had one. Earlier in the morning, Youko was able to dominate Suuichi and his fox form, being a fox by nature. Suuichi was still out of it, and Youko snorted as Kagome fell over in her scramble to get into the shower.

"Laugh all you want. You're the one who gets to be left with my little bro--shit!" Kagome threw a pile of wrinkled clothing onto her dresser, effectively knocking down a few odds and ends. "I totally forgot about that!" Kagome scrambeled to the phone and hit the speed dial. She waited as the phone rang, and a soon a groggy male voice greeted her. "Souta! I really need a favor from you. You don't have classes today, right?" Kagome took a deep breath.

"Wha-sis? Do you know what time it is?" Shuffeling was heard on the other end as Souta sat up. "You're right that I don't have classes today, but why the hell did you call me this early for that?"

Kagome let out all the air she had been comandeering. "Great. I need you to babysit for my new friend. Today. As in, about half an hour. Pretty please?"

Souta groaned. "Who is this friend?"

Kagome listened as she heard her baby brother getting up and moving about his room. "I adopted a fox yesterday when I hit him with my Nova." Kagome waited for the inevitable reaction.

However, she need not have worried. Souta droned out that he would be there shortly and then hung up, leaving a very surprised Kagome hanging.

"Well, that went well." She looked at Yukii, who looked like an angel while he was sleeping. "Not that you care." Kagome shook her head at the unconcious fox and gathered up her work clothing. Today she was in a darker mood, so instead of the usual bright and cheery shirts and a skirt or pair of shorts, she chose a dark blue pair of jeans and a black satin top. Pulling out some undergarments, Kagome entered the bathroom.

Kagome set her stuff down on the toilet seat and made sure she had a towel on the rack. Then, stripping and making sure to remember her bandages and wrist guard from the accident, she turned on the water and hopped into the steaming shower. She squeaked as the pleasently warm water pelted her cool body and sent goosebumps up her arm. She sighed with pleasure and broke out her favorite, raspberry-lavendar shampoo.

As she began to lather the scented liquid into her lushious black hair, Kagome's thoughts turned to the past two days. How had she known this would happen? If someone had told her three days ago that she would come out of a crash in fairly decent shape with a fox as a pet, she would've brought them to the nearest asylum and made sure you got a nice, padded white room. And made sure the nice men in pretty white coats watched over you for a decade or two.

Kagome rinsed off her hair throroughly and started on the conditioner. Her thoughts turned to her new friend.

He was gorgeous, she had to give him that. But also a lot of trouble. How did an animal get away from their owner that fast? Unless they were a cheetah or something, and she highly doubted that Yukii was anything but a purebred. His silver coat had no blemishes at all, it was amazing that he was even that color! Kagome couldn't believe it. And he looked so cute laying there asleep! Her heart could just stop.

Kagome shook her head, tangeling it slightly. She reached for the soap next.

And what about Mr. Densetsu? Yukii had acted like Kagome wanted to. She shivered despite the warmth of the water, and added more hot water to the cascading waterfall. He really scared her. He seemed like a rapist, or a stalker at least. She often felt like someone was following her, late at night. It unnerved her to hear footsteps, look behind her, and see nothing. She didn't like working with him, and she thanked any and all gods that she didn't work on the same level. She blessed Himitsu, for without her, work would be actual work and not something Kagome loved.

She stood there as she thought of her friend.

Himitsu was tall for a woman, with bright blonde, almost white hair. Her emerald eyes were always filled with laughter and mirth, even if you were to walk up to her and break her leg. Her tan skin was rarely covered, even in winter. She always wore shorts and tee-shirts at most, and when Kagome had gone out to clubs with her, she had worn little more then a skirt and bra. Despite the look that got Himi called stripper and hooker, Himitsu was very honorable. She never betrayed a guy, and she never left them hanging. She was as great a girlfriend to people she dated as she was a friend. Kagome smiled.

However, Himitsu was sure to freak out when she heard about what happened over the past two days.

Kagome shook her head vigerously before she got caught thinking the same thoughts she had. She cut off the streams of water from the showerhead and stepped out of the shower. She pulled her cream colored towel off the rack and wrapped it around her dripping wet body.

Kagome gazed into the fog covered mirror. She looked at her chocolate eyes, her candy lips, and sighed. Rin was still trying to get her a boyfriend. Who could like someone like her -with the exception of Mr. Densetsu, of course-, really? She was plain, she was ugly, and she didn't deserve anyone. She was under-wieght, too short, scraggly at best. She never tried to show off, so she was never noticed. She wasn't like Rin, who was a major model and got strung up with a cute actor. She wasn't Sango, the head doctor in a huge hostpital who married her childhood crush. She wasn't even Kikyo, an interior designer with a landscaping fiancee. Hell, she wasn't even a stay at home wife with a major accountant as a lover. She was--

Undressed, with someone banging on the door.

Kagome jumped and clutched at the towel. "Souta?" she called hesitantly.

"Who else at this hour?" She could hear the annoyence in her baby brothers voice. "Are you done in there?"

"Almost, give me a minute." Kagome quickly dressed and toweled her hair hastily. She would normally use a hair dryer, but she was late as it was. She neatly folded the towel and placed it back on the rack. After quickly yanking a brush through her dishelved head of hair, Kagome opened the door.

A young man with hair as black as Himitsu's was blonde played with Yukii and a belt he had found somewhere. Kagome smiled at the two's antics; her brother had always loved animals. They seemed to be attracted to his supposed innocence, for he was anything but. In fact, Kagome was much more celibate than her brother.

"I see you two have met." Kagome met muddy brown eyes filled with mischeif as her brother looked towards her. "His name is Yukii."

"I didn't know this was who you wanted me to babysit." Her brother turned back to the fox. "If you would've told me sooner, I could've brought some of Buyo's toys. He never uses 'em, and I'm sure this little guy could put them to good use."

"After yanking them from your hand, or after they're torn apart?" Kagome chuckled and grabbed her purse. "I'll be back at lunch with food for both of you, and again at supper." She walked over to Yukii and leaned over to say goodbye. "You be good, you hear?" Yukii's vision was filled with severe amounts of cleavage before Kagome stood. "I'll see you later."

With that said, Kagome scurried out of the room and was on her way to work.

Himitsu looked up from her makeup as the door to the ladies room opened quickly and slammed shut. Himitsu smiled as she saw it was her friend and co-worker, Kagome. "Naraku again?" she inquired to the panting woman.

Kagome nodded, still trying to catch her breath. "He, scares the hell, out of me!" she said in between pants. She took a deep breath and slid to the floor. "Sanctuary."

Himitsu laughed and fixed her lipstick. "You know it! Sometimes I wonder where you get the energy to go out every day, what with him lurking behind every corner." Himitsu let out a bark of laughter. She then had to duck as a shoe flew her way. "Temper, temper!"

"Laugh it up all you want," Kagome growled. She toddled over to her shoe, dodging wet spots. "If you want all of the unwanted attention, be my guest!"

Himitsu shook her head and but away all of her cosmetics. "So," she began, hopping up onto the sink counter, "what's new? Why weren't you here yesterday?"

Kagome winced as she jarred her knee. She had been forgetting about it a lot lately. She wondered why it didn't hurt nearly as bad as it was supposed to. "I was in a crash and adopted the animal I hit." She heard a squeal as Himitsu clasped herhands together. Typical Himitsu.

"Really? Can I see him? Her? It? Are you all right?" Himitsu began to bounce up and down like a young toddler about to get a real treat.

"Sure you can see him, him and I'm fine." Kagome cracked a smile. "At least you aren't freaking as bad as I thought you would."

Himitsu looked offended. "You, of all people, should know that I never freak out." Himitsu did a mock pout. "I feel so unloved."

Kagome laughed and went to hug her friend. "I know, I know. Just like the time you found out that Jou on level C liked you?" It was Kagome's turn to duck, this time a hand coming from a blushing Himitsu. "You know you still like him."

Himitsu sniffed daintily. "You mock me."

"You mock me."

Himitsu stuck her tongue out at Kagome, who copied her. "I think he's gone now. Besides, Aki is back and we have an appointment with her." She hopped down, straightening her skirt. "Ready for her?"

Kagome nodded. She missed the shy girl. Aki never said much, for she had lost something near and dear to her. Her entire life Aki had been doodeling and sketching. She had such potential according to her teachers, and had just gotten accepted to the highest of art schools specializing in portraits and still-lifes when it had happened.

In an act of 'terrorism', some students had taken over the school. Aki, who was working on a portrait for her portfolio, was in the school's artroom. She had been huddeling under a desk when the officers told the school that they had caught all of the attackers. As soon as they had given the all clear, Aki had made a move to stand up and was blown away by a bomb that had been planted there earlier. She was immediately paralyzed from the arms down. All of the work she had been working on was destroyed in either the initial blast or the terrible fire that occured after. Aki was burned badly, third degree burns covered her entire body.

That wasn't what got Kagome. She loved working with the yound adolescent. What made Kagome's throat close up with sorrow and sadness was the emptiness in Aki's life. Aki, who had been accepted to such a wonderful school, who had a life ahead of her set to create beautiful things, could never draw again. Other doctors had told her that she might have been able to learn to draw with her mouth, but Aki hadn't even looked into their faces. Kagome knew, and she was sure Aki knew as well, that Aki would always compare her new artwork to the kind of stuff she had been doing before. It seemed inhumane to Kagome to keep the heartbroken teen alive, but nevertheless, that's what she was paid to do.

Kagome sobered immediately, as did Himitsu. "Yeah," Kagome croaked, her throat growing tight with sadness. "Let's go for a visit."

End Chapter
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