"Kagome." Sango pulled Kagome off to the side, away from Miroku and Inuyasha. "Can we talk really quick?"

Kagome's heart pounded against her chest, nervousness flooding over her. "Y-yeah?"

"It's important," Sango said, causing Kagome to roll her eyes at Sango. "Don't roll your eyes at me!" She whisper-yelled.

"Well—of course it's important, or else you wouldn't have pulled me away." Kagome muttered in response, glancing down at her heels for a brief moment, before looking back up at Sango. "What is it?"

"Inuyasha's birthday is tomorrow." Sango said. Kagome nodded her head. She knew this already, of course she did. "Miroku has spent the entire month that you guys were away planning this huge party for him!" Sango squealed, causing Kagome to give her a soft grin in response.

She wasn't exactly in the best of moods, and although she was trying her hardest not to show it—it was hard. Kagome didn't really appreciate how Inuyasha had treated her on Thursday, and she was sure he was still going to have an attitude with her after the fight. They'd barely even spoken on Friday, besides a few passing comments.

She wasn't quite sure if he even still had one, though. When she woke up Saturday morning he was gone. She did her usual morning routine of sipping coffee in a robe while she watched the weigh in on the television. He seemed bothered by something at the weigh in, she could tell. He was serious, he wasn't as excited or interested in being there as he usually was. His taunting and cocky attitude was replaced with reservation and calculation, eyes carefully scanning the room before settling right on the camera. As if he was staring right at her through it. Kagome chalked it up to probably being tired, but she knew it was more than that.

You learn a lot about a person's mannerisms when you spend almost every day with them.

He didn't talk to her when he came back from the weigh-in, shirt in hand. He merely stared at her as she lounged on the couch, blinked a few times and then shuffled into his bedroom.

Sango took note of the difference in Kagome's reaction, a stark contrast between the normal, energetic response she was expecting from her friend. Looking over her shoulder, she noticed that the men seemed preoccupied so she took Kagome by the hand and guided her out of the locker room. They stood at the door, with Sango giving Kagome a worried look. Kagome furrowed her eyebrows in response.

"What?" Kagome asked.

"You don't seem so excited. You look kind of distracted." Sango said worriedly, brushing away a strand of pin straight hair. "What's up?"

"It's nothing." Kagome said, smiling at her. "I'm just tired."

"Are you sure?" Sango asked. "Did you guys get into an argument? Like...what happened?"

"We did, but it's not a big deal." Kagome said, waving a hand dismissively. "I'll get over it eventually." She added, causing Sango to raise an eyebrow at her. "Honest!"

"Kagome, I've been your friend since high school. C'mon, tell me the truth." Sango pressed. Kagome shook her head.

There was absolutely no way that she was going to tell Sango what they'd squabbled about. Normally she would be fine with it. But today? About this particular one? No. Kagome wasn't going to do that to him. She wasn't going to destroy the little bit of trust she'd gained from him because she wanted to gossip with her best friend about it.

"We got into a little argument and haven't really talked much, that's all." Kagome said, giving Sango a soft smile. "But the party? Birthday party?" Kagome asked, trying to change the subject Sango narrowed her eyes at her but nodded slowly.

"Yes." She nodded, "Miroku spent so much time planning this."

"Inuyasha doesn't usually celebrate his birthday though." Kagome shared. "I mean...he told me this himself. He tends to forget it unless Miroku tells him it's his birthday that day."

"Yes yes, I know that. Miroku told me that, too." Sango said, unable to hide the excitement in her voice. "But there's something special about this one in particular Kagome just...just wait, okay? Wait until Monday, I'll text you all the details tonight."

"Wait," Kagome muttered, grabbing hold of her friend's wrist as she turned to go back into the locker room. "What's so special about his 24th?"

There was a beat of quietness, the sound of the roaring fans seated just above them and down the hall filling the area between them. Sango twisted and turned her face into various looks of ponderance before she shook her head. She wasn't going to tell her. "Just..wait, okay? It's good! Really good."

"Is it about us?" Kagome asked, motioning with her head toward the door. "Inuyasha and I?"

"Gosh no," Sango replied, "It's about him." Kagome swore that in that moment she could see sparkles of excitement in Sango's eyes. "Now c'mon! We should head back in before they start getting ideas."

When they returned to the locker room, Inuyasha acknowledged her existence for what felt like the first time in a day. He glanced over her dress, as if noticing it for the first time. "Is that the dress the concierge brought?" Inuyasha asked, clenching his jaw as he waited for an answer.

Stunned, Kagome looked over her body, taking in the form fitting dark green dress. Her hands ran over the fabric. Her right hand felt the fabric that was wrapped around her neck once, the rest of it thrown over her shoulder. It held up the front part of the dress, and was really the only form of 'security' in it. But she liked it. "Yes." Kagome answered. "Why?"

"Nothing." Inuyasha said, shaking his head. "You look nice, that's..that's all."

There was a knock on the door a few minutes later, and a voice called out. Kagome was used to this already, she knew what that meant. She watched Miroku give Inuyasha a hard slap across his back, and push him forward gently. She winced slightly at the force.

"Kagome." She heard Sango's voice again as she followed Inuyasha. Her head turned in Sango's direction, watching as she picked up her pace to walk beside her. "Are you sure you're alright?"

"Yes." Kagome hissed, sighing. "Sango, please. I'm fine, alright?"

"Pinky swear?" Sango asked, bringing up a pinky. She bent it slightly, Kagome rolled her eyes, but reluctantly hooked her finger with her's. Sango smiled at her, satisfied. "Good."

"By the way," Sango added, as they emerged into the arena. Kagome was almost blinded by the lights, suddenly deaf from all of the yelling, hooting and screaming. The cheering seemed stronger than any other time, and she figured that Inuyasha must have noticed it as well because she noticed his head jerk back ever so slightly. As if he was stunned to feel and hear as much support as he did then. "You look absolutely stunning!"

Inuyasha had to push his ears flat against his head, he felt a shiver run down his back. Every fiber of his being tingled with excitement, and it felt good to feel so much support. He could feel his heart rate accelerate. Golden eyes scanned over the arena, the flashing lights, the screaming and cheering and the signs.

In his entire career, he'd never felt as loved by the public as he did that night. He felt Myoga give him a pat on the shoulder, laughing next to him.

"Can you even hear right now?!" Myoga tried to shout over the noise, but Inuyasha shook his head. "You're gonna have to drown everything out and listen to me when you're in the octagon, okay?! Just try to do that!"

When it was time to split off, Kagome stood in front of Inuyasha, taking in the sight of him. His braids, the annoyed look in his eyes. The way he constantly pushed his tongue against the back of his mouthguard. "Good luck." She said pragmatically, going in for a hug. She felt him press his lips against her cheek, giving her a kiss. "You're still upset with me aren't you?" She asked quickly as he pulled away. He shook his head at her, and then leaned forward, surprising her with a quick kiss on the lips. Then he leaned into her ear and spoke. The audience whistled and cheered, causing Kagome to smile a little bit.

"Not mad. For the camera." He told her. "We'll talk after."

"We don't have to."

"Shut up." Inuyasha told her, he shot her a glare as she dug her nails into his forearm. "Go sit."

Kagome stared at him for a few moments, before taking her hand away from his forearm and walking toward her seat. He watched her wave and stop a few times along the way to greet people.

God, she's so frustrating, Inuyasha thought, as he walked up the steps and nodded to be let into the octagon.

He heard the door click shut behind him. Inuyasha took a few moments to stretch, waiting for Koga to make his way into the octagon. He felt nervousness settle into him, falling heavy into his stomach like a brick. It was unusual, he'd never been nervous once inside the octagon. He looked over his shoulder to Miroku, who gave him an encouraging look.

"You got this." Miroku mouthed in his direction. Why is he nervous? He's never nervous.

Inuyasha shook out his arms, and cracked his neck. He watched as Koga walked up the steps to the octagon, locking his eyes with his own. "Show me what you've got, dumb wolf." Inuyasha whispered to himself. Koga loosened up his body for a few minutes. The announcer did his usual thing, announcing who they were, playing up the crowd. Inuyasha zoned out, his eyes focused squarely ahead at Koga.

"He's really focused tonight." Kagome heard Sango say as they looked up at the octagon. Kagome glanced in Inuyasha's direction, putting down her phone.

"Guess he doesn't want a replay of their last encounter." She muttered in response, crossing her arms over her chest.

She listened along as the referee listed the rules, which she had quickly become familiar with.

Inuyasha didn't even bother touching gloves with Koga. Koga whistled low in response. "Oh so that's how it's gonna be, huh, mutt?"

"I beat your ass two days ago." Inuyasha muttered, bringing his hands up.

Immediately, as soon as Koga came close to him, Inuyasha kicked his leg forcefully into Koga's side. Koga faltered slightly and stepped away, dropping his shoulder. Inuyasha came forward, and threw a jab at Koga's face, which Koga dodged. Koga threw his own punch to Inuyasha. He ducked it, and threw a right hook as Koga tried to throw another punch. Koga took a step to the left, as Inuyasha took one to the right. Koga was quick to pivot on his feet, making sure not to give his back to Inuyasha.

Inuyasha knew what Koga was trying to do, he'd already caught onto him. Koga was trying to tire Inuyasha out. Win by points, not by knockout or TKO.

So I'll just knock him out in this round or the next. Inuyasha thought to himself as he stared down Koga.

Koga came forward, beginning to throw a punch. Inuyasha waited until his body had lowered slightly and his arm was almost fully extended. His own body jerked back, his torso twisted as he lifted one foot off of the ground, bending his leg at the knee and ramming it into Koga's nose. Koga instinctively stumbled back, and Inuyasha threw a punch. He felt his gloved hand connect with Koga's jaw as Koga fell to the side. He was about to come forward and deliver another blow when Koga found his footing again, and stood up.

Inuyasha could see the fire in Koga's eyes, and he couldn't help but smile, having finally woken up his opponent. "Come on," Inuyasha taunted. He lowered his hands, and held them behind his back, sticking his head forward, daring Koga to try to punch him. With a grunt, Koga came forward, aiming to punch Inuyasha. But Inuyasha was quick. As Koga's arm and body leaned forward for the punch, Inuyasha jumped off to the side, his hand coming up to punch Koga in the stomach. Inuyasha bounced from side to side as he waited for Koga to come toward him. "Come on wolf!"

Koga came forward, and leaned his body to the side as he threw a kick into Inuyasha's liver.

That fucker!

Inuyasha stumbled slightly, and Koga threw a left hook right into his jaw. Inuyasha's head learched to the side. He could taste blood in his mouth from the blow. Annoyed, Inuyasha threw his own kick into Koga's leading leg. Koga lifted it slightly, and then placed it back down. Inuyasha threw another kick into his leg and followed it with a powerful punch into Koga's own jaw.

Having left his lower body exposed, Inuyasha took the opportunity to grab onto one of Koga's legs, and started walking forward, forcing Koga to hop backward and fall onto his back. Once he had Koga on the ground, Inuyasha fell to his knees, delivering a punch to Koga's face as he did so, breaking the shield that Koga had created with his arms. Inuyasha laid his body on top of Koga's, the heels of his feet digging into Koga's ribcage. Inuyasha forced an arm above Koga's head, and wrapped both of his arms around Koga's head and arm. He locked in the submission by resting one of his hands over Koga's wrist, his other arm looped under Koga's elbow, his hand latched onto his forehead.

Koga's one free hand grabbed onto the skin of Inuyasha's hip momentarily, before it reached up to punch at Inuyasha's temple. Koga delivered another punch, it landed squarely into Inuyasha's cheek. He growled, but his face remained stoic as he tried to submit Koga.

Three taps dude, c'mon! GIVE UP!

Koga wiggled under Inuyasha. His head moved under Inuyasha's torso, popping out from under him. Inuyasha kept his lock, panting as Koga delivered another blow. Inuyasha pulled with his body to the right, and he heard Koga wince.

With new found strength, Koga wiggled a little more, able to pull part of his chest out from under Inuyasha. He turned slightly in his position, a hand resting on Inuyasha's hips as he pushed him away. Inuyasha shifted. His arms shifted down, closer to his side as his body moved to lay horizontally across Koga's chest. His knees dug into Koga's torso, his side pressing up against Koga's neck.

The referee ordered him to let go, and Inuyasha cursed loudly, but got off of Koga.

The bell rang three times.

Inuyasha cursed loudly again, walking back to his corner. He sat down as Myoga rushed forward.

"You're doing great Inuyasha! Keep that pressure up! You almost had it. Try to get him back on the ground as soon as you see an opening." He rambled. Inuyasha nodded, breathing heavily as he was given water. He winced slightly at the cold metal that was placed against his cheek. "We know you're strongest on the mount, so try to keep in that position when you're on the ground."

"He's not giving up so easily." Inuyasha said. "He's good on his feet, not so much on the ground. I was trying to finish him with that Kimura."

"I know, that's good! You did a good job adjusting your strategy! You saw how he was slow to start, right?"

"Trying to tire me out."

"Don't let him! You got this, c'mon!" Myoga slapped his shoulders. "Submit him this round!"

Inuyasha rose to his feet as everyone fell away. His head was beginning to hurt, those blows that Koga had managed to land on him were beginning to make themselves known.

And they hurt.

As Koga moved to strike, Inuyasha spun on his heel, his left arm stuck out and he stuck Koga on the cheek with the back of his fist. Koga fell once again to the ground.

The crowd roared to life, he heard Kagome yell as he fell on top of Koga.

Koga pushed against Inuyasha's knees, but it proved to be in vain. Inuyasha slammed the sides of his fist once again into Koga's face, and the sides of his head as he tried to fight Inuyasha off. Inuyasha refused, he pressed his knees up against Koga's ribcage. He came chest to chest with Koga, Koga's arms trapped between them. Inuyasha took his left wrist and pushed it up against Koga's elbow, leaning his body further forward.

Yes!

Koga's left elbow was trapped in an awkward position, slightly sticking out and stuck parallel to his face. Inuyasha's right hand reached behind Koga's head, forcing it to turn to the side. His left forearm pushed Koga's arm up. Gold eyes were wide as he breathed heavily, jaw clenched as he tried to finish the submission. The side of his head pressed forcefully into Koga's left elbow, as his arm came up over his head. Inuyasha's right arm came further behind Koga's head. He heard Koga curse loudly, trying to buck Inuyasha off. Inuyasha loosened his grip ever so slightly, as his body slid forward and to the side. His right knee rested on Koga's stomach. His left foot planted on the canvas as he tightened his grip. Right hand grabbing onto his left wrist. His left hand angled slightly outward, elbow digging into Koga's bicep.

Any second now...Inuyasha thought. He watched as sweat dripped from his brow, blood dripped from the tip of his fang and splattered onto the canvas. He squeezed some more, trying to force Koga to tap out.

He felt Koga's body relax. Inuyasha moved his head, looking over his shoulder as he felt three, barely there taps on the back of his thigh. He felt the referee shake his shoulder, and Inuyasha rolled off of Koga, releasing a breath he didn't know he was holding. He laid on the canvas, his arms out at his sides, his chest heaving up and down heavily. Once he'd caught his breath, Inuyasha sat back on his knees. His face turned up to the lights, his eyes closed as his hands rested on his thighs. People began to flood the octagon, Koga was guided out of it. Someone blocked the bright lights of the arena and his eyes fluttered open to see who it was.

Golden eyes met brown as he stared back, a small smile weakly making its way onto his face. "What are you doing?" He asked, when he finally regained his voice.

Kagome stuck her hand out in front of her. "Helping you up." She said matter-of-factly. Inuyasha chuckled as he took her hand. She leaned back and into her heels as she pulled Inuyasha up from the canvas. Her nose crinkled slightly as she felt the sweaty, slippery surface of his glove. "Gross." She muttered. "You good?" She asked, noticing the sort of dazed expression that Inuyasha was donning.

"Yeah just...got a little bit of a runner's high." Inuyasha said. He looked around them, and located Miroku, who pushed his way between officials and corner team members to get to them.

It was quiet.

Somewhere in the hotel room, a clock ticked away, telling the time that was wasted sitting in silence.

Tick.

Tick.

Tick.

They stared at each other.

Seated across from one another in the living room, Kagome wrapped a blanket closer around herself. Inuyasha sat with one foot pressing against the edge of the table, an arm stretched out against the edge of the couch.

It was dark, but in the light that streamed in from the outside world through the windows, Kagome could faintly make out the bruises that were beginning to form on his skin. Small splotches of purple and blue covered it, like markings.

If she squinted hard enough she could make out the faint scar, left behind by the incision made on his body to operate on his liver.

She realized, now, what might have caused the accident. She always believed what the media said and what Miroku and himself had said. You know, that he fell asleep behind the wheel after a long day.

"The accident." Kagome was the first to break the silence, her voice soft, but not soft enough for Inuyasha not to hear. His attention moved, head turning from the large open window, to face Kagome. "...how did it happen?"

"You know how it happened." Inuyasha replied, bitterly.

"No. Really, how?" Kagome pressed. Inuyasha gave her a look.

"I got drunk." He admitted, realizing that this was the first time he'd ever openly admitted to anyone what had happened that day. "I woke up, felt like shit. Got drunk." He recounted, "the next thing I knew, Rin was screaming at me from behind some EMTs and police officers. My cheek was pressed against the asphalt." He looked down at his hands, the bloody, raw knuckles and the torn skin. "I thought I was...dead."

"Did you..." Kagome wasn't sure how to proceed with her question, but it was already halfway out of her mouth and she couldn't take back what was already said. "Did you...wish you were?"

Inuyasha's jaw clenched. "...no." He said carefully, his answer hanging in the air. "I..that wasn't an attempt." He clarified.

"So you do? You wish you were dead?" Kagome asked. Inuyasha felt as if something had squeezed at his heart, at his throat. He wanted to respond but in that moment he found himself paralyzed and suddenly everything hurt.

Breathing.

Talking.

Existing.

"I ask," Kagome spoke again. "I ask because most people who are alcoholics...they have a reason for it. Sometimes that in particular isn't the reason...but," She paused for a few moments, her left hand scratching nervously into the palm of her right. "But sometimes people don't know, so...I'm asking."

Inuyasha couldn't tell her. At least, he couldn't tell her at that moment. He couldn't tell her that he frequently thought about drowning himself. He couldn't tell her that sometimes when he was alone in his car on the highway, he would let go of the wheel and close his eyes. He couldn't tell her that. He wouldn't tell her that. So when she asked her question and looked at him with those big beautiful brown eyes and anxiousness practically oozing out of her every pore...he shook his head.

"No." He lied. "I don't have those thoughts." He watched as she wrung her hands worriedly and for a split second, she reminded him of his mother. He remembered how she used to wring her hands when she was worried or anxious about something, how she would nervously rub them together as she rocked herself back and forth.

Kagome resembled her in that way, now. Her body anxiously swayed from side to side, the hands that rubbed together, the way she gnawed on her lower lip. Her hair, once perfectly straight, now damp and wavy.

"You said...you said its been years?" Kagome asked, recalling what he'd said to her in Vermont. "When did it start?"

"Early." He said simply.

"What's 'early'?" Kagome asked.

"Thirteen."

Ten years. He's been like this for ten years.

He was twenty-three now, or twenty-four? Kagome had lost track of time. She didn't know if it was Saturday night or Sunday morning. In her mind, they were in limbo.

They were in some type of purgatory, until they figured everything out.

"Ten years." Kagome repeated her thoughts, out loud this time. "You've...you've been drinking for ten years." She had a follow up question. Her eyes tore away from the glass coffee table. "But..how did you get it so...young?"

"My father." He responded, running a hand through his hair, his eyes never coming up from the table to meet hers. "He wasn't very good at hiding things."

In direct contrast to you, Inuyasha, Kagome thought.

She had so many questions that she wanted to ask, some of them personal, and some just wanting to get answers. Although she realized that she couldn't get answers about addiction without first getting personal.

"Is it usually that...messy? Or, I'm sorry...violent?" Kagome asked, referring to the state of the kitchen when she stumbled upon it. The broken glasses, empty bottles scattered all over the area, the vomit splattered sink. She remembered almost stepping on some broken glass, just barely jumping back before she put her whole weight on it. "I don't know what...wording I should use for that."

"...Yes." Inuyasha responded carefully, nodding slowly. His fingers drummed against the couch, dragging slightly against the soft material of the cushions. "It is always like that."

"Do you get violent?" Kagome followed, her own hand dragging across the throw pillow she'd placed on her lap. He stared at her for a few moments. "Like...physically violent? With other people?"

"...Sometimes." He quickly followed with, "it's happened before."

His answer made her stiffen in her seat, and she gulped as if forced to swallow a pill without water. She had no real gauge of what that 'sometimes' meant. Did he mean once or twice a year? When it was really bad? Did he mean a few times a month? Did he mean every week?

"Hm." She vocalized in response, a low hum that rumbled deep in the back of her throat. "Can I ask another question?"

He was slow to answer, trying to figure out what the possible question could be. "...Yes, go ahead." Inuyasha said.

"Yesterday, I mentioned how we didn't really talk about...this when it happened. Moreso, I told you a few things about myself and then we…"

"Fucked?"

"Yes." Kagome sighed, running a hand nervously through her hair, pulling at the ends gently with her fingertips. "And I think I said something about that not really counting as talking about it, and you asked me what did count as talking about it then, since that didn't."

"...Yeah." Inuyasha scratched at the side of his face, wincing slightly at the feel of his blunted nails against the cut on his cheek, and the bruises on his skin. "What about it?"

"I don't know...I guess I'm just trying to ask if..you were avoiding talking about it by having sex with me?"

Inuyasha's face dropped, the neutral expression he wore the whole time was quickly replaced with a grave one. He wanted to rush forward and reassure her that that wasn't the case. But he couldn't.

The reality was, now that she said that...he wasn't quite sure either.

He couldn't confidently tell her that he wasn't.

It fell quiet again. The silence was still, almost deafening. Inuyasha sighed and dragged a hand down his face. "I…" He started to speak, Kagome's head lifted as she looked away from the coffee-table. He felt a lump form in his throat, making it hard for him to get the words he wanted to say out.

And that was even harder because he had no idea what he wanted to say.

He was lost.

"Sorry, maybe I should rephrase that." Kagome stammered, taking note of the awkwardness that had settled between them. "What I mean is...did you..like...ugh!" She was beginning to get flustered, feeling tears well up in her eyes. She hated emotional confrontation. It made her feel weak and stupid and small and dramatic. But it especially made her feel stupid. She felt as though she was overreacting and overthinking, and common sense was telling her 'Kags, he's not that type of person. He's decent.' and the other part of her, the devil on her shoulder, was telling her that he'd just used her that night to get her to forget about what had happened just a day before.

And that frustrated her, she didn't know which part of herself to believe. She was conflicted.

I hate feeling conflicted.

She could feel his eyes on her, boring holes into her skin like fiery little lamps. Kagome couldn't handle the silence that grew longer and longer until finally she spoke for the third time. "I'm sorry, Inuyasha. It was a dumb question." She looked up from the coffee table finally, and gave him a small, albeit sad, smile.

Inuyasha felt...bad. He was watching her spiral in her own mind, he could tell from the expressions she was making, the way she nervously spoke. The stammer in her voice and the wavering. Trying to appear strong but faltering in the end.

He felt like whatever his mind would conjure up for him to say was just going to make it worse so he remained silent, watching her carefully with furrowed eyebrows and a head full of thoughts.

Thoughts that he just couldn't find the words to express.

"You wouldn't do that with me...right?" Kagome asked him, practically pleading to him with her eyes. His ears fell flat against his head.

Mentally, Inuyasha let out a breath. A simple yes or no question had been offered, and he was grateful for the 'out' it provided him.

"No." He responded quietly. Kagome let out a breath she didn't realize she was holding in for the entirety of her spiral. "Are you alright, Kagome?"

She nodded her head in response, looking out the window. The breeze that came in through the open windows helped wash away the red hot feeling on her face. "Thank you." Kagome muttered, looking over to Inuyasha. "For talking with me...about...that."

"Mhm." He said, "just...again...don't tell anyone."

"I won't."

"Not even Miroku. He can't know that you know."

"Okay." Kagome responded, and with a gasp she scrambled to her feet, and disappeared into her room. After a few seconds she emerged with her phone in hand, pointing happily at the time and date.

2:37 AM

Sunday, August 18th, 2020

"It's your birthday!" Kagome exclaimed, jumping up and down where she stood. "You're twenty-four today!"

"I know." Inuyasha responded, giving her a close-lipped smile.

"Happy birthday, Inuyasha!" She said with a wide smile, rushing to give him a hug. He could barely stand up right before he felt her arms wrap around him, her face burrowing into the fabric of his shirt.

"You know," she muttered, "despite everything that's happened between us, you're a pretty decent person, and I'd really like to remain friends with you when all of this is over."

Inuyasha blinked in mild confusion. He wasn't fully able to process the sudden switch in her demeanor, the excitement that replaced her humourless, almost disillusioned attitude. "Thank you, Kagome." He muttered back.