Disclaimer: Don't own Inuyasha. Do own Shawn. sigh Do I really need to write this every single time? I also do not own The Phantom of the Opera.

oXoCrAzY4MyHaNyOuXoX- Thanx for another great review and telling me the names of Kagome's friends, but as I have already written their names and everything and don't wish to go over it again, you'll have to live with my made up stuff. Sorry.

Cousin's Return

Chapter 5: Secret Night Visit

"I am sooooo glad that school's over," said Shawn, before shoving a French fry into her mouth.

"Oh come on it wasn't that bad," said Kagome.

"You weren't in my Gym class, were you? I swear that Suki girl hated my guts the minute I walked into history class," Shawn replied sipping her milkshake, "Thank God for WacDonalds," she muttered

Kagome snorted, "Well, science class wasn't that bad right?"

Science had been both Kagome's and Shawn's period 6 class. The teacher had this idea where everyone needed an official lab partner all the time. Fortunately, Kagome's official partner had moved away last week and Shawn got paired with her.

"Yeah right," Shawn rolled her eyes, "Except when you remember the fact that I put too much baking powder into our rocket and it exploded rather than shot upwards like it was supposed to."

"It wasn't that big a deal. Mr. Matura doesn't down grade for failed experiments.

"What does he downgrade for then?"

"Not recording you data right. Messy lab papers. Weird stuff like that."

Shawn sighed.

"So, who is this Hiten guy anyway?" asked Kagome changing the subject so Shawn would get her mind out of the gutter.

"Oh him? I told you, I don't really know. I ran into him on the way home yesterday, literally," said Shawn.

"What he look like?"

Shawn brushed her hair behind her ears, "Tall, long black hair, couple earrings in each ear, kind of muscular, brown eyes.

Kagome nodded and rubbed her chin.

"Oh please Kagome," said Shawn, "You don't seriously think this is that same Hiten you and Inuyasha fought like forever ago. He died remember? Plus that was like the 15th century and this is the 21st. And how would he get through the well?"

"I know I know," said Kagome. She sighed, "It just sounds a lot like him. That's what bothers me."

0o0o0o0o

Shawn dragged herself into her room and flopped onto the bed. She had spent the past few hours (not including dinner) doing homework and studying with Kagome. Kagome had insisted they get ahead because she was planning on making a trip to the feudal era that weekend.

'Why does she even bother with school?' Shawn thought. She glanced at the few boxes still on the floor, "Damn," she muttered.

Once again she popped a CD in and started to unpack. This time it was "The Phantom of the Opera" soundtrack with Michael Crawford.

Shawn shuffled though the few remaining boxes. In one she found a small box the contained the little jewelry she owned. She opened it and on top of the little heap of necklaces and earrings was a locket. It was silver and oval shaped; about the size of a thumb print. A purple stone in the shape of a heart was set in the center.

'I remember this,' thought Shawn, 'Mom gave it to me for my birthday.' She wiped away a tear and opened it. On one side was a picture of her parents hugging each other. The picture was cut so close you could barely see the sunset that was behind the couple.

'This was from that trip to Capitola,' thought Shawn. The other picture in the locket was of Inuyasha. Kagome had taken the picture last time Shawn had come to visit, which had been the first time Shawn had met Inuyasha. She sighed, remembering the first time she had met him. 'Who knew that I would fall in love with the guy who stepped on my hair at first meeting?"

It hadn't been on purpose. Shawn had been sleeping under Kagome's window when Inuyasha had climbed through at midnight in hopes of talking to Kagome.

Tears welled up in Shawn's eyes. Going back home that summer had been so hard. Inuyasha didn't know how to write, but once every two weeks Inuyasha dictated to Kagome and she would write a letter and send it to Shawn when she got back from the feudal era.

Shawn went to her desk and took out the little bundle of letters from Inuyasha. She opened the most recent one and read it again for what felt like the 100th time.

"Oh, Inuyasha."

Shawn sat on her bed clutching, the letter and locket to her chest, and cried.

At that moment, "Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again," came on. Shawn cried harder, but she wasn't sure whom she was crying for. Her parents or Inuyasha. The song seemed to last forever.

Wishing you were somehow here again

Knowing we must say good-bye.

Try to forgive

Teach me to live

Give me the strength to cry

'Why?' was Shawn's last thought before she fell asleep holding tight to the letter and locket.

0o0o0o0o

"Damn it Kagome! You should have been back by now!" muttered Inuyasha as he climbed out of the well.

Inuyasha dashed to the tree by Kagome's window and hopped up. He looked inside and saw Kagome brushing her hair with her back to the window.

'Stupid woman,' he thought opening the window.

"Were you planning on coming back anytime soon?" asked Inuyasha as he climbed into Kagome's room.

Kagome spun around, "Oh, Inuyasha," she said putting her hand on her chest, "It's just you. You scared me."

"Yeah, yeah. Answer the question," the hanyou replied grumpily.

"Lovely to see you too," muttered Kagome, "We're planning on coming back this weekend."

"We?" asked Inuyasha.

"Yeah. We. Me and Shawn," said Kagome coolly.

"Shawn?"

"Yeah. Didn't Souta tell you? He said you came over while I was gone," Kagome turned away and started unsetting her bed for the night.

"Tell me what?" asked Inuyasha annoyed.

"About Shawn's parents?"

"Well, yeah he told me about that. Is there something else I should know?" Inuyasha put his fists on his hips.

Kagome turned back and faced the half-demon. She copied his gesture and put her hands on her hips as well, "You mean Souta didn't tell you Shawn was gonna come live with us?"

"No. He didn't."

Kagome sighed, "Well, she's here."

"She is? Really? Can I see her? Where is she?"

"Whoa, whoa," Kagome put her hands up to stop Inuyasha as he started to run out of the room, "Slow down lover-boy. She should be in her room, but she might be asleep."

"Kagome," Inuyasha groaned, "Come on. I haven't seen her in 6 months!"

"All right, all right. But don't keep her up too long. We have school tomorrow."

"You always have school," mumbled Inuyasha as he walked into the hall, "Ugh?" he said suddenly confused, "Which is Shawn's room anyway?"

Kagome sighed and pointed to the room across the hall and a few feet down.

"Right. Thanks."

'Wow. He's so much more polite when Shawn's around,' thought Kagome sarcastically as she closed her bedroom door.

0o0o0o0o

Inuyasha opened Shawn's door just a crack and peered in. He heard music playing. It was coming from the strange blue box on her bedside table. The only light was from a small lamp in the coroner. It threw a cozy glow over the room. Shawn was asleep. Inuyasha quietly slipped inside, careful not to disturb the sleeping girl. He tip –toed over to the side of the bed and fell onto his knees. For a moment he watched and listened to her soft regular breathing, unable to believe that she had come back.

Suddenly Inuyasha noticed a piece of paper and a locket clutched in Shawn's hands. Curiosity got the better of him and he carefully pried open her fingers and took the two objects.

Inuyasha noticed right away that the piece on paper was one of the letters he had sent her during their long months apart. Next he opened the locket and saw the picture of himself. He smiled.

'I guess she really missed me,' thought Inuyasha. He had really missed her too. He recalled the little bundle of letters he had received from Shawn that he kept hidden under a rock near the Bone-Eater's Well. When ever he got the chance he would sneak over and read them. Well, not really read them. Inuyasha didn't know how to read. He had Kagome read them until he had memorized the words so that he could just look at the date and remember what the letter said. He sighed.

Inuyasha sat and stared at Shawn a little longer. He realized that she wasn't under the covers. He looked around and saw a blanket hanging out of a box on the floor. He grabbed it and gently laid it over Shawn. He sat on the edge of the bed and stroked her hair for a while, content just to watch her sleep.

Inuyasha didn't know how long he sat there and watched her, but eventually he stood up to leave. He was about to jump out the window, but then he turned around. He bent over and kissed Shawn on the cheek.

"Good night, Shawn," he whispered in her ear. She stirred slightly, but did not wake. Inuyasha thought he saw a slight smile appear on her lips, but it may just have been a trick of the light.

Then he jumped out the window and hurried back down the well.

Author's Note: So lovely readers, what do ya think of the chappie? Did you like that romantic moment. OK not that romantic, but hey. I know it's weird that Inuyasha didn't wake Shawn up, but it's one of those things where he wants to wait until she's ready to see him again. You know what I mean? With the whole parents dying thing? So anyway please review! I live off feed back.