AN: Okay, so for some bizarre reason, after did its whole reconstruction thing, all the chapters I had on reserve in my document manager were deleted..... no idea why, but it was certainly a pain in the butt reuploading the four chapters.... not to mention for over a week, they had all those bugs and glitches that wouldn't allow me to even look at the newly uploaded chapters, much less update the fic.... bummer....

oh, and yes, that's right, four. Chapter 9 is officially done, and I'm beginning chapter 10... can't tell when that'll be done, though.... but, still, over a ONE-HUNDRED PAGE WRITING STREAK AND STILL GOING! smile that's reason enough to celebrate, right?

Anyway, here's the long awaited chapter 6... and, as I promised, more characters introduced to the plot...

Protect Me

Chapter 6

Cappuccinos and Police Dogs

"Mom?"

Mrs. Higurashi turned, her dishcloth and soapy bowl still in hand. Upon spotting Kagome, she smiled warmly. "Well, hello, dear. What are you doing here?"

Kagome smiled and opened her mouth to speak when she hesitated, looking at her mother thoughtfully. "Huh?"

Mrs. Higurashi simply continued smiling. "I said, 'what are you doing here'. Don't your ears work anymore?"

Kagome's brows furrowed. "Why wouldn't I be here, Mom? This is my home."

Still smiling, her mother shook her head slowly. "Silly girl. This isn't your home."

Now Kagome was really confused. Was this really her mother? "Mom?"

The woman laughed softly, slowly dipping the bowl back into the water. "You really are a silly girl, you know that?" she said, amused.

The girl took a step forward toward her mother. "Mom, what's the-"

"Kagome, Kagome, Kagome," she tutted, removing her hands from the water and slowly turning around. Kagome froze, eyes widening. A rather familiar shiny black object was calmly held in her finger-pruned hands. "Such a silly child. What makes you think I'm your mother?"

Kagome's blood curled inside her. Her mother's voice had changed, suddenly adopting a dark, silky smooth tone, certainly not her mother's, yet all too familiar.

"M-mom?" she whispered hoarsely.

"Silly, stupid girl," the voice inside her mother cackled. "Your home is not here… but in HELL!!!"

BANG! BANG! BANG!

Kagome's eyes snapped open and she immediately shot up, gasping for air. She found herself reaching around her bed, searching for something. When she couldn't find it, she looked around wildly, confused.

Eventually, fragments of memories of the last several days came rushing back and she began to calm down. When her breathing slowed to normal, Kagome sighed and swung her legs around the side of the bed, pausing before getting to her feet to look around.

While Inuyasha had firmly declared the larger room to be his, Kagome was satisfied with the slightly smaller, cozier room. In the few hours she spent before finally succumbing to her exhaustion, she had successfully arranged the accessories in the room to her liking, appreciating Sango so much more for fulfilling the requests she had made for her living quarters. The bed was a simple but elegant queen with a blue and white-checkered quilt and goose-feathered pillows. Assorted stuffed animals lay scattered around the floor, but later, when she made the bed, they would be sat up against the pillows. Twin side tables sat on each end of the bed with drawers filled with odds and ends and a white lamp on both.

From a position on the bed, Kagome could look to her right out into the small, quaint town of Somerset, New Jersey. The view limited itself to a public library, a town coffee shop and a gas station. Below the window was a beautiful pinewood desk, complete with a small, dark green journal that had been left out from its use the night before. A ceiling high matching bookcase was filled to the rim with volumes per Kagome's request. Though it was Sesshoumaru who supervised the financing of her relocation, it was Sango and Miroku who went through the extra effort of seeing that money went to good use to make Kagome as comfortable as possible.

Kagome smiled, thinking of this, and finally pushed herself out of bed, sluggishly making her way to her bathroom.

Thirty minutes later, Kagome emerged from her bathroom and out into the hallway, still towel drying her hair. Ignoring Inuyasha's still closed door, she waltzed into the kitchen, pulling open the refrigerator door and removing several of its contents. Within minutes, she had breakfast well underway when she finally heard a door squeak open and its occupant drag himself into view.

Kagome didn't even bother looking up. "Good morning, Charles," she said calmly.

Inuyasha barely lifted his eyes up to glance at her before yawning his reply, stretching his tongue out lazily. From out of the corner of her eye, Kagome watched him appear to slowly make his way around her while, at the same time, his hand tried to sneak toward the bacon.

Like a flash, Kagome's hand whipped out to smack Inuyasha's with the spatula. The hanyou jerked his injured hand back with a snarl, ears flat against his skull, fangs bared.

"Hey, bitch! What the hell was that for?"

"For trying to steal my food," she replied evenly, unfazed.

"Don't forget who's protecting your sorry ass, wench!" Inuyasha spat.

Kagome nodded. "Yes, and I am grateful, but at the rate you're going, you're certainly not going to see any gratitude through anything other than me not putting poison in your food, much less making anything for you voluntarily."

Inuyasha sneered. "If I were you, wench, I wouldn't-'

"-Smell, do drugs or require mental help. Yes, I know. Don't you just envy me?"

A laugh alerted both roommates' attention to the front door. Miroku clapped. "Touché, Kagome. Very charming."

"Charming!?" Inuyasha spat, looking at the man as if he were an alien. "Charming!? I wish someone would just drop her in a jungle and watch her charm a lion or something."

"Lions don't live in jungles, smart one," Kagome corrected, removing her eggs from its skillet onto a plate. Looking up at the agents, she smiled. "Come on in. I've got breakfast ready!"

"Smells wonderful, Kagome," Sango said, taking her offer by walking inside and placing her jacket on the back of the couch.

Miroku followed behind her, sniffing the air with a smile. "I second that," he added, grinning. "Certainly looks as if you're adjusting well, might I add."

Kagome smiled, moving around the sulking hanyou to take out three plates. "Well, there's no use sulking about it, right? Might as well make the best of it."

"That's the kind of attitude I like to hear," Sango quipped happily, taking a plate.

Inuyasha watched them all chattering over the food, glaring at them resentfully. "So these two just show up, and all of a sudden they get food?" he hissed.

Kagome quirked an eyebrow, pointing her fork at him. "You would have, too, if you weren't such a grump," she pointed out.

"Hmph, whatever," he muttered, snatching a slice of bacon before Kagome could smack his hand and storming out of the kitchen and back into his room, slamming the door shut.

Kagome sighed, shaking her head. "I suppose I might as well get used to that, huh?"

Sango nodded. "Unfortunately. You have my sympathy, Kagome."

Miroku looked up from watching Inuyasha storm away. "Give it some time. I'm sure he'll come around eventually."

"Not if he's Sesshoumaru's brother, he won't," Sango put in.

"True."

All three sat brooding over this before they sighed and continued eating. It was not a promising thought.

Later that day, the four of them walked into coffee shop across the street, affectionately known as "The Bean", instantly overcome by the wave of delicious odors drifting around the room.

Kagome grinned delightedly. The place was absolutely delightful! Alongside the wall ran a three-level display case flaunting enticing doughnuts and morning pastries. The back of the room was where the register was with a bar and a few stools for customers. Behind the bar, the wall sported a ginger colored sign showing the varieties of coffee offered. An elderly woman bustled around here, filling cups here and adding a pinch of flavoring there. Kagome's mouth watered just a little at the chocolate something-or-other she was preparing for a customer… she wouldn't deny she had a bit of a sweet tooth.

Clustered around the center of the shop were several small tables, a couch and two love seats, the same ginger color as the sign and the walls. A handful of people sat around here, sipping their beverages and nibbling their treats, either talking, reading, or watching the television set hanging from the ceiling above and behind the register. Right now, soft grumbles and excited shouts were the predominant sound in the place from the football game being aired.

"Well?" Miroku asked. "What do you think?"

"I love it!" Kagome assured him, grinning. "It's so… inviting! Really warm and homey, you know?"

A snort behind them was Inuyasha's reply.

Rolling her eyes, Sango held up a hand to her mouth and called out, "Hey, Old Lady!"

The woman from behind the register looked up and scowled. "Sango, you little scamp. How dare you walk into my place, calling me such names. Didn't I teach you better than that?"

Sango laughed and walked forward. Despite her scowl, the woman didn't refrain from leaning over the counter to briefly embrace the girl.

"Of course you did, Gram," Sango replied when they released each other, her eyes sparkling with amusement.

"Hmph, I should think so," was the woman's response before turning to the other three. "And don't be so rude as to not introduce me to your company… not you, Miroku," she added, earning a pout from the young man. The woman's smile spread like the Cheshire cat. "I'm not so old or simple minded as to believe Sango would finally allow you in her company."

"I'm here, aren't I?" Miroku said defensively, glancing at Sango hopefully.

Sango snorted. "Only because you followed me."

"Come on, Sango!"

The old woman chuckled. "As I had assumed," she said, turning her focus onto Kagome and Inuyasha. "But what about you two? I assume you," she looked at Kagome with a gentle smile, "will be my new employee, correct?"

Kagome nodded, smiling. "Yes, my name is… Kikyo Itsumi." Inuyasha turned away, suddenly very interested in something on the ground. "Thank you so much, Ma'am, for giving me this opportunity."

"Now, see here," the woman said authoritatively, waggling a finger at the girl like she would a child, "don't you go and try to butter me up by all this 'Ma'am' stuff. It'll do nothing but swell my ego, making me an even worse boss to work for. To everyone around here, I'm either 'Grandma Kaede' or 'Gram', got it?"

Kagome giggled, nodding obediently. "Yes, Grandma Kaede."

Kaede grinned. "Glad to see you catch on quick. Sango's reports on you weren't too far from the truth, I see."

"Don't worry, Gram," Sango quipped, throwing an arm around Kagome's shoulders. "Kikyo's a good girl. She won't let you down."

Kaede nodded approvingly. "Well, coming from you, Sango, I guess I can't say no. But this does raise a question for you, Kikyo," she added seriously.

"What is it?" Kagome wanted to know.

"You wouldn't happen to be that girl who moved into that large apartment across the street, would you?"

"Yes, how did you know?"

Kaede smiled. "I thought so. I live two floors above you and saw all those moving vans along the street. I had hoped a young girl like you would be among my new neighbors."

"Why?" Miroku asked.

"I've been looking for a babysitter for my little grandson for months, now, but no one around here has been interested. He's really a sweet boy, but nobody's got the time to spare. Twice a week, I attend a town council meeting, and I hate to leave the poor thing by himself."

"Say no more, Grandma Kaede," Kagome assured her. "I love kids. I'd be happy to baby-sit him!"

Kaede breathed out a sigh of relief before gently clasping Kagome's hand between her two, withered ones. "You don't know how happy it makes me to hear you say that, Kikyo, dear. And I'll pay you whatever wages you want."

Kagome shook her head. "Don't worry about it. Consider it my thanks for giving me the job!"

"Nonsense, child," Kaede scolded, lightly slapping the back of her hand. "I'll hear none of it."

"But, really, money isn't really a prob-"

"I said I'll hear none of it," Kaede repeated sternly. "If you won't take money, than at the very least, you can eat here whenever you like, free of charge. Normally, I'd only give a discount, but for you, consider it yours."

Kagome sighed, giving in to the stubborn woman's unwavering resolution. "If you say so. I'd actually appreciate that."

"Great! Now that we've got that settled, the next order of business will be to determine when you'll start working."

"Would right now be too soon for you?" Kagome asked timidly. "I'm a pretty fast learner, and I'd like to get started as soon as possible."

Kaede took a long look at the girl before she threw her head back, laughing. "Child, I knew when Sango told me about you that I would really like you. Come on in, then, and let's get started!"

Kaede took Kagome by the shoulders and led her to the back room. Twisting around, Kagome waved at Sango and Miroku who waved back, shouting back their encouragements. Inuyasha still stood in the same spot, staring at the ground, frowning.

Sango watched him, crossing her arms over her chest. "What's your problem, now?"

"Nothing," Inuyasha said indignantly.

Miroku and Sango exchanged disbelieving glances before shrugging and turning toward the door. Kicking his foot over the tiled floor, Inuyasha followed.

"Where do you think you're going?" Sango demanded, stopping him. "You're supposed to stay here and watch over Kagome."

Inuyasha didn't appear to hear or care, but simply walked on.

Sango frowned. "Fine then. I'll have Sesshoumaru make arrangements for your flight to Mongolia," she called sweetly.

Inuyasha stopped, ears twitching in irritation. He refused to look around to face her, but Sango didn't need to see him in order to tell he was furious, hands clenched at his sides. Looking around, he spotted the bathroom and purposefully strode toward it, as if he were heading in that direction the entire time.

Miroku sighed and grinned. "Quite the character, huh?"

Sango nodded, echoing his sigh. "Yes, and Sesshoumaru still refuses to give me the scoop on him. Not that I'd ever admit it to him, but Inuyasha's right- Sesshoumaru is a bastard."

The bell that hung above the front door rang, and a customer walked in. Sango and Miroku noticed his blue uniform and glittering gold badge and stepped aside to let him through. They paused before walking out, however, when they spotted Kagome stepping up to the register, Kaede supervising from behind. The dark haired officer was to be Kagome's first customer, and they wanted to watch how it went.

Kagome smiled. "Hi there. How are you, today?"

The young man looked down at her and returned the smile. "Not too bad, thanks. Not anymore, anyways."

The girl looked baffled, but smiled, thinking it was some sort of joke. "And why is that, sir?"

He grinned, his teeth a dazzling white. "I've just discovered myself in the very fine company of Kaede's new helper."

Kagome blinked, at first confused, then, once his words processed through her mind, blushed heavily. Behind her, Kaede snorted, but was unable to hide the amused glint in her eyes.

"Oh, don't mind him," Kaede advised. "Kouga thinks he's the greatest thing in the world since the coffee bean."

"What do you mean by 'think'?" Kouga asked, grinning playfully. "I am, and I smell just as good, too."

"I hate to break it to you, Kouga, but whoever tells you that lies."

"Kaede, you're always so mean to me."

"That's because you always scare my customers and employees away with all of your flirting," Kaede scolded.

Kouga laughed, turning to Kagome with another dazzling smile. "You don't think I'm scary, do you?"

Kagome blinked, unsure of how to answer. "Well, no, not really…" she admitted.

Obviously pleased with her answer, Kouga opened his mouth to argue with Kaede more, but the old woman beat him to it. "Kouga, would you just stop flirting and hurry up, already?" the woman exclaimed. "Other customers do want coffee, you know."

"Alright, alright," Kouga conceded, eyes scanning over the menu.

Kaede rolled her eyes and leaned closer to Kagome's ear. "He's just doing that to annoy me. He gets the exact same thing every single day, but he has to make a show of trying to decide."

"I heard that," he informed them, grinning smugly, pointing a finger to his sharp, distinctively wolf demon ears.

"Well, it's true," Kaede grumbled.

"So then," Kagome cleared her throat, "what'll you have, then?"

"Your name."

"Excuse me?"

"I said I'd like your name, please," Kouga replied, amused at her bashfulness. "If it doesn't come at too much of a cost, that is."

"M-my name?" Kagome stammered, her cheeks burning again. "I-it's Ka… Kikyo. M-my name is Kikyo."

Kouga quirked his head thoughtfully. "Kikyo, huh? Well, nice to meet you. I'm Kouga Ookami," he said, holding out his hand. Kagome took it a little nervously, shaking it politely. "Is this your first day?"

Kagome nodded. "Yup. Grandma Kaede's teaching me how to use the register."

"Although I can't teach much if a certain customer decides to sit there and chat all day instead of buying anything," Kaede put in grumpily.

Kouga glanced at her and grinned, eyes returning back to Kagome. "She's right. I'm sorry for causing so much trouble," he apologized sheepishly.

"Oh, it's no problem, really," Kagome tried to say, but Kouga held up a hand, shaking his head.

"No, it's okay. It's my fault," he insisted. "Go ahead and ask what you need to ask, and I promise I won't stall any longer."

Kagome nodded and straightened herself, fixing her smile. "Good afternoon, sir. How are you today?"

"Very well, Miss. Thank you."

Kagome giggled a little before continued. "That's good to hear. And how may I help you?"

Though Kagome kept giggling, Kouga played his part perfectly, speaking clearly and calmly. "I'd like a tall mocha cappuccino with extra foam and a cinnamon scone, please."

While Kaede proceeded to show Kagome how to enter this into the register, Sango nudged Miroku in the side. "I think he likes her," she told him.

"But he hardly even met her," Miroku protested a little defensively.

Sango eyed him warily. "You're one to talk, pervert."

Miroku wanted to argue about that, but decided against it. "Well, we're supposed to be protecting her, aren't we?"

"Actually, that's more of Inuyasha's job," Sango replied, looking toward the bathroom where the hanyou just emerged, shaking his hands free of any excess water. "Speaking of which, look who finally decided to join us."

Inuyasha glanced at her, scowling. "Aren't you two supposed to be gone?" he said dryly, ignoring her comment.

"Maybe we wanted to make sure you wouldn't spend all day in there, or try to sneak off without Kagome," Sango replied airily.

"Or," Miroku chirped, "maybe we wanted to watch Kagome in action with her first customer."

Inuyasha rolled his eyes, feigning indifference, but, in spite of himself, glanced at the registers just as the customer was waving goodbye, neither paying very much attention.

"See you tomorrow, Kik-Hey!"

Coffee splattered on the floor as the two, solid forms collided, resulting in one staggering back with a coffee stained uniform while the other, with a little less grace, fell to the ground.

Inuyasha rubbed his back tenderly, wincing. "Hey, buddy, why don't you watch where you're going!"

"Why don't you watch where you're standing you…"

Suddenly, both sets of ears perked up and the two strangers whirled to face each other, eyes wide, mouths gaping.

"It's you!"

"You!?"

It took some time for either to comprehend any sensible vocabulary beyond that, but Kouga was the first to react.

"What the hell are you doing out of jail?" Kouga exclaimed.

Inuyasha pushed himself to his feet, throwing his face forward. "What the hell are you doing here? Aren't you supposed to be in Hicksville, or something, you dirty little-"

"Boys!"

Eyes swiveled around to face a steaming Kagome, hands on her hips, eyes glowering. "Can you please take this somewhere other than here?"

Inuyasha ignored her temper and glared right back. "You stay out of this, wench!"

Kouga took a step forward, grasping the hanyou by his collar. "Don't talk to Kikyo like that, Mutt-face!"

"I'll talk to her however I want, you mangy flea-bag!" Inuyasha spat.

Growling, Kouga pulled back his arm, intending to put the dog demon out of his misery when a surprisingly strong hand held him back. He turned to find a rather intimidating looking Kagome hanging onto his fist.

"I said, take it OUTSIDE!" she hissed venomously, locking eyes with both demons.

Kouga felt himself involuntarily shudder while Inuyasha simply stared at her, stunned once again by the strange girl's bizarre strength. Behind them, Sango and Miroku nodded approvingly, and on the other side of the room, Old Lady Kaede smiled, impressed.

Inuyasha was the first to move, jerking himself out of Kouga's grip. "Feh," was all he offered as an explanation as he sauntered off and out through the front door. Kouga glared spitefully at him as he disappeared before turning to face the simmering girl. She did not let go of his hand, nor did her expression lift.

Kouga lowered his hand and offered her a sheepish smile. "Sorry."

Kagome sighed, nodding. "Just don't pick fights inside the shop, okay?"

Kouga grinned. "You got it," he assured her, waving as he jogged outside to join Inuyasha.

With a groan, Kagome glanced at Sango and Miroku. They appeared just as baffled as she was.

Sango rolled her eyes and jerked her thumb at the door. "Come on, you two. We had better go make sure that our little boy doesn't do anything stupid."

Kagome snorted. "More like keep him from doing something we know will be stupid."

Miroku chortled. "Though that may be true, we need to be out there, anyway."

"Go on, you three."

All three turned to find a smiling Kaede standing behind them. Kagome looked a little nervous, but the old woman rested a hand on her shoulder comfortingly. "You've got things to take care of, child, so go ahead and take care of them."

Kagome grinned and nodded. "Yes, Gram."

"Thanks, Kaede," Sango called as they all rushed outside.

AN: Well, today is the Sunday after Thanksgiving, and.... well, suffice it to say, I've had a very trying day...... I've just been thinking a lot about a lot of things, and it's been kinda hard..... I can't tell exactly when I'll update again (even though I have the chapters), and I'm not sure when chapter 10 will be finished..... this situation has left me a bit mentally drained, so please bare with me.... and I'm afraid there'll be no review responses or chapter preview this time... I'll try to include the missed reviewers next time, okay?..... again, I apologize....

heykyra13