This was not how Kagome wanted her Thursday to go. She had a very clear plan: shop in the morning, have lunch with Inuyasha after, give Shippo a call if her conversation with Inuyasha went well, get her ass kicked by Sango, and have a conversation with her mother about the last two and a half weeks. 'Get hit on by an overly-persistent yokai who couldn't take a hint' was not on the list.

"Are you sure you don't want some help?" the man asked again. "Someone as beautiful as you shouldn't have to carry all that by yourself." His piercing blue eyes raked up and down her body.

"Seriously?" She wasn't sure if she wanted to roll her eyes or gag so she just glared at him and pushed her cart a little faster out of the store. "I can handle my own groceries."

When the man followed her out the door, she started to worry. His flirting was starting to look like stalking and the last thing she needed was for him to see what kind of car she drove.

She stopped and spun on him suddenly, deciding to go with a direct approach. "Could you stop following me, please? You're making me uncomfortable and I don't want to make a scene just to get rid of you." She was actually hoping he would make a scene and draw attention to her situation.

"Huh, got some fire in you. I like that!" He smirked and started to dig around in the bag he had slung across his body. "Name's Matsuno, by the way," he said, still concentrating on his search.

"What are you-?"

"Ah, found it," Matsuno said and pulled out a business card. Instead of giving her the card he flipped it over and pulled out a pen ."What's your number? I'd like to take you out for coffee sometime."

Was this guy serious? "Uh, sorry I'm really not interested. I'm seeing someone already." And you're super creepy and I want you to leave me alone, but that should already be implied by now.

"So? It's just coffee. Here." He handed her the card and she took it automatically. "Just text me when you want to get that coffee."

"So, never?"

That just made the man laugh. "You'll come around. Text me whenever," he said and started to jog away. Only when he was out of sight did she go to her car.

This was going in her top spot for 'strangest encounters ever'; it was even going above finding Inuyasha.

She checked her phone and was greeted by six messages and two missed calls from Inuyasha. It made sense: she was over an hour later than planned. She pulled up the messages and started reading from the oldest unread message:

[No, that's stupid. Humans would never be able to keep up.]

What the hell had they been talking about? She scrolled back up a little to check her last message.

[Those game shows would be a lot more entertaining if they let humans, hanyo, and yokai all compete together]

Oh yeah, game shows. Two weeks and she still hadn't been able to get him to stop watching the stupid things.

[Let me know when you're about halfway done shopping. Lunch is going to take some time to make and I want it to be ready when you get here.]

[Are you ignoring me because of my stance on game show participation? That's cold, Higurashi!]

[Having trouble finding anything?]

[Hey, it's getting kinda late, you alright?]

[Just want to make sure nothing happened to you, answer your phone please]

Inuyasha was being much nicer since she stormed out on him two weeks prior. She hadn't brought up the article again and he'd apologized for being a jerk. Since then, they settled into a nice routine of texting and having lunch every few days.

[Hey, sorry if I worried you. Something stupid happened while I was shopping but I'll tell you about it when I get back. Give me twenty minutes to get home and I'll be down]

A quick trip home, some struggling to get all the bags across the shrine, and an awkward ride on the platform surrounded by groceries put her a little over the 25-minute mark. Inuyasha was waiting for her in the hallway.

"Hey," he greeted, "you sure everything's alright?"

"Yeah, it's fine. It was just some creep being weird, no big deal."

He started grabbing bags and managed to get all but two. She grabbed the last two bags and followed him down the hallway and into the kitchen, shutting the door behind her.

"How weird? Like, 'trying too hard to flirt' weird or 'I'm going to murder you and keep your nipples as a keepsake' weird?"

"The flirting one and now I'm regretting showing you those serial killer documentaries. Seriously, my nipples? Gross."

"Are you telling me your nipples are gross? No wonder your single."

"You know that's not what...nevermind, you're an ass. Anyway, he tried to get my number then gave me his business card when I refused." She shivered, remembering how his eyes had raked up and down her body.

"Hey." Inuyasha stopped putting things away and looked at her. "You sure you're alright? He didn't touch you, did he?"

"No, nothing like that. He was just persistent and he…" How should she say he eye-fucked her without actually using those words?

"He what?" Inuyasha asked, his voice lowering.

"It's stupid but just the way he looked at me like he was picturing me naked or something, it was weirdly intense and kind of gross."

"You get the asshole's name?"

"He told me but I can't remember. I was too busy trying to think of how to get rid of him so he wouldn't see my car. He was yokai, I hope he didn't memorize my scent." That thought made her skin crawl.

Inuyasha's growl made her jerk her head in his direction and she almost laughed at how aggressively he was shoving things into the cupboard. His lip was curled into a little snarl and his ears were laid back against his head.

"Inuyasha," she said gently. "Hey, he didn't do anything, not really. I'm sure he was just some macho idiot who's used to girls falling all over him. Oh!" She pulled the little business card out of her pocket. "Since I've got his card we can google his name after we get everything put away."

"Fine, you do that while I finish this."

They were almost done anyway so she made her way to the desk and opened his laptop. The name on the card, Matsuno, was written in a raised script with his phone number under it. It wasn't much to go on.

She typed in the name and number and the first result was for Matsuno Koga, private investigator. The name jumped out at her. "Inuyasha, you're gonna want to see this." She clicked on the link and those unnerving blue eyes were staring back at her through the screen.

"What the fuck?" Inuyasha growled, coming up next to her. "This was the guy at the store?"

She nodded. "You know him? Was he-"

"Yeah, I fucking know him. Don't go back to that store and change the day you shop. Hell, I've got enough shit, just skip a week." He was glaring at the screen and one hand was clenched so hard on the edge of the desk that his claws were gouging the wood.

"Is he dangerous?" she asked. "Would he...would he hurt me?"

"Just don't go back there, alright? And if you see him again, stay the fuck away." His voice left no room for argument.

"Inuyasha, who is he?" She thought of her mother and brother and her heart sped up. "Please, you're scaring me. Is he looking for you? What if he goes after mama or Sota next time?"

"Fuck. He's...fuck!" His grip on the table tightened and the sound of wood cracking filled the brief silence. "He murdered my old man. He's the reason I'm in hiding...the reason I lost my parents."

Kagome's world tilted and she grabbed the arms of the chair to steady herself. Of all the things she expected him to say, telling her she'd been hit on by a murderer was not one of them. "I need to call mama and make sure her and Sota are ok." She stood up quickly and would have lost her balance had Inuyasha not been there to steady her.

"Hey, careful." He guided her to the sofa and sat her down. He lowered his voice but his unsteady breathing gave him away. "Listen, it could just be a coincidence."

She shook her head. "No, he's a private investigator, he probably looked me up. He was so damn persistent. I shouldn't have...what if he...dammit!"

"Kagome, it's alright. We'll figure this out, I promise." He took her shaking hands in his. "If I have to come out of hiding to tear the fucking wolf apart then that's what I'll do. I won't let him hurt you or your family."

"You can't, what if it's you he's after? What if he already knows you're here and that's why he was talking to me?" His hands wrapped firmly around hers were helping to ground her but she was still fighting to not panic.

"Keh, like I'm afraid of some wolf-shit."

Was he really going to play the macho card right now? "You just said he was a murderer, that he killed your father. Isn't that why you're hiding, to avoid him?"

He let go of her hands and turned away from her. "You don't know what you're talking about." He stood and stalked back over to the desk. The picture of Koga was still staring out at him and he slammed his fist down next to the laptop. "Just fucking stay away from this guy, stay away from that store, and if you see him again, tell me."

"I don't like this," she said. "I was going to ask you about using a concealment charm to come up to the main house but now...now I just don't know."

He plopped into the desk chair and stared at the image on the screen. "Do it, get me a charm. Just make sure it can hide my yoki and my scent."

"I don't think-"

"I don't care what you think," he interrupted her. He got up and went to the chest at the foot of his bed. The key still hung around his neck and he used it to open the lid so he could grab out a long, flat jewelry box. "You can use this."

He sat down next to her on the sofa and lifted the lid off the box. Inside was a rosary made of small dark purple beads separated by a few small white magatama. The beads were perfectly polished and reflected the dim light of the room beautifully.

"It's so pretty. Where did you get it?" Kagome asked, momentarily distracted from Inuyasha's attitude and his stupid idea.

"It was a birthday gift I got for my mother. She gave it back when I...the last time I saw her, as a keepsake."

He lifted the beads out of the box and let Kagome take them. She ran her fingers over the rosary, the smooth beads cool to the touch and surprisingly heavy. His words finally hit her and she met his eyes, ready to argue.

He beat her to it. "Don't bother arguing, it's fine. How soon can you get that enchanted?"

Kitsune enchantments were common but took some time if you didn't know the right people. Kagome, fortunately, knew the right person. "A week, at most. I have a friend who does it for a living and he's one of the best and fastest at making concealments."

"Good. Get it done and tell your family about me so they know what to expect. Just don't tell them too much."

"What am I supposed to tell them?" she asked. "Hey, there's this guy, he lives under our shrine and he's gonna start visiting us. He wants to protect us from a potential nipple-stealing serial killer. His name? Can't tell you unless you knock on his door. Where's his door? Under the well, watch for splinters."

Inuyasha snorted. "Smartass. You can tell them my name, just make sure they know not to tell anyone else my name. I'm coming up to protect you and your family. Just, make sure I stay a secret, alright?"

"Alright," she agreed. "I still don't like this, for the record."

"And I still don't care, for the record. Someone has to protect your nipples from serial killers."

"That's nice of you but don't you think you're a little too concerned about my nipples?"

"Keh, when someone uses 'em to make earrings, don't come crying to me."

"Alright then, I won't. Anyway, I should get going; gotta go learn to protect my own nipples."


"You're distracted," Sango scolded. "You're going to get seriously hurt if you don't focus."

Kagome looked up from the mat she was kneeling on and gave her friend a dirty look. Of course she was distracted after all the serial killer, family murderer, nipple talk with Inuyasha earlier. "I've got a lot on my mind, sorry." She struggled to her feet and fixed her ponytail in preparation. "I'll get it this time."

They were outside, in an unused corner of the shrine. Kagome kept a few mats in the shed for occasions when Sango came to her for her defense lessons. Miroku was leaning against the wall, pretending to meditate but stealing glances at his girlfriend whenever he thought the women weren't looking.

"Alright," Sango said, "one more time and remember: use both hands, step back, and twist, in that order. Your goal is to loosen the grip enough so you can run."

Kagome turned her back and tensed in anticipation. The attack was always random, Sango waiting anywhere from 30 seconds to a few minutes before grabbing her. This time she didn't wait; she grabbed Kagome's ponytail immediately, effectively catching her off guard.

"Shit," Kagome swore and tried to bring her hands up while stepping backward. She didn't get her hands up fast enough and her hair was pulled painfully as she ducked her head to twist. Sango immediately let go and Kagome fell to her knees, defeated. "Dammit, I thought I had it that time."

"You're trying to do all the steps at once. You grab, then step back, then twist before you run," Sango explained.

It wasn't even a complicated move, just a basic self-defense technique against hair-grabbing. Kagome got up, intending to give it another try, but Sango shook her head.

"You've had enough, we've been out here for an hour."

"Sango is right," Miroku said, coming over to join them. "Why don't we all grab something to eat? I'm hungry from just watching you two."

"I thought you were meditating," Sango accused.

"My dear, what better way to meditate than to watch two beautiful women pretend to attack each other?"

Both women groaned and Sango pinched her boyfriend's arm. "Pervert. Help us get this put away."

They started to clean up the mats, the familiar routine helping to clear Kagome's head. With Miroku's help, they managed to get done in only a few minutes. Kagome checked her phone and saw that Shippo had finally messaged her back.

[Hey, kinda busy this week but I can meet you next Thursday if that's alright]

[Thursday is great. Would you have time to go shopping with me that morning? I'd like to catch up, we haven't talked in forever!]

Even with the shrine open to visitors, Thursday was still her best day to shop. They decided to close the shrine to the public on Wednesdays and Thursdays to make them personal days for the family.

The trio made their way back to the house to check on dinner. The smell of Mrs. Higurahsi's cooking hit them as they entered the genkan and Kagome called a greeting.

"Dinner is just about ready. Kagome, could you grab your brother and Kohaku?" her mother asked after sticking her head into the hallway.

"Sure, be right back."

While Miroku and Sango went to the kitchen, Kagome jogged up the steps to retrieve Sota and Kohaku. They were in Sota's room playing some video game Kagome didn't recognize.

She tapped on the door to get their attention. "Dinner's ready you two, get your butts downstairs."

Sota ignored her but Kohaku looked up and gave her a thumbs up. That was all the confirmation she would get from the teenagers so she went back downstairs and joined everyone in the kitchen. Her phone chimed as she was sitting down at the table.

[Works for me! Just let me know where and what time you want me to meet you]

She sent the time and which grocery store she would be going to. She'd decided to heed Inuyasha's advice and change her shopping location to somewhere a bit further away, still feeling unnerved from her encounter with Koga. Focusing back on the room, she caught the end of something Miroku was saying.

"...and I'm pretty sure he enjoys making people squirm. I try to avoid him whenever possible."

"Sorry, I was zoned out. Who are we talking about?" Kagome asked.

"Miroku's new boss, Onigumo" Sango answered. "Apparently he's a real pri...jerk."

"I got the warning on my first day by no less than five people: avoid the boss at all costs. I caught sight of him briefly harassing an intern. She looked positively terrified." Miroku pretended to shiver for effect and Sango rolled her eyes.

"Quit being so dramatic. Everyone hates their boss. I'm sure he can't be that bad."

"He's a politician, my dear; he can be that bad. Lucky for me I'm just a lowly paper-pusher. It should be easy to stay off his radar. I just hope he doesn't detect my meager spiritual powers."

"Does he have something against hoshi?" Kagome asked.

"He is quite opposed to any kind of spiritual power and he tells anyone who will listen all about his objections. He claims that, with all the yokai and hanyo mixed into society, spiritualists are a danger to the order of things."

"Like I said," Sango added, "a real jerk."

Before the conversation could continue, Sota and Kohaku joined them and her mother started to set out the food. Dinner was a noisy affair, this being the first time they were all together after grandpa Higurashi's death. Sota and Kohaku rambled on about video games and Miroku told more horror stories involving his new boss. Sango and Kagome made plans to get together the next week for another defense lesson and some serious girl time.

Sota and Kohaku made a quick exit after dinner to avoid cleanup. It took almost no time at all to get the dishes done and put away so it wasn't long before Sango was calling her brother to head home.

"Thank you for having us," Sango said when Kohaku finally rejoined them. "Kohaku, say thank you." She ruffled her brother's hair, much to his obvious displeasure.

"Thanks, Mrs. H. Dinner was really good."

"Always a pleasure having you three over," Mrs. Higurashi said. "We have to do this more often."

Sango and Kohaku made their way outside but Miroku hung back.

"Kagome, a word please?" Miroku gestured for Kagome to follow him. He led her down the hallway to the spare room and shut the door. "I need your help with something of the utmost importance."

"What is it? You know you can count on me."

"Alright, don't scream...I'm going to ask Sango to marry me."

Kagome threw her hands over her mouth to muffle her excited shout. "It's about time!" she said when she had her excitement under control. "How can I help?"

"I need ideas for a proposal. Everything I come up with feels like not enough and too much at the same time."

"She would appreciate simple and from the heart," Kagome informed him. She clasped her hands together and stared into the distance. "No big, fancy, involved gestures; just you two, somewhere special, romantic music, low lighting. There should be candles, and wine, and maybe some kind of sexy dessert..."

"Uh, Kagome...Sexy dessert?" Miroku poked her shoulder and Kagome came back to earth. "Well at least now I can inform your future lover how he should propose to you when the time comes," he chuckled.

Kagome's face warmed and she coughed to cover her embarrassment. "Like that'll be any time soon. Seriously though, simple, romantic, and sentimental is exactly what she would want." Her phone chimed, interrupting their secret meeting. It was from Inuyasha and the timing made her face heat even further.

[You still awake? I didn't get a goodnight so you better be.]

"Who's Dog Boy?" Miroku asked from over her shoulder.

"Uh, nobody, just...just someone I know." Shit, of all the people who could catch her texting Inuyasha, Miroku was probably the worst.

"Uh-huh, sure. Then why is your face so red? You have a secret lover you're not telling us about?" Miroku teased.

"Of course not, stupid. I've only known him for like three weeks."

"Oh-ho, three weeks and you're already trading goodnight texts?" Oh, how she wanted to wipe that grin off her friend's face. "And Dog Boy? Are you dating an inu yokai or just a guy who really likes dogs? It's alright, you can tell me."

Her phone chimed again but she didn't dare try to check it with Miroku standing there. "Alright, time for you to go. Sango has to be suspicious by now." She ushered him out the door and down the hallway, Miroku giggling like an asshole the entire time.

When she was finally alone again, Kagome went straight to her bedroom. She sunk onto her bed and put her head in her hands. "Damn. Gotta be more careful." She pulled her phone out to check his last message.

[Btw, did you ask your friend about the charm? Also btw, I finally learned what btw stands for]

She stared down at her phone for a second, smiling, thinking about what Miroku said. It was true that she was developing a bit of a crush on the man hiding in the well. Her eyes were drawn to him, to the way he moved, the way his muscle flexed under his flawless skin. He was beautiful and graceful and powerful but he was more than a pretty face.

In the short time since they'd met, he'd become a close friend. She looked forward to the days she could sneak off and spend time with him. His concern for her safety (and, by extension her family's safety) was endearing. The flirting, which had become less awkward with time, was a nice bonus.

She wouldn't mind more but she had a feeling his past was a bit too complicated to allow for dating or relationships.

She shook herself from her thoughts and responded to his text.

[Yep, he's going to meet me next Thursday to make the charm. He's also going to go shopping with me so I'm not alone]

His response was quick, his typing skills showing some serious improvement.

[Good and you're going to a different store?]

[Yep, one I've never been to.]

[Good. Keep being careful though, the wolf can be sneaky. You should get some sleep, it's getting late.]

[Alright mom, I'll go to bed lol]

[Goodnight smartass]

[Goodnight dog boy]


"Jaken," Sesshomaru called for his assistant. "Have you looked over those reports?"

"Yes sir," the little green kappa responded. "It is...not what I was expecting."

There were several pages of reports and photos spread across the large desk between them. Sesshomaru read the police report several times, looking over the photos Koga had included in the folder. The report didn't line up with some of the witness statements or the photos.

"The inconsistencies are glaringly obvious and would have changed how the case was handled." Sesshomaru tapped one of the pictures. "My father is laid out respectfully, not at all how he was described in the official reports. The public report also says he was shot in the chest but this report says he was shot in the back."

"It is all very suspicious, my lord but surely after all this time you don't intend-"

"Do not question my intentions, Jaken."

The kappa bowed low. "My apologies. Do you still intend to continue your hunt for the half-breed?"

"We may have discovered his location already. I need you to hire our usual kitsune. Assign them to watch the Higurashi shrine and keep an eye on Koga and his subordinates."

"Yes my lord." Jaken hurried away to fulfill his master's request.

After almost 50 years of searching, he was closer than ever to finding his missing brother. His original intention was to find him and kill him but recent discoveries were causing him to rethink that strategy.

He picked up another of the photos and studied the gun used to kill his father. It was specifically designed to take down yokai, the bullets exploding shortly after impact to deal the most damage. It was a brutal way to kill someone, something only a cold-blooded killer would use.

"My lord," Jaken said, rejoining him. "It is done. Have you any other requests."

"No, leave me be."

His subordinate bowed again and left his master to his thoughts.

The phone on his desk rang and he answered, hoping it wasn't someone unpleasant.

"Speak."

"Seriously," the wolf's voice came through the phone. "Learn how to answer a damn phone."

"Is there a purpose to this call or do you only wish to criticize my social etiquette?"

Koga laughed. "You're a cold bastard. I made contact with the Higurashi woman. She didn't smell like dog but she was acting suspicious."

"What was suspicious about her behavior?"

"She wouldn't give me her number, for one. And she was trying to avoid me seeing her car. She seemed really anxious to get away from me."

"That's not suspicious. That is how a woman acts when she's not interested in you."

"Bullshit," Koga yelled. "I've never had a woman act like that before."

Sesshomaru pinched the bridge of his nose. "You are useless and your arrogance is astounding. Was there anything else of note in your interactions?"

"You're one to talk about arrogance. Gave her my card so maybe she'll call. I think she shops every Thursday so I'll try to catch her again next week."

"Good, keep me informed." He hung up before the wolf could agitate him further.