Chapter 5: Shuichi

"It's so nice to have you home dear." Kagome's mom said happily placing her dinner in front of her. "Thanks mom! It's been a while since I've had anything edible."

"Kagome, you should just stay here. I don't know why you spend all your time hanging around with demons." Souta sighed. Kagome ate silently. The food was delicious. Her mother made her favorite curry to celebrate her return.

After dinner she ran a hot bubble bath. "This is definitely what I miss the most about home." She sighed happily as she sunk into steamy water. "Ahhhh, just right... I wonder if Kuro is okay." She thought suddenly feeling guilty. She caused him pain and she couldn't even check on him or take care of him. She lifted her hand out of the water to look at the bracelet he gave her. The once vibrant red gems now seemed dull and lifeless... "Kuronue.."

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"WAKE UP!" Screamed the demon within, waking Shuichi Minamino from a sound sleep. "KAGOME IS HERE! WE MUST FIND HER!"

"Right this second?" Shuichi yawned. "She's probably sleeping, it is a school night. Besides...it's snowing."

"Since when has a little snow bothered me?"

"Maybe since you became human." Shuichi rolled his eyes, getting out of bed and going to dig out something warm to put on.

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"I'm doomed, the college entrance exam is tomorrow and none of this looks right... I'm going to have to repeat senior year for sure." Kagome groaned. "I don't think I've ever even seen these before!" She yelled, flipping through her math book defeated.

Suddenly she heard her phone ringing and she jumped. She almost forgot what having a cellphone was like.

"Hi Yuka! Ugh it's kind of a bad time. I'm cramming for this exam tomorrow and... wait you'll let me borrow your notes? You're a lifesaver! I'll be right over to get them." Kagome hung up and ran out the door.

The street was dark, and the snow sparkled off the dim street lighting. Her footsteps echoed all around her. The crunching of snow under her shoes seemed so much louder than she was used to. Kagome shivered. "What a day to forget a coat." She groaned before sneezing. It would all be worth it. Everyone knew Yuka kept the best notes in the school. If she was going to stand a Chance in hell of getting into a semi decent college, she needed to read them for the rest of the night.

Suddenly she got the feeling like she was being watched. "Hello." She called putting behind her only to receive no answer. She began to walk faster, suddenly afraid of what was looming in the shadows. "I shouldn't be afraid. I spend most of my time around ferocious monsters that are trying to kill me and everyone around me. Probably way scarier than anything over here." She thought. Then she heard it. Someone else's feet crunching in the snow. She looked behind her again and saw no one. She started to panic, taking off running. She began to feel faint; the street was spinning and her legs began to feel like lead underneath her. "What's... happening?" She said weakly before losing consciousness from hypothermic shock. Shuichi caught her in his arms and protected her head from hitting the ground before picking her up and walking to his car. "Kagome, it's really you." Youko said sadly from inside. "I can't believe she went out in below zero temperature without a coat." Shuichi said turning up the heat and covering her with his own jacket.

Kagome groaned as she began to regain conciousness. She felt like she had been hit by a truck. "Where am I?" Upon opening her eyes, she noticed that she was in an unfamiliar room. "So warm." There was a roaring fireplace and she had been wrapped in soft blankets on a large couch. Glints of silver and gold reflected off of priceless treasures that beautifully adorned the mantle. Along with what seemed to be an assortment of gems whose reflections danced on the wall in a beautiful array of emerald green, amethyst purple and sapphire blues.

"Ah you're awake.:" A voice called from behind her. She shot up into a sitting position and spun around to see the owner of the unfamiliar voice. He was average height for a Japanese male, around five foot eight she'd say with long, usual fiery red hair and emerald green eyes. He was wearing green plaid pajama pants and a black muscle shirt.

"Who are you?!" Kagome demanded before looking down at herself and realizing that she was now in a baggy hoodie and grey sweatpants. "where are my clothes?!"

The boy smiled sweetly at her. "My name is Shuichi. Your blood pressure dropped when you went into shock in the snow. Your clothes were soaked, I just put them in the dryer..Don't worry, my eyes never left your face."

Kagome glared at him. "Yeah I'm sure.. Pervert! Thanks anyway for saving me." She said sounding apologetic toward the end of her sentence. Shakily, she tried to stand up and take a step forward. The room began to spin, and her legs gave out once again. Shuichi's strong arms once again saved her from a nasty fall.

"I wouldn't try walking just yet. Sit down please, I'll make us some tea." Shuichi said helping her into a recliner and turning on the tv over the fireplace before heading into the kitchen.

Shuichi splashed cold water in his face. "Give me control! I need to see her!" Youko screamed internally as shuichi fought back against him.

"It's not the right time." Shuichi replied shakily covering his face with his hands and breathing raggedly. The loud whistle of the teapot seemed to distract him further and he was finally able to push Youko back into his subconscious. Sighing, he grabbed the tea tray and tried to calm down as he made his way back into the living room.

"Here we go, hope you like green tea." Shuichi smiled at her charmingly and set the tray down on the coffee table before taking a seat next to her. Kagome thanked him.

"You seem so familiar; I can't shake the feeling that I know you from somewhere Shuichi."

The startled redhead blanched and shuffled uncomfortably in his seat. "I'm sorry, but I don't think we've met before this." He lied.

Kagome's brow knitted with confusion. "Huh, must just be me then." She smiled. How he missed that smile.

"So tell me about yourself. What had you braving the winter so late at night?"

Kagome blushed. "Well you see... I uh.. Have been out of class for a while. My uhm..Boyfriend and I were on holiday. I was going to pick up notes from a friend for the college entrance exams tomorrow."

Shuichi's eyes flashed golden at the word boyfriend and he felt himself stiffen from the perverted old fox. "Dammit." He thought to himself, grabbing a pillow and putting it over his lap. "You know, I'm an honors student and I do a lot of tutoring. I bet I could help you out a lot."

"Wow you're still a student and you have your own place?" Kagome asked, shocked.

Now it was his turn to make up a ridiculous story. "Well..I was left a lot of money when a relative of mine died. I also make good money from tutoring. But for you, I'd be happy to help for free. I hate seeing a pretty girl in distress."

"How chivalrous." Kagome teased.

Shuichi grinned cockily at her and it was then that she noticed his eyes change. "Gold." She whispered, once again confused. She decided that she probably just imagined his eyes changing. Shuichi handed her a steaming cup of tea. Her body still felt cold despite the fact that shuichi had done everything he could to warm her up. Leaning back against the couch, she tried to concentrate on the movie. The tea felt amazing as it started to thaw her insides.

"CRAP YUKA!" Kagome shot back up again sending a wave of pain shooting through her head. Shuichi looked at her, puzzled. "I told her I was going to be there four hours ago. She's probably asleep now...I hope she wasn't waiting up too long."

"I'm sure she will understand when you explain what happened." Shuichi reassured her.

It was approaching twelve thirty in the morning when Kagome started dozing off. Shuichi turned off the tv and went upstairs to his room.

"How long have you been here?" He asked the familiar fire demon sitting in his bedroom window. He hadn't seen him in months.

"She can't stay here long, you know that right? You won't be able to control Youko." He said codly.

"Hiei, I know that but I couldn't just leave her outside to die. I'll bring her home in the morning."

The next morning

Kagome began to stir. The sun was shining through the semitransparent curtains and she could smell freshly brewed coffee. Thanks to Shuichi, she felt good as new! Getting up, she padded her way into the kitchen. Shuichi was laying out breakfast for her and smiled genuinely at her.

"Good morning. Hope you're hungry."

Kagome nodded and sat at one of the prepared spots at the table. He placed a plate with fluffy pancakes, bacon and syrup in front of her. She thanked him he really was very sweet. Kagome eyed his magenta colored school uniform curiously.

"What school do you go to? I don't remember ever seeing that color uniform before."

"I go to a private school for students with above average capabilities." He replied between sips of coffee, Kagome suddenly felt intimidated. She could barely pass her classes. Then again, she spent half of her time traveling in the makai.

After they finished breakfast Shuichi walked Kagome out. She started to walk towards the street when he called out to her. "I can give you a ride you know." Kagome looked behind her to see him standing outside of a blue sports car. "Forever surprising me." She laughed and joined them.

He took her to her house to change before dropping her off at school. The day seemed to drag on forever and she found herself not able to concentrate. Her thoughts kept trailing off to a certain red head. She blushed and Youko grinned at her knowingly. After testing was over she ran up to Kagome and poked her in the shoulder. "I suppose I can forgive you for poofing on me last night if you spent it with a new guy I don't know about yet. All of us saw you fidgeting and blushing all day long." She teased.

"It's not like that okay! It was a weird night and I." She was cut off by Yuki pointing behind her and giving her the I knew it stare. She turned around to see Shuichi waving at her from his car. Kagome turned bright red and said goodbye to her friend. Yuki's mouth dropped when she got a better look at his car. "Wow Kagome, you're so lucky."

When they pulled up to Kagome's house a fmailiar silver haired hanyou was sitting by the stairs waiting for her. He was wearing his baseball cap and tapping his foot impatiently. Shuichi felt his fangs begin to lengthen and a low growl threatened to escape his throat. "INUYASHA!" Youko growled under his breath.

Kagome's hands were balled into fists as she got out of the car. Shuichi followed her and stood next to her as he tried his best to contain the now furious kitsune inside.

"Inuyasha! Why are you here?!" Kagome spat, stomping her foot as she did so.

"Your smell was near the well so I went and saw your note. I figured you were still here so I came to get you. We have to go back and get more jewel shards. Thanks to that stupid fox and his bat buddy we haven't looked in over a month." Suddenly he stopped talking and looked up at Shuichi. He stepped in between him and Kagome. "Who are you?" He asked suddenly sounding serious.

"This is Shuichi.. He helped me last night when I passed out and hurt myself in the snow. Kagome said shoving herself in front of Inuyasha and hugging Shuichi before saying goodbye and dragging Inuyasha up the stairs to the shrine.

"What's wrong with you? That was a demon Kagome." Inuyasha spat. "He doesn't smell right and I don't trust him."

Kagome rolled her eyes as he huffed and sat down on her bed, waiting for her to repack her bag for the trip back. Inuyasha couldn't have been right. Could he? Was the handsome redhead that saved her life really a demon is disguise? And what was up with that weird sense of familiarity she got when she was around him? She sighed heavily, giving uo on her thoughts for the time being. She jammed her clothes into the bag and the last of the snacks for Shippo and Inuyasha, grunting as she did so. Kagome slung the huge pack over her shoulder and started her way down the stairs with Inuyasha following close behind.

A warm rush of light tingled her skin as she passed through the gates of time and emerged on the other side. Inuyasha helped her up and over the well and carried her bag the rest of the way back to Kaede's village for her. Shippo practically threw himself at her when she arrived. He nuzzled his head into her shoulder and teared up. "I thought you were gone forever Kagome!"

"Yes welcome back Kagome." Miroku greeted her with a warm smile and Sango hugged her friend tightly. "We won't allow them to take you again." She promised. Kagome smiled at them, glad to be back. She had missed them all terribly. Even Inuyasha, who knew? They spent the rest of the afternoon relaxing and talking about her time with her captors.