Kagomes crying deteriorated into silent hiccups and soon she fell asleep on my lap, my head was turned to look out the window thinking about what i had just shared with the miko

'Why did I tell her that? She is going to look at me with nothing but pity from now on.' I sighed looking down at the head in my lap and my lips curled at the corners, her eyes were closed and her dark lashes rested delicately above her cheeks, her mouth was parted ever so slightly and i could here her soft even breathes I leaned in close and saw the trail of freckles that dusted across her nose, I smiled and brushed a single lock of that had become free from behind her ear back. All to soon the car came to a stop and as I looked out my window and saw old apartment buildings, paint fading and chipping away, the gate no longer working I began to realize that while Kagome didn't come from much, she made the most out of what she had. Jaken had stepped out of the car to go push the heavy iron gates. as we drove by all the doors, what little doors there where creaked open, old splintered wooden doors creaked and groaned when a child in rags ran out of them past their parents to gaze on at us stood on the stairs, which weren't in any better condition than the rest of the place, were old and rotting and looked as if the would snap and break if even a single leaf fell upon it. I shook my head

'No one should have to live like this' I thought. I shook Kagome slightly to try and rouse her, but all she did was mumble and roll over burying her face into my stomach I chuckled slightly and poked her hair covered face.

"What do you want?" She grumbled as she sat up and looked around

"We're here Miko." Kagome looked at me and grinned, her sleepiness long forgotten however still apparent in her cloudy eye, she hopped out of the car and shot down an ally between the apartments we were parked in front of. I felt myself pale as i hurried to unbuckle and stumble out of the car to run after the excited female. By the time I caught site of her she was bounding up a set of stairs that creaked and moaned under her weight

"Kagome be-careful!" I hollered as i walked in a brisk pace to catch up with her, I stepped on the first step and it bent under my weight. Cringing I carefully stepped to the right side of the step where the support looked more stable, I climbed the rickety steps with careful foot placement, until, I heard the sound of a large crash and the shriek of a young male. I tensed and ran up there full speed and stopped in the doorway. What I saw made me stop, Kagome and a boy bearing a striking resemblance to her were crouched on the floor, They both held each other and the boy had his head in the crook of her next the Mikos arms wrapped around him and bawling his eyes out

"I was scared you wouldn't come back Kagome. I thought Naraku did you off for good." He sobbed into her shoulder. She pulled him away from her and used one hand to whip the boys tears

"I would never leave you, not forever, you know that Sota." She said lovingly, she brushed the kids hair back and smiled down at him. She pulled him close for a brief moment then stood with him

"Now go get your things. We're leaving." Her voice left no room for argument, though the boy didn't do so much as nod his head before he took of down a dim hallway to gather his things, i stared in the direction he went thinking of what would happen if, no when my father found out, I jumped when a small hand grabbed my wrist.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to startle you." She said smiling up at me

"Its quite alright."

"You don't think your father will mind do you? I mean he already had a problem with me being there. I'd hate to impose." Her voice shook with nervousness as she spoke, and her hand tightened slightly, but i don't think she did it on purpose she also started worrying her bottom lip. I shook my head.

"It'll be no problem, we have more than enough room and food to feed the two of you." I said calmly, flashing her a brief smile. She relaxed and smiled at me. Sota came in carrying four over packed duffel bags that were worn and tearing at the seams. "I grabbed your stuff too sis, I thought you'd want it. He mumbled and his cheeks turned red, she chuckled and went to take a couple of the bags but my hand shot out and grabbed them to threw them over my shoulder before she could reach it. I held out my other arm silently to the boy so he could hand over the luggage as well, his brown eyes, the only big difference between him and his sister, shot a questioning glance at her at the nod of her head he shrugged off the bags and reluctantly handed them over. I stepped off to the side to let them out over the door that had been broken down in all the comotion.

"What of the door?" I asked looking at the sorry excuse for a door laying in the floor. They both shrugged.

"Nobody's gonna say anything, its fine to just leave it there." Kagome said I nodded and turned to follow them down the steps. Kagome wrapped her arm around her brother and brought him close and started asking him about school and his soccer games, I trailed behind listening to the pair talk quietly. I could see that Kagome was more relaxed with her brother in her arms, we reached the car after a ways of a walk. Jaken was standing by the car waiting for us to return, the trunk was already popped and he held the door open for the Miko and her human brother and waited as I placed the bags and got in the car before shutting the door and running to the drivers side and hoping in to start the car.

We rode for a short time before the Miko exclaimed "Sesshomaru, I'm so sorry, I forgot to introduce you to Sota!" Her cheeks burned in a mixture of embarrassment and shame. She waved it off before continuing.

"Sesshomaru, this is Sota, Sota, Sesshomaru." She cheerily jestering back between the two of us, I nodded and stretched my arm across her to offer my hand to Sota.

"Nice to meet you Sota, I've heard many good things about you." I said in a more than necessary formal tone, which made the boy blush as he timidly reached out to take my hand "Nice to meet you as well Sesshomaru, I wish I could say the same." He said quietly, I raised my brow and waited for what he said to sink in. When his eyes widened and he paled slightly and his palm got sweaty i knew he had realized. "Not that I haven't heard good things Sesshomaru, I'm sure you're very kind. Its just I haven't heard anything at all." He rambled nervously, I laughed quietly and released his hand,

"It's quite all right Sota, no need to worry." I calmly said, he released a breath and relaxed back into the seat the color returning to his face. As drove back to my fathers house the only noise was from the radio up front in the cab and Kagomes and Sotas light chit chat, with everything finally calming down and sinking in all i could think about was what was going to become of Sota and his sister. Surely my father would not allow them to stay. Would he?