Until this morning Kagome had considered her first week of school to be a disaster, and she was expecting the last day of it to be as awful as the first. But minute after minute ticked past, and there were no pranks, no gum on her chair, no "accidental" water spills across her uniform, and not even any snide remarks. It seemed that the school wide pastime of tormenting the new girl was finally over, and she could settle down into the normal life she was living. At first she'd been worried that she would become bored living the everyday existence of some regular teenage girl, but even while she missed her friends on the other side of the well Kagome loved every moment of the normalcy she'd lost over the previous years. She'd begun to think of the apartment as home nearly as much as she felt the shrine was. She was even beginning to make friends again, although mostly she spent her time with Yusuke or Kazuma, who was at the apartment so much she sometimes forgot he didn't live there. But for some reason she was still… sad and a little nervous, like she was living in a dream that she knew was going to end soon. A dream she was dreading waking up from.

She'd taken to eating her lunch at that bench as well, often ignoring her food to read one of her textbooks or work on some assignment or another. Kurama had taken to watching her quietly and unnoticed from a distance.

He'd seen her in several states over the last few days, from rushing through her work with a fanatical look in her eye, he'd seen her throw her textbook in frustration just to run over and carry it back with careful hands and painstakingly search for signs of damage. He'd seen her stare wistfully into the distance, once he'd even seen her joke around with Yusuke when he and Kuwabara had skipped out of school and decided to come visit her. Kurama had been amused and fascinated by all these sides she unwittingly showed, but today was a different story.

She was sitting in her usual spot, her jacket neatly folded over the bench beside her, the same way it always was, her backpack sat propped up against her legs. But she wasn't reading. Her books sat forgotten with her lunch beside the bag, as if she'd started to take them out and forgotten them. Instead she was staring at her hands that were resting motionlessly in her lap, and as the wind pushed at her mercilessly he could feel the unbearable sadness around her. Before he'd watched from the distance, just far enough away that she wouldn't notice, hoping for some sign of something odd around her, but this… this was unbearable.

"I'm glad to see your finger has recovered." He waited for her to look at him before he sat, not deceived by the brilliant smile that didn't reach her eyes.

"It looked worse than it was, it healed in less than two days."

"That's good, it would have been very inconvenient to have your hand bandaged for an extended period of time." He watched her carefully from the corner of his eye.

"You would have known it was better already if you ever said hello." There was an accusation in her voice, but the glare she gave him seemed only half hearted at best, "I was beginning to think you were avoiding me."

"No nothing of the sort, I just didn't want to interrupt you while you were studying." He looked away from her, hoping she wouldn't detect the lie. Not wanting to interrupt her had had nothing to do with it.

"I wouldn't have minded. I live with Yusuke, and with him and Kazuma around I hardly ever seem to get anything done anyway, so I'm pretty used to it."

"Then you're still getting along well? I was mildly concerned about it at first, but I've never been happier to be wrong."

"You weren't the only one." Kagome's hands dropped to her hands again, "I can't imagine how much harder this would be if I didn't… if we weren't able to get along. It's already hard being away from everyone I don't think I could stand being lonely too." She was silent for a moment, then shook her head and looked up with a soft smile, "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to sound so… depressing."

"It's understandable. I'm rather attached to my family as well. I know how difficult it is to be away from them." He found his head tipping downward at the very idea.

He understood? Kagome hesitated for a moment looking at him, her fingers itching to tuck back the curtain of red hair that hid his face from her, but refusing to give in to the urge. Yusuke was fun to talk to, she liked being around him, but he didn't understand why she missed her family so much, sure he loved his mother, but he never felt guilty being away from her, never missed her that badly no matter how long he might have been away. But Shuichi understood it, she could hear it in his voice, he hated being away from his family as much as she did being away from hers. She smiled a little, "My little brother called last night to yell at me. Apparently I promised to go to his soccer game and missed seeing him score the first goal. That's how I know he misses me; he's calling just so we can fight." She laughed softly, noticed his smile as his head lifted as well.

"I imagine he loves you very much then."

"I don't know. He's a real brat most of the time, and I think he wanted to talk to Yusuke more than me, I guess having an older brother is a lot cooler than having an older sister. I'm sort of last year's news."

"You should both go to visit them this weekend, I'm sure they would be very happy to see you, and Yusuke would probably be glad to meet them, particularly your younger brother."

"I… can't." She looked down again and the sadness was back, pressing heavily on the air, making Kurama want very badly to comfort her, he was about to when she spoke, "It's just… I have so much homework to do and it really wouldn't be fair to go visit anyone when I couldn't actually visit." The look on her face betrayed the lie she was telling more than her tone. While she may have been worried about her schoolwork it was not what was keeping her away from home. However the lie gave him a chance to take advantage of it and provide an opportunity for spending more time with her.

"I would be happy to help you with your assignments if you're having trouble."

"Really?" She looked happier than he'd seen her in several days, even happier than when Yusuke and Kuwabara had come, "That would be great. For some reason I can't seem to understand half of this…"She lifted the previously forgotten math book into her hands, flicked quickly through the pages before sighing and snapping it shut again. "From what I've heard one of us is a real math whiz, and since I know it's not me that leaves you."

Realizing that there was a compliment somewhere in there he smiled. "Tonight then? I'll walk you home after school?"

"Sure, I'll meet you out front after class." She caught a glimpse of his watch as he reached up to brush his hair away from his face and without thinking reached over to take a hold of his wrist and ignored how he stiffened as she turned his arm and examined the face, "Oh no, I'm going to be late… again."

"You had better hurry then." He stood, gathering her backpack up and held it out to her, then watched as she took it and ran away at full speed. It was amusing sometimes just being near her. Kagome was scattered, energetic nearly to the point of hyperactivity, like a breathing hurricane. One moment you were standing with her in the eye at the center, and then the storm broke out to try shattering the world. Being around her was certainly never boring.

"Look Kuwabara, I like having you around and everything… but…" Yusuke did his best to block his friend's hand from reaching the doorknob, "Come on man, you've got your own sister to bother, so how about leaving mine… the… hell… alone…" He knocked the taller boy back slightly, trying to avoid getting Kagome's attention. It was late enough that she would be home by now, and while for most of the week he hadn't minded having Kuwabara around he just couldn't take listening to them both singing off key like they did every morning while they had breakfast, or listen to the way she laughed at the idiot, sure Kuwabara still had a thing for Yukina, but Yusuke wasn't stupid enough to forget that the red head had been in love with Botan before that, and he also wasn't blind enough to keep from realizing that his sister was pretty, he'd already had to knock out several guys that were looking at her wrong, and he had no desire to join Hiei in the "Kazuma Kuwabara is stalking my sister" club.

"Yeah, face it Urameshi, you just don't like that she likes me more than you."

"She's my sister you idiot, not some girl we're fighting over," Yusuke rolled his eyes, it didn't matter, he knew that he was Kagome's favorite, she did save him special meals after all, laughed at his jokes, argued with him. He'd never had a sister, but so far it was sort of like having a best friend who had no choice but to love you no matter what you did, or how much you picked on them for their bad singing, or shortness. She was just so damn easy to tease.

"Just open the door!" Kuwabara looked like he was going to try hitting him, "You just want all the food to yourself, she promised us something special tonight."

"Go get your own sister to make you something." Kuwabara's retort was a fist to Yusuke's stomach, which was replied to with a fist to the face and in moments the two were reduced to a wrestling match on the hallway floor.

"If you two aren't finished I'd be glad to go in without you." The bored voice froze them both mid-blow and brought their slightly widened eyes up to a short black haired figure leaning against the wall about a foot away. "Although detective, if you're going to kill the oaf I'd be glad to observe."

"Huh… Hiei, what's up?" Yusuke pushed himself to his feet, dusting his pants off roughly.

"I came to find Kurama; you were just blocking the door."

"Best place to find Kurama this time of day is at school."

"He wasn't there." Hiei paused for a moment, a glint flashing for a moment in his eyes as he looked away, "From what I overheard he walked your sister home several hours ago."

"He did huh? I didn't know they even talked at school." Kagome had mentioned running into him on her first day there, but over the last four days she hadn't said anything about it.

"Yes, he's been quite preoccupied with her lately." Hiei allowed himself only a hint of a satisfied smirk. Having dealt with Kuwabara's so call love of his sister he knew how this news would sound to Yusuke, and precisely how much it would bother him.

"You don't say." Kurama was preoccupied… with his sister… what exactly did that mean? The first night she'd been there Kurama had shown an odd interest in her, and he wasn't the type to just let those sorts of things go, but preoccupied with her… was that some sort of weird way of saying…? "Hold on… Hiei are you saying Kurama's got a crush on my sister?"

"Crush? Why would he want to crush her, he likes her after all."

It was all the answer he needed. His tempered sparked and flared in a heartbeat. His annoyance rapidly becoming rage Yusuke all but kicked the door open and stalked into the apartment, his eyes flashing between the empty living room and emptier kitchen. If they weren't out here where were they? They were definitely in the apartment. Kagome never left without locking the door, and leaving a note if it was unexpected. She was just responsible that way. His heart skipped a beat suddenly as his eyes widened. That only left…

Yusuke was practically growling as he wheeled around and headed toward Kagome's closed bedroom door. His hand desended on the handle, and he was prepared to throw it open when two voices floated through the barrier, freezing him in place.

"That was… painful."

"It wasn't that bad."

"Maybe not for you."

"Well, next time should be more enjoyable."

"I didn't mean that it wasn't fun…"

"Shall we try again… or do you need a break?"

What the HELL was going on in there? If Yusuke's eyes had possessed the power the door would have already burned down from the way he was glaring at it.

"I am a little… worn out… but why not?"

The sudden silence sent his mind reeling with sudden, very bad images that made him slightly sick to his stomach and mostly consisted of Kagome and Kurama rolling around under the blankets on her bed. Anger sparking back to life quickly enough to counteract the shock Yusuke closed his hand around the doorknob with enough force he could have bent it and threw the door open.

"Kurama, what they hell do you think you're doing with my sister? I'm going to kick your… are those flashcards? Man what kind of weird crap are you into?" Two pairs of wide eyes met his own and Yusuke felt himself beginning to blush.

"Um… who's Kurama?" Kagome glanced between them as she set aside a piece of paper she'd been busy studying only moments before.

"It's just a nickname." Kurama offered her a smile that was just a little too bright before turning to the new arrival, "Is there a problem Yusuke?" He asked mildly.

"Well I… you were…" Yusuke rubbed nervously at the back of his neck, putting on a slightly manic smile and tried to hide the red stains of embarrassment on his cheeks from the two of them.

"We've made a game. It makes studying more entertaining than simply reading out of a book." Kurama stood and turned fully to the blushing young man standing in front of him, "Kagome is doing quite well, she nearly won the last round."

"Only because you felt sorry for me and started throwing the game." She crossed her arms and gave him one of her halfhearted pouting glares, an expression they had all become accustomed to over the last few days.

"Not at all, you've just improved." He couldn't help staring at Yusuke's face, which was red enough that it rivaled his hair and Hiei's eyes for their shade. "What's bothering you Yusuke?"

"Oh… Hiei told him you've got a crush on Kagome and he got all worried that you two were… well… you know." Kuwabara stared for a moment before looking away with a face nearly as red as Yusuke's.

"I see." He looked down, embarrassed himself now, "I assure you I would ne…"

"Yusuke!" Kagome was on her feet suddenly, her normally barely pink cheeks burning with a blush that was almost violent, "I can't believe you! What kind of girl do you think I am? And even if I was, do you really think I'd do… that… with one of your friends without telling you something was going on?"

"Well it's not you I was yelling at!"

Stuck between the two glares Kurama felt a twinge of something he hadn't experienced for quite some time. Fear. However slight it was he couldn't deny it.

Apparently the siblings had more in common than quick tempers, because he could practically see the energy falling off of each of them in waves… and Kagome's stung and made a part of him want to tremble. A single glance at Hiei's wide eyes revealed that he wasn't the only one who could feel it. For a moment Kurama considered inching away from them and toward the door. If either of the two were to increase their power further he might have been in a very bad position, and he wasn't certain of how to disarm the situation.

"Don't take it out on Shuichi." He was as surprised as Yusuke when her soft voice filled the tense silence, "I asked for his help. I didn't think you would be this upset about it, but I guess I should have talked to you first." She looked down as her energy level seemed to rapidly drop and the needles that had been burrowing into him vanished, "I'm sorry I upset you."

"Nah… I… sorta… well…" Yusuke was blushing again, but not as violently now.

"I thought you guys would be back earlier so dinner's probably cold by now. We ate without you… I didn't think you would mind."

"No, I don't mind Kagome." Yusuke smiled, "You guys have fun studying… I won't bother you anymore." He caught Kuwabara's arm and yanked him away toward the kitchen, leaving Kagome and Kurama alone in the room and Hiei standing in the doorway.

"I should probably go." He murmured.

"Why?" Kagome looked up at him with wide curious eyes that Kurama didn't fully understand, "Oh… that whole him minding thing?" She waved her hand dismissively and chuckled a little, "I was just making him feel bad about the outburst. It wasn't anything important."

"Is that why you lied to him?"

"Hmm?"

"You told Yusuke that you had asked for my help, when in reality I offered it, and all but insisted you accept."

"Oh…" Kagome looked down suddenly again, "Sometimes you have to lie… if it's for the best." She paused, seemed to realize they were watching her and put a smile on her face when she looked up, "Or so I've heard."

He glanced away from her to the shorter man standing in the doorway, "I trust you've had your amusement for the day Hiei? That was a rather annoying joke at our expense."

"It was a misunderstanding that's all." Or so he claimed, but Hiei wasn't normally very open about his sense of humor, and Kurama was fairly certain that the demon had been looking for a laugh, or perhaps some payback for their often poorly veiled humor about his hidden relation to Yukina. Or perhaps he had just wanted to cause trouble for the sake of causing trouble, either sounded like Hiei.

"Did you want something?" Hiei only glanced toward the hall, and Kurama nodded, "Excuse me for a moment Kagome, I shouldn't be long." He paused at the door, "I can trust you not to cheat at our game can't I?"

"Of course I won't cheat."

Smiling to himself Kurama followed Hiei to the hall, closed the door with a sot click behind him. "Now, what was it you wanted?"

"I took advantage of one of the perks of my probation being lifted."

"I noticed that you had vanished for a few days."

"Interested in where I might have gone?"

Kurama considered him for a moment. "Very well, I'll take your bait. Where have you been?"

"I visited a certain shrine."