She stared at the ground for another long moment, chewing thoughtfully on the side of her pointer finger. Yusuke was still searching, almost frantically, but despite his nearly violent resolve that accompanied all the yelling Kagome knew he was wasting his time. She'd sorted all the arguments, and everything in her head told her that Inuyasha had taken Sota, and that any minute now he would be coming to find her and tell her so, to demand the jewel from her. The problem was this time she really didn't have the jewel. So even if she was willing to trade it for Sota she couldn't.

Her previous efforts at finding the jewel hadn't been nearly this desperate, but despite all of her concentration being focused purely on the task Kagome still couldn't sense the jewel anywhere. If it had just been laying on the ground somewhere she should have been able to find it easily, but if she couldn't that had to mean someone had it and whoever it was must have known what it was and been hiding it somehow. That was disturbing enough, but now that she actually needed the stupid thing it was far beyond her grasp. And she was sure an irrational and clearly unstable half demon would be coming after her looking for the jewel any time now. There was no telling what he would do when she told him, particularly if he still thought she was lying, which she was sure he would. And Sota would be right in the middle.

Her panicked brain could only come up with one option now that the jewel was once again beyond her grasp, and that was looking hopeless too. If she wanted to save Sota and she didn't have the jewel her only choice now was to face Inuyasha on her own and hope she could at least distract him long enough for her little brother to get away from him. She knew there wasn't much of a chance that she could beat Inuyasha in a real fight, but she might be able to slow him down a little, distract him for a few minutes. After all she was the one Inuyasha was really after, once he had her he should completely lose interest in Sota. It didn't sound like fun, in fact she was dreading it completely, but it was the only choice she had left. Talking sense into him hadn't worked in the past, and she was pretty sure it wouldn't now.

"Kagome are you even listening to me?"

"Hmm…" She dropped her hand to her side to meet her brother's annoyed gaze, "Sorry Yusuke." She shook her head and looked away from him, "I've just been thinking maybe we should split up and keep looking… we'll have a better chance of finding Sota if there's two of us looking in different places right?"

"Hell no." His annoyed look turned into a glare, "You've already disappeared on me once today and one missing sibling is enough thanks. So I'm not letting you out of my sight. And don't even think about trying to talk me out of it because it isn't going to do you any good."

"Yusuke! I'm not some helpless kid you know! I can handle walking around town on my own." She crossed her arms to glare away from him.

"Yeah sure you are." He met her look squarely as she turned toward him again, "If you think a little glare is going to change my mind you're wrong. I've spent way too much time around Keiko for that to work."

Her previously narrowed eyes widened dangerously as Kagome held her breath, feeling her temperature rise as her muscles tensed against her will. She hadn't wanted a fight, she'd just wanted to make the suggestion and have him accept it. She should have known her half brother wouldn't make things that simple. Most of the time they got along well enough, but she knew Yusuke had a tendency to be difficult. Why couldn't he be more like Sota and just do what she told him? As the thought echoed through her mind a pang of guilt and concern broke through her building anger, puncturing it easily until she was melting inwardly. "I don't want to fight with you Yusuke. If we want to find Sota splitting up is our best chance. We can cover twice as much ground in half the time… or don't you want to find him?" She demanded harshly, hating herself as she saw the look that flashed over his face before he could hide it. Concern and guilt, just like her. She hated making him feel that way, hated that she was in reality lying to him, but… she had to do this, and she had to do it alone or Yusuke would get sucked into everything too. So far she'd managed to keep him and Inuyasha apart, then at least one brother was safe, and if she got her way soon the other would be too.

"Yeah all right." He crossed his arms to watch her for a moment, refusing to meet her eyes, "but we're meeting back home in an hour and if you aren't there on time there'll be hell to pay do you understand me Kagome?"

She knew it was an idle threat, but it still irked her. However exercising a little control that she was admittedly normally a little short on Kagome held her tongue and nodded, fixing a false smile on her face. "Oh don't worry about that. I'll be home in one hour just like you said." She turned, "I'll go this way okay? See you at home…"

Yusuke stared after her for a moment with narrowed eyes. She was being just a little too happy, like Botan when she had a secret she didn't feel like sharing, and since when did Kagome just swallow his orders and go along with them? He'd learned the hard way over the short time that he'd actually known her that a temper was something they shared, and control over it was another thing they both had in short supply. Honestly he'd kind of been looking forward to relieving some of the stress by arguing with her, and he'd seen the spark of it in her eyes for a second. The fact that it had vanished so quickly had him worried. Kagome must have been more torn up over not knowing where Sota was then he'd thought to be acting so out of character. He was almost worried about letting her go. If she had a few other things in common with him Yusuke had a feeling that she might actually do something stupid. He had the feeling, but couldn't place it. What stupid thing could she possibly do? It must have just been because he hadn't been able to find her earlier that he was worried about letting her out of his sight now, that was why watching her run away was so hard.

"Snap out of it Yusuke, it's not like you aren't ever going to see her again." He turned away from where she was running and shook his head. A sister was something you were stuck with for life, good or bad, just like any other family member. Kagome would be back and he could needle her then about where she'd been and make her start acting like herself again. Once they found the kid everything would be back to the way it should have been.

XXXXX

It was Kuwabara who broke the silence first, clearing his throat loudly to get his companion's attention before he spoke. "So you said you saw Kagome with Hiei too huh?"

"Yes, I believe he was walking her home."

"So what do you thinks going on with those two? I mean it's like every time she takes off somewhere they turn up together, and a couple times I could have sworn I heard them talking in her room in the middle of the night."

These were thoughts he'd pondered many times. Hiei was not the most social of people, frankly he seemed rather fond of solitude, but he did seem to be spending a great deal of time with Kagome, who never actually mentioned their time together, though he also never asked, "Truthfully I haven't any idea. I suspect that Kagome has won him over somehow, though I doubt we will ever learn of the complexities of their relationship."

"You don't think they're… you know… together or something?"

Another of those questions he'd been attempting to avoid asking himself, it left a sour twisted sensation in his stomach to even consider. "It is a possibility I suppose, but there would be signs, Hiei is somewhat territorial … Not to mention his sense of superiority and dislike of humans in general…"

"Yeah I guess you're right…" Kuwabara looked down at the sidewalk, "I bet Kagome just managed to make friends with him somehow, she's good at that."

"Yes, she seems to be." In only a matter of a week the girl had managed to instigate herself into all of their lives, and in only a few she had become an integral part of them. Kagome's charm certainly worked quickly.

He nearly didn't hear it over his thoughts, such a soft sound he was half certain he might have imagined it until it was repeated, diverting his attention from the taller young man to the shadows of the distant corner and a small figure standing in them.

XXXXX

She had to have gone far enough, and as far as she could tell Yusuke wasn't following her. Kagome came to a stop, staring at the dark ground at her feet as she tried to finish talking herself into what she knew she had to do. But for some reason all she could see was Inuyasha's face giving her that smug smile that accompanied a victory, or that concerned look he hadn't always been able to hide. She couldn't help thinking about everything they'd gone through together since she'd unpinned him from the tree and broken the jewel, all of their stupid adventures. "Oh Inuyasha… I wish I knew what was wrong with you… I wish… I wish it hadn't come to this between us…" The desire to fall to her knees was almost overwhelming, but Kagome forced her legs to hold her body up. She couldn't stop the tears welling in her eyes from falling free though, and she couldn't keep her voice from braking a little as she stared at her feet, "I wanted to help you, I would have done anything to. I still would if only…" She closed her eyes against the tears, letting them fall unheeded down her cheeks, "Sota… don't worry I'll get you out of this. I promise…" She was silent for a few moments before wiping her cheeks with the backs of her hands, "Here I am blubbering like a baby when this is all because of me. Get it together girl, you can handle this." She whispered before squaring her shoulders and forcing her eyes up from the ground, "Okay Inuyasha, if you wanted me so bad here I am. I'm waiting for you."

XXXXX

She heard the running footsteps before she realized there was anyone near where she'd been standing for she wasn't sure how long now, but she guessed from her numb legs that it had been a long time since she'd moved. Even she could tell there was more than one person coming toward her, so it was incredibly unlikely that Inuyasha was one of them. Still she didn't want to be caught off guard. Yusuke had warned her about wandering around alone enough and after earlier, well she wasn't an idiot after all. Forcing her legs to let her turn was a little more difficult than normal, but she ignored the painful tingling sensation motion caused even once she was facing the dark street behind her.

Kagome felt herself stiffen as the thundering footsteps came closer, her eyes narrowing in the attempt to see into the shadows. She'd chosen her defensive position badly, she'd been hoping that on a street corner Inuyasha would have less of a chance to sneak up on her than if she picked someplace with trees, those were some of his favorite places to hide after all and he would have an even greater advantage if she'd gone someplace with a lot of them. But this street corner, what had she been thinking she couldn't see more than a few feet. Oh well, there was no point running now they were nearly on top of her.

"Kagome… we've finally found you." Red hair and green eyes appeared in the dimness and a sigh of relief left her as the voice tumbled into her ears.

"Shuichi… you scared me for a second there." She couldn't help smiling at his apologetic look, "Were you looking for me for something?"

"Not I exactly…" He turned a little as another shape melted out of the darkness behind him.

"Hey Sis…"

XXXXX

"So let me get this straight. You just decided to leave home without telling anyone?" She couldn't help that her voice was rising, both in tone and volume, "You aren't even supposed to go across town alone! What were you thinking? Do you have any idea how worried we were about you?"

"Come on Sis, it's not like that…" Sota flinched a little from the glare his older sister fixed on him, "Well it's not I just…"

"Lied to your mother and got on a train to a city you don't know. Do you have any idea what could have happened to you?" Yusuke exploded, halting his annoyed pacing across the living room behind Kagome to pin the kid down with the daggers his eyes were throwing. "What are you some kind of idiot?"

"Hey take it easy Yusuke, he's just a kid." Kagome glanced at him over her shoulder, ready to turn on Sota again the second he made the mistake of opening his mouth.

"It doesn't matter; he's old enough to know better that to do something so stupid!"

"I said take it easy!"

"What you get to yell at him and I don't?"

"Of course; I'm his older sister; yelling at him and keeping an eye on him are my job." She crossed her arms and turned her face away, tipping her nose up huffily.

"Yeah, well I'm his older brother and it's my job to kick his stupid ass when it does something stupid, so you're lucky I'm not pounding him into the pavement."

"Yusuke!"

"Kagome!"

"If I may interject…"

"Stay the hell out of this Kurama!"

"Don't yell at Shuichi, he didn't do anything wrong. Without him we may never have found Sota."

It never failed to amaze him how she so easily ignored the different name they called him, clearly having dismissed it as only a nickname, though she hadn't asked directly about it now that she'd figured out he was who they meant by Kurama. While he realized between these two in a fight was a dangerous place to be he knew there would only be more trouble if he allowed the argument to progress. "Neither of you seem to be seeing the bigger picture here. Your brother has returned safely so there is no further need for concern." He smiled at the little boy who was practically trembling under his older siblings' wrath, "And I believe Sota has learned his lesson haven't you?"

"Yeah… you bet I have…" Sota stood and caught his sister's sleeve, "I thought I'd get here before anyone missed me, I didn't mean to worry anyone. So don't be mad at me okay Sis? I just wanted to come see you and meet Yusuke…"

About to shake him off so she could finish her argument with Yusuke before finishing dealing with the younger brother Kagome froze, a look of surprise flashing across her face before it softened considerably, her eyes nearly sad as they met her younger brothers. "Oh… Sota…" She dropped quickly to her knees, wrapping her arms tightly around him, "I'm not mad, not really. You just really scared me is all. I thought something terrible had happened to you." Of course he wanted to meet Yusuke, he'd never had an older brother and since she'd come here, since they'd found out Sota had done nothing but ask about him. She'd wanted to keep him away, thinking if she kept distance between this family and the one back home Inuyasha wouldn't find her at first, and then when he had that Sota and their mom and grandpa would be safer that way. She hadn't even let him talk to Yusuke on the phone. She hadn't realized she'd been so cruel to him. How could she have done it? Keeping him from his brother now that he knew he had one… "I'm sorry Sota, I should have let you come visit a long time ago. Can you forgive me?"

"What?" Sota sprung back from her, "But I'm the one who ran away and got lost… you're right I did something really dumb…"

"But Shuichi's right, you learned your lesson and your safe and that's what matters. So let's just forget about it for now okay?" She smiled as she ruffled his hair.

"Kagome… are you feeling alright?"

She smiled, "Sure I am Sota."

"Yeah well she may have forgiven you, but I haven't. I spent all night looking for you because you decided to be an idiot." Yusuke crossed his arms to glare at the pair, but it was halfhearted at best. He could understand after all, he'd wanted to meet the kid too, maybe if he'd been more insistent about it the brat wouldn't have done something so impulsive and reckless. Inwardly Yusuke smiled. Impulsive and reckless, maybe they were more alike than he'd thought they would be. It only took a glance at the boy for the mild annoyance lingering in place of his previous anger to vanish. "Just don't ever do something so dumb again, Okay kid?"

"Don't worry, I won't." Sota smiled a little, "So I brought some quarters, and I passed an arcade on the way here with Kagome, do you want to go play some games?"

Yusuke blinked for a moment, "Sure kid, but don't think I'm gonna go easy on you."

"Not to spoil your fun, but don't you think it's kind of late?"

"Oh come on Kagome, tomorrow's Saturday, let the kid have some fun before we send him home."

She knew she was going to have trouble now. They both had the same puppy dog eyes, and knew how to use them. Kagome sighed, "Fine I'll call mom and let her know you're okay, but you get to call and explain yourself tomorrow," They turned and ran for the door as soon as her resolve wavered, neither willing to stand around in case she changed her mind at the last second, "Do you understand me Sota?" She sighed when her call received no answer. "Geez all that trouble and I don't even get a goodbye, what am I chopped liver? Give a Kid a big brother and the sister goes right out the window."

A chuckle escaped him at her pouting tone, "You should know that when Kuwabara and I found him we offered to bring him to Yusuke, but Sota was very insistent on finding you first."

"Really?" She glanced at him quickly, eyes wide with surprise.

"I think on his list of priorities you rank above Yusuke."

She smiled a little, before turning and without thinking catching him around the waist, "Thanks Shuichi, I don't know what I would have done if something had happened to him." She murmured into his chest.

His surprise was pushed aside quickly and he found his arms already settling around her, his eyes closing to allow his other senses to savor the moment despite the slight sting of salt from tears he knew she was trying to keep from falling, "Think nothing of it. I am glad I could return him safely."