Yay! The holidays are finally here! :D I'm so happy...

Exams were pretty good. I was seriously flipping out and it was all for nothing. :( The only one I really struggled with was Maths, and everyone struggled with that one so I'm not too fussed. xD; We have this idiot for a Maths teacher, so it's to be expected.

Camp was awesome! Bit sad though, coz this was our last camp as an entire class. It's so strange. I've only been at this school for 2 years and we're already saying goodbyes. I don't want anyone to leave! T-T

Sorry again for the lateness of this chapter. The next few chapters should come pretty quickly, seeing as it's the holidays and all :)

Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha (Rumiko Takahashi) or Let's See How Far We Come (Matchbox 20)

Late Saturday morning found Inuyasha, Kagome, Rin and Sesshomaru in the 'Music Room', as Rin had previously dubbed it. Since the last time she had come Rin had made a few subtle adjustments—there was now a couch resting against once wall and she had strewn posters of famous bands across the walls. Rin was currently discussing her plans to have a small fridge brought over to store drinks and perhaps the occasional snack.

"Well, are we going to play or what?" Inuyasha asked, rising from the couch and clapping his hands together in anticipation. "Let's rock!"

"Really Inuyasha, I would have thought you'd gotten enough rocking last night." Rin jibed, her eyebrows rising suggestively.

Apart from the small patches of red on Inuyasha and Kagome's cheeks, the couple made no reply. Rin had been throwing jokes and taunts at them all morning—behind Izayoi's back, of course. Kagome even thought she saw the ever stoic Sesshomaru's lips move into the faintest of smiles when a particularly snide remark from Rin made Inuyasha choke on the orange juice he had been drinking at the time.

Following Inuyasha's example, they all stood and made their way to their respective instruments. It was then that Kagome realised there was a slight problem.

"Um… what's Sesshomaru going to play?" she asked.

"The drums of course!" Rin exclaimed, as though it was the most obvious thing in the world. "Why did you think I went to the trouble of bringing a drum kit in here?"

"The… drums…?" Kagome repeated weakly. She tried picturing Sesshomaru beating his way through a song on the drum kit, but the mental image was simply too strange.

"Yup. Sesshomaru picked it up… wow… it must have been when I first started learning guitar." Inuyasha added; mind obviously wandering to those long-ago memories as Kagome continued to get her own mind around the fact Sesshomaru actually played the instrument.

Silently, Sesshomaru sank into the chair behind the drum kit with well practiced ease and grace. His face remained emotionless as he took the two sticks, placing one in each hand, and turned to the others. "Well?" he asked.

"Hang on a second…" Rin was busy rummaging through a rather precarious stack of sheet music. "It's here somewhere… ah ha!"

She tossed a few pages of photocopied music to Inuyasha, who caught it easily with his demon abilities, and to Kagome, who fumbled with hers before dropping it.

"You'd know this one, Sesshomaru." She told him, taking a single sheet of paper for herself with a copy of the words.

And indeed, Sesshomaru did know the song; as did Inuyasha, Kagome and Rin, making it much easier for the entire group to pick it up. Kagome also joined Rin in vocals as her part in the song consisted mostly of simple chords and addition notes. By their third or fourth time, they could all run through the song without any major hassles or mistakes.

"I'm waking up at the start of the end of the world,
But it's feeling just like every other morning before,
Now I wonder what my life is going to mean if it's gone,
The cars are moving like a half a mile an hour if that
And I started staring at the passengers who're waving goodbye
Can you tell me what was ever really special about me all this time?"

Kagome chanced a glance at Sesshomaru behind her and had to resist the urge to laugh. Unlike most drummers, who moved to the beat and went positively wild thumping their way through each song, Sesshomaru seemed more than content to sit with his usual stiff posture and stoic expression. Even as his hands became a blur during more complex, fast beats in the song, he looked almost bored.

"But I believe the world is burning to the ground
Oh well I guess we're gonna find out
Let's see how far we've come
Let's see how far we've come
Well I, believe, it all, is coming to an end
Oh well, I guess, we're gonna pretend,
Let's see how far we've come
Let's see how far we've come…"

The song continued and Rin eventually discarded her lyrics, already knowing the song off by heart. Removing the microphone from its stand, she began to jump and dance crazily around her friends with a vigour that made Kagome laugh to the point she had to stop playing for a couple of bars, joining in again when her laughter died into chuckles.

How could she have lived without smiling?

How could she have lived without having fun?

They played through another three songs and then stopped for a break. Izayoi had crept in to listen during the second and sat herself quietly down on the couch, smiling at everyone as she genuinely enjoyed the music. When they finished she got to her feet and applauded.

"Bravo! That was wonderful!" she cheered.

"Aw, thanks Izayoi." Rin replied as she gave the woman a friendly hug.

"Well I just wanted to remind you Rin that you have a doctor's appointment in half an hour."

Rin slapped her forehead with the back of her hand. "Shoot! I completely forgot!"

Sesshomaru lead Rin through the hallways with Izayoi following close behind, leaving Inuyasha and Kagome to listen to Rin's shouts of 'hurry up!' and 'we're going to be late!'.

"I didn't know Sesshomaru played the drums." Kagome commented when the last of Rin's cries died away.

"Not many do. It's not exactly something Fluffy goes around telling people."

"He's quite good…"

"Yeah. It's hilarious to watch, too."

Kagome thought back to the emotionless face and the way it contrasted to the continuous blue of his limbs. "Agreed."

"So… you hungry?"

Kagome nodded eagerly. She hadn't had a chance to have breakfast that morning due to the fact that both she and Inuyasha were still fast asleep.

Inuyasha chuckled at his girlfriend's expression. He could clearly remember a time not so long ago when she wouldn't eat anything; back when her face was still that cold, spiteful mask that made everyone cower before her. That mask had completely shattered—there wasn't a single scrap of it remaining in her beaming, genuinely happy face. There were no words to describe how proud he was to know that it was he who had smashed that mask.

"Come on," he said, slinging his arm over her shoulder. "I know just the place."

-

-

Sango had seated herself at a table at the back of the restaurant, twiddling her thumbs and occasionally biting her nails; a habit she had been sure she'd grown out of. At her feet she had placed a bag containing a box of Miroku's favourite chocolates—she'd gotten them for him on his birthday last year and he had been addicted to them ever since. She'd even gone so far as to buy him a porn magazine from the service station on the way to the restaurant. The man at the cash register had given her a funny look when she made her purchase, but she didn't mind what he thought.

The bell hanging from the top of the door jingled merrily as it was pushed open. Sango's heart leapt frightfully high in her chest. There he was.

Miroku looked just as stunning as he always did, even in plain jeans and a baggy shirt. He could have been wearing a fluffy pink tutu and a plastic tiara for all she cared; as long as she could see that beautiful face.

He scanned the room, looking for Haichi, his friend from Maths class. Knowing that if Miroku believed he would be meeting her in the restaurant he wouldn't come, Sango had come up with the idea of bribing Haichi into getting Miroku to come to the restaurant.

Haichi hadn't failed her. That wasn't really much of a surprise—Sango had, at one point, resorted to threats when requesting her favour. Everyone knew that when Sango started making threats she fulfilled them—ever since two years ago when a particularly persistent demon began following her around the school in his efforts to become her boyfriend. Miroku had kindly offered to take care of the problem, of course, but Sango didn't need his help. One swift yet surprisingly strong kick to the groin dealt with the problem completely.

She'd been hesitating for too long. Miroku, having decided Haichi wasn't going to show, had turned around and was about to leave the restaurant once more.

"Miroku." She said softly, placing a hand on his shoulder. He flinched beneath the contact, but otherwise remained completely stoic and emotionless.

"What do you want, Sango?" he asked dully.

The lack of feeling in his voice struck her heart like an iron blade. It brought tears to her eyes and made her throat close up.

"Please Miroku; please sit down."

"Why should I?"

"It won't take long, I promise."

Miroku looked as though he wanted to argue, but instead his shoulders slumped and he allowed himself to be led to the table at the back of the restaurant. There they sat in silence. Sango didn't know what to say. She had thought this through so clearly the night before, yet all her planned words seemed to escape her completely.

"Haichi isn't coming."

"No." It wasn't a question, but Sango responded anyway.

"Why am I here, Sango?"

Sango didn't reply immediately. She stared at the salt and pepper shakers in front of her and willed her voice to work.

"Do you remember this place?" she eventually asked.

Miroku snorted. "Remember it? How could I forget?"

"Our first date…"

"I wouldn't exactly call it the happiest moment of my life. I can't imagine it being yours, either."

It was true. They had been sitting beside a particularly noisy family who spent the entire time yelling at one another. At one point during the date one of the smaller children had flung a meatball at Miroku's head. It hadn't missed. The waiter had then lost their order and they were forced to sit together in awkward silence for the better part of a half hour before their meals finally arrived. When a waitress came to take their plates after the meal Sango had accused Miroku of flirting with her, which he denied profusely. To top it all off the two discovered that they didn't have the money to pay for their lunch and had had to make a run for it.

"Not the happiest, but it was still our first date."

"It was indescribable agony."

"Miroku, I'm… I'm sorry."

Miroku didn't say anything.

"I truly am. I should have never doubted you. It's just… I heard about you and that girl Haruhi-"

"Wait, you dumped me because you thought I was with Haruhi?" Miroku interrupted sharply.

"Yeah, Umeko and Sada kept on going on about how cute you two looked during English during Maths… it was all they ever talked about and eventually I just kind of snapped…"

"Haruhi and I are partners in English class. We have a deal going—she does all the work for the project and I get her together with Haichi."

Sango blinked. "Haichi? Haruhi likes Haichi?"

"Yup. She's fancied him for the past two years."

"Oh…"

A thousand emotions seemed to flow through Sango at once; so fast she couldn't grasp what they were or whether they were appropriate for the situation at hand. Instead she somehow found herself crying in Miroku's arms, letting her salty tears soak into his shirt as she cursed herself over and over again for doubting him.

Miroku didn't waste any time in wrapping his arms around her, whispering soothing words in her ear and running a hand through her silky locks. As perverted as he was, he knew that when it came to Sango crying it was not the time to play around.

"Ssh…" he hushed softly, still rubbing her back.

"I'm sorry," Sango was still managing to choke out, "I'm so sorry, please forgive me. You can touch my butt whenever you want and I'll even supply you with weekly porn magazines, just please forgive me."

Miroku couldn't stop the small chuckle that escaped his lips. "You know you'll regret saying that, right?"

"There's no way I could ever regret anything as much as I regret letting you go."

"It's okay." For a while Miroku was silent, just rubbing her back and listening to her muffled sniffles. Then, in a voice so quiet Sango barely heard it, he responded again.

"I forgive you."

-

-

"What about here?"

Kagome contemplated the takeaway shop for a moment before shaking her head. "No, Kagura and Yura come here all the time. I really don't want to see them right now."

"Understandable."

"What about here?"

Inuyasha took once swift glance at the Chinese restaurant and wrinkled his nose. "No way. Sesshomaru and I went there once. Worst mistake we ever made, I swear."

They continued down the street searching for somewhere to eat until Inuyasha caught Eri's scent heading in their direction. Then they turned down yet another street.

"Wait…" Inuyasha said, stopping in his tracks and pulling Kagome back a step. He was peering through the window with a puzzled frown, his fluffy white ears twitching.

"What is it?" she asked. Then she too peered through the window and her eyes widened in shock. "Is that Sango and Miroku?"

"It sure looks like them."

"Didn't you say they broke up?"

"That's what Miroku told me."

They went inside and greeted the already seated couple, who appeared relatively happy despite Sango's puffy red eyes. She was even well enough to slap Miroku when his hand wandered down too low.

Kagome had never actually had a conversation with either of Inuyasha's friends; having only shared classes and occasionally bumped into each other in the school's hallways. It surprised her to no end how comfortable she felt talking and laughing with them. It was almost as though she had always been there rather than being a complete stranger.

"So what have you two planning to do today?" Sango asked when they had all eaten and the dishes were carried away.

"We didn't actually have any plans." Inuyasha replied.

"Well, why don't you all come to my place?" Sango suggested, "We could hire some movies and get some snacks from the supermarket…"

"Sounds like a plan to me!" Miroku replied as he wrapped his arm around Sango's shoulders. Sango gave him a distrustful look, but leaned into his embrace anyway.

Inuyasha looked to Kagome, who smiled and nodded. "I'd love to go."

"Okay. I can get Sesshomaru or Rin to pick us up afterwards."

-

-

After three movies—one chick flick, one comedy and one action/adventure movie—Inuyasha and Kagome decided that it was time to get back to the Takahashi mansion. Inuyasha called Sesshomaru and it wasn't long before he arrived in his sleek black car and drove them back again.

Izayoi was cooking when they walked through the front door. Why she cooked when she had so many servants at her disposal made no sense to Kagome. Perhaps cooking was a hobby of hers.

Whatever the reason, it smelt good.

"Where did you two run off to?" Rin huffed, her hands on her hips.

"Sorry, Rin. We went out to eat and came across some friends of ours. We spent the day at their place."

"Well, as long as you weren't doing anything… dirty in public." Rin said, smirking as she flounced into the kitchen to see if she could help her mother-in-law.

Kagome and Inuyasha blushed only slightly and went up to Inuyasha's room to wait out the time before dinner.

-

-

"O, wilt thou leave me so unsatisfied?"

"What satisfaction canst thou have to-night?"

"The exchange of thy love's faithful vow for mine."

"I gave thee mine before thou didst request it:
And yet I would it were to give again."

Kagome and Inuyasha were both lying on Inuyasha's bed. Despite its great size, they had both somehow managed to end up so that their shoulders were brushing and their legs and feet had turned into a rather impressive tangle. Kagome found her position—and that of her feet—quite a distraction, but as Inuyasha had pointed out, there would be plenty of distractions onstage that she would have to ignore completely.

"Wouldst thou withdraw it? For what purpose, love?"

"But to be frank, and give it thee again.
And yet I wish but for the thing I have:
My bounty is as boundless as the sea,
My love as deep; the more I give to thee,
The more I have, for both are infinite."

Inuyasha couldn't help but marvel at the beauty of her voice; so smooth and flowing, like water only sweeter. Even without the script to read she still recited her lines without pause or hesitation, giving new meaning to words Inuyasha would have never bothered to listen to if they didn't come from her lips.

"O blessed, blessed night! I am afeard.
Being in night, all this is but a dream,
Too flattering-sweet to be substantial."

He couldn't help but wince at his own voice; so flat and plain compared to his girlfriend's. He had always known that he was never born an actor. Helping Kagome learn her lines only strengthened that knowledge.

"Hey Kagome?" he questioned before she could continue with the next line.

"Yeah?"

"You don't actually have to kiss this Romeo person, do you?"

Kagome laughed. "Inuyasha, it's Romeo and Juliet. Of course I've got to kiss Romeo."

Inuyasha's ears drooped.

"But then… you've got to kiss a total stranger."

"He's been in my Drama class all year." Kagome reminded him.

"But why? Couldn't you just… cut that bit out?"

"You can't cut out scenes from a play like Romeo and Juliet—especially not romantic ones." She smiled and scratched him behind the ear; a spot, she had learned, he was very partial to being rubbed. "I wouldn't worry too much. It's not like we're going to be exchanging saliva or anything. And Suikotsu's close enough to being a friend that he won't try anything on me."

"You're sure of that? You don't want me to go over and threaten him or anything?"

"Inuyasha!"

Inuyasha grinned. "Relax Kagome, I was kidding."

They were interrupted by Izayoi calling them for dinner downstairs. She'd prepared spaghetti and meatballs—a dish Kagome would have previously not even considered eating for the sake of her diet. Since she hadn't eaten any snacks during the movies at Sango's house and had chosen a lighter lunch from the restaurant, she didn't feel any remorse when it came to eating her entire bowl.

Oh, how things had changed.

The rest of the night was spent playing Cluedo, which Rin had insisted the entire family play together. Inuyasha accused Rin of cheating and they spent nearly 15 minutes bickering before Sesshomaru threatened to stop playing if they didn't shut up. Izayoi ended up winning—apparently she was a genius when it came to board games, especially when it came to either Cluedo or Monopoly.

Although Kagome spent most of the night smiling and laughing along with the rest of the family, she couldn't help but feel a little pang of sadness. Her family had once been happy like this. She and Souta had often sat in the lounge room and played Twister or Guess Who, laughing and generally enjoying themselves. It hurt to know that she could never share those happy times with her brother again.

But being with Inuyasha and his family… that was really the next best thing. Here she could smile, laugh or cry whenever she wanted to. Here she could be herself and no one would reprimand her for it.

This was her home now. Inuyasha was her home. As long as she was with him, she could survive whatever the world threw at her. She could deal with the pain of losing her brother, the misery of knowing her father was insane. She could live with knowing what her mother did with men each night and that her friends were in fact her enemies.

As long as she had Inuyasha.

Those were her last thoughts as she drifted off to sleep on the couch, listening to Inutashio's good-natured complaints over his two sons and Rin's whining over the lack of anything good to watch on TV. Her head rested on Inuyasha's shoulder and she allowed her thoughts to fade into the nonsensical buzz of sleep.

Sorry for the pointless chapter. I kind of needed one to lead up to what happens in the next few...

Whoa... the reviewing thing has a new layout! Awesome! :D

...Reviews...

SilverSpirit 101: I'm glad you liked it :)

Daeth101- Fox verson: The next chapter will be longer, I promise ;)

TiffanyM: This is so weird! What other music do you like??? I personally like anything with good lyrics and a nice beat... Red Jumpsuit Apparatus are my all time fav band... do you like them, too?? Coz that would be REALLY crazy!

Kattana: Yup, I'm kind of postponing the inevitable aren't I? Thus the extra fluffy fluff I'm stuffing into each chapter xD;

Helena Mariel: Lol some guys are just so clueless, aren't they?

Alex's Tsuki-chan: Thanks for the awesome review! Someone who understands me! xD

the-real-inu-girl: Yup, Rin is definitely the coollest of the cool. I'm glad you liked the chapter :)

thesims1231: Thanks! :D

MeiunTenshi: Sorry I took so long again :(

Kitty-kat333: Aww thanks your review was so sweet :)

Say0mi Saki: I'm glad the chapter made you feel better. Hope you don't mind the fact that this one was just meaningless fluff xD;

JoBrosCupcakeSwirl: Sorry the chapter took so long... again... xD;

BoredGirl17: Lol I think they did exactly what you think they did, don't you? Hehehe...

InuyashaxKagome1994: Sorry I took so long :(

phoebe4448: Thanks! :D