A/N – Sorry for the late update. Strangely enough, I completely forgot I was even writing this story. Anyway… is it a coincidence that Kagome just so happens to be working in the one place that InuYasha goes to buy his snacks? Who knows… who knows… ahem. They had to meet again somehow. Gosh. Enjoy the chapter.

Chapter 4

InuYasha blinked into the sunlight. He must have fallen asleep. The hanyou looked at his watch and cursed. It was six o'clock. School had been over for three hours. InuYasha stood and started home. His parents wouldn't mind. He was always late home. InuYasha looked at his watch again as his stomach rumbled. He hadn't eaten all day. Might as well stop at the supermarket to get a snack. As he turned into the street the supermarket was in, a woman holding the hand of a small boy ran into him.

"Oh my!" the woman said, "I'm so sorry."

InuYasha blinked. Nobody had apologized to him before. "Don't worry about it."

"No, no. It was my entire fault. I should have been watching where I was going!"

The boy was staring up at InuYasha.

"Why do you have dog ears, mister?"

The woman looked shocked. "Souta, don't be rude!"

InuYasha looked down at the boy. "I'm a half demon."

"What's that?"

"My mother is a human; my father is a full demon."

"Can I touch them?"

"That's quite enough, Souta", the woman scolded, "I'm terribly sorry. He doesn't know any better."

"It's alright", InuYasha said.

The woman smiled, took Souta's hand, and continued down the sidewalk. InuYasha started towards the supermarket again, in a slightly happier mood.

XXX

Kagome yawned as the customer left the store. Kagome's mother, Kun-Loon, had come in to get some stuff for dinner. Kagome worked at the local supermarket after school and weekends to help her mother with the rent and bills. When her father had died, he hadn't left them with a great deal of money. Scratch that. He hadn't left them with any money. "Hey there, cutie. You come here often?"

Kagome blinked, staring into the face of Naraku and his friends. Smiling, Kagome started scanning their items. "Only every minute I'm not at school or home."

"That sucks. What time do you get off tonight?" Naraku asked.

"Seven-thirty tonight."

"Come out with me and the boys."

Kagome looked at Naraku. He wasn't asking. She shook her head. "Can't. I need to help mum out tonight. Thirteen dollars seventy."

Naraku paid for the items, said goodbye, and left.

A few minutes later, another customer dropped a Mars Bar and a coke onto the counter. "How are you toni-" Kagome cut herself off as she looked at the customer. The boy from the woods. InuYasha.

XXX

InuYasha stared in shock at the girl before him. It was her! The girl from the woods. InuYasha was speechless. He had wanted nothing more than to see this girl again, and now he had gotten his wish… and he had no idea what to say. The girl had that covered, it seemed. One word jerked him out of his thoughts.

"InuYasha."

"How do you know my name?" InuYasha asked, jumping on the defensive line. Kagome blinked.

"InuYasha Takahashi. Son of InuTaisho Takahashi. Everyone knows your name."

"Feh. Pity it doesn't do me any good", InuYasha muttered.

"What was that?" Kagome asked, scanning his items.

"The kids at school don't exactly- wait, why am I tell you? I don't even know you!"

Kagome held out her hand. "Kagome Higurashi. I'll be your cashier for the next five minutes."

InuYasha couldn't help it- he chuckled. "Oh, very funny."

"Hey, you laughed", Kagome said, "Four dollars twenty-five."

InuYasha handed her the money. "Why don't I know you?"

"Different schools", Kagome stated, handing InuYasha his change. "You go to private school. I'm in public."

InuYasha nodded. "So have you and Naraku got something going on, then?"

Kagome raised an eyebrow. "How do you know Naraku?"

InuYasha smirked, and put on a girls voice. "He's only, like, the cutest boy ever!"

Kagome burst into laughter. "Ok, girls do not talk like that", she said.

"At my school they do."

Kagome shook her head and looked at the time.

"I get off in fifteen minutes. Why don't you stick around, and come back to my place for dinner?"

InuYasha shook his head. "I should really be getting home."

"That, and you don't know me, right?" Kagome said.

InuYasha shook his head again. "No, really, my mother will be wondering where I am."

Kagome just nodded. "Whatever helps you sleep at night."

InuYasha started to protest, but Kagome cut him off.

"Have a nice night, sir."

InuYasha took this as a cue to leave. He picked up his snack, and left the store. He was halfway to the corner before he stopped. What the hell. What could one measly little dinner do?

XXX

Kagome finished cleaning her register and went to get her bag from the tea room. "I'm off, Lukas", Kagome said, waving to her manager.

"Kagome, do you have a lift home?" Lukas asked. Kagome gave him a small smile.

"You know I don't have a car."

"Is there at least someone here to walk you home?"

Kagome sighed, and looked out the shop window. Her spirits rose as she spotted InuYasha. "Yes. Yes there is."

XXX

Maybe this wasn't such a good idea after all…

InuYasha leaned against the shop wall. He didn't even know this girl! Why was he going over her house?

Because she treats you like a person said a voice in the back of his mind. The sound of a door opening jerked him out of his thoughts.

"Oh, my bad. Did I startle you?" Kagome asked.

"Feh."

"Ok, well I assume you're accepting my dinner proposal?"

"And I'm already regretting it."

Kagome rolled her eyes. "We have to walk."

"Ok."

Kagome sighed, and led the way. InuYasha walked beside her. He wanted to talk- he just had no idea what to say…

"What made you change your mind?" Kagome asked.

"Curiosity", was the reply. Kagome looked at InuYasha, waiting for him to continue. But he just remained quiet.

XXX

The two walked in silence. For some reason, the silence bugged Kagome. It made the walk home seem longer…

She turned her gaze to InuYasha, startled to find he was looking at her.

"Why are you looking at me?" Kagome asked.

"I'm trying to decide if you're the type to kill someone", InuYasha replied. Kagome looked shocked.

"Of course I'm not!"

"Yeah, we'll let the bodies in your backyard answer that one."

"Oh please. If I was going to kill someone, do you think I'd leave evidence?"

"I don't know; you don't seem smart enough to get rid of the evidence."

Kagome started to argue, but InuYasha interrupted her.

"Where are we going, anyway?"

"To the forest, so I can kill you."

InuYasha ignored her sarcasm, looking around. He knew where they were. But why- of course! Why else would she have been in the forest? She lived in that house!

Kagome looked curiously at InuYasha. "Are you ok?"

"I'm fine", InuYasha said, "Is your house the one just outside of the city?"

Kagome raised an eyebrow. "Why else would I have been in the forest?"