Hey Hey Hey!!! It's me with another chapter! I hope you all are enjoying this and will continue to read and enjoy this story until it is finished! I thank all who have reviewed so far!!

Note: Be on the lookout for my new story, Aquamarine! Yes, it's another Inu/Kag romance!! It will be up within the next few days!

Disclaimer: I still don't own Inuyasha. Any and all characters belong to Rumiko Takahashi. I own the stepfather, Yoshiro and the plot, though.

Chapter 7

September came and went and October swept in with cold temperatures and chilly winds. School went by as usual; the tests, the midterms coming up and the leaves now long gone. There was only a handful of sunny days so far; the rest were overcast and bitter cold with rain or freezing rain at times. The fireplaces were being used again as you could see smoke from the few chimneys and glowing firelight from front home windows.

Speaking of fireplaces; the fire red brick fireplace was warming the five teens in the wooden home of the inu hanyou. Inuyasha used it often during the winter; spending most of it with his girlfriend snuggled up beside him on the suede couch.

The warm, glowing fire warmed the occupants of the living room; crackling with sparks of ember not escaping the iron barrier protecting the fire. The plasma was blaring sound of kicks and hits as Miroku challenged his crush, Sango at ®Mortal Combat Armageddon on the Wii Miroku had brought with him. Right now he was the defending champion; not even Inuyasha could beat him but Sango was giving him a run for his money.

Ayame was struggling with a battle of her own: Algebra. Math was her worse subject and she couldn't solve any equations to save her life. The tapping of her led pencil and scribbling and erasing combined with her sighs and growls; anyone could see the wolf demon hated math with a passion.

Occupying the largest suede couch across from the plasma, Inuyasha was laid back; his focus on the papers from the local college that had an excellent photography program. On his lap, a head of black hair relaxed as her brown eyes were currently on a sketch. Her knees were drawn up so Kagome could see what she was doing.

Ayame sighed and put her pencil down. "Hey Inuyasha? Am I getting this right because I'm not sure." She got up from her place at the coffee table and showed her homework to the senior not even three feet away.

Inuyasha looked up and took a look at the problem she pointed out. He scanned though the steps until he landed at a mistake. "Everything's right except here." He took her pen and circled the area in which she got wrong. "You divide here when you're supposed to multiply."

Ayame suddenly got it; her emerald eyes widening in recognition. "Oh! Ah duh!" She slapped he forehead. "No wonder I couldn't get it and kept getting all those decimal answers when the instructions say "NO DECIMAL ANSWERS". She sat back down and sipped some of her favcorite green tea. "Thank god you're so good at math."

"Yeah, because kami knows I'm not an expert in the math department, either." Miroku spoke up; keeping his attention on his character who was getting the crap beaten out of him by Sango's female one. His body rocked back and forth as he tried to get his skills back.

"That's why she asked me in the first place, lech." Inuyasha answered as he continued to read.

Sango maneuvered her character perfectly as she used the special attacks with ease. Miroku was struggling as he tried to keep his champion title while his character- the one he always used to beat his opponents; getting creamed before his eyes. "Oh no, you're not beating me at Mortal Kombat, Sango! I am the reigning champion!" He declared.

Sango sneaked peeks every now and then and only smiled at how Miroku looked. She thought he was cute when he was struggling and quickly went back to the screen to keep from grinning and laughing. While she was fairly new at the game, she was quite good at it and seeing the king get knocked off his throne was enough to make her grin evilly. And once she dealt the final blow; signaling the end of the round with her character standing victoriously with a few hit points left herself, Sango crossed her arms and smiled proudly yet evilly as she watched her opponent's face drop in shock.

"NO! This is not fair! How about two out of three?" Miroku begged.

"Quit being such a poor loser! All's fair in love and war." Sango answered; trying hard not to laugh at how cute he was being; his eyes saying it all.

"Oh really?" His face went from hopelessness to lecherous as he turned to his pretty opponent. "All is fair in love and war?"

Her face turned pretty pink as she saw all the lechery thoughts in his violet eyes. "Don't even think about it, lecher!"

All three were watching this amusing scene and knew that Miroku was going to be on the ground with the usual red hand print on his face. Sango was backing up and stuttering while trying so hard not to blush. Those eyes and his charms were getting to her and she knew she was stronger than that. Why on earth did she fall for this…womanizer she had no idea…and probably never would.

All that suddenly interrupted with Beyonce's Halo ring tone. Kagome reached for it on the table without looking at the caller I.d., which would have been a huge clue as to who it was. "Hello?"

"Guess who?!" A high pitched feminine voice squealed.

Kagome immediately sat up straight. "Rin?!"

"Rin?!?!" Ayame and Sango shouted simultaneously.

"Rin? Isn't that Kagome's cousin?" Miroku asked.

"Older cousin. We haven't heard from her since last Christmas." Ayame answered.

"Hold on, let me put you on speaker." Kagome said. She pressed the button and held it out for everyone to talk.

"Hey Rin!!" Sango and Ayame shouted out. They were introduced to Rin a few years ago and all four girls were tight. Even though Rin was three and a half years older, Kagome, Rin, Sango and Ayame were like a fellowship of sisters.

"Aya-ya, San-San, how's it going?"

"Pretty good. Why haven't you called for so long? It's like you vanished off the earth!" Sango asked as she settled beside Ayame at the table.

"Sorry about that. I had to take care of high school and crap. High's school a big pain in the ass!"

"You got that right!" Inuyasha agreed.

"AH, I would know that voice anywhere!" She giggled happily. "Hey Inuyasha!"

"How you doing, Rin?"

"I'm hanging in there. If you're there; then that means that you and my cousin are still together?"

"Damn right we are!" He wrapped his arm around Kagome's shoulder and kissed those lovable lips of hers. She kissed right back and snuggled into his body.

"I'm not surprised. I knew you two were perfect for each other the first time I saw you. Wait a minute…If you're there then that means that the-"

"Hey Rin!" Miroku greeted; a wicked smile on his face.

"-lecher is there." Rin finished and muttered something incomprehensible to all ears. "You still groping, Miroku?"

"I am so deeply offended, Rin!" He defended himself; his voice mock innocence and his hand over his heart; as if in shock.

Rin only snorted. "Oh sock it Miroku before I come down there and kick your ass. That reminds me, I still owe you a big ass whooping from the first time you groped me!!" She growled out; the threat clear in her tone. When it came to colorful language, she was like a female Inuyasha. When she was on a role; it surprised many that such colorful choice words could come from a kind and selfless being. Like many, this teen had her moments.

"I do not know who to fear most at the moment; her or Sango." Pissing a female off was the one thing Miroku feared most. He's got many a beating from Sango, Ayame and Kagome but Rin was another story all together. It was like facing the three headed dog from folklore: scary and dangerous.

"I think you should fear both." Ayame advised wisely, trying not tot laugh at his facial expression.

The teen cleared her throat and became all perky again. "Anyway, guess what?! I'm coming to visit!!"

"What?!?!" All shouted.

"Are you serious?! When?" Kagome asked; excited to see her older cousin for the first time since last spring.

"I got permission from mom and aunt Masako and will be spending Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years with you all!"

All the girls squealed while the two boys covered their ears. When they got really excited over something; the squeals would be painful to Inuyasha's cute but sensitive ears. But with a relaxing and apologetic ear rub from his girlfriend; he wasn't so irritated anymore and even went to lay his head on her lap as the conversation continued at a normal tone.

"This is so great, Rin! I can't wait to see you; it's been so long!" Kagome said; her hand never leaving the fuzzy ear she was rubbing while Inuyasha laid on her lap; content yet aware.

"I know. Seeing you, baby Souta and Auntie Masako will be a nice treat. Taking a break from school is a bonus!"

All five continued to talk into the afternoon hours until Kagome announced she was running out of minutes and all said goodbye until next time. After a take-out dinner; all left the wooden house; since there was school tomorrow. With a goodnight kiss to last the night, Kagome left the man she loved in his car and walked up with thoughts of seeing her cousin and of her hanyou Romeo.

Late the next night; Inuyasha was relaxing on his bed with his laptop on his lap. Since it was cold out; he had a tank top with sweatpants to keep him warm; even though his demon blood would do just as well.

He was browsing through websites that had showings of recent and old paintings. Once in while; he would come across a good one but no one compared to Kagome's. She was one of a kind; a unique artist all her own. She got better with each painting and knew that she would eventually catch a critiques eye one day. He hoped so too. Inuyasha wanted "Lavender" to succeed and Kagome deserved to be recognized for all her work.

Just as he was about to click out; a flashing box caught his eye. He read aloud "Rising Artists of Japan Art competition. Young artists all over Japan; come and see if your work is better than all the rest." He clicked on the box and it opened up to a new window. It was the official R.A.O.J website; with competition dates, information and rules and regulations for entering.

"I wonder if Kagome would be interested in this." He grabbed his blood red cell and speed-dialed his girlfriend. It was 10:31 so he hoped she wasn't asleep yet.

"Hello?" The sleepy female voice mumbled after three rings.

"Hey baby did I wake you up?" He asked apologetically.

"Hmm, I was almost asleep. What is it Inuyasha? Why are you calling so late on a school night?" She emphasized on "school night" and the hanyou could tell that she was on the verge of strangling him if he didn't hurry up.

"Have you ever thought of showcasing your paintings?"

"It has never occurred to me. Why?"

"I came across a website by the Rising Artists of Japan and they're coming to Tokyo in April. It's a chance for young artists to show off their talents as artists. I think it would be good for you-you know, get recognized."

"Inu, I'm half asleep right now and on the verge of falling asleep again. Can you tell me all this tomorrow on the way to school when I will be more aware and would not want to kill you for waking me up?"

Inuyasha knew she wasn't a morning person and could turn on anyone if she didn't get enough sleep the night before. He thought it would be wiser and safer to explain this tomorrow.

"Alright babe, I'll see you tomorrow. Love you."

"Love you too. Good night." And she hung up.

The half demon only chuckled and bookmarked the page; shut off his laptop; got ready for bed and fell asleep with sweet dreams.

This chapter was shorter than the rest so don't kill me! As a treat I will post the next chapter a day early, so next Friday it will be up!

Ja Ne for now!!!