Raven sat in the lunch room with Sesshomaru and Starla, not really listening to their rambling, but deep in thought. She couldn't believe how bold she was today with Inuyasha. She had planed to talk to him and befriend him, but she never planed on kissing him! She just couldn't help herself there. As she had gazed into his beautiful liquid gold eyes the urge to kiss him hit her hard and she didn't even understand why. Her eyes gazed out around her searching for Inuyasha within the crowded room, but not catching a glimpse of him. She sighed softly and felt eyes on her. Sure enough when she looked Sesshomaru and Starla were staring at her.

"what?"

She asked glancing from one to the other. Starla was the first to speak as always.

"so, you finally got the guts to talk to Dog-boy AND kiss him. I'm impressed Rae,"

Raven flushed a deep scarlet at the reminder of her actions and she glared at Sesshomaru who was chuckling to himself at her reaction. She crossed her arms over her chest and grunted.

"it was just on the cheek for gods sake."

Starla shrugged her shoulders and stared at Raven with amusement dancing within her gray eyes.

"same difference,"

Raven glowered at her best friend, annoyed with her and Sesshomaru both for making fun of her.

"so,"

She glanced over to Sesshomaru who began speaking. She gave him a questioning look as she rose her eyebrow as a sign for him to continue.

"what's had you all of a sudden interested in my brother?"

"I'm merely trying to make his life better. I think perhaps I can help him and ease his suffering,"

Sesshomaru stared at her in shock. Raven was always trying to help people and he knew she'd ached to help Inuyasha for years now, but he didn't think she'd ever approach him considering she'd witnessed how ill tempered the guy was and she was way to frightened to get close. What made her do it now was a mystery to him.

"you've wanted to do so for a long time now Rae, but wouldn't because you were scared of his anger. What's changed?"

"yeah Raven, care to explain?"

Raven sighed and faced both her friends with the same determination as this morning with her sister.

"I was being stupid then, being scared of him. I understand why he is the way he is now. I mean come on, how would you act if everyone around you constantly degraded you and hated you for something you couldn't even control? Something you had no say in? Having to grow up and be insulted day after day for simply being born?"

Raven stated in a sad voice. She looked both Sesshomaru and Starla in the eye and finished her speech.

"I'm tired of seeing him in so much pain and misery. That's why he's so angry and mean towards everyone, it covers the pain he's in and doesn't allow anyone to see how much their words really cut him. Nobody deserves to live their life that way and it's going to be put to a stop here on out,"

Sesshomaru looked at her with a sad smile on his face as Starla just shook her head at her best friend. They both knew the possibilities of that happening were very, very slim.

"Raven, I appreciate what you're trying to do, but it's far fetched and you know it."

"don't even try to change her mind Sesshomaru. You ought to know how stubborn she is,"

Starla said as she looked at nothing and picked at her food. If she knew Raven, the girl wouldn't stop once she set her mind to something and by the look of determination on her face no one was going to change her mind.

"I don't care how far fetched or how impossible you may think it is Sesshomaru, but I will NOT give up, I don't care how long it takes me, I will take away his pain. No matter the cost to me,"

"well, can start now Rae."

Raven glanced at Starla with a puzzled look.

"what are talking about?"

Starla tilted her head in a direction across the room with a smirk forming on her lips. Still confused Raven followed her gaze and spotted Inuyasha and Sesshomaru's dad making his way, angrily, toward a table in the corner. That's when she saw Inuyasha, Miroku, and Sango sitting there, but she still didn't get Starla's meaning. Then Sesshomaru whistled low and shook his head.

"what?"

Raven asked completely confused. It was Sesshomaru who spoke up for her.

"Dad's here to stick it to Inuyasha."

"for what? It's the first day of school,"

"and he's already skipped his first two classes. Dad wont put up with it again this year or Inuyasha is going to fail. So he's going to put his foot down and put the hurt on him,"

Raven gasped and at her horrified look Sesshomaru re-worded what he said.

"not literally Rae, he's not going to beat him. Believe or not our father loves Inuyasha and wouldn't hurt him,"

"well I know Inutashio loves him. How the hell am I suppose to save him from his father?"

Suddenly an idea formed in her head and she smiled. Without saying anything to Sesshomaru or Starla she got up and quickly made her way towards Inuyasha and his angry father.

Starla and Sesshomaru glanced at each other.

"what do you think she's doing?"

Starla shrugged her shoulders and popped the rest of her cookie in her mouth and after drinking the rest of her milk she sighed.

"more than likely she's going to try and help ease the blow you're dad is going to deal to Inuyasha."

Sesshomaru raised an eyebrow and a slow smile played across his lips.

"want to follow and witness the entertainment?"

Starla grinned back and stood up.

"why Sesshy, you read my mind."

With that they both got up and made their way towards the scene a few feet away.

"Inuyasha Morita!"

Inuyasha stiffened at the sound of his father's angry voice. He should have known the school would call him when he didn't show up to his morning classes. Taking a deep breath he looked up to face his father's furious gaze. He was in deep shit now.

"uh hey dad, what brings you here?"

Inutashio narrowed his eyes and Inuyasha inwardly cringed at the deadly glare. Oh yeah he fucked up big time by not going to class.

"you know very well why I am here Inuyasha. Why in the hell are you cutting classes on the first day of school? Do you not want to graduate this year?"

"of course I do dad."

"well you're not acting like it. You can't graduate if you keep cutting class,"

Inutashio sighed and made an effort to calm himself down. He understood why his son didn't like going to class and he felt bad about how everyone treated him for only being half. But he couldn't let his sympathy for him keep him from doing what was right.

"Inuyasha if you don't straighten up I'm afraid I'll have no choice, but to ground you. Which means no car, no phone, no nothing."

Inuyasha gaped at his father's words. Ground him? He'd never been grounded in his life and he was going to take everything from him!

"you can't be serious dad."

The hard look he got proved he was.

"until you improve, yes I am very serious."

Inuyasha opened his mouth to argue, but was interrupted by Raven as she came to stand before his father.

"please, Mr. Morita don't punish Inuyasha."

Inutashio raised an eyebrow at her and her words. Inuyasha was staring at her back in confusion. What was she doing?

"why shouldn't I punish him?"

Raven took a deep breath and looked Inutashio straight in the eyes.

" Because Sir, you can't blame him for not going to class considering the hell he goes through, you got to give him credit for even showing up at all."

Inutashio was stunned by her comment and he clearly saw the shocked expression on his sons face, which meant Inuyasha hadn't asked her to come to his aid should he show up. Raven was doing this all on her own and though he appreciated her attempt he couldn't let his son ruin his life by not graduating.

"Raven.."

"please, I have a proposition for you Mr. Morita, if you'll agree."

Nodding his head for her to continue, Raven glanced back at Inuyasha and winked before turning back to Inutashio.

"you see Sir, I'm willing to help Inuyasha get through the year so he will graduate. I can tutor him and help him get everything turned in on time, if you will allow me to that is, I will be more than happy to help,"

Inutashio stood there for a few seconds contemplating on her offer.

"how much would you want for helping him?"

Raven was shaking her head even before he finished his sentence.

"I ask and expect nothing in return Sir."

"you'd help my son for free?"

He noticed the sadness that crept into her eyes as she looked at him and frowned.

"Kindness shouldn't be something that's bought, Sir. I'm doing this of my own free will, volunteering if you will, I require no payment, except maybe Inuyasha's friendship."

She glanced back at Inuyasha who sat there stunned and staring at her in utter disbelief.

"of course that's only if he's willing to be friends. I leave the choice up to you and if you don't want to be friends, don't worry, I'll still help you regardless,"

She smiled softly at him before turning back around. Inutashio couldn't believe her kindness. He's known her for years and she's always been kind and she was close friends with his other son Sesshomaru, so he knew he could trust her, but he just never saw this coming. From what he knew and by the way Inuyasha kept staring at her with the same shocked expression, Raven had never spoken to Inuyasha before. He also knew she was the only person who never judged Inuyasha for who he was. He could see the sincerity in her eyes that her only wish was to help and he couldn't deny her request. Perhaps she was the key to making Inuyasha's life better.

"very well then Raven, I accept you offer with gratitude."

Raven smiled, took a few steps back so she was standing beside Inuyasha and placed her hand on his shoulder.

"you wont regret it Sir, thank you."

Inutashio tilted his head and took his leave. Glancing back at his son and Raven he smiled softly. Things may change for his son after all.