happy fourth of july to those of you who actually celebrate it/ give a damn.

DISCLAIMER: I do not own Inuyasha.

Kagome stood at the top of the shrine steps looking around in worry, why she would bother looking for him from the top of the steps she didn't know, he never used them anyways. still it had been two weeks since she had seen him last. Inuyasha was not her favorite person and at first she had enjoyed the peace without him but after the first week and the third date with Hojo without so much as a taunting text something in her head told her something was off. Then when she wen't to The Flea and The Sword to talk with Sango about her third date, Miroku was with her but there was no Inuyasha. That was when she knew something was wrong, apparently no one had seen him in a week. So she had let another week pass with still nothing, now she was officially worried about the inu hanyo, he may be a pervert, two faced, and crazy but she had absolutely no ill will against the older male. It just wasn't in her nature to wish harm upon anyone or any living thing. She couldn't even kill a fly, why shorten the lifespan of something that lives three days anyways? Sure she had threatened to purify Inuyasha before but she knew she couldn't, she would hate herself if she did, maybe a brave face and little zap of her energy but that was as far as she would go. She couldn't stand the sight of blood, it was a wonder she could heal people who get hurt at the shrine and even more so that she didn't faint when she patched up Inuyasha's wound all those nights ago, adrenaline she supposed. She leaned on her broom and sighed, wondering where on earth the Hanyo had disappeared too, it was late, closing time at the shrine as she watched the sun set marking the finish of the second week of Inuyasha's disappearance she felt her worry turn sickening. She knew Inuyasha did not live in a good part of town and that with a personality like his, he would have a lot of enemies, for the past two weeks both Sango's and Miroku's calm state had let her believe it was nothing. It just wasn't enough to comfort her anymore, so with one last desperate glance around she retreated inside her home.

Chiya looked up as Kagome walked back into the house. She frowned hating that her and her daughter sat around all day while the young girl worked her butt off at the shrine, but no matter how many times both her and her daughter had asked, the raven haired priestess firmly declined their help insisting they were guests. The poor girl always seemed exhausted at the end of the day and it had been getting worse all week, finally Chiya worked up the courage to ask, "uhm...Kagome have you been feeling okay?"

Kagome looked surprised at the question for a moment before frowning slightly, unsure if she should tell the women of what has been bothering her, in the end she decided it couldn't hurt, "Remember that Hanyo that was here two weeks ago? Inuyasha."

Chiya nodded, already not liking where this was going. Since she had discovered her...uhm well whatever she would call Inuyasha...his connection with the shrine maiden she had tried to figure out how such opposite's could have possibly met and how much of a relationship this girl had with the dangerous man, so far she had found nothing to hint at them being anything but acquaintances, "yes."

Kagome sighed and sank onto the living room couch, "Its been two weeks since I have heard a peep out of him, and no one else has seen him either, I am beginning to worry."

Chiya frowned at this information, "is that unusual?"

"well his friends Sango and Miroku don't seem all that worried, Inuyasha is pretty strange and does as he pleases after all...but I can't help it."

Chiya nodded, "have you expressed your worries to your family?"

Kagome flushed, "heavens no, they don't even know Inuyasha exists much less that I know him. He is a older man, an older man with demon blood and I'm...well I'm this." she gestured to her priestess robes.

The elder women furrowed her brows, suddenly very worried, "Kagome...are you and Inuyasha..uhm..together?" Chiya felt it would explain the dangerous Hanyo's playful attitude towards the priestess and his desire to keep his work from the young, innocent, girl.

Kagome flushed wildly as her eyes widened, "Oh God's no! He's a friend of a friend and I just tend to worry about people. and its abnormal for him to not harass me!"

Chiya would have chuckled at this girls obliviousness to her own feelings, even if they were only in the starting phase, if it had not been that she knew about Inuyasha while Kagome, sweet, oblivious, little Kagome had no idea of the freight train that would hit her if she were to go down that path. Instead she chose to try to warn the girl, "Kagome...are you sure you don't feel anything for Inuyasha?"

Kagome looked at the women shocked but knew if she didn't even try to consider it the women would simply not let it go, so instead she let her mind trail off to the brief time she has known Inuyasha; meeting him for the first night as she looked up into his taunting golden eyes as he smoked away, the trip to the mall when he firmly held her by the waist and told her how tempting she looked, the feeling of his rumbling laugh as she screamed in fright on the back of his Harley, the many random texts ranging from a simple 'goodnight my little Shrine Maiden' to 'u look nice today little priestess I can only imagine how much better you look underneath the clothes.', his numerous smirks, the day the Gloomy bear showed up on her door, and so much more. She didn't know what she felt for Inuyasha, but looking back she realized she no longer loathed the man as she once did, he was pushy and still made her uncomfortable but at the same time she enjoyed his presence and strange ramblings on lonely nights when the shrine was quite before closing. Still that did not mean she was attracted to him, "I do not hate him as I once thought I did, I do enjoy his company at times, but nothing beyond that."

Chiya seemed to want to say something but reluctantly nodded, Kagome waltzed upstairs to change into her Pajamas before re-joining Chiya in the living room and flicking the tv onto the news as she did every night. tonight instead of the smile gracing the news anchors face was a grave frown, Kagome leaned in curious as the man spoke, "the body of a man was found in an old warehouse in Tokyo's shipping district tonight, headless and burt to a crisp, from what we have been told all possible way's of identification have been...removed from the mans body. The police encourage you to contact them if a loved one approximately 6 feet or over has gone missing in the past few days...stay tuned for more information on this tragedy."

Both females sat in silence for a moment as ad's came on, Kagome's sniffle broke the silence, causing Chiya to jump, "Wh-what if its Inuyasha?"

Chiya looked at the poor girl trying to hold back tears, "I'm sure he's fine Kagome..."

She bit her lip, "but he's 6'3 sango told me so, and he probably has a lot of enemies being the way he is! and no one has heard from him in two weeks. Oh Chiya! what if he's dead?!"

Chiya desperately wanted to tell the girl who's face was now streaked with tears as she clutched her mint green clawed panda bear to her chest, knees tucked at her side, that the body was not Inuyasha's and that it was most likely that of her husbands who was 6'1 in stature and who she had asked Inuyasha to get rid of, but part of her deal with the Hanyo was to keep quite about her knowledge of Inuyasha's job description. So instead she stood from the couch and held out her hand, "come on Kagome, lets get you to bed."

The girl shook her head adamantly, "n-no...I have to...I have t-to stay and s-see if its him."

The older women frowned at the girls shaky resolve, "I'll do it Kagome, and I'll tell you as soon as they know anything...now take your bear and let me help you to bed."

Kagome looked down at her bear and let a small cry lose clutching it to her tighter, whispering to no on in particular, "Inuyasha gave me this bear..."

Chiya's heart went out to the girl and her gut twisted at the fact she could make the miko feel better with such simple words but didn't. Instead she helped the seemingly lost girl from the couch, up the stairs and to her bed, "Goodnight Kagome." She didn't wait for a response, she knew she wouldn't get one from the confused and worried girl. She wouldn't have given one either had their rolls been reversed. She made her way downstair and towards the shrine gate's if her hunch was correct she would be seeing Inuyasha very soon.

And see him she did, well hear him really. The moment she passed the sacred tree she heard growling from above and glanced up to see a very angry looking pair of amber eyes staring right back at her from one of the branches, the only other visible thing being the glittering fangs bared at her, "you told her!"

It to Chiya a second to realized what the man was saying before her fear turned to fury as she followed where his direct line of site must have been right before she came outside, Kagome's bedroom window. She glared at him, "I did not!"

The hanyo looked at her unbelievingly, "then why the fuck is she crying?, It couldn't have been her boyfriend the guy's a stiff as a board and innocent as a fucking duckling. And it sure as hell wasn't her overbearing family, so it must have been you!"

Chiya looked at the Hanyo appalled by his twisted logic, even if it had been him dead it still would have been his fault for making such dangerous enemies in the first place and his two week disappearing act, even if it was for his so called work was completely selfish in Chiya's mind. What kind of man just left everyone without saying a word, he could have lied to her so she didn't know what he did but still didn't have to worry so much. If he had done that Kagome most defiantly would not be crying right now, "me?! this is your fault!"

He snorted, "my fault I was fucking gone the past two weeks!"

She practically screamed in frustration, this man was an idiot, "exactly!" she narrowed her eyes at him, "and why would you care if she was crying? you a cold blooded killer, a man who would do anything for money, a sweet girl like Kagome should be no concern of yours."

She regretted the words as soon as they flew from her mouth and the hanyo dropped from her perch, landing in a crouch in front of her before standing at his full height. He glared down at her, his eyes hard as steel, "say that again."

She shook her head no, suddenly remembering exactly what Inuyasha was capable was, "what are you doing here?"

He looked down at her lazily, "you owe me $10,000...I'm assuming you have seen the news."

Angry again she practically spat her words at him, "yeah Kagome has too!"

His lazy facade did not change, "so?"

she shook her head and turned on her heel, "so thats why she's crying, after two weeks of nothing she thought it was you, apparently you feel the need to bother her every day and she found it strange you didn't for a while. She was worried sick, a worry I'm not sure you deserve...I'll be right back with your money."

Inuyasha frowned as the women walked away, he liked her better when she was scared shitless and said little to nothing, before pulling out his phone. he had stopped by his apartment for a change of clothes and to grab his phone he had left behind when he went out on his job, he always let behind his phone so no one could trace him. after turning it on it beeped with several missed texts and calls, one message was surprisingly from 'little Shrine Maiden' and it was from yesterday, he clicked the message, Inuyasha..are you okay?

His eyes traveled up her bedroom window, she must have been worried to actually text him first, Sango was going to kill him for freaking Kagome out, yeah my little miko I'm fine...but I would be better if u got ur pretty little ass outa that bed and came out to play...or invited me in, your bed was so warm last time I was there~

It didn't take long for Kagome's window opened and the raven haired girls head popped out, looking around then down, relief spreading across her face as she spotted the taunting amber gaze she had grown accustomed to seeing after knowing him even for a short while. A few minutes later, she was out the front door and running towards him, pulling him into a hug as soon as he was in reach, crying in relief, "your okay!"

Inuyasha looked down at her as she pulled away, she was in a mint green night gown with white trim and lilac bows, with matching thigh high sleeping socks. She hadn't even thought to put on shoes, He smiled as her already short nightgown was lifted slightly by the breeze and the way her breasts pushed up as she wrapped her arms around herself. He had missed the sight of her sweet untouched flesh more than he thought, and the fact she had hugged him shocked him slightly, "miss me my sweet little priestess?"

She glared at him slightly, "where did you go! I thought you had died! I was worried about you!"

He smirked at her, "worried enough to let me do a full body check on you to make sure your still pure for me?"

He slight glare turned into full on dagger shooting, "you can smell it if you were really that worried."

"my nose could be tricking me."

She flushed, another thing he had craved to see, "Y-you idiot! I should never have worried!"

He shrugged, "I still haven't gotten my welcome back kiss."

her flushed darkened, "I am not giving you my first kiss!"

Inuyasha was genuinely surprised that the young girl had been seeing someone for a little over two weeks and had not yet been kissed, he was utterly pleased and was about to say just that when the front door opened revealing Chiya, who looked surprised, "oh! good, Kagome, see I told you he would be okay!" she waled up to them, discreetly setting down a thick envelope by the sacred tree before walking up and patting Kagome's back, "Don't stay up too late Kagome."

She smiled at the women, "I'll be in in a few Chiya, I promise."

The older women nodded before walking back into the house, once she had gone Inuyasha smirked down at Kagome who had taken to looking up at the stars in the sky, "you look lovely as always little virgin, but your socks are getting dirty."

She seemed shocked by this statement and looked down at her feet before flushing, "Oh shoot!" She looked torn between running back into the house, undoubtably making her socks dirty if they were not already, and taking them off and dirtying her feet. She didn't like either, Kagome liked her space clean and dirty feet did not fit with that, it would in turn dirty her bed. she squealed as Inuyasha scooped her up and jumped onto one of the sacred tree branches before jumping through her already open window and setting her on the bed, she smiled at his kindness, "thanks."

He smirked, "aren't you going to invite me in?" He gestured towards her bed.

Any feeling of relief or thankfulness she had wen't out the widow then, hopefully the hanyo before her would follow, "...the shrines closed. please let yourself out."

Inuyasha had to resist the urge to burst out laughing at the girls antics, but decided to let it go for the night, with a wink he was out the window. He scooped up the envelope from the grass and jumped over the shrine gates before starting the trek home.

Three days later.

After school Kagome had helped Chiya and Aki move out of the shrine, the two had found an apartment in Kyoto and Kagome was genuinely happy for them, after she had helped them pack and saw them off she had tried to begin shrine duties but her mother had told her to take the day off. So now Kagome was wondering the same toy store Inuyasha had bought her bear from and Hojo her necklace. She wondered through the isles when the strange man that had delivered her bear seemed to pop up from nowhere she ket out a surprised yip when she turned around to see him, clad in what looked like a pink yukata, she held a hand to her chest, "sorry. you scared me."

The man gave her a brilliant smile, "I remember you, your the girl I delivered the bear to for Mr. Anonymous!"

Kagome giggled at the mans bubbly nature before shaking her head, "Inuyasha likes to think he's clever."

The man grinned at her, "ah he didn't get past you?"

She shook her head, "nope!"

The man gave an exasperated sigh, "oh the poor thing! you must have hurt his pride with your wits."

At this Kagome rolled her eyes playfully, "yes will Inuyasha's pride could use a blow or two, maybe it would make his fat head shrink."

At this the man burst out laughing and held out his hand once he calmed, "that my dear is so true, I'm Jakotsu by the way, I own this place."

Kagome smiled at this, "it's a lovely place, very cute, and it's wonderful to meet you Jakotsu, I'm Kagome."

Jakotsu smiled at her, normaly he was not a fan of women but he did like Kagome's witty side and her wardrobe, hence the reason he began to speak to the young girl, "this place cute, not as cute as you dear!" Kagome flushed and shyly looked at her platform Mary Jane's while softly thanking him, Jakotsu smiled, ah...so thats why Inu is interested, a much different reaction than most girls sharp, annoying, obnoxious, giggle when given a complement. Jakotsu grinned again, "did you like your bear?"

Kagome's shyness evaporated then, "oh yes! it was so cute! I was actually in here to see if you have anything else from the gloom bear brand!"

Jakotsu sighed dramatically, "unfortunately dear I do not have anything in right now, but!" he pulled a colorful card from his yukata and handed it to her, "this is our card, call anytime and go to that link there to put yourself on out contact list, just type in the gloomy bear brand in to the 'notify me about..' box and your contact info i.e. email and or phone number and tada!"

Kagome smiled and took the card, "Thank you Jakotsu."

He nodded before grabbing here sleeve as she turned to leave, "actually dear...can you do me a tinsy favor?"He held up a brown paper bag, "I need this taken to Inuyasha at The Flea and The Sword...since you know him and your leaving...would you mind?"

Kagome glanced at the wall clock, it was late at night, almost ten. He eyes widened, she hadn't meant to stay out so late especially not in the bad part of town, her mother must think she was with Sago. She cursed herself for not checking the time better before she looked at the bag in Jakotsu's hand, maybe Sango was there and could give her a ride. She smiled at him, "sure, I would be happy to." with that she put the bag in her light yellow bunny plush backpack and headed out the door.

At The Flea and The Sword.

As always the bar was filled with smoke and the loud chatter of people, most of which consisted of corrupt deals and drunken admissions of crimes. as the bell chimed in the front a few people stopped to see who had decided to join the fun, and froze. The girl who walked in was not what they had expected. She wore her black hair up in two buns near the top of her head, her bangs and two whips of hair framing her face, pins of hearts and stars of baby blue, bubblegum pink, and custard yellow scattered through her buns. matching her Pink dress with three Yellow, blue, and pink bows going down her chest to meet a yellow ribbon at her waist, Blue and yellow ruffles ended her short fluffy dress. She kicked one pink platform shoe brining attenion to her mis-matched knee high socks, one blue, one yellow. One of the men who had stopped as the bell rang turned to another who shrugged mouthing the word 'lolita.' the other man rolled his eyes, he knew what the fucking girl was. He wanted to know what the fuck she was doing here, "OI MISSY!"

She and a few other patrons turned to look at him, she frowned slightly, biting the bottom of a glossy pink lip, "yes?"

he smirked "I think your in the wrong place."

His comment got a few laughs but she just blinked her big blue eyes, "No. I know where I am, The Flea and The Sword...do you know where Inuyasha is? is he here right now?"

At this the entire bar silence and everyone turned to look at the girl, confused beyond belief, the bartender spoke next, "why are you looking for Inuyasha?"

The girl looked at the big, burly man and smiled brightly before strolling up to the bar, "I have to give something to him, do you know where he is?"

The bartender shook his head at her, "what makes you think I would tell you?"

She narrowed her eyes at him, revealing her baby blue shadow and light grey liner better, "talking to you is a waste of time isn't it?"

The bartender seemed amused by her blatant comment, "sorry honey his in his apartment."

Kagome looked to the stairs the bartender gestured to before smiling at him and hopping off the stool, "Okay thanks!" she made her way over to the stairs, much to the shock of the room, and a women stopped her before she made it on the first step. The lolita girl frowned at the woman's hand on her chest, "uhm, can I help you?"

The scantily clad, glitter covered woman glared at the much smaller girl, "Inuyasha doesn't just allow people into his apartment, you have to be someone."

The girl gave her a deadpan look, "I am someone I'm Kagome."

This earned Kagome a few laughs but the woman glared along with a few other females, "but you ain't nothin' to Inuyasha."

Kagome, obviously getting annoyed glared back, "I'll bet you I'm more to him than you are."

This eared a few 'oooh's' from the patrons clearly enjoying the fact that the strange lolita girl was in their bar telling people off. The woman practically growled, "prove it."

Kagome beamed at her, "Okay!" she pulled a sparkly pink cellphone from her dress pocket and clicked on the touch screen a few times before holding it to here ear, "Hello...ew no thats gross!" she listened for a few moment's flushing at one point, "ew GOD'S Inuyasha shut up!"

The group all looked at each other, sharing the same wtf looks.

Kagome smiled at the lady, "uh..yeah Inuyasha I'm down at the bar...yes the bar you live over...its prettier during the day by the way.."

The woman's eyes widened, not understanding what was happening.

Kagome frowned, "no I am not getting drunk, why the heck do you sound pleased by the idea?" she listened for a few moments, "ewwwww do you ever stop?! look this is serious, I don't care if your serious about doing...that! This," she looked the woman up and down, "uhm...nice lady won't let me up to your apartment." she was silent for a few moment, "no I am not coming on to you, I have to give you something...EW NO NOT THAT!" another few moments of since, "okay bye."

The woman smiled triumphantly, "see-"

Kagome held up her open palm and slowly dropped her fingers one by one, once her hand made a fist the door upstairs flew open and Inuyasha walked down the steps, shirtless. the women in the bar gawked while Kagome flushed and crinkled her nose, "Why are you shirtless? I hate when your shirtless."

Inuyasha chuckled at her, "you have got to be the only woman I have ever heard say that."

Kagome didn't miss a beat, "woman and your play things don't belong in the same species."

Inuyasha smirked, before glaring at the woman's hand on Kagome's chest, "why the fuck is your hand still on her?"

The woman squeaked and pulled her hand away, "Inuyasha! she wasn't doing anything wrong! it's not her fault your a jerk who apparently hates people!"

Inuyasha rolled his eyes, "Kagome, her slut glitter will ruin your dress."

Kagome gasped and looked down at her dress, sure enough it was covered in green glitter, she whined, "but this is the first time I even wore this dress and its so expensive!" she pouted at her dress.

Inuyasha patted her head lightly, "If you can't get it out Ill but you a new one."

Kagome looked at him suspiciously, "whats it it for you?"

"You don't tell Sango you were here."

Kagome shrugged, "fair enough." With that Inuyasha sent the woman another glare before pulling Kagome up the stairs.

Once the door had shut behind them the room let out a collective sigh, and angry Inuyasha was always trouble, one man spoke at last, "what the fuck was that?"

The bartender laughed, "I think we just found out why Inuyasha doesn't pay the ladies hear any mind, his taste is a bit...well not what we have here."

Another man chuckled, "that, and her rack. did you see that chicks fucking tits. what the hell man?"

A few other men laughed, "I think that girl brought a whole knew definition to bounce."

more laughter as the bar slowly went back to normal, Kagome never quite leaving the minds of the patrons. Said girl came bounding down the stairs an hour later, oblivious to the leacherous stares of the men who hadn't taken the time to fully analyze the girls assets, she turned around looking up the steps, "HURRY UP INUYASHA! IT'S LATE!"

A now fully clothed Inuyasha stepped out the door and locked it, "yeah yeah, I know damnit Kagome, do you know how fuckin loud you are?"

she frowned, "well its your fault I'm late!"

He smirked down at her, "your glitter stains gone and your no longer hungry. if you want a ride home, zip it."

Kagome did as she was told bouncing on the balls of her feet grinned when Inuyasha handed her a motorcycle helmet, "your not going to drive like maniac again are you?"

Inuyasha shrugged, "maybe. why don't you hurry up so you can find out."

Kagome shook her head and then her eyes widened as if she forgot something, "oh! and Inuyasha?"

He looked down at her, "hmmm?"

She leaned up and kissed him on the cheek before laughing, "Sango say's that's a better way of saying thanks, so thanks for you know letting me use your bathroom to get the stain out, the food, and well the ride home." with that she bounded out the door with Inuyasha following in her wake.

Kagome smiled as Inuyasha drove them to the Higurashi shrine, since he had come back she had promised to try to get along with him better seeing as she did in fact enjoy his company on occasion, sure he still freaked her out and she was still very on guard near him but she liked to thin that tonight she made progress. maybe one day she could let her guard down too.

Next chapter finished!