Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha. Not making any profit out of the publication of this story, other than my personal (non-monetary) enjoyment.

Just A Boy
Sunlight woke him dappling drops of warmth across his nose. He was warm, so warm, and the place smelled heavenly.

He didn't want to wake up, but eventually his eyes opened of their own accord.

"Ohayoo, Inuyasha." Kagome's kind smile greeted him and he instantly felt his bones melt.

"Kagome..." He was still on the floor, in her arms, like he had been when he'd fallen asleep.

She hadn't left him! The idea hit hard and began to sink in. She hadn't left him! She had not left him. She was still here...er...there...with him.

"Kagome! Kagome! You're not gone...!"

She brushed her lips across his forehead.

"I won't leave you. I promised."

The day unwound peacefully, with Aya discovering that Inuyasha was not only very well raised but also had a good knack for cooking.

Kagome and Souta having gone to school, she had tried to entertain Inuyasha and in the process accidentally discovered that his sensitive nose helped him tell what ingredients he needed to use for what recipe and was more efficient and accurate than her cook-books.

Of course, he was still awkward, and didn't know what 'folding' or 'kneading' was, but he was quick to catch on.

In short, when Kagome and Souta came home they found a veritable feast was prepared in dinner's stead.

He was so incredibly shy and humble that all the compliments he received on his cooking (even Kagome's grandfather couldn't abstain from declaring it had been: "Quite delicious, although the bread was a little salty") simply made his ears disappear into his head and his face hide in the folds of his haori sleeves.

Kagome's heart grew at seeing him so part-of-the-family.

For a mere moment between her grandfather's snide appreciation, Souta's awed words and her mother's ear tweaking, the sadness disappeared leaving him just a boy.

That split-second look of peace on him would become one of her most treasured memories.

He was a boy. Just a boy. No heartache, no anguished past, no betraying lovers...just a boy, just a happy boy.

Author's Notes: Ohayoo - informal way of saying 'Good Morning' - rough equivalent would be 'Mornin'!'

Short? Yes. I thought it would make a nice contrast to the last chapter, and it's not like I'm getting all that much motivation. I am flattered you keep adding me to your favourites and alerts, but to be quite frank it doesn't tell me anything. It's not that hard to post a review! I can't possibly improve things if I don't know they're wrong - in saying that, a big thank you to all my reviewers especially wbaker5286 and bettychan for not being afraid of writing more than a one-liner and giving (constructive) criticism. All you who read without reviewing you should be thankful to reviewers because it's their influence that helps me improve my style and thus indirectly give you a better-quality read.

I know this is a rant, and that many of you will quite likely think I'm being demanding and unreasonable, and that's ok. I'm not writing this to make myself out as a writer cheated out of feedback, I am merely doing it because I am utterly fed up with seeing hits in the triple digit range within the first 2 days (I mean above 300) and a measly 19 reviews to show for it. Honestly! It's incredibly disheartening. Is it that hard to say something about the story?
And one more thing, please stop writing to me telling me to update faster/soon/asap as your only comment. It doesn't help me at all, and really it's quite annoying. I appreciate that you're enjoying my story and you want to read more, but I'm not going to put up some 2-second filler chapter just so I can say I updated. It's not fair to you, and it's really an insult to writing.
The reason it takes so long to update is I have a life outside this, school, etc. plus I never just write and post. The chapters you see have all been revised at least half a dozen times before they're put up and even so, I find there are still mistakes which make feel worried about how the chapter will be received.

Now, don't go thinking I'm putting on primadonna airs. I won't stop updating, and I won't make unreasonable demands of 50 reviews+ per chapter, but it would be nice to see some feedback -like the Fullmetal Alchemist concept of equivalent exchange says: you can't get something without having to give something back.

That being said you are free, and more than welcome, to PM me with your views, comments and thoughts regarding the aforementioned - I am not afraid of debates.

Thank you to all those who listen to my rambling - or rather who bothered reading this.

Azaleea